Shoutouts to Jo-Jo287 and Sailorraven34 for reviewing!
A/N So I've come to the conclusion that this fic should reach about twenty chapters, maybe slightly less. And that's all I really have to say so enjoy and don't forget to reveiw!
We reach Sam's house in the morning. I don't know how Cap got us out, the last thing I remember is a building exploding. When we reach his running partners house I think I say something like, "Everyone we know us trying to kill us." But my thoughts wander and I know that isn't true. Maybe for Cap, but I'm willing to bet Clint, Eva, and even Stark aren't trying to kill me. Still it sounds more effective as 'everyone' than 'everyone except'.
Sam has a nice house, and a nice shower which I make good use of. I'm sitting on the bed when Steve comes to talk to me. I've been absentmindedly fiddling with that stupid arrow necklace Clint got me for Christmas, the one I can't seem to take off. "What's going on?" He asks.
What is going on? So much is going on. HYDRAs appearance, Eva's reappearance, Fury's death, that I don't know where Clint is... so much, none of which I really feel the need to share. "When I first joined S.H.I.E.L.D. I thought I was going straight, but I guess I just traded in the KGB for HYDRA. I thought I knew who's lies I was telling but I guess I can't tell the difference anymore." That's sort of true, isn't it? Maybe it's not the whole reason I seem off, but it's a chunk, a large one.
"There's a chance you might be in the wrong business" Steve tells me. He's right. There is a chance. Had I not had my house burned down as a child, I might have become a famous ballet dancer or even a teacher, helping people or entertaining them. No, instead I'm killing them.
"Cap, there's something I need to tell you..." He nods in a, go on, sort of way. "When I worked for the KGB, I had many instructors. One who trained me probably the least, it was for about eight months,... He had a metal arm, with a red star tattooed on to the metal, something every Red Room agent got when they pledged their allegiance at twenty one. I escaped before then. Anyway, He was known to everyone as the Winter Soldier to everyone on those bases. Except me. I got to know him as James, he showed me around, and not only taught me to fight, but how to stand up for myself. That was when I was fifteen, and yes I'll admit it now, I was a little bit in love, but back then love was for children. Always and only children. Then they took him away and messed his brain up so he became a killing machine with no memory of me. So I moved to a different base and never saw him again until he shot the engineer through me. But I do know that the KGB rented him out to other organizations, and they've probably rented him out to HYDRA." Steve nods, taking it all in. I've probably never talked so much to him in my life. He doesn't say anything, but what is there to say? I've had a terrible life, but he can't be sorry for that, it's not his fault.
After a brief pause I realize something. "I owe you." There's another debt that I'm never going to repay. Cap is more likely than Clint to tell me that it's nothing or I don't have to do anything for him, but in my brain it's like scales that I can never balance.
"Okay." That's all he replies. Then again, what can he?
"If it was the other way around and it was down to me to save your life, now you be honest with me, would you trust me to do it?" I can feel my necklace swinging as I lean forwards and backwards, knowing that he'll probably say no, because I wouldn't trust myself to save anyone's life.
He surprises me. "I would now. And I'm always honest. " Maybe he understands the debt thing I seem to have a problem with.
There's another brief silence while I think of something to say. "Well you seem pretty chipper for someone who just found out they died for nothing." Why did I bring that topic back up? I know we're running for our lives and everything but at this guy's house, can't I just pretend that we're at a friend's place to stay? No, not only because I don't have any friends, but also no one that I'd be there with. Except Clint. And we co-own the houses we have, so it would be like staying at my own house.
"Well I guess I just like to know who I'm fighting." This guy always knows what to say doesn't he? Is there super serum for that too?
Suddenly his friend, Sam, interrupts. "I made breakfast if you guys eat that sorta thing" I'm so thankful at his light humour and for getting me out of that awkward room with Rogers.
Cap's saying stuff about his friend, Bucky, who was my friend, James. So he's connected to both of us, and he can't remember anything.
"GSW, She's lost at least a pint." I think it's Maria that says that but I'm not sure. Things are sort of spinning and I can only concentrate on the pain in my shoulder. There's some conversation, then I'm sure I hear Hill say, "She'll want to see him first." Is it Clint? It must be, she's one of the only few... only one left that knows about our relationship. I walk down to a room with the others, and it isn't Clint, but I'm almost as glad to see director Fury there... alive? I'm sure I'm hallucinating now.
Those things sting like hell, I can still feel the effects of it. "Please tell me you got that chopper in the air." Sam says over the communication system to us in the helicopter. Pierce is dead, by the way. And I've got changed. How do people wear those disgusting suits, with skirts too?
"Sam where are you?" I ask, knowing that if he's contacted us he's probably in trouble.
"41st floor north west corner." Wilson shouts and there's sounds of breaking glass behind him.
"We're on it. Stay where you are" Then I see the insight helicarrier smashing into the side of the building and realize.
"Not an option." And I can tell why. He falls in the helicopter, and would have gone out the other side had I not caught him. "41st floor, 41st." He winces.
"It's not like they put the floor numbers on the outside of the building." Fury retorts flying away from the destroyed helicarrier. Then I remember something.
"SHIT" I scream. "LAND FURY I NEED TO GET INSIDE!" He flies down to the ground, or he tries to and when we get near enough I jump, and run inside, down the stairs because waiting for the elevator would take too long, down to the cells, where I find Eva struggling to reach the vent. All this time I have Fury and Wilson in my ear asking me why I went and where I am now. I can't tell them so I just turn it off, but I don't throw it away because I'll have to talk to them later.
"Anya, are you okay?" I ask unlocking the door with a key I picked off one of the guards.
She nods, "I heard Captin Rogers speech and I wanted to fight for S.H.I.E.L.D. but I couldn't get out." Idiot. She didn't didn't use her bed to climb up. I tell her that she should have and run out with her, asking if she's still got my apartment key. She does so I take her there and tell her that I'll catch up with her later.
I get back to S.H.I.E.L.D. where Fury, Wilson and Hill are looking for Steve. I can't believe he gave his life again against HYDRA. Let's hope they're actually gone now. Hang on a sec, I can't believe it because it's not true... he's over there. I shout to the others and Fury races in the helicopter over there and then I think he takes him straight to the hospital, leaving the rest of us to follow.
Once there, I leave saying I have some stuff to do. I'm almost in the car park, where I would 'borrow' a car, when Fury catches up with me.
"Where did you go?" I know when he means and he knows that.
"I think you'd better come with me." I whisper. During the car ride, I try and prepare him, but I fail mainly. I think I utter that I'm sorry a few times, Maybe I didn't mean it, but honesty I'm not too sure.
Eva's there, pacing around, no doubt wondering if she should help in some way. Fury and I walk in and he says, rather loudly, "What is she doing here?"
Shrugging my shoulders, I look back at him and say, "She's my sister... I'm sorry sir." He raises and eyebrow back at me and turns away.
"You know, Romanoff, it's good that there's a little happiness in the world. Barton's in Germany, and since S.H.I.E.L.D. No longer exists, his mission is no longer a mission. Make sure Rogers is awake before you go, he probably has some questions for you, about his friend and I'm not telling anyone about... your sister." I nod.
"Thank you for everything sir. For giving me, and Barton, a chance." I should say more, but I'm a woman of few words and he knows that.
"I'll see you soon." He nods.