tws territory here! as always, enjoy!

NINETEEN

Gemma had never heard Natasha sound so scared in her life.

The assassin had tried to cover her tone on the phone, but Gemma was beginning to get to know the Avengers well, and she knew that Natasha was frightened. The drive to Washington was long, as always, but Gemma knew that Natasha needed her there.

Also, the thought of Director Fury dead was very unsettling.

Natasha had done her best to explain on the phone, but much of what she said had come from Steve, who Natasha thought had been concealing information anyway. Gemma hadn't bothered calling Steve; she had assumed that he and Natasha were together, and had hoped that Natasha had told him that Gemma was on her way. It was cold and drizzly outside, blurring the lights of the capital city. Gemma had only been to Washington once, for a case, and she hated to be returning under this circumstance. When she did make it to the hospital, she was blocked by the STRIKE team. Rumlow looked enthusiastic to have this little bit of power over her.
"I told you, Le-"
"Level 8 or above, I know," she interrupted, rolling her eyes. "Look, just let Nat know I'm here. She's the one who called me." Gemma peered around the STRIKE team, trying to see if she could see either Avenger. Gemma did indeed see Steve's back, facing what was hopefully Natasha, near some vending machines.
"Hey," she said, grabbing Rumlow's attention. "I'm hungry and I haven't eaten since lunch. Can I at least get something from the vending machine?" He cast her a look after listening to something in his earpiece.
"If you wanted me to take you to dinner you should've just asked," he told her.
"Ha, ha," she responded sarcastically.
"You're cleared now anyway, I got some info for Cap," he grumbled. Rumlow motioned for the STRIKE team to move, placing a hand on Gemma's back to guide her through. She shrugged him off, scrunching her nose.
"Don't touch me," she told him. He ignored her as he spoke to Steve.
"Cap, they want you back at SHIELD," he said, interrupting Steve and Natasha's conversation.
"Yeah, give me a second," Steve responded, not turning to look at him.
"They want you now," Rumlow emphasised.
"Okay." It seemed whatever discussion that Steve and Natasha was having was intense.
"You're a terrible liar," Natasha said, finally turning her attention to Gemma.
"I left as soon as I got your call," Gemma muttered, holding her phone up as if it was an excuse.
"Come with me," Natasha demanded, walking away from Steve. Gemma waved to Steve as she followed the assassin.
"What happened?" Gemma inquired, hurrying up to catch up with Natasha. Natasha pulled Gemma into an empty room.
"Fury's dead," said Natasha, looking around the room. Gemma guessed she was checking it was secure.
"I got that from the call," Gemma muttered.
"It was an assassin, metal arm. I think I know who he is," she added.
"Well, that's great. Who?"
"Most of the intelligence community doesn't believe he exists. He's like a ghost, apart from this one shot me." Natasha lifted up her shirt to reveal her midriff, revealing some scarring. "Shot right through me in a protection mission." Gemma winced.
"Do you have a name, or..?" Gemma trailed off.
"The Winter Soldier," Natasha revealed. "Like I said, ghost." Gemma scoffed.
"We're SHIELD. We don't do ghost stories." Natasha smiled.
"Great. The only thing is, I've tried, and SHIELD has next to nothing on him."
"There's a but coming," Gemma encouraged.
"I saw Steve give something to the vending machine guy. I think that's got what we need on it. Come on." Natasha pulled Gemma out of the room, coming to a stop in front of the same vending machines from earlier. The hallway was empty in comparison. The duo scanned the machines, looking for the telltale object Natasha was after.
"Behind the gum," Gemma said, nudging her head. "But I don't carry change. Steve does."
"And so do I," Natasha told her, pulling some coins from her pocket. "You should carry change."
"I carry twenty-dollar bills all hidden around my person." Gemma watched as Natasha put the coins in. "What next?"
"We wait for Steve."
"Great. You can teach me how to blow bubblegum. Also, what the hell is up with Rumlow?"

Gemma hoped that it wasn't whilst she'd gone to pee Steve came back to the hospital because they both seemed very angry and Gemma knew that she'd be the only one to keep the calm. Of course, Gemma was out of luck. When Gemma came into the room they'd been waiting, Steve had pressed Natasha up to the wall, interrogating her.
"I only act like I know everything, Rogers," she heard Natasha say.
"We can resume fight club once we've sorted this out," Gemma called, forcing their attention. Steve stepped away from Natasha, who nodded at Gemma. Gemma sat on some tables, waiting for them to continue.
"I bet you knew Fury hired the pirates, didn't you?" Steve said, anger covering his words. It made Gemma uncomfortable.
"Well, it makes sense," Natasha admitted. "The ship was dirty, Fury needed a way in, so do you."
"I'm not gonna ask you again," Steve spat. Gemma hopped off the table and placed a hand on his arm in an attempt to calm him.
"I know who killed Fury," Natasha revealed. "Most of the intelligence community doesn't believe he exists. The ones who do call him the Winter Solider. He's credited with over two dozen assassinations in the last fifty years."
"So, he's a ghost story."
"Fifty years?" Gemma echoed. "That's a long time to be an assassin." Natasha shrugged but revealed the same scar she'd done to Gemma, recounting the story.
"Bye-bye bikinis," she added. Steve scoffed.
"Yeah, I bet you look terrible in them now," he retorted. Natasha almost smiled.
"Going after him is a dead end. I know. I've tried." Natasha held up the flash drive she and Gemma had retrieved.
"Ghost story," Gemma repeated, looking at Steve. She was still holding onto his arm, and so let go, just as her phone buzzed.
"Well, let's find out what the ghost wants," Steve said.
"Whilst we're at it, you can tell your girlfriend the importance of carrying change. Fun." Natasha said.
"We're not dating," Steve and Gemma lied together, sharing a look.

"First rule of going on the run is, don't run, walk," Natasha said. They were in a mall. "Maybe I should create my own set of rules."
"If I run in these shoes, they're gonna fall off," Steve muttered. Gemma snorted. They entered an Apple store, where they could use one of the computers.
"This drive has a Level Six homing program, so as soon as we boot up, SHIELD will know exactly where we are," Natasha informed them.
"I've always wanted to be a fugitive," Gemma mumbled sarcastically. She went ignored.
"How much time do we have?" Steve inquired, looking around their setting.
"About nine minutes from…" Natasha trailed off as she set the flash drive up. "Now. Fury was right about that ship, somebody's trying to hide something. This drive is protected by some sort of AI." Natasha faded out to Gemma as she kept surveying the surrounding, keeping an eye out for unusual activity. Her hand hovered where she kept her knife. She nearly whipped it out when they were approached by an employee.
"Can I help you guys with anything?" he asked.
"Oh, no. I'm just helping my sister plan her honeymoon with her fiancé," Natasha lied, nudging her head towards Gemma and Steve. Gemma slipped her hand around Steve's arm, resting her head on his shoulder.
"We're getting married," Gemma said excitedly, patting Steve's face, hoping it was believable.
"Congratulations," the employee said. "Where are you guys thinking about going?" Gemma watched Steve pick the destination that appeared on the computer.
"New Jersey," he announced, looking down at Gemma. They smiled at each other, hoping that was enough for the employee.
"Oh," the employee said. He looked at Steve for a moment, causing Gemma's other hand to tighten over her knife. "I have the exact same glasses." Gemma could practically feel the relief seep off Steve.
"Wow, you two are practically twins," Natasha commented sarcastically. The employee scoffed.
"Yeah, I wish. Specimen." His hands gestured at Steve. Gemma nudged him. "Uh… if you guys need anything, I've been Aaron."
"Thank you." Gemma watched at the employee walked away, finally.
"I hated working retail so much," she muttered. Steve leaned towards Natasha as Gemma dropped her hand from him.
"You said nine minutes, come on." Natasha shushed him.
"Relax. Got it," she announced. "You know it?" she asked Steve, although she was looking at Gemma. She winked at the agent, who rolled her eyes.
"I used to. Let's go." Steve pulled the drive and they left the store, sticking as close together as they could. They went through the mall, observing for any agents.
"Shut up and lean towards me," Natasha whispered to both of them. "Laugh at something I said."
"It would be easier if you were funny," Gemma muttered, as they started to laugh. They managed to avoid the agents Natasha had recognised and headed for the escalators. As they went down, they spotted Rumlow.
"Turn and kiss Gemma," Natasha ordered, nudging Steve.
"What?" he responded. Gemma rolled her eyes.
"Public displays of affection make people very uncomfortable," Natasha said as she turned the supersoldier around.
"Yes, they do," Steve muttered, grabbing onto Gemma as they kissed. She placed a hand on his face to avoid any recognition from Rumlow.
"She knows," Gemma said as quietly as possible when they broke apart. They stayed close for a moment before Natasha nudged Steve.
"You still uncomfortable?" Natasha asked.
"Not exactly the word I would use."

Both Gemma and Natasha were amazed that Steve knew how to hijack a car.
"Seriously, though, when did Captain-fucking-America learn to steal a car?" Gemma asked, in slight awe. She was sat in the front of the car with Steve, legs tucked up on the seat, whilst Natasha was in the back, feet resting against Gemma's seat.
"Nazi Germany," he responded, smiling at the agent.
"So, at least we know that kiss definitely wasn't your first since 1945," Natasha joked. Gemma and Steve shared another look. "Although, I do wanna know. And you don't have to answer, although not answering kinda answers, you know?"
"What?" Steve prompted. Gemma saw Natasha's smile in the rear-view mirror.
"Was that undercover kiss the first since 1945?"
"Was it really that bad?" Steve asked Gemma again, who'd turned to flip Natasha off.
"No, it was not at all," she assured. "I just wanted to know if you'd had practise or something."
"Well, now I want to know if you've had practise," Natasha exclaimed.
"Okay, I'm going to pretend I'm looking for an aux cord," Gemma said, ducking down around the car. She'd made her bed (albeit accidentally) and now she was going to have to lie in it.
"You don't need practice," Steve countered.
"Everybody needs practise," Natasha responded.
"It was not my first kiss since 1945," Steve admitted. Gemma sensed him look at her. "I'm ninety-five, not dead."
"Oh, I actually found one," Gemma said, sitting up with the cord in hand. She hoped Natasha wasn't about to ask about the other kisses. "I'm playing some tunes, as the kids would say."
"And Gemma, what about Rumlow?" Natasha asked, dropping her feet to rest her arms on the backs of the seats.
"What about him?" Gemma said, setting herself up.
"He's got a thing for you." Gemma snorted. "No, seriously. You know when you're in school and boys pull your pigtails?"
"Because they're mean," Gemma said, stroking her hair unconsciously. "I don't like that. Plus, he's the kind of person I would've dated in college. And I have had a literal epiphany since then."
"Now I just want to know about your college boyfriends," Natasha said.
"Ha! No, you do not." Gemma started laughing. "Really, you don't. I was a terrible person in college."
"I doubt that," Steve muttered next to hear. Gemma wasn't sure if she was meant to hear it or not.