"Why not?" The police officer stepped in front of me, blocking my view of Sharon and Bucky.

I frowned. I mean I would have been fine with it, if he had a nice arse. But he was just some old man. I stared down at my hands instead. They stood out on the pale tiles of the floor, it was the blood. I swallowed a lump in my throat - this wouldn't be the first time my hands had been covered in blood that wasn't my own. I heard the word almost like a whisper in the back of my mind: murderer.

"She's with us - a associate of the Avengers." A deep, gravely voice. Bucky.

"And you are?" Another police officer stood by my side now, gun pointed at me.

I stared up into the barrel, unblinking. It took a lot more than that to scare me.

"We're with S.H.I.E.L.D and the UN." Sharon's spoke this time, her angry voice. It wouldn't be long before she was shouting. And punching, hopefully.

"Yeah, and I'm the Queen of Sheba." The police officer in front of me laughed. Bastard.

"I'm also a witness, I saw the whole thing happen," Sharon explained. "She is innocent, I swear."

"I don't believe you." The police officer to my side had his hand on his gun.

"Don't shoot them," I said, sitting up. "Or I'll kill you."

The police officer to my side pressed his gun to my temple. "One more move and I shoot you."

"How exactly will you kill me if you can't even get up?" The policeman turned around, laughing at me.

Anger. It rushed through my like tidal wave. I shouldered the police officer beside me, knocking him over. I leapt forward biting the other police officer's hand, hard. A gun clicked. The other officer. I kicked back with my right leg, knocking the gun out of his hand again.

"Get this bitch off of me!" The police officer grabbed a fistful of my hair.

I let go of him. My right fist connected with his nose. "I can get up, you bastard." My left fist connected with his cheek.

"No!" I heard Bucky yell before volts of electricity were coursing through my body. My muscles involuntarily spasmed. I couldn't exactly put my hands out as I fell to the floor. The tiles were cold as my cheek slapped them. Pain. It hit me then as my adrenaline wore off.

Black trainers hurried towards me as the darkness consumed me... "Buck..."

***

Bright lights stung my eyes. My leg! I'd lost it and not in the careless way. I shot up. Metal. The leg was metal. Oh my god. I flexed the toes. A red star on the inside of the ankle. What? How? Who?

I tore my gaze from the leg. Plain white tiles and a pale blue curtain hiding what was to my left. The room was cold both in temperature and appearance.

"Hello Miss Frost." A wrinkled man stood in front of me, brown spectacles perched on his nose. "I am Alexander Pierce."

I said nothing, still looking at my wiggling metal toes, at the leg. My leg.

"I know this must be hard for you right now. But we're here to help you." He touched my hand, his grasp clammy. "But you need to forget your sins."

"What do you mean?" I asked, snatching my hand away from him.

He paced around the bed I was in, watching me, analysing me. "In order for you to make a difference in this world, you must first of all forget. Forget everything. To forget is to see again with a new image of the world, see it how it is and then changing it. But do you want to forget everything?"

Forget everything. Forget the image of Aaron dying. Forget the image of the people I'd killed at war and on the streets. Forget my paralysed sister in her wheel chair hearing that her husband was dead. Forget my sins. I didn't need to think over my answer, I knew it instantly. "Yes."

A man in a white coat handed me a gum shield. I took it placing it between my teeth.

"Lie back, my dear." I did as Pierce said, lying back on the metal bed. I felt a hand touch mine. It was Pierce again. "It is time to embrace the future."

Something cool touched my temple and then my shoulders and arms. What was happening? I couldn't move, I was being pinned down. No. I'd changed my mind. I had to comfort my sister. I had to see Sharon and tell her I was different. Why had I been so selfish?

I struggled against the restraints. "No, I've changed my mind, pleas-"

"Hail HYDRA," someone said before a massive electric shock shot through my head and needles pierced my skin. Cold fluid filled my bodies making my muscles burn.

I screamed into the gum shield. My heart was pounding. My heart hurt. My back hurt. My legs hurt. Everything bloody well hurt. I could taste blood. Pain. There was so much pain. I screamed again.

***

A faint beeping sound was in my ear. A consistent sound which seemed distant even though so close. My heart beat.

"Ow," I moaned. At least it was just a flashback. For now.

"A bit late for that." I heard a voice not that far away from me. Sam.

"Sorry," I muttered, not opening my eyes. The word popped out of my mouth naturally whilst a growl escaped from my stomach.

"Are you growling at me?" Sam asked, as something poked me in the side.

I swatted at whoever it was.

"Ow." Shit, I recognised that voice. It was Bruce.

I sat bolt upright. "Sorry! Please don't smash me."

Bruce laughed, looking over his glasses at me. "It's alright."

I bit my lip as pain gripped my back. "Bloody police officers," I muttered, lying back down.

"It was kind of your own fault, you know." Sharon appeared by my side.

"He was going to shoot you!" The beeping got faster.

"You bit him!" Sharon exclaimed.

"He could have had HIV! I saved you!" I stood up, looking down at Sharon. "I couldn't let him shoot you, Sharon." Standing up was the wrong thing to do. My head started to spin.

"Zoe, your heart rate is 200." All I could see were Bruce's brown eyes. He was now stood in front of me. "Calm down."

"How long have I been here?" I asked, only succeeding in the beeping going faster.

"An hour, calm down." Bruce touched my shoulders.

I sat down, taking deep breaths. "Calm." The beeping slowed down. I looked down at my leg. No metal was showing. No one knew. I was safe.

"Okay now that your heart rate's normal." Bruce motioned to Sharon, removing the monitors from me.

"You can explain." Sharon just looked at me. I knew the look too well. It was the same look she'd given me multiple times in the police station after arresting me - she was the only police officer who ever had.

"Explain what?" I asked. No, they couldn't have found my leg. No.

"A phone call from HYDRA." Okay this was definitely worse. Much worse. This meant HYDRA had finally found me. I wasn't safe anymore.

All eyes were on me, some glaring and some sad, a certain blue pair burning into me. Of course, he probably thought I was here to take him back. A covert mission to ruin his life again.

"It's a long story," I whispered.

"Long! They were asking whether you would join again. You were with them in the first place? What made you think of joining them?!" Sharon stood in front of me , yelling. Her cheeks were flushed red and her hands firmly on her hips.

I stared at the floor, afraid to speak. To move. To look at anyone. I'd lost everything to HYDRA but at the time I didn't know that so joining them seemed like the best way to go.

Sharon stepped closer to me. "Answer me, Zoe Frost."

"I can't," I whispered, eyes still glued to the floor.

"Why?"

"Because I don't know." I stood up too, a head taller than Sharon. "I don't talk to them anymore. I don't know how they found me."

"Anymore? You were part of them?" Sharon was backing away from me. "You were a monster!?" The anger was slipping from her voice, quickly being replaced with fear. The volume of her shouting fading into a whisper. "My best friend is a traitor."

"Ouch, that actually hurt but it's true, I was a traitor, a monster." I hobbled towards her. They couldn't find out about my leg. Not yet. Not until they'd accepted my past. If only I wasn't still a traitor, a monster."

The click of a bullet echoed in the room. "One more step and I'll shoot you." I looked to see Steve with a gun in his hand - the barrel aimed at me.

All of the Avengers hovered on the edge of their seats, eyes glued one me. Brilliant.

I put my hands up. "Friendly gesture there, Cap. I won't hurt her, she knows that - I know Sharon knows that."

"You didn't think to tell me?" Sharon's voice was full of disgust and hurt, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I'm your best friend, Zoe."

"What was I supposed to tell you?" I glared at Sharon. "Tell you that I was in the army which I had no idea were operating for HYDRA? That all of the people I killed at war were killed because of HYDRA, I had no clue they were giving the orders. I was just another person caught amongst the crossfire along with the innocents. When I finally escaped, how was I supposed to tell you that I worked for an organisation that ended millions of lives? How could I tell my best friend that I was part of something so evil?" The lies, they spilt so easily from my mouth. It was true at certain parts I suppose.

Sharon kept my angry gaze, her gaze softer. "You mean didn't-"

"No I didn't wilfully join them. What idiot do you think I am Sharon?" I sighed, arms crossing my chest. The truth was I was an idiot, I did wilfully join them. All of it was lies. Every single god damn word. I felt it in my chest then - hatred, hatred for HYDRA and what they did to me, but most of all hatred for myself - the lies, my leg, my past, my choices - how could I do this to Sharon? The answer was like a whisper which made goosebumps raise on my arms: because you're a monster.

"How do I know you're not working for HYDRA now?" Sharon whispered, never letting my gaze go.

Blue eyes analysed my every move. Bucky. How could I have been so stupid he probably thought I'd come for him, to take him back. My own selfish actions had caused a rippling effect for others. I was so stupid...

"You'll just have to trust me." I kept Shannon's gaze. "I didn't lose my leg to fight a war with HYDRA, I lost my leg fighting a war against HYDRA. I lost everything to escape HYDRA and I can assure you that wasn't for nothing. I promise you I didn't lose everything to serve under a dictatorship."

"I'm so sorry." Sharon shook her head, stepping towards me and pulling me into a hug.

"It's not your fault." I shrugged, hugging her back. "You can't trust anyone these days, even if they are your best friend. I'm sorry you had to find out this way I wish I could have told you, I really do."

"Do you trust me?" Sharon stepped back from me, a single tear trailing down her cheek.

"Do you trust me?" I asked her back, searching her brown eyes.

"Yes." She didn't even hesitate with her answer. Her eyes full of trust as she looked up at me. Why?

"Then I trust you. I've always trusted you Sharon, and that will never change." I sat back down, all eyes on me. Even if one day I'm the one you're shooting down. I so badly wanted to say it. So badly needed to tell someone about HYDRA and all they did to me. But I couldn't. I couldn't let anyone over the walls I'd built so high. Anyone. Someone could betray my trust again, torture me again, let me down again.

Silence swamped the room as Sharon sat down. Everyone looked away from me, staring at random objects around the room. It was an uncomfortable quiet to say the least.

Blue eyes no longer stared at me, they glared off into the corner of the room. Bucky's jaw clenched and his neck muscles leaped. He was tense and it was my fault.

"Shawarma anyone?" Tony broke the tension in the room, standing up. Thank god.

"Please." I nodded, grateful for the interruption.

"I'll come along too," Sharon mumbled. "I need some air."

After Tony, Clint, Thor, Pepper, Jane and Sharon left, I sat uncomfortably surrounded by Fury, Steve, Natasha, Sam, Wanda, Vision, Bruce and Bucky. There was no chance of an escape with the eight of them here.

"You should of told her sooner Zoe." Steve shook his head at me, blue eyes giving me a piercing glare. His muscles rippled under his shirt and his knuckles clicked.

"Oh yeah, when?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. "Just a quick phone call to say hey I was part of HYDRA, surprise. Certain things should not be told over the phone, Captain."

"Okay, okay." Steve put his hands up. "It's just you hurt her feelings."

"Right..." I rolled my eyes. "Besides it hurt me just as much as it hurt her, if not more. The one person who has stuck with me through thick and thin and I kept a massive secret like that from her. I'm questioning my ability as a friend right now, as Sharon's best friend. Believe me, I'm feeling the guilt right now." It's practically suffocating me.

"You sure you don't work for them?" Fury asked me, looking over his sunglasses. His eyes pierced through me. I couldn't flinch or hesitate otherwise he'd know I was weaving one massive lie.

"Positive." I kept his gaze long enough to prove innocence before I cast my gaze to out of the window. "Why would I work for the bastards which killed my brother-in-law and millions of innocent people? Besides there's only a few left in the woodwork now since S.H.I.E.L.D's cleansing. Why be part of an organisation on the top of the ash heap?"

"You've made your point." Fury nodded his head at me, tapping away on his tablet. He was obviously looking at my history, searching for any discriminating evidence.

"Unfortunately," I muttered as Bruce checked my heart rate once more with a stethoscope.

"All clear," Bruce smiled at me.

"Thanks, I'm sorry I hit you." I touched his arm.

"It's alright." He shrugged. "It's nice to see I have everything under control." I wish I did.

"Yeah, or I would be puny human right now," I laughed.

A heavy silence settled around us. Talk about awkward... So much silence.

"I'm bored," Sam announced, looking to me.

"Arm wrestle?" I leant forward. Anything to take my mind off of what had just happened.

"Seriously?" Sam sat up, leaning on his knees. "What are we? Kids?"

"Awwww... Are you afraid you might lose?" I stuck out my bottom lip.

"No. I just-"

"Chick-chick-chicken." I mimicked a chicken wings with my arms. "You're not the Falcon, you're the chicken."

"It's on." Sam was up and kneeling by the table. "You're so gonna lose, Brit."

I swung over to him. "Prepare to lose." I knelt down, forcing my right leg to bend.

"You okay?" Sam asked, watching me. It was odd, he genuinely seemed concerned.

"Fine," I smiled, kneeling across the table. "But I better win otherwise I'll have to get up." I flexed my fingers, clenching my bicep underneath my denim jacket.

"I've gotta touch you." Sam leaned back, snickering.

"Ewwww..." I leant forward and poked him in the chest. "Zoe germs, no returns."

"Idiot," he muttered, putting his elbow to the table.

"I'll referee." Natasha stood beside us.

I took the Falcon's hand. His grip was warm against my hand, his brown eyes staring into mine.

"Go!" Natasha laughed.

I started pushing his hand down.

"Damn it gal!" Sam started to frown. "You're stronger than I thought."

"You're weaker than I thought." I pushed my hand harder against his hand. I could easily have won by now - one bonus of what HYDRA did to me. One of the only bonuses.

His hand was so close to touching the table.

"Hey! Not so fast." The Falcon pushed back against my hand, his bicep tensing even more.

"No," I whispered as his hand hit the table. "I win, chicken." I let go of Sam's hand, smirking. "You could of at least tried, Sam."

"Yeah, yeah, I let you just let you win, gal." Sam stood up returning to his seat.

"My turn." Bucky wore a lop-sided grin. Oh hell no.

"Right hand," I quickly announced.

"What? I don't think so." Bucky laughed. "You just used your right, you need to give it a rest. I chose left hand." Damn it.

"Are you sure? I mean if I win it's going to be super embarrassing for you." I shrugged, watching Bucky as he casually strode across the room and kneeled across from me. In all honesty I was crapping myself.

Sam got up laughing hard. "Oh I'm refereeing this one, Tash."

"Well? What are you waiting for? An invitation?" Bucky grinned, a deep laugh escaping his lips. He placed his left elbow on the table, the lights glinting off of his arm. Bucky flexed his fingers.

Steve laughed. "I'd give up now, Zoe."

I rolled my eyes, taking Bucky's bionic hand. "I'll give as good as I get, Sarge."

Bucky laughed again, lightly squeezing my hand.

"Go!"

I knew it was no use but I pushed Bucky's hand.

Bucky just smirked at me, his grip light as my hand made it's way to the table. "Gonna give up?" He asked.

"No." I frowned, keeping his gaze. My hand was centimetres from the table. "Not yet."

"Sure?" His blue eyes were bright, as I looked up from our joint hands.

"Yes, I am." I kept his gaze, pushing on his hand harder.

"Okay." Bucky smirked before gently making my hand tap the table. "I win."

"Like I stood a chance," I muttered, pushing myself up.

Both men reached for me. "Here let me-"

"I can do it myself." I pushed the two men's hands away. I stood up. "See, perfectly capable thank you very much."

"Well I do have eyes so yes." Sam shrugged, walking off.

"You don't say Watson," I called after him.

He spun round. "And you are?"

"Sherlock obviously." I rolled my eyes as Sam literally collapsed on the sofa.

"Shawarma's here!" The lift opened revealing the others.

"Food," I sighed, hobbling over, everyone behind me.

"I'll be sitting next to you," someone whispered in my ear, their breath warm. Every single hair on the nape of my neck was now standing up. Danger.