Chapter Text
**
“Natasha,” Steve whispered as he jumped down to the floor of the warehouse. “Do you see her?”
They had received reports of a vigilante wreaking havoc in the warehouse district in Star City. Various companies had reported their shipments being rerouted or even being destroyed once they got into the port. Whoever she was, she didn’t engage with security often but when she did, the results usually weren’t good for them.
“Relax, Steve,” Natasha said over the comm. “You’ll see your girlfriend soon.”
He frowned. “Not the time for it, Nat. Focus.”
“I gotta say, Steve, this vigilante really isn’t hurting anyone. So, she destroyed some illegal goods from some shady warehouse owners. Big deal.”
“Yeah, but she’s hurt people,” he started, as the lights flickered around him as he walked through the warehouse. She was close. “And destroyed property.”
“People who tried to attack her, and the property of shady warehouse owners.” Natasha countered, and Steve could almost hear her rolling her eyes. “I’m surprised she took out the security the way she did. It’s impressive.”
“You’d say that about anyone.”
“True, but - ” He heard Natasha curse under her breath. “I have movement in the office on the second floor. Be careful, Steve.”
**
Pandora wiped the blood from her mouth as she opened her laptop and plugged into the bay of screens in front of her. She didn’t have much time before the second wave of security descended upon her and in her weakened state, she wasn’t sure she could hold them off. One of the guards had been able to get a shot off before she was able to knock him out, and the pain was causing her to grimace. The main screen chirped and a smile spread on her face as the information she was looking for appeared on the screen.
“Gotcha,” she said as she began to copy the information on her thumb drive. The schematic gave her what she needed. She knew where to place the bombs and the damage they would cause would shut down the warehouse. Once she’d finished, maybe she’d draw him out this time. Maybe.
She was gathering her laptop and gear when she heard a creak in the hallway. To the untrained ear, it wouldn’t have been noticeable but to her—after everything she learned from Oliver and John—it stood out. She bent down to hide behind the bay of screens to see if she could see the person or persons after her.
**
Steve stopped at the end of the hallway as he heard someone curse and move papers around. The vigilante was still here. He had walked over men who were still unconscious and judging by the trail of blood he was following, maybe she hadn’t gotten away so easily either.
“Natasha,” he whispered as he slowly walked down the hallway. “Do you still have her in the office?” He paused as he saw a bloody handprint on the wall. It was too small to be the security guards.
“Yeah, no movements since the first scan. Why?”
“I think she’s hurt,” he answered as he continued down the hallway. “Security is still unconscious but there’s a trail of blood.”
“Then she won’t put up that much of a fight,” Natasha said. “Maybe she’ll listen to reason.”
He reached the door of the office and paused. “Vigilantes don’t usually listen to reason.”
She scoffed. “Maybe she’ll be charmed by you, Steve.”
He frowned at Natasha’s remark and decided to save that discussion for a later time. “I’m at the door now. Check-in in ten minutes.”
**
Pandora watched as the person opened the door. She could barely make out the face but she could tell that whoever it was, he was much taller than the security she had dealt with. She grimaced again as her side throbbed. She looked down and could see the blood dripping down her leg. Fight or flight options played through her head. She could try to attack the man but even at her top state, she wasn’t sure she could take him down. She could try to throw some flash grenades at him, to give her enough time to get around him. The man walked further into the room and Pandora gasped soundlessly as she saw the gear he was carrying. It was the unmistakable shield of Captain America. But he was dead. She should know; she was there when it happened.
She shifted her weight, and the man stopped in his tracks. He put the shield on his back and put his hands up.
“I’m not here to fight with you,” he said evenly as he walked further into the room. “You’re hurt. Let me help.”
Pandora didn’t answer as she gripped her side. Warm blood seeped through her hands, and she took a sharp breath. She felt around her bag for the flash grenades and was relieved when she found one. She closed her eyes and rolled the small device towards his feet.
“Yeah,” she said standing up slowly. “That’s not going to work for me. Sorry, Cap, it kind of goes against the whole vigilante code. See you around.”
When the device hit the wall with a small click, she pressed the switch she had hidden in her gloves. A bright flash filled the room and she darted out of the room. There was a loud swish and she ducked as the shield just missed her.
She still held her side as she ran down the hallway. If she could just make it back to the abandoned house, she could patch herself up and plan her next move. Seeing a flight of stairs, she moved towards them her breath ragged with every step.
“You should listen to him,” a female voice said as she reached the top of the stairs. “He’s telling the truth. We don’t want to fight you.”
She turned around slowly and frowned as she saw the familiar woman standing in front of her. Natasha Romanov? “Black Widow? You’re dead. I saw it happen.”
She smirked. “It wouldn’t be the first time. What’s your name?”
“Pandora,” she said, as her grip tightened against her side.
“A code name? No real name?” Natasha asked as she walked closer to her. Pandora looked over her shoulder and saw the man dressed as Captain America who had concern etched on his face.
“I don’t know you and I definitely don’t know him,” she said stepping closer to the top of the stairway. “Listen,” she said as she took a deep breath. “Let me go. I have no issue with you, and if you had an issue with me, you would’ve taken me out already.”
“True,” Natasha started. “But we don’t make a habit of fighting people who are already hurt. Where’s the fun in that? You got her, Barton?”
“This won’t hurt a bit, darlin’,” a male voice said from the bottom of the stairs. She turned to see a man aiming an arrow at her.
She grabbed one of the grenades in her bag and before she could release it, the man let loose an arrow. She felt a small pinch in her arm and felt herself go weak. “Son of a bitch,” she mumbled as she went down to one knee. Blinking furiously, she tried to keep conscious as the pain gripped her side. “What did you do to me?”
Natasha kneeled and slipped the bag off her shoulder. “A mild sedative. That team you took out? Their friends are on their way, and I’d rather not leave any more of a mess. Super-spies and all of that. We can patch you up, and maybe you’ll tell us your real name?”
Pandora groaned as the pain in her side grew. She nodded. “Fine.”
Natasha stepped to the side and held out her hand. “It’s going to be hard, but do you think you can walk? I’d ask the old man to pick you up but you don’t strike me as the type who’d take too kindly to that.”
Despite the situation, she smiled. “No, I wouldn’t.”
**
Steve watched through the glass as the doctor worked on the vigilante. As the doctor pulled the curtain, he turned as Natasha emptied the contents of her bag and begin to rifle through them. “Flash grenades. Six-inch serrated knife. Nice,” she murmured. She fingered the rubber hilted knife and balanced it in her hand. “Nice balance. A little heavier than I would use but it’ll do the job. Documents from the first two warehouses and…” Natasha trailed off and looked up at Steve with a question in her eyes. “Steve, where’s Felicity?”
“She’s at her apartment,” he answered looking at her strangely. “Why?”
Natasha handed a photograph to him. “You sure about that?”
Steve looked down at the photo and frowned. It was a small photograph of a dark-haired Felicity Smoak, and standing behind to her with his arms wrapped around her intimately, was Oliver Queen.