•Night Angel•

CHAPTER LI - APOLOGIES

July 2008. 17:10. Silver Lake, S.H.I.E.L.D HQ, Los Angeles. CA.

Sophia's POV.

I had a 40 minute drive from Malibu to Silver Lake, where the cave was located.

S.H.I.E.L.D's LA, secret quarters "The cave" was in Silver Lake. They decided to install it in there because, who would think there is a super secret agency in the middle of the nice neighborhood? Exactly, no one.

Before I left, I had sent a message to Tony, telling him I was going to be out for the day, fixing some stuff and calling work. Which in some way, was true. I got a response from him telling me to be safe, careful and that if something happened I just needed to do my "karate" training and kick the bad guys. Smart cookie, that one.

As I arrived at the warehouse, like I liked to call it, I saw a few people outside, some cutting the lawn from the neighboring properties, some doing some painting, others fixing the light poles. Things and people that might seem normal to everyone else.

And indeed, they are. Except for the fact that these were not normal people. Doing regular activities. All of them were undercover S.H.I.E.L.D agents, keeping an eye out for the boss. Typical.

I parked my car and stepped out of it. Instantly, one of the painting guys lifted his shirt collar a little bit and talked into it. I assumed he was notifying someone of my arrival. He nodded at me and I nodded back. Slowly but surely, I made it inside the warehouse. I was greeted by two guys. Or should I say gorillas? They stood in front of me.

-You cannot come inside before someone checks you.- One of them said, holding hand out, stopping me.

-Oh no, that's not happening. Boss is waiting for me.- I said as I tried to walk past them. One of them stepped in my way.

-We said, you can't go inside.- The other gorilla said.

-And I said, I don't care. I am going.- I said firmly as I walked further inside.

As I was making my way past them once again, one of them grabbed me by the arm.

-Get back.- The man growled at me and I smiled.

-You shouldn't have done that.- I said. Both men looked at each other confused.

I lifted my leg and kicked one of them in the jaw with my foot. The one that was grabbing me, tightened his hold of my arm and I had to use my free elbow to stick it in his ribs. He stumbled back, but not letting go of me.

The one that fell with my kick was now recovering. Given the position I was in, I kicked the man that was getting up once again, and using him as an impulse, I jumped. He fell to the ground and with the impulse I had taken I positioned myself in the back of the man that was grabbing me, twisting his arm in the most uncomfortable position ever.

He let out a growl and pushed me to the wall, smashing me against it. I growled too. This guy was annoying me. And he was being rude. Grabbing his head with my now free hands, I pushed my fingers in his eyes, making him scream in pain. I did it harshly but not enough to make him blind or gravely injure him. I think. I fell to the floor on my feet and grabbed a metal tube that was on the floor. I jumped on the man's back once more, choking him with the metal bar. He tried to remove me from his back, but couldn't.

I squeezed tight enough to leave him unconscious but not dead. Once he was on the floor, I moved on to the other guy. He punched me square in the jaw and I stumbled back. Swinging his fist at me one time, I dodged it. The second time, I grabbed it and twisted it, smashing his own fist in his face. He stumbled back and I took it as an opportunity. Making a 180° turn, I kicked him, but he then grabbed my leg and pulled me until I crashed on his chest. I fought to free myself, but he wouldn't bulge, so I stepped on his foot and when he got distracted, I smashed my head into his nose, letting go of me and making him fall back.