Clint was leaning on me, as we made are way toward the hidden ambush point. After all three of us had establish how we would attack and retreat. Along a few extra battle plan, incase thing went sidways. Not forgetting that the mercenaries could surprise us by surprising these two, it wasn't likely but both Nat and Clint felt better having some plans for the worse case scenario.
I had naively ask if we should take the police force into consideration. At this Clint and Nat had assured me, that if they were already walking around with weapons. Then it was a sure thing that they had some sort of legal document they could waive around, sending the proud boys and girls in blue packing.
"Don't be nervous, if things go according to plan. Then very likely you won't have too do a thing." While leaning on my side Clint tried too cheer me up.
Looking over as I narrowed my eyes. " You do know, you just jinks us right. At this point I won't be surprise if the shit hits the fan, right off the bat. When that happens I'm blaming you."
All I got from him was a grin that had me question his sanity. The bastard was having fun, this whole thing was amusing too him... Hell it was probably amusing for Natalia as well, shit there were a bunch of adrenalin junkies. With my peripheral vision I could see Clint was still sweating and silently gasping in pain.
Honnestly I was floored by his perseverance, a lesser man would've crumble from the pain that he was in. I could clearly see why Natalia had such a big respect for Clint. Almost anyone else would've been crush mentally under the constant pressure. I wasn't sure but being the best, must come with a few impossible level missions. I smirk at the thought, that any lesser agent would've developed some silly romantic feeling for Natalia, marking them simply another notch in her belt once she was done with them.
But Clint Barton, he keep up with her in all the crazy spy stuff that was trown there way. Not only that, but he was one of the very rare people she counted as real friend. A steady rock she could rely on. If my deduction serve me well, this was no doubt one of the driving forces that had fuel her self sacrificing in the movie vers, in the scene for the fight for the soul stone.
"So beside me sitting on my ass, as you shoot anything that moves, what do I need to do?" I turn my head toward Clint as we arrive near are spot.
"Well in the very limited time we have, I'm goin to show you how to load a gun." Clint had a grimace as he held back from screaming as another jolt of pain race across his body.
"Wait, I'm your glorified loading mules?"
A chuckle escape his lips. "You know, after all this is over, you should really consider working for SHIELD, It would provide some protection against many different groups."
"Oh are you talking about the rights for mutant movement or the children of liberation group? Beside, I'm not so sure if I'm comfortable working for the government. Some of their actions have been a little questionable as of late." Gently placing him down, I help him set us up as he directed what needed to be done.
"Look, its true that some of the regulation and policy. Make my skin crawl, but right now they are the one who hold the bigger guns. After this little adventure, Im sad to say. Your life will never be the same. As much as me and Nat wouldn't mind keeping your secret, about your mutation. The truth is, that after all this, it won't be long before SHIELD find out about you. And from the little of what I've seen of your ability, they are way to usefull. not for you to get scouted one way or another." Clint said, I noted the reluctance in his voice. I couldn't neither find fault in his logic, not that it made me happy hearing what he had to say.
"So what? Are you and Nat going to rat me out." A little more anger in my tone then I would like, but here I was helping them, and Clint seem ready to trow me to the wolves.
Shaking his head he sigh. "No, it won't come from me or Nat, you see we have this girl in SHIELD who can replay any events under a few hours after they happens. There's no sound to go along it, but the image become clearer the sooner she can get in the area. So after this little battle, if thing go in the usual way. Once me or Nat are spotted on camera, then SHIELD will send her and well they will see you lifting the fridge and sticking around fighting at are sides." As he turn to me he had guilty look in his eyes.
I quickly realise my situation, it wasn't that Clint or Nat were pushing me in SHIELD. Its that it was unavoidable. If I was too approach them on my own, instead of hiding in some corner. My chances were that I could better work something to my advantage. Instead of having SHIELD track me down, imposing there term on me. But if I was the one too approach with Clint and Nat backing, it would put me in a much better negotiation position, then being drag in kicking and screaming.
Before I could give this anymore though, Clint attracted my attention on loading all the pistols we had. Pointing out what ammo was for what gun, he then told me some coded words he would use depending on the situation. Then he pointed out were should I move in case they made it up the stairs, what I should do and what were my priority in the upcoming conflict.
After that we settle down and waited, we were at the back entrance looking down from a height in the stairway. From the doors downstairs we couldn't be seen, we did had a clear view of the hallway that was a few meters distance from the doors. He had me go downstair earlier to clear the hallway. Leaving no place to hide for the mercenaries.
Depending on how they reacted there was a good chances, if he didn't miss that was, of him killing the whole first team of five. But if he did miss, it would be up to me in taking down the rest, or I would be running with him on my back. A more risky plan was me stoping there advance as long as I could in the stairway, as he took pot shot at them. Only he wasn't sure how long he could go on without the poison coming and affecting his performance. So that was under the worse case scenario plan, like if all hell broke loose kind of thing.
I was secretly hoping that he could take them all down, but I was getting a nasty gut feeling that one of his more violent internal pain attacks would act up in the middle of the battle. Closing my eyes I rememberer Nat's deep blue eyes as she ask me to watch over him. In there depth I saw a tenderness and concern that surprise me.
On a intellectual level I knew that if Clint died in my care, she would forgive me. On the flip side, my gut was telling me that she wouldn't look at me the same way ever again, if that was too happen. I felt like if she was placing a heavy load on my shoulders, this simply reinforce my plan of getting all of us out alive.
Not forgetting my clone I send the new info about that mutant girl, making sure he waited at least a few more minutes after the fire fight started, just in case they decided to keep rolling longer upstairs. I just hope that the girl in questions, wasn't some sort of pervert, if she decided to spy on me in the bathroom. It would reveal allot more then I was comfortable with.
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As my mind was abuzz with all kind of shenanigan, I pick up on something that had me focus on the doors. "Clint...I think there about to open the door."
He nodded, giving me a gentle pat on the back. He then focus intently on the doors, taking up his bow as well as readying an arrow with a special tip. Earlier he had mention that he only had one exploding arrow, a normal one and a grabbling hook one. My guest was that this was the exploding arrow.
In the tense silence I waited, as I heard the five men outside getting closer to the doors. Focusing on my hearing, I could literally hear the key turn as they unlock the doors. As the doors open just as a crack no wider then a finger between the doors. Clint fired his arrow, I saw him in the corner of my eye crumble in a spasm of pain...shit.
My main focus was now on the arrow, they never had a chance. I have no idea what it hit but once it did, what followed was a huge BOOM! It rock the building, as dust fell down on are heads. It was followed by allot of screaming and shouts of panic. My ears were ringing with having such a loud sound in proximity of my enhance senses. It didn't take me long in barely picking up the other team cries of panic and pain, on the other side of the building.
I could barely make out what Nat was doing in the front entrence. But it sure sounded like she was taking them down quickly. Hopefully she could eliminate her second group in order to come and back me up soon. Since the second team were moving much faster then anticipated toward my and Clint position. Turning to Clint I open and close my mouth as I saw him on the floor laborious breathing and spasming around in pain.
Crap! He was in no condition to fight, grabbing a pistol I clumsily pointed it toward the still smoking back entrance. "Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap!" My mind was a mess in trying to remember everything Clint had told me just a few minutes earlier.
I had no clue about firing a gun just a few minutes prior, sure I knew the basic, like point the barel at your target. I remember something about checking that the safety was off, bringing the gun closer I check on the sides finding the small lever. Just as I flip the switch, the first mercenary came out of the smoke. The group fired a few cover shoots they were blind shots for the moment.
I instinctively duck, only to get back in position as I clumsily aim once more. Not sure what I was doing, I panic as I crush the pistol handle using too much strength. Cursing under my breath I grab another pistol after the destroyed one, I only had one more after this one. Pointing the gun I notice the team being at the half way point in the hall.
Not seeing another choices I aim toward the closer mercenary and open fire. Firing two shoots in quick succession, I completely miss the intended target. The team of mercenary all duck for cover. Two even hug the wall in a desperat hope for cover, before they fired back on my position.
Not caring if I got hit at this point, I tried keeping a steadier aim on the gun. I unloaded the first clip in a messy clumsy hail of bullets. I finally manage to hit one, after loading the only second clip for this gun, as the merc fell back on his back. I felt a moment of relief, mentaly psyching myself up for the other four.
My expression soured as I watch the one I shot, get right back up on his feet, only now did I realize I had hit his the bullet proof vest. Aiming higher I fired at his head but the merc was on too me, he rolled out of the way as he fired blind in my directions. The other four got a better read of my position and concentrated their fired on me. This time I rolled aside as a grab Clint moving him out of the way.
Knowing that I was having lousy luck with the guns at long range, I move Clint out of danger. He was barley aware of his surrounding, he keep moaning and calling for a women I didn't know. Placing him in a sitting position against the wall, I place the last pistol at his side along with its extra magazine. Quickly making my way to the stairs, I fire a few shoots on my way down drawing their attention.
One of the mercs order two too move in on the stairs, as the other three keep shooting at the spot I had just retaliate from. Moving closer quickly the two mercanaries rush to the stairs. I waited just as the first one's head came in my sight from behind the wall I was hiding from. I fired at point blank range on his expose head. The blood and brain matter exploded on the other mercenary, it distracting him for a few second catching him off guard at the sudden death of his teammate.
This gave me preciouse seconds that I didn't waste, quickly aiming the gun I fired at his head as well. His head snap back in force as his own blood and brain matter exploded out from the back of his head. My blood was pumping so fast that my rational mind, was being drown by a building blood lust. I was feeling excitement and anger wanting nothing more then to kill all of them. Any reflextion on my actions, would have wait after these men stop trying to kill me.
"No! You killed Kenny, you bastard!!" One of the merc shouted as he completely lost to his own rage and sorrow. He ran toward me screaming in rage, as he was firing on full auto. The leader cried out trying to order him back.
The other merc behind him was still firing, and accidentally shoot him in the back, fortunately it only hit his vest. This cause a chaine reaction of chaos, as the one in front spun around shooting wildly around since his finger was still on the trigger. Only to blindly hit the very same mercenary in the legs in a almost karmic retaliation. The one shot in legs fell on the ground screaming in pain and surprise. As the leader stop shooting as he turn toward his wounded comrade.
I was high on adrenaline, any planing went out the widow, so I came rushing out of the corner. With no plan but charging on the enemy, sadly this wasn't some Rambo movie. As I was out shouting loudly in the open, like some wild crazy man. The one in front, spun on his heels as he open fire right on me. Bullet tore right througth me, blood splash out painting the stairway red, as I fell back slaming on the stairs. I was in confusion as I was bleeding out in a stun dizzy state, at my first experience of intense pain. I could faintly hear and feel the one who shot me, slowly make his was to me.
I couldn't see the other two but I keep hearing the leader voice yelling to come and help him. As the mercenary ignored his shouts, he walk up to me stared down on my bleeding body. Moving his M4 to my head, I could see rage and grief in his eyes. "This is for Kenny you motherf....." BANG! BANG! BANG! CLICK! His head look down at his bleeding holes, with a incredulouse look on his face as he crumble dead to the ground.
Forcing my wounded body up, my head had regain some clarity. Knowing I had royaly srcewed up, as I drop the now empty pistol. I tried coming with a better plan, not having a lot of time I did what seem like the best option, I reach for the M4. As I clumsily made my way back on my two feet, I slowly took aim toward the last two that were group up. As my body regeneration was kicking in, it slowly was repairing the damage. The wounded mercenary spoted me, as he yield a warning at the leader as he push him away.
I killed the wounded one but the leader, using the momentum of the push he was back on his feet blasting me full of bullets for a second time. My body just couldn't keep up with the damage, as I was forcefully push back. My legs finally lost any strength in keeping me up, so I fell too the ground in a deja vu moment, only I was in a even worst condition this time around.
On the bright side, I now knew that I could take quite a beating. As I laid on the ground, I fought the pain from clouding my mind. I was trying to figure out a way to eliminate the last mercenary. Moving my head I was looking for the drop M4, only to find it away from me a few feet away, to far for me to reach in time. I suddenly heard the sharp sound of an arrow fly out stricking a perfect bullseye in between the leader eyes.
Silence followed along my painfull breathing as my body slowly mended, I could faintly hear a grunting sound coming closer toward me. "Kid! Don't you die on me!" I could hear Clint hurrying closer toward me. Gasp of pain as he made his way toward me.
"Don't you fucking dare die on me! Nat is going to tan my ass if you do, so you better be alive once I get their!" I could hear his worry and fear in his voice. Faintly I was surprise that his current poison state wasn't hindering his determination into checking up on me. As he came stumbling over me looking even worst then before, right as he was about to open his mouth.
"You jinks us, so I blame you for my current condition." That was the first thing I said as his head was over mine. His look of surprise and shock was priceless.
"Oh, and I may have left out my regeneration power as well." I said with a cheeky bloody grin.