Must Get Out (MB/Cap)

[Barbara "Bobbi" Morse-Barton]

"Sparring with Captain America," Bobbi drawled, taking a slight running start before her leap. Clearly he hadn't needed it, but then... Steve had made such jumps before. Bobbi was still accustomed to being a different sort of normal. The sort where jumping roofs could very easily lead to a fall to one's death.

So, she was a little surprised when she ended up landing beyond Steve by a slight margin, but mostly relieved that she had landed at all.

"That's not a sentence I would have ever expected to be applied to me before. But I like it. I don't think they like me drilling too much at work. I destroyed two punching bags the last time...."

The last time she and Clint had a fight. They went from peaceable to snapping dogs in seconds some days, and Bobbi hated it.

Clearing her throat, she ended her sentence with a shrug and a lame, "Anyway."

[Steve Rogers]

When Bobbi landed just ahead of him, he chuckled. The running leap was dangerous for them, because adding that much more to the jump without judging the distance could lead to falling between two roofs, instead of landing on one. They were both tough, but The Hulk they were not. Landing had the potential of hurting quite a bit.

"That's not a sentence I would have ever expected to be applied to me before. But I like it. I don't think they like me drilling too much at work. I destroyed two punching bags the last time...."

Steve chuckled a bit, relieved to hear that, "Happens to me all the time. Tony Stark had to reinforce my bags so I'd stop breaking them open." There was now a slight dent on the 30th floor gym in the tower, Steve liked to pretend that it hadn't come from his reinforced punching bag hitting the wall so hard.

"Anyway."

"You can come train at the tower," Steve started, "If you'd like." He thought for a moment before saying, "Super Soldiers need to stick together, right?" Honestly, he hoped that hadn't sounded like he'd asked her out or something silly like that. He was happy with Natasha, and was just trying to be helpful. It was nice to have someone who understood what he went through after taking the serum.

[Barbara "Bobbi" Morse-Barton]

Bobbi had taken advantage of the moment to look down across the city. It was one thing to see it from an office floor or because she had to take a plane. Somehow, the view felt quite different when she had scaled a building to get here herself.

That didn't mean she wasn't paying attention to Steve. She was very glad to hear she wasn't the only one, and even moreso that he hadn't asked or guessed the reason behind her frustration that had led to the poor bags destruction.

His offer elicited a smile, but still... Bobbi was hesitant.

"I... I'd like that. Just.. um..."

Reluctantly looking back to her acquaintance now maybe friend, Bobbi met his gaze, "I don't know how Clint would feel about that. Me being around you guys. I mean... I..I don't know where I stand with him, I guess? But if you think it'd be okay, then yes."

Bobbi wanted to curse herself mentally. Why why why did she always get so tongue tied when her husband came up?

"Super soldiers ought to stick together. Definitely," she attempted a smile, wishing she had more of a proper mask than goggles, even if it had never seemed important before.

[Steve Rogers]

She seemed a bit hesitant, that was okay. Steve was patient, and he had to deal with that often. When he'd met the President earlier that year, the first conversation had been something to that end, the man could not string a proper sentence around him at first.

Then she explained why she wasn't sure that she should, causing Steve to raise an eyebrow.

"Clint? Oh, Agent Barton, why is that? Do you two not get along?" Steve had no idea he was talking about her husband, otherwise, he'd have been much more respectful about the subject, "Agent Barton usually doesn't spend a lot of time at the tower. I um, I'm surprised that Agent Romanoff does as much as she does." He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, not trying to brag about his relationship with the Black Widow, he just couldn't help not talking about her sometimes. Natasha had that effect on him.

She agreed to come train anyway, which Steve was glad to hear, they'd be able to do some serious training, it would be good for them both to have someone close in strength, but not overly powerful than the other.

"Great. I'll have to get a visitor's pass for you. Glad you'll stop by now and then."

[Barbara "Bobbi" Morse-Barton]

He had no idea, and Bobbi wasn't sure if that made her want to laugh or cry more. Except, no, no more mushy stuff. She'd had her moment, and there was no way she was going to look like a complete and total idiot in front of Captain America after he had been nice enough to help her.

"He's my husband. Technically, anyway. Like I said, I'm not sure where I stand with him. There was this thing...."

She shrugged, not really willing to explain more and more interested in listening to him explain how Clint didn't often visit Avenger's Tower. So, potentially, it wouldn't be too much of a problem.

"Sounds great," she agreed with a slight smile before asking in a teasing tone, "Does that conclude the lesson, sensei? Or do you have more to teach before we track down some bad guys?"

[Steve Rogers]

Oh, her husband. Cap had no idea that Agent Barton had been married. Why hadn't he said something the first time the team had encountered Mockingbird? That was kind of crazy. Steve rubbed his shoulder and said, "I didn't realize." He chuckled before saying, "Well then, small world I suppose."

He paused a moment, wondering what it was that made her sound so sad.

"Then, you should come by the tower for sure. Agent Barton is only there now and then, but , maybe seeing each other a bit could help." Steve was a bit of a romantic, he liked to see a happy ending. So, even though he'd only known Mockingbird officially for about an hour, but he wanted to help, somehow.

When she asked about whether they were done or not, Steve paused a moment before saying, "I think that's it for now. Let's go take care of that business you called me in on in the first place."

[Barbara "Bobbi" Morse-Barton]

Shrugging a little embarassedly, Bobbi nonetheless nodded.

"I hope you're right. I would like to see him."

Bobbi just didn't want to see the weight of his judgement, which was why she had kept her distance for so long.

I think that's it for now. Let's go take care of that business you called me in on in the first place.

"Right. Follow me, Super Soldier. SHIELD's got us transport."

Running along roofs definitely sent the adrenaline buzzing, but they needed to travel a ways. Besides, Fury wanted to reinforce a tie with SHIELD and Captain America. This made everyone's job easier.

[Steve Rogers]

Steve smiled warmly and waved it off, "It'll be fine. If he sees you, thing's will take a turn for the better. Call it a hunch."

Boy, Steve sure could be naive when it came to relationships in the 21st Century.

When Mockingbird changed the subject back to the mission, Steve nodded and followed along to the transport. Cap's mindset changed back to the job at hand while they headed off.

"So, can you brief me on the mission? I'm sure things will go more smoothly if I know what we're getting into."

He was willing to involve himself more than some of the other Avengers, namely Tony, were to SHIELD, even if he didn't always agree with some of the things they did, the organization was still out their doing their best to make the world a safer place for everyone. That was something he could get behind.

[Barbara "Bobbi" Morse-Barton]

Bobbi wasn't so sure it worked that way, but she appreciated Steve's encouragement all the same.

They were taking a simple vehicle, albeit reinforced and with an engine she'd been told was tuned up beautifully, but on the outside it didn't appear fancy. There wasn't any point in getting to their target and announcing their presence with a chopper or anything out of the norm.

"Human trafficking," was her initial answer to his request for details. Not because she was trying to be rude, it was just... still a bit close for comfort.

"Our reports indicate that a small but significant portion of immigrants to the country have been 'disappearing'. But in their absence, there is.... well, we think they're being marketed.

"It's bad enough when an American citizen vanishes in another country where our government has no jurisdiction. There's no way I... we're going to let it happen here."

Never again.

[Steve Rogers]

Cap paid attention to Mockingbird's briefing. She wasn't giving him all the details, but at least he knew what they were getting into from that.

"Do we know who we're dealing with?" Steve asked as he looked to the woman in charge of the mission, "Or what we're dealing with?" He assumed it was just thugs with guns. He could deal with thugs with guns. It was dealing with mutants, aliens or biologically enhanced creatures when things became more difficult.

He assumed that he'd been asked to come alone because they were trying to get him more active with SHIELD. Steve didn't mind that, he trusted them enough not to put him in compromising situations, and Natasha was still a member of the organization, so there was that as well.

Still, the situation spoke to Captain Rogers, he certainly didn't want to see anyone being abused in such away, he'd gladly lend hand, and shield, for this type of situation.

"What's the play Mockingbird?"

[Barbara "Bobbi" Morse-Barton]

"There's an ally of Slade's involved," Bobbi whispered to herself. Even if there hadn't been, there was no way she couldn't associate her own experience with that of these immigrants. Even if they were only working as servants or in sweatshops.

It all had to stop.

Clearing her throat, she spoke up louder after revving the engine and putting the car in gear.

"Shouldn't be anymore than a bunch of bastards with guns."

What's the play Mockingbird?

"I'm breaking them out."

I have to.

"I just don't trust myself to handle whoever's on site. Ideally, we need someone to bring back for interrogation."

And even if Fury was willing to let her exorcise some demons by taking this case, she wasn't going to be set loose without a steady hand nearby.

Lucky for her they wanted Cap around.

[Steve Rogers]

Steve could tell that she was a bit, invested in this mission.

He hoped that it wouldn't hold her back from getting the job done, "Well, if that's the case. I'll cover you. Thugs with guns isn't any real problem for me."

She mentioned taking one of them prisoner, that was fine by Steve, he could handle that, "No problem Ma'am. I'll make sure we've got someone to bring back to our superiors." Captain Rogers had done this all before, the only difference was it had been back in Germany when he had, and this was his home turf. Steve chalked that up into the pros column.

He put a hand on her shoulder and smiled, "We'll be just fine. Give the word when the mission begins. I've got your back."

[Barbara "Bobbi" Morse-Barton]

Bobbi managed to flash Steve a smile at his consistent support. Another agent would have chided her for having such emotional involvement, but he was far kinder in not broaching the subject at all.

"Thank you."

And she really did mean it. Taking another deep breath, she edged the car out and began the tricky process of driving on New York City roads.

'They're being held at a laundromat as far as we can gather. I don't really know why that's their cover, but to be honest I don't care. Get in, get out, right?"

[Steve Rogers]

Steve didn't need thanks, but that didn't mean that he couldn't appreciate it. Mockingbird was a good agent, and Bobbi Morse was a good person. Whatever her problems were with Hawkeye were her own, Steve couldn't think of a reason not to trust or work with her.

"Any time Ma'am."

The Captain took his shield off his back, fitting his hand and wrist through the straps. He tightened the buckles and nodded to her once he was prepared.

"Get in, get out. I'm ready." He could handle covering Mockingbird and anyone she liberated on the way out, he figured that was his priority.

[Barbara "Bobbi" Morse-Barton]

Pulling up at a nearby gas station, Bobbi leaned forward against the steering wheel as she parked. It wasn't the safest position to be in from a driving standpoint, but she wanted to get a good look around before opening the car door.

So far, it looked clear. That was one benefit of undercover dirty operations like this. There was enough manpower to keep captives locked up, but not enough to scream that they were guarding anything.

Especially at a laundromat. Really.

Hopping out of the car, Bobbi spared a moment to make sure Steve was following her before dashing across the tiny lane between the gas station and laundromat, feeling rather grateful that there weren't any cars actually trying to use it right now.

Smart move? Not the most, dashing in blind. But this was personal.

And that meant Bobbi wasn't at her most logical.