𝘈𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘢'𝘴 𝘗𝘖𝘝

We land and gear up with the weapons on the jet before heading to the hanger door as it opens.

"You remember that time we had to ride back from Rockaway Beach in the back of that freezer truck?" Steve asks James.

"Was that the time we used our train money to buy hot dogs?" James replies with a grin and Steve nods.

"You blew three bucks trying to win that stuffed bear for a redhead" Steve adds and I roll my eyes.

"What was her name again?" James questions as I look down at my perfectly manicured nails, thanks to Natasha.

"Dolores. You called her Dot" Steve answers.

"She's gotta be a hundred years old right now" James realises.

"So are we, pal" Steve responds and I snort.

"You guys are ancient" I comment before walking down the ramp into the snow.

"I guess fiery redheads is a thing that stuck" I hear Steve mumble under his breath.

"She's strawberry blonde" James corrects before I can myself.

I smile at the gesture, the wind howling  around us and the snow blowing at us as we walk towards the HYDRA base. We reach the front doors and I stop a few metres away from the entrance, my feet refusing to walk any closer.

"You don't have to go inside, Ana" Steve assures me, placing a hand on my shoulder "You can wait here"

I shake my head, pulling out a gun from the holster on my thigh and holding my head up high.

"I can do this" I argue.

"I know" The blonde smiles warmly.

James clears his throat and Steve removes his hand from me, rolling his eyes.

"He can't have been here more than a few hours" Steve then declares.

"Long enough to wake them up" James replies.

"Let's pray to Thor that he didn't" I counter as we enter the facility.

We enter the small elevator and I'm squished between the two large super soldiers on either side of me.

"So, what's going on with you and Sharon?" I blurt out, looking at Steve.

"Why do you wanna know?" Steve responds with his own question and give him a deadpan look.

"You know exactly why I wanna know, Stevie" I retort.

"She's nice" Steve shrugs vaguely.

"You said you wouldn't call her" I remind him.

"I didn't" He huffs.

"Am I missing something here?" James asks and I turn my head to see him looking between Steve and I suspiciously.

"Yes. But not the something you're thinking of" I answer and he tilts his head like a confused puppy "I'll explain later, big guy"

The elevator comes to a stop and Steve lifts up the metal cage door, James and I pointing out guns to the front. We slowly make our way through the cold dull hallway, carefully checking every corner and crack. As we reach the stairs a loud thud is heard behind us and we all spin around, Steve pushing me behind him next to James.

"You ready?" Steve asks as a creaking sound comes from the end of the hall.

"Yeah" James answers.

"Always" I hum, both hands on my gun that is pointed directly in front of us.

The doors are pried open and my eyes widen a little when they reveal Tony Stark in his Iron Man suit. His helmet folds back into the suit to reveal his face as he walks towards us and Steve walks to meet him halfway.

"You seem a little defensive" Tony comments.

"It's been a long day" Steve replies.

"At ease, Soldier. I'm not currently after you" Tony hollers at James before his eyes move to me "You too, Novikov"

"Then why are you here?" Steve questions, James not letting his guard down while I lower my gun.

"Could be your story's not so crazy. Maybe" Tony shrugs "Ross has no idea I'm here. I'd like to keep it that way. Otherwise, I gotta arrest myself"

"Well, that sounds like a lot of paperwork" Steve says and Tony scoffs "It's good to see you, Tony"

"You too, Cap" Tony nods before looking back at James and rolling his eyes "Hey, Manchurian Candidate, you're killing me. There's a truce here. You can drop it"

I turn to the Barnes man and place my hand on the gun, gently pushing it down. He looks at me in concern but I give him a warm smile that relaxes him slightly.

"Come on then. We don't have any more time to waste" I announce, continuing to walk up the stairs.

The men follow behind me as I stalk through the dim lighten facility, my eyes taking everything in and my heart slamming against my chest at the memories resurfacing. I push all my thoughts to the side, focusing solely on my breathing and the man we're searching for.

"You good up there, Novikov?" I hear Tony's voice ask "Wouldn't want any freeze ups"

"I'm fine, Starkie. I can handle it" I assure the man, without turning to look at him.

"I got heat signatures" The Stark man then declares as we enter the cryo room.

"How many?" Steve asks.

"Uh, one" Tony answers.

"Just one?" I question in confusion.

My eyes immediately go to the chair in the middle of the room that was used to wipe us and I gulp nervously. The lights abruptly switch on and my gaze darts to the surrounding cryo chambers that hold the other winter soldiers.

"If it's any comfort, they died in their sleep" A voice announces over the speaker.

I walk up to the nearest chamber and I notice the hole in the glass before the bullet wound in the soldier's head.

"Did you really think I wanted more of you?" The man who Tony informed us is called Helmut Zemo asks rhetorically.

"What the hell?" James hisses.

"I'm grateful to them though. They brought you here" Zemo adds.

A light turns on to the window of the technicians room and I see his face staring down at us. Tony points his blaster at the window while Steve throws his shield at it.

"Please, Captain" Zemo scoffs "The Soviets built this chamber to withstand the launch blast of UR-100 rockets"

"I'm betting I could beat that" Tony retorts.

"Oh, I'm sure you could, Mr Stark. Given time" Zemo replies "But then you'd never know why you came"

"You killed innocent people in Vienna just to bring us here?" Steve declares as we reach the window.

"An invitation would have sufficed" I comment.

"I've thought about nothing else for over a year" Zemo says, his voice becoming clearer without the speaker as he looks directly at Steve "I studied you. I followed you. But now that you're standing here...I just realised...there's a bit of green in the blue of your eyes"

The man chuckles in amusement and I glare at him angrily.

"How nice to find a flaw" He adds.

"You're Sokovian" Steve realises "Is that what this is about?"

"Sokovia was a failed state long before you blew it to hell" Zemo explains "No. I'm here because I made a promise"

"You lost someone?" Steve guesses.

"I lost everyone" Zemo corrects "And so will you"