Great, so now, Dalla and Steve have to deal with Pierce and the STRIKE team… Okay, all of you know the movie at this point. Please enjoy.
Differences in this chapter: Dalla is with Steve every step of the way.
Steve and Dalla made their way through HQ. They weren't happy with what was happening and neither of them had a good feeling about what they were walking into. As they walked towards the meeting room/office, they notice the secretary was talking to a familiar blond woman. Of course, thought Dalla. She's here.
Just ignore her, sweetheart, Steve said in her mind. If she says anything, I'll handle it.
The man in the doorway and Agent Thirteen turned towards them, with the latter walking towards them, greeting the couple with, "Agent Odinsdottir. Captain Rogers."
"Neighbor," Steve said in a flat tone as he and Dalla continued to the door.
The agent turned and watched the pair enter the room. Dalla looked back, staring the other woman down. Dalla, Steve said, keeping his face hard but sharing a chuckle in her mind.
What? Dalla asked innocently, matching his expression and inner conversation.
You don't need to worry about her, he said. But you're cute when you're jealous.
I'm not jealous, she defended. I mean, what is there to be jealous about with her?
Don't be mean, beautiful. I mean, she isn't here and she can't hear you.
She flirted with you the entire time she lived next door to us! I put up with it because she was "nice" and you wanted me to be nice in return!
I know, but you have nothing to worry about. I didn't even notice it.
You, my handsome soldier, would unconsciously flirt with her. Inviting her for coffee? Really?
I was just being nice.
You're lucky I know that or you would have been sleeping on our very uncomfortable couch. I love you, but…
Let's hear what the secretary has to say and I'll show you how much I love you back home.
Dalla shook her head as the other man watched them. Steve…
Dalla…
She let out a soft sigh that the older-looking man didn't notice. You better make good on that promise, Captain.
Steve straightened and swallowed hard.
"Captain," the man said, drawing their attention, "Agent. I'm Alexander Pierce."
He and Steve shook hands as Steve replied, "Sir. It's an honor."
"For us both," Dalla added when it was her turn to shake hands.
"The honor's mine," Pierce said. "My father served in the hundred and first. Told me stories about the two of you. Come on in."
He led them into a conference room where some photos were laid out. Dalla and Steve stared at a couple of them, picking them up for a better look. A young-looking Fury and Pierce were at an event of some kind.
"That photo was taken five years after Nick and I met," Pierce explained as he got comfortable, "when I was at the State Department in Bogata. E.L.N rebels took the embassy, and security got me out, but the rebels took hostages." He began to gather papers and files. "Nick was Deputy Chief of the SHIELD station there and he comes to me with a plan. He wants to storm the building through the sewers." Dalla and Steve looked at Pierce. "I said, 'No, we'll negotiate.' Turned out," Pierce walked toward the pair, "the E.L.N. didn't negotiate, so they put out a kill order. They stormed the basement, and what do they find?" He stopped in front of the couple. "They find it empty." They all sat down in a smaller area designed for meetings between two or three people as opposed to large groups. "Nick had ignored my direct order, and carried out an unauthorized military operation on foreign soil, and saved the lives of a dozen political officers, including my daughter."
"So, you gave him a promotion," Steve said.
"I've never had any cause to regret it." There was a pause as Dalla and Steve contemplated what Pierce was saying. "Captain, Agent Odinsdottir, why was Nick in your apartment last night?"
They both looked at Pierce before Steve answered, "We don't know."
"Did you know it was bugged?"
"We did," Dalla replied.
"Nick told us," Steve finished.
"Did he tell you both he was the one who bugged it?" Pierce inquired before an uncomfortable, anger-tinged silence filled the space between the couple and the secretary. "I want you to see something."
He reached for a remote. The window screen near them lit up with a video of Batroc. He was being interrogated, an agent walking behind him.
"Who hired you, Batroc?" the agent asked.
"Is that live?" Steve asked.
"Yeah," answered Pierce. "He escaped custody for a time and they found him in a not-so-safe house in Algiers not long after."
"Are you saying he's a suspect?" Dalla inquired.
"Assassination isn't Batroc's line," Steve replied.
"No, no," Peirce responded. "It's more complicated than that. Batroc was hired anonymously to attack the Lemurian Star. And he was contacted by email and paid by wire transfer, and then the money was run through seventeen fictitious accounts." Dalla and Steve's heads snapped toward Pierce at that information. "The last one going to a holding company that was registered to Jacob Veech."
"Are we supposed to know who that is?" Steve asked.
"Not likely. Veech died six years ago. His last address was Fourteen-thirty-five Elmhurst Drive. When I first met Nick, his mother lived at Fourteen-thirty-seven."
That caught the couple's attention. And not in a good way.
"Are you saying that Fury hired the pirates?" Steve replied.
"Why?" asked Dalla.
Pierce said, "The prevailing theory was that the hijacking was a cover for the acquisition and sale of classified information. The sale went sour and that led to Nick's death."
There was a pause before Steve replied, "If you really knew Nick Fury, you'd know that's not true."
Pierce gave them a nod. "Why do you think we're talking?" The three of them stood and walked to Pierce's desk. "See, I took a seat on the Council not because I wanted to, but because Nick asked me to, because we were both realists." Pierce put his arm on the window, looking over D.C. "We knew that, despite all the diplomacy and the handshaking and the rhetoric, that to build a really better world sometimes means having to tear the old one down." He looked back at the couple on the other side of his desk. "And that makes enemies. Those people would call you both dirty because you got the guts to stick your hands in the mud and try to build something better. And the idea that those people could be happy today makes me really, really angry." He took a breath. "Captain, Agent Odinsdottir, you two were the last to see Nick alive. I don't think that's an accident. And I don't think you do either." The conversation was making Dalla's heart pound and made Steve suspicious. "So, I'm going to ask again. Why was he there?"
"He told us not to trust anyone," Steve said after a moment, taking a chance.
Dalla understood what Steve was doing as Pierce inquired, "I wonder if that included him."
There was a pause. "I'm sorry."
"Those were his last words," Dalla finished, moving to Steve's side in solidarity.
"Excuse us."
They began to walk out, Steve picking up his shield and placing it on his back while Dalla reattached Eldr to her own.
"Captain," Pierce called. "Agent." They turned back towards the secretary as he sat on the corner of his desk. "Someone murdered my friend and I'm gonna find out why. Anyone gets in my way, they're gonna regret it. Anyone."
They nodded and said, "Understood."
They walked to the elevator as Dalla said, You know he was trying to play us, right?
"Play us"? Steve asked, still keeping his face like stone. When did you start talking more like-
Like I'm from Midgard? Natasha and Tony are rubbing off on me. Still-
Yeah, I know. Something doesn't feel right to me either. Let's get home and we can work this out later.
Alright, Stevie.
Now, I know this is a big problem.
What?
You called me "Stevie" and you only do that when you worry.
What he said about the situation made sense but everything else just-
I know.
They entered the elevator and stood at the back. Steve leaned against the railing toward the window as Dalla put her back to it, both looking down in exasperation and frustration. Steve ordered the elevator to move to Operations Control. Both of them stayed silent. Just as the doors were closing, they were stopped.
"Keep all STRIKE personnel on site," came a familiar voice, though Steve and Dalla didn't react.
One voice answered, "Understood."
Another replied, "Yes, sir."
"Forensics," the first voice ordered.
"Confirmed," said the computer.
"Cap. Agent Odinsdottir."
The two of them looked toward the voice, Steve turning around as they both responded, "Rumlow."
As the elevator began to move, Rumlost said, "Evidence Response found some fibers on the roof they want us to see." That caught Steve and Dalla's attention. "You want me to get the tac team ready?"
"No," Steve said, "let's see what it is first."
"Right."
The two Avengers noticed the weapons on the agents with them. How tense they were. Almost like they were prepared for a fight. I can't draw Eldr here, Dalla said.
I can't use my shield either, Steve responded. We'll make it out of this.
I know we will. Besides, it could be nothing.
The elevator doors opened. More agents entered, this time in suits and ties.
"What's the status so far?" one asked. "Administrations level."
"Confirmed," the computer said.
Steve and Dalla moved to the center of the elevator. They were feeling more and more uncomfortable and it had nothing to do with the number of people. They took a subtle look at the men around them.
"I'm sorry about what happened with Fury," Rumlow said. "It's messed up, what happened to him."
"Thank you," replied Steve.
All the men were facing away from the couple. Dalla adjusted her fingerless gloves. As much as she loved her Asgardian armor, she had to admit, the suit Tony made was very effective for missions. It matched her armor colors and was lightweight on top of being functional. While she told Tony that he didn't need to make her a special suit, he had one that would distinguish her from the rest of the SHIELD agents she worked with. Sure, she had stealth suits and her armor when needed, but she was happy to wear the widow-esque suit, especially in situations like this.
Dalla, look at the man to my left as discretely as possible, Steve said.
He's sweating and praying, she said.
Before he could say something else, more agents entered the already crowded elevator, heading to the "records" level. With that, the situation was confirmed. STRIKE was the enemy. SHIELD had, indeed, been compromised.
I'm sorry, Dalla, Steve said, knowing she was trying to hold in a shaky breath. I know you worked hard to create this organization.
I knew the risk when we were building it, she replied. No matter the intent or how well we try to avoid it, eventually everything becomes corrupt when evil men infiltrate. Besides, the organization I built was back in the forties. This one is completely different. As painful as it is to know it has come to this, I will not lose sleep if SHIELD must fall.
I can't imagine being as strong as you. To know something you worked so hard to build-
She ran her fingers over his outer thigh. It stopped being mine when I returned to Asgard. Besides, I'm only strong because I have you at my side.
He gave her a smile that only she saw. It was quick and fleeting, but full of love and reassurance. It was a smile she gave to him in return before they both got ready for what was about to come. The elevator began to move as everyone situated themselves around the couple.
"Before we get started," Steve inquired, "does anyone want to get out?"
No one said anything. They were still for a moment. Then, all hell broke loose. Half the men targeted Dalla, the others went after Steve. Without them realizing it, two of the men took their weapons, though they had to immediately drop Eldr due to the heat. Somehow, the elevator was stopped during the frey.
Working together, they began knocking out the enemy agents. Dalla hated seeing them use a taser baton on the man she loved, almost as much as she hated it used on her.
Eventually, Steve got stuck to the wall with a magnetic cuff and Dalla got pinned against the right wall, both arms behind her back and a man holding her down. Her cuffs were special, keeping her powers locked. Steve knocked the man out but she couldn't help with the handicap. Not that he needed her help to remove his arm from the wall. He then proceeded to knock out three more men.
Dalla sat up with a smile and said, That was hot, Captain.
Not now, sweetheart, he said, turning to the last remaining conscious agent.
"Whoa, big guy," Rumlow said out of breath. "I just want you to know, Cap, this isn't personal!"
Dalla worked her way into standing as Rumlow used two batons to attack Steve. She watched him throw Rumlow into the elevator ceiling. Steve was breathing heavily as he looked down at all the downed agents.
"It kind of feels personal," he said.
Dalla snickered, causing Steve to shake his head. Using his foot, he flipped his shield and caught it on the magnetic holders on his left arm. Using the vibranium disk, he broke the cuff on his right wrist. Dalla turned and he then destroyed the cuffs holding her captive. She whipped around and kissed him hard.
"Whoa," he said, pulling back with a smirk, "we aren't out of the woods, yet, sweetheart."
"I know," she chuckled. "I couldn't help it."
"Let's get out of here."
Steve pressed the emergency stop button to get the doors open as Dalla picked up Eldr. They were greeted by a swarm of STRIKE agents, all pointing guns at them.
One of them ordered, "Drop the shield and sword, and put your hands up!"
Thinking fast, Steve hit the cracked glass window on the left-hand side. This caused the cables to get cut by the edge of the shield. On instinct, Steve pulled Dalla to him to protect her. After a moment of freefalling in the metal box, the emergency breaks brought the elevator to a stop. Dalla and Steve worked together to get the doors open. Dalla groaned as they saw more agents coming after them. They closed the doors to keep the enemy out.
One of the STRIKE agents said, "Give it up, Rogers and Odinsdottir! Get that door open!"
Steve and Dalla looked out the other windows, trying to find a way out.
"Any ideas?" Steve asked.
"Well, Eldr will only cause more problems," she said. "So, it's all you."
"Okay. I got this."
The agent on the other side of the door yelled, "You got nowhere to go!"
At the same time, Steve took hold of his girl and ran to the window, breaking it with the shield so that they could jump out. He kept her by his side, using the shield to crash through the roof of the adjoining building. They landed hard as glass rained down around them.
"Remind me to never let you come up with the escape plans again," Dalla groaned.
They struggled for a moment to stand, but when they did, they started running out of the building. They made their way to the garage and got on a bike. Just as the metal doors were closing, they jumped through to escape. Spikes rose up on the other side of the bridge, cutting them off from the city. At the same time, a jet came from behind them to cut them off.
"Stand down, Captain Rogers!" the pilot ordered. "You too, Agent Odinsdottir! Stand down!" The guns on the jet emerged. "Repeat, stand down!"
Dalla hugged Steve tighter as he sped up. There was no way that they were going to let the enemy get their hands on them. The pilot began firing. Steve began dodging bullets. Without a word, Dalla leaned back and Steve threw his shield to disable an engine.
At the same time, they jumped off the bike. Steve went to retrieve his shield as Dalla drew Eldr and began to attack the ship. Steve soon joined her. As much as using Eldr to escape would have been a good idea, they didn't want the jet to follow them.
Steve landed on the bridge, Dalla hovering above him. Both of them watched the jet crash. Satisfied that no one would follow them, Steve ran to the edge of the bridge, jumping so that he landed behind Dalla on Eldr so that they flew off.