Under or Over: Hawkeye & Black Widow

CHAPTER #29

Jarvis was monitoring S.H.E.I.L.D. frequencies when the report came in.  A team of agents had gone against Director Fury's orders and tried to stop HYDRA from leaving the Isle of Man.  Two agents were killed and a third had been paralyzed by Black Widow's taser sting.  That agent was taken hostage, forcing the others to retreat. Jarvis advised Stark of the latest news.

"Contact Barton," Tony said and waited for the connection to be made.

"What's up Tony?" Clint asked.

"We have confirmation that Natasha officially is with HYDRA. She took out a S.H.E.I.L.D. agent."

"Gun or widow bite?" 

"Widow bite, the guy was paralyzed and they took him hostage.  She's gone bad buddy," Tony stated.

Clint still had his doubts.  If she wanted the guy dead, she would have used her guns. He didn't voice his opinion, knowing it would be no good.  "Thanks for keeping me up to date.  I'm almost in Slovakia.  Last country on our list, before I return."

"Jarvis heard some chatter from agent Hill. She's been keeping an eye on you.  They're not impressed with your bar fighting," Tony advised.

Clint could hear Banner's laughter in the back ground and grinned, "well then it's a good thing I don't work for them anymore. I'm at the border, keep in touch."  He disconnected.

Barton showed the border patrol his passport and rode onward.  Bird had booked a hotel room in Kosices.  It was the industrial centre of Slovakia and where the robberies had been occurring. There were a lot of historically rich architectural buildings, mixed with modern cafes, restaurants, and clubs.  On the outer city limits were palaces of the aristocrats. There were many grand churches scattered within the city, also. On the horizon you could see one of the many mountain ranges that were part of Slovakia. Barton's eyes saw it all and stored it away in his mind.  Once this task for Stark was done, he was going after Romanoff, no matter what the cost was or who tried to stop him.  He had a feeling that she wanted him to find her. Why else would she taser the agent instead of shooting him?  Romanoff knew someone would be sent to rescue the agent, she had taken with them, eventually. But for now, he had to focus on the task at hand.  She'd still be with HYDRA when he was done in Slovakia.

Barton did his usual routine when he got to the hotel, unpacked and then went to find the local bar near the area where the robberies were happening.  It didn't take long to find a bar and he sat with his back against the wall at one end.  He ordered a pint of Pivovar Saris, of SABMiller, the largest brewery in Slovakia.  After his second beer he tipped the bartender enough to make the man take interest in him.  Barton told him to start a tab.  He heard one of the other patrons in the bar talk about a gang of vigilantes that tried to stop the robbery at one of the industrial buildings.  He asked the bartender about the gang and was impressed with the man's English.

"It's a group of five guys using mixed martial arts and parkour to stop criminals.  Police haven't had success in stopping the criminals or catching these guys either."

"Do they call themselves anything?" Clint asked.

"Vol'ny bet, in Slovak, or rough translation is Free Run," Damek the bartender said. 

Intrigued Clint asked, "are these guys successful in capturing criminals?"

"Sometimes.  The industrial robberies are out of their league.  Heavy machine gun fire and weapons used.  Which is why I think the local police are slow to respond and investigate."

"Why break into an industrial building, when this country has plenty of palaces?" Clint inquired.

"They're looking for technical stuff, that only these places make.  I don't know what stuff or what it's used for, but these are no ordinary robberies."  Damek had to serve his other patrons and left for a while to do his barkeep duties.