The call came just after midnight.
Alex was asleep in Bucky's arm after a night of trying to sort through her emotions. He'd been there for her, as he always was, supporting her through her post-trial run illness. She told him a little of how it went, but spared the details. Bucky knew them all already anyway. They turned in early, especially since Bucky treated Alex to a shoulder and back rub that put her right to sleep.
When Bucky's cell phone rang, it cut through the silence in his bedroom to jar both of them awake in unison. Bucky let go of Alex in order to reach for his phone. When he saw the name on the front of his screen, he promptly answered.
"Hey Steve" Bucky mumbled, rubbing the tiredness from his face.
Alex sat up and pulled the blankets around her. She waited, unable to tell from Bucky's expression what Steve must have been saying.
"Got it. Yeah. Will be there soon." Bucky hung up but remained staring at his phone. It took him a second, but his eyes eventually met Alex's. "We leave in an hour."
Alex gave him a somber nod. "I figured."
With a tight smile on his face, Bucky pulled Alex in for a kiss. His expression changed from one full of apology to one taken by newfound focus. Alex gave him a nod, acknowledging his need to go. Together, they moved from the bed and found their clothes. As Bucky went to dress in his uniform, Alex dressed back into her outfit she wore over earlier, consisting of a sweater and jeans. Despite the sweater, Alex suddenly felt very cold. It was weird not getting ready with him. It was the first time she wouldn't be going with him on a mission, and it left a small chasm of emptiness inside her.
In the shadows of the dark apartment, Alex watched as Bucky transformed into the Winter Solider. He donned his black leather and Kevlar. He strapped his weapons all about his body, sheathing his knives one by one in an orderly, calm fashion. The softened lines of slumber that had once been on his face were all but gone.
As he finished readying himself, he came and stood before Alex in the living room. A bashful smile played at his lips. "Feels weird not having you join." One of his gloved hands took hers. "I'm going to miss my partner on this one."
Alex was flattered, and her smile showed it. "I'll go with you down to the hangar."
"Are you sure?"
"I have to see my soldier off, don't I?"
Bucky looked down, a soft laugh escaping him. "Yeah, I guess you do."
"I'm guessing you can't divulge anything about where you're going?" Alex knew the answer before the question ever left her mouth. Her wishful thinking made her ask anyways on a slim chance the rules may have changed.
They didn't, of course, and Bucky could only shake his head sadly. "I wish I could, doll."
She understood. "Do you know when you'll be back?" Again, Bucky's eyes filled with sorrow at the answer he couldn't give her. "I'm really striking out, aren't I?" Alex joked.
Bucky didn't respond, but reached behind him and removed something from one of his back pockets. He brought out the chain that held his dog tags, holding it before her in his metal hand. "Wear these while I'm gone." He opened her palm and placed the chain and the tags inside. "A part of me will always be with you as long as you have these."
Alex looked down at the chain in her hand and the symbol it stood for. A wave of emotion crashed into her then, and there was no way she could hold back the tears that came. She threw her arms around Bucky's neck, her fingers tight around his dog tags. "Thank you."
Bucky nuzzled his head in Alex's hair, holding on to her as tightly as he could. A large part of him wished she was coming, but he knew she would be safer at the compound. After all the distrust that occurred regarding this mission, the only way Bucky could do this mission was knowing she was safely out of it.
When their hug broke, Alex slipped the chain around her neck and tucked the dog tags inside her shirt. She gazed up at Bucky, wiping the tears that remained on her cheeks with a smile. "I love you so much."
"I love you too."
With a kiss to solidify the moment, the couple departed for the hangar. The walk was solemn and mostly silent. Alex felt the cold metal of the dog tags slowly warm against her skin, resting on her chest near her heart. Whether Bucky knew it or not, the powerful intention behind giving her his chain filled her with a sense of wholeness. He'd gifted her a symbol of trust; a physical manifestation of their bond. Miles apart or just across the bed, they'd always be together. It meant the world to her.
They reached the hangar, encountering a bustle of bodies readying the Quinjet for takeoff. Several S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists were rolling the metal containment crate up the hatch and onto the aircraft. Other employees were prepping fuel and engine intakes. For so late in the night, it appeared all hands were on deck to see the Avengers off.
Near the open hatch, Steve was chatting with one of the aircraft handlers. When he saw Bucky and Alex emerge through the commotion of bodies, he quickly ended his conversation with the handler and jogged over to the couple. "Good to see you Bucky. Alex." He gave her a nod.
Alex nudged Steve with her elbow. "See that this one comes back safe and sound, would you?"
Bucky and Steve exchanged a knowing glance, though Bucky looked away rather shyly. Steve's gaze focused solely on her, the blue of his eyes radiating the honesty within them. "I promise you that I will." He gave her a smile; one Alex knew she could trust. Steve turned to Bucky, thumbs settling on the center of his suit's belt. "See you onboard." He gave Alex one final nod and then left the couple alone.
With reluctance dragging at his feet, Bucky faced Alex. He settled his hands on either side of her face, taking one more dive into the deep brown of her eyes. "I don't know how long this is going to take, but...wait for me?"
As if he needed to ask. "You know I will be" she said with a smirk.
There in the middle of the hangar in front of everyone, Bucky and Alex's lips met in a heartfelt embrace. Alex opened her mouth to him, wanting to taste him one last time before he departed. Their mouths entwined like two puzzle pieces; a perfect fit to one another. When they parted, Alex stared up into Bucky's large eyes, so full of emotion and affection. "Come back safe, Sergeant."
A flicker of a smile touched his lips. He kissed her once more, then turned and headed for the Quinjet. Alex watched after him, her eyes following the glimmer of his arm and the distinct gate it gave him. He climbed the hatch up to the aircraft and disappeared within.
Alex hugged herself and exhaled. She watched Natasha enter next, followed by Bruce and Tony. Before Tony disappeared into the aircraft, he turned and gave Alex a tiny nod; a silent thank youfor the help she gave him the day before. Alex returned the gesture, and then he, too, disappeared inside the aircraft.
As Alex headed out into the open space beyond the hangar's tarmac, she felt the air of the Quinjet's engines fire behind her. A wind whipped at the hem of her sweater as the aircraft pull out onto the small runway. Whether Bucky or any of the Avengers were watching her from the inside or not, Alex still gave them a small wave.
The rumble of the engines engaging drowned all other sounds out, while the harsh kick of the ignition lit up the dark night. The engines glowed bright as the Quinjet entered full power. It rolled down the runway and lifted into the sky.
Good luck, James, Alex thought, her eyes following the craft as it ascended and then vanished from sight.
The wind died around her and a quiet settled over the runway. Alex headed back towards the hangar, noticing that all the bodies that had been there just a few minutes earlier were dissipating. The action of the night was done now that the Avengers had taken off.
As she crossed the inside of the hangar, Alex felt the back of her neck prickle in a sudden feeling of uneasiness. When she looked up, a thin man in a lab coat stood staring at her from across the hangar. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with one finger slowly, his eyes narrowing on her from behind the lenses.
A feeling of disquiet fell over her. Alex hugged one arm around herself while her other hand clutched at the dog tags. Avoiding the man's gaze, she hurried the rest of the way across the hangar and back to the apartment wing.
The following morning, Alex wandered down to the Avenger's break room. She was happy to see Sam was there. He was helping himself to a plate of pastries someone had left out, which Alex promptly grabbed from as she passed. "Morning, Sam."
"Hey! Markos!" His big friendly smile appeared. "Long time no see."
Alex nibbled on the danish and leaned back against the counter. "I could say the same for you! Whatchya been up to?"
"Oh ya know...little of this, little of that" he said while stirring his coffee.
"Soooo...nothing?"
Sam laughed in full admission. "You know how it goes, waiting in between missions. Especially when you find yourself on the B-list for the current mission."
Alex licked off a bit of the icing from the pastry. "I know what you mean. And while I realize I haven't been on a lot of missions, it still feels weird not going along."
"You'll learn in time to cherish the few you won't be a part of" Sam told her. His eyes sparkled with a hint of that mischief Alex always saw in them. "Though I suppose you're a little bummed right now for other reasons."
Alex eyed him, trying her damnedest not to give away the smirk that was brewing. Naturally, Sam saw right through her and started laughing. "Oh shut up, Sam" she teased. "Don't act like it's been a secret."
"Heeeyyy now! The only people acting like it was a secret were you two."
Alex pointed the half-eaten danish at him. "FALSE and you know it!" Sam just continued to laugh, shaking his head even as Alex swallowed the last of the pastry and fixed herself a cup of coffee. His happy demeanor was exactly the kind of infectious attitude she wanted that morning, so for all the crap he was giving her, Alex gladly took it.
"Listen, listen - don't get me wrong," Sam said, "I think it's great that Barnes found someone, and I'm real glad that someone is you. He's had a stick up his ass for way too long. Have you seen how happy he's been since you two got together?"
"No, I haven't, please tell me more?" she sassed.
"See, now...that's what I'm talking about! You two are made for each other. Between the two of you, your sarcasm might very well be your next weapon."
Alex took a seat at the small table and leaned back, crossing her legs comfortably. "You're a real wiseguy this morning, so I think I'll hang around for the entertainment." She motioned to the chair across from her, which Sam then happily occupied. "Plus, we don't get to talk much outside of missions and all."
"Yeah, this is kinda nice, isn't it?"
They raised their cups of coffee to one another and clinked the rims.
"You know, I'm not sure I ever really said thank you for swooping in - literally - and finishing off those Hydra agents at the facility in Thimphu" Alex told him. "That night was a real mess and the trip back wasn't exactly the best either."
While Sam appreciated it, he waved it off all the same. "You'll come to also learn that we all end up taking our turns. Some missions we get our asses saved, other missions we're the ones saving everyone else's ass. The 'thank yous' become implied after a while."
"Guess I still have a little more learning to do, huh?" Alex felt a little silly, but she owned it. These guys had a lot of years working together and doing this sort of thing. She had just a couple months under her belt. With any luck, she'd still be here years from now, sitting at this very table drinking coffee with Sam Wilson.
"Nah, don't worry - you'll get there." Sam's tone was genuine. "Especially with all the work you've been putting in."
Alex was surprised to hear this. "What work are you referring to, exactly?"
"Let's see: there's the morning runs, the shooting practice, the martial arts practice..." He listed them off on his fingers. "Am I missing anything?"
"Nope, think you got 'em all" she said with a grin.
"Was it Barnes' idea or yours?"
"All mine, actually. After that incident in the Thimphu facility..." She gave Sam a look that spoke of her distaste for talking about it. "Let's just say it's been a learning experience being here, in more ways than one."
Sam stared down at his coffee, lost in the memory of their Thimphu mission. It hadn't been an easy night for Alexis, so he completely understood why she likely had Barnes helping her. He was certain she would go far, though. Even without the extra credit she was receiving from Barnes.
"Not to get all serious on you" Sam began, treading lightly. "I never saw Barnes as protective as he was on that mission. That's how I know you two are the real deal. I can joke around all I want but the fact remains: the man has changed since you got here, and it's been a good change."
Alex made an aww face, her expression full of the appreciation she felt in that moment. "That's really kind of you, Sam. Thank you."
"I mean it" he reiterated, totally serious. "If you take the man that came here after Wakanda and compare it to the man who left for the mission yesterday?" He shrugged. "Like night and day, I'm telling ya."
Sam's words really had an impact. Alex felt a sense of accomplishment warm her from the inside out in a good old-fashioned, feel-good moment. She wasn't sure Bucky's changes could be attributed to their trial runs, or if it was the love that had developed between them. She figured it was both. Whatever the reason, Alex was incredibly grateful for having been a part of it.
Across the table, Sam studied her curiously. "Uh oh. What did I say?"
Alex smiled. "No, no, it was nothing you said. It just got me thinking about him and the current mission..."
"He'll hold his own" Sam told her confidently. "If I know Barnes, he'll go in there with Steve and Nat and the others and absolutely whoop some serious saggy-neck-hybrid-creature ass."
This brought a big smile to Alex's face. "I think you may be right."
A comfortable silence settled between them.
Alex lifted her coffee mug to her lips. "Those things really were wretched, weren't they?"
"Fucking disgusting" Sam replied.
They each sipped their coffee, their brows furrowed at the thought of the creatures. After thoughts of the hideous creatures they fought in Thimphu, they gladly changed the topic to more light-hearted discussions. Both thought it was nice to just sit and chat. With no real obligations rushing them, they talked for nearly 45 minutes while enjoying more pastries and coffee. Because of this, Alex never felt more in need of a morning run than she did then.
"Well, I suppose it's about that time..." She reluctantly stood. "I don't want to neglect my morning runs just because my running partner isn't here."
Sam stood to see her off. "Don't wanna let Barnes down, huh?"
"Maybe a little of that too" she conceded with a smile. "Thanks for the company this morning."
Alex left the break room feeling refreshed and energized. With a bounce in her step, she went back to her place and changed into some workout clothes. She threw her hair up in a ponytail, stepped into her sneakers, and wound her way down through the halls of headquarters. When she stepped out into the cold November air, the chill of it felt refreshing on her skin. She quickly found her jogging pace and began the five mile circle her and Bucky usually ran.
A few minutes in, Alex could already see her breath forming a cloud of fog as she ran. She looked beside her, wishing Bucky was there with her. Besides missing his presence altogether, she missed the little things she didn't take the time to really appreciate. Like the bouncy way his hair moved with every stride, or the reassurance of his smile when he saw her lagging a little. It almost always made Alex pick up her speed, which she tried to do now when she thought of Bucky doing it.
She steadily wound her way through the woods on the wooded path, then took exactly one break in the spot they always did. When she caught her breath, Alex headed back to headquarters. There was a small hill right before the view of Avengers Headquarters came into sight, and the slight incline was always killer at the end of the run. Alex pushed through the cold air stinging her lungs from her deepened breathing and made it to the end of the run. She checked her watch: all in all, not bad. She maintained her time, even without Bucky there. A smile crossed her sweaty face, hoping he'd be proud of her whenever he returned.
After a few minutes rest and a refresh of water, Alex walked back to the building. She decided to take the western-most entrance since it was closest (okay, so she cheated a little at the end, no biggie), but that proved to be a massive mistake in the end.
Just as Alex was approaching the double doors, she thought she heard someone calling her name. The same hairs that stood up on her neck last night in the hangar were doing exactly the same thing now. Because of this, Alex turned to see who it was that could be calling her. Who she saw was the same man she saw last night, wearing the same lab coat and glasses.
"Miss Alexis Markos?" the man said, slightly out of breath as he caught up to her.
"Who's asking?"
"Dr. Ronald Matheson, S.H.I.E.L.D. Science and Behavioral Intelligence Division."
"Is there something you needed, Dr. Matheson?" Alex asked, sounding more guarded than she intended to. "I've got a lot-"
"-Yes, this will only take a moment of your time." His gangly stature towered over her as he neared. "I've heard very many things about the powers you possess."
"From who?"
"Oh, from everyone." He said it as if Alex should have known. "You're quite the topic of conversation these days in Washington."
Alex felt her blood slow. She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to keep a safe distance from the man. Everything about him gave her a weird feeling.
"I'm fascinated that you can...you can touch people...and pull from them whatever you want" he told her, his eyes glazing over. "That's far more impressive than most here."
She had no idea what to say to that. "Yes, well...Nick Fury must have agreed with you, because-"
"-There's been a lot of talk with Mr. Fury, yes. All about you. And your powers." Ron's eyes lowered to her midsection, trying to get a look at her hands. "I would love to study you."
A warning sign flared red hot inside Alex's mind. Was this man the brains behind the experimental part of the mission Bucky was on?
"May I see them?" he asked her.
"See what?" Alex took a step back, feeling her heart accelerate.
"Your hands."
"No, you may not. Ever." She took another step backward. "Now if you'll excuse me, Doct-" She stopped when he began to laugh, turning his back to her as he did so. His laugh sounded both desperate and tired, and he rubbed his face with one of his bony hands.
"Wouldn't you know - Mr. Barnes told me the very same thing?"
Alex heard him mention Bucky and her blood froze. She felt her powers thrumming somewhere deep inside her as her anxiety peaked.
"Yes, your boyfriend. He's a protective one, isn't he?" Ron turned and stared at her. "I wonder why, though. Is his emotional response because he cares deeply for you? Or perhaps he knows something about your powers he's not willing to share?"
"Get the hell away from me" Alex hissed.
"You're both emotional, I see" Ron said, even as Alex turned and fumbled for her ID to open the doors. "Perhaps that is why you have chosen each other as mates. Please - won't you reconsider my offer?"
Alex swiped her card and the doors opened. "Fuck you and your offer." She entered and pulled the doors closed behind her. She was never happier than when she heard the locking system re-engage. She waited, watching until the man in the lab coat walked away before she turned her back to him. She trusted Stark's security system, but she was jumpy nonetheless. She waited, but Matheson never turned back. In fact, he never took another glance over his shoulders. He just walked away, head held high, his hands fidgeting in front of him.
When he was finally out of sight, Alex let out a relieved sigh. Her hands were tingling, though she wasn't sure if it was from her nerves or her powers. Without another thought about it, she raced back to her apartment and gladly stayed there the rest of the day.
Later that evening, Alex sat on the edge of her bed and faced her window. It was only about 7 o'clock, but the night was heavy with darkness already. She sat with a blank stare, replaying the moments earlier in the day when she ran into Dr. Matheson.
Since that meeting, her powers never stopped humming. It was constant; like blood pumping in her ears without end. She listened to that humming all day. And now, as she stared blankly out her window, she listened to it again.
Matheson had approached Bucky about her. She knew that much.
He was watching her as the team took off the night before.
Today, he followed her until he had her cornered to talk to her.
What would he do next? And why hadn't Bucky told her about him?
Alex's skin felt prickly, alerting her that something wasn't right. Since she had no reason not to believe Bucky didn't have her best interest in mind, that only left her gut feeling about the situation - and her gut was screaming at her to find out more. Her powers didn't slow after her encounter with Dr. Matheson...also another sign. Everything told her she needed to find him and, in her own way, find out what the hell was going on.
Sure, Alex knew she could probably talk to Fury. In fact, she should. Protocol said so. But she also knew he'd been a part of the talk regarding experiments planned for her and those creatures. Somebody was hiding something, but Alex wasn't sure who. A part of her still trusted Fury. He had a job to do, but he was kind to her. He took her in and gave her purpose. He saw something worth saving inside her. That meant something to her.
Alex lowered her face into her hand and exhaled. If she did what she wanted to do, she wasn't sure what would be waiting on the other side of her decision. But that's how all her decisions had been up to this point. Even though the idea came to her hours ago, she'd been sitting on her bed in her dark bedroom, staring out at the dark night beyond, worrying over what she should do.
Fiddling absentmindedly with the chain around her neck, Alex lifted out the two dog tags from beneath her shirt. She rolled them in her fingers, reading the information punched into the metal. A smile crossed her lips.
What should I do?
She stared at Bucky's name on the tags, wondering where he was at that moment and what he was doing.
What if I do this, and what I find out helps this mission in some way?
As she asked herself this question mentally, she felt her powers flicker. A tiny white light caressed the dog tags in her hand, covering them as they had covered Bucky so many times before. The thrumming became louder; no longer a hum but a churning inside she couldn't ignore.
She knew what she had to do. She'd seen enough signs.
Placing the chain back inside her shirt, Alex left her bed and headed for the hangar.
The hangar was mostly empty when Alex entered. She entered through the covered walkway that connected the main headquarters building with that of the hangar, bypassing the actual docking area where the aircraft and equipment were stored. The size of the structure itself was massive, of course, and the offices Alex was interested in were on the opposite side of where she currently walked.
There further inward she walked, the more people she saw working. It made it seem busier than it probably should have been, considering a mission was underway. Alex tried to make herself as uninteresting as possible as she made her way through the levels to where S.H.I.E.L.D. guests from D.C. were housed. She checked the digital manifest before she left to be sure this is where Dr. Ron and his people were staying, confirming his location before she ventured out on this idea of hers.
Alex came to a security checkpoint, scanned her ID card and followed up by pressing her thumbprint into the small panel by the door. It granted her access to the visiting staff housing beyond. According to the manifest, Matheson's temporary office was on the second floor, room 8G. Alex felt her hands begin to tingle as she headed up the stairwell that would take her to the second floor. When she came to the room labeled 8G, a moment of hesitation caused her to pause. There was no going back after this.
With conviction, Alex knocked on the door.
Matheson answered, a look of utter shock transforming his face. "Miss Markos?"
She put on the fakest smile she could, ignoring the way her skin crawled in his presence. "Yes, hello Dr. Matheson. I know you're probably very surprised to see me, and for good reason." She swallowed, forcing her voice to tell the lie that was crucial to her success. "I felt so terrible about the way I acted earlier, I just had to come and apologize."
His entire facial expression changed. His eyebrows rose above his glasses, his beady eyes momentarily growing in size. "Is that so? Fascinating. Yes, quite fascinating." He began to ring his hands together.
"Because of this, I've decided to reconsider your offer" Alex added, feeling slightly nauseous as the lie left her lips.
"Oh, please - won't you come in?"
Matheson opened the door, giving Alex the passage she hoped for. From here, everything else should be simple.
"I'm so very glad you came to your senses" he added, shutting the door behind her.
Alex kept her hands clasped behind her back, studying the office with feigned curiosity. It was bleak, as she expected a temporary office to be. There was a desk with a laptop. A small stack of folders with a clipboard resting on top. Good, she thought. Nothing too breakable.
Matheson moved towards Alex, his stature slightly hunched due to their height difference. He smiled at her, showing strangely white teeth. "I accept your apology, and I look forward to working with you." He paused, his smile fading slightly. "You do want to work together, don't you?"
"That's why I'm here" she said, watching his smile reappear. "As long as you don't hold this morning against me?"
He took the bait and laughed. It was strained; tense even. "Oh of course. It's all part of your highly emotional nature."
Alex almost sneered at his backhanded comment, but she kept a straight face. Matheson was watching her closely. His eyes lowered - as she knew they would - to her hands clasped behind her.
"May I see them?" he asked, hope in his voice.
It was the first time Alex genuinely grinned. "Yes, you may." She held her hands out in front of her.
When Matheson dipped his head to examine them, Alex palmed his face and drove him back against the wall. He tried to squirm, but Alex pushed the barrel of a pistol against his temple. "Don't even try it." She felt him flinch beneath her hand, but he didn't make another move. Alex then closed her eyes, focused her powers, and then entered Matheson's mind.
What is happening?
What is she doing!?
What is that sensation...
No.
No please.
GET OUT OF MY HEAD!
Alex pushed beyond his current thoughts, past recent memories and beyond the skills he possessed. Finally, Alex landed on what she hoped she would find: his memory of the conference call, the night Bucky had his panic attack. The emotions were fresh and easy to explore:
Excitement. Thrill. Anxiety. Interest.
She locked on to these and read through the memory attached to them:
Avengers. Several, but not all. Folders distributed.
Alex saw Bucky pull a sheet out of his folder. Something was said, then he slammed his metal fist onto the table. Matheson jumped in his chair.
Boiling anger. Control. Self discipline.
Bucky stood. Steve stood. Alex saw Matheson smirking, but only barely. She could feel his delight in what was taking place. A few seats over, Fury was yelling at Bucky. Alex pushed further, examining everything. Matheson looked down at his clipboard, his hands fidgeting.
Disappointment. Annoyance. Anger. Disgust.
Alex now felt the vitriol Matheson had for Bucky in those moments. She could feel the doctor's rage for him, threatening to spill over and give him away to the others still present.
With this knowledge, Alex knew she had to go back further. She summoned more energy in her powers and went beyond the conference room. She went back until she saw Matheson's office in D.C.
Blinds were drawn. A cell phone pressed to his ear. His voice was low, but he had angst in his eyes. His free hand fidgeted as he spoke to whoever was on the line.
"I'm not sure we can secure the woman alone...Not on our own. We need them. All of them. It has to look as though it was part of the mission."
Alex's hands began to tremble, but she increased her hold on Matheson's face while never lowering the gun in her other hand.
"Yes, I understand. I do. Yes. Of course. I know - Thimphu was a failure. Yes. We will not fail this time. I have given Fury an extra collar, just in case. I told him it was the only way. It took some convincing, but he eventually accepted it. We will isolate her, yes."
Alex felt her teeth begin to chatter, but her will was strong...so she pushed on.
"Yes, sir. Yes. I will ensure S.H.I.E.L.D. complies. Yes. But you agree with me, don't you? You agree we should at least give them the location of one of our two development centers? Oh yes. Of course, sir. Without a doubt. Yes, I will be careful. Those who work in Development Center 2 will be notified. They know what to do when the assigned group gets there. Everyone knows their place, sir. Yes. Yes of course. Always, sir.
Yes, until tomorrow, sir. We will speak then.
Hail Hydra."
Alex snapped her hand back from Matheson, her eyes wide with terror. Her heart was pounding so hard she felt it reverberate against her ribs and through her chest. "You're a part of them" she uttered in awe. She backed away slowly. "You work for them, not S.H.I.E.L.D." Panic rose inside her as her brain traced the steps: Thimphu. The facility. The creatures. The collar. The meetings with Fury. Matheson being here. The mission.
"They're in danger, aren't they?!" Alex asked.
Across from her, Matheson slumped to the floor. His entire body seemed to be convulsing after Alex broke the connection with him. He tried to straighten his glasses, but his hands were trembling so hard that he dropped them.
"This mission was a fake, wasn't it?" Alex demanded.
Matheson looked far more afraid of her than she was of him in that moment. His eyes drunkenly lowered to the gun in Alex's hand as she neared. "Please, Miss Markos-"
"-Don't fucking Miss Markos me!" She cocked the gun and pointed it at him. "Are the Avengers on the mission right in danger? Answer the question!"
Matheson held his hands up shakily. "Shoot me if you want...whatever you do...please...just please don't put your hands on me..."
They were words Alex had heard her whole life. Her friends. Her own sister. Her parents. Family. Ex-boyfriends. Bullies in school. Friend or foe - it didn't matter. It never did. The things she could do frightened the average person into a cold dread that made them never want to be around her ever again. The cruel irony in it was, up until she became an Avenger, it hurt more than anything in this world to hear those words. But as that familiar phrase left Matheson's mouth, Alex actually loved the sound of it.
Crouching down so they were eye-level, Alex lowered her gun and raised her hand instead. Matheson flinched as though she held a hot iron to his cheek. "Tell me, Doctor: are the Avengers on the mission in danger?"
The whites of Matheson's eyes shown as he looked at her hands. "Yes."
Fear crept over Alex, covering her entire body in an icy chill. "Why" she demanded. When Matheson didn't answer, she held her hand closer to his face. "TELL ME WHY."
"The...the staff there...they know they're coming" Matheson squeaked out. His shaking lessened, but only because he was bracing himself hard against the wall to avoid Alex's touch. "...they were instructed to ambush them."
Ambush.
Alex's stomach felt full of lead. She stood up, feeling her joints creak from the fear that had settled into her bones. Her brain was moving slower from the dread that seized her. Bucky was in trouble. They all were. They had no idea, and they were walking blindly into a trap.
She had to tell Fury.