This Is Stella's Reality

March 1, 2015

"Stella," Nick Fury's voice was piercing in the silent meeting room. My skin shivered from it's coldness.

Around the table sat him, Bucky, Steve, Maria Hill, and Sharon Carter. We had been called in for an urgent matter. My stomach churned with the possibilities as to why. The rest of the team was not here. It was only us, and with Sharon shooting daggers at me with her eyes, I was not keen to learn why.

Bucky hadn't met my gaze yet. I touched his thoughts, but he was keeping them from me. His mind was quiet as was Steve's. My heart raced, but I stared cooly back at Fury.

"You must be curious as to why you've been called here." His voice was careful. He was always playing this mental chess game, and he was constantly winning.

He leaned forward on the table, resting his forearms and studying my expressions. I only nodded at him as I held his gaze. I would not let him see me unsettled. "We are sending Sergeant Barnes on an undercover extraction mission in the Eastern European country of Belarus." He paused, waiting for a reaction. I did not offer him one.

"Barnes will need a partner. It's been made quite clear that you two are," he paused, "involved." His eyes shifted around the table. "We've come to offer two different options. You may either join Sergeant Barnes on this excursion, or," he paused again, uncomfortable this time. "Or we will send Agent Carter with Sergeant Barnes. She is an experienced agent with plenty of reputable field work. She will watch over him if you choose to not go."

The world stopped, and Fury's words faded into obscurity in my mind. Why would I not go with Bucky? What kind of mission would this be? Why was this even a question?

I leaned forward, glancing between Bucky and Steve. They didn't look at me. Their minds were still closed off. I couldn't look at Sharon. She was sitting directly beside me with a swirling mixture of triumph and rage in her thoughts. "What exactly does this mission entail?" I asked.

Steve sighed. His eyes finally lifted to meet mine. They screamed in uncomfortability. He did not want to be here. I'm sorry, was the only thought he gave me. My eyebrows pinched together at him, and he closed his thoughts to me once more.

"We believe a SHIELD informant has been double crossing us and selling the same intel to Hydra," Maria Hill said. "That's likely the reason why the team's most recent mission was compromised. This is a high-stakes mission. One that will require excellent team work."

She leaned forward, regarding me with her steady eyes. "I believe you and Barnes are the best we have. Bag the informant, and bring him in for questioning. That's the mission." She sat back again and looked at Steve from the corner of her eye.

Fury slid a file across the table to me. I caught it and opened the manila envelope. "In two days, the informant will be in Belarus. He frequents a club in downtown Minsk. Currently, the plan is to--"

"We need you to pose as a dancer at the club," Maria cut Fury off quickly. Her eyes flashed with annoyance. "Barnes will make nice with the informant, and together they will go to the club. You'll be there as back-up in case anything goes awry. Barnes will ask you to be his escort for the evening, and together, you will spike the informant's drinks. Over the course of the night, he'll get more and more pliable. There are rooms for the patrons and their," she paused for a moment attempting to find polite words, "companions."

I stared at her. Dancer, escort, companions. My stomach twisted into knots. I had been on missions before. I had been on missions before with Bucky. But I had never done anything like this. My eyes darted to Bucky. He wasn't looking at anyone. His eyes were glued to the floor.