Red Shadow~ Steve Rogers

Chapter 2: Epitome of Dirty

Elara's first shower of the week was on a Monday, it was now Saturday. The first thing she did when she arrived back at the compound was give a curt mission briefing then went on her way to take a shower before anyone saw her. Her dark hair tied tight in two dutch braids was in desperate need of care, after leaving her braids in all week they looked horrid- and felt so as well. The dirt and sweat made her clothes cling to her body like a wet rag, she was epitome of dirty. Despite being nearly 20 she still lived with her father and brother- it was not like they were home often. With the three of them all being involved in HYDRA operations, usually one was on a mission or in a meeting, so it was hard to catch them all together. It was basically like she lived alone-except for the butlers and maids in the mansion of course. Growing up Elara was raised by the house staff- with her father being away most of the time, and the age gap between her and her brother all she really had was the house staff. Until she met Everett, one day, when she was around 8, Colonel Eliard came over with his wife and son for an afternoon brunch.

After that Elara finally had a friend her own age, which to her seemed impossible since she was homeschooled and was not permitted to leave the house often (although with a mansion of that size and the money her father had, anything she wanted she could get delivered to her directly). Soon playdates turned into an offer, one that she had to beg her father to agree to: She was invited to leave the house three times a week for a joint tutoring session with Everett Via Mrs. Eliard. Elara's classes mostly consisted of history, math, English, Russian, and a few other languages throughout all her years of school. One class however that never changed no matter how old the two got was HYDRA study. The class was one that required the kids to sometimes peruse the HYDRA base and learn the insides and outs of the organization. When the two got older they began training at the very same base- learning basic (and eventually advanced) combat, survival skills, negotiation tactics, and other skills deemed necessary for the future faces of HYDRA.

"Wow, You look terrible"

The voice echoes through the large marble and crystal foyer. It bounces off the white stones walls with a warm and welcoming tone to the statement. Elara's head perks up and she is greeted by a large smile on a tan face.

"Ryker!" Elara shouts

She runs past the two enormously large columns and leaps into his arms. His strong arms wrap around her back and she takes his scent in. She notes that today he smells like smoke and sweat,

"Ugh you smell Lara"

"I was just about to say the same thing to you" She beams as she breaks the hug and takes in his appearance. His dark hair was disheveled and his almost black eyes looked tired, the bags under them looking significantly darker than the last time she saw him. A five o'clock shadow covered the lower half of his face, and HYDRA uniform was down to just an undershirt and black slacks. Her brother has always been tall, standing at 6 foot, but today he seemed much taller.

"Did you get the promotion?" She blurts out.

"Surprise" He says as he spreads his arms and flails his fingers. Her brother has been trying to get promoted onto the board for sometime now, but their father had always said he was much too immature. It seems that was no longer the case- but the display she saw a second ago and the compliment he had given her reminded her that he was still the same, goofy brother she always had.

"When?" The setting sun casts a ray of sun over her eye and Elara maneuvers her body out of the ray.

"Three days ago, but I think I'm starting to regret ever wanting the job" he laughs out as he runs a hand through his loose hair.

"Oh that's fine, I can take your place" Elara offers, flicking her hand downward.

"Ha, I'd love to see that, you'd probably run HYDRA into the ground on the first day" her brother pokes fun at her.

"No I'd change the rules so that we get one day of casual dress code a week, and free ice-cream every Friday- but seriously Ryker what do they have you doing that you look like YOU came back from a mission. "

" They have me not only doing field training and tactical planning but playing politics as well, next week I have to make a public appearance at a children's hospital because Dad donated a ton of money or something, then after that I have to meet with the CEO of some tech company. Its like I'm a philanthropist now- but when HYDRA comes out of hiding there has to be a figurehead" He trails off as he looks down and fiddles with his fingers, interlocking them four times before the silence becomes too much and he cracks his knuckles- "I've been chosen" he admits.

"Oh my god, now we really have to celebrate, I can't believe it- no offense- but I thought for sure it was gonna be Axel. I mean he's so much stronger and better than you- then again I suppose being the grandkids of the red skull would be a contributing factor" Elara deduces.

"Wow, thanks for the congratulations Elara, you really know how to make a guy feel proud, your future husband is gonna love you" Rkyer teases.

"Funny, but I'm never getting married, men are disgusting- thanks" Elara sasses and her brother lets out another laugh, a playful glint in his eyes. Elara missed her brother, the last time she saw him and had the time to joke around was nearly 2 months ago and even then the moment was short-lived.

"Dad wanted to see you by the way, but I suggest-" he pinches his nose and looks into Elara's eyes "you take a shower you skunk".

"That's it" Elara screams as she runs around her brother and jumps on his back, efficiently strangling him. His large hands reach up and grab her interlocked hands holding his neck in a headlock. He tugs forward and launches her over his head and releases her hand. Elara goes flying across the room but catches herself in a cartwheel.

"Next time it's on sight" She points to both of her eyes with two fingers, then points those fingers back at her brother. As she stalks out of the foyer and up to the back staircase she hears her brother hysterically laughing, going on about how she 'flew across the room like a flying squirrel'. Elara shakes her head as she smiles and grabs onto the black iron railing, she steps up the white marble stairs- despite being the back stairs they were just as glorious as the two that graced either side of the foyer. She decided when she was younger that she preferred the back stairs and they made her feel more like a normal person than the daughter of a billionaire and one of HYDRA's most powerful assets. Elara liked things that made her feel normal, perhaps it's why despite being so rich her room was mostly simple (expect for the few expensive gifts her father had given her- like her vanity or the wardrobe made of wood with gold accents- much to flashy for her taste)

Once at the top of the staircase she walks down the gold and iron railed catwalk, and reaches the third door or the right of the hall. Elara's hand closes around the dark metal, and she opens the door. The room's exactly how she left it, once Elara sets down her bags, she steps into her bathroom and begins to strip. Elara steps in the large shower and stands in front of a darkly stained drain. She turns on the shower and washes off the dirt and the blood, both substances mixing and rushing over the stained marble before they go down the drain. Later in the night just before she lays down on her king sized silk sheeted bed, she'll pull out a little black book, flick through the pages full of lines and mark down a new one on the sheet. After that she'll turn out the light and go to sleep. But how much sleep can a monster get?

A/N: Ahhh I didn't have time to edit it thoroughly so if something looks wrong please comment. I hope you like the story so far, I hope you guys also like Elara; I know she seems cold and kinda evil right now but I promise it will just make her development look so much better. As always let me know if you guys want to see anything in particular, or have any comments! The first few chapters are mostly going to be backstory and setting up for the story, but I promise Steve will be in it soon. :)) -Thea