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Chapter 2- Dead Ended Luck
Washington DC was-if one word could describe it-cold. Massive piles of muddy snow-slush were all over the city, with icy water flooding sidewalks and freezing wind whipping every which way. The few locals who braved the bitter cold were clothed to the point of being unable to walk, and waddled as fast as they could to the nearest Starbucks for their morning coffee.
Mal shivered, snow dusting the multiple layers of starchy clothing she wore. Could Hydra not have dropped her off a little closer?
After several minutes of walking she reached the designated destination. It wasn't much to look at; it was a half-collapsed apartment complex with peeling paint, broken shutters, and boarded up windows. A faded sign on the door proclaimed:
Closed Until Repairs Can Be Made
No Trespassing
Mal entered through a guest room window. She methodically searched the ground floor, avoiding massive holes in the floorboards that, judging by the sloshing, led to a flooded basement. Nothing. Mal didn't bother to check the higher floors—the dilapidated building wouldn't hold her weight, much less a muscle-bound assassin's. The place was abandoned, save for a flock of noisy pigeons on the roof.
However, there were signs of recent habitation. Mostly small things, like a few crumpled chip bag wrappers, ragged muddy towels, a baseball cap; all things that could've belonged to any random hobo. Mal was on the verge of giving up when she found several bullets and an empty gun cartridge beneath an overturned sofa. So he had been here. Probably less than 24 hours ago, based on the chip crumbs and lack of hobo activity.
Mal dug her mandatory disposable cell phone from her pocket and was about to dial Radigast's number when she heard the sound of pigeon wings in flight. Someone was coming.
Her pistol drawn, Mal took refuge behind an overturned sofa. The Winter Soldier was trained by Hydra on and off for over 50 years—he'd know better than to announce his presence like that. It was more likely a civilian, or perhaps someone saw her enter the building and had alerted the authorities.
"Someone's here."
The voice was feminine, and barely above a whisper. She wasn't a civilian. A civilian would never have noticed the subtle traces of Mal's presence. Maybe CIA?
Applying a successful action movie tactic, Mal held out her cell phone so she could see the intruders in the unlit screen's reflection.
Shit. Shit shit shit shit shit.
It was Captain America. The patriotic bastard who had the whole country convinced he was God's great gift to mankind. The man who crushed Hydra twice.
And behind him was the one who had spoken, the Red Room trained assassin/Avenger woman, and the dude who had wings on TV. Spider-something-pretentious-sounding and Big Bird.
Why did this have to happen to me?
There were hundreds of SHIELD agents all over the globe, but noooo, she had to run into some of the few people she wouldn't succeed in killing. Karma really was a bitch.
She quickly texted Radigast AVENGERS BACKUP NOW and hoped like hell he'd actually bothered to have backup in the area.
Meanwhile, she could hear shuffling as the three split up to search the building. It was only a matter of time before they found her. She needed to stall for reinforcements. And then hopefully get out alive.
Though you'll die anyway once you get to Sokovia, so what's the point? Mal's annoying inner voice reminded her.
Shut up! She told it.
"Hello?"
Footsteps grew closer to Mal's hidey hole. Judging by the creaking floorboards and deep voice, it was Captain America. Mal made a split-second decision and stowed her gun and phone beneath the sofa. Then she stood up.
His back was towards her, but he spun around quickly when Mal drew a purposely loud, shaky breath. She also plastered a terrified look on her face, just to sweeten the effect.
"I don't know anything! I told you people I don't know anything! Just leave me alone!" Mal screamed, tears running down her face. She could hear Spider Girl and Tweety running towards them.
She'd surprised Captain America. He'd jumped into a defensive position, hand going towards the shield on his back. When he realized she wasn't a threat he straightened, taking a step back and holding his hands up in what Mal assumed was a placating gesture.
"We're not here to-" But he never had the chance to finish. Mal vaulted past him, ducked over an approaching Birdie's arm, and high-tailed it out the nearest window. Thankfully there was no glass.
Mal somersaulted when she hit the ground, rolling into an upright position, ready to bolt. Then she froze.
She'd run straight into a dead-ended alley.
Shit!
She turned, but it was too late. Mr. Patriotic was already out of the window, with his two goons blocking any exit from behind him.
Shit shit triple shit with more shit!
Mal gripped the small knife in her sleeve, knowing it'd be as effective against a super soldier as a water pistol would be against a brick. As she did, a motion above the apartments caught her eye.
Holy mother of god Radigast sent an army...
The Hydra forces opened fire just as Mal jumped to the side, pressing herself against the wall to avoid flying bullets. The sounds of gunfire were deafening. From her vantage point, she saw Captain America take several shots to the chest before his sidekicks pulled him inside.
Ha! Take that you pathetic excuse for an American flag!
And then…
Man, I need better insults.
There was several long minutes of heavy artillery fire, ripping the apartment complex (and Mal's eardrums) to shreds. When the bullet cartridges finally ran out, the sudden silence was eerie. Then one of the stupid Hydra agents decided to be stupider than usual and stood up.
"You dead yet, Rogers?"
The reply was a gunshot to the agent's head, toppling him from the roof where he stood. Probably Spider's handiwork.
There were loud clicks as multiple weapons were reloaded and the loud gunfire resumed.
Mal gritted her teeth. Idiots. Too dumb to just blow the whole damn building-
"Aaaghhhhhhhh!"
A Hydra agent fell from the wall, his scream cutting off abruptly as he hit the ground. His body landed inches away from Mal, close enough for her to see his dead face still twisted in terror. A few seconds later another agent joined him. And another. The roar of gunfire changed its tone as it was directed towards the new oncoming threat.
A threat with a metal arm and a whole lot of guns.
The Winter Soldier.
Oooh, cliffhanger! I wasn't sure how to pull Bucky into this big hot mess of a story, so I thought Hmmmm, what could possibly the one thing that Bucky cares about and would risk dying for?
Steve, of course!
Am I a genius or what?
(sounds of crickets chirping)
Fine, I guess this is what I should expect for staying up 'til the wee morning hours to write this. Arguing with oneself is the first sign of madness, you know.
And I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but I know how it started and that's the important thing.
Rate, Review, Comment, Follow, Favorite, and whatever else it is ya people do these days! I hope you enjoyed Chapter 2!
(And if you didn't, feel free to message me about what you didn't like!)