Everly || Steve Rogers

31. The Mandarin... Kind of

Tony had made a stop at a hardware store to buy all kinds of things for makeshift gadgets. Some of the items Everly could see no use for, but what did she know? He grabbed bolt cutters, fertilizer, some Christmas ornaments, a few face masks, and two full shopping carts full of random items. Sure enough, he found a way to make it all work. He connected countless wires to a gardening glove. That seemed to be an essential part of his plan. Everly was curious about its use, but she was not about to test it. She sat on the bed and watched as he pieced together all sorts of gadgets. He stuck some orange-liquid filled syringes in a few tiny water bottles. How he knew how to make all this stuff, she still couldn't figure out.

"You think this is gonna work?" She asked, picking up a tool he had made. She pointed the laser around the room before Tony swiped it from her hands.

"It has to."

~~~

Finally, after what seemed like the longest drive ever, they reached Miami, Florida. Tony hid the car once they arrived at the mansion. The pair snuck through the surrounding trees before he came to a stop, pulling the binoculars from his back pocket. Everly glanced over at the pink watch that was still wrapped around his wrist, and smiled faintly. She wondered if they would ever see Harley again. Tony let out a sigh, derailing her train of thought. He started down the hill toward the stone wall that lined the property, Everly followed closely behind. He hauled himself over the wall and crouched on the other side, waiting for her to do the same.

"what are we waiting for?" She whispered from beside him. He jumped, holding a hand over his heart as he sucked in a deep breath.

"Don't sneak up on me." He grumbled, starting off toward the mansion again. The two slowly climbed the curved staircase, at the top of which stood a guard facing the opposite direction. Tony handed Everly a small, gun-like device. She turned it over in her hands and furrowed her eyebrows. Hopefully she could figure out how to use it.

Tony swung a rope around a few times and tossed it at the guard's feet like a bola. He crashed to the ground, smacking his head against the stairs. Everly stood up, aiming and immediately shooting at an approaching guard. Whatever she fired at him stuck in his neck and he stumbled backwards. Tony rammed a knee into the man's jewels, sending him crumpling to the ground. 

Two more guards ran over to check out the commotion. Tony used another of his gadgets to electrocute one of them, before flipping him to the ground. The other rushed up behind Everly. He swung at the back of her head, though she dodged just on time to avoid his fist. She grabbed ahold of his arm as it passed her face, and flipped him over her shoulder. He landed in front of her with a thud. She looked down at his still form for a moment having even surprised herself.

They rounded a corner to see another pair of guards standing beside a fountain. Tony plucked a Christmas bulb from his pocket and rolled it up to their feet. They hesitated for a moment, looking at it strangely before one finally bent over to pick it up. It exploded in his hand, scattering shards of glass through the air. He fell backwards and the second guard reached for his gun. Everly fired five shots at him and he tumbled into the fountain behind him. As they walked by, Tony dropped a bulb in the fountain for good measure. Everly tossed the gun-like weapon in the weeds now that it had been emptied.

He cautiously peeked inside the wide-open door, then up the stairs but saw no one. Entering the house further, Everly began to notice what a mess it was. Trash and clothes scattered the floor. A passed out woman lay unbothered atop a table towards the corner of the room.

"Why is it so hot in here? I told you to put it at 68." A woman mumbled. Everly stiffened, this meant that there were at least two people. She watched from the corner of her eye as Tony slipped on his gardening glove.