Devil of Menace

15 - Medical

Barton is strapped down in the Medical Bay as Nat and I watch over him. He's still trying to shake Loki's mind control. The whole situation is eerily familiar for the both of us, evident by the tight grip we have on one another's hands. "Clint, you're gonna be alright." Natasha reassures. " You know that? Is that what you know? I got...I gotta go in though. I gotta flush him out." Clint murmurs. "We don't have that long, it's gonna take time." I remind the struggling man. "I don't understand. Have you ever had someone take your brain and play? Pull you out and send something else in? Do you know what it's like to be unmade?" Clint questions without thinking. Nat sighs, "You know that we do." She says. Clint sighs, changing the subject, "Why am I back? How did you get him out?" He asks. "Cognitive recalibration." I explain. Clint looks at Natasha with a raised eyebrow, "I hit you really hard in the head." She reiterates. "Thanks." Clint says.

I undo his restraints as he appears to be returning to normal. "'Tasha, how many agents?" He asks remorsefully. "Don't. Don't do that to yourself, Clint. This is Loki. This is monsters and magic and nothing we were ever trained for." She reprimands, understanding the guilt on a personal level. "Loki, he got away?" Clint asks. "Yeah, don't suppose you know where?" I prompt. "I didn't need to know. I didn't ask. He's gonna make his play soon though. Today." Clint states matter-of-factly. "We gotta stop him." Natasha says, as if we didn't already know that. "We?" Clint questions, "Who's we?" Nat sighs deeply, "I don't know. Whoever's left." She suggests. "Well, if I put an arrow in Loki's eye socket, I'd sleep better I suppose." Clint threatens. "You and me both." I agree, Clint looks at me, offense painted across his face. "Arrows are my thing. You have that weird mysterious witchy aura thing going on." He jokes. "Watch it birdboy or I'll put a curse on you." I threaten. "Now you sound like you." Nat laughs, sitting next to her friend. "But you don't. You're a spy, not a soldier. Now you want to wade into a war. Why? What did Loki do to you?" Clint observes. "He didn't, I just..." Nat pauses. "Natasha." Clint prompts. "I've been compromised. I got red in my ledger. I'd like to wipe it out." She repeats.

I leave the pair to catch up and make my way down to the detention sector, knowing that's where I'll find Steve and Tony. And I don't trust those two in a room alone as much as I can throw them both. As I arrive Tony yells, "WE ARE NOT SOLDIERS! I am not marching to Fury's fife!" Steve replies calmly, "Neither am I." He sighs, "He's got the same blood on his hands as Loki does. Right now we've got to put that aside and get this done. Now Loki needs a power source, if we can put together a list..." Steve explains. I follow Tony's line of sight to he blood stained wall, "He made it personal." Tony interrupts, on the brink of a revelation. "That's not the point." Steve counters. I step into the room, my footsteps drawing the men's attention. "That is the point. That's Loki's point. He hit us all right where we live. Why?" I ask. "To tear us apart." Steve answers. "Yeah divide and conquer is great, but he knows he has to take us out to win, right? That's what he wants. He wants to beat us and he wants to be seen doing it. He wants an audience." Tony realises. Steve scoffs, "Right, I caught his act at Stuttgart." Steve reminds him.

Tony walks towards the door, "Yeah. That's just a preview, this is opening night. Loki's a full-tilt diva. He wants flowers, he wants parades, he wants a monument built in the skies with his name plastered..." He pauses. "Son of a bitch." He utters. I nod to Tony to go and gather the team. "Glad he came to that, my brain has been stuck." I joke. Steve tilts his head, "Are you okay Vicky?" He asks sincerely. I hesitate, "Yeah. Fine." I say bluntly. He raises an eyebrow, "Hey, you came back didn't you? Maybe there's hope yet." I joke sarcastically. Steve sighs, "Vik." I hold out my hand, "Don't do that. Don't try and tell me that death is natural, I know that. It doesn't make it hurt any less. A part of me thinks that if you came back then why can't everyone else?" I ask, Steve averts his eyes from me. "Why can't Phil? Why can't Bucky? Who knows what's gonna happen anymore Steve? I've seen a lot of death, mainly at my own hands. But I can still hope." I explain before walking away to prepare my combat suit for what I imagine is going to be a battle and a half.

"Here's hoping." Steve murmurs softly as I walk away.