↱JACQUELINE↲

"That was... Something," she admitted, falling into the seat with a dejected sigh. T'Challa shrugged absentmindedly in response, probably busy on repairing the room.

Bucky had been adamant on going back under as soon as the 6th Winter Soldier - whose name was Helena, according to The Highness - was found. She assumed that meant dead, captured, in recovery, or perhaps a mix of any of the above. Victoria and Steve, after taking well needed showers, had seemed like brand new people. The two barely even sniffed differently when they came out of their rooms. Jack wasn't sure how healthy friendships worked, but she was 90% sure it didn't involve beating them into the ground. However, she wouldn't necessarily behold herself as an expert on healthy relationships.

Jack recovered a thin, nearly empty file from a small bag, and set it out on the table. Almost as if she had smelled it, Victoria came in through the door, wings fluttering slightly. Surprisingly, they didn't effect her ability to fit in places whenever need be, or at least, that's what the Archangel had told Jack. Victoria settled in the seat next to her, brown eyes alight in carefully bridled interest.

Jack pretended to not notice it, instead opening the thing up. Within it, was a lowly saturated picture of a woman who she assumed to be Helena. With a face that was sharp, yet typically shaped, her dark hair was pinned up in a loose bun that allowed strands of dark hair to spill upon her pale skin. Her eyes were an indecipherable color, obviously dark. She was looking straight into the camera, expression flat as if the photo had been taken during her time with Hydra. It could've been a mugshot, Jack pondered.

She doubted Victoria meant to do it, but as the woman gingerly unclipped the photo from the file, she whispered the woman's name almost tentatively, a sound so thick with emotion Jack looked up from the papers to look at the winged woman. The Archangel looked lost, eyes directed at the small photo but unfocused.

"Victoria," T'Challa said, trying to draw her from her haze. The woman's head snapped up, as she jerkily put the photo back on the table. "Sorry," she murmured, before pursing her lips in a thin line and resting her hands in her lap. Jack and the King exchanged a look, before the colored woman directed her coffee dark eyes back at the paper.

NAME: Helena Wilson Hawkes
AGE: Late 20's, biologically
GENDER: Female.
BIRTHDAY: Unknown.
ALIAS: The 6th Soldier, Winter Soldier
PARTNERS: Natalia Romanova (Black Widow) James Barnes (Winter Soldier) Victoria Scott (Archangel)
BASE OF OPERATIONS: Location classified.
HEIGHT: 5'4"
Weight: 103 lb.
Eye Color: Mainly brown, can alter to hazel
Hair color: Originally brown, has dyed hair sky blue, ash blonde, and standard russet.
Skill set: Taught 7 forms of martial arts (kung foo, aikido, kickboxing, taekwondo, Muay Thai, wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) exceptional aim, enhanced strength, enhanced senses. Exceptionally intelligent, considered enhanced in battle and attack strategy. Good under stress. High pain endurance. Can make use of anything in the room.
Weaponry of Choice: Hatchet, nunchucks.
Kill Count: Unspecified. In the mid 100's.
Other: Extremely dangerous. Do not mock under any circumstances. Is otherwise compliant with orders. Dislikes most members of the male type, the original Winter Soldier only just being an exception. Suspected to care for the Archangel out of partnering terms. This could be used against her, terminate it immediately.

Jack inhaled and exhaled deeply, which signaled a wry smirk from Victoria. "My favorite thing about her file is the 'Do not mock' part. I've mocked her plenty of times, and I guess I'm still intact."

"That's because you were kissing her while you were mocking her, Toria."

Everyone turned their heads to the doorframe, in which Natasha (Natalia, accessing to the file) stood. Dressed in someone else's (Steve's, most likely) clothing, a black shirt dark brown pants, she looked her typical self. According to T'Challa, who'd she spent more than enough time speaking with, her hair had originally been a vivid russet. Now, her hair was a mousy, beautiful brown that was cropped in a bob. She seemed to favor wearing her hair up with that color.

Jack, herself, was wearing a black cardigan and leggings with a cloudy design on them. It was simple, what she normally went for. The King seemed to have endless resources, apparently. Her dark hair cascaded down to her shoulder blades, somewhat dull as she hadn't properly washed it in a while. The woman had taken a quick shower, very quick, before the arrival of the Winter Soldier had taken place.

Victoria gave a thoughtful look, before smiling mischievously. "I suppose that's true." Natasha smirked, settling in one of the remaining chairs. Her light colored eyes directed themselves at the paper, narrowing as they trailed up and down the page. "She got anywhere she could call home, Toria?" the former assassin questioned, eyes not leaving the page. Victoria shut her eyes, exhaling. They all waited in tense silence, even T'Challa seeming to stiffen.

"Монако," she whispered. Her eyes opened, wide, as she abruptly stood up from her seat. Jack sat back in her chair, alarmed. "Monaco! She's in Monaco, she has to be!" There was a foreign emotion in her eyes, excitement, perhaps. Anxiety, maybe.

"That new house we left you guys in when we had to split," Natasha murmured, drawing away from the file. Jack's gaze flickered between Natasha and Victoria, who both seemed to be increasingly active. T'Challa rested a hand on her dormant arm, to which she only looked at the dark skinned man. His eyes were directed at the two women in front of them, who were exchanging quick conversation - some of it in a different language, but mostly understandable.

"We've gotta go, and fast. Helena isn't stupid, if she knows I know she's alive-" "That's if she remembers-" "She has to!"

"Slow down, ladies," T'Challa asked of them, calmly standing up. Jack remained in her seat for one last second, before begrudgingly pushing herself up. She was physically fit, but somehow managed to squeeze in lazy in the equation. "You can't go alone, not on this one." Victoria's eyebrows furrowed, clearly angered. "Steve did it just fine without-" "He had the help of Mr. Wilson and Ms. Romanoff, Victoria."

Victoria sighed, looking defeated.

"So I have to take everyone with me? I don't want anyone getting hurt on my behalf-" "Trust me, we all know how dangerous the first Winter Soldier was. We can only imagine how dangerous the new and improved one will be," Jack assured dryly, the first time she'd directly spoken to the woman in a while. Brown eyes narrowed, Victoria glanced at her, before looking back at T'Challa, whom nodded.

"Does that include me?"

"You accepted the terms, dear Knight. I'd expect you to follow them."

"I go if you go."

T'Challa raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised. "Jacqueline, I have much business to attend to-" "Don't you have a second in command?" she interrupted, voice sharp. The man seemed taken aback, frowning deeply. After a moment of consideration, he sighed.

"I suppose I'll have to join the Avengers on the recovery mission. Jack, your horse is in the stables down by my bedroom. Victoria can show you, as her own nonhuman companion is down in the stables as well."

Jack did a mental victory dance, a triumphant smirk finding its way onto her face. T'Challa narrowed his eyes briefly, before turning to stalk out the door. No one stopped him.

As soon as his taller figure exited, Victoria turned to Jack.

"What's your horse's name?"

"Shadowfall."

"Isn't that a video game?"

A/N
wow, a whole chapter with just Jack (aka the ACTUAL MC of this story) as the POV

listen I warn u now if you're homophobic don't continue reading, but DO feel free to not read any of my books even if they don't have homosexuality k thanks