𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓷𝓲𝓪𝓬 ❖ 𝓫. 𝓫𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼

C H A P T E R (41) - M E M O R I E S

Cassie had left the facility soon after the plan had been made, desperate to go somewhere to be alone.

She had ended up at a bridge, sitting on the edge with her legs dangling below her. Her hands were tightly wrapped around the hand rail she sat on, cautious as to not lose her balance.

She finally had the time to think about what had happened. Bucky was still alive, yet there had been no hint of recognition in his eyes. Did he not know her? It had been a while, but she still remembered him like it was all yesterday. Why didn't he do the same?

"He's gonna be there you know."

Cassie looked to her side and saw Natasha leaning against the bridge wall, looking off into the distance.

"I know."

"I know you know him. But he doesn't know you."

Cassie sighed before removing one hand from the hand rail and digging the dog tag out from her shirt and placing it in her palm for Natasha to see.

"I keep promises and I don't break them." She began, watching as confusion spread on Natasha's face, "Just like I make friends and I don't give up on them."

Natasha nodded knowingly before finally meeting her eyes.

"I'm just trying to warn you. I know you love him. But you've got to think about it - you still have to stop him. So either you get hurt, or he does."

"I know which I would choose."

"But is it the right choice?"

Both women fell silent before Natasha sighed and took one last look at Cassie as she walked away.

"Just...think about it before you do anything irrational."

**

Cassie had snook her way into the Triskelion to do her part of the plan and was waiting out in the bathroom when she heard her brothers familiar voice over the speakers.

She eventually drowned out his inspirational speech and glanced in the mirror, taking in her appearance that she could hardly recognise anymore. The bags under her eyes were heavy, heavier than ever. Sleep still wasn't coming easy to her, and the closest she had gotten to a full nights sleep was a few hours of on and off napping - which wasn't helpful.

Steve's speech was finally over and Cassie heard some commotion outside the bathroom, peering around the door and seeing the STRIKE team breaking into the control room. She dashed towards it, slipping into the room unnoticed as she watched Rumlow approach a technician.

"Send those ships up now." He demanded.

The tech hesitated, not being apart of HYDRA. Because of that, Rumlow pulled out a gun and aimed it at his head. There was no other choice but for Cassie to intervene, otherwise more innocent lives would be lost.

"Rumlow. Back away." She stated calmly, emerging from the darkness of the corner.

His gun was immediately turned to her, alongside the rest of the STRIKE teams weapons.

"Ah, C. Or is it Man-Eater now?"

"Seriously? I get called it once and all of a sudden it's my name?" She scoffed, still walking towards where he stood and stopping a few feet away. "And neither, my name is Cassie."

"How many names do you have?"

Cassie pretended to be deep into thought, "More than you could imagine."