Author's Note:
So I realized that it has been a really long time since I last updated. It was actually one of the comments that got me to post this. Essentially a lot of things hit me at once in life, losing a job, divorce, Covid, that prevented me from updating. While I can't promise on any frequency I do have a few chapters that have already been written. I hope you enjoy this fun little romp. Please comment, it makes a world of difference.
Triggers for Torture
Astrid slammed her head into the nearby wall. Hearing that stupid keypad beep at her.
"You sure you type the right password?" Morita asked. Astrid gave him a glare that would turn most men into dust.
"Yes I'm sure." She turned and stared at the keypad. "Red Skull must have changed the damn passcode." Honestly it was a surprise it took this long. But they would have to be more careful. Losing one of their key advantages.
"And we can't blow it up?" Dernier asked knocking on the door. Examining it thoroughly.
Shamira snorted. "That door is made out of reinforced steel, concrete and who knows what else." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "We could try to drive a tank through it and it wouldn't make a dent."
"Still…" Dernier continued to look over the door. Still trying to figure out a way to make it explode.
Steve surveyed the door. Inspecting it further. "And this is really the only way in?"
Astrid nodded. "The base is at least 100 feet underground." She pointed towards the door. "This is the only way in. At least as far as I know." It was kinda genius. Estonia's base was built completely underground. The only access through a trapdoor located in the middle of the woods, down a long tunnel and past a steel door. Guarded by a 20-digit security code. A code Astrid memorized forever ago. And that was only part one of how to get in. They still had to ride the elevator after that. It was also the reason why this base was the least populated. Still. Who knows what they might find. She clicked her tongue. Glancing over at Shamira. "You think there's anyone left alive?"
Shamira bobbed her head back and forth. "Maybe? Though if there were, they have probably crunched down on the pill at this point." She let out a sigh. There was that as well.
"Cap!" she heard Dugan crackle over the radio. The left him and Jones up top to guard the entrance. "I think we got a live one here." Well, that was perfect timing.
"See if you can get him to tell you the door code," Steve ordered. He didn't even need to order the rest of them. Making their way through the dark, damp tunnel. Astrid grateful to see Falsworth opening the door above them at the end. Relishing the light spilling through. Climbing up the ladder quickly. Only to see Dugan and Jones standing over a beaten man. Black eye and busted lip. Glaring up at them. She exchanged a quick look with Shamira. Shaking her head and sighing.
Astrid rolled her eyes. This would have been so much easier if they never laid a hand on him. "Next time Dugan. Leave it to the professionals."
He shot her a confused look. "I'll have you know I-"
She ignored him. Drawing her blade and kneeling on the ground in front of her victim. Masked ripped off, shaggy blond hair. Medium build. Panting slightly. Blood dripping from his mouth where Dugan ripped out the pill. Without warning she twirled her blade in her hands and stabbed him in the gut. Right above the kidney. He screamed out in pain. Giving Astrid a horrified look. "You have one minute to tell me the door code or I'll slowly stab this blade through every inch of your chest. Poking holes through each of your organs" She pulled out the blade with a twist. Dripping with blood. Holding it right in front of his face. "Clock starts now."
"13758367019375869354," he rattled off quickly. Face pale. Clutching the wound. Blood seeping through his fingers.
Astrid stood up with a smile. Turning towards Steve. "You got that Steve or do you need him to repeat it?"
"I've got it." Steve replied. Looking down at the Hydra agent. Not an ounce of sympathy on his face. This is one of the reasons Astrid was brought along after all. It took everyone else but Bucky and Shamira by surprise but they recovered quickly. They all knew what Astrid was. But it was another thing to see it.
"In that case-"
"Already on it," Shamira responded. Drawing her gun and shooting the man point blank in the head. He fell back with a flop. Blood flying through the air. A couple of drops landing on Shamira's face. Wiped away with the back of her wrist.
"What was that for?" Jones asked. Glancing between Shamira and Astrid. Shamira reloading her gun with the missing bullet.
"My job," Shamira replied. Turning to look at him. Placing her gun back in its holster. "We got what we needed from him and it would be a waste of medical supplies to patch him up." Everyone nodded. It was true. There medical supplies carefully rationed by Astrid. "It was a cleaner than watching him slowly bleed to death from a stomach wound."
"Would have suffered for hours," Astrid replied. Checking for a pulse. Definitely dead. As always. Shamira never missed.
"Do all your victims end up like that?" Dugan questioned as Astrid stood up.
"Not all," Steve replied. Catching Astrid by surprise. "Not even most. Astrid can just talk to people and they'll reveal all their secrets."
"You're joking," Falsworth added on.
"We've seen it," Bucky stated. Placing an arm around Shamira's shoulder. He wasn't even shaken by the previous display. Astrid never really realized it but Bucky was very rarely unnerved. Always keeping calm under pressure. It was a source of great comfort. And probably why he made a brilliant sniper.
Steve looked back down the entrance to the tunnel. "Let's make sure the code works before we do anything else. Worst case we'll reach out to base and get Stark here." There was that. Stark could probably take five seconds and hack the thing though Astrid wasn't sure that they could afford the delay. "In the meantime, we'll also set up camp right by the door. If that's really the only entrance we can ambush anyone coming in or out if the door code doesn't work." He looked up at the sky. The sun starting to dip low. Turning the sky into pretty shades of oranges and pinks. They all stood still as he watched the sunset for a moment. Steve still not used to the color. "We should be well rested before we begin the assault. Though…" He looked around them. Taking in their surroundings. Analyzing their position. The thickly dense forest surrounding them. "We should probably lay down some cover. Create a warning system. Make sure we aren't ambushed from behind." He turned to Dernier. "You up to the task?"
He gave Cap a wicked grin. The answer obvious.
"I volunteer to help," Astrid added in earning incredulous looks from everyone. "Yes I know it's freezing but the tunnel isn't much better and I once spent a month and a half in a pitch black bunker." She couldn't suppress the shudder. Earning a concerned look from Steve. "I would rather not remember that time."
Dugan shook his head. Pinching the bridge of his nose. "Every time you say something, I have more questions than answers."
Shamira frowned glancing back down towards the tunnel. Closing her eyes briefly. "If you don't want-"
Astrid scoffed. Shaking her head. "Of course, I'll be joining you later. Just don't want to spend the night." It wasn't a time Astrid looked back on fondly. The sheer amount of pain and agony from before. And the part of her that hated admitting. That dark infernal pit helped save her life.
She felt Dernier clap her on the shoulder. "We'll keep each other safe," he replied. Jones swiftly translating. Astrid watched Steve slowly nod. Clearly not happy. Astrid gestured towards the woods and the two of them walked away from the others. A small moment between the two of them.
'I can stay out here with you if you want,' Steve suggested. Taking her hand into his.
She shook her head. Giving him a small smile. 'I appreciate the thought. But they'll need you down there in case anything happens.' She pressed herself into him. Letting out a sigh as she was wrapped up in his arms. 'It's only a night.'
He grumbled in response. Placing his face in her hair. 'It's been more than that. We haven't had a mission lately where we weren't separated.' He was right. The greater forces at working making sure they were apart. She could feel it starting to get to her. Steve obviously feeling it as well.
'Maybe after this we should ask for a few days leave in London. According to Peggy there is apparently a lot we still haven't seen.' Steve hummed. Clearly liking that idea. 'You should put the request in with Philips.'
'Please, you should put the request in. He might actually say yes if you ask.'
'Fine. I'll ask.' She kissed him. Softly. Lips barely grazing his. 'Now go spend the night in the creepy dark tunnel. Dernier and I will have a wonderful time up here.'
'Uh huh.' He kissed her then. Deeply. Astrid swiftly losing track of time. Until Steve broke it off with a grin. Looking her up and down. Licking his lips. Sending a shudder through Astrid's body. But now was not the time. The two of them taking a second to calm down. Before heading back to the group. Earning some sly smiles. Dugan and Falsworth already heading into the tunnel. Waving to Astrid before disappearing down below. Followed quickly by Morita and Jones. Carrying supplies down with them.
"Alright Steve," Bucky chuckled. "Don't make us pull you away."
"Like we could," Shamira teased. Glancing over at Astrid and Dernier. "You two better not be late." Her smiled grew even bigger. "And don't go raiding any Nazi camps without us."
Astrid rolled her eyes. "You commandeer one Nazi supply truck and they never let you live it down." She shook her head at them. "We'll head down as soon as the sun rises," Astrid added on. "After we're sure we won't be followed."
"Oh, we won't be," Dernier said with a smile. "I'll make sure of that. If those bastards decided to show their faces around here, they won't know what hit them." Truer words have never been spoken. Most of the time there wasn't even rubble left. She gave Steve one last kiss and headed into the woods with Dernier. Find a secluded sport where they could watch the trap door from. Taking shifts. Checking in with the others every few hours. Nothing that hadn't done before.
But still the atmosphere felt tense. Astrid constantly sending out pulses. Trying to detect anyone nearby. As they laid down the tripwire and explosives. Anyone trying to approach them would be met with a grisly end. Standing up once the last of it had been placed down. Hidden in the snow.
"You done?" Dernier asked coming up to her.
Astrid nodded still staring out into the darkened woods. "You get the feeling something is out there?"
"All the time," Dernier replied. "But I think we both know there isn't anything. This time at least."
Astrid let out the breath she was holding. Dernier was right. Months spent out in the woods were starting to get to her. They did need some leave. Her thoughts drifting over to Steve. Despite him being so close it felt like he was a million miles away.
"How do you do it?" she asked. Dernier turning to look at her. "I'm with Steve almost every day and it barely feels like enough." He hummed in response. "I don't know how you and Falsworth do it."
"How long have the two of you been married?" Dernier asked standing next to her. Pressing his shoulder against hers.
"It will be two years in a few weeks." Though it felt like a lifetime. It was hard to believe how much had happened.
Dernier softly chuckled. "Ah young love." He slung an arm around her shoulders. "I've been married for 15 glorious years now. Though I haven't seen her for over a year."
She shook her head. Absolutely bewildered. "I don't know how I would be able to handle that." Astrid looked over him. "I don't how you could even agree to come with us."
He gave her a sly smile. "If I didn't and went home my wife would have just kicked my ass and sent me back out here. Telling me not to come home until the job was done." Astrid barked out a laugh. Though her smile dropped as she looked at Dernier's face. "I miss her each day. We still write as much as we can. But you know how that is." It isn't enough. His grip on her tightened. "It doesn't get any easier." He scoffed. "Enjoy each moment you can with Cap. You never know if that's going to be the last one for awhile."
Astrid nodded. Not sure how to respond. Because Dernier was right. All it would take was one bullet. One lucky shot and- Astrid heard the crack in the distance. Followed by several more. The sound echoing in her head. Gunfire.
She exchanged a look with Dernier. Who only smiled and nodded. Astrid responding in kind. Technically it wasn't like they were ordered not to engage. And threat assessment was a part of their jobs. They took off in the direction of the fighting. Dodging around the traps and keeping low to the ground. Making their way to the battlefield. Watching it from behind some rocks. Most of it taking place within a trench. Giving them a bird's eye view.
It was a massacre. Hydra taking out Nazis. Dissolving into the same blue vapor. The Nazis didn't stand a chance.
Dernier huffed. Tapping the side of his head. Astrid connected the two of them together. 'Now this isn't something you see everyday. Wish we saw more of it.' She nodded. But something was still gnawing at her. Watching all the Hydra troops.
'Where did they come from?' she asked. 'Definitely not out of the entrance we used.' Dernier opened his mouth up to respond but snapped it shut. Tilting his head. Astrid could almost hear his brain whirling.
'We should find out where they came from. You know. To make sure the others don't get ambushed.'
Astrid nodded. Slipping on her mask. Scanning the horizon. Seeing if she could spot where they are coming from. Finally noticing a small gap in the nearby cliff. Nudging Dernier and pointing. He stared blankly for a moment before Astrid realized he probably couldn't see what she was looking at. She rolling her eyes. Dropping the image into his brain.
'Ah that shouldn't be too hard to take care.' He started going through his supplies. 'A couple of explosives on the base should cause it to collapse straight away. Though…' He bobbed his head back and forth. 'If there is one there's probably more.'
'We'll deal with that later.' Though it was a thought. Astrid didn't really know how far this base stretched. Could be an absolute maze down there. She winched. Absolutely hating it but it needed to be down.
Closing her eyes she let her mind drift into the brain of one of the Hydra soldiers. Immediately, memories and thoughts filled her. Hammering her brain but she ignored all that. Searching instead for the layout of the complex. Piecing enough together to form a decent enough picture. Pulling back out of their mind. Despite it feeling like forever to Astrid, not even half a minute had passed.
She let out a hiss. 'That's one of eight entrances into the complex.'
'Eight?' Dernier exclaimed.
'Yeah eight.' She got out from under the cover. Slowly crawling through the underbrush. Dernier swiftly following her. 'We won't have time to get to all of them but we can at least take care of this one.' Seemed like Red Skull had been busy. Astrid wondering what other updates may have taken place at the other bases.
Turned out that making it over to the doorway was way easier said than done. Having to dodge around both Hydra and Nazi troops. Astrid taking out both whenever she got the chance. Finally making it over to the entrance. Nothing more than the crack in the earth. If she didn't know better, she would walk right by it.
While Dernier planted the charges Astrid shielded the two of them. Nothing but weak minds out here. At least they had that going for them.
"That should take care of it," Dernier stated dusting off his hands. Astrid nodded. Turning to head back. Only to find a few of the Hydra goons staring at them. Seemed like not all of them had weak minds. Becoming very obvious when they started firing at the two of them. Astrid raising her purple shield while Dernier fired back. Attracting the attention of both Hydra and Nazi alike. What was once a firefight becoming a three-way brawl.
Dernier and Astrid doing their best to carve a path through. Dodging gunfire and energy blasts and whatever else was being thrown at them. Astrid slashing at anyone who got in there way. Leaving a trail of blood behind her.
'We got to regroup!" Dernier pointed out.
Astrid nodded. Slicing through another Nazi. Causing his guts to spill out with a flick of her wrist. 'We need the others!'
'But first.' She heard an explosion roar behind them. The sound of crumbling rock and screaming. Pulling the attention of everyone in the area. Allowing them to break free of the main battle. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. Astrid glancing behind them. Gulping. Seemed like an entire Hydra platoon was after them. She quickly picked up her pace. Dernier doing the same. Only narrowing missing being hit by the lasers. Barely paying enough attention to dodge around the traps her and Dernier laid. The Hydra soldiers were not so lucky.
Astrid could feel their blood splatter onto her. Shielding both her and Dernier from the shrapnel and debris. As the roar of the explosion echoed in her ears. What did he put in those things? Whatever it was it clearly worked. Slowing down Hydra enough for Dernier and her to duck into the tunnel. Running as if the devil were after them.
'Steve!' Astrid sent out. Catching his attention immediately.
'Astrid!' he responded. 'We were just about to go up. We thought we heard an explosion.'
'You did. And I would recommend opening the door right now.'
'Why?'
'Because Dernier and I have an entire platoon of Hydra and possibly Nazi soldiers chasing after us.' She could almost hear Steve taking a deep breath. 'We're heading towards you now!'
'The door will be open when you get here!' Astrid cut off the connection. Having to concentration on not getting hit by one of the blasts now flying down the tunnel.
"Isn't this fun?!" Dernier shouted shooting behind him. Hitting one of the Hydra soldiers in the chest. "You can't miss them." The same could be said for the Hydra soldiers. Only Astrid's shield protecting them from getting hit.
'Oh yeah! We should do this all the time.' Astrid breathing a sigh of relief when she saw the door at the end. Wide open. Allowing Dernier and her to jump through. Both of them breathing hard. Astrid holding a hand to her chest. Dernier bent over. Hands on his knees. As Dugan, Bucky and Steve closed the door behind him. She could see Shamira walk over. Glaring at her and smacking Astrid on the back of her head.
"You two are idiots!" she exclaimed. "We cannot leave you alone without getting into some sort of trouble."
"Hey! It was her idea!" Dernier pointed out. Astrid shot him a playful glare as Shamira sighed.
"Well now that we have company," Bucky said looking straight at Astrid and Dernier. The sound of the lasers hitting the door emphasizing his point. "Thanks to you to we might as well raid the base now."
"Agreed," Steve added placing a hand on Astrid's back.
"Alright!" Dugan exclaimed reloading his gun. Astrid hearing it click into place. "Let's turn this place into a pile of rubble!"