When the World Comes In
Don't dream it's over [...]
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win
Don't let them win
-- "Don't Dream It's Over", Crowded House
It’s not the end, of course. Steve has a long and exhausting meeting with the World Security Council, which ends with them agreeing that Insight was a human rights violation, that a resolution should be drawn to prevent any other projects like this in the future, and that HYDRA is a major threat to international peace and security. It surprises almost nobody when they decide the Avengers should organize the anti-HYDRA Task Force.
It surprises Steve a little that they’re so willing to forgive and forget the various kinds of damage he and the others wreaked in their quest to stop Project Insight.
“Oh, come on,” says Natasha. They’re in Clint’s apartment, since everyone else’s are compromised by the recent debacle. Clint, as it turns out, hoards safehouses like some people might shoes. Steve’s beginning to think he’s got the right idea. “Nobody can stand up to Captain America’s disappointed face, not even the World Security Council.”
“And here I thought it was my stunning good looks,” drawls Peggy, who managed to avoid the debrief entirely. She’s been offered a position on an MI6 taskforce, and is busy investigating all of her immediate superiors. Steve wonders whether they’ll be upset, or just impressed, when and if they find out she managed to hack their files within minutes of the interview. “Nick called, by the way.”
Steve rubs his fingers through his hair, dislodging the gel he’d used to keep it in place for the meeting. “That’s the third call in the past two days. I thought he was keeping a low profile?”
“You think that’s gonna stop him calling to harangue us?” Clint says from his perch in the rafters.
“Nick wouldn’t miss the opportunity to kibitz on how we’re running AHT.” Peggy makes a note on the pad of paper next to her laptop. “You know how he is.”
Sam wanders into the room, carrying a coffee mug. “Are we actually calling it that? Anti-HYDRA Taskforce?”
“It’s simple,” Natasha says.
“You know we’re all going to be calling it HAT, right?” says Clint. “Just sayin’.”
“I called it HAT when I talked to Nick yesterday,” says Steve, grinning. “He kept correcting me.”
“Does he… not realize you’re doing it just to annoy him?” Sam asks.
“Apparently not.”
“God, Rogers, you’re such a troll. Why does everyone think you’re a good person?”
“It’s that innocent face of his,” says Peggy. “Had me fooled for nearly a week.”
Steve raises an eyebrow. “That long, huh?”
“Well, you were still all shy and stammery around me, remember? And then I got to know you, and realized what an absolute twat you are.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” says Steve virtuously. “Anyway, were you going to tell me what Nick said, or do I have to guess?”
Peggy’s expression turns serious. “He called about your missing person case.”
His breath catches in his throat, and the room blurs for a moment. Deliberately, he closes his eyes, opens them again. His voice sounds strange and rough in his own ears. “What did he say?”
Peggy flips to a different page on her notepad. “He gave me some coordinates. Said we might find something useful there, if we’re quick off the mark. And… if we send the right person to retrieve it.”
She makes eye contact with Natasha, some silent communication passing between them, and Natasha takes the notepad before Steve can.
Her sharp intake of breath sounds loud in the small room. “Whittaker.”
“Who?”
“One of my… associates,” she says, sharing another speaking glance with Peggy. “From the old days.”
“Dangerous?” Steve asks.
“Extremely.”
“Then—”
“I’d better go alone,” Natasha says. “Nick’s right. This will take careful handling.”
“But—”
“Steve,” she says gently. “I know you want to do something. You’re not good at sitting still. But believe me when I tell you, this? This is something I need to do. If you come with me, chances are he’ll be gone before we get there.”
He looks at her uncertainly, torn between his desire to leap into action, and his faith that Natasha won’t steer him wrong. “Natasha…”
“My turf, Rogers,” she says, and her smile is soft and fond and genuine. “My rules. Let me go after him. I’ll find whatever he's got on Barnes, and we’ll plan our next move.”
“We’re a team, Steve,” says Peggy. “Let us help.”
“I…” He gives up, spreads his hands helplessly. “Thank you.”
Natasha gives him another smile, and kisses his cheek on the way to the bedroom where they’re keeping their gear. “Don’t worry, Cap. I got this.”
Steve looks around at his team, his friends, and feels some tension ease within him. Whatever happens, whatever he has to do, he won’t be alone.