Chapter 43: Fourth Step

Chapter 43: Fourth Step

2012

New York City

Underground Sewer Tunnel

(Brock POV)

"My name is Ava Starr," The mysterious stranger introduced herself calmly. " And, I want to make a deal with you."

I hesitated at her words.

"A Deal?" I repeated incredulously.

Who was this woman?

Ava nodded before the air around her suddenly began to distort and she swiftly put her mask back on.

"They're searching up there," Ava warned. "If we don't keep moving, someone may find us down here. And I'm sure you don't want to be caught anywhere near this site."

"Where are we exactly?" I questioned.

"We're in the sewer tunnel system that runs underneath Manhattan," Ava explained.

"This tunnel should lead up to Washington Square Park."

I looked the woman over, still cautious of her motives.

"But why are you helping me?" I questioned, confused.

"Because you have the potential to help me," Ava said simply.

"Help you how?" I asked.

Ava let out a hollow sigh at my words, "Can we talk about this on the way?"

I furrowed my brows at her response. This woman knew more about me than I was comfortable with. Plus she had some kind of power that made her untouchable.

"If you're wondering if you can trust me, I had plenty of chances to report your abilities to Fury...but I didn't." Ava voiced.

So she's with S.H.I.E.L.D.

Well...at least that's better than the alternative.

I took a moment to think over her words and a look of uncertainty crossed my face. I had a lot of questions and a lot of doubts, but I couldn't afford to waste time dealing with her right now.

"Fine," I conceded with a sigh and lowered my guard, while still keeping my senses peaked for any sudden moves.

"Thank you," Ava said gratefully.

The two of us made our way through the tunnels beneath New York City. From above, the sounds of heavy traffic and distant sirens were audible.

"Who are you, really?" I asked, trying to keep my mind off the fact that I was walking alongside a potential threat.

Ava sighed and shook her head. "As I said, my name is Ava Starr. I'm a Special Ops Agent for S.H.I.E.L.D, or more specifically Fury. "

"Special Ops?" I asked skeptically.

"Yeah," Ava shrugged her shoulders. "Spying, Assassination, Blackmail...any problem that needs to be solved covertly and under the table, I'm the one who does it."

She paused for a moment as if remembering something else.

"And Fury saw you and your team as a problem. Was why I've been watching you for quite some time." She added, almost reluctantly.

I frowned at her words, wondering what she meant.

"Why did he see us as a problem?" I questioned to see how much the man knew.

"Because your out of his control," Ava explained as she walked through the tunnel.

"Fury needs to be the one holding all the cards, and you and your team are a variable he didn't expect or want."

"So why not report me?" I asked. "Seems like an easy promotion."

Ava chuckled lightly at my casual words.

"There is one other thing... I want you to help me escape from Fury," She added.

"Escape?" I questioned.

"Yes," Ava reiterated. "He's not the only one in the organization who knows about me. But he's the main obstacle to my freedom. Everyone else, they've either forgotten about me or just doesn't care. But Fury...he's the one who requisitioned this suit to be built. He's the one who orders me to kill. "

"Then why not just kill him?" I asked. "Should be easy for someone with your powers."

"He's too influential," Ava explained. "Killing him would bring the wrath of S.H.I.E.L.D and multiple other organizations down on my head."

I let out a faint chuckle at her words.

"I can understand that," I admitted. "So what do I get out of this?"

"Here's the deal, Rumlow," Ava began. "I want to be set free. I want to be free of Fury and his constant orders to do his dirty work. I want to be rid of this suit. And most importantly, I want to live. I don't have long, and I don't want to spend it in a cell or suffering. I'm tired. Tired of being in pain. Tired of being used. So I guess the question is...what do you want?"

The tunnel went quiet as I took a moment to think over her words.

What do I want?

All this time, I've only been focused on surviving whatever came next. Doing whatever I needed to do to stay alive. But I haven't stopped to think about what I want for myself.

What do I actually want...?

Memories of the last seventeen years played through my mind.

The answer was simple.

Freedom.

I wanted freedom.

True Freedom.

To stop waiting and hiding.

I've been sitting idle for too long. Letting other people determine my fate.

Fuck that.

S.H.I.E.L.D?

HYDRA?

The Avengers?

Fuck'em All.

Time I start to build my own future.

But for that to happen...I'll need powerful allies.

People who I can trust... or at least as much as someone as messed up as me can.

I looked over at Ava and gave her a wolfish smile.

"In a way, I think we kinda want the same thing. The only difference is... I'm not satisfied with just running away. I want enough power to do whatever the fuck I want when I want to."

The lenses of Ava's mask gleamed in surprise.

"So what do you propose?" She asked cautiously.

"I'll help you," I told her bluntly. "But there are conditions."

"Name them," Ava requested. "I'm sure I can accommodate."

I smiled again, letting out a low laugh.

"I want you to join me."

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A/n: Hey guys! Hope you're enjoying the story and as always thanks for reading!