A/N: I tried to publish this on Friday, but FanFiction was having a fit. Sorry. It's short, and un-BETAed and I may publish next chapter on February 16th as I'm going to be very busy trying to get funding for my study abroad. Sorry again.
Hope you enjoy anyway.
Stagnation
'Cora Coleson' picked at her shawarma; As a young American who was taking a gap year having finished high school, she found herself having been drawn to Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip on her tour of the world. The result: helping the locals out with anything and everything they needed, whether it be economics advice, self-defense lessons, or just another helping hand.
"If you don't eat that, then I will shove it down your throat," a voice said and Cora looked up into Brody's face.
"I'd like to see you try," Cora admitted. Brody set down his tray of dirty dishes and started eating from Cora's plate.
"Why are you so mopey right now?" he asked.
"I am not mopey. I'm just… down," she shrugged.
"Right. Of course." He stared her down for a few moments and she caved.
"I guess I'm a bit homesick."
"Oh," he said sadly.
"I like it here, I really do. It's just… things are happening back home and I worry about my friends sometimes," Cora said.
"Oh don't worry about insulting me, kid; you're the one I know is going places. Besides, just because change is a constant doesn't mean people aren't allowed to miss what they had," Brody said. Cora nodded as he kissed her forehead. "Now, I'm gonna make you a fresh plate and you're gonna eat it all, and then help me with these dishes. Alright?"
Cora smiled and nodded.
Skadi - formerly known as Sin - stood on a observation deck, surveying some kind of metal working below, the fires from the forges below accenting her slightly red face. Ophelia Sarkissian stood slightly behind her, an ever vigilant guard.
"Have you found her yet?" she asked as Brock Turner came up behind her, in full Crossbones armor except for the helmet, showing his full, heavily scarred face.
"The moment we do, I will tell you," he assured her, going in to kiss her neck. Skadi growled and pulled away.
"That's not good enough," she spat. "Do better." Brock scowled and stormed out. He and Ophelia shared a glance as he swept past and she stepped forward once he was out of earshot.
"Sin-" Skadi glared. "Sorry, Skadi, there's no reason to focus on her, she's inconsequential. Let's just focus on the plan," Ophelia advised.
"No! She dies first, either by your hand or mine," Skadi snarled, rounding on Ophelia. "Unless you're having second thoughts?"
"Never, ma'am," Ophelia said. Skadi stared her down before smirking.
"Good. I'd hate to lose another head of HYDRA. We seem to be running short on them," she chuckled. A burst of flame cast a shadow of heads on pikes across Skadi, Ophelia, and the wall behind them. Skadi's grin seemed to grow wider than her face, the fire reflecting on her teeth.
It was the middle of the night by the time Cora left the restaurant. The salty sea air as biting with a late December chill. Strolling through narrow walkways, it was almost peaceful. Almost.
"Leave me alone," she heard a feminine voice saying in a parallel lane. Cora stiffened. She heard the argument escalate and Cora stood there, waiting for a penny to drop.
"Okay that's enough, break it up," said an authoritative voice. After a moment, the tension dissipated and Cora was left in the silence. Except she wasn't; there was someone about eight yards behind her, standing as still as she was. She took a deep breath and kept walking, taking a left, then a right. He followed her until she slipped around a corner out of view. By the time he'd rounded it, she was gone. He treaded further into the dead end, only to be attacked from behind. He fell to the ground and attempted to stand, only for Coral's boot to press his chest into the ground.
"Is there a problem, ma'am?" he coughed.
"Yeah, there's a problem. Why are you following me?" she asked.
"I know what you're thinking. Don't worry, I don't bite," he assured her. He was an African American, probably New York from his accent. She frowned but let him up, still wary. "Truth is, I thought you'd be taller, or bigger muscles and all that. You're pretty spry, though," he groaned, rolling his shoulders.
"What do you want?"
"It's not what I want," he said. "If I had it my way, I'd be back in New York. But the boss seems to think you're the one we need to talk to so… "
"Your boss?" she asked, wondering for a moment if Stark had sent someone after her. He smiled and nodded at someone behind her. Coral turned to see a young blonde haired, blue-eyed woman, a disapproving brunet man beside her.
"Hi, Coral. It's been a while," the woman said.
"Susan?" Coral asked.