Pain and Victory

I'm sorry

Natasha's pov

As we're getting ready, I can't help but glance down at the ring on my hand. I was so happy when she proposed. I find a strong string and slip the ring off my finger to loop it around my neck. I have to or else my cover could be blown. I look over at Ashton. She's talking to Steve as they get ready. Somehow, Nick found where they stashed their suits before all this happened. We found that Ashton still wasn't at 100% after what ever HYDRA injected her with. She wore out her powers easily. Thanks to some things from Stark, she could prolong them. But that didn't stop me from worrying. Ashton and Steve are strong and powerful. But they aren't invincible. At that is something Ashton likes to forget. She is more stubborn than Stark. Which is saying something. I shake my head and finish getting ready. I feel her her come up behind me and wrap her arms around me.

"Even as a councilwoman, your still sexy as hell." She whispers in my ear. I lean back into her for a moment. "Be safe, okay." I tell her. She chuckles. Her laugh always gives me butterflies. "Always am." She says. I turn around in her arms and look up at her chocolate brown eyes. They have golden flecks in them that I sometimes count when ever I get lost in them. "No, your not. So please, come back to me in one piece." I tell her. She gives me a soft smile. "I may be a bit reckless, but I will always find my way back to you Natalia." She says. I smile and lean up to place a kiss on her lips. It's a soft kiss, full of promise for future kisses. "Hey, lovebirds, we gotta go!" Sam yells from across the room. Ashton pulls back and glares at him playfully. "Just because I said you were a cool dude, does not mean you get to interrupt me when I'm kissing Natasha. Don't let it happen again." She grounds out. She sounds serious, but there is a playful undertone to it. Sam throws up his hands and smirks. She looks back at me. "You be safe too. And fuck Pierces shit up for me." She says with a smirk. "Will do." I tell her with a smile. We pull away and leave. 

Time skip: (This part is going to be broken into both Ashton and Natasha's pov. Ashtons will be in the next Chapter.)

"I know the road hasn't been exactly smooth. And some of you would have gladly kicked me out of the car along the way. Finally, we're here." Pierce says and I have to stop myself from groaning. "And the world should be greatful." He raises a toast. "Attention all SHIELD agents. This is Steve Rogers. Along with Ashton. You've heard a lot about us the last couple of days. Some of you were even ordered to hunt us down. But it's time you knew the truth." Steve says over the intercom. "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 you." Ashton says. "They almost have what they want." Steve starts. "Absolute control." Ashton finishes. I want to shake my head. Besties are adorable sometimes. "They shot Nick Fury. And it won't end there. If you launch those helicarriers today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone in their way. Unless we stop them. I know we're asking a lot. But the price of freedom is high. It always has been." Seve says. "But it's a price we're willing to pay. And if we're the only ones, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet we're not." Ashton finishes. 

"You smug son of a bitch." One of the councilman say. Agents from the strike crew pour into the room and I see the one that injected Ashton with whatever is causing her problems. I want to wipe the floor with his greasy face but I force myself to stay in character. "Arrest him." The other councilman says. The agent pulls out his gun and points it at the councilman. Pierce smirks. "Guess I've got the floor." He says. He walks over to the windows and watches the Helicarriers launch. I keep my stance loose and ready. But not noticeably so. He turns around and walks back towards us. He directs his attention to one of the councilman. "Let me ask you a question. What if Pakistan marched into Mumbai tomorrow? And you knew that they were going to drag your daughters into a soccer stadium for execution, and you knew that you could stop it, with just the flick of a switch. Wouldn't you? Wouldn't you all?" He asks, looking around at all of us.