The battle between Iron Man and Captain America had reached its peak. Both sides were unleashing increasingly powerful attacks, and the crowd of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents watching the spectacle grew larger and larger.
"How can Captain America's shield take so much punishment?" one agent marveled. "It's deflecting bullets, lasers, and missiles like they're nothing."
A rookie agent, new to S.H.I.E.L.D., was practically vibrating with excitement. He'd grown up on stories of Captain America, but this was the first time he'd seen the real man in person, let alone witnessing his epic clash with Iron Man. He frantically snapped photos on his phone, determined to capture every moment.
A sharp-witted agent spotted a business opportunity. He immediately set up a betting pool, shouting, "Place your bets! Iron Man wins at 2-to-1 odds, Captain America at 1-to-1! Cash only! Get your bets in now!"
"Me, me! 100 on Captain America!" The crowd surged forward, eager to place their bets.
"One at a time, don't rush!" The enterprising agent frantically raked in cash, his mind racing with visions of wealth.
Just then, a cough sounded in his ear. He looked up from counting the money to see Hawkeye standing there.
Hawkeye and Natasha received a message from Director Fury and immediately rushed downstairs to stop Steve and Tony.
As soon as Hawkeye descended the stairs, he saw the agents gambling, his brow furrowing in displeasure.
*This is outrageous!*
*Where's the discipline and integrity of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents?!*
*And the worst part is, they didn't even include him in the bet!*
*Confiscate it all! Confiscate everything!*
Hawkeye snatched the money and sternly reprimanded the agents: "You all have too much free time, just standing around watching. Is your training not intense enough? From now on, double your training sessions, immediately!"
"I'm confiscating this money. Don't you know S.H.I.E.L.D. forbids gambling?!"
Hawkeye stuffed the money into his pocket with a stern expression.
The agents scattered in fear under Hawkeye's harsh scolding. They knew he was a man of his word, and defying his orders would have dire consequences.
Watching them flee, Hawkeye began counting the money with a satisfied smile, already planning to buy gifts for the children that night.
Meanwhile, Natasha had no interest in the gambling agents. She strode directly out of the S.H.I.E.L.D. building, her sole focus on preventing the impending battle between Tony and Steve.
When Natasha first heard about the fight, she refused to believe it. Having gone undercover with Tony, she understood his personality deeply.
She knew that despite Tony's often sharp words, deep down he was still a kind person.
As for Steve, that old friend of Howard Stark, his father, Natasha believed that such men should never be at odds.
*There must be some misunderstanding,* she thought. The Avengers still wanted to recruit Tony, and continuing this fight would only harm everyone.
When she stepped out of the building, the scene before her made her gasp in shock.
The ground was a disaster zone, utterly devastated by Iron Man and Captain America's battle.
Captain America's uniform was tattered and stained with dust and blood, while Iron Man's armor was dented and battered, with some sections even revealing its internal mechanics.
Though both were clearly exhausted, they continued to fight, as if determined to completely defeat each other.
Natasha immediately rushed between them, holding out her hands. "Stop! Both of you, stop fighting!"
Her voice echoed across the battlefield, seemingly faint but filled with unwavering resolve.
Hearing Natasha's voice, Steve froze mid-motion. He turned, his eyes filled with confusion and surprise.
Tony paused mid-air. He raised the right arm of his armor, aiming at Steve, but his gaze fell on Natasha.
"I don't have to fight," Tony said in a low voice. "Hand over Bucky's body. I'll take it and leave immediately."
Natasha's face showed confusion.
*Bucky's body!*
She couldn't understand why Tony wanted Bucky's body, or how he knew it was at S.H.I.E.L.D.
But now Natasha finally understood why Tony was fighting Steve—it was all because of a corpse.
She found the situation absurd: two living men fighting over a dead one. Still, she knew the priority was to stop this pointless battle.
Just as Natasha was about to urge Tony to stand down, Steve responded.
Hearing Tony's insistence on taking his friend Bucky's body, Steve's momentary calm vanished, replaced by renewed fury.
*Impossible!*
No one would take my friend's body. Perhaps out of guilt, Steve felt he hadn't been there when Bucky died. If he had been, Bucky might still be alive.
Steve was obsessively determined to protect Bucky's body.
"We can't hand over Bucky's body," Steve said coldly, glaring at Tony. "Absolutely not."
"Then there's nothing to discuss. Let's get this over with," Tony replied, immediately firing a laser from his right hand at Steve.
Their battle erupted anew, the waves of destruction spreading wider and even threatening Natasha, who stood between them.
Watching the chaotic scene unfold, Natasha's heart churned with conflicting emotions.
She knew her pleas had fallen on deaf ears. Both Tony and Steve were lost in the vortex of their emotions, unable to break free.
With no other option, she temporarily retreated to the S.H.I.E.L.D. building to seek alternative solutions.
Just then, Director Fury's voice crackled in her ear: "Natasha, team up with Hawkeye to assist Steve. We can't let Tony make a scene in front of S.H.I.E.L.D."
Black Nick Fury had been present during Natasha's earlier attempt to mediate, but he hadn't expected Tony to be so defiant.
*If Tony had stopped when asked, I might have let it slide, out of respect for his father.*
After all, causing a scene at a critical military base like S.H.I.E.L.D. would have legal consequences.
But Tony was surprisingly unreasonable, making such a scene over a dead body.
If Tony were allowed to leave S.H.I.E.L.D. so brazenly, Fury was certain the military and the politicians would mock them the next day, questioning S.H.I.E.L.D.'s competence.
He might lose his position as Director.
More importantly, Fury had a principle: anything that entered his territory was his.
Not even a corpse could be plucked from his grasp.
That was why he was so furious and so determined to stop Tony.
Hearing Director Fury's order, Natasha didn't hesitate. She knew the only way to end this farce was to defeat Tony, especially since Steve was one of their own.
Immediately, Natasha, Hawkeye, and Captain America joined forces to attack Tony.
The three-pronged assault put Tony under unprecedented pressure. While fending off their attacks, he cursed Steve in his mind for calling in backup.
*Damn it! Can't win, so you call in reinforcements?!*
-----------------------
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