R͟u͟t͟h͟l͟e͟s͟s͟ {Q͟u͟i͟c͟k͟s͟i͟l͟v͟e͟r͟/ A͟v͟e͟n͟g͟e͟r͟s͟}

Chapter 11: Help

I felt like every second added another weight to my eyelids. "You know you're allowed to sleep, right?" Clint joked, glancing back at me a little worriedly.

"I know." I sighed, "It's just hard. I'm scared I'll wake up in a prison cell again."

"Do you wake up in prison cells often?" Clint asked curiously.

"Just lately." I yawned, "Plus, I couldn't exactly call this plane comfortable." The seats felt like hard rock and the best place to put your head was the slick metal plane side.

"It could be worse," Clint reminded me.

"I know. How close are we to HQ?" I asked with a small yawn. I adjusted uncomfortably in my seat. Pietro was slumped over the seat next to me, only half awake. Sometimes it seemed he was completely aware of me, others he looked fully unconscious.

"Literally seconds. 30, if you want to be exact."

"Finally," I told him gratefully, "It's felt like 3 hours."

"That's because it has been three hours." Clint chuckled to himself, "You were on the other side of the world. Even the fastest planes can't get you across the world faster than that."

There was a brief stretch of silence. "Are you sure Pietro is gonna be okay?" I asked worriedly, glancing at him. At the moment, he looked fully unconscious, but I no longer trusted my instincts about him.

"For heaven's sakes, he is going to be fine." Clint repeated, sounding exhausted.

I felt a laugh bubble out of me. "'For heaven's sakes'" I imitated, with a small smile. "Only you, Barton."

"Oh, just be quiet, Strong." Clint replied, "Go to sleep." I heard a loud screech and a bump as we hit the ground.

"Or not," I replied, shaking my head. After a few seconds I felt the plane engine die down and we stopped completely. I unbuckled and glanced at Clint.

"Think anyone's awake?" I asked him, "To treat him, I mean."

"Did I not say we went to the other side of the world?" Barton gave me a tiny smile, "That means there's a 12 hour difference. It's 5 o'clock PM." Clint laughed at me, "Of course they're awake."

I groaned. In other words, no sleep for me. Someone threw open the plane door.

"Are you guys alright?" Natasha exclaimed breathlessly. Her vision landed on Pietro. "Who...?"

"Pietro Maximoff." I introduced him.

"You mean.... Wanda's brother. You captured him?" Natasha said excitedly, "Why didn't you put him in the plane's back cell?"

Clint and I looked at each other nervously. "He's not our prisoner," I said quietly.

"Is he dead?" Natasha asked. Pietro moaned loudly in pain.

"Does that answer your question?" I shrugged, "He needs medical treatment. I'm not sure what Wanda did to him exactly." I said. Natasha looked conflicted.

"Look, I'd love to help him. But without the proper clearance, we can't bring him into any S.H.I.E.L.D. base."

"What kind of clearance?" I narrowed my eyes at her. A spark of hostility wormed it's way into me.

"I'm not sure. I'll have to call a few people-" Seeing my expression, Natasha faded out. "Hey, I'm sorry. But he's the enemy. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s not really into infiltrators since the whole H.Y.D.R.A. fiasco."

"Couldn't you at least send someone to us? We don't have to go inside." I begged. "Then we wouldn't be breaking the rules."

Natasha shook her head. "I really am sorry. I'll get Fury out here as soon as possible."

"Oh, come on Natasha!" I exclaimed, "There's got to be something you can do!"

"What's going on?" I heard Fury's voice approach the shuttle. Good.

"They brought Wanda's brother with them." Natasha informed him in a low voice.

"That's fantastic." Fury said, his eyes widening, "Is he in a cell yet?"

"No," Natasha responded cooly, "He's apparently not a criminal."

Fury folded his arms and glanced inside at Pietro, who was curled up in pain. "Are we talking about the kid who burned down our last HQ? And murdered about two thousand people? Same person?"

"Yeah, same guy." Natasha admitted.

"He didn't mean... Well, I don't know why he did all of that stuff, but I know he wouldn't do it on purpose. You guys have to believe me!" I pleaded desperately.

"What's going on?" Steve walked up.

"Soon we're gonna have enough people here to throw a party." Clint joked. I nodded in agreement.

"They brought Pietro Maximoff with them." Fury said dryly, ignoring Clint's comment.

"Wanda's brother?"

"Yes. But instead of locking him up, Agent Strong wants us to get him medical treatment." Fury made it sound like that was the worst thing possible to happen.

Steve took a look at Pietro who flinched and cried out in pain at the exact moment Steve looked in. "Oh, have a heart, Director," Steve told Fury, "He's clearly in pain. Isn't there something you can do?"

Fury sighed. "Look. I don't mind letting him in, but you can't let anyone find out about this. Knowing Wanda's brother is completely free inside our walls.... The council wouldn't exactly be thrilled."

A wave of relief washed over me. "Thank you," I replied as Natasha turned away and typed some things into her tablet. Fury just gave me a comforting nod and said something unintelligible into his comm. In less than a minute, a medical team came rushing out and got Pietro out of the plane. This felt so weird. The days since I woke up from the year of sleeping have felt like a dream. I got to my feet shakily, and attempted to get out of the plane. Over the last few minutes, I'd forgotten how utterly exhausted I was.

As I started to step out of the plane, I stumbled a little. Steve grabbed my arm, steadying me. "You need rest. Natasha, can you take her to her room?"

"Mm hmm, sure, Steve." Natasha finished typing into her tablet and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "This way." She pushed me toward the door from the landing area. My brain felt fuzzy and I was too tired to really remember anything else, just that I got into a room and was asleep before I could properly worry about anything else.

Boring chapter.... *yawn*

Vote and comment what you think is wrong with Pietro. Just Wanda's punches wouldn't have inflicted that much damage :)

~ Emily <3