Joel grabbed her by the biceps and yanked the mutant away, practically dragging her out of the cell. Steve's eyes shot open and he lunged forward but Joel simply kicked him away.
"Your little blonde friend finally fixed the machine so now it's time to wipe this bitch," he spat at the Super Soldier. Amber grit her teeth and scrambled to her feet, yanking herself away from Joel's grasp. Steve took the opportunity to rush at the sandy haired man. Before he could tackle him, however, a sudden searing pain came over his mind and the super soldier dropped to his knees. In an instant, Amber was at his side and her fingers carded through his dirty and matted hair. The pain lessened and he glanced up, seeing Amber's hazel eyes full of unshed tears.
"If I go with you willingly, you'll stop hurting them? Both of them?" she asked, voice hoarse as her eyes never strayed from Steve's gaze.
"I can't promise that, Anastasia," Joel scoffed.
Her hand slid down Steve's cheek, brushing along his arm and then something cold pressed against his hand. His fingers curled around the handle of the scalpel and he shook his head so imperceptibly that only she could see. Amber shut her eyes and pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek before she rose and followed Joel out. His skin tingled where her lips had been a second before and Steve understood.
When Joel used his mutation to stop him, he had to lift the block on her.
She remembered everything.
As Joel dragged her out, he snapped his fingers and pointed at Steve just as the door shut. Instantly, his vision blurred and all he could see were his memories.
The museum. Their wedding. The serum. The battles.
"Rogers and Rogers, Schmitt is on the plane and it's leaving soon!" someone yelled over the battlefield. Anna nodded but her eyes were trained on the HYDRA soldiers around them. The machine gun in her hands was firing rapidly at the enemy while Steve protected her back with his trusty shield. She tossed the gun to the side once she ran out of ammo and grabbed a gun out of her thigh holster.
"Go, Steve. I've got this!" she ordered. He glanced back at her and took just a brief moment to study her. Blonde hair was falling out of her braid and tendrils floated around her sweat covered face. A reckless grin pulled at her lips and her green eyes glittered dangerously.
Before the three words can escape his mouth, a panicked look flits across her face and she's shoving him to the side. Her body jerks as the bullet rips through her chest and Steve's head snaps towards the sniper hidden above in the compound. He throws his shield and takes him out swiftly, but it's too late. Anna's body lay on the ground, gasping breaths escaping her lips as she stares up at him blankly.
"Stay awake. We can get you help, Anna. Please just keep your eyes open." The words are coming out as fast as the blood spilling from her chest. Her entire white blouse was sodden with blood and no amount of pressure was helping.
Her hand reached out and grasped his arm, green eyes locking with his blue eyes. Blood dripped down her lips as she opened them with a gasping choke. "I love you, Steve Rogers."
Her head dropped back down onto the earth as tears poured down his cheeks. It was too late.
If he couldn't save her, by God he would avenge her.
A sharp slap landed across his face, snapping him out of the memory. Andrea stared at him, blood dripping from her temple with a deadly look on her face.
"Well, Rogers, what's the plan?" she growled. "We're saving Amber, right?"
"Damn right we are."