AN: Hello my loyal readers/followers! I sort of struggled with this chapter. I wrote it in three different ways, but I had a difficult time trying to decide which version I wanted. I had a few friends and co-workers read all three to see which they liked best, and everyone picked this one. I really hope I don't disappoint.. But, anywho.. Enjoy and happy reading!
CHAPTER 22 FEBRUARY 22, 2014 5:45 AM
The sun peeked it's way up the horizon which created a sliver of orange light across the dark sky and birds chirped. The sound of water rushing through pipes echoed through the house. Alexander Pierce was the first to wake. Allie was still asleep soundlessly in her bed. The Asset never moved from his spot. He only had to stay until she fell asleep, but he knew she needed him.
He spent most of the night pondering on the kiss and tried to understand the reasoning. He even tried to comprehend his own feelings about it, however, emotions were something he wasn't allowed to feel. Obeying and giving orders were all he knew. He was aware the kiss was wrong, something that would need to addressed to his handler, but he decided to keep it to himself. He feared that Pierce would keep them apart and that was something he did not want. The girl had an effect on him. The thought of never seeing her again caused his chest to tighten.
When the sound of running water stopped, the Asset stood from his spot and quietly left the room. He slowly walked down the stairs and sat himself on the couch in the living room. He dutifully waited for Pierce to come downstairs like he did every morning. Ten minutes later, Alexander's bedroom door opened and shut. He walked down the stairs, fully dressed in his suit.
"Morning, Soldier," Alex greeted as he walked into the kitchen.
The Asset didn't respond or move from his spot. He listened to the sound of cupboards opening and closing, silverware clinking together, and water splashing. He assumed Pierce was making his morning coffee. The sound of Allie's door opening caught his full attention. He began to feel slightly uncomfortable as she groggily walked across the balcony on the second floor. His eyes followed her as she slowly walked down the stairs, past him, and went straight into the kitchen. The Asset stood from the couch and followed her. He watched her open the cupboard above the coffee maker and grab a mug. She set it down on the counter before pouring the hot beverage into her cup. Alexander took out a couple of eggs and a package of bacon from the refrigerator as Allie took out two cooking pans.
"Mission report, Soldier," Pierce ordered without a glance at the Asset.
The Asset watched his handler take out a medium sized bowl from the cupboard. "Cadet progresses in her training," he answered.
"Good," Pierce smiled tightly. "I expect more progress in a week or," he turned to his daughter, "Rumlow will be your escort to the Gala."
Allie grimaced. "I'll make sure that doesn't happen," she said under breath.
Pierce pretended he didn't hear what she said. He began to crack eggs into a bowl as Allie put bacon into one of the cooking pans. When Pierce left for work, Allie and the Asset continued their training.
FEBRUARY 27, 2014 10:47 AM
It was time. This was the moment she had been dreading. This was the moment where her life changed, and she knew it then. Her heart thudded against her chest and something heavy sank to the bottom of her stomach. Her hands shook in front of her as she cupped the warm water. She splashed it on her face as she hovered over the bathroom sink. Sure, she has lied many times to her father, but never to work against him. She saw her fate last week and she knew it was inevitable. She didn't exactly want to die yet, but she felt her life wasn't worth killing millions of people. Allie took in a few deep, long breaths as she looked at herself in the mirror. 'I can do this,' she tried to motivate herself. She turned off the faucet and took a paper towel from the dispenser. She patted her face until it was dry before she exited out of the bathroom. She tried her best to remain calm and hold her composure, but on the inside she wanted to scream. As she entered her father's office, Pierce lifted his head away from his laptop and glance at his daughter. Judging the expression her face, he knew there was something wrong. He looked at Allie with curiosity.
"Dad, I had a vision," she announced.
11:28 AM
Steve Rogers, Nick Fury, Brock Rumlow, Alexander Pierce and his daughter huddled together in front of the S.T.R.I.K.E building.
"We have too many hostages on board, the only way is to hijack the ship back," Rogers suggested.
Allie closed her eyes for a few seconds before reopening them. "It'll work if you leave now."
"We can get there in six hours," Rumlow announced.
When the selected agents left, Alexander escorted his daughter back to his office. "You may have saved S.H.I.E.L.D's best agents," Pierce acknowledged as he patted his daughter on the back. "I am beginning to feel proud. I'd hate to be disappointed."
4:30 PM
Allie and the Asset continued her training as usual. She still struggled to successfully disarm him, however, she thrived in everything else. When the training session was over, Allie began to prep her dinner. There was an awkward silence between them. It had been that way since the incident. As she chopped some onions, her mind began to wander. Her visions weren't always exact. In fact, they were wrong or misleading most of the time. Perhaps the vision of her death was more of a warning. The Asset watched the girl with curiosity as she set the chopping knife down and took out the thawed chicken from the sink. She was unusually slow this evening. He speculated that something was wrong, but said nothing. As she seasoned the chicken, she turned toward the Asset. He leaned his back against the wall across the kitchen with his arms crossed. There was something she needed to ask him. Once he came up with the decision, her future was set. She hoped he would make the right one. She inhaled deeply as their eyes connected.
"Soldier," she began. "If you could run away with me with no more missions, would you?"
He stared at her. 'She wants to run away?' he asked himself. He decided to take note of it in case there were any indications of her sudden absence. Although, running away with her actually didn't seem like a terrible idea, but his loyalty lies with H.Y.D.R.A. He never answered her because the truth is, he didn't know the answer himself.