Chapter 3
The sun spills in through the window as I wake late in the afternoon, shining along the white blankets and clean floors. I stretch slowly, pleased to find that my arm is entirely healed from the burn as I do. I rewrap the towel around myself before stepping out of the bed, unsure if the room has cameras in it, watching my every move.
I walk over to the small closet near the door, opening it and finding it stocked with clothes. I choose black jeans and a dark grey t-shirt, taking them into the bathroom. Whoever set the pajamas in the bathroom last night also provided a bra, underwear, and socks.
These people must have enough “not prisoners” coming in and out of this compound to where they’re always stocked and ready for a new one.
I get dressed quickly before looking through the bathroom drawers, finding toiletries and a hairbrush. I brush my teeth before yanking the brush through my hair, braiding it back and securing it with a hair tie from my own jacket pocket. I grab my leather pouch, undoing the loop at the top and looping it around my neck before tucking it under the neck of my shirt and pressing the button Steve told me to press.
“Hello Liz Clark.” A robotic voice says over the speakers. “How can I assist you?”
I cross my arms over my chest, I knew there were cameras.
“Um, Steve Rogers told me to call him here.” I say, speaking in the general direction of the button, looking for a speaker.
“One moment.” The voice says, and I sigh as I sit on the edge of the bed.
I tap my feet on the ground impatiently as I wait for him to come to the room, mentally preparing myself to walk through the Avengers compound. The sound of knuckles rapping at the door sends my heart racing slightly, and I swallow hard as I swing the door open with a smug smile.
“Hey Stevie.” I say, smiling up at him.
He smiles down at me, his boyish charm breaking through his muscular form and harsh jawline.
“Hey Liz.” He says. “You doin okay?”
I nod, stepping out of the room and shutting the door behind me.
“Yep.” I answer, shoving my hands into my pockets as we start to walk. “What’re we doing?”
I follow his lead as he walks down the hall, leading us towards another elevator.
“Tony wants to meet with us.” He says quietly as we step into the elevator and he presses a button, sending us down.
I nod slowly.
“Should I be worried?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.
Steve laughs lowly.
“No.” He answers. “He’s an asshole, but he’s harmless enough.”
I nod as the elevator comes to a stop, stepping out and following Steve to a set of large, glass doors. He opens the door, and I step inside, finding it to be a conference room.
Tony sits at the head of the table, and Natasha sits to his right. Six others sit around the table, some I recognize from the news, others that I’ve never seen before.
Steve leads us into the room, sitting next to Natasha and pulling out a chair for me on the other side of him. Tony looks me up and down as I sit down, and I turn my face to stone as I settle into the seat.
“Well, looks like the party is finally here.” Tony says with a cocky smile, leaning back in his chair as he does. “Mind telling us your name now?”
I sigh as I look at him.
“Liz Clark.” I answer, keeping my voice as flat as my face.
His eyebrows raise as he nods.
“Liz Clark.” He repeats. “Good name. What’s your baggage?”
I roll my eyes, uncrossing my arms as I lean forward.
“What’s it to you?” I ask, and he only smiles wider.
Steve rests a hand on my shoulder, and I lean back against the chair again.
“She’s looking for the Winter Soldier.” Steve tells Tony after a minute. “Like Nat and I.”
Tony’s smug grin falters as he looks between the three of us briefly.
“Why’s that?” He asks, sitting up in his chair slightly.
Steve smiles now, looking at me before looking back at Tony.
“Ask her when her birthday is.” He says, and Natasha laughs under her breath.
Tony turns to me, raising his eyebrows in question.
“It’s October 2nd.” I say, looking directly into his eyes. “1918.”
Tony’s jaw drops slightly before he catches himself, recomposing his face as he looks over at me.
“So what are you?” He asks after a moment, clearing his throat. “You’re not all—muscle-y like the other two.”
His eyes flash to Steve as he says it, sizing up his biceps.
“I’m like them.” I say after a minute. “Not as strong, but I heal fast, and I obviously don’t look 96 years old.”
Tony nods, considering all the information he’s just been presented with. After a minute, he picks up a tablet, tapping the screen a couple times before the larger screens in the room flicker to life.
And there’s Bucky. Videos, pictures, and news articles cover the screens, showing Bucky as the Winter Soldier as he destroys buildings and takes out dozens and dozens of people.
“Well, there he is.” Tony says flatly. “Last place we tracked his location for where we think their headquarters is was a small farm in Germany.”
The screens switch, showing a broken-down farm in a huge field.
“As you know, he was here yesterday, so they’ll be getting back there by tonight.” Tony says, looking at me with a more serious expression. “I can get you three a jet if that’s what you want.”
I look between Nat and Steve, and they look back at me before looking at each other.
“I know he’s done a lot that we can’t look past.” Steve says to the table, his voice even and powerful. “But he’s my friend, and I know that isn’t him.”
People around the table nod, giving Steve quiet support.
“We’ll leave in two hours.” Natasha says to Tony. “Will we have a jet available then?”
Tony nods, tapping on the screen again. My heart begins to race as everyone clears out of the room, and I barely feel myself walking as I follow Natasha back to the elevator and up to my room.
Two hours and I’ll be on my way to Bucky again. I clutch the leather pouch as Natasha brings me a black duffle bag and a new set of clothes.
“Get dressed.” She says as she tosses me the clothes. “I’ll get dressed out here.”
I nod, taking the clothes into the bathroom and putting them on. They’re a black, tight, athletic material. I assume they’re fireproof by the weave of the fabric, thank God. The pants have pockets for weapons, and I slide my leather pouch into one of the zipper pockets and zip it shut.
I step out of the bathroom to find Natasha in an identical outfit, stepping into a pair of boots as she turns to look at me. She smiles as she laces her boots before tossing a pair to me.
“We can be twins.” She says with a grin, winking as I catch the shoes.
I laugh, stepping into them and tying them as well. She sits on the bed, patting the space beside her as she looks up at me.
“Sit.” She says. “I’ll braid your hair.”
I smile as I walk over to her, sitting next to her as she starts to run her fingers through my hair. Her hands are gentle and quick as she parts my hair into two, braiding each side into tight braids along my scalp as they fall onto my shoulders.
“I can’t remember the last time someone did my hair for me.” I mumble quietly.
She secures the bottom of the first braid before moving to the second.
“When’s the last time you weren’t alone?” She asks, her voice just as quiet.
I shrug.
“Maybe thirty years.” I answer. “It’s been a while.”
She doesn’t say anything as she finishes the braid, letting go of it as she secures the tie.
“Well, you’ve got us now.” She says quietly, setting her hands on my shoulders. “And we’ll do all we can.”
I nod, turning to face her and smiling at her as I meet her gaze.
“You ready?” She asks.
I nod, and she tosses me my duffle bag as we head for the door.