Natasha's POV
Get down!" Tony yelled. I dropped to the ground covering my head with my arms as I heard Tony fly over my me and shoot one of his repulsors. Dirt and pieces of stone rained down on me kissing my cheeks. "The wall's down get in there and clear a path I'll look for the generator."
"Let us know when you're going to kill the power this time!" Steve warned.
"Afraid of the dark Mr. America?" I asked sarcasm dripping from my voice as I climbed to my feet and raced through the woods.
"If he was he'd be afraid of you." Tony replied. Rolling my eyes I dodged a tree and ducked under a branch forging my own path to the base.
"And who still sleeps with a night light?" I retorted. Tony scoffed and I felt a smirk form on my lips.
"It is not a night light!" He whined.
"That's not what thy Lady Pepper says." Thor mused. Tony groaned and the conversation temporarily stopped as the real fight started. Rounding a tree I took up my position behind a rather large boulder. Peering around it I saw the sentries standing with their guns poised and ready for combat. Scanning the area I stared at the portion of the broken wall Tony blew up in front of me. The break slanted up almost creating a staircase before reaching its full height and wrapping around the rest of the building.
"Time for a distraction." Turning I looked for an obscure area and discovered it just meters away. Slipping out from behind my hiding place I slunk in the shadows until I reached a thick section of trees and rocks. The perfect would be hiding spot. Reaching into one of my holsters I grabbed a gun and uncliped the laser pointer that I used occasionally for long distance shots before planting it in a gap between two rocks. Looking around I found a tall weed and used it to rap around the button on the end to keep it on. The angle planted the small red dot right on one of the sentries' chest. Before they noticed I slipped away and headed back to my original position.
"Aye!" One of them called pointing to the marked man. Panicking they turned focusing on the area which the laser pointer rested. While their attention was diverted ,and their backs to me, I sprinted to the wall and climbed the almost staircase of bricks. Once on top I continued my sprint with flawless balance until I was out of the area and on my way towards the building. Once the wall ran parallel to the building I jumped the gap landing easily on the roof.
"You at the building yet Romanoff?" Stark asked.
"On it." I breathed, jogging to the closest sky light. Stark zoomed over head checking my progress and let loose a small laugh.
"You weren't kidding."
"Why on earth would you think I was kidding Stark?" Reaching my destination I glanced inside and detected two enemies on the cat walk. Nothing I couldn't handle.
"Very funny guys, but I could use a little help!" Clint yelled and I saw him sprinting across the snow covered ground with soldiers in hot pursuit while he fired over his shoulder. Sighing I pulled out a pistol and easily picked them off.
"Give me more of a challenge Clint." He shook his head at me from where he was standing and I couldn't help but laugh. Turning back to the sky light I took a few steps back, let loose a bullet to shatter the glass, and dropped in. Landing on top of a soldier I caused him to collapse to the ground. From there I spun kicking out the legs of the other and bashed my gun across both of their temples. As more men came rushing at me I swung over the edge of the railing and began weaving my way through the scaffolding beneath. Slipping in and out with quick efficiency.
"Where'd she go?" One of them asked worriedly.
"How am I supposed to know?" One of the others retaliated. Slipping in and out of the bars I had made my way to the other side of the cat walk and flipped back up and over the bars. Landing lightly on my feet I sauntered over so that I was standing right behind them and looking over the edge.
"What'cha looking at?" Their heads snapped up at my voice and before they could do anything I was on them. Throwing a punch I hit the first man right in the nose before spinning away from him so that he was hit with one one of his comrade's bullets. Grabbing the Arm of a soldier who threw a lazy punch, I bashed his elbow into my shoulder disarming him before kicking his friend in the gut. Still having a grip on the one man's arm ,I elbowed him in the side and smashed the back of my head against his face, before bringing my foot up then bringing it down on the head of the man I already kicked. With those two out of commision I had cleared the entire catwalk.
"Clear." I informed the team. Next thing I know the door gets blasted open and Thor along with Cap charge in to take care of everyone on the ground. Hawkeye broke through the window all the way across from mine and started picking people off. "Stark the generator?"
"Got it. Once you clear the top sector out, head to the lower works. I'll kill the power when Nat gives the word. Get in and out and do as much damage as you can. I don't want these guys popping up again." Dropping down onto the next deck of scaffolding I worked my way to ground level. By the time I got there, which wasn't long, the enemy had been cleared out.
"Did everyone hear Stark?" I asked.
"Loud and clear." Cap said. Following his lead we made our way down the metal steps that lead to the lower works. Cap went in first deflecting a majority of the bullets with Thor behind him, then me, and finally Clint. Scarlett had missed this mission having gone to do something for Fury, bummer, I like working with her. Once inside Thor casually tossed his hammer to the nearest soldier.
"Hold this please." The soldier reached out to catch the hammer and as soon as he did collapsed to the ground. Thor laughed enthusiastically. "That one never gets old!"
Using my pistols we easily mowed through the defenses none of the soldiers poiseing a great threat. This was where Clint and I came in. Quietly we followed the stairs down even more until we were on the last level where the Big Shot was hiding.
"I'll take the scaffolding. I'll give you cover fire." I nodded just before we went our separate ways. Placing a stony expression on my face I entered the open room. I could sense Clint making his way around the scaffolding above me and I felt more secure knowing that if things went awry he was there. The three men sat at a big wood table all of them in fancy attire and the center figure was rather plump. As for the other two, they were far younger and easily the brain instead of the braun. Stepping into the light that only seemed to shine on them, their quiet discussion faded to silence. The leader ,I suppose, stood opening his arms in an almost friendly gesture.
"Ah, welcome Widow. We've been anticipating your arrival. I suppose you were the one to take out my guards, yes?" He spoke with a thick German accent that was hard to decipher. I looked at my nails seeming non chalant.
"You need some better dogs, I was hoping for a challenge." He chuckled, his smile melting away into a thin line.
"I should have known that the Widow would skip formalities." He sat back down into his chair his muscles slightly tensed.
"Yes well, I find that they can be quite a drag sometimes yes?" He gave a deep chuckle his eyes roaming over my body. His apparent attraction towards me was creepy but despite that I could use it go my advantage. Time for a little game.
"I suppose you came for this." He said gesturing to his colleague who lifted a small blue lockbox from beneath the table. Stalking forward I perched on the edge of the table looking in his direction from beneath my lashes. All of them blushed slightly at my gaze.
"Well now, there are other things I want too." I spoke seductively. The leader swallowed hard and I resisted the urge to smile at his inability to focus. " But I suppose if this is the only thing you'll give me I won't be to upset."
"N-now Widow I don't willingly give away such treasures. Though, if there is a certain thing you would give me ,that we may both like, based on your suggestion of course, I'll consider it your payment." In one fluid motion I had hopped off the table and walked around him so that I had my lips pressed against his ear.
"Such a tempting offer." I breathed and I could see the heat rising to his cheeks. Moving again I came to stand behind the young man with the lock box. And reached under the table with both hands one resting on my gun the other on his leg. He looked at me with wide eyes and a wistful smile and I was instantly disgusted by what thoughts were most likely racing through his mind. " But I'm afraid Little Red's answer is going to be..."
Suddenly the lights went out and I jumped into action. Having memorized their positions by now I brought the gun down hard on the boy with the lock box's head. Using my other hand I slipped it off the table. A pair of arms wrapped around me with a strong force but I brought my feet back using my heel to kick him in his soft spot. With the other two disabled I turned to face the leader. The generator turned on, Tony only being able to overwrite the generator a short period of time.
"No." I said with disgust and despite his men laying incapacitated on the ground he was still hoping for his prize. "Pervert." I said blandly before knocking him over the head as well. With all of them out cold Clint made his way down to me and together we tied them up.
"Alright Stark get transportation. Steve, Thor, a little help here." Having tied them up I searched their bodies for any other hidden secrets and discovered their official IDs which would be helpful as well as the key for the lock box. Thor and Steve picked up the unconscious captives and we made our way outside. Tony came moments later in the jet and lowered it steadily to the ground. The boys, Steve and Thor, went first eager to put the sleeping men where they belonged. I swung the metal box in my hand by the handle skipping towards the jet awfully pleased with my performance. Tony was watching me from the cockpit.
"Cool it Riding Hood!" He shouted. I rolled my eyes climbing into the back and setting off towards the tower. Setting the box and other goods safely aside I took my seat leaning back in it. I felt the slightest change of weight in the seat next to mine and looked over at who it was. Clint was sitting next to me looking worried.
"What's up?" I asked. He locked eyes with mine.
"I don't like how he looked at you." He said flatly. Here we go, over protective Clint again.
"It's fine. He wasn't going to do anything. Besides I was well aware of the way he was looking at me." He sighed shaking his head in exasperation.
"It just makes me nervous that's all." He said with a shrug. " I just worry about what might happen when I or the gang isn't around. It could still happen here or back home."
"I know Clint. You've told me this before. I can kick their asses, it's fine. Besides I can't help my good looks." He laughed and I knew the conversation was over.
"You suck you know that right?" I smiled at him cheesily. "I had a point and you ruined it."
"Your point was loud and clear Father Clint." I said in a really bad impression of his voice. Laughing once more the entire flight back was full of snarky comments and jokes Tony, Clint, and I being the main culprits.
Arriving back at the tower I collected the box along with the IDs and the key. Maria Hill was waiting for us on the landing deck with a few other former agents of SHIELD. Though SHIELD wasn't functional again Tony had recruited a lot of the agents to work with us as part of the Agents team not SHIELD. Upon touching solid ground again Hill stepped forward preparing to give us Fury's instructions.
" We got the leader along with a few of his right hand men. They're in the back." I informed. She relayed the information to her crew who went to take them to containment.
"Did you get it?" She asked. With a smug smile I held up the box.
"Yep. Took a little work though." She laughed.
" So I heard. Fury's been laughing all morning." I nodded. Fury was monitoring our missions lately and he often found our playful banter entertaining. Entering the tower I walked at a brisk and steady pace to Fury's office detaching myself from Maria. Knocking lightly on his door I waited for him to open it. With a faint click his door slid open and I walked in to find him leaning back leisurely in his chair.
"I got what you asked for." Holding up the box he nodded with a pleased smile and I slid it over to him. "I also found these. Turns out our mystery men have names after all."
He took the IDs while I showed him the key to the box. "We should call a meeting and see what the hell they were so intent on guarding."
"I agree. Oh and one more thing before you go, I'd like you to interogate our new captives. You know see if they're willing to talk." He said the words as if they meant nothing even though we both knew he was hinting at the mission. "By the way the Pervert thing was genius."
Shaking my head I left him behind in his office. Fury you're piece of work. Heading to the interogation chamber I,bumped into Tony.
"I still can't believe the code word was Little Red." I called over my shoulder as we both continued on our paths.
"It was that or Strawberry. Strawberries are red you know. It makes sense."
"Whatever you say Stark. Oh and while you're headed in that direction tell Steve to head to the monitors I've got an interogation."
"What did you and Clint break it off?"
"His father side's been showing." Tony laughed at that. Clint had recently come back from paternal leave and let's just say raising kids has really gotten to him. He sometimes slips into Dad mode on accident. Walking swiftly I made it to the containment center and searched the cells for the men we had captured. A few of the other prisoners that we would be interogating later, since they were of lesser importance, took it upon them to do there best to get under my skin. From cat calls to slurs all of which I cared none about. Arriving at my destination I stopped in front of a small cell where the three men were sitting. Unholstering a pistol I unlocked the door.
"You come with me. The both of you stay put or I'll blow your brains out." Pointing my gun at the other two men the youngest followed me out of the cell and I locked it behind me.
"A-aren't you going t-to cuff me?" He asked his hands shaking with nerves. He wasn't the one with the lockbox but the other one who had done and said nothing. He looked young, to young to be doing dirty work like this.
"No. I believe that you know what would happen if you tried anything. " He gave me a sideways glance before flicking his eyes to the ground. He was timid. More than I thought he would be.
"I'm here Nat. I'm at the monitors now, when you get there start whenever you like." Instead of saying thanks I whistled a few notes. "You're welcome." He said.
Most of the time it was best to not let the person whom we are interogating know that more than one person is hearing the response. Steve, Clint, and I, the usual integrators, had developed a coded whistle system. It seemed silly at the time but had proven to be quiet helpful. Most people suspect Ted nothing from the short blurbs of song tunes we whistled. Reaching the large bullet proof glass cylinder I led the prisoner in first to the table. There everything I needed had been layed out papers and documents, the IDs, everything.
Taking my seat I placed my feet casually on the table and flipped through his file. Interesting. Resting my feet on the floor I placed my elbows on the table and leaned forward.
"Okay, Mr. Stone, you have absolutely no criminal record, straight A- student at your school, why the heck are you hanging out with those goons?" He shifted uncomfortably in his seat playing with his fingers. "Answering will make this a whole lot easier for you."
"No it won't!" He insisted sounding angry and frustrated, but not at me, at himself. "I can't tell you even if I wanted to."
"Did they threaten you?" He shook his head furiously side to side. "Then what is it?"
" They'll know! I can't ,I swear!" As he grew more panicked I noticed that his accent changed, he didn't sound German at all anymore, he sounded- no. I flipped back through his papers and I couldn't find what I was looking for.
"You're Russian?" I breathed. His expression grew pained but he nodded conceding a tid-bit of information. "Are any of you actually German?"
"No." He answered shortly and I noticed him massaging his temples as if he had a headache.
"What were you doing in Germany and in the abandoned factory?" His fists clenched tighter his knuckles turning white.
"We were guarding something."
"What?"
"I can't tell you!"
"What's in the case?"
"I- I don't know." He was struggling now his breathing rushed and shallow. Something wasn't right here.
"Liar. You know what's in the box. What is it?"
"Something! It's dangerous, not in that box!" He was losing it but I was close to something and I couldn't help but feel a slight sense of dread creeping into my bones.
"What are you talking about? What box? Is it the one we have? What's in it?"
"Nat. You need to stop. Somethings not right with him." I shook my head ignoring Cap. Something was wrong and I intended to find out.
An agonizing yell tore through the boy's throat and he clutched his head.
"They'll hurt me! But I have to tell you! The b-box is em-" He let loose another scream and fell out of his chair onto the floor convulsing. Leaping out of my chair I pushed the table aside and watched as he screamed and twisted on the ground.
"Nat get out of there now!" Steve yelled and I could tell he had ripped off his head set.
Crouching next to the boy on the floor I realized he was still trying to tell me something.
"Emp-em- pty! It was a trick!" He screamed and suddenly a stillness came over him and his body relaxed.
"Can you hear me? Mr. Stone?" Reaching down to check his pulse he moved with such speed I had no time to react. Suddenly he had me by the wrist ,jerked me to my feet, before slamming me into the wall. His hand clamped down around my throat with an intense force and I struggled against his grip. Analysing the situation as fast as I could I realized he left his torso open. Punching him hard in the gut his grip loosened and I dropped to the floor before springing to my feet. The rush of air burned my throat. Barely dodging one of his punches I slammed my knee into his chest before grabbing him by the throat, sweeping his legs out from under him, and slamming him against the floor. His eyes weren't shifty and nervous anymore but instead full of calculating coldness and anger.
With another angry roar he swept my legs away and crawled to his feet. Practically picking me up off the ground he slammed my head into the floor hard. Blinking spots away I tried to focus but he was back to choking me. It was hard to focus now and I was wondering if there was anyone to help. Forcing a hand up against his chin I pushed back hard trying to break his neck. We were both stuck in a battle of will and strength. As my vision darkened even more I knew I was losing. Resisting the urge to black out I was barely concious enough to feel him suddenly lose his grip and to feel the heavy weight on my body be lifted off. Slowly though the world folded into a black veil.