『ᴀʀᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇʟ || ᴀ ᴍᴀʀᴠᴇʟ ꜰᴀɴꜰɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴ

Ch. 22: Battle of D.C.

The door opened, and a SHIELD agent stood on the other side, raising his head in shock at the four people who stood on the other side. I was leaning against the back wall, while Maria pointed a pistol and Sam pointed an automatic pistol at the agent. Steve stood in between the other two, and curtly nodded his head, "Excuse us."

Maria jerked her gun to the side, and the agent walked away from the door. The four of us walked inside the room, and I looked around at all the people inside. I looked at the microphone at the center desk, and snapped to get Steve's attention. He looked towards me, and I pointed towards it, "There."

He dipped his head in thanks, walking over towards the microphone as he clicked a button to start it up. Feedback came through the speakers throughout the building, before speaking, "Attention all SHIELD agents, this is Steve Rogers. You've heard a lot about me over the last few days. Some of you were even ordered to hunt me down. But I think it's time you know the truth."

He glanced around the room, Sam and I giving him respectful nods before Sam turned away, looking away from Steve before I stepped up next to him, silent. He looked to me, then gestured for me to continue.

I nodded slowly, before stepping up to the microphone, "SHIELD is not what we thought it was. It's been taken over by HYDRA. Alexander Pierce is their leader. The STRIKE and Insight crew are HYDRA as well. We don't know how many more, but I know they're in the building. They could be standing right next to you. They almost have what they want. Absolute control. They shot Nick Fury. And it won't end there."

Steve leaned in, and I took a step back, "If you launch those helicarriers today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way. Unless we stop them. I know I'm- I know we're asking a lot. But the price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay. A price we're willing to pay. And if Arch and I are the only ones, then so be it."

"But I'm willing to bet we aren't," I added, gazing at Steve with a small smile on my face. I nodded my head before turning to Sam, who was walking towards us.

He had a smile on his face as he looked between the two of us, "Did you two write that down first, or was it off the tops of your heads?"

I chuckled, shaking my head, "I wasn't even planning on talking."

"We made a good speech," Steve smiled towards me, before exhaling loudly, "But this isn't over. It's just the beginning."

I nodded, turning my gaze to the window as I frowned, "I hope HYDRA hasn't warped everyones minds so much that they won't even listen to us. We're the heroes, right? What if they don't even trust us?"

Sam shook his head, "I was a bystander when New York happened. I wasn't dealing with it like you two were. I have a high amount of respect for you."

I looked to Sam, a smile on my face as I turned to face him entirely, "You're cool. Steve, you should've introduced me to him sooner."

Steve just shrugged, a small smile on his face as he looked at the microphone, "What do we call you, Sam?"

"Falcon."

I laughed quietly, "Sorry, sorry, I'm not laughing at you. Falcon is a pretty cool name. We could be the winged duo," I joked.

Sam grinned, "Winged duo- I like that."

I focused my gaze on the water, and frowned, my eyes narrowed as I watched the water raise. I shakily breathed in, "Guys... I think something definitely is very wrong."

"They're initiating launch," Maria confirmed, and I cursed, turning around to face her.

I dipped my head quickly to her, then turned to the others, "Come on, we gotta go!"