Since the Beginning

Ch 12: With Friends Like These

Chapter Twelve:

With friends like these...

Clint sighed for the millionth time that day as he sat with his back to the cell wall juggling around some small pebbles he had picked up off the floor. He was so BORED!

"Why can't villains ever just finish people off when they have them?" he wondered aloud, "instead, we are all going to be stuck in these small cells until we are gray with lots of wrinkles."

"Clint, you going to make it over there?" Steve asked, listening with amusement to the man's ramblings.

"Maybe", he stated with another sigh, "not to mention the sexiness levels. There are never hot villains when you need them. Ugh!"

Natasha who had also been listening just shook her head before turning back to Toni. She knew Clint was letting off steam and she was glad for it, as it allowed everyone to get a small, much needed laugh at his expense. Although, he could have done without the last comment, she thought to herself with a frown.

Toni wasn't paying any attention to it. She and Hammer had been going back and forth discussing the ins and outs of the place they were currently being held. Luckily, Hammer was more than willing to help them escape if it meant he also got out alive.

"Let's go over this again", Toni replied, "If we get out of our cells, we head down the hall and to the right. At the end of that hall on the left is a small security room. We take out that room and they can't see us until we hit the third level, because we are five levels underground?"

"Right", he nodded, wincing with the word, "when we reach the third level...well... I actually don't know where the security room is on that level. They never showed me."

"Maybe we can access it from the first security room", Toni whispered more to herself than to him.

"Maybe", Hammer said in agreement, though with plausible doubt.

The sound of a door opening at the end of their hall had both inventors quickly sitting back, acting nonchalant. They didn't want to risk their prison keepers figuring out that they were doing more than just arguing with one another.

"Hammer, just quit talking while you still can" Toni yelled loud enough for anyone coming towards them to hear, "God, you are such a pain."

Hammer gave her his best glare. "Like you are one to talk, Stark."

Toni glared back, though she and Natasha were listening to the coming footsteps rather than their silly, little, play argument.

"Captain Rogers" a voice stated.

"Baron", Toni whispered, straining to listen.

"What do you want Strucker" Steve growled from where he now stood in front of the bars.

"You will follow me", The Baron replied evenly, though a sinister smile crossed his lips.

"And if I don't?" Steve asked.

"I was hoping you would say that", the baron stated as he turned to a guard and said something to him.

Toni watched with a growing unease as they stepped in front of their cell.

"You will come with us", they stated.

Toni stepped back and Natasha stepped in front of her, prepared to fight, but the two men were calm as they opened the door and stepped inside. Nat jumped to try and take advantage of the cell door being open, but when she did, she felt her foot collide with something that was definitely not human flesh. She winced as she landed, holding her ankle.