February 13 2026

Its been two weeks since Valentina threatened The Thunderbolts about restarting Project Sentry, The group were already worried and needed to figure out what to do with Bob, They knew they couldn't just leave Val, She had them wrapped around her finger and that's what made them upset.

The group were at the safe house, half-eaten takeout on the table. It wasn't home, but it was where they felt safest now or at least safer than anywhere Valentina could watch them, They didn't want to go anywhere near the safehouse she had for them because they knew she would have stalked them.

Cody paced the room, arms crossed, clearly agitated. Yelena sat hunched on the couch, chewing his thumbnail. Alex stood by the window, watching the empty street below. John, Ava, and Alexei sat at the round table, the silence settled in before Yelena finally said something.

Yelena: It's been two weeks. You think she's just waiting?

Alexei: Valentina doesn't wait, She plots.

Cody: Or worse. . .she's already doing something and we don't even know it.

John: *Grits his teeth* We should've burned down that project the first time.

Alex: We did. She's just trying to dig it out of the ashes.

Ava: And if she gets the green light again, Bob's not going to survive it, Not this time.

Cody: She's going to turn him into something he doesn't want to be.

The room fell silent for a moment, They were thinking about the situation, Valentina could do anything in any moment.

Alex: Maybe it's time we stop playing nice.

Yelena: What are you suggesting? A hit?

Alex: No. Not yet. But if we find out she's pulling strings again, we take those strings and wrap them around her throat.

Alexei: We need proof, movement. Someone on the inside.

John: Bucky

They all looked at him and sighed to themselves.

Cody: He's still dodging us, Says he's focusing on Capitol Hill.

John: Doesn't matter. He's still Thunderbolt. And if Valentina's planning something behind his back, he deserves to know.

Ava: Then we find a way to reach him, If she suspects we're circling the wagons, she'll move faster.

Yelena: She's always a step ahead.

Alexei: So what's the move? We wait, or we hunt?

Ava: We do both.

Alex: One of us gets to Bucky. The rest of us start watching Val's known contacts. If she's reviving Sentry, someone's building something, somewhere. And we need to burn it before it breathes.

They sighed again before nodding slowly, The situation was already a heavy weight on their shoulder, They just needed to wait for the perfect time before she starts.

Bob: Uhhh

They immediately turned and saw Bob walking in, holding a box of donuts as he spoke to them.

Yelena: Oh God.

Alex: Speaking of the nuclear bomb

Bob: Am I interrupting something?

Ava: No. . . Just a meeting.

Bob: Okay uhh, I bought donuts for everyone.

No one spoke at first, Bob looked around, confused by the tension in the air. Everyone's expressions were a strange mix of guilt, protectiveness, and panic.

Bob: Okay, Am I missing something?

John: No, You're good.

Bob: Why does Cody look like he's planning on a murder.

Yelena: He always looks like that.

Alexei: Anyways. . . Did you bring the powdered ones?

Bob: Yeah, I bought more chocolate too.

They couldn't help but smile a little as the tension shifted to something lighter, However Bob still felt awkward.

Bob: Why do I feel like i walked into a funeral?

Alex: Oh, we're definitely planning on that, Come and sit with us.

He just looked at Alex before placing the box of donuts on the table and sat on the couch as each of them grabbed a donut.

Bob: So, Were you guys talking about Thunderbolt stuff?

Cody: You can say that.

Bob: Well don't worry, Because sometimes the only weapon against madness is sugar.

The group looked at each other before sharing a laugh as Bob had a smile on his face.

Ava: *Laughs* Okay, That was a good one.

John: Okay, This is a change of events, We were just talking about the plan and now it's about Bob's donut party.

Alexei: *Laughs* Donut parties are the best, Let's just enjoy it.

Yelena: Yeah, You better not take the last donut like the last time, Dad.

Alexei: Don't look at me! Look at your boyfriend.

Cody: Not me, Look at Alex.

Alex: Look at Bob.

Bob: Uhh. . . Ava?

Ava: Look at John.

John: Of course, I was the last person.

He cracked a smile as everyone else laughed while eating the donuts.

Yelena: Alright, Bob. You officially saved this meeting.

Bob had a smile on his face and took another bite as the group continued staring at him before they decided to share jokes, shifting the tension.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Congressman Barnes Under Fire: Is the Winter Soldier Still Fit to Lead?"

"Congressman Barnes Faces Backlash Over Past"

"Can the Winter Soldier Be Trusted in Politics?"

"Barnes' History Sparks Debate on Capitol Hill"

Bucky closed his eyes and sighed to himself as he continued scrolling through the news on his phone, People never got over his history since he became Congressman and the doubts spreaded once again, Some people did supported while others were still against him.

Bucky continued looking at his phone before someone entered the office and it was revealed to be Anne, She was holding a cup of coffee for him but noticed his face was down which made her frown.

Anne: Congressman, The press conference is scheduled in less than an hour. They're expecting hard questions

She spoke as she placed the coffee on the table, Bucky sighed, nodding as he looked at her.

Bucky: Then we tell them exactly where I stand. No dodging, no excuses.

Anne: . . . . There's also a lot of chatter online. People are questioning if you're the right man for the job.

Bucky's gaze shifted to the window as Anne continued staring at him, She frowned again and knew he was thinking about something, She took a chair and placed it beside him as she sat down.

Anne: You need a break.

Bucky's gaze softened for a moment and continued staring at the window before looking at Anne, Seeing the concern in her eyes.

Bucky: It's easier to fight a war when you know who the enemy is. Politics are. . . different.

Anne shook her head as he continued speaking to her.

Bucky: Every word I say, every move I make. . . it's like walking on a tightrope. One wrong step, and it's all over.

Anne looked at him as Barnes took a sip of coffee as there was a moment of silence.

Bucky: Sometimes. . . I wonder if they see the man, or just the soldier I used to be.

Anne: *Smiles* Maybe they see both. And maybe that's exactly why you're the right person for this. You're not hiding from your past. You're building something better from it.

He looked at Anne as his gaze softened, His secretary continued smiling at him as Bucky thought about her words which made him smile.

Bucky: Thanks, Winters. For reminding me why I keep going.

Anne: *Smiles* No problem, You got people who see the real you.

He smiled again, appreciating her support. For the next hour, They were discussing about politics and work until the press conference was going to begin in five minutes, He got up from his seat as Anne stood up as well.

Anne: Sir, Should I accompany you?

Bucky: I would appreciate it.

She smiled and nodded as Bucky smiled back, He was about to walk away until Anne noticed something and stopped him.

Anne: Ummm wait.

He looked at her, confused for a moment as Anne walked towards him, She hesitated for a moment before adjusting his tie.

His eyes lit up as Winters adjusted the tie, She slowly stepped back as Bucky felt his heart skip a beat before he smiled and thanked her, The room was filled with something unspoken and Anne couldn't stop staring at him for a moment before they left the office together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The press conference begun, cameras flashed and murmurs from reporters were heard, Anne sat on the chair as Bucky stepped up to the podium and cleared his throat as Winters continued staring at him before he started his speech.

Bucky: Good afternoon. I'm here to address recent concerns and rumors regarding my record and role as your representative.

Reporter: *Raises his hand* Congressman Barnes, critics say your past raises questions about your suitability for office. How do you respond?

Bucky: My past is part of my story, but i learned that it doesn't define me anymore, I'm focused on serving the people and making a meaningful change.

Reporter: But Congressman, How can the public trust a man who was once a weapon? Who was responsible for political assassinations, whether brainwashed or not? Shouldn't accountability matter more than redemption?

The room fell into a silence. Bucky's jaw clenched. He looked down, searching for the right words, but no words came, The flashes from the cameras continued, Reporters leaned forward. The question stung him and he wasn't sure how to respond with that anymore.

Anne looked at him and noticed the frown on his face, Her heart raced as she felt bad before Winters stood up, clearing her throat and spoke to the same reporter.

Anne: Forgive me, but that question isn't about accountability. It's about holding someone hostage to a past they never chose. Congressman Barnes isn't running from his history, He's worked harder than anyone to make peace with it and use it for something better.

The reporters were stunned by her answer as Bucky's eyes lit up, Murmurs were heard around the room as the reporter said something with narrowed eyes.

Reporter: And who are you to speak on his behalf? His spokesperson?

Anne: No. I'm someone who believes in second chances. Just like millions of people who want to know their leaders aren't perfect, They're human. And they're still trying. That's what makes them worth trusting. . .

Bucky looked at her, his gaze softening and felt a flutter in his heart, Something that he shouldn't feel. She supported him a lot despite his broken past, Bucky continued looking at her while the reporters were quiet, once again stunned by her answer.

Anne: It's time we all moved on from his past, He has. . . So do the same. . . Next question please.

The reporters were quiet again as Bucky stared at Anne with shock before he nodded.

Bucky: Thank you, Winters. . .

Anne stared at him, nodding as the reporters began asking different questions that was completely unrelated to his past, She really made a good point which made quiet, The press conference continued on until it was finally over, The reporters thanked him and began making their leave as Bucky thanked everyone for their time and walked down.

Anne immediately stood up as Bucky looked at her, He had a small smile on his face and gestured her to follow him, She walked out as he slowly touched her hand, leading her forward.

Anne felt her heart skip a beat as both of them left the room together while he was still holding her hand, But unknown to them. . .

Valentina was present at the conference to watch Bucky, She saw the way Anne defended and stood up for him, And how Bucky gently grabbed her hand, leaving the room with her.

Valentina: *Smirks* Winters. . . .

Meanwhile, Anne and Bucky were seen walking down the hall, They were silent, Mostly Bucky was thinking about what happened at the conference, Anne didn't speak a word and just followed him as Barnes finally moved his hand away from her, She looked at him as he spoke quietly.

Bucky: You didn't have to do that.

Anne: I know.

They were silent, Neither of them not knowing what to say before Bucky spoke to her again.

Bucky: They really won't stop bringing it up.

Anne: Then we won't stop shutting them down.

She looked at him as there was a small smile on his face, appreciating her support.

Bucky: I'm glad your here.

She chuckled as Barnes continued smiling at her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Anne: Always, I respect you.

It was rare for someone to respect and support him like that besides his friends, But now he finally found someone and it was his secretary. Bucky continued staring at her, She didn't notice him until he said something.

Bucky: And for that, How about i take you out for coffee? As a thank-you. . . or maybe something more?

He smirked as Anne's eyes were widen in shock, She wasn't expecting that.

Anne: Coffee? Right now?

Bucky: Unless you'd rather keep staring at me.

She laughed, caught off guard and was feeling flustered while he grinned, clearly enjoying her reaction.

Anne: *Smiles* I mean. . . I'm up for that.

Bucky: Great, I know a perfect place. Just tell me what's your favourite kind of coffee.

She had a smile on her face as they continued walking, Winters did felt. . . Excited for this and so was he.

They didn't know what it was. . . But something draws them closer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The time was nine p.m, The day continued on peacefully and Anne and Bucky had a great time at the cafe together, For once, their conversation drifted into something else besides schedules and briefings. He made a few awkward attempts at humor and most of them managed to make her laugh or let out a giggle.

Anne was making her way back to the office after talking to someone on the phone, She heard a familiar voice as Winters opened the door and saw someone at the office.

Sydney: *Smiles* There you are!!!

Anne: *Eyes widen* Sydney?

Bucky looked at Anne as Winters was confused by what was going on, Thompson looked at Bucky which made him sigh and chuckle a little.

Bucky: Winters, Your free for the night, Go and have fun.

Anne: Free? But-

Sydney: No buts! You've been avoiding me all week and now you're coming with me, Like it or not!

Anne: Come on, Sydney, Can we do this later-

Sydney: Nope! You got your approval.

Anne: I'm not even dressed properly!

Sydney: We'll buy you something cute on the way! You've been working like a machine. Tonight, you're going to laugh, dance, and maybe even smile without a reason.

Anne stared in shock and disbelief as She shaked her head as Sydney shrugged, shaking her head with a smile on her face.

Sydney: Thank you, Congressman!

Anne: I hate you!

Sydney laughed and grabbed both of Anne's hands as Bucky stared at both of them awkwardly before they left the office, He just sat in silence before chuckling a little.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everything happened so quickly, Sydney, Anne and Evan went to the mall and bought Winters a dress eventhough she was feeling nervous about this, But Anne knew this day would be coming and she wasn't ready. Now Sydney is forcing her to party at the nightclub and Anne was still refusing but Evan continued driving towards the nightclub.

Evan: Come on, Anne. It's gonna be fun!

Anne: No! I did not agree on this, I'm telling the congressman that I'm been kidnapped by both of you.

Sydney: *Laughs* Say what you want to him, In the end. He allowed you to leave early.

Anne: *Groans* I'm not excited for this.

Evan: *Chuckles* You really surprised her, Didn't you?

Sydney: *Smiles* I'm been waiting to make this day happen, She needs to enjoy herself.

Anne rolled her eyes and sighed heavily as she fixed her newly bought dress, But she had to admit that Sydney had great taste in dresses. Soon, They reach the nightclub as everyone got out of the car, Anne had an annoyed look on her face before Sydney nudged her shoulder.

Sydney: Once you step in, You'll tell me that you don't wanna go home.

Anne sighed as the trio walked into the club, There was flashing lights, people dancing without a care in the world, half of them with drinks raised like trophies, the other half swaying in different ways. Anne stared in shock, This was the first time she's ever been to a club.

Anne: What is this?

Evan: This, dear Anne, is called fun.

Sydney: Welcome to your first real night out. Do not panic, we're professionals.

Anne took a cautious step forward, narrowly dodging a guy spinning in place like a human disco ball.

Anne: This feels illegal.

Sydney: It's not. I checked.

Anne: It feels illegal.

Evan: *Laughs* That's how it works. Anyways, What should we do first?

Sydney: Let's hit the dance floor!!!

Anne: Oh God.

Sydney dragged her to the dance floor as Evan quickly ran and followed them, Anne knew she couldn't refuse anymore, She just had to deal with it. . . Or maybe she would start enjoying it.

Two hours has passed and the nightclub grew crazier, Anne witnessed a lot of things from the crazy party people, She was forced to dance with Evan and Sydney, Besides the crazy stuff she saw, The dance wasn't so bad.

The music kept changing, Evan and Sydney were sharing drinks, starting to get tipsy while Anne was running away from the crowd, finding her friends.

(Urgh. . . I hate this already)

The music was too loud, She couldn't hear anything. Anne crunched her nose until she saw Sydney running towards her with a bottle.

Sydney: Anneee! Drinks up!

Anne: *Eyes widen* No no, Sydney, I don't drink!

Sydney: It's gonna be good, Take it!

Anne tried to say "No" But Sydney still forced her to drink while she grabbed her tightly, Anne almost choked on the drink before Sydney moved the bottle away and tapped her back, The taste was bitter, She didn't like it.

Anne: God! *Coughs* How do you drink this stuff!?

Sydney just laughed until Anne noticed her look was a bit different, Her eyes were widen knowing that Sydney was drunk.

Anne: Okay, Sydney, I think that's enough. We should go now-

Sydney: Noooo! I wanna party!

Evan: Party!!!

Anne was shocked, Both of her friends were drunk, Mostly Sydney. and she didn't know what to do, Anne tried to convince them again until Sydney forced her to have another drink, This time a bigger sip as Thompson laughed, pulling the bottle away as Anne was holding her head.

Now she was starting to get tipsy, Sydney was saying something but she couldn't hear her properly, Her vision gotten blurry as she walked, holding her head and tried to take a deep breath.

Winters was at the bar as she leaned there, trying to hold on. That's when she saw another glass of wine. . . She reached for it and drank it as Anne took a deep breath. . . But that was a big mistake.

She started to feel dizzy and drunk, Winters couldn't find her friends anymore, She couldn't hear anything anymore.

And that's when she fell. . . But. . . She fell on someone's shoulder, hand was wrapped around her waist and everything faded into black.

The party continued on, Evan was dancing until he looked around, He saw Sydney dancing but. . . He didn't see Anne and he wasn't too drunk to realise that.

Evan: *Eyes widen* A-Anne?. . .

A/N: Thank you so much for reading and stay strong!!! :)