The Teen Avenger (Book 2) (Avengers X OC)

Taking Down S.H.I.E.L.D. (13)

Steve's POV:

'Lacerated spinal column, cracked sternum, shattered collarbone, perforated liver, and one hell of a headache.' he said.

'Don't forget your collapsed lung.' The doctor reminded him.

'Yeah. Otherwise, I'm fine.' He said. I saw Mia smile a little.

'They cut you open, your heart stopped.' Nat said.

'Tetrodoxin B. Banner developed it for stress. Didn't work so well for him so we found a use.' he explained.

'Why all the secrecy? Why not just tell us?' I asked.

'An attempt on the Director's life had to look successful.' Hill said.

'Can't kill you if you're already dead. Besides, I didn't know who to trust.' He said. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mia nodding. Maria gave her a pouch.

'What's this?' She asked.

'Just open it.' she said. Mia opened it and inside were a pair of gloves.

'Thanks.' she said, smiling and put them on. We then gathered on a table to figure out a plan.

'This man declined the Nobel Peace Prize. He said that peace wasn't an achievement, it was a responsibility." he scoffed in response.

"See, it's stuff like this that gives me trust issues.' Nick said. 

'We have to stop the launch.' Mia said.

'I don't think the Council's taking my calls anymore.' Nick said, sarcastically and opened a suitcase which had three devices in it.

'What's that?' Sam asked.

'Once the hellicarriers reach 3,000 feet, they'll triangulate with Insight satellites, becoming fully weaponised.'

'We need to breach those carriers and replace their targeting blades with our own.'

'One or two won't cut it, we need to link all three for these to work.' Hill said.

Mia's POV:

'Why?' Sam asked.

'Because even one of those ships remains operational, a whole lot of people are going to die.' I answered.

'We have to assume that everyone aboard the ship is HYDRA. We have to get past them, insert the server blades. And maybe, just maybe we can salvage what's left...' Nick said but Steve interrupted him.

'We're not salvaging anything. We're not just taking down the carriers, Nick. We're taking down S.H.I.E.L.D.' He said.

'S.H.I.E.L.D has nothing to do with this.' Nick argued.

'You gave me this mission. This is how it ends. S.H.I.E.L.D's been compromised, you said so yourself. HYDRA grew right under your nose and nobody noticed.'

'Why do you think we're meeting in this cave? I noticed.'

'How many paid the price before you did?' He asked. No doubt, the question was about Bucky. I just looked down.

'Look, I didn't know about Barnes. I found out about HYDRA and the Red Room being alive only when Mia came.' 

'Even if you had, would you have told me or would you have comparmentalised that too?' he asked and walked out, glaring at me. I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed.

'I'll go and talk to him.' I said and got up. I winced at the pain in my ankle but it was not as bad. I knew my super healing was working, it was just swollen, the fracture must've healed a little by now. I grabbed my jacket and wore it as I went outside.

'I know what you're going to say. But please, listen to me.' I said to Steve. He just looked off the bridge.

'Why didn't you tell me about Bucky?' He asked.

'Would you have fought him with the same intensity as you did?' I asked.

'I had the right to know.' he said, his voice raising. 

'Look, I know you did. But he was not himself, he wouldn't have hesitated to kill you.' I said, my voice meeting his.

'How do you know that?' he yelled.

'Because that was me a few years ago! I killed my family without hesitation due to the control they had on me!' I yelled. He looked at me shocked. I realised what I said and stepped back a little.

'HYDRA and the Red Room had control of my mind like they have Bucky's. I remember every kill I ever made. HYDRA had me take off my mask so they would know that it was me. I remember the looks on my parents' faces when I put a gun to their head and killed them. I know how it would've been if I had told you.' I said my eyes watering. I quickly wiped them and walked back into the building, not waiting to listen what Steve had to say.

'How'd it go?' Nick asked, everyone else had gone to other parts of the building.

'I don't know, Nick. I don't know what to do. It's all my fault.' I said as I sat back on the chair.

'Why?' he asked.

'I agreed to make those carriers, if I hadn't none of this would've happened.' I said, taking another pain killer and removing the bandages off my ankle.

'You hadn't I convinced you.' He said, leaning towards me.

'Yeah, maybe. But I did.' I said, fidgeting with my gloves. Just then, Steve came back.

'Look Nick, if we're taking down HYDRA, we're taking down S.H.I.E.L.D.' Steve said and he nodded.

'He's right.' Hill said. I hadn't noticed but everyone had come back. Nick looked at everyone, he just got a nod in return.

'Don't look at me, I do what he does, just slower.' Sam said and I smirked.

yea, like running 

'Well, looks like you're giving the orders now Cap.' he said as he leaned back. We got suited up. I put my hair in a ponytail and got my suit ready. I put some new explosives and daggers in my holsters and I was ready. Sam had his suit and Steve had gotten his original Captain America suit. Nat was undercover as the councilwoman. I had hacked into the comms of the base and sent a high pitch frequency. One of the workmen came to check it out. Sam and Maria were ready with their guns. 

'Excuse us.' Steve said as the clerk made a clear way for us.