Author's Note:
So this is actually part one of a two-parter. The first of many for this story. TRIGGER WARNINGS: Torture, mentions of rape, and child abuse. I'll give a summary of the chapter at the end for any who are uncomfortable reading but loves the story. This chapter hinting at the darkness to come once we actually get to the movie plot. We only actually have two more chapters to go. As always please review and let me know what you think.
Astrid steeled herself as she walked through the doors of the recruitment center. This was either going to be brutally easy or massively difficult. Though considering the person they were looking for was an American Astrid suspected that it was going to be the former. Next to her was Shamira. Looking as determined as she was. Behind them was what felt like an army of NYPD officers. Hopefully, they weren't going to need them.
She spotted their man in a heartbeat. About to get his form stamped. She always hated these places. Recruitment posters plastered on the walls. Half naked men lining up to serve their country. Not realizing that most of them would probably not make it back. But right now it was a necessity. Pointing two fingers at the man they were looking for. The police grabbed the man. Not even giving him a chance to fight back. Dragging him in front of Astrid. She gave him a distasteful look. Dirty brown hair. Crooked nose. Broken teeth. Astrid didn't hesitate for a moment. Knowing exactly how to break him. Signaling the officers. Who pushed him to his knees. Others moving the recruits so that they were next to the walls. Giving Astrid plenty of space.
The man that they arrested was cursing at them. Shouting about what the hell there were doing. Astrid didn't know his name. Didn't need to know. Didn't even care. There was only one thing that she cared about at this moment.
"Where are they?" she growled crouching down in front of him. Didn't even give him a moment to respond. Knowing his type. Instead going right for the threat. "You don't tell me in the next five seconds I'm going to stab this knife in your gut." She held up one of her blades in front of him. Making sure it shined in the light. That shut him up real quick.
"Is this really necessary?" the army doc asked. Trying to come up to Astrid only to be stopped by the police. "You can at least do this privately."
Astrid looked straight up at him. He was like the rest of them. Probably enlisted only to do this particular job. She gestured towards the crowd. "These men are all enlisting correct?" Doc nodded and Astrid gave him a small smile. "Then it only seems fair that they see what might happen if they fall into enemy hands." She stabbed the man right in the gut. Making sure to avoid any major organs. Damage painful but superficial Couldn't have him dying on her. Not before he told them what they needed to know. He let out a howl of pain. She immediately adjusted her grip. Twisting the blade slightly. Causing him to let out more shrieks. Oh, how much this man should suffer for what he has done. But she had more restraint than that. Astrid pulling the knife out just as swiftly. Spilling blood all over the floor.
Astrid held out her hand. "Shamira you got the alcohol?" She didn't even have to ask. The bottle placed in her hands before she even asked the question. Astrid gave her a slight nod. Unscrewing the top of the bottle. Without warning, she dumped it on the wound. If they thought the screaming was bad before it was nothing compared to now. Some of the men looked sick. Others covering their ears. Astrid scoffed. If they thought this was bad then they shouldn't be going to war.
"I'm going to ask you again. Where are they?" The man shook his head. Stubborn. Maybe he was actually going to be a challenge. She turned to the doc. "Can you get one of your examine rooms ready?"
Doc scoffed. Though he looked slightly sickly. "Why? This man proving too difficult for you?"
"No. He's hardy. I just want to see how long he'll survive after I start peeling off the skin from his body." She shrugged her shoulders. "I didn't think you would want me to do it here." She tsked. Her foot tapping the floor. "The blood would get everywhere. Would be difficult to clean up."
"There at 8482 Arch Avenue in Brooklyn," the man shouted out. Talking between the grunts of pain. "Unit 13B." A good portion of the officers left to the location. A few others staying behind. Lifting the man to his feet. "Now please stop the pain."
She scoffed. Shaking her head slightly. Not wanting to waste any more time on the man. Also getting onto her feet. Injecting him with a pain killer and stitching the wound in the time it would take another person to put on a Band-Aid. Allowing the officers to haul him away. To face the justice he deserved.
The army doc meanwhile was shaking his head. "Unbelievable. You seriously couldn't have done it anywhere else?"
This man was getting on Astrid's nerves. Like most men did these days. She walked straight up to him. Getting in his face.
"Let me be perfectly clear," she snarled. "I don't have to explain myself to you. But if I find you get in my way again I'll have you stripped of your medical credentials and put in the tank unit." The man gulped. She glanced at the other men signing up. Most looking a little worse for the wear. She rolled her eyes. "What's actually unbelievable is all of you." She pointed to the crowd. "If you can't handle that display then you aren't fit to serve. I went easy on him. What are you going to do when the man next to you had his limbs taken off from an explosive? Or his internals shredded from shrapnel?" She shook her head. "If you thought his screaming is bad it is nothing compared to the battlefield." She scoffed. Some of them were just boys. They should be in school. Not fighting a war. "Not one of you. Not a single one of you have any idea of what you are walking into."
She let out a sigh. Running a hand through her hair. She could at least giving them a heads up. It was more than anyone else would give them. "Let me give you some advice. Do not get captured by the Japanese. If you do kill yourself first. Because that is an easier death than dying from starvation or abuse." She looked at Shamira who crossed her arms. Waiting for Astrid to be finished. She turned back towards the crowd. "The same goes if your Jewish and get captured by the Nazis." She pointed to the blood pooled on the floor. "I went easy on that man. The enemy we're fighting won't give you the same courtesy." She lowered her head and took a deep breath. Lifting her head back up. "You are all walking into hell. You should at least know that before you leave."
She walked out. Shamira by her side. Shaking her head. Heading to the police car waiting for them. Ready to take them to their destination.
"A little dramatic don't you think?" Shamira asked as they got into the police car.
"Was I wrong?" Astrid asked. Closing her eyes and leaning against the window. Not looking forward to what they were driving towards. Trying desperately to not let her imagination run wild.
"Not at all. But we do actually want people to fight in the war."
"I know we do." She moved so that she was resting on Shamira's shoulder. "I know we do. But they should know what they are walking into. So they understand the sacrifice they are making."
"Just as we did?"
"Just as we did."
…..
Astrid was exhausted when she finally got home. Having to stay at the hospital to finish the surgeries. Ready to collapse into bed. Unfortunately, she wasn't going to be able to. Only coming home to pick up some of her stuff. Another one of her creations before she had to head back. Maybe it would actually help. She could use all the help she could get right now.
Shamira went home hours ago. She expected Shamira to be lying on the couch. Steve curled up in the chair as usual. Which is why it was odd that when she opened the door Shamira was nowhere to be found. Steve looking up from his sketchbook. As if he was expecting her. He closed it shut. An odd expression on his face. Already, Astrid, had a sinking feeling of dread hit her.
"I asked her to spend the night at Bucky's," he stated slowly. Knowing what Astrid was going to ask. It made Astrid nervous and not the good kind of nervous.
"Why?" she asked. Normally she wouldn't need to. A night at Bucky's meant that Steve wanted the apartment to themselves. He would take her hand as soon as she got through the door. Their limbs tangled together with the sheet by the end of the night. But this time. This time was different.
"Because I need to ask you something. And I know you'll tell me the truth." His blue eyes looked up at her. Piercing into her very soul. "Who were you looking for this morning?"
Astrid felt like her entire world came crashing down in an instant. Taking a moment to stop her world from spiraling. She never, never, never wanted Steve to see her at work. Not like that. Not doing that. She could talk about it but it didn't become real until he saw it.
"You were there this morning weren't you?" She felt like her heart was about to explode in her chest when he nodded. She kneeled down in front of him. Taking his hands into hers. Hoping this wasn't the last time she would be able to hold him. "I've never intended you to see me that way. I can't apologize enough. I-"
"You still haven't answered the question." His voice stern. Slightly commanding. Despite his small frame, Steve had power in his voice. When he needed it. And Astrid knew. There was no getting around it. Resting her head on his knees.
"That man had kidnapped five girls between the ages of 9 and 13." She felt Steve's breathing stutter. "He locked them up in the apartment. Tortured, raped them." She let out a deep breath. "When the police finally found him, they asked me to come in. They couldn't wait any longer to find the girls. He was going to use the military as an escape route." Her voice clinical. As if she was reading it out of a medical textbook. "He kept them in a cage. Not even enough room to stand. I'm honestly surprised they were alive. "She felt Steve lift up her head so that she was looking back up at him. Tears in his eyes and a frown on his face.
"Is it wrong for me to say that I wish you hurt him more?"
Astrid smiled. Getting up and sitting next to him. Pulling Steve into her lap. Steve automatically resting his head on her shoulder. "For most people no. But for me, the answer is yes." The tension in the room had eased. "I only do what is absolutely necessary to get the answers I need. Though it's different for each person."
"So you weren't really going to…"
Astrid nodded. "I was if he wasn't going to give me the answer. Though I would have dragged it out. Find other ways to get the information I needed." She kissed his hands. "Throughout all my time doing this I can only think of two times I went all the way. One was a fellow torturer and the other was a man with hundreds of corpses to his name."
Steve nodded. Soaking it all in. "Okay."
Astrid looked startled. Not expecting that answer at all. "Okay? Just okay." She was expecting more questions. More accusations. Not acceptance.
"I'll admit it was a shock but it's not like it was a complete surprise. You have warned me several times before. Not even try to hide it." The relief flowed through her body. Running her hand softly through his hair. What has she done to deserve such a wonderful man? "Were you going to tell me?"
"Yes." She stilled her hands. "I did promise you after all. There is nothing that I would hide from you." She looked a little sheepish. "Though I may not have given all the details." He lifted up his head and looked at her. Wrapping his arms around her neck.
"I want to know my love." Steve pushed a lock of hair behind her hair. "I want you to be able to tell me anything." Astrid pulling him in for a kiss. Expressing all the gratitude she could. Wishing that she could spend the night. But she had to get back. She wasn't going to rest until the job was done and the girls were well on their way to recovery.
"Ah I wish I could stay," she uttered resting her forehead on Steve's. "But I need to get back. All the girls need to be monitored overnight. And who knows what complications will arise." Given the state, the girls were found in Astrid would be surprised if there weren't any. When they found them most of the men were sick. Astrid and Shamira had to be the ones to get them out and stabilize them. Having done it many times before in Europe. "I don't know when I'll be back home."
"Take as much time as you need," Steve replied kissing her on the cheek. "I'll be here when you get back. Now go take care of your patients." He got off her lap and helped her off the couch. Lingering on holding her hand before letting it go. Astrid gave him a swift kiss on the cheek. Moving on to rummaging through the medical cupboards. Where she kept all her creations. Finally grabbing a few blue bottles in the back. Heading straight for the door. Before closing it completely she turned. Blowing Steve a kiss before firmly shutting the door behind her. Her mood immediately souring.
She had a job to do. Save those girls. But even she knew it was an uphill battle. Especially for one of them. Whose breathing just seemed to be getting worse and worse no matter what drugs they tried. Astrid placed a hand on her bag. Hopefully, this would help. Though Astrid may find the solution during the surgery. As much as she didn't want to. Their poor bodies had been put through enough. But there wasn't a choice. The internal damage was too much. But Astrid was prepared. Ready to do what needed to be done.
Chapter summary:
Astrid goes to a military recruitment center to track down a man who kidnapped and tortured young girls. Astrid torturers him to give up their location. Steve happened to be there and questions her about it when she gets home. She tells him what the man was doing. The two of them grow closer before she had to leave to go to the hospital. Girls still needing treatment.