New York City docks, 2:42AM

[avengingarrows.livejournal.com]

The Cornelia Marie is no stranger to the city's docklands. Every three weeks, she arrives at the pier with a fresh cargo of fish and shellfish for the city's restaurants and hotels. Her captain's biggest client? The Lensherrs, owners of the most successful chains in the city.

The shipments seem legit. But the Avengers have reason to believe other shipments may be piggybacking inside the crates; shipments that won't see the light of day.

Opium is a premium commodity on the street. This is what they're waiting for. Tonight, they get to blow the lid on this operation and finally get something concrete to nail the Lensherrs' collective asses to the wall.

At Pier Twelve, several Lensherr 'employees' in large black Buicks await the Cornelia Marie's captain and her illicit cargo.

Comments

[wwii-hero.livejournal.com]

Patriot is immediately moving behind the suits, blasting away with his stun blasters.

[marvel-citizens.livejournal.com]

Strangled yelps alert the remaining goons to another's presence. Two fire off random shots at anything they can see is moving. Three others fall to the ground, weapons clattering across the concrete. One of the Buicks remains aflame, and the ringleader now lurches toward the other, intending to get the hell out of here.

[cap-a.livejournal.com]

"I don't think so," Steve replies, spraying at the ringleader with his rubber-bullet tommy gun.

[marvel-citizens.livejournal.com]

The force of the shots spreadeagles him across the Buick's generous hood before he slides to the pavement.

[cassidykeeper.livejournal.com]

He can keep up a scream for an inhumanly long time, but Banshee does have to catch his breath eventually.

The screaming stops, but hopefully not too soon.

[marvel-citizens.livejournal.com]

There are perhaps two or three of the original group of men still standing amongst their fallen comrades. The shipment remains where it was spilled from its dollies, the fish and ice that covered it scattered across the dock.

[cap-a.livejournal.com]

Steve moves quickly to Hawkeye, checking his vitals.

[avengingarrows.livejournal.com]

His eyes are open, and glassy, with none of the spark that usually animates them. He's not breathing. His blood is pooled around his body, in amounts that astound.

He hasn't been breathing for a while.

[cap-a.livejournal.com]

Dammit, no!

He leans over Clint, compressing his chest. He might crack ribs, but that is something he could recover from.

He begins CPR.

"Come on, dammit! Breathe!"

[avengingarrows.livejournal.com]

His bow lies beside him, broken. It's an unwelcome analogy to the archer's condition.

Moments pass into minutes. There's no response.

[jim-rhodes.livejournal.com]

He had to all but pry himself out of the armor, but he managed, and made his way over to Steve and...

...

"God damnit..."

[marvel-citizens.livejournal.com]

The remaining goons watch the proceedings, unable to resist a little heckling.

"Check it out, Charlie. Someone reached out and touched the Untouchable Avengers."

"He ain't such a hot shot after all, huh? What's the matter, War Machine? All tore up because one of your little friends got his ass handed to him?"

[cassidykeeper.livejournal.com]

"Shut yer yap, ye bloody scumbag," orders Cassidy. "'Less you want to spend the next six months learnin' sign language."