SHIELD Agent Eleanor Flint

Chapter 31

Henry slumped deep into the chair and looked down at his feet. His brows were tightly knit together and he felt pressure on his head from scowling for too long. Scowling to hide his shame, embarrassment, and fear. He dreaded the flight to DC. He dreaded walking into the Ideal Federal Savings Bank. He dreaded what was going to happen. What would happen because he failed his mission. What he dreaded was already happening. Alexander Pierce's words cut through his pride like his father's slurred screams. Henry dared to glance up at him as he rambled on.

"You had one mission. One, simple mission, Reed," Pierce said. "You almost did it. Everything was successful. Keep Flint alive, you did. Keep her out of harm, barely. Keep her trust, close. And just keep her. You couldn't even do that. And you even killed Bell. And I don't care if he knew too much, that was a stupid decision. He doesn't know the difference between SHIELD or HYDRA, you wasted a good bullet." Henry looked back down at his feet. Pierce didn't stop. "And now you've lost connection with one of our assets," he said. "Flint is a key component in our work. It's one of the soldier's drives."

"If she wasn't such a cunt it wouldn't have-"

Pierce's fist slammed down on his desk and Henry flinched. Pierce exhaled slowly to calm his nerves and leaned back. Henry's eyes remained fixed on the floor and his heart pounded in his chest. 

"That's the problem, Reed." He pointed at the Agent. "That's your problem. Your anger gets in the way. It works against you. I thought Rumlow taught you how to focus that anger into your work."

"Looks like Rumlow failed you, too," Henry muttered.

"Watch your mouth," Rumlow spoke up from the back of the room.

Henry pressed his lips together in a thin line. Pierce glanced up at Rumlow and nodded once. Rumlow stepped away from the wall and marched to Henry's seat. Henry looked up and Rumlow brought his fist down on his cheekbone. He gave three more blows before stepping back and he allowed Henry to recover.

"Be grateful, Reed," Pierce said. "We're actually going to let you live, since you haven't completely let us down."

"Am I going to lose my position here?" Henry asked.

"No," Pierce began collecting the papers that were spread across his desk. "But, you will no longer be stationed in the U.S." Henry turned his head between Rumlow and Pierce with a puzzled expression. Pierce placed the papers in a folder and handed them to Henry. "These are all letters of recommendation to the heads of HYDRA overseas. See if you can find something to do for them."

Henry took the folder and glanced at the contents inside. He looked back up at Pierce with furrowed brows. Pierce folded his hands on the desk and inhaled. Henry looked down again to avoid eye contact. Something that he had done ever since he was a young boy.

"Though there is one more thing you can do for me before you leave," he began. "We're prepping the soldier tonight. See if you can give him one last pep talk. Your mission wasn't all for nothing."

Henry's eyes flicked up and the dark look in them returned. A wicked smile pulled at the corner of his mouth and he folded his hands on his lap. Pierce gave a wry smile and Rumlow headed to the door.

"Yes, sir," Henry said.

~~~

Rumlow led the handlers out of the holding room and Henry walked to the door. As he was about to enter, Rumlow grabbed his upper arm and stopped him. They looked at each other with firm gazes. Henry narrowed his eyes and Rumlow's chin jutted out.

"Don't do anything stupid," Rumlow warned.

"I won't," Henry snapped. He shook off Rumlow's hold of him and entered the holding room. The one place where he had control.