ＲＥＤＥＭＰＴＩＯＮ {TONY STARK'S LITTLE SISTER FAN-FICTION}

5. LONDON, ENGLAND

It's been three days since what happened with Bucky, and we haven't spoken a word about it. But today, we leave for London. A week since I woke up from a year-long coma, and now I'm on my feet. In the field. God, who let me do this?

Elizabeth finished the sentence, her pen dragging slightly as if reluctant to stop. She closed her journal, exhaling deeply as the familiar weight of anxiety settled over her. The words she had written echoed in her mind, each one a sharp reminder of how unprepared she felt.

She slid the journal into her duffel bag, zipped it up, and hefted it onto her shoulder. Her suitcase followed, the wheels clicking softly against the wooden floor as she made her way downstairs. Not knowing how long the mission would last, Elizabeth had packed everything she thought she might need—and then some.

Tony was the first to approach her. His hug was tight, almost suffocating, but Elizabeth didn't pull away. "I'm sorry," Tony said, his voice low and raw.

Elizabeth pulled back slightly, looking up at him. There was an unusual vulnerability in his eyes, one she hadn't seen before.

"I'm sorry about the past," he continued, his words tumbling out. "And I'm sorry that you have to go through this, especially after everything... after being in a coma."

Elizabeth gave him a small, sad smile. "I love you, T," she said softly, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek. It was all she could manage before her emotions threatened to overwhelm her.

Next was Natasha. Her hug was just as tight but carried a different energy—protective, grounded. "If you need anything, call me," Natasha said, her voice firm. She pulled back just enough to look Elizabeth in the eye. "And I really hope you two can get along. If not for him, for me."

Elizabeth swallowed hard and nodded. The weight of Natasha's words lingered as she stepped away.

The car ride was tense, the silence punctuated only by the hum of the engine. Elizabeth sat quietly, staring out the window as the world blurred past her. It felt surreal, seeing it all again after a year. The colors, the movement, the life—it was almost too much.

To distract herself, she opened the mission file Tony had handed Bucky. Her eyes skimmed over the details, absorbing every piece of information she could.

Hunter and Aurora Brown, she read. The names felt foreign on her tongue, but she kept reading. Then her eyes stopped on one word: Married.

Her chest tightened. Married. Not only did she have to go undercover with the ex-assassin who had killed her parents, but she had to pose as his wife. And in London of all places.

The thought of returning to London sent a shiver down her spine. Her hands began to tremble, and she quickly closed the file, placing it on the seat beside her.

"C-can you please stop the car... please?" Her voice was shaky, barely above a whisper.

Bucky glanced at her, his brows furrowing. "We're going to miss the flight. I can't stop the car."

Elizabeth's hand flew to her forehead as she sank deeper into her seat. The world around her started to spin, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps.

Bucky cursed under his breath and quickly maneuvered the car to the side of the road, ignoring his own words.

"Elizabeth?" he asked, his voice edged with concern. He stepped out and came around to her side as she opened the door and stumbled out, collapsing against the car.

He ran out the car to her side, squatted down, his eyes searching hers. "What's wrong?"

Elizabeth shook her head, her hand trembling as she pushed him away. "N-nothing," she stuttered, her voice barely audible.