"Enjoying the city?"
"We're just trying to take everything in one step at a time but so far it's been absolutely fantastic."
"I mean the architecture, the people, the food. It's just all been amazing!"
"Well, I am glad to hear that you are enjoying the city so far, Üdvözöljük Budapesten." Said an old man with kind eyes as he handed the young duo a couple maps and a small package.
"köszönöm." Responded the voice of a red haired woman who gave a warm smile as her partner took the package and maps from the old man.
"I didn't know you spoke Hungarian." Mused the man as he walked alongside the scarlet haired female putting on a pair of shades and tucking the package into his coat.
"I don't it's just customary to learn the basic language of the country you're visiting."
"Noted. Targets on the move, I'll keep lookout on higher ground." Said the man as he took a step back and disappeared into an empty alleyway.
"Always looking for a perch." Mused the woman turning on her comlink and setting sights on a man that was below them in a market square buying fruit.
"So why are we trailing this guy if we already know where he's headed?"
"Because the building is heavily fortified right now with their latest discovery but I'm pretty sure my man here happens to know a second entrance from an unknown building."
"Let's just hope you actually did the scouting right this time. Remember what happened in Italy?"
"In my defense I was right, it was just unforeseen circumstances that complicated the matter."
"Right, eyes of a hawk. How come we don't just go in there undercover these guys aren't exactly armed mercenaries."
"Because if it was that simple than they'd just have some random shield agents walking in like buddy buddies asking to take a look around."
"You're right, definitely sounds more like Coulson's thing."
"Oh he'd have a field day with this mission."
"Targets heading west into an alleyway, I'm about to go dark."
"I got him." Whispered the woman as she saw the man duck into the alleyway as she hid under the map behind two groups of tourists.
Upon seeing the man turn into the alley she quickly discarded the map and sped up a little but not enough to draw attention to herself. She first did a sweep through to check that the alleyway was empty before actually ducking into it. Upon entering the alleyway she saw 3 sets of doors, which were all unmarked and let to individual stores on the other side. She squatted down and squinted a little looking at the gravel as she began to trace fresh prints, which led directly to the door in the middle.
"Clint, I need eyes on the middle store on the other side of this alleyway."
"Seems to be some sort of shoe shining shop but the windows are heavily tinted and the sign says closed."
"I'm going to head in, rendezvous at the meet point."
"Copy."
She gave the door a small knock and plastered herself to the side of the wall in case someone did indeed come back out. After a couple minutes it was clear nobody was coming out so she picked the lock, opened the door, slid in, and closed it without a sound.
The backroom was a workshop of some sorts as various shoes could be seen on the shelf as well as sewing machines and buckets of shiners and polishes. Natasha walked around the room and took a look out in the front before returning to the back and finding a set of stairs leading to the basement. Without a sound she descended down the steps and gripped the handle waiting.
5 seconds.
5 more.
Footsteps could be heard walking away as she finally opened the door and slid inside. The room was bare with stonewall except for a single unmarked metal door. The voices of men could be heard echoing in the hallway, which was a sign that it was definitely the tunnel they were looking for and from the sounds of it, it was deep one.
With a small sigh, Natasha sat down by the door and leaned the back of her head against the wall while closing her eyes. She would have to wait for the men to disappear deeper into the tunnel before she could advance.
She sees red, crimson blood soaking red, which burned into the very essence of her soul. The blood of countless lives shed and spilt in the pursuit of ultimate glory. She was lost in a never-ending river of death, trapped by the shadows of deceit. There was never white, only gray and black.
That was until she met him, a staple of everything that was good in the world. Innocence, Bravery, and Compassion all mixed into one being. Suddenly the world didn't seem so bland and she began to see the light. But like the twisted demon she was she had to squeeze the light so hard until it finally extinguished. She didn't deserve such a bright light, she never did and that's why she let it die.
At least that's what she tells herself. The red in her ledger is what people think drives her but it was deeper than that. It was the ghost with blue eyes that drove her onto a better path. Haunting her in her sleep filling her with belief and encouragement that she needed to do better and save those who couldn't save themselves, to stand up against the bullies. He never asked her why she did what she did, why she took away his chance at life. And that was what shook her very soul the most.
It was time.
She opened her eyes and made her way through the metal door and into the darkness. She walked for what seemed like hours before she reached the end of the tunnel as a single ladder could be seen with white light coming down upon it. Listening for any signs of people she deemed that it was safe and began ascending the ladder. Upon reaching the top she found herself in a catacombs of sorts at various tombs could be seen lined on both sides. She took out a gps like device that scanned the whole area before creating a digital layout on the screen and leading her to her source. She navigated the old and dusty tombs brushing away cobwebs and avoiding various skeletons. She finally reached the area she was looking for as a single tomb stood at the end with a bright light shining upon it. The tomb was made of marble and didn't seem to have been touched for years.
Without any hesitation she pocketed the device and proceeded to move the lid of the tomb. Instead of a pile of dust, rotting flesh, or a full on skeleton there was instead various pieces of weaponry ranging from medieval to alien. She scanned the tomb before setting her eyes on her target. She quickly checked the tomb to see if there was any security and without finding any she reached inside and picked up her package.
"Clint, I've secured the package."
"Copy, get outside. Extraction in … Wait multiple unmarked Suv's pulling up Nat you'll need to go out where you came."
"Shit." Muttered Natasha as she began making her way back through the catacombs.
"How long do we got?"
"I'm calling this one in, changing the time of extraction."
"I'd hold of on that one." Said Natasha suddenly as she heard voices and footsteps coming from the tunnel below.
"Why? What happened?"
"They're coming up from the tunnel, I got to move up."
"Well this just got complicated." Said Clint blankly through the comm
"It's never that easy." Mused Natasha as she ascended steps to find herself in the back of a church. She pushed open the door and headed into the main room before ducking behind a row of benches as the church floor flew open and men began crowding inside.
"Be careful Nat, these guys are armed. I'll give you a distraction but it's going to be hell right after, oh and you might want to find some cover."
She couldn't agree or disagree, as she would risk being compromised so she simply waited. She could hear footsteps all around and gruff voices speaking in German. A Bang and a rattle could be heard in the back before the sound of scattering footsteps could be heard.
"Sir! The artifact it's been taken."
"Taken? How could it be taken? Are you sure it isn't somewhere else in here?"
"No sir, someone's stolen it. The tomb hasn't been touched for years until recently."
"Well that means whoever took out artifact must be nearby still, search the church, nobody comes in or out!"
Before Natasha could wonder where Clint's "distraction," was one of the glass mosaics shattered as a three arrows launched into the floor.
"Shit. Not those." Muttered Natasha seconds before all three arrows went off spraying fragments everywhere piercing various men around the church.
There wasn't time to think she simply reacted and hid behind the large object in her possession. Everything bounced off and she was unharmed. But there wasn't time to dwell on that. She leapt up from the bench while pulling out her pistol and put two bullets in the men nearby before they could even react. And like that she was gone.
"AFTER HER!" Shouted the man who was now clutching his shoulder and kneeling on the floor bleeding.
After a couple minutes of screams and firefights she burst through the church doors and was immediately greeted by various men with assault rifles pointed at her. There wasn't time to think as bullets rained and as if it was the most natural thing in the world she ducked under the strange but very familiar object as bullets ricocheted and even reflected back at the shooters taking some out. She ran to the side and sprinted towards the hills with Clint and her new cover protecting her as well as her usual sharp accuracy and skills.
"When's extraction!" Yelled Natasha as she met up with Clint on top the hills.
"About now." Said Clint looking up as a quinjet zoomed by dropping a missile right on the church below destroying the whole thing and everyone in it. It then hovered around and landed near the duo, who immediately ran up the ramp and safely into the jet.
"Nice shield." Mused Clint looking at the large object locked onto Natasha's right arm
"It's pretty handy, and surprisingly light." Said Natasha looking over the strange round metal that was smooth and unmarked.
"That's because it's vibranium. You're holding the only vibranium shield in existence.
"Well I wonder why Fury wanted this Shield so bad." Mused Natasha
"Because. The only person to use that vibranium shield was Captain America, and as of 15 hours ago he was found frozen in snowy tundra. Didn't you read the whole report?" Said Clint excitedly.
"No… Just.. My objectives." Muttered Natasha staring blankly at shield in her arms
"Steve's shield"
"Steve Rogers is alive."
Authors Note: Sorry for the long delay for this chapter, Went on vacation and things just got carried away. But here it is, and the story continues.