X-Marks the Heads

Tag - you're it!

Two days had passed since you had met the team. Majority of them had begun to warm to you though you still had many awkward pauses when trying to hold a conversation. It was completely alien to you the way they acted. It made you feel almost human. They would be considerate and humorous, tropes that had not been in your usual daily interactions. Still you spent a lot of time alone. They were busy with their Avenging. Tony had told you before how they were under the gun right now but he had not went into explicit details having not known you.
    You had been outside alone to clear your head, Tony had allowed this. The freshness of the clean oxygen was a rush. You stayed in close proximity to the building but still the most freedom you had been allowed in your life. A long leash is better than a handcuff.
    You made your way back into HQ, through glass doors that lead straight into a communal area. The team were gathered having a rather heated discussion or I guess you could call it a debate. "We can't just go in blind. The first key could be anywhere in that whole building", steve objected - "surely Stark has a fancy doodad that can locate it from outside", Thor suggested. - "We don't even know what signals these keys omit, I can't detect something if I don't know what it is", Tony retorted shaking his head in his hands - "I'm not really following the science chatter in the middle", Thor continued. "His doodads are no good", Natasha cut in with a sly grin. "They work fine...just not for this", Tony was over the conversation. "What about me?"
    They hadn't even noticed you were standing there, too focused on the task at hand. The silence was uncomfortable until the Winter Soldier stormed into the mix, "absolutely no way. You're not trust worthy and you're not fit for this!" It was as if he came out of no where. He had been like a silent assassin in the corner until you spoke up. "I can help, I have the ski" - he cut you off with no regard for your skills - "these clowns might have accepted you but I've been locked up with you for the last 20 years. You're hydras best aren't you? Their little pocket knife!" Closer to their atomic bomb you thought - he turns to Tony - "why do you trust her, I'm telling you she's been sent here for me on purpose and you just let her right through the door". - "okay first of all which clowns were you referring to before?" Tony raised an eyebrow while the Soldier got more agitated and then turns to you. "Sorry kid it's too high risk with you right now, really you shouldn't be hearing this". - "I swear I won't fail, you know what I can do. I found this place from 3 states away in less than 3 seconds. I had never seen your office and I was able to find it from outside. I can do this!" You vehemently make your case. Not because you particularly wanted to help as you had more on your mind but just to prove your worth. If only someone would see it. "She could be pretty useful, I mean it's the only missing piece to this puzzle Tony", doctor Banner pipped up. Tony was set on saying no but Bruce pulled him to the side. Under his breath he made the case "there may be no other way to do this Tony. She can find out exactly where it is. It makes more sense, I think it's worth the risk." Tony knew he was right, Banner was the only other person in the room who shared his ridiculous intelligence he thought. "I have never failed, not once". You made sure everyone heard you. Especially the soldier. "Does anyone else except for terminator object to this?" - they all shake their heads - "Fine kid, you're in. Don't let me down I mean it!" - "you can't be fucking serious" - the Soldier was furious. "Yeah Rambo I am, and I want you to be partnered for this mission! And hey" - he leaned in close to the raging man - "keep her alive because I need her more than you right now". Tony wasn't strictly wrong. "Tag, you're it!"
     An hour later after Tony and Steve drew the battle plans, they called everyone in for the briefing. It worked virtually the same as any Hydra briefing - listen to the debrief, receive your orders, execute them without deviating - but there was comradery and respect between the team. Not a master and a bait-dog.
    There were two keys in existence, the first was todays target. It was believed they unlocked a machine that sent detonation signals across the globe. The typical detonation rules applied, a two man job with two keys. The first key holder had been a ghost. But he was uncovered and ripe for the pick pocketing. He was an aristocratic nepo baby. A captain of industry in New York with a deep-rooted lineage. Sir Francis Archibald the third. He had pockets of millions embezzled into charities across the States and was leading one of the charities affairs in the function hall of his upper east side mansion. The key would be held there.
    Natasha, Steve and Sam would be on the ground blending and keeping tabs. They were the essential back up but their presence was very necessary. "You and Bucky will be upstairs finding the key and retrieving it," Steve gave the command and Bucky - Steve's pet name for The Winter Soldier - did not refuse the command of his Captain, not ever. This was second nature to him from when he was just Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes. Before hydra and ripped his head apart.
    "You locate the key and I'll take out the guards", Bucky said sharply - "Bad plan" you spoke up, that irritated him. "The second key hasn't been located yet. We don't want them to know it's even been taken. We don't want dead guards giving away the game here". Bucky wasn't happy you had even uttered a breath and contradicted him. "Okay so how do we avoid that Y/N? Steve cut in. - "I can locate the key first, then I can put the guards into a trance. They will just think they fell asleep on the job." The ears of the team pricked as the plan was much cleaner it seemed. "Barnes can get the key while I'm occupied and replace it with a replica". "Okay, okay so how do we make the replica kid we don't know what it looks like?" Tony liked your plan but he needed the fine print. "I can get us a visual on the key, I'm sure you and doctor Banner can take it from there." Bucky wasn't amused at all but he kept it mostly to himself for now. You couldn't worry about his feelings on the matter, your top priority was to prove yourself.
    The team watched you intensely as they hadn't really seen someone that carried your skill set until now. Sitting back you closed your eyes with your mind focused on the mansion. Back exit-staircase-hallway-bedroom-safe-KEY. "It's in the safe."