"She withstood the torture well; better than any human should have been able. She should have given up her secrets long ago... But I did not take into consideration her true weakness, she would not succumb to physical torture, but mental torture... That's a whole different story. Her real weakness, is you"
Clint frowned; it had always been that way, right from that first meeting in Budapest. The only way to get to Clint was through Natasha, and the only way to compromise Nat was through Clint.
Daring to glance in her direction, she avoided his gaze; but even so, Clint could see the fear and the regret in her eyes.
"And don't try anything stupid" Gavrok warned him, indicating Clint's still raised bow. He flicked a switch on a concealed remote in his hand; sending electric shocks coursing through Natasha's body. She writhed in pain as all her remaining strength was taken; he only let up when Clint desperately lowered his weapon; she couldn't take any more. And Clint couldn't take watching her pain
"That's better" Gavrok sneered.
Clint's jaw set in anger, and he made a decision - the consequences be damned.
In one swift movement he raised his arms, aimed, and loosed the arrow, it exploded immediately on impact, barely giving Clint enough time to position himself in front of Natasha to try and shield her from the blast.
Tony was desperately trying to reason with 'the other guy' and get through to Bruce when the three of them heard it; the whole building shook and in the distance they heard walls collapsing as the ceiling came down.
"Clint? Clint?!" Steve called down his com, but no answer came... One arrow, Clint said he'd had one arrow left... Clearly he'd used it.
Thor suddenly appeared beside Tony; slow and stumbling, but upright and a determined edge to his face
"We must retrieve out team, we must leave together" he told them, and they all nodded. Even The Hulk understood the concept of 'his team'
Pepper watched on on horror from her station outside as half the building collapsed. She prayed the team were safe; because what else could she do? She would be a liability if she went in there, there was nothing she could do to help. So she continued to wait for sheild, as tears steamed her face and she desperately tried to cling to hope.
There was a heavy weight across Natasha's chest that she soon realised was Clint; the arrow had exploded and the force of the blast had sent him flying backwards, knocking over the chair she was tied to. If her wrist hadn't already been broken; it would be now. It was awkwardly wedge between the metal chair and the concrete floor; under the weight of herself and Clint; she was completely stuck, and the explosion looked like it had caused some serious structural damage. Between the debris and dust which now clouded the air, the gag placed tightly over her mouth, Clint's dead weight lay across her abdomen, and the broken ribs she'd obtained over the past few days she was finding it increasingly difficult to breath.
She just needed Clint to wake up so they could try and get out of there before the whole place collapsed, but it didn't look like that would be happening anytime soon...