19. Lucky Seven
I LOVE THIS FIC TOO MUCH
This is shorter, 1900 words BUT SAM IS SO AWW :(
THEY WERE ALL CRAMMED in the back of a van, HYDRA agents looming nearby. Seven sat squished beside Steve, her wrists encased in cold, unforgiving handcuffs. She'd been crying, her face streaked with tears, but the agents paid her no mind. As far as they were concerned, Seven was just another prisoner—if they even recognized her at all, which they didn't. They believed Seven to be long dead, another casualty in their brutal history.
The tension in the van was thick. Natasha was slumped against the side, her wound bleeding steadily. Steve stared straight ahead, a storm of emotions flickering across his face. He was still reeling from seeing Bucky alive, transformed into something monstrous.
Sam, seated on the across from Seven, glanced at her with a mix of concern and empathy. He was the only one who seemed to grasp how terrified she was, the only one in a position to offer her some comfort.
"Sev—can I call you Sev? Seven feels wrong," Sam asked softly.
Seven sniffled and nodded, her eyes red from crying. "Okay, Sev. You're safe now, alright? Just try to stay calm," Sam said, his voice soothing.
She sniffled again, struggling to find words. "But my papa just left me. He's never done that, ever..."
Sam had no idea what to say. He glanced at Steve and Natasha, hoping for some guidance, but they were preoccupied with their own thoughts. "I know, kid. But you're safe now. We'll figure this out. Just breathe, okay?"
Seven nodded, though she still looked unconvinced. She sniffled again, tears still streaming down her face.
Steve finally spoke, his voice tinged with disbelief. "It was him. He looked right at me like he didn't even know me."
Sam looked at Steve, his brow furrowed. "How is that even possible? It was like seventy years ago."
Steve's gaze dropped to the floor of the van. "...Zola," he muttered. "Bucky's whole unit was captured in '43. Zola experimented on him. Whatever he did helped Bucky survive the fall. They must have found him and..."
"None of that's your fault, Steve," Natasha interjected, wincing in pain.
Steve shook his head, still looking unconvinced. "Even when I had nothing, I had Bucky."
Seven nodded in agreement, her voice small but resolute. "He's always been there for me too..."
Seven's gaze shifted to Natasha's shoulder. The wound looked bad, but not as terrible as some of the injuries she'd seen her papa inflict. "My papa shot you pretty bad. You should get that checked out," she said to Natasha.
Natasha winced but nodded. "Agreed," Sam said. He turned to the two HYDRA agents supervising them. "If we don't put pressure on that wound, she's gonna bleed out right here in the truck."
One of the agents pulled out an electric prod. Seven flinched at the sight, memories of painful training sessions flooding back. The agent held the prod out for a moment before jabbing it into the other agent's abdomen. She then swiftly dispatched him with a series of precise kicks and punches, knocking him unconscious.
The remaining agent removed her mask, revealing a woman underneath. She wiped sweat from her forehead, grimacing. "Ah... that thing was squeezing my brain."
Everyone in the van stared at her, stunned by the sudden turn of events. "Who are these two?" she asked, nodding toward Seven and Sam.
THEY ALL MADE IT TO THIS PLACE THAT
Seven had never seen before. Following the woman named Maria Hill through a metal-barred door, they walked down a long, sterile hallway. The tension was palpable, but Seven felt a strange sense of security being with these people, despite everything that had happened.
When they finally arrived, Maria revealed a curtain, pulling it back to expose a man sitting behind a desk. Seven didn't recognize him. "About damn time," the man said, his eyes narrowing as he took in the group. "Who's the kid?"
"Her name is Seven. We don't know much, except her 'papa' is trying to kill us," Sam explained, a hint of frustration in his voice.
"Seven? Like the number Seven?" the man asked, turning his gaze to Seven.
Seven nodded, feeling a bit self-conscious. "Yeah... like the number."
The man continued talking with Maria, Steve, and Natasha, but Seven's mind began to drift. She found herself staring at the walls, trying to piece together everything that had happened. The room was filled with a strange assortment of old and new technology, but it all felt foreign to her.
Sam noticed her distraction and gently nudged her. "Hey, you okay?"
Seven looked up at him, her eyes still reflecting the trauma and exhaustion. "Yeah, I guess."
Sam gave her a comforting smile. "You know, I've been thinking. Maybe you need a nickname. Something cooler than just a number. How about... 'Lucky Seven'?"
She let out a small giggle, the first one in what felt like forever. "Lucky Seven? Really?"
Sam shrugged, grinning. "Why not? I think it suits you. Plus, it makes you sound like a secret agent or something."
Seven's smile widened a bit, and she looked down, feeling slightly better. "Maybe... but I've never really felt lucky."
"Hey, you're still here, aren't you? And you've got us now. That's something," Sam said, his tone light and encouraging.
She nodded, appreciating his effort to cheer her up. "I guess you're right."
Sam leaned in a bit closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "You know, Steve over there? He's kind of a big deal. Captain America. He's got the coolest stories. Maybe you can get him to tell you one later."
Seven's eyes widened slightly. "Really?"
Sam nodded, his smile growing. "Yep. And Natasha? She's Black Widow. They're like superheroes."
Seven looked over at Steve and Natasha, a new sense of awe in her eyes. "I've never been around superheroes before."
"Well, here ya' are. Stick with us, kid. You'll see some amazing things," Sam said, patting her shoulder.
The conversation around them continued, but Seven felt a bit lighter, a bit more hopeful. Sam's attempt at humor and his kind words had done wonders to lift her spirits, even if just a little. She leaned back against the wall, feeling a bit more at ease.
"Hey, Sam," she said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks," she said, her voice soft but sincere.
"Anytime, Lucky Seven. Anytime," Sam replied with a wink.
SEVEN WASN'T ALLOWED TO BE IN THE IN the room while they planned their next move. It wasn't that they didn't care about her or her opinion—it was simply a matter of trust. They didn't know her well enough yet, and given her recent affiliations, it was understandable. Seven didn't mind too much; she wouldn't trust herself in their position either.
She sat quietly in the small lounge area, staring at the wall, lost in thought. The events of the past few days had been overwhelming, and she was still processing everything. Suddenly, the door opened, and Natasha stepped out. The woman's presence was commanding, yet there was a gentleness in her eyes as she approached Seven.
"Seven," Natasha called softly.
Seven looked up, meeting Natasha's gaze. "Yes?"
"The Winter Soldier, he's your dad, right?" Natasha asked, sitting down next to her.
Seven nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. "Yes, he's my papa."
Natasha studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. He'll come for you if you're in danger, won't he?"
Seven hesitated, the memories of her papa's unwavering presence flooding her mind. She shrugged, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I hope so."
Natasha gave her a reassuring smile. "Great. We have our plan B then if our plan A goes south."
The words struck a chord deep within Seven. "Plan B." The term echoed in her mind, bringing back memories of a time before she met her papa. Back then, she was always considered an afterthought, a backup plan. Plan B. It was a label that haunted her, reminding her of her insignificance in the eyes of those who once controlled her life.
Natasha noticed the change in her expression and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't worry. We'll do everything we can to keep you safe. You're not just a backup plan to us."
Seven looked up, meeting Natasha's eyes. There was sincerity there, a genuine concern that she wasn't used to seeing. It was comforting, even if just a little. She nodded, trying to push the old memories aside.
"Okay," she said softly.
Natasha gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before standing up. "Get some rest, Seven. We'll need everyone at their best."
SEVEN FOLLOWED BEHIND SAM, STEVE
and Maria as they trekked through the dense forest. The path was rugged, but she kept pace with them, her small figure blending into the shadows. She was still wearing the yellow dress and white sneakers from her mission, looking like an ordinary child out of place amidst the seasoned operatives in tactical gear. Steve had insisted she wear a hooded jacket over her dress to make her less recognizable.
Steve wasn't entirely comfortable with bringing a kid into such a perilous situation, but Seven was their contingency plan. If things went south, particularly with the Winter Soldier potentially on their trail, she was to be their ace in the hole.
The journey through the forest was tense, each step carefully calculated to avoid detection. The rustling of leaves and the distant calls of wildlife were the only sounds accompanying their footsteps. They finally reached the SHIELD base, a foreboding structure looming ahead. With guns drawn, they managed to enter the building by intimidating the SHIELD agents at the entrance. Surprisingly, there were no major confrontations.
Once inside, Seven kept her head low, trailing closely behind Sam. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she maintained her composure. They navigated the maze of corridors, eventually finding their way to the PA room. Steve stepped up to the microphone, his expression determined.
"Okay," Steve said, his voice steady as he prepared to address the entire facility. He pressed the button to activate the intercom and began speaking, his voice echoing through the building. "Attention all SHIELD agents, this is Steve Rogers. You've heard a lot about me over the last few days. Some of you were even ordered to hunt me down. But I think it's time you know the truth. SHIELD is not what we thought it was. It's been taken over by HYDRA. Alexander Pierce is their leader. The STRIKE team and other key personnel are HYDRA operatives. I don't know how many more, but I know they're in the building. They could be standing right next to you."
Seven listened intently, her mind racing. Steve's words were powerful, cutting through the confusion and fear that had gripped the organization. "They almost have what they want: absolute control. They shot Nick Fury, and it won't end there. If you launch those helicarriers today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone who stands in their way. We have to stop them."
Steve's speech continued, touching on themes of freedom, sacrifice, and the true cost of security. Seven could see the resolve in his eyes, the determination to fight for what was right. Despite the danger, she felt a surge of hope. Steve's words were rallying cries, not just for the agents of SHIELD, but for anyone who believed in justice.
When Steve finally finished, Sam couldn't help but smile. "Did you write that down first, or was it off the top of your head?" he teased, trying to lighten the mood.
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