19.
Desolation. The Captain breathed in. The air was dry and ashen cold. There had been war there. A long time ago.
A step in that silence seemed like a stroke of thunder.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. They're here."
They weren't looking for Anne and Bucky.
It had been a month now and Thor had returned with ill news. Heimdall couldn't see her.
Thus, they had no idea of where to look and had given up with the hope that they would turn up on their own sooner or later.
No, this was a very different mission. Of course, they were still searching for members of Hydra, but now they were only the distraction so that Tony could get in.
They were on the italian alps, in a forest near a huge fortress.
Tony swore.
"Language!" Steve said, and started fighting again.
"Barton's down!"
Natasha's voice came out like a cry.
They fought easily and beat Hydra easily. Finally they had retrieved Loki's scepter.
She went through constant training, even though she beat every single man very easily.
They even put her against the Winter Soldier a few times, but all they achieved with that were two very tired and still unharmed warriors.
To the professor, it was like some kind of sick entertainment.
Their fight was like a dance. They both knew each others weaknesses and strengths and it seemed they had sympathy for one another. Something that shouldn't have happened. They were getting more human like again. Of course they had no memories, but sooner or later they would realize that they had feelings and that they weren't just simple machines at Hydra's disposal.
Yet, Deuss wished to leave them a bit longer before stabilizing them once more.
It was just so much fun to watch them. Their coordination was perfect. Their movements elegant and agile. He had never seen anything like it. They were both born to fight, despite what their pasts might have been. It was just pure talent.
"It's beautiful... Their dance."
The man had returned. Deuss just nodded, hypnotized.
"They train better when they are together."
"I believe it. He was her teacher."
"Yes, but I believe that it is more than that, sir. I believe something still remains of their feelings for each other."
The man stared at him.
"Then get rid of them."
And he left without saying another word.
Deuss sighed. That man had no idea of who he was dealing with.
"Stop!"
The warriors instantly stopped. Maybe the sympathy he had detected was a part of his imagination.
The soldiers returned to their single rooms. They had gained some sort of conscience once more. At least now they could talk like normal people, or at least enough to give orders and lead some men.
They didn't have names. Or at least, Anne didn't. They called Bucky the Winter Soldier. She was just "her" .
She liked training with the Winter Soldier. At least, she thought she liked it. She didn't know what it was to like. All she knew was fear, anger and pain.
But this was different. It felt good. Was good the right word? And did he feel good too?
Before entering her room she turned round and looked at him. He looked back.
Something in his eyes gave her a glint of hope.
If it was hope at all. She didn't know what it was, but she liked it.
After a few months, Anne started to have nightmares. Now she had become a person.
She didn't know why they were letting her become more human. The first month, all they had done was put her on that machine, but now she could at least think more.
"We have a mission for you."
Anne turned grave.
"Do you remember that man from a few months ago?"
"Yes."
Professor Deuss smiled. He had done well. She was their soldier now. He could tell by the hatred in her eyes. He didn't know why she hated him, but they could definitely use that to their advantage.
"I want you to find him and bring him here. Alive."
The girl just nodded. Her hair had grown long now and was tied in a braid behind her back.
"Kill the others if you can. Make them fear you."
A nod. Yes, of the girl he had taken in, nothing more remained.