First Light | Steve Rogers (Book Two)

Chapter Twenty: The Captain

We ducked behind some large bushes, watching as the quinjet landed. The ramp gradually lowered itself down, casting a blood red light onto the grass.

Three figures emerged from the aircraft, surrounded by at least a dozen armed guards. The first was a woman, dressed in dark clothes and with brown hair that cascaded past her shoulder, the ends tinted a poisonous green. The man next to her was dressed smartly, wearing a spotless suit and shiny shoes. 

The final person was stood behind them in a red and black combat suit, a similarly coloured shield held in his hand with the Hydra logo emblazoned on it. He was tall and muscular with neatly styled, blond hair and a strong jawline. His eyes were icy blue, filled with a cold cruelty.

Captain Hydra.

"Search the island. Find them" the woman snapped, continuing to walk up to Radcliffe as everyone around her left.

"Look at that plane," Phil murmured as we watched from behind the bushes, "What kind of monster flies around in something that size?"

I shrugged, my gaze lingering on the Captain as he strode into the forest. Jemma frowned as she watched the woman talk to Radcliffe, "What is Fitz doing with Aida?"

Ward looked back at her with a frown, "I don't know who Aida is, but that's Madame Hydra"

"And why is Captain America here?"

I scoffed, "This 'other world' must be real nice. That's Captain Hydra... and he's not my boyfriend, in case you haven't figured that out yet"

Glancing up again, I saw the bewildered look on Ward's face and simply replied to his silent question with a shrug.

The woman from earlier, Agnes, had been found and dragged over to the others. There seemed to be an intense discussion and she let out a scream of fear as 'Fitz' pointed a gun at her. "This isn't real, Jemma," I heard the woman next to me whisper to herself, "This world isn't real"

My eyes widened as I watched in horror, "He's gonna kill her-" 

"Fitz would never do that" she snapped.

"Are you sure?"

Ward huffed and aimed his sniper rifle at the group of people, "Get back in the quinjet. I'll deal with this and meet you there"

Simmons frowned as he peered through the scope, "Stop. We're going to need him"

"Need the Doctor? Are you nuts?"

"There's more you don't understand" she pleaded as she knelt next to him.

"I know everything I need to know. The man is a sadist, and I have a shot. That's the mission now"

Phil sighed heavily, "Listen to her"

The man rolled his eyes and turned to her with an angry growl, You know, you've been lying to me since the moment we met. A woman's life is in danger. I'm done listening"

"You're right. I haven't told you the whole story. It's complicated, but... I know him. Not as the Doctor, but as a... a brilliant, awkward, heroic scientist named Leopold James Fitz. He is a good man, and I love him. That woman, Madame Hydra? She's... she's messed with his mind. If you do this, I lose him forever. I will tell you everything. Everything. I just... I need you to trust me. Fitz would never hurt an innocent woman"

Jemma's voice had begun to shake and tears were streaming down her cheeks as she stared at him with pleading eyes.

There was a loud bang and we all stared in shock as Agnes fell to the ground, blood seeping from the wound in her chest. "Fitz!" Jemma yelled as she stood up, "No!"

The sound of gunfire began as they retreated. My gun was suddenly knocked from my hand and I felt a hand clamp over my mouth as someone dragged me away. I tried to scream, my limbs frantically flailing as I tried to break free from the stranger's strong grip.

Once we approached our quinjet, I managed to move my head slightly and clamp my teeth down on the hand covering my mouth. My captor cursed angrily, the hand around my waist gripping even tighter.

Ward, Jemma and Phil raced into the clearing, skidding to a halt when they saw me. "Don't move," the man commanded, "Don't move!"

"Your friends have left you behind" Ward shouted, glancing up at the aircraft rising into the air. "She's innocent, let her go" his voice was full of caution as he slowly took a step forward.

There was a click and I gasped, feeling something cold press into the side of my head. The man's voice shook in anger and desperation, "I said, don't fucking move! Or I'll shoot her. I swear to God, I'll do it"

I tried to give them a reassuring smile as a tear rolled down my cheek, "Guys, it's okay. I'm f-"

"Shut up! You three, put your guns down," he motioned to the spot of ground in front of us with a single finger as he kept his tight grip on me, "Do it slowly and back away with your hands raised"

Ward collected the guns from the others, cautiously making his way forwards to put them on the ground. He suddenly grabbed onto my wrist and yanked me out of the man's grip, shoving me aside.

A gunshot rang out and I stared up in relief, seeing that he'd dodged out of the way before he could be hit. He lunged forwards and tried to wrestle the gun out of the man's hands, both of them angrily grappling over it. There was another bang and we waited in shocked silence, not sure which one of them was hit.

The blond slowly sank to the ground, his eyes wide in surprise as he stared at the dark patch on his stomach which had slowly started to spread.

We raced into the quinjet, frowning when Jemma held back. "Wait," she called, "We have to take him with us"

"Not this again" Ward groaned, reluctantly going back to help her carry the man to the ship.

As soon as we were all on board, he rushed to the cockpit and I knelt next to Jemma, staring at the unconscious man in curiosity. I couldn't help but pity him as he lay there, weak and vulnerable. "Coulson, give me your belt. Now!" the woman ordered, tightly fastening it around the man's chest as an improvised tourniquet. She started to treat him, desperately trying to stop the bleeding but keep him unconscious in case he tried to kill us.

"Hang on to something!" Ward yelled over the sound of bullets pelting against the outside of the ship. I grabbed onto a handle by the ramp with one hand, holding onto the man's suit with the other.

Once he was stable and sleeping peacefully, Jemma sank into one of the seats. "There wasn't anything you could do" Phil murmured as she stared blankly into the distance.

"He killed Agnes," she murmured, "Fitz killed her"

"I'm sorry" he sighed as he hold onto her hand. I gave her a sad smile, holding her other hand as I took a seat on the other side of her.