“Almost done?” Clint hissed.
“It’s a little harder when you’re yapping in my ear,” Natasha shot back.
There was a satisfying click, and the door swung open. Inside the shipping container was completely dark, but it seemed to be empty.
“You’d think something important enough to get SHIELD’s attention would warrant a little bit higher security.” Nat said as she shone a flashlight around the empty container.
“Whatever it is must be important. Pierce was pretty adamant about keeping it under wraps.”
Natasha was running her hand along the walls, trying to find some kind of opening or keyhole.
“Do we even know whose it is?” She asked.
Clint shook his head. “Maybe they got word we were coming.”
“That can’t be, the only ones who knew were-” She cut herself off, eyes growing wide. “We’ve got to go.”
She had barely taken one step toward the door before harsh, white light nearly blinded her.
“Hands in the air!” A gruff, male voice called. “We won’t hesitate to shoot.”
As her eyes adjusted, Nat was able to see at least five men surrounding the entrance to the shipping container. Slowly, she raised her hands to her head. She could see Clint doing the same out of the corner of her eye.
“Get on your knees!” Natasha realized that she knew that voice. It was Rumlow. The split second of confusion was enough for him to fire a warning shot straight past her ear. He stepped forward, and she could see his face clearly now. He wore a smug grin as he looked down on her.
“I should have known you were in on this,” She said.
“In on what? You’re the one breaking into top secret SHIELD property.” He turned to Clint. “The KGB girl I get, but you, Barton? I thought you were smarter than to go along with whatever a pretty girl says.”
“We didn’t know it was SHIELD’s.”
“Sure.” He turned back to face the rest of his STRIKE crew. “Round ‘em up.”
Natasha knew better than to try and run when she was this badly outnumbered. She and Clint went along as they were handcuffed and put into the back of a truck. When they stopped, they were taken directly to a SHIELD holding cell. Clint paced back and forth while Natasha just stared at the floor.
After what felt like hours, Senator Pierce finally entered the room. Both SHIELD agents glared at him as he took a seat on the opposite side of the small, foldable table.
“Would you like to sit down?” He addressed Clint, who didn’t respond. “Suit yourself.”
“Why’d you set us up?” Natasha asked.
The fake look of confusion on the man’s face made her skin crawl. “I’m sure I have no idea what you mean.”
“Cut the bull,” Clint said.
“I suggest you be a little more civil, Mr. Barton.”
“Is that supposed to scare me?”
“No. By the way, your wife has already been called in for questioning, so there’s no need to ask for a phone call.”
Clint’s face drained completely of color. “How-”
“I have a level ten security clearance. There’s nothing I don’t know. Speaking of which,” He turned back to Natasha. “I was looking through the records, and there’s nothing about you two being on an assignment tonight.”
“Your plan still sucks,” Natasha laughed. “Fury knows we’re loyal, and it's your word against his.”
“Then it’s too bad you killed him.”
Natasha’s body had turned to ice. Pierce checked his watch.
“Autopsy will still take a few hours, but cause of death is pretty obvious when there’s two bullets in the skull.” He pulled a photo from the inside pocket of his suit. It showed a gun, one that Natasha was all too familiar with. “This was found a few blocks away from the scene. Soviet made, by the looks of it, just like you.” He stood up and walked to the door. His hand was on the knob, when he turned back. “You know, it really is tragic. A man who believed in second chances, killed by his greatest success story.”