"Oh, you bastard."

For a second, I had almost thought that it wasn't real. That the cut on my arm, which was now weeping blood, didn't exist. He was an ordinary man, he bore an ordinary knife. That shouldn't have left even a scratch on me. Either I've underestimated his strength, or I've become weaker somehow.

The Winter Soldier twirled the knife in his hand, looking almost proud of himself.

Looks like you aren't as powerful as you claim.

I growled before I lunged for him. Like the past times we'd sparred, he was quick to deflect my arms. He'd given me no weapon to defend myself, which I found highly unfair. Originally, I hadn't found it unfair, not until he actually left a mark on me. A mark which I felt I needed to give him now. Eye for an eye.

Too predictable, he sneered as he landed me flat on my back. Locking my jaw, I ignited my hand, and he jumped away. I sprung to my feet, keeping the one hand alight.

"Come closer," I dared him.

Put the fire out so we can continue.

"You have your advantage, I have mine. I keep it."

The Winter Soldier rolled his eyes. Fine.

I screamed as the knife found itself buried into my right arm. I ripped it out, staring at the Soldier. "Not wise," I said.

I can still disarm you.

"Not before I burn your face off." As retaliation, I chucked the knife, which he caught just before it hit his face. "T-that wasn't where it was supposed to hit..."

The Winter Soldier didn't believe me. Like a Frisbee, he threw the red knife at me, which I just barely ducked from. That was only a distraction, as he launched himself onto me. This man, what he was doing, it hurt. It didn't bloody tickle.

"Hey, uh, I hate to interrupt the session," came a voice, Seth's. I couldn't see him, I had the Winter Soldier in my face, who looked as though he had the potential to end me right here. Like Seth was the only thing keeping me alive right now. "Pierce called, for both of you. He needs to see you, like, right now."

"Where?" I coughed.

"His place. Let her go."

With a huff of air, the Winter Soldier let me go. He didn't help me up. If looks could kill, I would be dead one-hundred times over.

* * *

If you so much as speak a word, I'll make sure you don't make that mistake again.

I rolled my eyes. Someone's gotten comfortable with this communication. Someone's also sour.

We're supposed to work together.

Oh, really, I wasn't aware. I didn't peg you as the team player type.

I'm not, but I have to be.

Why am I not allowed to speak?

It's just better if you don't. You get punished for doing something they don't like.

Oh, so I guess breathing is on that list too?

I don't understand it, either, but I don't question it. That's another thing they don't like. You don't question what they tell you.

The Winter Soldier jumped for my right arm, which was slowly healing. I shied away. If he so much as put pressure on those wounds, so help me Odin I would put his ass on fire.

We used the light of the night to help us slip into Pierce's house. The Winter Soldier did all the work, I mainly sat back. We slipped into the dark kitchen, and naturally, the Soldier felt he deserved to at least sit in the cover of darkness. I remained standing, waiting for our boss to make his appearance. In the meantime, I pulled my hair back into a plait, out of my face. Fortunately, doing so didn't expose any healing cuts thanks to the Winter Soldier.

Alexander Pierce didn't notice us right away as he shuffled into the dark kitchen. I squinted from the light in the refrigerator as he retrieved some milk. He stopped when he noticed us. I inclined my head a little to him in greeting.

"I'm going to go, Mr. Pierce," a female, accented voice said. I tensed. She wasn't anywhere in the kitchen, but the fact that she was still around made me wary. "You need anything before I leave?"

"No..." said Pierce, who looked at the two of us. "Uh, it's fine, Renata, you can go home."

"Okay. Night-night."

"Goodnight."

I listened until I didn't hear the small footsteps. Pierce went through his cabinets to grab a small glass, just to pour perhaps an inch of milk in it. Waste of a glass.

"Want some milk?" he asked us. Neither of us spoke. "The timetable has moved. Our window is limited. Two targets, Level Six. They already cost me Zola. I want confirmed death in ten hours."

I felt the instinct to slink deeper into the shadows as Renata came back into the house.

"Sorry, Mr. Pierce," she said, "I...I forgot my phone." She just made a very big mistake.

"Oh, Renata," Pierce sighed, "I wish you would have knocked."

I winced as Renata screamed. Two bullets hit her, and she went onto the floor in a heap. And it wasn't the Soldier or I who fired, it was Pierce himself. I let out a breath through my nose. I want confirmed death in ten hours.

"I'll take care of her," he said. "This is your big test, Cynder. These targets, they've wronged you. You'll get your chance at revenge."

My mood brightened at that. A chance of revenge? I tried to not look as though I was too excited about going on my first mission. Neither of them looked as though they were cheery men. I nodded at Pierce, reminded of the Soldier's warning in my head. If you so much as speak a word, I'll make sure you don't make that mistake again.

My eyes flitted to Renata's corpse. I felt something stir in me. Remorse?

"Is there a problem?"

I looked at Pierce, startled. "No, sir."

His brows furrowed. "Are you sure?"

"Why would you question me?" I tried to not wince as my brain hurt.

Images were flickering on by: the faces I thought did me wrong, were in fact, not doing me wrong. I fought alongside them, the Avengers. I could put a name to the unrecognizable face earlier: Todd Brealey, my best friend.

Everything was hitting me like a tidal wave. Seth Joyce was out of S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. Alexander Pierce, the man before me, was the enemy. I was deep in enemy territory. Keep it together, Kiara. Play your hand careful. Relay the message out.

In the middle of my stare-down with Pierce, the Winter Soldier attacked, throwing me over onto the table. Just as I was pulling a fiery hand back to throttle him, he poked me with a needle. Damn it. My fire dissipated, snuffing out. Seth's stupid serum. Pierce must've given him some extra in case this happened.

"I'm surprised it took this long for it to wear off," Pierce murmured. "Nice try, Ms. Rivers."

Crap. Foiled, again. But I didn't say my thoughts out loud, I kept them to myself. I looked at the Winter Soldier. In his eyes, I knew. He'd heard me. It was the only explanation. That, or Pierce gave some secret signal I didn't pick up on until it was too late.

"You're going to turn me against my friends?" I hissed. "HYDRA is low scum."

"I'm sure they're dying to know where you've been hiding. The reunion will be one for the ages."

I struggled, trying to pry the metal hand off my throat.

"Put her unconscious."

"When I break free, I'll make sure you don't walk this earth ever again."

Pierce chuckled. "If anything, my dear, you may not walk this earth before I don't ever again."

I reached for the Soldier's face, but all I got was nails in his stubbled cheek. His face contorted into a look of concentration. I can save you too.

I don't need saving.

Everyone needs saving once in their lifetime. Let me help you.

I don't need your help. Just go quietly, before I do kill you.

"You and I will have a fun conversation when I snap out of the trance again," I hissed to the Soldier. "Because it will happen again. You'll be on the To End List next, my friend."

"Do you ever shut up?" Pierce drawled.

I did when I felt the blackness consume me.

**I want to punch Pierce in his stupid HYDRA face.

Confession: I never liked Pierce once we knew who he really was. God, I was so mad.**