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Chapter 3– Hurdles of Freedom
Freedom was... complicated, Harry concluded.
It was a novel and wondrous experience for the first few days, to see what it felt like to do whatever he wanted.
It was...liberating. Like being free from his cage. Not bound by any rules.
But after the initial excitement and novelty wore off, his newfound freedom grew a bit...stale.
The reason? He simply couldn't get out of the habits that Hydra had so forcefully put in his brain. Even if he wished to sleep late, he simply couldn't. His body forced him to wake up at sharp 4:30, and if he tried to sleep further he will simply lay on his back, staring at whatever ceiling he had slept under that day.
And that was another complication. Now that he was out of Hydra, where would he stay? He had never thought about that, the idea of freedom seemed too taboo to plan further.
If he stayed in a hotel, Hydra's training will punch him in the gut and he will lay awake all night, paranoid of getting found. He couldn't rent a room for the same reason. Money wasn't an issue, he could steal from the richest and they will never know, but where to use that money when every person who walked around him looked like a target.
And thus, he had taken to sleep outside. Sometimes under a bridge, sometimes in someone's garage. The anonymity of his nature calmed him enough to sleep.
This could've all been solved had he still carried his wand. A simple imperio would've made sure of the target's loyalty, and he wouldn't have to sleep in the open.
Alas, life never goes as planned. This too, he had come to realise soon.
The biggest problem of all though, was that he no longer knew what to do. In Hydra, he may have to listen to orders and follow strict rules, but atleast his life had a meaning. A purpose. To train and become better. A goal, to achieve his freedom.
Now what? Now that he'd completed his biggest goal...What can he do now? What should he do now?
Even if he occupied his time by continuing his training, he couldn't do it all day. The time he usually spent under his teachers learning magic and combat was now free, and he didn't know how to fill it.
So he aimlessly travelled. Running away from black SUVs and any authorities, his feets wandered the streets of New York.
While it had its downs, Harry still wouldn't give up his freedom for anything. Hell, just the expansion of his food taste was worth all the trouble. Burger and pizza were like a dream for him once. No longer. No human, or god, could now stop him from worshipping the goodness that was double cheeseburger. With a chocolate milkshake at the side. He would've escaped way earlier had he known what he was missing.
The amazing food was only rivalled by his newfound appreciation for the... colourful language that New-Yorkers used. Truly, he hadn't known you could curse someone's mother in so many ways. Well...now he did.
But most importantly, has got to be the freedom of his emotions. No longer needing to maintain an emotionless facade brought with it a liberation that he never knew he could experience. He felt alive like he never had. Every minute of every hour brought with it a new emotion. And Harry absolutely loved it. Reveled in it. And treasured every moment like it was his last, for it might very well be.
As the days passed, and the fact settled that his freedom wasn't going to be snatched away, some things quickly became clear. A realisation if you will, that emotion was a very complicated subject.
Not all emotions were as... satisfying, as he once used to believe. Once he got used to his newfound freedom to feel, he quickly grew a sense of dislike for some particular feelings.
Pain, for instance, he no longer enjoyed. With Hydra, pain was the only thing available that grounded him to reality; made him more than a dead-man walking. But in here? Free to feel the wondrous joys and happiness that this world had to offer?
Pain was now unneeded. No, more than that, it was unwanted.
Still, while he was fine with the challenges that his newfound freedom brought, he definitely needed a new plan for his life ahead.
Fate must've heard his prayers because he soon found it.
Harry Potter
Age: 9
Race: Wizard
Level: 23
Mana: 360/360
Health: 260/260
Stamina: 260/260
Stats
Strength: 20 (6)
Speed: 21 (6)
Dexterity: 21 (6)
Vitality: 20 (6)
Endurance: 20 (6)
Intelligence: 30 (6)
Wisdom: 29 (6)
Points: 23
He was sitting in a takeout restaurant, Dos Caminos, waiting for his order of tacos. It was an amazing place that served mexican food, and most importantly, didn't bitch about his age too much.
He passed the time by studying his status. Lately he'd found himself thinking about allocating his points somewhere. He had been saving them for when he finally fought Hydra, as a trump card if you will. But he never got the chance due to his abrupt decision to give them a huge 'fuck you' in the middle of a mission. In other words, he forgot. So now he was left wondering.
He had achieved two levels by killing Hydra mooks, while a hidden Quest netted him 3 more, abruptly pushing him by full 5 levels in a single day. It was a drastic growth, something he'd never experienced before.
Quest [A Path to Freedom] completed]–
Escape the clutches of Hydra (X)
Kill 6 Hydra members in your escape (X)
Leave a destroyed base behind (—)
Eliminate Hydra before your escape (—)
Eliminate all loose-ends (—)
Rewards:
2 Levels
[First Story Quest completed]–
Rewards increased by 50%: 1 Level
Quests had been the only way for him to level up before his first kill. After that however, they had lost their value for Harry when he realised killing was much more faster than quests.
This message had come as a pleasant surprise. If quests actually gave him full levels as reward, then it meant they were much more valuable that he had once assumed. Especially considering he had failed 3 out of 5 objectives. It was simply logical to conclude that his rewards would've been even higher had he completed all of them.
The thing is, now he was left wondering where to put his hard earned points. What were his Strengths? what were his weaknesses? Should he focus on physical prowess or magical? His fighting style involved both aspects of combat, so should he simply divide the points equally? He couldn't decide.
He shelved his thoughts for later as the waitress brought in his order.
"Here's your Al pastor tacos." She said in a singsong voice before putting down the plate. "Enjoy!"
They looked delicious, and smelled delicious. Harry was dying to try them out.
The first bite was heavenly; there was so much happening in his mouth that he couldn't describe them well. A combination of Sweet, savoury, and spicy hit his tongue as his teeths bit into the juicy pork meat and pineapple covered in soft...bread? He could only guess.
He was so busy enjoying his meal that he didn't bother observing the new arrivals. Which was why when he did turn to the trio of women who took a seat to the very back, he was shocked to the core.
He instantly slammed down the gamer's mind, his emotions calming like windless water, and his eyes began scanning the entire room for threats before finally landing on the women again.
Smiling and laughing beside her friends was agent 33. Dressed in a black low-neck top and navy jeans, the woman did not look like a shield agent.
Did Shield fire her? Or was she undercover...yes, it must be the later. Probably here to catch him. Did they think he will leave her alive because they knew each other?
Foolishness.
If she wasn't here for him then his best option would be to tuck tail and run. Confronting her will do nothing. But if she was indeed here for him then running was useless. Shield had somehow managed to find him and they didn't wish to leave him be.
It doesn't matter. He will treat them the same as Hydra; by slaughtering them. The only good agent in this world was a dead one.
Of course, that didn't mean he will leave his food half-eaten.
After blazing through two more tacos, Harry quickly approached the counter to recieve his bill, nor waiting for the waitress.
Waiting for the wait-ress. Huh.
"In hurry, kid?" The Mexican guy at the counter asked, counting his money.
"Yeah, skipped school to be here you know?" Harry replied easily.
He'd observed the place enough to know what excuses to use.
The guy laughed, returning the change. "Aye know. Would've do the same."
Ignoring the man's broken English, Harry put the coins in his pocket and turned around to leave...only to crash into a large burly man.
"Watch yourself boy!" The man snapped, his large palm coming to grab Harry's head, trying to push him aside.
His instincts flared and before the man knew what was happening, Harry had his arm twisted clockwise before slamming his shoulders in the man's chest.
The man stumbled back, his hands fumbling for purchase, before inevitably crashing against a table with a cry.
There was a moment of silence as the people took in the scene.
'Goddammit Harry. Now you've done it.' He chastised himself.
Thankfully, instead of the room pointing at him and screaming 'freak!' like he half-expected, they started laughing at the downed man.
"Put down by a kid, Ed!" One of the men hollered. "That's gotta be a new low for ya."
Unfortunately, that also bought 33's attention to him.
Their eyes met, shocked brown eyes staring at the cold emerald ones, and he knew at once, she wasn't acting. She was geniunly surprised at seeing him...unless she was a master level actress.
He didn't duck down or pretend to not see her. The guise was up, and now was the time for the pin to drop.
"...Harry." She mouthed silently before her wide eyes flickered around at the audience.
She whispered something to her colleagues and quickly left her seat to approach him.
His mind was swirling with questions. Should he simply leave? Will they track him down? Did they even care really? All of his paranoia against Shield was cultivated by Hydra. Perhaps they weren't as evil and manipulative...
Yeah, right. He will believe it when he sees it.
"Harry." 33 said again as she came to stand beside him. "What are you doing here?"
She shook her head, dismissing her own question.
"You know what? It doesn't matter." The woman clutched him arm before he could respond and started dragging him back to her table. "C'mon, I'll intro–"
Harry smacked her hand away, calming his instincts to shoot down the woman and make a break for it.
He still palmed the gun though.
"I don't wish to do anything with your...organisation, 33." He replied. "I hope you understand. I'll be taking my leave now."
"Woah woah woah, calm down!" 33 waved her hands at him. "I'm not here for work. I come here every weekend. You know, to enjoy and stuff."
She looked back at the other two before turning to him again. "Look, I never really thanked you for...well, basically saving my life. I was just a little angry about you using your...ahh, magic abilities on me, you know?...And this is really not a good place to discuss that. Just...come with me please? I promise not to take too much of your time."
Harry was in a conundrum. He glanced at the exit, only to find the burly man sitting on one of the tables in front of the entrance, staring at him balefully. Probably waiting for him to leave.
He sighed. Why can't he simply enjoy some tacos?
"Fine." He muttered at the expectant woman, letting himself be dragged to her table.
He absently wondered why this woman wasn't scared of him. As far as he knew, mind control was the stuff of nightmare and villany for the general population. She should atleast be a little freaked out.
Did she know about magicals perchance? ...interesting.
The other two ladies looked older than 33, perhaps in their mid twenties. He observed them both in quick succession, taking in their levels.
Maria Hill
Age: 26
Race: Human
Level: 17
Melinda May
Age: 39
Race: Human
Level: 19
He suppressed a frown at Melinda's age. She did not look an year over 30. But she was not a super soldier either, considering her low level.
"Harry, meet my two superi...ahh, friends." 33 hesitated before waving over at them. "Maria Hill and Miss May."
"Clean work back there, kid." Melinda said with a wink.
She was a pretty asian woman, with black eyes and raven hairs. He judged her to be on the short side, a couple of inches over five foot at most.
A quick scan of her figure, and Harry was convinced that she was the most dangerous of the three.
Harry gave her a polite nod before looking back at 33. "What did you wish to say, 33?"
"Why did you revert back to thirty-three again?" 33 whined. "It's Kara. K-A-R-A. You're doing this purposely aren't you? I remember you saying my name the last time."
"...I did?" Harry tilted his head. "I must've forgotten. Now, what did you wish to say, 33?"
33 started to sulk, much to the amusement of her 'friends'.
"Do you dislike my name? That's it, isn't it? I get it. I don't know why my parents named me kara, instead of Sara, or...Tara..but I have to live with it. It is a burden I must carry. You can help me in it, you know? Saying my name will be a good start."
Harry nodded seriously. "Very well. I shall help you, Ms. Palamas."
Her gaping face was a sight to behold. He absently wondered if he should drop the gamer's mind and actually try to enjoy this. It looked fun to tease the young agent.
"Now now, Mister. Stop bullying poor Kara will you?" Melinda spoke out, her smirk only widening through the exchange. "Her weak heart might not take it anymore."
Maria on the other hand, looked the picture of cool and calm. Just the slightly tug of her lips betrayed her amusement.
"Anyway." Kara forcefully interjected. "I wanted to ask...ahh, how are you? I mean, how's life going? have you found a place to spend the night yet?"
"Very subtle, Palamas." Maria closed her eyes with a sigh, her hands coming to massage her forehead.
There was something going on in here. He just knew it. They were trying a little too hard to put him at ease. Appearing warm and friendly.
And then it clicked in his head...
"How did you know I didn't have a place to live?" Harry asked, instantly on guard.
Kara's friends groaned. Kara blushed.
"Uhh...that is...umm..it's common sense, you know? You just got out of the bad guys hands and probably spent a lot of time wandering and looking for some place to sleep. And then were probably forced to sleep under a...Oh, I don't know, a bridge or something maybe?...and now you're here..."
The pistol was already in his hand by now, ready to blast open three heads.
They knew what he had been doing for the past couple of months...which meant he never evaded their notice in the first place.
He needed to...what, exactly? If Shield knew he was here, what can he possibly do?
'Go down fighting', his mind supplied. It was better than being a slave again.
"You should stop talking." Agent Hill snapped at 33. "You've done enough damage."
33's cheeks looked positively inflamed now.
Agent May sighed. "Everyone calm down. Harry, I know you don't have a reason to trust us, but please don't shoot. Just hear us out, alright?"
"Of course." He nodded easily. "Though I will need you to put your hands on the table, please."
No need to be rude when he might be putting them to permanent sleep soon.
Agent May sighed again but didn't argue, placing both of her hands on the table with open palms. Agent hill soon followed suit, her face now a cold curtain. 33 on the other hand, was still blushing, and seemed ashamed to meet his eyes. Though she too complied without complaints.
"Continue then." He commanded. "How do you know about me?"
"Your subject has been thoroughly discussed by our... superiors." Agent May started. "And we came to the conclusion that you were an unfortunate victim of Hydra, simply trying to gain your freedom."
Behind him, the shop seemed to be closing, the people having already herded out by staff. Everyone except them.
His suspicions arose even more.
"Don't worry." Agent May comforted. "Shield owns this business. I signalled the owner to close it to give us some privacy. This is not a subject so openly discussed you see?"
Harry nodded. "Continue."
"Well...we planned to bring you in for safety. You are, afterall, still a chi..ahh, not yet an adult. Agent 33 here, seemed to disagree with our plan. In her words, you were prone to attack us as easily as Hydra. So we kept our distance, simply observing you. Today was a chance meeting, nothing planned or otherwise. You are free to leave if you wish to. Shield does not want to offend your kind."
Her face scrunched up slightly. "That was rude, I'm sorry. I meant your...ahh, people. People similar to you. You aren't the only wizard in America you know."
"I know." Harry nodded. "I was trained by a few."
The Agent grimaced. "We had our suspicions that there were wizards in Hydra. It is still a troubling fact though."
As silence spread through the room, Harry stood up. It was relieving to hear that he wouldn't be hunted by Shield but he had clearly underestimated them. Anyone who can see him can also kill him. Especially if they knew where and when he slept.
He planned to completely disappear from America. Hydra and Shield could battle it out amongst themselves.
...Perhaps it was time to give his old family a visit.
"It was a pleasure meeting you all, but I shall take my leave now." He announced, pocketing his pistol.
"W-wait!" Kara blurted, finally speaking. "Where will you go?"
"Around." Harry vaguely waved his hand.
To be honest he himself didn't know yet. He may want to leave America now but that will take a lot of planning, information..and money. For someone who was homeless and made do with stealing, it was a difficult prospect.
"You don't have to leave!" Kara desperately voiced. "You can stay with us..."
He shot her a dubious look. "No, thanks."
"Look, I get it. You don't like us, that's fine. But you did save my life; any other assassin wouldn't even have hesitated to end me. And that is something I'll always be grateful for. So would Shield. You really have nothing to fear from us."
Instead of being a bullhead, Harry mulled the idea over in his mind.
Having Shield's support would be priceless, no doubt about that. If Hydra was considered a powerful organization, then Shield was a true behemoth. The money and resources available to them were absurdly large, and even the slightest bit of it should logically be enough to set him for life.
On the other hand, If their intentions were less than pure, then Harry would be facing an organisation even more dangerous than Hydra.
From the years that he'd spent in Hydra, he could easily conclude that Shield was in a league of it's own. More often than not, Hydra simply played catch up to Shield's power.
If Hydra had the Winter Soldier, then Shield had Ares, Hawkeye, and now a new weapon, Black Widow. If Hydra had money and manpower, Shield had direct support of World council. Harry had no doubt that they may even have their own Wizards on payroll.
In conclusion, if it took him 3 years of planning and patience to escape Hydra, it will take atleast a decade to escape Shield. That's assuming they gave him exploitable chances like Hydra. Which he doubted.
But even with all these counter arguments swirling through his head, he found himself gravitating towards a positive response. If they really were true about their motives that is.
Sleeping in open was no longer an option, seeing as how Shield has been keeping tabs on him. Which meant so was Hydra. And he had no doubt that Hydra would eliminate him if given a chance. He was too big a lose cannon to let go.
Once, the idea of staying in Shield's headquarters would've seemed absurd to him, akin to simply changing one shackles for another. But now that he'd got a glimpse of challenges that came with his freedom, he wasn't so sure of his decision.
"On top of that," Agent May suddenly cut in. "You get to meet Captain Ares."
Harry waited for her to continue but she seemed to be waiting for his reaction.
"Why...is that a good thing?" He asked at last, confused.
She blinked. "...I thought everyone wants to meet Captain Ares?"
He sighed. "I certainly don't."
"Well then you don't have to!" Kara took over with a clap of her hands. "You can live with me. You won't have to do anything you don't want to. I promise."
"Right." Agent hill scoffed. "And force him to clean your garbage filled room? Shield has better rooms to provide if the Mystique soldier himself wants to join in."
"That's only because I live alone!" Kara protested. "I'll clean it up and everything, you won't even spot a grease mark. If Harry decides to stay, that is."
Could he trust them? After knowing they've been spying on him? Though now that he thought about it...wasn't that actually a good point for them instead? They could've killed him whenever they wanted. Clearly they were content to leave him be. Not even trying to stop his stealing.
So the question in the end comes back to one thing. Should he trust them?
"I...plan to leave the country soon." He finally admitted. "I don't know where yet, but I simply do not wish to be between Hydra and Shield."
Revealing the fact was a calculated risk. It wasn't anything important and there was nothing they could do to stop him save for imprisoning him.
"Understandable." Agent May stated with a nod. "But until you decide where exactly you want to move, Shield would be happy to accommodate you."
And after another brief moment of contemplation, Harry found himself nodding. "Very well. You've convinced me."
The cheering 'yay!' from kara was just a bonus.
Hopefully this decision won't come back to bite him.
AN: Next up, we'll have Harry's integration in Shield. I know some of you are worried of him just being Shield's obedient dog but don't worry. Harry is too free-spirited to accept anything like that.
Thanks for all the support on this fic guys, really appreciate it.
Now, you don't have to read this but I'm replying to the first flame on this fic. I did something similar on my other fic so thought, ya' know what? let's keep up with this tradition.
AiyaKnight: This story is a perfect example of a really messy quick chapter where nothing happens and then it ends without really much plot happening and then a HUGE AN thats 1/2 the size of the whole chapter with someone being overexcited wanting reviews and saying how awesome its going to be instead of putting that time and energy into the story
This comment is the perfect example of a really dumb try at critism that fails to actually critic anything. The plot is literally about Harry having grown up as a Hydra agent you dumb fuck. I was actually worried about progressing the plot too fast, but instead I get an absolute moron telling me nothing's happening.
And I get you haters like to exaggerate everything, but turning 1/10th to 1/2 is a new low.
Then you have a problem with me being excited at the support I've recieved? seriously? You have to be a special kind of pathetic to get annoyed at that.
Sorry for wasting your time guys but I'm actually shocked that people like this exists. To get annoyed at an excited author? like...wow.
Every time I read a fanfic I'm usually worried at an unenthusiastic author cause I know that guy is going to drop the fic soon. This dude seems the exact opposite.
Whatever. Couldn't careless about stupid fucks like this one. The amount of people excited for this fic is too high for me to give a flying crap about a downer.
Again, thanks for all the reviews and follows, See ya all in the next chapter!
