Flicker ✦ STEVE ROGERS¹ [✓]

15 | HOSTAGE SITUATION

WHEN STEVE LANDED ON THE DECK, HIS IMMEDIATE ACTION WAS TO TAKE CARE OF THE PIRATES. He sped across the ship, taking out the pirates quickly and silently. That was one of the many things in the modern world he had to adapt to - his fighting style. He had to change his skills and techniques to fit in, and now it was paying off. He was faster, stronger, and he could take out his enemies without making a single sound if he wanted to.

Once Steve had cleared the deck, he stopped and looked around for a moment. But then he felt a barrel press against the side of his head. He'd missed a pirate. However, then a bullet flew into the pirate's head, who collapsed, dead. So Steve looked up, seeing Natasha, Rumlow, and the rest of the S.T.R.I.K.E. team landing on the deck behind him before releasing their parachutes.

Steve nodded at Rumlow. "Thanks."

Rumlow scoffed in amusement. "Yeah. You seemed pretty helpless without me."

With that, they split up to complete our respective assignments. But Natasha would not leave Steve alone, much to his dismay.

"What about the nurse that lives across the hall from you?" Natasha asked as they ran. "She seems kind of nice."

Steve huffed. "Secure the engine room, then find me a date."

"I'm multitasking!" Natasha called over her shoulder as she vaulted over a railing.

Steve finished taking out the pirates as the S.T.R.I.K.E. team rushed off to rescue the hostages, and Natasha ran to the engine room. The control room was above him, so he sprung up the railing and steps until he was directly under the window. Then he pulled his transmission-blocking device from his belt and fired it, and as it attached itself to the window, he jumped down to hide.

Steve crouched in his hiding place and waited, listening to Batroc as he talked to the other pirates with him. Everything was in French, but thankfully Steve understood. However, nothing they were saying was of any interest.

"S.T.R.I.K.E. in position," Rumlow suddenly said through Steve's earpiece.

Steve put his wrist to his mouth. "Natasha, what's your status?" he asked.

There was no answer.

"Status, Natasha?" Steve repeated.

"Hang on!" Natasha answered, then said after a few moments, "Engine room secure."

"On my mark," Steve told them. "Three. Two. One."

He darted out from where he was hiding and stood under the control room window. Then, he threw his shield at it, shattering the glass and creating an opening for him to get in. Steve heard the bang as his shield hit one of the pirates, so he climbed inside - only to have a foot slam into his chest. Batroc. Steve stumbled backwards as Batroc sprinted away, and as he ran Steve yanked his shield out from where it was embedded in a dented locker, then ran after the head pirate.

Steve rushed out onto the deck, skidding to a stop as he looked around. Batroc had vanished, and Steve winced in frustration. Where did he run off to?

"Hostages en route to extraction," Rumlow suddenly reported. "Romanoff missed the rendezvous point, Cap. Hostiles are still in play."

Steve huffed. Fantastic, he thought. "Natasha, Batroc's on the move," Steve said. "Circle back to Rumlow and protect the hostages." However, there was no reply, so he whispered sharply, "Natasha!"

Suddenly a foot came rushing at him. Steve quickly raised his shield to block it, but the impact sent him tumbling backwards. It was Batroc again. He kicked at Steve over and over, with Steve tumbling back and dodging them each time. Then, Batroc spun around and slammed his foot down in a round-off, nearly missing Steve's groin. He dodged that just in time as well.

They stared at each other for a split second before they both scrambled to their feet. Batroc punched Steve in the face and kicked at his shield again, but Steve rolled underneath him as Batro flipped over to stomp his feet into where he had been seconds before.

The two fought, and they fought hard. Batroc was fast, but Steve held his own. He parried Batroc's blows and defended himself as he tried to match the pirate's pace, then slammed his shield into Batroc's chest, sending him flying. However, Batroc sprung backwards and flipped over and over like some sort of master gymnast.

Then they stood, glaring at each other. The tension between them was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Steve met his eyes, daring him to make a move. Batroc looked back at him, doing the same.

Then, Batroc straightened up. "I thought that you were more than just a shield," he said, speaking in French.

Steve met the man's eyes. He was more than the shield. And if this man wanted him to prove it, then that was fine with him. So Steve slowly took his shield off his arm and attached it to the magnets on his harness. Then Steve took off his helmet, dropping it to the ground, and as it clattered to the deck he replied in French, "Let's see."

They started fighting again. Steve rapidly went from defense to offense and back, using the opening to kick Batroc back. Batroc stumbled briefly, but attacked him again. Steve kicked his leg hard, following it up with a kick to the chest, and Batroc staggered backwards. Then, Steve flipped through the air, kicking him hard in the face and knocking him to the ground.

Steve thought the fight would be over. But Batroc pushed himself to his feet and raised his fists, swaying slightly. This guy just won't quit, will he?, Steve thought.

Then, the strangest thing happened. Just as Batroc advanced, a dark blur dropped down from above, punching Batroc in the face. He was knocked to the ground as the figure landed on top of him, but the force of their blow had knocked him out cold.

After a moment, the figure slowly stood up, relaxing their body in apparent satisfaction, and Steve grabbed his shield to defend himself. It was a woman, wearing black jeans with a black and white flannel tied around her waist. She also had on a dark red jacket with the hood up, under a black leather jacket. But with her hood up and her back to him, Steve had no idea who it was.

Steve backed up, raising his shield as the woman reached up. But then, she grabbed the front of her hood and pulled it off, revealing her dark hair. And when she turned around to face Steve, he couldn't believe who it was. Her hair was longer since the last time he'd seen her, and she seemed more relaxed than she had been before, but there was no mistaking who it was.

"Hey, Steve," Kato said with a grin.