Reina walked through the hallways, stepping into the exhibit room. She looked up, staring at the large portrait of Steve in his Captain America suit, saluting. She walked past it, peering to the various panels. She stopped again, watching the children compare themselves to the height chart. The images of Steve pre-serum and post-serum transitioning on the monitor.
After the children raced off, Reina stepped up to the monitor. Pre-serum Steve barely came up to her neck, Post-serum Steve was more than a head taller. She smiled to herself, walking along. She walked past his motorcycle, watching the film clip of Steve racing off the boats with the soldiers.
She stepped into the theater room, sitting on the bench for a moment. She looked at the large screen, Peggy sitting in an arm chair talking to the camera. She smiled softly, leaning forward as she rested her elbows on her knees.
"Even after he died, Steve was still changing my life"
Reina laughed silently, remembering the day of this interview. She never expected it to be continually played in an exhibit.
Reina watched as the screen went black for a moment, the picture coming back on to show herself sitting in an arm chair as well.
"It was an honor, fighting alongside Captain America and the Howling Commandos"
Reina stood, walking from the theater room. She continued on her way, stopping in front of the next exhibit. Mannequins stood in a line, dressed in uniforms. Behind them were portraits of each of them. Her team. She beamed, seeing them all together. Hers stood between Steve and Dugan's mannequins.
She breathed in, preparing herself for the final exhibit. She had gone through this exhibit hundreds of times from the first time they put it up back in 80's. Still, she was never prepared. She walked up to the pillar, keeping her eyes fixed on the picture of Bucky imposed into the glass. She looked over to the screen on the wall beside it, clips of the team playing in a loop. She smiled, watching the clip of Steve, Bucky and herself laughing at something Dugan had said off camera.
She missed these days. Back when it was her and her boys out fighting together and taking down Hydra. Sometimes, Reina wished she could just go back to that time.
!
1943;
Reina leaned back against the large boulder, watching the fire flicker. Gabe set more sticks to the fire, crouching as he stoked it. Dugan took a swig from his flask, looking over to her.
"Hey, remember when we first met?" Dugan asked, looking from her to Gabe then over to Bucky as he walked up.
"Yea, you were even more annoying back then" Bucky smirked, sitting on another rock.
Gabe gave a small chuckle, looking to them.
"I remember when we all thought Reina was just a field nurse" He looked to her. "Then she grabbed a rifle and started pinning down Nazi's one by one"
Reina laughed slightly. "I couldn't very well blow my cover. But technically I am a field nurse"
"Was" Bucky corrected, handing the flask to her. "You're a Howling Commando now"
"Pretty sure she made the Howling Commandos"
They peered over as Morita walked to them, sitting around the fire. Falsworth and Dernier behind him as they joined the group.
"I wouldn't go that far" Reina took a drink. "More like made sure you boys didn't kill each other"
The group shared a laugh.
!
Reina woke up, the dream of the distant memory still fresh in her mind. It had been so long since she had a pleasant dream. She laid in her bed for a few moments longer just to savor it. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply then sat up. She swung her legs over and rested them on the floor, standing. She stretched her arms up, rolling her neck as she walked into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror as she passed, turning the showerhead on.
After she showered and dressed, Reina made her way down the halls of the Avengers Compound. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans, the doors automatically parting for her. She looked to the large table, sitting down in one of the chairs. Slowly the team trickled in until everyone sat around the table. Steve stood at the head of the table, the monitor switching on as the map pulled up. The pinpoint blinked.
"We got a lead on Rumlow" Steve got right to the point, the map shifting to show Lagos, Nigeria. "He's been hitting multiple police stations in multiple countries"
The monitor shifted to the news report, showing Rumlow jumping out of the back of an armored van.
"Suit up, we're heading out in five" Steve nodded to the group.
They stood, going their own ways. Reina stayed back for a moment, watching the news clips. The blueprint of a building came on the screen, the caption running at the bottom of the screen.
"…rumors hint at government-funded prison built to contain super powered prisoners" Reina read aloud.
She watched the screen for a moment longer, turning as she walked from the room.
!
Reina stood in the abandoned apartment building, looking back to Steve standing at the opposite window. She peered through the curtains again, looking at the street below them.
"Eyes on target, folks" Steve examined the streets. "This is the best lead we've had on Rumlow in six months…I don't want to lose him"
Sam's voice came over the radio. "If he sees us coming that won't be a problem. He kinda hates us"
Reina narrowed her eyes watching the garbage truck as it ran into the cars to get past. The people yelled, throwing items at the truck as it squeezed past.
"Steve" Reina called, Steve instantly coming to her side to look out the window.
"Sam, see that garbage truck?" Steve asked.
"Yea"
"Tag it" Reina watched the truck. "I want an X-ray"
Reina waited a minute, watching redwing as it dove down and glided underneath the truck.
"That truck's loaded for max weight" Sam said a moment later. "And the driver's armed"
"It's a battering ram" Natasha's voice came on.
Reina looked from the truck, following the road until her eyes landed on the Institute for Infectious diseases.
"It's not hitting the police" Reina pushed from the window.
"Go now" Steve yelled. "Sam!"
"On it!"
Steve backed up, running at the window as he held up the shield. He smashed through the glass, flinging himself out as Sam caught him and flew towards the Institute. Reina leaped over the window sill, landing on the fire escape as she climbed up onto the roof. She ran forward, leaping as she landed on the next roof. She continued on down the line of buildings, coming to the last one. She jumped, landing on top of one of the stopped trucks. She flipped off it, looking over to the soldier as he lifted the gun and aimed it at Steve. She raced towards him, grabbing the gun and forcing it upward as the bullets sprayed in the sky. She punched the soldier, the man crumbling to the ground.
"I make seven hostiles" Steve peered around.
"I make five" Sam's voice sounded.
"Four" He said after a moment.
Sam and Wanda joined them at the front of the building, Reina looking up as redwing scanned the building.
"Rumlow's on the third floor" Sam glanced to them.
"Wanda, like we practiced" Steve readied himself.
"What about the gas?" She asked.
"Get it out" Steve ran, leaping onto the hood of the truck and jumped up.
The red energy engulfed him, lifting him to the third floor as he crashed through the window. Reina watched as the gas crashed out of the windows, Wanda sending it up into the air.
"Rumlow has a biological weapon"
The three looked to each other, nodding.
"I'm on it" Natasha said through the radio.
Reina listened to the explosions, watching the windows blasting out.
"Steve?" Reina called.
"They're in a AFV heading north!" Steve yelled over the communicator.
"Sam" Reina looked to her, holding her arm out to him.
He grasped her, taking off as the two flew towards a market. Sam released her, Reina landing on the roof as Sam touched down beside her. He scanned the area.
"They're splitting up. I got four"
"I got the two on the left" Natasha said.
"They ditched their gear. It's a shell game" Steve said.
"Sam, go after the two on the right" Reina pointed.
"And you?" Sam asked.
Reina looked at him, smirking. "I've got a date with Rumlow…"
Reina leaped off the roof, looking up at the shield flew up from the crowd. The bomb attached to it exploded, sending it flying back down. Reina caught it, pushing through the crowd. Reina watched Rumlow punch Steve back into some tables. Reina sneered, throwing the shield as it blasted into his back. Rumlow dropped onto his hands and knees, glaring back at her.
"Reina. Nice of you to join. Now I don't have to go searching for you…" Rumlow slowly stood.
"Oh shut up" Reina scoffed.
He ran at her, Reina dodging the punches as the hydraulic gauntlets retracted and blasted out. Reina landed a few punches to his sides before his hit her square in the chest. She blasted back into a newsstand, rolling to her feet. She looked up as Steve swung his fist, connecting with Rumlow's back as he was thrown against the ground. Reina quickly raced forward as Rumlow stood. She wrapped her arms around one of his legs, hoisting him up before slamming him down onto his back. She punched him, grabbing onto the gauntlet and ripped it off his arm.
He raised his other arm, punching her in the shoulder as the force threw her off him. She rolled, coughing then pulled herself onto her knees. She watched Steve and Rumlow exchange blows, Steve kicking him back as he crashed through the tables and chairs. Reina stood, walking alongside Steve as he grabbed Rumlow by his vest.
"Who's your buyer?" Steve shook him.
Rumlow just smirked. "You know, he knew you. Your pal, your buddy. Your Bucky" He spat, glancing to Reina. "He knew you too…"
"What did you say?" Steve asked.
"He remembered you. Both of you. I was there" Rumlow looked from Reina to Steve. "He got all weepy about it…Till we put his brain back in a blender"
Rage bubbled in Reina's throat. She started forward, Steve stopping her.
"He said to me" Rumlow laughed slightly. "Please tell Rogers and Parker…when you gotta go, you gotta go"
Rumlow grinned. "And you're coming with me"
Steve looked down as he grasped the detonator. Steve shoved Reina back as she landed in the sand, listening to the sounds of the explosion. She looked up, gasping slightly as the red energy contained the blast around Rumlow. She looked back to Wanda, then forward again as she sent him up towards the sky. The energy flew off course, exploding into the nearby building as rubble rained down.
"Oh my…" Steve breathed. "Sam…we need…fire and rescue…south side of the building"
Steve ran to the building, Wanda crumbling onto her knees as she covered her mouth.
"Wanda…Wanda" Reina called her, crawling to her side.
She grasped the girl's shoulders, turning her gaze away from the building. "Hey. Hey, come on"
Reina stood, hoisting her onto her feet. "Come on. It'll be ok"
Reina led her away, looking back to the building.