Attack
"You're going down" Yelena declared while gulping down another shot of vodka. Bucky very smoothly took another shot and smiled,"You wish"
They had been in Sochi for four days now. The awkward silences between them have now been replaced with games, the distrust with cheerfulness and the brains with impulsivity for Bucky and Yelena had managed to assert their roles as mischievous siblings who were driving Sam crazy.
Today they had decided to check each other's drinking capability as Yelena had invited him to a drinking competition. Of course, Bucky had accepted without telling her the obvious advantage he holds because of the serum. Things had escalated quickly towards the worst. To make him quit, Yelena had brought in quibs, knives, dance challenge but everything was futile. To sensibly quit the challenge was never an option.
"Ok, this ends now."She announced as she propped up on the chair, perfectly balancing on the round seat. She declared loudly to the whole bar,"SOLDAT" Bucky looked at her in surprise. Sam quickly putted a hand over her mouth and carried her out with little difficulty. Bucky smiled in melancholy as he engulped even more Vodka.
"Mission report" Sam felt her say beneath the force of his hand. She tried to break free but he was strong and she was drunk. Finally she moved in for her knife when Sam announced,"You won!".
"I won?"She asked innocently. He nodded his head and carried her like a child to the apartment. Conveniently they had found an apartment just near the bar.
He placed her carefully on her bed. "You're a good man, Sam" she commented while drifting to sleep. He smiled and proceeded to cover her with sheets and make her comfortable.
He located a picture near her. Two young girls were smiling in it. With how Yelena kept it with her, he could guess it must be young Natasha and Yelena. He found a lump in his throat. They must have been young, too young while being taken to the Red room training. He looked sadly at her. She was certainly no stranger to loss. But she must be protected, for she carried Natasha's legacy. Natasha never let anything happen to her, kept her safe even from the avengers so it was his job to carry the idea forward. He wouldn't let anything touch her, he promised. Natasha never wanted her two families to meet but she would have definitely looked at them with happiness as they formed this familial bond. Yes, he could picture her smiling from heaven.
Yelena always woke up to nightmares. As a child, in the red room her nightmares included the death of her family, Melina, Alexei, Natasha, sometimes shot dead, sometimes strangled. But nothing hitted her harder than Natasha's. Her lifeless body pulled out every heart wrenching string in her body. Now that her worst fears were already forged into reality, her nightmares changed. She still had to endure Alexei and Melina's death, scenes from the Red room, the people she had killed but the scariest was still Natasha as she died slowly, painfully in her arms. "Save me!" She would whisper but Yelena remained fixated, motionless, unable to do anything as her sister dies in her arms. Horror had been replaced with guilt and regret and Yelena found it fitting.
She woke up to another nightmare. She didn't remember which one. Sun had already been out and she could hear murmurs from the living room. She got up and got moving. Along with Sam and Bucky, lied another man of medium height. As soon as he located her, he put forward his hand for a civil introduction,"Jauqin Torres" he announced. She looked at the hand for a moment, re considered and headed straight for the kitchen. He smiled courteously even after the rude behaviour.
"Torres has been a close confidant. We have collaboratively found the location of RHAIJ headquarters in Sochi. Their leader has taken impulsive actions lately and plans to continue his failed methods. So, even after being informed of our comings, he is proceeding with the plans as per schedule. We attack today." Sam reported.
Yelena nodded sincerely.
"What's our plan?" Bucky enquired.
"Yelena busts in through the back doors while you, Buck create commotion at the front door to create distraction. Yelena your main task would be to provide for the information while I will search for the main team that is being suspected. Yelena would transfer the data to Torres. Clear?"
"Clear."
"Okay."
"Yup."
"So let's get moving." Sam advised. He dressed in his captain America suit and saw Yelena put on a green vest. He remembered the vest, Nat almost regularly wore it during the fugitive time span. He smiled when he saw Yelena in her sister's clothing. Yelena quizzically looked at him "What?", she asked. He shook his head,"Nothing." He said as he left.
Once alone in the car, Sam asked,"You know I always wondered why would you accept our bargain. I have heard Natasha's will, she has left her money to you. So, you would definitely not require more."
Yelena remained silent. He was right. Natasha had left all her money to Yelena. She might be a millionaire, given Natasha's salary as the most acclaimed SHIELD agent and a fan favourite avenger. She didn't need this job.
"When she left us for you guys, she managed me a few visits. She would frequently talk about you guys, her other family. I was a bit jealous. A bit. I wanted to know what kind of connection it was that she would leave her family, me, her mama and Dad for a bunch of misfits."
"You found any connection?"
She stared down, her lips forming a slight smile. "No! I would much prefer the company of my family. But she liked your company. So, guess it's alright."
Sam wasn't upset. He knew she would say this. Both were silent for a while until Yelena commented softly,"You didn't hold a funeral". The voice was so soft Sam almost didn't catch it. "What?" He asked to clarify.
"You didn't hold a funeral for her." She now said clearly.
"We did. It just wasn't public. We knew she would much rather prefer a private service comprised of only her close friends. There was no body to bury. So, we didn't have a grave" Sam clarified with a heavy heart.
Yelena considered the explanation for a while. She asked childishly, "Did she ever talk about me?" He could sense the broken girl in her voice.
"No, she kept you a secret. Even hid it from the avengers. She wanted to keep you safe. And the extent was such that she wouldn't even declare your existence to us. She was a spy after all and spies never declare their most loved ones. You were special to her." He assured her.
She nodded. "I owe Natasha a lot. I am here because of her. I'd like to repay. Whenever you need anything, remember this person who would give his life for you." He would have said the same and abided by it even without the repayment but he knew she was no fan of sentiments.
"You would do anything?" She asked.
"Anything" Sam replied sincerely.
"I want to throw the shield."
Sam chuckled at the unsurprising request.
"No, seriously I want to throw the shield."
Bucky managed to cause distraction at the front gate, giving Yelena enough time to pass to the information room. She looked through the files and documents and stumbled upon a pen drive. She inserted it in the nearby computer to check it through and found their plan scheduled step by step.
Date of attack
17 September 2023. (5 pm)
They were already behind for the team would have left the headquarters for the government building. She reported the same to Sam and he immediately advised the team to back up and meet him at the building. Yelena punched her way out of four guards while Bucky was trapped with numerous armed soldiers of RHAIJ. Yelena was about to go to his aid when help arrived from the most unexpected form. Torres in the falcon wings smashed through the window and freed Bucky from the troop. Yelena would have whistled in favour had she not been in the building. As she was about to leave she felt a shot behind her. A guard who was sneaking up on her was shot by a machine looking wing.
"His name is Red wing."Torres's voice erupted. "Isn't he cute?"
"Take it out of my face." Yelena replied.
"It just saved your life."
"I am not thanking that thing."
"A little help here." Sam advised. Yelena moved out of the building and grabbed hold of a motorbike while Torres flew and Bucky drove a car to the building.
"A falcon, a falcon captain, a winter soldier active during summer. Could it get any weirder?"