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Chapter 20 – The Beginning of the Fall
The next day, under orders to return, William, Natasha, and Coulson said their farewells and went their separate ways.
William headed to a British base in Iraq to catch a plane back to London, while Natasha and Coulson rushed to Washington, straight into Nick Fury's office at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
That day, Fury seemed unusually cheerful. Natasha smirked, leaned back in her chair, and gave him a playful wink.
"Sit down, Phil," Fury said casually.
"I've read the reports you two filed. But now I want the real story."
Coulson raised an eyebrow.
"The real story? Wasn't that everything?"
Natasha hesitated, guilt flickering across her face.
"Sorry, Coulson… I didn't tell you everything."
Fury leaned forward with interest.
"Looks like the real story's with Romanoff."
Coulson sighed.
"It's fine. I was never built for this spy-versus-spy game anyway."
Natasha lowered her head, whispering almost to herself.
Good. At least you know it.
Then she spoke clearly:
"William and I found the base, and yes, the two scientists were there… but they were already dead. As we tried to leave, someone attacked us."
Fury's expression darkened.
"Who?"
Natasha's voice wavered slightly.
"It was my first time seeing him… a man with a metal left arm."
Fury froze.
"The Winter Soldier."
"Exactly. William and I had no choice but to work together to get out alive."
Coulson's face drained of color.
"What? The Winter Soldier… after two scientists?"
Fury nodded grimly.
"This just became bigger than a routine mission. I'll take it up with Pierce."
He then glanced at Natasha with a sly grin.
"And about William… didn't get a clear look at his face, but I'd say he's quite the handsome fellow."
Natasha forced a bitter smile. Fury added mockingly:
"Poor guy. Fell right into the Black Widow's web. May God have mercy on him."
The room grew heavy with silence.
Natasha finally said softly:
"He's… a lot like me. Strong, fast, and always making the same choices. Working with him felt… right."
Fury exhaled.
"He was born to be an agent. Shame about his fate."
Coulson frowned.
"Why shame?"
"Because the Kingsman organization is collapsing. Britain's about to purge its own agents. William won't be spared."
Natasha's chest tightened. She said nothing, but her eyes betrayed the storm inside.
Fury pulled a dossier onto the table.
"I've had eyes on him. Latest intel says he's stopped taking assignments."
Natasha and Coulson opened the file, their faces tightening with shock before falling into silence.
Fury explained:
"He's a dutiful agent, exactly what I'd want in S.H.I.E.L.D. But everyone has a weakness. His body—enhanced as it is—is tearing itself apart. He won't last more than a year or two in Kingsman."
Coulson asked carefully:
"Can't we help him?"
Fury shook his head.
"No. It's genetic. Even with all our tech, nothing can stop it. The only thing that might save him… is Dr. Erskine's Super Soldier Serum."
The mere mention of Dr. Erskine left the room in stunned silence.
"Both of you, dismissed," Fury ordered finally. "I'll handle the rest."
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Three Months Later – 2005
William awoke with a start. Pulling back the curtain, he winced as sunlight stabbed his eyes.
"Damn it…"
He sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing them, but the blur only grew worse.
Already… this soon…
Dressing quickly, he rushed to the medical wing.
Mary, the stern middle-aged physician, looked up as he entered.
"Oh, William. Something wrong?"
He spoke quietly:
"Mary… my vision's getting worse."
Mary pulled a scanning device from a cabinet, pressing it against his temple. A blue light flashed, and 3D images of frayed nerves appeared on her screen. Her face hardened instantly. She grabbed the phone and began dialing.
William's voice was steady but strained:
"Tell me the truth, Mary. I can handle it."
"Don't talk!" she snapped. "I told you to rest after Siberia. You should've taken months off, but no—you jumped right back into missions. You're burning yourself out, William. And that poor wolf you left behind in the snow—what were you thinking?"
William gave a bitter smile.
"Don't worry about me…"
Mary's voice rose:
"Your body's been running on overdrive for too long. Now it's cannibalizing your nerves and muscles. You're going blind, William. Do you understand what that means?"
He stayed silent. Mary called for a full diagnostic team to prepare the operating room.
---
Meanwhile, in another chamber, Merlin and Harry sat watching a holographic projection of Arthur and several elder statesmen.
One of the old men sneered:
"Arthur, your weapon's broken. Are you retiring, or do you still think you can protect this country? Instead of wasting resources on you relics, we should be building weapons to rival America's."
Arthur clenched his fists, sighing heavily.
We've grown too weak… William's body won't hold out much longer… Perhaps it's time to accept defeat.
Valentine's words echoed in his mind: Technology conquers the world.
Arthur spoke at last:
"Kingsman is not your private playground. This organization is a royal legacy of Great Britain. Maybe we'll need to enter hibernation for a few years… but we'll rise again."
Before anyone could answer, Arthur shut the system off. Alone in the quiet, he sank into his chair, lost in thought…
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