Disclaimer: I do not own "The Avengers" or any of the characters affiliated with them. If I did, there would totally be a Hawkeye/Black Widow movie in the works. I do not claim any of the directly quoted lines from "The Avengers" as my own, they belong to Marvel and the writers. The cover art came from a google search with the original source being pinterest where it was credited to Anthony Genuardi.
Author's Note: While I embrace constructive criticism, remember this old saying if you choose to leave a review "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"
Special thanks to all who reviewed Chapter Six: Well done you, JRBarton, Lollypops101, R1dDL3M37h15, Rogueroza, GremlinX, Kirstiej104,Shanynde, weemcg33, Cello06, BatmanOtaku, LostHawk, thababes, Enisoj, CyanB, ladybug114, jaguarspot, Zoeff, Wolfsdrache, Black Betty, FamousLastWords, yevguine, discordchick, Batghost, animexluva13, Littlethormaid11, BooksAreMedicine, skoreangirl tina, Sandy-wmd, GreenLoki, Qweb, RAGAnne, Sara, ILuvClintasha, Alice of Scots, Arlothia Guest
Shout out to those that have guessed the song inspiration for the chapter titles: Wolfsdrache
You can guess the song up until I tell you what it is in the final chapter!
Thanks as always to my awesome betas Kylen and JRBarton for being so good at being awesome.
to Lollypops101: my universe goes AU after The Avengers and pretty much nothing in following movies or AoS has happened in the VPU.
to LostHawk: I haven't! I'll try to find it!
to jaguarspot: you made me laugh with that last part of your review lol. So in reward, here! Personal mention :D The glorious rubber ball, with Clint since the beginning lol
to Zoeff: something I'll never be annoyed by: readers asking for stories. I DO need to start the Master Assassins one shot series soon, don't I...
to Batghost: where's Todd? *points down*
to BooksAreMedicine: uh YES, that will DEFINITELY be in a story or in a one-shot. How could I pass up on the overwhelming embarrassment of Phil and annoyance of Natasha and lack of shame for Clint! lol
And so we ramble on!
Last time in The Untold Stories:
For a long moment, Hawkeye stared at him, then abruptly turned away.
"Get rid of him. We can't have him alerting SHIELD."
Aiden had precisely five painfully brief seconds to process what that meant before the arms around him shifted, locking around his head and neck instead.
The last thing he saw was the back of a dirty blonde head.
We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.
Winston Churchill
April 13, 2012
3:07 a.m. NYC
Helicarrier Detention Level, somewhere over the Atlantic
Loki stared through the glass of his prison, out into the inky blackness of the night, visible through the large window behind his cell. Hours they'd left him now, without a word. But as he waited patiently, he planned.
They would send Thor first, he was certain of it. If for no other reason than Thor – with some misguided belief that they were still brothers – would insist.
Thor would try to appeal to his emotions, to the lifetime of brotherhood they shared. If those years held any value for Loki now, perhaps the strategy would have some success. But they did not, not anymore. Now, they meant nothing to him but for their evidence of a lifetime of lies. Evidence of Odin's deceit and betrayal…and worst of all, of his rejection. Thor was part of that. Thor was the cause of it.
Loki lifted his chin when he heard the door to the detention area slid open. He turned to see his onetime brother slowly making his way into the room.
Thor remained silent as he came to stand on the other side of the glass and Loki found himself moving to face him.
For a long time, they just stared at each other through the glass.
"Why?" Thor finally asked. "Why are you doing this?"
Loki stared at him darkly.
"You speak as if you do not already know."
Thor shook his head.
"I do not know, Loki. What has this realm done to deserve your wrath? Those who live here are innocent."
Loki could see the pain in his former brother's eyes and found himself smiling carelessly.
"Why are you doing this?" Thor asked again, his tone both firm and desperate at the same time.
"Why not?" he taunted. "And besides, this is her realm, is it not? I told you, back on Asgard, that I would have my vengeance one way or another."
Thor stared at him with sad eyes.
"Do you hate me this much? Loki, we are brothers."
"But we are not brothers, Thor," Loki corrected sharply. "Your father has made that clear. I am nothing to him or to you. Just as you are nothing to me."
"We were raised together. We played together, grew together. I was always your brother, Loki," Thor replied firmly. "And I always will be."
Loki laughed humorlessly.
"Hollow words," he accused.
"Loki…" Thor started, but Loki cut him off.
"Do not patronize me with false professions of love," he spat. "We both know the truth. There is no more need for pretense."
"I do not pretend, Loki. Brother, please hear me, now. Whatever I have done, whatever the cause of this hate you bear for me, I will make it right. But you must stop this now before you have taken it too far."
Loki curved his lips into a smile. Hearing his former brother beg was even more gratifying than he expected.
"And what is too far, brother?" Loki challenged darkly.
Thor studied him quietly without answering. Then he shifted the conversation.
"The people on this vessel, they have done nothing to you." Thor replied calmly. "Whatever your plan for them, whatever your reason for allowing your capture, please, I beg you, do not continue down this path. If you do, I will not be able to protect you."
Loki glared through the glass, as he expected, this had never been about repairing the rift between them. It was a ruse to uncover his plan, to thwart him from his goal.
"I do not need your protection!" he spat, voice dropping an octave in anger. "My purpose here will not be thwarted and when I have prevailed, it is you who will beg for my protection!"
Thor opened his mouth to reply, but Loki stepped closer, eyes blazing, and went on,
"You want to know why, my brother?" he spat the familial term with as much venom as he could muster. "Why I chose this realm to conquer for my own? I will tell you why," he hissed. "Because you have taken my birthright from me. I was to rule my own realm! I was to be a king and your father stole that from me when he destroyed my people. And then as if he had not taken enough, he has denied me Asgard. He has cast me aside for you. You, who in all your arrogance and idiocy are far less worthy than I. So, brother, if I cannot rule my own people, if I cannot have Asgard, then I will make my dynasty here. I will conquer this world that you love and take these weak beings you strive to protect as my slaves. And when I have my victory and you lie defeated at my feet, Father will see his folly! He will see that I was the one worthy to rule, not you!"
Thor's eyes were wide with something akin to horror, and he stared at Loki as if he could not believe his words. Even after all that had happened between them, he still didn't understand that all that was between them was lost, gone.
"Do you hate me that much, brother?" Thor asked quietly.
Loki laughed.
"Oh to hate you, Thor, would require some feeling toward you. Instead, I am indifferent."
Thor turned away from him then, paced a few steps away, but not before Loki saw the deep pain in his gaze.
A few moments later Thor turned back and met Loki's gaze sadly.
"I loved you, brother. I always will." he said sincerely, but then his voice hardened. "But I will not let you do this."
Then he walked away, out the door without looking back.
Loki turned away, putting his back to the cameras he knew were watching him.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm his emotions. He'd revealed nothing of his plans, had resisted Thor's attempts at manipulations. But it was not over yet. They would send another now. They would send her.
And thanks to Agent Barton, Loki would be ready when she came.
April 13, 2012
6:20 a.m. NYC
Helicarrier Bridge, just off the coast of North America
Phil stood with arms crossed, Fury by his side, and Hill on the director's left. They all watched Natasha move into the detention area without a sound, watched her come to stand in front of Loki's cell and then wait to be noticed.
It only took a moment, and Loki was grinning that Cheshire grin that bled poison. He turned even as he spoke.
"Hm. There are not many people that can sneak up on me."
"But you figured I'd come," she replied evenly. Phil nodded slightly. There you go, he thought, control the emotions. Use them.
"After." Loki allowed. "After whatever tortures Fury can concoct, you would appear as a friend, as a balm. And I would cooperate."
Phil arched an eyebrow. Maybe they should have worked the asshole over and given that a shot. They might have if not for Thor. Psychotic sociopathic tendencies aside, Loki was still considered a brother by the Asgardian.
Natasha, apparently, wasn't in the mood to play games, because her next question was pointed and direct.
"I wanna know what you've done with Agent Barton."
Easy, Natasha…
"I'd say I've expanded his mind," Loki replied flippantly.
Natasha studied him in a way Phil was familiar with, like a predator examining her prey a moment before she went for the jugular.
"And once you've won," she started.
Fury nodded next to him, muttering lowly.
"Atta girl."
Phil couldn't help but agree. She was playing into Loki's delusion, feeding his ego, assuming his victory. It would hopefully bring down his guard.
"Once you're king of the mountain," she went on. "What happens to his mind?"
Loki tilted his head, smiling again in a way that told them all that he already knew the answer to his next question as he asked it – he was trying to mock her.
"Is this love, Agent Romanoff?"
Loki watched the woman with a head of fire lift her chin slightly, her response nearly automatic.
It was exactly as Agent Barton had warned him it would be.
"Love is for children. I owe him a debt."
It was a practiced line, one Agent Barton had told him all about. He knew every detail of their sordid encounter with her ex-lover Alexi Shostakov and of the mantra that had been born of those events.
Love is for children.
A pathetic attempt to add depth and meaning to the emotions Barton and Romanoff harbored for each other. But Loki had taken great care and time to glean every small piece of information he could from Barton about Natasha Romanoff and whatever they chose to call it, their relationship would be his greatest weapon.
But not yet, not until the opportunity was there to deliver the blow with as much force as possible.
Her declaration of indebtedness was peculiar, however. It was a trivialization of their feelings. Perhaps an attempt to throw him off that particular scent.
He already knew the story behind their meeting, but he was curious as to what spin she would put on it in an attempt to convince him Barton was nothing to her but a debt to be paid.
"Tell me," he instructed curiously.
She quirked her eyebrow and tilted her head in acquiescence. She moved slowly to sit and regard him through the glass.
"Before I worked for SHIELD, I…well, I made a name for myself. I have a very specific skill set. I didn't care who I used it for," she quirked her eyebrow again, "or on. I got on SHIELD's radar in a bad way." She paused now, a telling breath of silence that gave away the weight behind her next words. "Agent Barton was sent to kill me. He made a different call."
Loki studied her closely. She was concealing it poorly, her feelings for Barton. Or perhaps he saw it clearly because Barton had told him where to look.
"And what will you do…if I vow to spare him?" he offered curiously, intent on toying with her. If he ignited hope for Barton's salvation, it would be all the more devastating when he crushed it.
"Not let you out," was her immediate reply.
He was instantly intrigued. She'd denied what she had expected him to ask for, but she had not rejected the concept of brokering a deal all together. She was tipping her hand, showing her weakness. She cared too much for Barton and was grasping for a way to save him.
The moment to strike was rapidly approaching.
"Ah, no." He brushed off her refusal. "But I like this. Your world in the balance and you bargain for one man?"
Romanoff's expression smoothed as she smirked, hiding visible traces of her emotion.
"Regimes fall every day. I tend not to weep over that, I'm Russian." She quirked her lips. "Or I was."
"And what are you now?" Loki asked slowly.
"It's really not that complicated." She smirked and stood, moving to stand just on the other side of the glass. "I've got red in my ledger. I'd like to wipe it out."
Back to the talk of debts. Her ledger was not a physical thing, not like Barton's. Barton had told him of the book of the dead he'd kept from his former life; a book he'd burned in a poor attempt to put the past behind him. But Loki knew that, for Barton, the past was never far from his mind.
Romanoff, it seemed, lived by the same philosophy.
"Can you?" he challenged lowly. "Can you wipe out that much red?" He watched her eyes narrow. "Drakov's daughter? Sao Paulo? The hospital fire?" Her eyes widened in shock now. He'd been hoping for this, to shock her with the sheer depth of his knowledge. "Barton told me everything! Your ledger is dripping, it's gushing red, and you think saving a man no more virtuous than yourself will change anything? This is the basest of sentimentality! This is a child's prayer! Pathetic!"
She swallowed, eyes still wide.
"You lie and kill in the service of liars and killers. You pretend to be separate, to have your own code, something to make up for the horrors. But they are part of you and they will never go away!"
He slammed his first against the glass, reveling in the fear that flashed across her face as she jumped.
Now. Now was the time to deliver the killing blow.
"I won't touch Barton! Not until I make him kill you! Slowly, intimately, in every way he knows you fear!" Horror swept through her gaze. "And then he'll wake just long enough to see his good work," she whirled away, face stricken, "and when he screams I'll split his skull! This is my bargain, you mewling quim!"
Phil watched Natasha sob, her back to Loki.
He smiled. She was doing beautifully, appearing to play right into Loki's hands.
He'd been worried for a moment, when Loki had brought his plans for Clint into it. For a moment he hadn't been able to distinguish real fear and horror from the contrived. But she seemed to have regained her balance.
Todd Bryan came up on Phil's shoulder, clapping him on the back in greeting.
"I just brought on the last group of agents from base. We expecting to start a fight? We've got enough personnel on board to liberate a small country."
"Fury want to be prepared for all possible contingencies," Phil explained simply, vaguely.
Todd nodded, eyeing the screen as Loki smiled victoriously.
"So this is the bastard that took him?" His eyes shifted to the face trace still going on another screen. "Still nothing on the pain in the ass?"
Phil shook his head, watching Natasha closely. She angled her eyes up to the camera...and winked.
"You're a monster," she said.
Todd snorted and Phil smiled. Shrek had been playing on a loop in the mess hall last month – the system hacked by some newbie tech they'd recruited out of a cyber-crime detention unit. Clint had been working quotes into every day conversation for weeks after that. If Phil never again heard him merrily announce that 'In the mornin', I'm makin' waffles!' it'd still be too soon.
Loki's smile was feral, vicious, and triumphant.
"Oh, no. You brought the monster."
Natasha straightened, all pretenses of broken emotion fading even more quickly than they'd been conjured. She smirked at the camera and then schooled her features. She turned back with a curious arch to her eyebrow.
"So…Banner? That's your play?"
Loki's smile fell, confusion taking its place.
"What?"
Natasha was already heading for the exit, keying her earpiece that would link her to the main communication system, allowing all on duty agents to hear her.
"Loki means to unleash the Hulk. Keep Banner in the lab, I'm on my way. Send Thor as well."
She turned one last time, giving Loki a sweet little smile that was laced with latent hatred.
"Thank you, for your cooperation."
Phil laughed, drawing more than one confused eye. Next to him, Todd was already issuing orders into his ear piece. He met Phil's gaze.
"That's my cue. Watch your six, Phil."
Phil waved an acknowledging hand over his shoulder as he keyed his own communicator.
"Does anyone have eyes on Thor?"
April 13, 2012
6:30 a.m.
Main Lab, Helicarrier
Natasha scanned the scene in the lab, analyzing it even as she crossed the threshold. Tension were rising. Banner turned an accusing gaze on her, gesturing towards a weapon laying on a table in front of Steve.
"Did you know about this?"
She eyed the weapon.
Hydra.
Wonderful.
"You wanna think about removing yourself from this environment, doctor?" she asked instead of answering. Admitting knowledge of SHIELD harboring Hydra weaponry would have been a bad move in current company. Admitting her lack of knowledge, though, was little better.
Best to just blow right past it.
"I was in Kolkata," Banner laughed cynically, effectively redirected, "I was pretty well removed."
"Loki's manipulating you," she stated, though she wasn't even sure herself how the prisoner was managing it.
"And you've been doing what exactly?"
Natasha barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes.
"You didn't come here because I bat my eyelashes at you."
If she remembered correctly, that tactic had been decidedly ineffective.
"Yes, and I'm not leaving because suddenly you get a little twitchy," he shot back.
Natasha narrowed her gaze, letting Fury deal with Banner's next accusation disguised as a question. Instead, she scanned the room, trying to figure out how Loki intended to unleash the Hulk. She listened to Fury combat the criticism from all sides, not surprised when he did so smoothly and easily. He did deal with the Council of Asshats – Clint's term, not hers – on a regular basis.
But when they started questioning the reason for having weapons capable of combating the likes of Thor and his crew, she had to step in.
"Are you boys really that naïve? SHIELD monitors potential threats." She was living proof of that and so was Clint. SHIELD did its job so well because it monitored all threats, no matter how innocent or loyal they seemed.
"And Captain America's on the threat watch?" Banner spat scathingly.
Natasha turned on him.
"We all are!" It was foolish and ignorant to think otherwise. To believe that just because you did a good thing once, SHIELD stopped paying attention. Everybody had a potential for destruction, even Captain America.
She watched Rogers and Stark zero in on each other, wondering with grim satisfaction if they were finally going to go at it. It'd been a long time coming at this point. One of them was bound to snap. How long had it been since she'd been in a good brawl? Too long.
Behind them the spear glowed, but Natasha was shifting over to Fury, trying to calm her increasingly bloodthirsty thoughts.
"We're wasting time," she accused, "We need to get Banner contained."
Fury waved a hand in a 'calm down' motion.
"So far he's given us no reason to think he's going to lose control."
"It's why Loki's here. If we can stop his play before it starts, we can use his failure against him to help get a location on Clint."
"Agent Barton is not the prior…" Fury's attention was diverted to Thor as his accusing voice cut through the arguing.
"You speak of control, yet you court chaos!"
Natasha nearly growled when Banner threw in his two cents, igniting a whole new debate between Rogers and Stark. Though she couldn't help but momentarily admire Stark's continued ability to remain unruffled even in the face of Roger's scathing words.
The two continued to lay into each other, but Natasha was done listening. They were wasting time. Clint was still out there and while he might not be the top priority to Fury, he was damn sure the top priority to her. Maybe it was time for round two with Loki. She looked back towards the exit, suddenly relishing the thought of spilling a little alien blood.
Her attention was dragged back when Fury addressed her.
"Agent Romanoff, would you escort Dr. Banner back to his –"
"WHERE?" Banner snapped. "You rented my room!"
Fury tried to calm him.
"The cell was just –"
"In case you needed to kill me. But you can't, I know, I tried!"
Everyone froze, staring at him. Natasha searched his face, looking for signs of green. She listened to him recount his attempt at suicide, closely tracking his slow shift back towards the table where the spear was resting.
"You wanna know my secret, Agent Romanoff? You wanna know how I stay calm?"
Natasha watched his hand shift, slowly and calmly grasping the spear. She shifted her hand to her gun, barely noticing Fury do the same.
"Doctor Banner," it was Rogers that spoke, never one to shoot first and ask later, "put down the spear."
Banner looked painfully, bewilderingly confused. Natasha frowned, eyeing the spear in his hand…maybe…
A beep from across the room drew everyone's attention. She looked to the source, but just as quickly looked back at Banner.
"Got it." Fury sounded relieved.
Natasha stared at Banner until he put the spear down and moved past her.
"Sorry, kids. You don't get to see my party trick after all."
Natasha followed him, still wary, over to the console where the beep had sounded. She eyed the screen from a few feet away, ignoring, for the moment, the argument about what should happen next that was taking place amongst the others.
She saw the trace reach 99% and then watched Banner's face blanch.
"Oh my god."
That's when she felt it. She cursed Loki and the damn spear because she had a feeling that's why she hadn't realized it until now. But she was tuned to Clint. Every fiber of her being lived in harmony and symphony with his. He walked into a room, she felt it. He was watching her from the shadows on a mission and somehow she knew where he was. When they fought together, it was as if they were one body, one mind.
They didn't have to search anymore.
He was here.
Then the world exploded.
April 13, 2012
6:45 a.m. NYC
Helicarrier Infirmary
Doctor Dan Wilson was finishing the last stitch on a gash on an agent's arm – who had somehow managed to slice his arm between the jet he arrived on and his bunk room just by tripping – when he felt the floor shake.
A breath later alarms were blaring, emergency strobe lights flashing, and a voice blasting over the intercom.
"Emergency Protocol Delta is in effect. Proceed to your designated emergency zone. Emergency Protocol Delta is in effect. Proceed to your designated emergency zone."
Protocol Delta. Dan's eyes widened. Protocol Delta meant they were under attack.
"Jesus Christ…" Not again.
Dan quickly tied off the stitch and turned towards the infirmary door, reaching it in a few long strides.
"Anybody that doesn't want to get locked down in here better get the hell out."
He gave the various agents, including Mr. 'I Tripped' a few moments to jog out the door and then he shifted the panel next to it and pressed his handprint to the waiting palm reader. Once it accepted his print, a keypad popped up. He typed in the lockdown sequence and then stepped back. He heard the door locks engage and metal grating slid down to cover the windows to the hallway.
That done, Dan turned back to face the infirmary. Half the staff was looking at him, the other half was looking at Christine Webber, the infirmary head.
"John, Martha, Janae and Rose, prep all of our field kits, we need to be ready if and when they are needed," Christine ordered briskly. "Alice, Beth, and Jamie, make sure all of our trauma rooms are stocked and ready to receive patients. Jake and Marty, prep surgery."
The various nurses and orderlies scattered to their various assignments while Christine bee-lined it for Dan. When she reached him she spoke in low tones so as not to be overheard.
"Protecting this infirmary is our number one priority. We cannot have a repeat of what happened in New York."
Dan barely resisted the urge to respond with a properly sarcastic, 'No shit.'
Instead, he nodded towards his office.
"I think I can help with that."
He led the way, pushing through his office door and moving immediately to his desk. He unlocked the bottom drawer and withdrew several small hand guns one after the other – five in total.
Christine's eyes were wide when he raised his gaze to meet hers.
"I don't intend to go down without a fight this time. Do you?"
Her shoulders squared and she nodded once, sharply.
"I know that John, Jake, and Beth all passed weapons qualifications to become field medics." She offered the names even as she lifted one of the guns herself. "And personally, I try to make time for the range at least once a month."
Dan arched an eyebrow.
"They teach gun play at Harvard Med?"
Christine's lips quirked in slight smirk, an expression Dan couldn't recall ever having seen her wear before.
"No," she replied simply, intent, apparently, to leave the rest to mystery.
He huffed a slight chuckle, eyeing her with a note of new respect and then picked up a gun for himself.
"I'm a shit shot, but I'm qualified." He smirked himself now. "I say let the bastards try and take us."
Christine picked up the other guns, bundling them carefully in her arms.
"Let them try indeed."
April 13, 2012
6:46 a.m.
Helicarrier training gym
Todd Bryan hauled another agent up by his belt and a grip on his bicep, making sure he was steady before turning to face the group.
"You heard 'em! Let's mount up!" he bellowed with all the confidence and authority he could muster. The agents, most still shaking off their momentary shock from whatever explosion had knocked them off their feet, straightened in near synchronization.
"Alpha team, go west. Bravo, south. Charlie, north. Delta, east. Clear this boat of every goddamned hostile you see. We will not give up this ship, no matter what the cost may be. Am I understood?"
"Yes, sir!" was shouted back in a chorus.
"Echo team, you're with me. MOVE OUT!"
Todd waited for the teams to disperse and for Echo team to gather around him.
If Clint was part of this, and he'd bet dollars to donuts he was, then Todd had to plan his defense accordingly. Clint was a brilliant strategist, one of the best Todd had ever had the honor of training. If he had any input on this attack, then he'd have sent men to one of the most valuable – and also must vulnerable – areas of the ship, intent on taking it down.
"We have one objective, agents, and in it we cannot fail." He scanned their eyes, meeting as many gazes as he could. "The infirmary," he stated simply. All around him eyes lit in understanding and agents nodded. "Two years ago we failed that objective. Will we fail again?"
"NO, SIR!"
Todd nodded sharply to the chorused reply.
"Then let's get it done."
April 13, 2012
6:46 a.m.
Helicarrier bridge
Phil pushed off the console he'd slammed into when the explosion rocked the carrier.
"Hill!" Fury's call came through all their comms loud and clear.
"Number three engine is down!" Hill responded sharply as she assessed the screens in front of her.
"We've been hit," a tech announced needlessly.
Phil ignored them and started towards the exit. Hill would handle the engine problems. If anyone could organize and execute an effective solution, it would be her. Phil, on the other hand, had greater concerns. Even as he jogged down the steps on the bridge, angling for the door, Fury's voice came across the line, issuing the order he was already following.
"Coulson, initiate defensive lock down in the detention center. Then get to the armory."
Phil darted out into the hallways, weaving through the crowds of personnel swamping the halls.
"Get back!" he shouted as he moved. "Lock down procedures are in effect! Protocol Delta! Clear the halls!"
He was grimly pleased to see the number of bodies in his way significantly lower as the personnel followed his command.
He pressed his earpiece harder into his ear when he heard Fury call for Natasha. He held his breathe as he waited for her reply.
"Okay," she announced, though she sounded winded.
Phil took what comfort he could from that and continued on his way. He pulled out his phone as he moved, keeping one eye on it and one eye on the clearing halls. Through his phone he was able to initiate a remote lock down in the detention center and then he slid his phone away. It wouldn't hold anyone in or out for very long – especially if Clint had supplied them with bypass codes – but it was the first line of defense.
The armory was his goal now.
Loki may have thought he played them – that he'd pulled off some elaborate ruse – but Phil wasn't fooled. Loki had been a smoke screen. A distraction. He'd drawn their eye so that they wouldn't see this attack coming. Maybe even the talk of drawing out the Hulk had been part of the scheme.
And in all fairness, it had worked.
But Loki was about to find out that the agents of SHIELD were not going to just go quietly.
Whatever his intent, he would meet formidable resistance.
And if his intent was just to have them blown out of the sky? Well, Phil damn sure intended to see that Loki fell with them.
The comm in his ear keyed on suddenly, a voice he recognized coming across clearly.
"Got perimeter breach. Hostiles are in SHIELD gear. Call out at every junction."
Trust Todd Bryan to be leading the way into battle.
Phil had reached the armory now, passed through the first door and headed to a second door on the back wall. He leaned down slightly and initiated the retinal scan.
Hostiles in SHIELD gear. That was smart. It had Clint's tactical genius written all over it. Phil tried to push that thought out of his mind – to focus instead on his current mission. He picked up the weapon he'd come for and turned, heading immediately back the way he'd come.
Frantic calls came a few moments later about engine one going down, but it wasn't until Fury announced the cause that Phil stuttered to a stop.
"It's Barton, he took out our systems. He's headed for the detention level. Does anybody copy?"
Phil felt his chest clench. He'd tried not to think about the possibility of Clint being involved directly in the attack. He didn't want to imagine Clint facing off with the dozens of armed SHIELD agents intent on eliminating whatever threat they came across.
But now, hearing it confirmed, he suddenly couldn't move. Clint was headed for the detention level, no doubt to try and free Loki. Phil had been headed to that same detention level to stop Loki from escaping.
He couldn't make himself move.
He couldn't let Clint release Loki but…he didn't know if he could stop him either. It wasn't even just that he wouldn't be able to force himself to engage. He hadn't been able to beat Clint in a hand-to-hand battle in years. Ever since the archer had started training with Natasha, he'd far surpassed Phil's own combat ability. There was no physical way he could stop Clint.
He was suddenly painfully and acutely aware of the weight of the weapon in his hands.
But then, before Phil could contemplate just what he would do if he came face-to-face with Clint – and was faced with the choice of stopping him or not – another voice came across the comms.
"This is Agent Romanoff. I copy."
Phil felt feeling return to his legs.
Natasha.
If anyone could head Clint off, could stop him from ever reaching the detention area, it would be her. Hell, if anyone had a chance of stopping Clint without the use of lethal force, it was her…maybe only her.
She would find Clint. She would stop him.
End of Chapter 7
So, there we are! The attack has begun! :O Brace yourselves!
You know by now that reviews are my drop of water in a dry desert. So drop me one, would you ;)
Same time, same place tomorrow. Until then, here's your preview:
"Do you like this?" he asked with a smirk. "We started working on the prototype after you sent the Destroyer. Even I don't know what it does. Do you wanna find out?"
Clint would have been proud. He always did love a good round of taunting, he'd have to tell-
"Ahhh!"
Pain erupted in his chest, spreading in a frozen wave.