10
One Year Earlier
Washington, Normanstone Terrace
Driving back to the Pierce house no-one spoke.
Rollins knew the way and need no instruction from Rumlow which way to go. The drive back from the Triskelion was as smooth as it had been to, barely stopping at any lights and no Washington tourist traffic to waylay them.
Rollins parked the vehicle on the left part of the driveway, more than likely knowing that her Father would prefer the right, as it was nearest to the front door of the house. Rumlow opened the passenger door for her and closed for her after she existed, nothing to anyone watching would be out of the ordinary. The Pierce house was secluded, the gateway and the driveway differing from the various on the house on the long road into Normanstone Park, more Secluded then the rest and built with a far more contemporary style than the rest, that were more typical well-to-do houses for the rich of Washington, trying to keep tradition of red brick and large paned windows.
In the Pierce neighbourhood people knew each other by foreknowledge of the other, meeting one another occasionally on runs and jogs, but more than likely to see one another when out and try to make conversation to help advance or forward themselves more in social circles with their neighbour than to make friends. Looking around the area she had grown up, Daisy realised just how little she knew the people, she knew them by name, having been told by her Father or Sister when out and seeing them, but when she looked around now, on a Saturday afternoon, there was no-one around, it was an area which people didn’t mow their lawns or wash their cars on sunny days like that, they had people do for them in the week, whilst they attended to something more important.
Turning back to her family home she walked to the front door and went to take out her key, Rumlow and Rollins behind her, when the front door of the house opened with quick gust, pushing the hair out of Daisy face and shocking her briefly. Behind her she heard a quick shuffle and click as Rollins pull out his gun ready to fire and strike.
Standing in the doorway, with a stern questioning look on her face was Renata Meiser.
Behind Rumlow pulled Rollins gun down so it pointed to floor and away from the view of Renata.
“Daisy…” Renata said slowly. “Your back already? Where is your Father?” She pointed her gaze firmly at the two man in black behind her, both towering over Daisy and looking threatening to her tiny frame.
Thinking quickly Daisy knew she couldn’t say anything to worry Renata, worrying Renata would have consequences, she had seen her family Housekeeper lose her temper before and steam-roll into situations, but this was something she wanted Renata not to be involved in, she knew she had to keep her life out of danger. Looking at Renata she smiled, forcing her biggest fake smile to hide the fear inside of Daisy at her own frightened state of unsure of what was going to happen next to anyone in that room and in the whole of the world. “Hey,” Daisy started, giving Renata a hug, having to stand on her tip toes in doing so, “Dad’s had to attend some Shield business with Cat and he asked the guys to take me home, I offered them lunch before they go, they helped show me all round Shield today.”
Following Daisy in, Rollin shout the door behind them both.
Renata did not break her look of questioning furiousness, the lines on her forehead deepening as Rumlow walked past her. Rumlow gave her a small smirk and a salute to her, which made Renata narrow her eyes in distaste.
“So guys…what would you like to eat? I don’t think we have much in…maybe we should do this another time, we go to George Town to that Retro dinner!” Daisy asked heading towards the kitchen walking backwards facing them, trying to act as normal as possible to her very overprotective housekeeper and long-time career.
The look on Rollins face never changed, which made Daisy realised since first ever meeting the Strike member he had never managed once to change his facial expressional, his slick back dark hair, scared cheek constantly always looked serious and composed, an readable face there was never anything to read from, to whom Daisy had only heard him actually speak twice before. He looked at Daisy and said nothing, simply followed inwards to the kitchen.
“You got any bacon?” Rumlow said, answering for Rollins. “I’d ‘kill’ for a BLT.”
At the word kill Daisy stopped in her steps. “Er, no…Dad’s not allowed Bacon.” Daisy could feel her voice shake slightly, she tried to keep her eyes away from Renata, who she could feels her eyes watching her.
“Oh, that’s a shame.” Rum low said. “Tell you what, Rollins and I aren’t that fussed, you make us up something and we’re be more than happy, no need for us to go anywhere.”
Daisy swallowed and nodded. “Okay.”
From behind Rollins Renata stood, watching the two. Her soft brown eyes narrowed into slits, she held her palms in front herself together, her lips pressed together. “Dalia.” She asked. “Do you want any help?”
“No, no…” Daisy said quickly, smiling broadly. “We’re fine Balabusta.”
From behind Rollins Renata made a noise that sounded half like a hiss and grunt of annoyance. She didn’t move from her spot, neither did Daisy. The looked at each other, Daisy smiling widely at her, Renata looking at Daisy with her head tilted to one in questioningly. A thought sprung into Daisy’s head, she almost jumped as she said it. “Renata, why don’t you take the rest of the day? Whatever needs doing, I’ll finish it off.”
Pressing her lips so tightly together they almost disappeared, Renata pushed her shoulder back and pulled herself up to her fell willowy height and told Daisy firmly. “Oh no you will not, I’ll do my job and-“
“I think you should take the day off Miss Meiser.” Rumlow said stepping in front of Daisy and lowering his head and looking at Renata from the top of his eyes firmly. “Mr Pierce asked us to stay with Daisy, not you.”
“Excuse me!” Renata steamed stepping forward towards Rumlow. “I have worked in this house for 19 years and all those years I have only taken-“
“Renata!” Daisy shouted angrily, raising her voice louder than she had ever done to her beloved housekeeper. “Take the rest of the day off and come back Monday.”
The look on Renata Meiser face was of pure shock, her eyes were wide and her eyebrows high up on her forehead, her mouth open slightly with aghast at Daisy.
Rumlow turned to look at Daisy, a small pleased smile on his face, from the corner of his eyes he looked back at Renata, who still stood.
For a brief moment it seemed if Renata would do nothing. She continued to look at Daisy, trying to read her but finding nothing. Then, Renata Meiser exhaled, gave a small nod at Daisy and said. “Very well…I go.”
“Thank you.” Daisy said gently with relief.
Giving Rumlow an aggressive glare Renata straighter herself up to her full height and moved towards the kitchen to collect her things, her strides were quick and military, not saying anymore, she made no eye contact with Daisy or with Rumlow. Trying her best to compose herself Daisy couldn’t look at Renata as she walked past her to where she had place her bag on the kitchen counter, head lowered Daisy looked at her feet, an action which Renata caught a of glance of her doing, causing Renata to remember Daisy doing that action as a child whenever she had done something wrong and felt ashamed. For split second, from taking her bag and putting it onto her shoulder, Renata looked at Daisy with worry, she knew this not the Daisy she known since she was child, never before had her Dalia raised her voice to her or spoken out of turn to her in front of anyone.
Eyes following Renata with quickly, Rumlow knew that the overprotective Housekeeper would more than likely like Rumlow far less than now than she already did, which didn’t bother him in the slightest. Watching her, he wondered what Alexander Pierce’s plan was for her, she was definitely no use to Hydra and would more than likely be opposed to the new regime of Hydra furiously. Well, she would definitely have to be taken care of, something which Rumlow would suggest to Pierce he could do personally.
“There’s sliced chicken and falafel in the fridge.” Renata told Daisy, firmly looking at her, head high. Lowering her head she said in a gentler voice. "Good bye Bubbala>"
The she walked past Daisy and the two dark clothed Strike members out the door, not looking back as she did.
With Renata gone, Daisy felt more relieved, knowing she was out of harm’s way and that her last word was to her something she rarely used, Bubbala being the word she used for her often as a child. At that moment she didn’t know how dangerous Rumlow and Rollins were, they were her Father’s, and Hydra’s guard and hound dogs, obedient and without question whatever was asked of them and, in Rumlow’s case ambitious. Still looking down at her feet Daisy wished she could just ask Rumlow and Rollins to leave, but she knew very well they would stay until they were ordered to otherwise by Pierce.
Huffing a small laugh Rumlow walked into the kitchen and sat on a stool at the counter near Daisy. He pulled out the chair next to him and patted it. “Sit kid.”
She didn’t move, she didn’t want to sit next to Rumlow and talk, which she knew he wanted to, since she had known Rumlow he had been a big talker, always having stories to tell and impress her or Caitlin with.
“Come Kid.” Rumlow said, deeper his voice. Seeing no movement from Daisy he sighed and placed both his hands on the counter and looked a head to the double doored fridge which returned his distorted reflection back to him from the metal of its exterior. “Rollins. Wait outside until I say so.”
Not answering, Rollins walked out towards the door, closing it behind him, leaving Daisy and Brock Rumlow alone.
“So everything a little bit frightening at the moment I Know Daise.” Rum low started. “You’ve been told what's gonna happen soon and your head’s all over the place, right?”
Still looking at the floor, she said nothing.
“Daisy, what you have to see is what happening is going to the best thing for everybody.” Rumlow told her. “Order, discipline, loyalty. These are what Hydra is all about Daise.”
“And mass murder and killing of the defenseless?” Daisy said under her breath.
Rum low gave a small chuckle. “There defenceless from their stupidity, stupidity for not being part of Hydra.”
Looking up she turned to face Rumlow, she looked shock and angry. “How does that make sense? Kill those who aren’t part of Hydra and blame their deaths for not being part of Hydra? Thats stupid Rumlow.”
“No…” He said firmly, turning his head to face her. “Its called natural selection, the fittest and smartest survive, and that what being part of Hydra is.”
“How?!” She challenged him. Daisy walked over to stand next to him, as Rumlow sat he came up the same height as Daisy, so they both looked at each other face to face. “Natural selection is a part of nature, Hydra is not nature, its-“
“You’ll understand soon.” Rumlow interjected firmly. “You think about it all you want Daisy but soon, you’ll see that Hydra is the answer to all the problems in the world.”
“Oh yeah?” Daisy hissed.
Slowly Rumlow nodded and said with conviction. “Yes.”
Looking at Rumlow then Daisy couldn’t remember if she had ever seen his dark eyes so cold and empty, she had always taken his dark eyes as warm and friendly, a serious man with a brave and kind heart, who always had a joke on the tip of his tongue and a cheeky smile to accompany it, no matter what was happening around him, but now, she couldn’t imagine the same of him, all his admirable qualities were now qualities that made him a high raking and valued member of Hydra.
Pulling himself straight in his stool, Rumlow cracked his knuckles and as if a switch had been flick, he smiled and said. “Now…what about that lunch?”