The Great Escape
The smoke had gone.
Your muscles hurt.
Everything was a blur.
The Gowanus Expy was flashing by in frames and you couldn't catch a single one with the speed you were going down the expressway. You only focused on holding the wheel and pushing down on the accelerator.
You didn't need to glance behind to become aware of the HYDRA agents in pursuit. There were several motorcycles coming up fast, far more agile than your car. It didn't matter what tricks it had, they would soon catch up. Your plan was to head for the underground tunnel that led to Battery.
The hail of fire still going on behind you was mere background noise now. It had simply gone on so long you no longer flinched when a shot whizzed past. But it was just as dangerous.
As the HYDRA bikes and the jet above tried firing at you, you swerved the car into the next lane. You avoided the bullets, but the car in the place you used to be wasn't so lucky. The rear window was smashed by the force and the people inside the car screamed as the driver was hit. It veered right into the side rails, almost flipping on impact.
A pang of guilt suddenly struck your heart, fearful at just how many innocents had already been hurt because of the chase. The only good side was that a police station lay to the side of the road below so help wouldn't be far for the injured passengers. Still, your chest tightened at the thought that this was all because of you and your situation. It wasn't in your control, but you hoped they would get the right help and compensation from SHIELD or even yourself for it all.
"Approaching the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, Miss." FRIDAY informed, shaking you back into reality. "Traffic estimates are at fifteen minutes."
"Dammit!" You cursed.
While the HYDRA bikes might not have trouble dodging the other vehicles, your convertible was a little more sticky to fix.
Sticky...
Your eyes lit up.
"FRIDAY, switch to sticky speed."
"Yes, Miss." She replied.
It was a little hack you had yet to test out with somebody inside the car, but the main principle was that with enough speed and elevation, the car's wheels would stick to anything whether it be cement or bricks. The tests had been successful so far, so now it was just a matter of your own driving capability.
As you approached the tunnel, you could see the budding traffic jam. Since the walls were already rising, you quickly sped through a gap in the lines, driving right up the wall.
Due to the unexpected turn in events, one of the HYDRA agents following smashed right into the car in front. The rest of his friends were stunned, momentarily losing concentration and almost killing themselves in the process. Unfortunately, though, they quickly recovered.
"How the hell did she do that?!" One of them screamed into his comms.
But no one was capable of forming an answer because, once inside the tunnel, you actually switched to the ceiling, your hair almost covering your eyes as it fell down.
It became increasingly harder for the agents to get a clear shot at you because they now had to focus on driving as well as trying to follow you above. That was the good news.
The civilians inside the other vehicles seemed amazed by the scene unfolding in front of them, most of them even getting out video phones to showcase their reactions.
You couldn't resist a laugh and stuck up your middle finger to the agents below.
However, the briefcase containing the scepter almost slipped through the belt that held it to the passenger seat. You quickly reached out and let out a pained gasp as your shoulder stung from the action.
"Should've stuck to tape." You grimaced, pushing the case back into place.
-
Way above the tunnel and in the stormy skies of New York City was Tony, he and JARVIS scanning every inch of road they could to try and find you.
He knew you were heading to the tower - it was the most logical place after all - but he wanted to catch you before that, to help you in any way he could.
"Got anything, J?" He asked.
"Several posts on social platforms show Miss Stark inside the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel." The AI replied.
"Show me!"
Within seconds, a video was playing in his peripheral vision of you flipping off helmeted agents on bikes and laughing. The spark in your eyes and the way your smile was so mischievous yet amused made him feel proud. He couldn't wait to finally get to know you for real.
"That's my girl." He smiled.
-
Back below, in the chaos of the city, the team leader of HYDRA's chase squad was waiting for a report.
This leader was in a hotel room not too far from the event itself. It wasn't a shabby place at all and had the qualities of a four-star. The man was sitting at the window of his room, a steaming cup of tea in his hand as he observed the thundering sky.
He tilted his head, watching the briefest flash of white within the clouds. A smirk grew on his features.
"Sir!"
One of the agents' voices crackled to life on the radio situated on the window ledge.
"Report." The leader demanded.
"Sir, she's got a fancy car. It's sticking to the walls and we can't get a clear shot! We can continue the pursuit but we won't get the case like this."
"Come now, soldier, it's fine." He said with an eerily calm smirk. "Just do your job. Retrieve the case under any circumstance."
There was a pause before the agent spoke again. "Yes, sir!"
As silence filled the room once more, the team leader gently placed down his tea, his gaze fixated on the city below.
Truth be told, he didn't have much faith in the agents. They never seemed competent, not since the day HYDRA gave them to him. No one did, really. He pondered his decision for a while before his eyes drifted to Avengers Tower in the distance.
If he wanted this done, he would have to do it himself.
-
The tunnel was behind you now.
You were speeding your way down West Street, eyes stinging as the wind berated you. Unfortunately, the agents were still on your tail. They were getting frustrated by the looks of it.
"We can't chase her like this!" One was yelling to another.
"Then use the hook!" Another shouted.
You of course didn't hear a word of this clearly and had no idea what was going on until there was a very sudden and very heavy weight in the back of the car.
You whipped your head around in surprise, finding a very large harpoon-like device protruding from the trunk.
"An unknown object is constricting your speed, Miss." FRIDAY said.
You scoffed. "Yeah, I noticed. Any way to lose it?"
"Attempts to accelerate further would be futile. There is construction on Varick Street that might-"
"Okay, yep, that'll do."
With several motorcycles still dragging behind you, you eyed up the lanes on either side of your vehicle and quickly drifted to the right, successfully turning onto the aforementioned street. Just as FRIDAY said, you eyed up the construction works, a plan formulating in your head.
It was a stupid plan, but a plan nevertheless.
"I'm gonna regret this." You sighed, yanking the wheel towards the poles.
The clangs of the metal colliding with the hood of the convertible made you flinch and wince every two seconds. It pained you to think of just how beat up this car would be at the end of all this.
On the bright side, your stupid plan worked.
The poles dropped and all the scaffolding above collapsed on top of the agent with the hook. He disappeared under the rubble and there was a cringeful scrape as the hook ripped itself free of your hood.
"Sorry, baby." You mumbled, patting the dashboard apologetically.
As the rest of the agents disappeared to take alternate directions, you took the momentary peace as a sign to speed up. You didn't bother slowing until a few minutes passed and you hit Greenwich Avenue near the memorial park.
You were ready to put your foot down until the HYDRA agents made their return from every opening, cutting you off entirely. Instead of the accelerator, you slammed the brakes.
There was a horrid screech as your wheels kicked up a cloud and you spun into a sudden stop, your breathing ragged and labored. You could just about see your final destination peaking above the other buildings but the HYDRA jet - which you thought had been lost at the tunnel - reappeared and blocked the tower from view.
Just as one had before, more motorcycles shot out hooks that embedded themselves into your car. You jumped in your seat, seeing the shining claws inches from your legs.
It had begun to rain at this point, the thunder much louder.
Your mood was dropping, the anger from the constant interruptions getting the better of you.
"Fuck off!" You yelled, hitting the accelerator again.
It didn't do any good.
The hooks kept the car in place. You were helpless.
You had no choice but to stop and watch as a large turret gun dropped from the jet above, aimed directly at you.
"(Y/n) Stark, I believe?" A patched voice asked.
It came from your radio. They had found a way in apparently. It was one of the bikers.
"No, it's Santa." You shot back with a tone laced in venom. "And you ruined my tires!"
You heard a cruel laugh.
"I'm afraid your time is up." The agent continued. "For too long you've lied your way into a second life. A life you don't deserve."
Your eyes darkened. "Screw you."
"We're going to kill you, Miss Stark. And we're going to make sure your daddy is there to see it. He's going to watch as we destroy you once and for all."
He laughed again, the sound wicked and false. However, everyone got a little surprise when an arrow suddenly pierced the armor and the guy dropped to the ground.
You looked around, eyes wide, and found yourself watching in confusion as another motorcycle pulled up to the scene. Two people were on this one, both helmeted, and one holding a bow. Their bike came to a stop in front of your car, seemingly protecting you from harm.
You knew there could only be one person in NYC that carried a bow like that. It had to be Hawkeye himself.
But the second guy - the one driving - you had no idea who that was.
Just who had come to save you?