Read 25 chapters ahead(which would be 12 chapters ahead if we are going by Fanfiction updates since I combine two chapters into one in every post)
@ Draul_TheOminous
[A certain redhead's POV]
When was the last time she had hoped, was something even she didn't know.
It was such a long time ago to her that looking back at it now made it seem like a lost memory. She had promised herself that they wouldn't break her and that was what made her held on even until this point when it looked like giving in was the best choice.
She tried as much as possible to hold on to hope that something might happen and she would be able to one day meet her sister and reunite with their family once again but this damned place took it upon itself to laugh at her at every turn.
She tried as much as possible to stay away from the interest of the Proprietress but at the end it was useless. No matter how many times she failed or even faked it, all it did was garner more interest in her.
And that was when despair set in.
She was chosen for the next Widow and was made to undergo the graduation ceremony. She would have cried if she could but with what had been happening to her so far, she didn't think it was a good idea. She couldn't even remember when last she cried, she had always been the strong one unlike her sister.
The first few months after the ceremony was spent bringing her to form and having her understand how the world worked. She had been in a few missions since then and she would like to believe that she still had something they had yet to take from her, she knew it was only a matter of time before she lost it too.
They took her family, they took her name, they took her being. She had nothing except who they had made her to be; their best weapon.
She was the world's best assassin and it was all thanks to them.
She still held that hope that maybe they failed to take everything from her, like her sister for example. Maybe she survived.
But as the day went on, even that small hope was destroyed. She saw girls die, either by her hands or those of the others. Some were killed because they couldn't continue the program and were deemed as useless. The hope of one day meeting her sister was killed like those unfortunate girls were – the story of her life.
It was all just one big irony.
She had just gotten back from a mission, the target was an arms dealer from Czech, a fairly easy one at that. All she did was flirt here, bat an eyelid there and the moment he invited her to his room and started taking off his trousers was the moment she slashed a knife through his jugular.
She returned immediately after the mission and went to her room to await the next one. She had a few days of rest before she was called and told that they spotted three intruders making their way here.
They had all gotten ready since Dreykov was adamant that those three were a threat.
She recalled the information that had been given to her a few months back. It was supposed to one of her targets.
The man called the Draugr. He was made by an organization to be the most unkillable soldier they had but he rebelled and killed them instead. If only that was her.
From the files, she knew that he had some type of enhanced physique which was as higher as that of super soldiers but she didn't pay it any mind since there were a lot of mutants who had such abilities and some were even more impressive.
From what she also knew, he could control fire and ice to a certain degree but it didn't delve into his limits and known weakness but as Dreykov always said, 'every man has a general weakness – a woman'. She didn't know how true that was but if she had been sent on a mission with him as a target, then she would do her best to kill him. One more name on her ledger was nothing new.
But this situation wasn't what she expected, he came and also brought with him two people of interest.
The Winter Soldier.
She hadn't known about him until HYDRA fell and only then was she told that the Red Room was born due to him and Captain America's success as engineered soldiers so she didn't know how to feel about the man. The other one bore a striking resemblance to the Captain but instead of the iconic stripes of red and white, his was black with light-grey stripes. Even his shield was the same with that of Steve Rogers except that it still followed the same color tone.
He and the Winter Soldier had matching color theme except for the Draugr who had a white shirt, black trousers and a red tie, looking the same as he looked in his profile data.
It wasn't even a surprise to her that the Americans had engineered another super soldier and from the looks of it, they had given him the mantle of Captain America.
Her thoughts were cut short when the front door was blown apart by an explosion from the Draugr.
She had expected them to come in and start killing but the words that came out of his mouth surprised her, well not just her but pretty much everyone.
"You have two choices. Those who want to fight on one side and those who want to be saved on the other!"
If it was before then she would have been tempted by such an offer, and while she still did, she was not foolish enough to believe it. Even if she was desperate.
She watched as the man and Dreykov talked before Dreykov commanded them to attack. She knew instinctively that she might not be a match for the Draugr due to his abilities but she was sure she could take down one of the super soldiers, the Winter Soldier, with help but she was proven wrong.
While they went in for the kill, she could tell that the intruders were holding back in order not to harm them too much as they fought to quickly immobilize them but even with such a handicap, the Winter Soldier was still stronger and held an upper hand in the confrontation.
The other one with the shield was the same. They held their ground until the Draugr killed Dreykov and that was when she knew that this might be a chance for her. Even if it was worse, it couldn't be as worse as the Red Room.
She saw someone finally give in and the rest followed. She was still on the fence but made her decision the moment she heard Madame B's shout of the kill order and that was when she made her decision and took a step she hoped she wouldn't regret.
The next thing that happened was ice shielding them from the hails of bullets that were fired.
The next thing that happened had her stunned. She watched as the organization that had been a source of her nightmares fall before her eyes.
He had somehow gotten the information from Madame B and although what she heard almost gave her a heart attack she still held on to hope. She hadn't seen her sister for over 8 years now but she still hoped that she was okay. Even if her sister was a crybaby, she believed her to be strong.
…
[Draul St. Cross POV]
The past two weeks had been hectic for me to say the least.
Destroying HYDRA Russia and rescuing over fifty women, most of which were below the age of twenty, was a hard task.
We had to move fast since letting the other facilities know that we were coming for them was not a good choice.
We had help though. While some of the girls left on their own, which was a good decision by the way since I didn't know what else to do with them, I wasn't worried not that I had any business to be since they were spies and assassins. They could find their place in whatever part of the world they were thrown into.
They others however wanted to help us free the other girls so that was what we were up to for the past few days.
I met Natasha who had already taken on the moniker of Black Widow as she joined us in freeing the other girls. She was looking frantically for her sister who she found so there was that.
Fury however had to stop us and I'm glad he did since I was already tired and needed to go home. According to Fury, Russia was hot news since the Sentinels and also the fact that there was someone who looked like Captain America fighting on international soil was creating diplomatic tensions. Fucking politics.
While they couldn't sweep the Sentinel Massacre, which they started calling it, under the rug since it was all over the internet, they managed to downplay it and focused on the fact that American agents were acting on Russian soil without clearance.
Since the world government didn't want to answer to the public about creating racial genocidal machines, they shifted the topic to other things.
Bucky advised the other girls to leave the country since they could be hunted down easier on home soil which then made me call in my favor from Fury to give the girls safe passage out of the country when they needed it.
Since I didn't trust Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D with having almost a hundred trained spies, and also due to Bucky and Steve's insistence, I gave them a way for them to contact me or Bucky since he was the one who wanted to do this.
We sorted out all our things in Russia over the night and boarded the plane that was to take us out of Moscow.
We weren't the only passengers though, figures Natasha and her sister would want to leave the first chance they got. All I had to do was call Fury and have him make extra reservations.
Just how did hunting an HYDRA trail lead into this? From the Sentinels to the Red Room. It was not even a balanced slope.
'I hate HYDRA.'
…
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!!" Was the first thing Fury said to us as we alighted the aircraft that brought us home. We were inside a private hanger, one of the many that S.H.I.E.L.D had when Fury stormed in and screamed in… fury.
"Do you three know what I had to do just to ensure that the council didn't declare you rogue agents and have the Soviet-Russian government hunt you down?!"
"Nothing. That's what you did, or rather what you should have done." I just shrugged even as Fury gave me the stink eye. He was angry, that I knew but sometimes he fails to understand that I wasn't one of his agents. "You were the one who entertained the councils stupidity and decided that the Sentinel Massacre didn't happen, or it wasn't as important as TWO American civilians helping out the victims of a project you and your government green-lighted!" I ended up shouting at the top of my voice at the end of my statement.
I never liked the government, not now, not ever. I may be as hypocritical as the next person but even I didn't have the shamelessness to waive off such actions.
They knew what was coming, the barrel of gunpowder that was the metahumans had been exposed to the flames that were the Sentinels. It was only a matter of time before it all blows up and these fools were still playing games of profit.
I wasn't someone that would go out of my way to care, nor was I someone that would fight injustice every time I saw it. I was selfish like that.
The Red Room mission was a prime example. I only did it because I remembered something about it not because of some misguided sympathy. It was all on a whim. While I would take care so that my actions doesn't hurt unconcerned people, if someone were to benefit from it, well kudos to them.
"You know I couldn't do anything." Fury said in a low voice.
"Bullshit! That's bullshit and you and I both know that. You are THE director of S.H.I.E.L.D for crying out loud and you seriously want me to be that there was absolutely nothing you could do? When will you understand that the council are nothing more but pack fools who sit in their chairs and do absolutely nothing but sip some wine and squirt around."
"I would ask you to take that back Mr. St. Cross." I was interrupted as some men and women came into view with a whole entourage.
"Who are you?" I already had an idea of who they were but still.
"We are the councilmen and women of S.H.I.E.L.D, and you Mr. St. Cross are under arrest until an interrogation has been carried out and until you are judged innocent, you will be under the supervision of our agents. Am I clear?" Said a man who looked like the leader of the group.
I took in a deep breath and the soldiers and agents around all held their guns waiting for a signal to open fire but I didn't pay them any mind.
I looked at the man in front of me and asked:
"What's your name?"
"My name is Senato-"
"It doesn't matter what your name is!"
The tension between the three parties; mine, which consisted of two super soldiers and two runaway assassins, Fury, whose party was the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and lastly the suits, who brought their cronies with them, was very thick that the scrubs around us didn't dare breathe out loud.
"Everyone calm the fuck down!" Fury shouted as he placed himself between the two parties who looked like they were just an action away from drawing blood.
"Are you siding with him, Director Fury?" One of the councilwomen asked.
"I'm not siding with anyone, Councilwoman. All I'm trying do is prevent anyone here from making a mistake that they'll come to regret."
"Are you therefore implying that our actions today would cause us regrets?" This time it was the leaderman who asked that question. "Do I need to remind you of who your superiors are Director Fury?"
Fury lost it at that point. "Excuse me? As a matter of fact I do not know who my superiors are, you piss face fuck."
"That, Director Fury, is an act of treason and insubordina-"
"Insubordinate my black ass! It looks like you memory is foggy councilman so how 'bout I remind you that you and your pale ass cronies let the same organization that instigated World War II to rule the biggest covert organization in the world for more than 30 years. So tell me exactly how the hell am I supposed to know who my superiors are?"
The surroundings became quiet as Fury said that while the people from the council looked as if they ate a bug with how green their faces were.
"You will answer for words in front of a court hearing Director." The man straight out ignored what Fury said and turned to me. "If you know what's good for you Mr. St. Cross, you'll come along quietly or risk becoming an enemy of the United States." The soldiers he brought with him raised their guns at my group who weren't idle as Bucky raised his at them while Cap looked like he was just a breath away from swinging his shield. The Widow glanced around, no doubt looking for a way to storm off the impending gun fight.
Hill, Clint and the others were confused but only for a second before they pointed their weapons at the group of Senates who were surprised at the turn of events.
"I assure you that you are making a grave mistake, Director. You and your subordinates will face court martial for this act of mutiny. And you Mr. St. Cross, you and your group will face the crimes of ignoring state power and infiltrating an allied country with dubious schemes. Also for the crimes of destabilizing the relationship between two countries while at the same time causing civil unrest across the continent, using the symbol of our great country for your selfish propaganda, acts of terrorism, destruction of an allied country's military power," He pause to look at the spy sisters as he said that part, "withholding information of weapons of mass destruction to yourself for the purpose of individual benefit, colluding with members of terrorists organizations, stealing of State property and resisting arrest and interrogation and multiple acts of treason. Each of these crimes are punishable by death, so if you value what little life you have left I suppose you tell your teammates to lower those weapons. They are as much a victim of the same crimes as you are. Cuff him." The man gestured to us and one of the soldiers brought out cuffs that looked quite enhanced, probably some type of super dense steel, and made his way to me.
"Turn around with your hands behind your back!" The soldier came to my front and yelled at me while Bucky and the others kept their gazes on the remaining ones who still had their guns at the ready.
The tension was rising and I could practically see the fast beating hearts of every armed person present. The leaders though were calm, unlike those of the councilmen who were hiding behind a façade of calm and authority, people like Clint, Fury, Bucky and Steve didn't even bat an eyelid as they remained focused on their targets. Whatever happens next would depend on what I did in the following moments – and the answer was pretty simple.
A simple kick and the armored protected soldier flew like a cannonball and crashed into a crate of ammunition.
They wanted to shoot at that instant but the moment they caught sight of my eyes and the red lights that seeped through the shirt I wore they panicked.
"I'll only say this once so listen very carefully.
Only come at me when you are prepared to die." The way their heartbeat quickened at that statement showed that they took the threat seriously. Not all of them did, but whoever was foolish enough to come after me would only serve as an example to the others.
I turned, baring my back to them in a dare, and walked out of the hangar. Bucky and the others followed me leaving only the people from S.H.I.E.L.D and the government inside the hangar.
"You know that that could have very well been a bad move on your part." Natasha said as we kept on walking.
I raised an eyebrow as she said that. "And why do you think so?"
"For the simple reason that they are the government. You clearly have someone of a high standing inside the bureaucracy, it would have been best if you played it safe than outright turning them against you, cutting off any possible ties of reconciliation." She summarized.
I let out a laugh as she said that which made her furrowed her brows. "Is there something funny about what I just said?"
"No there isn't."
"Then-"
"But the problem is that you are basing that scenario on the fact that I cared about thoughts of the political power I could amass." I chuckled.
"You don't?"
"What objective use would it have for me? Don't get me wrong, I have no intention of becoming the next megalomaniac by thinking myself above the rules, but the dreary fact is that I AM above the 'human' rules." What use would it be if I had any political power? Would Thanos care? Would Doom care? Would Galactus and those cosmic fuckers out there care? The answer to all that was a simple NO!
The human rules were for just that – humans. There was no way for them to expect someone like Thor to bow to their rules and punishments as he would just fry the fucker that pronounced such blasphemy.
The only rules that could bind specific people were if those rules were made by someone like them. Or they could just shove their middle finger to the rules when they surpass the strength of those who enforce it.
"So you don't mind a war against the US if they tried to attack you? Well, consider me impressed." She said while sending me a sultry smile.
"Not that I would care if you weren't but yeah, that's what it is to me." I turned to the duo soldiers at my side who had remained quiet ever since we got down from the plane. "What's up with you two?"
Bucky just shrugged which I accepted since a silent brooding face was his go-to expression. Then I turned to Steve.
"They didn't say anything about the metas who died." He practically growled out, which made me wonder if he somehow swapped with Logan when I wasn't looking.
"You are not seriously going to tell me you are that surprised by it are you?"
Steve seemed frustrated but he did nothing but just removed the cowl of his suit.
What happened next was Natasha and Yelena both standing rooted to their spot as if they've seen a ghost.
"Y-you are Steve Rogers?" Natasha asked with evident doubt leaking through her tone.
"Oh." Steve seems to get why she reacted like that because his existence was not yet known to other people since Fury kept it a secret.
Even when we were raiding during the two weeks in Russia, Steve always had his cowl on, since his identity was a touchy subject and we didn't want some of the Widow trainees to go about and blab to whoever they were spying for. I mean, the Red Room was a spy organization so it was bound to have some 'spies' in it.
"Let's just go home." I muttered before I remembered something I forgot to inquire. "Where will the both of you be staying?" I asked the two runaways.
"We could always rent a hotel room before we settle down on a plan." Yelena said.
I frowned at that. Not the part about them staying at a hotel, I didn't care about that, but the fact that one of those councilmen would try something with them which would end up dragging Bucky and Steve into it, being the righteous pricks they were, which in turn would drag me into it as well.
"I am not running an Avengers daycare." I couldn't help but mutter.
"You said something quack?"
"Nothing." I'll just leave them be. It's not as if I am entitled to help them further than I already did. I had already secured a safe passage for some of the girls if they were to ever come to the States. That was a lot of good deeds on my part.
Hopefully, the Black Widow and her sister could shrug off unwanted attention.
We went our different ways as we got into the city while I called in a ride to take us home.
"You know that one way or another we'll cross paths with them again right?" Bucky asked with me with a small smile on his lips.
"So you figured uh?" I guessed he noticed how I didn't want to bother with Natasha and her sister, hell I didn't want to bother with a lot of people. There were only four people in this universe that could make me care if something bad happened to them. First was Clint – he was the first friend I made in this life. While the others were Fury, due to our working relationship, and then Bucky and Steve because they somehow grew on me, mostly Bucky.
"We all did. Even them." He nudged his face towards the direction Natasha and Yelena went in. "You weren't exactly trying to be subtle about not wanting to deal with more baggage."
"Right?? Anyways at least, this way, they wouldn't be drawn in to whatever mess we find ourselves in." I said with a shrug.
"More like whatever you find yourself in and we get drawn into." Steve huffed.
"Details."
"You think they're gonna be okay? They could very well be targeted due to being connected to us, you know." Steve asked concerned.
"Don't worry about that. If they were targeted then they'll make their way to us." I closed my eyes as I enjoyed the ride.
"Why do you think so?"
"Because she tagged him when he was talking with Yelena." This time it was Bucky who answered instead of me.
While Cap was a soldier, the best there was, he wasn't a spy, which was what Bucky was, the best there is.
I knew when Natasha tagged me since I could see with my X-ray vision where the tracker was. She was just using me as a safety beacon in case she was wrapped up in my troubles.
I couldn't find it in me to be genuinely angry about it since it was because of my actions that they could be dragged into whatever the S.H.I.E.L.D council wanted to do and she wouldn't be a good spy if she didn't secure a safety net. This was also the reason I didn't let her come with us since the distrust was mutual.
And like Bucky said, I doubt that would be the last time we saw the both of them.
"I need a long bath before I do anything else." I drawled out.
"What about the lead you had on Stryker?" Steve asked.
"Like I said, a long bath first." I answered him.
We got to the house and I hadn't even slid in the key to the door while another car pulled up to my driveway. Fury, Clint, Hill and Coulson came out with the second looking as if he too needed a long bath.
"Couldn't this have waited till tomorrow?" I asked them as they walked up to me. Fury didn't say anything and just walked inside my house before I even did with just a sentence. "Get in. Now!"
I shook my head and went in but instead of going for the couch, I went to the bar and fetched myself a drink.
"Anyone want anything?" I asked but was only met with silence. "More for me then." I downed the five glasses of scotch I had prepared before going to hear what Fury had to say.
"You know, this would have all been better if you had waited for just a few more hours you know?"
"What the hell were you thinking!"
'Yay! There goes my bath.' I thought sarcastically.