Thank you to everyone who has read/reviewed so far. Never expected this to go any further than a one-shot, but hopefully you're enjoying this longer story!


Ava revved the engine on the bike.

Rain was hammering off her helmet, distorting the view through the visor and the light had been red for what felt like an eternity. As soon as it changed to green, she swerved around the taxi in front of her and across the bridge. It was seven am but Central London was already teeming with commuters and tourists. She hit every set of lights and despite being a five-minute clear drive away, with all of the traffic lights it was almost twenty minutes before she reached Hatton Garden.

She pulled the motorbike up to the curb, and kicked the stand down. She was a couple of streets away from the address Martin had been given. Ava walked round the back of an old tourist pub and looked around, the alley was empty. She jumped onto the large waste bin outside, then across to the first floor awning of the building. From there she shimmied around the side and pulled herself up onto the windowsill of the floor above. She carried on up until the fourth floor and then tugged herself onto the roof.

In the back of her mind was the gnawing reminder that the Winter Soldier was sat waiting where she left him, where she commanded him to stay, in the hanger with Roper watching his every move.

He remembered her.

That had never happened before. Five years ago she had run over thirty missions with him. The only glimmer had been when he remembered touching her leg. But in the hanger he had recognised her face, he'd looked into her eyes and seen something. And that was more than enough to have her killed. She shuddered and put the memory aside. Right now, she was back where she belonged. She had hated every moment spent in the training school. It was like a prison, an endless torture and a constant reminder that they owned her and her life was theirs. But this was where she excelled. With no suited man breathing down her neck, no reigns, no cameras, no microphones, just her, alone, a few brief hours where she could pretend she was free.

She spun around, getting the full view of the surrounding rooftops. From what she could see, there were no surveillance units based up there. Several residential buildings had rooftop gardens, but the rest of them were clear. Looking across, she could see that with the tightly packed streets and buildings, she would be able to make it over without going back to street level, so set about jumping from rooftop to rooftop. There was only a maximum gap of around four feet, but it still felt like flying. A few minutes later she arrived on the roof opposite the building Edward and Regan owned. She ducked down behind a chimney pot, and pulled out a camera from her rucksack. It wasn't the best angle, but she could make out two armed guards on the top floor. Below that the windows seemed to be clear, but she couldn't see anything further down. She slid along the roof, keeping low, and swung round to the East, trying to get a better view.

The new position allowed her a partial view of the street entrance. Two guards were stood outside. It wasn't a rarity, given the cost of the products within. She noticed that several other shops on the street had similar security.

"317 is it?"

The voice was unfamiliar and Ava began to spin. It wasn't quick enough and she felt pain scream through the back of her head. Then darkness consumed her.

Ava flickered open her eyes. She couldn't hear anything, just the dull throb that was echoing around her head. Her mouth was dry and she could taste blood, she must have bitten her tongue when they hit her. It took a while for her eyes to adjust.

"Welcome back," it was the same voice again.

"Mr. Thompson," she replied, her focus adjusting on the face of Edward Thompson.

"One agent wasn't enough of a hint for Mr. Roper? Hmm?"

"Apparently not," Ava replied, flexing her hands. They were bound behind her back, her legs strapped to the legs of the chair.

"Are you going to be more cooperative than your friend?"

"Depends what you are offering," Ava said, flexing her hand to try and create some slack. She glanced around the room properly the first time. Apart from the chair in which she sat, and table on which Edward was perched, it was completely empty. Except for smears of blood on the floor. She could just about make out the dull murmur of men outside the door.

"Ever wonder why your organization is trying to get in our way? Hmm? It's not out of the goodness of their hearts. I can tell you that."

"People rarely do anything for good reasons," Ava replied. "You know at least in Russia they're a lot more open about this arms race. Makes things a lot easier."

"Russia? It has been a long time since you were in the game hasn't it?" Edward smiled and rubbed his bearded chin. "Surprising that they'd put one of their best into the training program. You must have really fucked up."

"Something like that," the pain in Ava's head was screaming, along with the alarm bells that followed his sentenced. She was compromised. And if she was compromised, they all were. She glanced at her watch. It was after eleven.

"Somewhere else you need to be?"

"Oh, you know, tourist tour booked at the Tower of London at midday. Don't want to be late," she replied.

"Sorry, I forgot, it must be strange for you to be back," Edward paused. "Welcome home Ava."

The blood in Ava's ears began to pound louder. He knew everything. That wasn't possible. She threw herself backwards, splintering the chair beneath her. She only managed to pull one wrist free before Edward began moving towards her. She threw herself towards him, body slamming him with the chair and knocking him to the ground. It wasn't elegant, but it smashed the legs off, allowing her to free her legs. Edward was coughing, winded from the hit. Before he could sit up, Ava kicked him back to the ground, her booted foot going to his throat.

"Who is the informant?" she snapped. He laughed. She moved the foot and kicked his jaw hard, knocking several teeth loose. "Who is it?" she kept her voice quiet.

"Are you going to kill me?" he seemed amused by the prospect. "There's fifty men in this building, and they all work for me. You won't even make it off this floor."

"Want to bet? I can be very resourceful," Ava returned her foot to his throat, pressing down enough to cut off his breathing. She watched as he began to struggle for breath, pulling at her foot. She loosened off slightly. "Ready to talk?"

"Never," he smiled.

Ava reached over and grabbed the broken chair leg. Without pausing, she thrust it straight into his throat, pulling it out and stepping back to avoid the spurting blood that began to soak across the floor.

"Your brother will be joining you soon," she said, her voice emotionless. The conversation outside the room began growing louder and she looked around. There was ventilation system in the top corner but it would be a tight squeeze. Tugging at the table, she moved it quietly across and hopped up, pulling at the metal grating. Gunshots tore through the air. She froze, looking at the door that remained closed. More gunfire began and she continued, lifting herself up into the crawl space. Her shoulders barely fit but she managed to just get enough leverage. As soon as she was fully in, she began pushing with her feet, and tugging with her palms against the smooth surface. She managed to get herself along to a junction, and backed herself down a section heading towards the floor below.

There was a slight thud as she hit the bottom, and she froze, just in case anyone heard. In the background she could hear shouting and the occasion gunshot. She had no doubt the Winter Solider was currently smashing through the building around her, killing as many as he could. Swerving to the left, Ava worked out her location and looked into the tunnel ahead of her. It took her through the flooring, potentially leaving her visible through a thick metal grate. It was a chance she would have to take. Moving as quietly as she could, she began edging through, stopping every couple of feet to look above her and check for movement. She was about two feet from the exit when something smashed down through the vent in front of her.

A metal hand.

It latched onto her leather jacket and pulled fiercely, dragging her up from the ventilation system and onto the floor. He kept her hovering off the ground for several seconds, surveying her carefully before dropping her to her feet.

"That was…unnecessary," she murmured, avoiding eye contact.

"We need to go, Roper is waiting," he sounded irritated, snappy, the tone she remembered from their missions. Maybe he didn't remember after all.

"My motorbike is outside," Ava replied. "Couple of streets down."

"Compromised," he replied. "We're getting out of the area by foot, then we can find another vehicle." He placed his metal hand around Ava's forearm and began dragging her. "We don't have time to wait around."

"You cleared the building, we need to check, there could be any amount of information lying around!" she protested. "If I can return with information on Stark's weaponry…"

"It has been cleared out. Along with Regan, he's long gone," the Asset replied. "It was all here for the taking though, before you got yourself caught."

"They knew I was coming. I was completely hidden on those rooftops. I took every precaution. They were expecting me." The Soldier didn't reply, he simply grunted.

Together they reached street level. It was bustling with local residents and tourists. Ava stopped and looked herself up and down. Her boots were covered in blood, and her face was dusty and bruised. The Soldier began digging around in his pocket, pulling out a baseball cap.

"Here," he said, handing it over. "You're not too badly injured, I was expecting worse."

"You didn't rescue me. You realise that. I was getting out of there by myself and I might have managed it with more subtlety if you hadn't waded in where you weren't needed," Ava pulled the hat down over her dark hair, tilted her head to hide the purple hue gathering across her cheek.

"Not the time," the Winter Soldier grabbed her arm and began pulling her along the street.

"Soldat. Stop," Ava said, and he froze. Her tone turned icy and she switched to Russian. "Remember who is in charge in this situation. Remember who you work for and who gives the orders."

"Roper is in charge," he replied, turning and catching her eye.

"I am your handler," she said. "You do as I say."

"Do you want respect?" he replied. "Then you shouldn't have left me, Ava."