*Okay, I have explaining to do. So, let me explain. I haven't updated in quite some time. Why? Because my life has been CRAZY. Going to a new school, getting my sleep schedule together, getting used to all this change is a lot to take in emotionally and physically. My brain has been dead all week and I literally couldn't generate an ounce pf creativity. So, I just want to thank you all for being SO supportive and patient. I just want this to be good for you guys, this story, and I don't want to give you crappy chapters. I'm really sorry and I hope you continue to read. I'll be back to my old updating schedule from now on. Hope you like the chapter! -Noor xx*
HYDRA Base in Germany
"YOU WHAT?!" Johann Schmidt bellowed infuriatedly at the smaller man before him, stepping closer threateningly, gaining up on Zola in the dark corner of the HYDRA lab.
Zola quickly stepped back, fearfully, accidently putting too much weight on his injured ankle and sent a shot of pain racing up his short leg. The doctor yelped in pain and stumbled backwards, tripping over his own feet and falling to the tile floor, "Sir, I-I-I am s-so sorry—," he struggled to voice.
"SORRY?! IT'S GONE! THE SERUM IS GONE YOU FOOL!" Schmidt raged, looking down at Zola as he trembled in terror, shielding his face with his hands.
"Please sir, I-I can fix zis!" Zola said loudly, avoiding the other man's daunting glare. "I-I can remake ze serum."
Schmidt released a long, deep frustrated breath, standing up straight, "You have only a few months, Doctor. I suggest you get started immediately or it shall be your head next time…" He said gravely, glaring down at the wreck of a doctor.
Zola quickly shook his head, his eyes wide as panic engulfed him.
With that, Schmidt turned on the heel of his heavy leather boots and clunked loudly out of the lab. The door shut with a loud bang, leaving the doctor sweating and shaking in fear with only one thing in his mind; make the Super Soldier Serum and make it fast.
Steve
The men and I sat around a large wooden table deep inside the main command center. I had Bucky at my right, Stark at my left. Marty sat across from us, slouching down in her seat, looking up at the general as he spoke, her face bruised and beat up. The right side of her jaw was growing purple, swelling slightly. Her lip was kind of puffy too, a dark red as if it was still bleeding. She wasn't the only who got a couple of shiners. Last night at the HYDRA base was a tough one. We all sat side by side at the table, baring new scars.
"We need to start taking all of the HYDRA's bases, no more planning ladies," The general said, pointing to locations on a large map that hung from the ceiling beside him. The general's use of the word 'ladies" caused me to look over the table at Marty; she met my eyes, smirking subtly before winking at me. My lip twitched upward into a small smile. I turned my attention back to the general. "So," Philips said, putting his hands down on the table and leaning in slightly, eyeing the men, Marty, and I, "What happened down there?"
"Well," Marty spoke almost immediately, sitting up straight in her seat, "I got a little…souvenir last night."
The general's thick eyebrows were raised in curiosity. "Would you care to share with the class, Brooks?"
Marty cleared her throat, leaning back in her chair so she was able to reach her pants pocket. She dug in it for a short moment then pulled out the small, clear test tube. All the eyes at the table went wide as they gaped at the mysterious blue liquid.
"Holy…" said one of the men, taking the test tube from Marty's hands and examining it.
"I know," Marty spoke, letting the men pass the test tube around the table, "Got from Zola."
Each man took the test tube in his hands, examining it carefully. "What is it?" Bucky asked once he got hold of it.
"No idea," Marty said, shifting slightly in her seat. I could tell she was a little uncomfortable talking to Bucky. This must be hard for her…
Bucky handed the test tube to me. I took it from him, careful not to drop it. I had seen this serum before. "Stark, look familiar to you?" I asked the man beside me.
He nodded his head slowly, "Looks like the soldier serum if you ask me." He said, taking the test tube from me.
I nodded my head, agreeing. I knew it. This could very well be the same serum that had turned me into what I am today, the soldier that gave Red Skull his nickname. This stuff was dangerous, especially is it got into the wrong hands.
"Can't be too sure, though," Stark said, handing the test tube to Philips.
The general gazed into it, concern suddenly filling his wrinkled face. "You better run some tests, Stark…" He said, the hypnotizing color of the serum reflecting in Philips' troubled eyes. This was supposed to his weapon. "Get to the bottom of this, as soon as possible." He quickly handed Stark the serum, as if he couldn't stand to look at it any longer.
It was as if Stark, Philips, and I had read each other's minds. If this really was the super soldier serum then god knows how much more of it HYDRA's got stocked up somewhere.
"Wait, wait, wait," Marty said, suddenly, leaning into the table. "You're saying that blue stuff is what made cap all…" she pretended to flex her muscles, making a tough-guy expression, "you know?"
"That's the idea," Stark said, looking down at the serum again.
Marty leaned back in her chair, her expression blank, shaking her head slowly, "Those bastards…"
"What if it's not the soldier serum?" One of the men at the table chimed in.
"Yeah, what if it's something worse?" Another one said.
"The worst thing we can do right now is jump to conclusions." I said stopping them before things got out of hand. "All we know is that whatever is in that test tube it's dangerous, so keep your guard up and your eyes peeled."
"Cap's right," Marty interjected, "We need to keep a look out for this stuff." Then she looked over at me, "God knows what HYDRA's got up their sleeves…" She added, her bright blue eyes meeting mine for a second.
"Uh….yeah," I said, losing my train of thought in Marty's gaze, in her face, which I just realized, was actually really feminine. Now that I thought about it, how did anyone not realize she was a woman? To me she looked just as much as a lady as the dancers I used to work with back when I used to do my Captain America shows. Not that I was picturing her dancing or in those skirts or anything like that just – you know…
Just then the general clapped his hands together loudly, quickly causing me to look away from the woman in front of me, my cheeks heating up for a reason that I couldn't exactly find. I cleared my throat awkwardly, forcing my eyes to stay locked on the general. Though in the split second that my eyes wandered back on Marty I found that she was looking at me this time, a small smile on her lips; she saw me staring at her didn't she?
"So, until we have any more info on that serum, we focus on these," he said, taking a red marker and circling locations on the map beside him. "These are our next targets, and like Captain and his sidekick here said," he said, referring to Marty and I. I saw the brunette in front of me roll her eyes, "Keep your guard up and your eyes peeled."
Marty
A thank you, a good job, maybe even just a pat on the back might've been enough from the general, but guess what I got. I got called a sidekick. Was he for real? I might've brought back a god damn super soldier serum and Philips has decided to continue ignoring my existence. Gosh, that old bastard just doesn't want to admit that I did something important, something that he didn't dream about me doing in a thousand years. Listen, I don't want a god damn trophy okay? I honestly don't care about attention. I just want the old man to admit he was wrong about me.
These thoughts ran through my mind as I pounded my feet into the dirt track of the training grounds. It was the morning after our meeting with the general and soon we'd be off on another mission. Yesterday I wanted to talk things over with cap. I wanted to ask him about the serum, what he knew, but he ran off so fast after the meeting that I didn't get a chance to talk to him. It was probably because I had caught him gawking at me. I don't know what the hell he was looking at anyways, but he started blushing and I couldn't help but smile. Same old Steve…
Just then the training instructor blew his whistle to tell us that it was time to move on to the next part of the training. I slowed down into a soft jog, wiping sweat off my forehead.
"You're pretty fast."
My body froze in place at the sound of his voice. I couldn't ignore him, it would be rude. I gulped, "Thanks," I said, turning around on my heel to see my older brother smiling at me.
"Not a lot of people can run like you, you know?" He said, walking over to me, beads of sweat trickling down his familiar face.
"Is that so?" I said, pretending to tighten my mother's star spangled ribbon that was tied around my bare upper arm.
"Yeah, I only know one other person who can run like that." He said, running a hand through his sweaty brown hair, "and she's a lady."
Oh no.
"Really?" I said, barely hearing myself over how loud my heart was beating.
He nodded his head, chuckling, "Yeah, she's my sister. Her name's Marty."
My stomach fluttered at the sound of my name on his lips, "That's nice, I'm sure she misses you..." I said, and I felt like with that, in a strange indirect way, I was telling my brother that I missed him.
Bucky's face went solemn, "You think?" He said, smiling softly now.
"Positive," I said quietly, nodding my head.
"Yeah, well I miss her too." He said, seeming lost in thought, "Anyways," he said, shaking his head as we began walking towards the next training station, "where you from?"
"Uh, I'm from New York," I said, feeling more happy than nervous to be with my brother.
"Really, what part?" He asked, sounding intrigued.
"Manhattan." I lied.
"Oh nice, I'm from Brooklyn," he said.
"Small world," I said, laughing nervously.
"You got anyone back home? Got a girlfriend?" He asked, smirking.
Okay, never got asked that question before, especially from my brother. I gave the manliest chuckle I could muster, "Nope, no girls for me. Got no time for a relationship you know?"
"Yeah," Bucky said, nodding his head, "but that doesn't mean you can't have a little fun." He chuckled, nudging me with his elbow.
Ugh, boys.
"Yeah…haha," I said, with a little less enthusiasm than I planned. We'll laugh about this one day, but for now, it was just flat out awkward.
"Well, I gotta go, see you, Joey," Bucky said, friendlily clapping Joey Brooks on the back.
"Yeah, see you," I said, raising my hand in a half wave as my brother walked away from me.
I stood there, on the training field, feeling rather dumb. This whole time I was trying to hide from Bucky, to avoid him, afraid that he might recognize me, but I had just had a full out conversation with him and he didn't seem even the slightest bit suspicious. Did he really not see me? I'm his sister, I think what I'm just trying to say is that...how did he not recognize me?