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"Such…an inspiring team to work with." You cautiously pick your words, knowing that you probably can't best some of the people in this room in combat. Still, you make no attempt to mask your distaste at the assembled group, causing Steve to place a reassuring hand on your shoulder.
"We've won with worse odds before." The Captain smiles but you simply roll your eyes.
"Very reassuring, Captain." You take a seat, letting yourself half slide off it. "Now let's get on with the briefing, shall we? We haven't much time."
Tony looks at Steve, raising an eyebrow and Steve whispers something your ears can't catch. Curse the lack of superhuman hearing, why couldn't Hydra enhance that after enhancing your sense of sight and smell? The blue woman glowers at you and you simply smile back, a challenge she immediately jumps at until Rhodey pulls her back.
"Come on, he isn't worth it, and we need him for this mission."
The alien woman glares at you one last time before sitting back down with a huff. Rhodey gives you a look of displeasure but you brush it off, amused. Well this should be fun. The raccoon creature comes over, pointing at your twin pistols tucked snugly in their holsters.
"Are those —"
"Touch them and you're dead. I know how to skin rodents." You bare your teeth, hand drifting to one of the many knives tucked into your belt when you feel a hand rest on your arm.
"Relax, Y/N. We're supposed to work together as allies, not enemies. Try not to provoke them." Natasha smiles, but her grip on your arm tightens. The raccoon mutters something about not being a raccoon before hopping onto one of the chairs.
"Try," you smirk, but relent anyways. She's right, it wouldn't do you any good to antagonise those whom you potentially will have to work with, even if it annoys you to no end. You turn and listen to the briefing, taking note of those you're been partnered up with and make a face when you realise where you've been assigned.
"Really? Avengers Tower 2012? When Hydra was undercover in Shield?" You spit, furious. "I want nothing to do with that damn organisation, not anymore!"
"Hunter —"
"Shut it, Captain! I've spent so long trying to run away from that wretched past, and now you want me to march back into it like nothing happened?"
"You only left Hydra after the Chitauri invasion, that makes you the perfect undercover agent to slip in and get the scepter from Hydra. They won't suspect a thing." Tony points out and you ground your teeth in frustration.
"Tony's right, Hunter. If it brings you any comfort, I'll be there to ensure they can't do anything if things go south." Steve pats you on the shoulder. "I promised Buck I'd keep you safe, no matter what, and I intend to keep that promise."
You swallow at the mention of his name, your heart aching as your mind recalls the last words on his lips and you sigh. "Fine, but you better not screw up. This is the one time I'll willingly become a part of Hydra again."
"Thank you, Hunter. It means a lot." Steve smiles brightly but you push past him, picking up the uniform that's been prepared. Your heart thunders, you really don't like the prospect of becoming the Hunter again but if it means bringing Bucky back…well…you'll do it. He means everything to you, and you'll do anything to see him again. Even embracing the blood-soaked identity you hate.
A thumb brushes over the white material and you laugh. What irony, to don white when you'll be returning to your bloodstained past. Maybe that's what the red highlight is for. On the bright side, there's no need to don your Hunter gear, being seen in civilian garb will be more believable and that's one less thing to remind you of the past.
Slipping the suit on, you refrain from joining in on their little team bonding exercise while standing in the circle with them. You might be going along on this mission with them to save the world, but it doesn't mean you're part of their little ragtag group. You just so happen to need to work with them, and you're going to use them until they outlive their usefulness.
"Come on, no need to be so grouchy, wolf cub. We're about to save the world, smile a little." Tony flashes you one of his signature grins and you scowl back.
"I'll think about smiling once we've reversed the Snap, but not before."
"You're just such a ball of sunshine aren't you?"
"This ball of sunshine is going to —"
"Calm down you two. This is it, get your heads in the game. We don't have second chances, remember that." Steve pushes the both of you apart with a shake of his head. "Work together, then after we save the world you can go back to bickering, alright?"
"After we save the world I don't want to see his ugly mug ever again," you hiss, whirling around to take your place on the platform. "Hurry it up, I'd rather not waste precious time."
The sensation of travelling through the quantum realm is…unique, and you're glad it's quick because you don't know if you can stomach flying through zero gravity for too long. At least you think it's zero gravity, you haven't exactly been to space to find out or anything.
At Tony's signal, you and Steve approach the elevator. He frowns as you play with the hem of your shirt and bite your lip, giving you a look of concern.
"Are you alright?"
"No I'm not," you snap, guilt creeping in when you see his face fall. "Sorry, didn't mean to shout. I'm…I'm here now aren't I? No going back."
"Thank you, for deciding to help. I know this is asking a lot of you, but —"
"If it means getting Bucky back asap, I'll do it." Your gaze narrows and Steve smiles.
"Bucky's lucky to have someone as devoted as you."
"If I was that devoted, he would still be here." The words come out as a sad whisper, your gaze forlorn.
"We can't save everyone. The fact that you're here, doing all you can to bring him back, I think that's enough." He clasps a hand on your shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "I'm sure Buck feels the same way too."
"Cap, Hunter, I got our scepter in the elevator just passing the 80th floor." Tony's voice comes over the comms.
"On it. Head to the lobby." Steve presses the lift button. You stretch, taking a deep breath and let the Hunter take over. You're Hydra's most valuable asset aside from the Winter Soldier, but unlike him you're not just a weapon. You have authority, power as one of the candidates for heir and the past you knew how to wield it. Now you have to command once more if you want to save the man you love.
"Alright, see you there." With that, Tony hangs up to focus on his part of the mission. Steve locks gazes with you and you nod, running your fingers through your hair.
The elevator doors open with a ding and you step in, head held high. Steve follows behind, gaze flicking from the suitcase that houses the scepter to you and remains silent. Your eyes sweep the area, feeling a chill grip your heart before turning around, back facing the Hydra undercover agents. Steve's shoulder gently brushes against yours, a small gesture of comfort while your fingers curl into a fist.
When the doors close, your mission begins.
"I'm to take the scepter from here." You don't even turn around to look at any of them. Your voice alone commands obedience, for none dare to defy one of the heirs of Hydra. Except for Sitwell, it seems.
"We were not informed of any of this." You can hear the nervousness in his voice. There's tension in the air, the subtle movement of hands gripping hidden guns. Against who those guns will point, you're not fully sure, after all you have just walked into the elevator with Hydra's arch-nemesis — Captain America. That could be easily seen as a sign of betrayal, but you have some faith in your authority, at least enough to get the scepter. Whether it will be done without incident…
"Of course not. When one wants to throw others off one's scent, one doesn't exactly broadcast their plan to the world, do they?" You glance at him from the corner of your eye and see him anxiously run a thumb over the handle of the case.
"No, no, of course not," he stammers. "Still, I was wondering —"
"Are you really about to question me?" You cut in sharply. "Would you care to also explain to the head as to why their commands weren't followed?"
Rumlow raises an eyebrow, a look of amusement flicking across his face and you sense Steve tense up. You simply hold out a hand, and as expected, a weight is placed in it.
"See? That wasn't so hard. Thank you for your cooperation." You smile and Sitwell shifts uncomfortably. You give Rumlow a nod which he returns and Steve leans over to press the button for the floor the two of you are to exit at. The rest of the ride is filled with the scent of fear, a smell you haven't had the luxury to inhale in a while, and your lips curve ever so slightly into a smile. You quickly force it back down, grip on the suitcase tightening as fingernails dig into your palm.
You're not Hydra's bloodthirsty Hunter anymore. You're better than that.
The elevator arrives at your floor with a ding and you nudge Steve with your elbow. "Here's our stop. Good day, all, and hail Hydra."
"Hail Hydra," Steve echoes before exiting the lift with you, leaving behind a shocked Sitwell and Rumlow.
When the door closes, you take the chance to find the nearest place to wash your mouth. Steve takes the suitcase from you, heading a few ways ahead to scout the area until you catch up with him, wiping water off your face with your sleeve.
"Disgusting. I never want to say those damn words ever again in my life," you hiss furiously.
"Neither do I." Steve offers you a comforting smile.
"Stupid doctrine they raised me on. Anyways, that's our part done. We should be —" You suddenly hold up a fist and Steve immediately ducks around the nearest corner with you. "That's your scent."
Sure enough, a Captain America rounds the corner and catches a glimpse of your figures hiding in the shadows.
"Come on out! I can see you there!" He calls out. Glancing at Steve, you gesture at him, then yourself, and he steps out. You decide to find a new hiding spot, excited about the fight that will go down.
Once the fight is over, with your timeline Steve as the victor, you slip out of your spot, a grin adorning your face. "How is it to fight yourself?"
"Not recommended. Although I believe you view it otherwise?" He huffs, exhausted. "You seem like someone who would like to test your skills against yourself."
"It does sound like an entertaining idea." You have a newfound respect for the Captain, beating one's clone takes something and he did just that. Or something close enough, anyways. He doesn't seem to be that bad of a leader either, you can see why Bucky once followed him.
"Maybe we can get Tony to create one for you to practice against, I'm sure he'll be more than happy to show off his genius." Steve offers but you shake your head.
"Can't get me to live in Avengers tower that easily, Captain. Or get me to live anywhere near the Avengers for that matter."
"It was worth a try." His eyes sparkle in amusement and you snort in response.
"Let's get the scepter to the meetup point and cross bridges when we get to them, Steve."
"Sounds like a plan, Y/N."