╭─━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━─╮

JOURNEY ON THE
LAWLESS
PIRATE ISLAND

╰─━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━─╯

Czarina sat by the far left seat of the plane, opposite to where her father is. Her fingers dialed on her phone screen nervously. The girl has made up her mind that she has to put this trip first before her personal plans for the break. Which includes her promised vacation with Hazel. She exhaled sharply before pressing the call button on her best friend's contact.

"Rina!" An overtly joyful voice immediately answered from the other line.

Czarina felt her heart skip a bit hearing the girl's voice. God, she missed her so much. Thinking about seeing Hazel again makes it harder for her to be decisive on the matter. She just wanted the two of them together, out on vacation for a week, without the rest of the world bothering them.

"Hey, Hazel...," Czarina trailed off, biting her lower lip. "Where are you now?"

"Oh, we're at the supermarket. I'm with my mom and Leah. We are buying stuff for tomorrow!" Hazel giggled. She almost imagined her best friend's cheeky smile just by listening to it.  "I can't wait to see you again!"

"Yeah, me too..."

Hazel continued talking happily on the other line about how her day is going and their preparation for the trip. At this point guilt is weighing down on Czarina's chest. A part of her just wanted to listen to her best friend all day and tell her she's coming to see her again in two days. But she can't.

"Hey, Rina. Are you still there?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm here," Czarina sighed. "Uh, Haz. Listen, I really want to go on this trip with you. But my dad needs me here, in New York, for a while. So I might not be available for the week to come. I'm really sorry."

The blonde shut her eyes close and bit her lip as a dead silence replaced Hazel's voice. "Hazel?"

"Oh, I see. I'll just tell Mom about it." The disappointment was evident in her tone but there was no sign of anger. "Is... your dad okay? Oh shit is he like in the hospital?

"No, no. He's fine. I just need to help him with some family business, he has no one around here." Czarina explained briefly. "I'm really sorry, I promise I'll make it up to you once it's over."

"Rina, it's fine. I promise." Hazel assured her. "Besides the family business thing sounded like an emergency, I know you have to take care of it first."

A small smile slowly formed in her lips. Until now Czarina is amazed how Hazel knows her so well. She doesn't know if it's her voice or tone that's giving it away, but Hazel is so quick to figure out when something is going on with her. And most times she doesn't point it out, but she  makes sure she's being considerate to Czarina.

"It's okay if you're angry at me. I told you, you don't have to be so nice all the time. It's okay to let people know you don't like what they are doing."

"It's fine, I swear!" Hazel chuckled on the phone. "You know I could never be angry at you right?"

"Well, you're allowed to."

"I'm not." Her tone lowered, it sounded more reassuring. "Good luck on the family business. I'll see you back at school soon, Rina."

"Yeah, or maybe I'll see you sooner. Bye, Haz!"

When the call line ended with a beep, it was only then Czarina realised all the eyes in the room were staring at her.

"What?" She mused at them. "We were just about to take off a while ago so I took a phone call."

Bucky cleared her throat and shifted on his seat, the three of them all looked away from the girl at once. Zemo then turned his attention to the old butler, Oeznik, who just entered the room.

"Apologies if that’s a little warm." The man handed a glass of champagne to his master. "The fridge is out. But I will see if there is some good food in the galley."

"If it doesn’t pass the smell test…," Zemo began to reply in Sokovian, which Czarina perfectly understood. "Give it to them." He nodded at the three in a joking manner.

"It’s good to have you back, sir." Oeznik chuckled and headed back to the galley.

Czarina can see Sam and Bucky exchanging hardened looks as they observe Zemo's casual attitude on the situation. Even Czarina was quite unnerved by it, she's just glad the tension between them and the man is still present. The girl doesn't want him thinking that they'll let their guard down that easily.

"You don’t know what it’s like to be locked in a cell." Zemo spoke with a hint of sarcasm. "Oh. That’s right. You do."

"Why don’t you tell us about where we’re going?" Sam was quick to swerve the topic.

"I’m sorry." The Baron replied, flipping the pages of the book in his hand. "I was just fascinated by this. I don’t know what to call it, but this part seems to be important."

The color on Czarina's face drained as soon as Zemo lifted a familiar, pocket size notebook in front of him. "Who is Nakajima?" He questioned out loud.

Bucky swooped in faster than the girl could react. "If you touch that again, I’ll kill you." He threatened Zemo with no second thoughts, his metal hand wrapped around his neck. The man didn't hesitate to agree and nodded in understanding. Bucky then pulled away from him and slowly retreated back to the seat with the notebook in his hands.

He really is invested in pushing their buttons this whole trip. "Do you have a death wish?" Czarina questioned the man. "Cause I give you that, here and now."

"Rei..." Sam shook his head, gesturing to cut it off.

"I’m sorry." Zemo said, not sounding so sorry at all. "I understand that list of names. People you’ve wronged as the Winter Soldier."

"Don’t push it." Bucky simply replied.

"I’ve seen that book. It was Steve’s when he came out of the ice." Sam pointed out in the recognition of the handbook. It was indeed Steve's, it was among the things the government shipped to them weeks after they came back. Everything that Natasha, Levi and Steve left were directed to them, given they are the closest of kin they have.

"I told him about Trouble Man. He wrote it in that book." Sam revealed to them, his face lightened up in the recollection of Steve. "Did you hear it? What’d you think?"

"I like ’40s music, so…," Bucky mumbled as he lowered his gaze.

"You didn’t like it?" Sam and Czarina questioned in unison.

"I liked it."

"It is a masterpiece, James. Complete. Comprehensive." Zemo explained with his hands raised in the air to make a point. "It captures the African-American experience."

Sam stared at the man in purple and stuttered for a reply on what he just said. "He’s out of line, but he’s right. It’s great. Everybody loves Marvin Gaye." The airman insisted with confidence.

"I like Marvin Gaye."

"Steve adored Marvin Gaye."

Czarina leaned back to her chair with a small smile on her face. Steve... There are still nights she'll think about him and wonder what it could have been for them if he was still around. Certainly not sitting in a plane with a registered terrorist in the hopes of catching a group of radical supersoldiers.

"You must have really looked up to Steve." Zemo concluded, gazing back at them. "But I realized something when I met him. The danger with people like him, America’s Super Soldiers, is that we put them on pedestals.

"Watch your step, Zemo." Sam warned this time. But it didn't stop the man to keep spouting on how much he despised heroes, or the idea of heroes.

"They become symbols. Icons. And then we start to forget about their flaws. From there, cities fly, innocent people die. Movements are formed, wars are fought." He vaguely recalled the past missions of the Avengers. Czarina can see the bothered expression Sam and her dad has and she knows she's carrying the exact same reaction on her face. A mix of being angry and pissed off but trying the best to keep it at the bay.

"You remember that, right?" Zemo nodded at Bucky. "As a young soldier sent to Germany to stop a mad icon. Do we want to live in a world full of people like the Red Skull?"

Great now he's comparing the Avengers to a sociopath Nazi soldier who planned to commit a genocide all over the world.

"That is why we’re going to Madripoor." The man finally declared their destination. Czarina  stirred uneasily on her seat upon hearing where they were headed. "So that's where your friends are? Madripoor?" She raised a brow at Zemo.

"I suppose you're familiar with the country?" The man swirled his drink as he glanced at the blonde.

"What’s up with Madripoor?" Sam cut off immediately. "You talk about it like it’s Skull Island."

"It’s an island nation in the Indonesian archipelago. It was a pirate sanctuary back in the 1800s." Zemo explained to him. It's been quite some time since she heard about the place. A vivid memory of a mission appeared in the back of her mind all of the sudden. She exhaled sharply and shook her head.

"It’s kept its lawless ways." The man glanced at her as if he's expecting him to know all about it. And of course, she does. "But we cannot exactly walk in as ourselves. James, you will have to become someone you claim is gone."

There was a distant and empty stare in her father's eyes, his jaw tightened as he side eyed Zemo in contempt. Czarina's insides twisted in knots. This whole mission is a complete mistake. She cannot fathom they even considered it in the first place.

After a decade she's gonna see the Winter Soldier again. And this time it's by choice.

━━━━━━━━━━

There's a reason why Madripoor is called a place for the very rich and the very poor. Even  from the very coast of the island you can see in distance the overwhelming contrast of its two sides. The Hightown is visibly the face of Madripoor, it welcomes everyone with its enormous skyscrapers and buildings that seem to go taller with no end. Blinding neon lights dazzled the side of the city in the nighttime, highlighting how affluent and posh serving Hightown is. What sits in the southeast of the archipelago is the impoverished and destitute area where even a  power source on a single house would be considered a privilege, like any other basic needs of a person that resides there. Slums crowded by overpopulated housing and streets too narrow to be marked in maps lined all over the Lowtown until to the coastal area. The visible partition of the two sides perfectly embodies the severely unjust class division on Madripoor. It's a stark reality Czarina had experienced once upon a time in her life as HYDRA lackey. A long time ago she became both a daughter of an influential Hightown casino owner and a barmaid in District Three at Lowtown.

"Changed much, eh?" Bucky stood by her side, his hands pocketed as he stared aimlessly at the horizon of the city.

"No, not really." Czarina's inhaled and exhaled shakily, drinking in the ambiance of the foreign land they landed too. She tilted her head at the side to look for Sam who's climbing down their ride. All dressed up in an expensive burgundy suit. Beside him is Zemo who's wearing a black frock coat. Just by looking, Czarina could tell the two of them would easily blend in with the elite crowd of the Hightown. Meanwhile her father and her would most likely belong in the underground arenas and contraband trading spots of the Lowtown. Her black suit matched with Bucky wearing tactical gear radiates the energy of a pair of rogue agents on the run. As she thought about it, a flash of memory of her twelve year old self roaming the streets of the city for the first time appeared in the girl's mind.

"We have to fix this. I’m the only one who looks like a pimp." Sam complained, staring down at his outfit. The four of them are currently walking on the bridge connecting the coast to the mainland.

"Only an American would assume a fashion-forward Black man looks like a pimp." Zemo answered, he opened his phone and passed it to Sam. "You look exactly like the man you’re supposed to be playing. The sophisticated, charming African rake named Conrad Mack, aka the Smiling Tiger."

"He even has a bad nickname." Her uncle pointed out. "Hell, he does look like me, though.

"You smell this?" Zemo sniffed in the air.

"Yeah, what is that? Acid?"

"Crime and death." The blonde answered jokingly.

"Madripoor."

Czarina heard a slight chuckle from Bucky, who haven't said a word since they got off the coast. A small smile appeared on her face. It's cool, she thought. Maybe he's just nervous like me.

"No matter what happens, we have to stay in character. Our lives depend on it." Zemo started debriefing them. "There’s no margin for error."

A black car was waiting for them in the middle of the road, as she stepped closer at their ride to the inner town ice began to coat Czarina's stomach. But her composure remained still.

"High Town’s that way. Not a bad place if you wanna visit," the man in a coat pointed at the left side of the bridge. An overlooking city filled with blue lights can be seen clearly from their spot. "But Low Town’s the other way."

The girl followed her father at the backseat of the car, she sat on the right side after him. "We're really doing this huh." She looked at him over her shoulder.

"Yeah. We are." He pursed his lips together and nodded.

━━━━━━━━━━

A light rain poured over the city as they approached Lowtown. Silence reigned throughout the whole ride unlike the one they had on the plane. Which is just right because as of the moment they are not themselves and it's better to stay quiet, lay low and not bring any attention to the crowd. Right now they are surrounded by strangers. The person driving the car and the masked escorts on motorcycles that's tailing them.

The car entered a low tunnel that seemed to be the entrance of Lowtown, the riders began to leave as they went farther under it. Finally their ride reached the open streets, Czarina hated how much sense of familiarity she had for that kind of place the moment she stepped out the car.

The four of them walked one after another on one of the narrow bridges that's all over the place. Every establishment and landmarks on Lowtown are connected to each other wall to wall, the slums are just by the sidelines and can be easily spotted from afar. The street they are currently at is densely packed with civilians and escorts, many of them didn't care to conceal their criminal and illegal activities in the public area. Of course, that's what makes Madripoor. A haven for crime and autonomous governance.

Czarina felt chills in her spine when she noticed the stares of the crowd at them. She already knows who they are looking at. The Winter Soldier. They know him, no doubt.

"Here we are." Zemo finally spoke as they entered a bar with a neon monkey logo on the front. "Gotov podchinyat'sya... Zimniy soldat?" Ready to comply… Winter Soldier?

Czarina slid between the packed crowd to get more close to Sam. Tonight she's not Czarina Barnes nor Nightshade, she's Izabel Volkova. The personal guard and hitman of the Smiling Tiger. Anyone who dares cross the man will be dealt with by her. Zemo had briefed her before the plane even landed in the country. According to him Izabel had done business with Selby before and it's important that Czarina would get into the character as early as possible. She saw pictures of the woman and her makeover made it seamless. This shouldn't be hard, she has done undercover missions plenty of times.

Their group stopped right at the front counter inside. The bartender immediately took notice of the four. "Hello, gentlemen." He greeted them, looking quite dubious of the sudden appearance of the man. "Wasn’t expecting you, Smiling Tiger."

"His plans changed. We have business to do with Selby." Czarina quickly answered and leaned her elbow at the counter top.

"Oh, Izabel! You are here too." The man beamed in the recognition of the woman, the mood lightened a bit.

"You know me, expect to find me wherever Mack is." She replied and glanced at her "boss." "We'll have the usual."

After hearing her answer the man walked away from the counter and went for the liquor rack. She saw him grab a bottle of vodka but Czarina got distracted from all the attention drawn at them. The blonde looked over her shoulders a couple of times before the bartender slid a drink in front of her. "Thank you." She spoke and lifted the drink. It's Nastoika. Czarina sipped on it with a smile.

The rest of the conversation between Sam and the man on the counter quickly faded out when a couple of rowdy looking guys stopped by Czarina's side. "Izabel! Welcome back!" The man in a buzz cut with an American accent greeted her.

She remained still on her feet, not minding them at all. Her eyes scanned at the crowd to look occupied.

"Since you're here again. What do you think about my business offer to you?"

"Can you tell me where I am?" She spoke in her native accent.

"In the Monkey Brass Saloon! The only one in town." She can hear the other guys snickering behind who seems to be their leader.

"Exactly." Czarina swirled the drink in her hands before taking a final swig on it. "Do you think I will be here to discuss business other than with Selby?"

This time she faced the men upfront, meeting their alarmed expressions because of the girl's  answer. "If you really know me enough to make a business deal. Then you know where to find me to talk about that." She gave them a smile and tilted her head.

"Of-of course, Miss Volkova. We can talk about it another time." The man nodded nervously while the rest of his men scattered away from the spot.

"Who's that?" Bucky slid near her.

"I don't know. Maybe one of Volkova's associates." Czarina answered, watching the buzzcut man get lost in the sea of people in the bar. "It's alright. They are gone now."

She gave Bucky a reassured nod and whisked him away to stay beside Zemo. As of now they are not a father and child but strangers who happened to be in the same business.

Suddenly a bald man with a thick beard appeared by Zemo's back. The man turned around when he sensed someone standing behind him. The rest of them also focused on the person who just arrived.

"I got word from on high. You ain’t welcome here." He jabbed at Zemo with a smug.

"I have no business with the Power Broker, but if he insists, he can either come and talk to me…," Zemo challenged and pointed his hand in the direction of Bucky. She can read the discomfort masked with a steely look on her father's face.

"New haircut?" The man noticed the new look of "The Winter Soldier".

"Or bring Selby for a chat." He offered.

"A power broker? Really?" Bucky asked after the man left. The girl was quite surprised he wasn't aware of the concept of Power Broker on Madripoor. Perhaps he just knew about the country but never really went to it for missions. Or he did but as the Winter Soldier in the past.

"Every kingdom needs its king. Let’s just pray we stay under his radar." Zemo told them.

"Do you know him?" Sam wondered.

"Only by reputation. In Madripoor he is judge, jury, and executioner."

At the corner of her eye she could see another guy coming towards them, his intense stare directed at Zemo only. "Zimniy soldat." Winter Soldier. The Baron addressed Bucky in a louder voice, making sure not only he hears it but anyone in their vicinity too. Bucky throws a nod of understanding at the other.

The man in the bonnet stopped a few feet behind Zemo before clutching his left shoulder. "Atakovatʼ" Attack. Without any hesitation the metal arm whirred to life and Bucky grabbed the man's arm away, taking his hold off Zemo. He pushed him farther causing the crowd to form a circle around the commotion. The man groaned in pain as Bucky continued to bend his hand. He twisted his arm backward and slammed him down at the ground with his metal arm.

Panic began to rise on Czarina's head when she saw phone cameras being waved in front of the fight. Her fingers quickly pressed on the buttons of the watch she's wearing. A collective gasp sounded from the crowds as their cameras shut down.

More men came forward to pick a bone with the known Winter Soldier. Each time he answers with a more aggressive and violent offense, they don't stand a chance at him. A low table near them broke as he delivered an attack at the other three men who came after him. Another was thrown back with an ease in a corner post. Czarina's breath shuddered. She doesn't like seeing him this way. It brings nothing but the recollection of the Winter Soldier.

The last man who's still standing was grabbed straight by the neck and slammed against the countertop. Guns clicked around them, anyone who's carrying a weapon with them closed in to their spot. "Ty che, blyad?" What the fuck?

Sam pulled Czarina close to him, dread filled his eyes as the armed men and women prepared themselves. He then went to grab Bucky's arm to reign him back but Zemo stopped him.

"Stay in character or the whole bar turns on us." The man warned both of them.

"Molodets, soldat." Well done soldier. Zemo spoke loud and clear to show his control over the HYDRA assassin everyone seems to know. Bucky let go of the chokehold and adjusted himself.

"Selby will see you now." The obviously distraught bartender informed them at last. Zemo was the first one to walk away from the counter. But Sam stayed behind to check on Bucky first. "You good?" He asked him. The man only replied with a dismissive nod and trailed behind his supposed handler.

"He's fine." Czarina exhaled sharply. "Let's go, boss."

The heavily armed guards walked them to the backdoor of the bar that leads to a larger room where the owner resides. Dim lights hang around lighting a pair of couches in the middle of the room. Sitting at it is an older woman with short, white hair.

"You should know, Baron. People don’t just come into my bar and make demands." The slipping British accent of the woman was the first thing Czarina heard.

"Not a demand. An offer." Zemo corrected her as he sat at the opposite couch.

"A lot has changed since you were here last...," Selby trailed off upon seeing the Winter Soldier come out of the dark. "By the way, I thought you were rotting away in a German prison. How did you escape?"

"People like us always find a way, don’t we?" The man scoffed, making the typical hand gestures when he talks. "I’m sure you’ve already figured out what I’m here for."

"You’re taller than I’d heard, Smiling Tiger." Selby pointed her finger at the man standing at her side. The woman made a purring sound as she lifted her face at Sam. It didn't take her  long to notice the blonde girl standing near Smiling Tiger.

"Izabel Volkova, as I live and breathe." A cheeky smile appeared on her lips.

"In flesh." She answered as if they have known each other for so long. "And currently in the service of Smiling Tiger."

"How's Valentina doing? The business must be booming to send you here."

"It is. You know us. How we handle things. Our line is always open if you're still interested in our deals." Czarina has no idea what she's saying but Selby looks pretty convinced that it's Izabel who's in front of her. "Oh, tell Valentina we can talk it over with coffee."

"So, what’s the offer?" Selby brought back her attention to Zemo.

"Tell us what you know about the super-soldier serum." He answered immediately, Zemo stood from his seat and walked towards Bucky. He hasn't moved nor spoken anything. It's eerily similar to how he was when their HYDRA superiors are in the same room with them. Anything he does comes from the commands of his current handler.

"And I give you him, along with the code words to control him, of course. He will do anything you want."

The girl's face remains a blank slate while watching the scene unfold but her insides are revolting in a mix of distress and perturbation. To calm everything she thought about their real purpose, why they went to Madripoor, why they are here. The Flag Smashers, the super soldiers among them. A radical group who got a hold of the serum supply and cannot be stopped by common government forces. At least they have code, ideals to follow. Who knows that the next person who gets a hold of the serum is some maniac. They can't let that happen. They are the only people around who stand a chance on both fighting the rogue super soldiers and looking for the serum. Because if it came from a place like Madripoor, Walker and his team had to go through a needle before finding any leads.

"... I decided not to kill you immediately. Yeah, you were right to come to me." Selby sounded more entertained now after hearing Zemo's purpose. "Arrogant, but right. The super-soldier serum is here in Madripoor."

Czarina and Sam side eyed each other at the confirmation of the serum's source. Blood pounded on her ears. She prepared herself for the next words of the woman.

"Dr. Wilfred Nagel is the man you wanna thank. Or… condemn, depending on what side of this you’re on." She began revealing to them. Nagel. She knows some Nagels before but none of them are doctors or scientists. "The Power Broker had him working on the serum, but… things didn’t go as planned."

"Is Nagel still in Madripoor?" Zemo questioned.

"Oh. The bread crumbs you can have for free, but the bakery is gonna cost you, Baron." Selby stood up from her seat, pacing across the opposite couch. "And before you get all cute, don’t think you can find Nagel without me."

This is it. She thought. If Zemo could no longer pull favors for more information then Izabel Volkova's business relations just become handy. Suddenly a phone vibrates nearby. The three of them immediately exchange tense looks as Sam takes out his phone under his coat. Czarina inched towards him closer than ever.

"Answer it." Selby dared him. She can sense a guard closing in behind them. "On speaker."

The atmosphere around them started to feel heated and wound up again. This is bad. One slip from whomever is calling will set them up in inescapable prison. The whole place is crawling with all Selby's men. If they find themselves punching their way out, it's gonna be a bloodbath.

"Hello? Hey, um, we need to talk about this situation. It’s been drivin’ me nuts." A voice spoke from the phone.

"What situation exactly are you talkin’ about?" Sam stayed as calm as possible.

"Are you high?" The person on the line, presumably a woman questioned. Selby began walking in circles around Bucky as she watched the situation unfold. "You know what situation, it’s the only situation me and you have."

"What situation, Sarah? Say it." Suddenly Czarina had a recollection of the time when they were on the run after Germany, she remembered Sam talking about his family. His sister, Sarah and her kids from Louisiana. No, they cannot let Selby and her men get a hold of them. Much more is known about their connection to Sam. The blonde's hand quickly went under her suit cuff, once again pressing the watch she's wearing.

Sarah was about to answer back when the call connection went choppy then dark. Sam nervously glanced at the woman and at them. Czarina swallowed thickly and stepped out behind Sam. Making herself more visible to Selby.

"Who was that?" The woman questioned, directing the question straight at Sam.

Czarina let out a small, teasing chuckle. Which effectively caught Selby's attention. "One of our associates. Just one in the long list of Mack's business to attend. So maybe we can go back to the one that we went here for?"

Selby lifted her chin high as if she's observing the girl in front of her in a much detailed manner. A light tipped smile then stretched across the woman's lips. "Izabel. We have done enough business for you to know what I'm capable of."

"And you know what I'm capable of." She smiled back. "That's why I'm hoping maybe we could lend a hand to each other. Making use of those... capabilities."

A twinkle of sudden excitement surfaced on the woman's eyes. She slowly walked towards Czarina's spot until they were only a few inches away from each other. The strong smell of perfume crawled on the girl's nose. "Valentina was right. You are one of a kind. So, what would it be for me?"

"A place in the west of Hightown. It's no Brass Monkey but it can be a start." At that moment her mind is already fumbling with all the words that's coming out her mouth. "All I need is the exact location of Nagel. And the Power Broker. I need to know where he is."

Selby scoffed upon hearing the last half of the request. Czarina can't blame her, it's absurd on many levels but in the end of the day all of these leads to the Power Broker. And if they won't pull it from its roots, it's only a matter of time before it grows again.

"Oh you little widows fear nothing, do you? If this is about your personal vendetta against her, then I suggest you do it another time. She's not gonna let you walk away once you're there. You wouldn't want to drag Conrad in this one." Selby's voice was incredibly low as she spoke about the Power Broker. Those few sentences were enough to shake Czarina to the core. Her mind began to fall in an inevitable state of panic. Little widows. Personal vendetta against her. Drag Conrad in this one. Was her cover blown off? Is Selby aware that she's not Izabel? Is it still Izabel she's talking about?

Her heart banged against her chest violently, blood tingling in the tips of her fingers as she hold back herself from being hysterical. "Wha-what do you mean?"

"Don't play the fool to me Izabel, that's why I off-ed you in my service. We both know what you did."  The woman turned back at her and faced another guard. "Alright, I'll give you the coordinates to Nagel. And as Izabel wishes, the Power Broker's too."

The stares of her companions focused on her, she could see in the corner of her eye their expressions hardening as soon as they heard Selby. The woman picked up a tablet from her guard's hands and tapped on the screen a few times before finally stretching it out for Czarina to reach.

But she didn't have the chance to hold it. Glass windows shattered above them, as the shards rained down, something solid and heavy hit Czarina by the shoulder. And then another one went straight to the chest. The girl instantly fell to her back. As she hits the ground, inevitable chaos around flash before her eyes. She can hear Sam and Bucky calling out for her but their voices are drowned by a ringing sound in her ears. "Ah shit." Czarina could only blurt out as she wiped off the hot, red liquid spluttered all over her face.

┏━════════════━┓

ASHA'S NOTES !

┗━════════════━┛

Yes, I updated after ghosting yall for 3 whole months (apologies) This is my first 2022 update! Yay! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did when I was writing it.

You might notice that I tweaked some scenes and added original ones to make it Rina-centric. I know some of you are used to OCs just being inserted in the events with a few original lines but I really want to write this  series with books that focus on my OC despite not being completely independent in terms of plot. I want their own journey and development to be more of the center of the story and less of just a supporting character that you can just remove and it won't change the story at all. Because, isn't that the point of OC fics? For your original character to be the main character of the events of the film/tv show you're writing for.

So yeah you might see a lot of Czarina centric chapters and altered scenes in the future. Which means you'll encounter side characters, places, events that make up her journey. No matter how insignificant it may seem it'll lead up to the conclusion of her fate in the end of the book.

That's all I have to say. Thank you so much for reading, don't be shy to drop some comments and feedback!

edit. so I thought of dropping these newly graphics I made in the past weeks before putting it in graphic gallery!

( tfatws poster ver. 1 )

( tfatws poster ver 2 )

( black widow poster )