The more he listened, the more Rumlow was convinced. This was a man who had a way with words, but he had known that. Even if this connection between them was obscured, the context was starting to form. There was this instinctual trust he felt for Pierce. One that went beyond the typical professional relationship between an organizational leader and its member.

"And here I was, thinkin' I was just some coach at a boxing gym," he remarked dryly. In spite of his sarcasm, Rumlow really was inspired, though he had no idea what what to do with it. Were they trying to fulfill a deep cover operation on this town -- was whatever entity running this place against SHIELD? Were they the ones infiltrating and capturing agents? Why else would Pierce be here, otherwise. He wasn't an operative, he was administrative. Strategic, not tactical.

How deep did this rabbit hole go?