Chapter 1
You know what they never tell you when you are about to graduate shield academy? How you have to do demeaning intern work. Not only that, but they practically treat you like a civilian who has no place in the building. By now I’m so sick of the smell of coffee that if I never even see another cup of it, it will still be too soon. Plus as of yet no one I was “working” for knew (bothered to learn) my name. I mean it’s the nice thing about all this. Anonymity is power in a supreme government organization.
I say this because they can’t predict you or what you are going to do. My parents taught me to always only ever deposit half of my paychecks and keep the rest in cash. I don’t have a credit card either, canceled that shit the moment I could see how easy it was for people like shield or worse to be able to track me. I mean sure it was less paperwork and bills to fill out at the end of the month which was nice, but I kept the survival aspect of it in a higher regard. The cash I’ve been hoarding was in my bug out bag I kept in the locked compartment of my bike.
It was an advanced lock for a bike, but I had a shit ton of necessary items in there. It was actually a lock I created for a final project last year before this stupid fucking internship. I knew I should have gone into the classes to be an active spy more seriously than engineering. It would have kept me out of this interning thing since my studies were also in the people side of the equation. No one really knew about the minor studies in field work.
The reasoning behind that was again anonymity. I was fucking good at it, freakishly good at it, for I progressed far faster than even your above average student. It brought too much attention, the kind that I didn’t want. Though what it gave me were hidden skills once I outwardly showed aptitude in the business side of things over field work.
The attention I didn’t want? Came from the highest people, ones who would never have noticed me otherwise. Course maybe that’s why one of the people I handle coffee for is Alexander Pierce, he has never actually needed an intern so far as I was aware. Though it was because of him that I found out shield was watching me, watching my every move in fact.
About five months after I started interning, he stopped me from leaving his office. It sent instant alarm bells into my head wondering what he could possibly know.
“Tell me, why do you only deposit half of your paychecks? For you manage to do it exactly the same every time without fail.” Swallowing the initial panic I managed to grin looking like a ditsy Barbie.
“Oh it’s a family tradition! Doing it to save up the cash and go on vacations!” Not fully a lie, for all the best lies stem from truth. My family hasn’t done this since my mother died and even before then we were never close. My only hope was that he left it at that and didn’t look all too closely at the lowly intern’s familial relationships.
His expression was like the nonverbal expression of “huh”, but he shrugged it off. “I hope you have a lovely vacation wherever you go.”
Keeping up the jovial youth like excitement I gushed, “Thank you sir! Planning can be stressful with working a budget but we’ll get by.” Turning to take the hardcopy files over to the computer department I was stopped just at the door again.
“You’re a good intern Saoirse, an invaluable asset, don’t you forget it.” What on earth?
“Uh, thank you sir? I’ll uh just be off.” My escape could barely not be classified as running, the way he said that felt like oil being dribbled down my back. My very next paycheck had…quite the significant increase to say the least. I don’t know why, and I really don’t like it. Especially not now that it was proven to me that they were watching me.
Normally I wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth, but this particular horse came directly from the highest man which just didn’t happen. Not to mention my personal “creep radar” was always screaming at me every time I was so much as in the same room as him. The radar has never ever been wrong before, not once.
Since then I’ve been carefully observing him and everyone around me. There was an alarming pattern with who came and went from his office. I mean he was Secretary Pierce why would the leading officers of the strike unit be in there so often? At first I never noticed them because I was always sent out practically immediately whenever they showed up. It has taken me an unacceptably long time to realize that he has microscopically been having me stay in his office longer and longer around who I now know to be Brock Rumlow.
The creepy thing about him was he was super charming, and quite attractive. But there was something lying underneath it all, I knew I wasn’t seeing his entire person. But to be honest I’m a master actress, blending in playing the part I’ve been given. And this part required I seem like I’m not suspicious of anyone, innocent and eager to please. Men like Brock are suckers for it all.
Speaking of the man I noticed him waiting outside of the office, weird. “Agent Rumlow! Are you waiting for Mr. Pierce? He should be in his office?” He looked up and chuckled, pulling up a swagger that I was used to seeing in his hips and shoulders.
“Ah Saoirse, no I’ve already seen him.” At that I felt my face fall into one of confusion, then why was he loitering?
“Uh, okay? I’m just gonna go deliver these.” I lifted the box I was holding with a cheeky grin paired with a giggle.
“Could you come with me real fast? Secretary Pierce instructed me to test you to see how everything is going.” I would have believed him had it not logistically made zero sense. He is head of the strike unit, nothing to do with me in any way shape or form.
“Sorry Agent Rumlow, at the moment I’ve just got too much to do. They can’t possibly wait.” As subtly as I could I started to put more space between us. The air turned uncomfortable at the very idea of being alone with him in an unknown location. His face and body language hardened for a moment before being quickly shoved away deep down into the recesses whatever darkness in him normally resided.
“I have to go on a mission with the strike unit, I’ll find you when I get back.” He stalked past, the only way to describe it is fucking stalking. Uncomfortable and anxious I dove into the rest room, locking myself into a cubicle trying to will away the pain lodged between my shoulder blades deep into my back. Breaths heaving my hands pressed into my face, hoping to muffle the sounds.
Soon, soon my internship will be over with and I can effectively avoid Brock by being in a completely different part of the world. Shield has offices everywhere after all.
A deep ragged inhale, to a smooth exhale. I’m fine, and always have to be fine. Being fine is how you survive. For if you are fine no one can see your inner turmoils or conflicts, can’t use it against you after all. Reaching for the burner phone I kept on me at all times was a practiced ease.
I’m getting out of practice, when can we meet up to get back up to snuff?
It took less than thirty seconds for him to respond.
You’re still at the Triskellion?
Yes.
I’ll pick you up in an hour.
I could always count on him to come through, the only one who knew what I could do. He was the one who trained and tutored me behind closed doors. With a relieved smile I giddily stood and exited the bathroom, just need to finish the work for today and I can let off some steam.
***
“Well well well, Grant Ward. Look at you!” I grinned cheekily at the man from my spot leaning against the pillar arms crossed. He eyed me up and down.
“You were right this cushy internship is making you soft.” Walking up to meet him I punched his shoulder lightly.
“You are such a fucking dick, c’mon let’s change that shall we?” I was surprised when he didn’t immediately pull me in for the usual hug. “Um excuse me? Is ‘Mister Agent Grant Ward’ suddenly too much of a badass to hug his most favorite punching bag? Huuuuh I’m Agent Grant Ward,” I pitched my voice into a deep baritone, “I must protect my masculinity by hiding my affections!” I was shut up by him grabbing me by the shoulder and yanking me in with a chuckle.
“You, Saoirse, are a huge brat you know that?” He noogied the top of my scalp before leading me out towards the car.
Things fell into a period of silence, though it was clear that he was just biding his time.
“So what was this really about?” Or not as much time as I thought.
“Things are starting to get weird, I might need your help if it gets worse.” He glanced at me with an expression that demanded I elaborate. “Agent Brock Rumlow, just, he shouldn’t be frequenting the Secretary’s office as much as he does I know this, it doesn’t make any sense. They’ve been trying to watch my every move, course they haven’t found my burner yet.” I sighed anxiously, “He tried to have me go with him to an unknown secondary location today. Me the intern!”
I watched as the muscle in his jaw ticked, “I know you want to keep your talents to yourself,” Oh great, a ‘but’ was coming. “but,” bingo, “he tries to make you go somewhere you’re not supposed to you get away.”
“The internship is nearly over anyway Grant, I was planning on disappearing to another shield office far from the strike unit. Might have to brush up on my languages.”
“You mean brush up on everything I taught you.” He always was weirdly possessive.
“Because I’m your faaaaaavorite?” I teased before seeing the mini twitch of his pupil. I gasped, “Oh my god you like someone! Who? Grant Ward I need to know who my new future sister in law is going to be.” I was laying it on a little thick but teasing him has always been a joy and a pleasure.
“There isn’t anyone.” He clipped, if it were anybody else I would have believed him.
“Ah but you are conveniently forgetting you taught me everything I know, you’re like an Ogre cause you have layers.” He groaned painfully while I smirked.
“You know I fucking hate Shrek.” I raised a sarcastic brow.
“Hmm, really? No I had no idea.” He glared sending me into a bout of hysterical chuckles. Looking out at the D.C night life the conversation came to a lull.
***
I could feel people staring at me as I walked by, the reason for which I’m getting more and more tempted to shoot Grant in the foot for as time ticks by. It was only my fierce glares and general sour attitude that had people looking away.
Basically the bastard decided to be an asshole and put bruises where people would see. Like my entire body feels like a walking bruise already, but leaving the evidence where more intelligent people can start to connect the dots is absolutely infuriating. My face was swollen a wonderful array of colors, as were my arms and legs. Thankfully the bruises on my torso were just on my ribs and hips. If they stemmed into organ territory I for sure would put multiple bullets into Grant’s dick.
The thing is he wasn’t stupid, he knew I wanted nobody to know and it wouldn’t make much sense for a fucking intern to have all these bruises. So far I’ve come up with the very basic lie of having being mugged. It was sour on my tongue, the idea that I couldn’t take on a simple dimwitted mugger of all things. Grant is a specialist in what he does and I know how to take him down, even if it hurts like a bitch going through the process to be able to.
“Saoirse? Oh my gosh what on earth happened to you?” I took a steadying breath hoping to cool my temper.
“Hello Captain Rogers, I’m fine it was a mugging, yes I’m in pain, no he was not apprehended. Hate to cut this short but I’ve got to get to Secretary Pierce’s office.” Being short with the guy filled my gut with guilt, always guilty. I started to storm off before stopping and groaning throwing my head back. “Captain Rogers hold on,” I turned back to him rubbing at my right wrist. “I’m sorry, that wasn’t kind.”
He chuckled before rubbing his palm at the back of his neck sheepishly, his eyes darting down to the floor before bashfully meeting mine, “You must have been asked that a lot so far today huh?”
I barely breathed out a laugh, “You have no idea sir.” I waved my hand at my face knowing just how much I looked like shit. “I’m lucky everyone knows how much of a recluse I am or they would be asking me if I’m a victim of domestic abuse.” His face was so expressive, it’s no wonder they never sent him undercover. “Dark humor is the norm for some places, it’s not for everyone though.”
His eyebrows looked ready to fly up off of his face and his mouth was tight in sheer disbelief. “Sorry Captain, but I really must be getting going. Send my love to Peggy Carter, she’s the biggest inspiration for us nerds.” I started to turn back in the direction I needed to go before being stopped by his gigantic hand enveloping my bicep.
“How did you know I was going to visit Peggy?” He looked instantly suspicious and rightly so, this is shield after all. Good on you Rogers you’re learning! Though I wasn’t too appreciative of him grabbing me, it took every wish to keep my cover for me not to retailiate.
“Dude I hate to break it to ya but you are the epitome of being super predictable. And not to toot my own smartly horn, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out you would go and visit the person you were second closest to who happens to still be alive.” Sending him a halfhearted unimpressed glance I nodded my head down at my arm. “If I could have my arm back?”
He drew back, a blush of embarrassment blooming up his face. “Sorry, I-“
“Don’t worry about it, I commend you.” I crooked my finger and still had to go up on tip toe to reach his ear, even while he was bent over. “Here is a bit of advice, this is a government organization with different people having agendas of their own. Don’t be a fool saying just because Carter made this doesn’t mean it’s not dirty. Look closer, and figure out who you can trust.” I didn’t give him a chance to pull me back, I was already late.