Phoenix

On the road

"Morning Kid" The same man from yesterday mumbled from the front of the car as I hissed in pain as I sat up in the back. "Rumlow. Brock Rumlow. Nice to meet you" He said looking in the rearview mirror. He didn't want to hurt me, there was a coldness in his eyes but I didn't feel scared, he didn't hate me. Didn't call me slurs or horrible names, It was like I was finally breathing for the first time in 16years.

"Hi, Morning. Erm... What do you want with me?" I mumbled leaning my whole body against the door of the car.

"My boss and the organisation I work for wants to offer you a new start, we know your birth name and we have watched you for the last 3years. We know about your parents, the foster home and how you sit on the roof at night. We know you broke a kids jaw with one punch. Most importantly we know your secret. You can have a new life where no one knows it. You can have the new name you have always wanted. So what you say, Robin Hood?" I kept his voice the same, there were a few things that I found harsh, they had watched me, studied me. They know my secret, not that it's a secret in Jefferson. "Wait did you call me Robin Hood?"

"That's all you took from that?" he laughed, it was nice to have someone laugh around me and not call me the devil or a freak. "Well, it's the best nickname I have ever had." I laughed, his face went from a small smile into a frown and I saw his knuckles flash a white colour and back to normal.

"Your not a freak, and you won't be seen as one with us. So what do you want your new name to be, I know you don't want to go back to Jefferson." He pulled over to a small station on the side of the road I didn't even recognise where we were anymore. "You coming for some food I think we need to get you some Ice too." I didn't even notice when he had got out of the car, I was still thinking about the possibility of a new name, I mean I had thought about it for years but never thought of reality.

I quickly jumped out of the car forgetting about everything from before until my whole body ached with pain. I stumbled over to Rumlow and headed into the small station with him. He had let me grab some food and some ice packs and we were back on the road again. Stuffing my face with a cheap sandwich, and pouring as much water into my mouth. "Can I change my last name too? Smith isn't a name I want to keep." I mumbled before taking another bite of the sandwich, he looked over to me and back at the road. "I think my boss might sort something, don't worry no one will know about your past in Jefferson..." he reassured me, this is the start of my new beginning.

"Ermm Let's go with Thomas..."

"Okay Thomas it is, I'm still calling you Robin Hood." he laughed. After that, the rest of the drive was silent until he received a phone call.

"Rumlow," He said as he answered the call. I couldn't make put the other side of the conversation. It was too muffled.

"Yeah, I have the kid. First name Thomas, I imagine you would like to sort the last name, with an agent? Along with training?"

Training? What kind of training?

"Yes boss, I understand" with that, he ended the call, I look over at him still holding the melting ice pack against my eye.

"So Thomas, that was the Boss. He is going to set you up with everything that you need. He is going to give you a new last name, and a Farther. He is going to train you to fight and stand up for yourself, when your 18 he is going to offer you a job." My jaw dropped to the floor, my eyes nearly dry from shock. I was speechless, Rumlow reached over and shut my jaw with a laugh.

We were driving for a few days. I had been in and out of sleep, every time I woke up Rumlow had stopped to get food and painkillers. He had told me we were travelling over states but it was better to drive as didn't need a passport. I didn't mind, it was nice listening to the hum of the radio and not needing to worry about being beaten black and blue every afternoon. It was a state of bliss thereafter the first night we had stopped at a motel and he had got me a change of clothes, I pulled on a new pair of black cargo trousers, black boots and a black t-shirt I matched Rumlow, he had brought a bag of smaller uniform. Speciality for me along with one for himself, after I had healed more he asked if I wanted to do a little training.

He was showing me how to use a gun on our third day on our trip, we and he were helping to show me the best way to punch and block. He also was taking me on daily runs along the roads around the motels we had been staying at. I was getting better and stronger, he was impressed with my endurance. He said it was probably because my body was used to the pain I could withstand more, than the average person.

After a week of driving and easy basic training we arrived at a small little grey building the smile that was on my face faded a little after seeing it, the place looks like a prison. Rumlow assured me it would all be okay and that I would meet my new family and start over. He pulled into an underground garage, filled with the same back Land Rover we were in. Along with some heavily armoured trucks, as he pulled the car into a space he jumped out of the car and headed to get our bags.

"Ready Thomas?" He said as he handed me mine and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"As I'll ever be" I mumbled and we headed towards a grey door that slid open as we got close, other people were wearing the same uniform as us holding AK-47 as they headed towards the door we had just walked through.

We entered a smaller room and a man in a suit stood before us. "Agent Rumlow. Thomas." He nodded at us both.

"Good luck Robin Hood I will see you soon." Rumlow patted me on the back and left the room.

"Thomas, My name is Alexander Pierce. Welcome to Hydra. Agent Rumlow informed me of your life story, and as of tomorrow, you will start your new life. I will introduce you to your new father, soon. But I would like to offer you the opportunity to undergo so experimental surgeries. Dr Strucker will also help you with your little secret. After A week with Strucker, I will introduce you to your Father and he will take care of you."

"Thank you, Sir, would I need to pay to make my secret disappear?" I said quietly not knowing what the answer would be.

"No Thomas, your payment would be the experimental procedures. As of tonight the old you don't exist, you died after being missing for a week. Everyone from Jefferson, all the way to the White House will believe 'Jade Smith' Committed suicide from drowning.
Thomas Barns is the Son of James Buchanan Barns and a Hydra agent that died in birth Mary Lewis. There is a new birth certificate, new passport. Ready for you if you want it." He finished I stopped breathing when he said Jade Smith it was a name I wanted to be burned from my memory. He held his hand out for me to shake, I stepped closer and let out the breath I was holding and shook his hand.

"Welcome to Hydra"