the strongest avenger (2)

eighty

Steve, Bucky, and I camp out behind some bushes further down the road that leads to the front of the building. The plan is to take over one of the trucks, and then I'll enchant us to look like their workers so we can get inside.

It's about midday, and the start of October, so there's a chill in the air as we crouch in the bushes. Steve hears it first, the rumble of tires on gravel.

"Come on." He whispers to us, and we follow him closer towards the road.

In the distance, I make out a black truck and at least two people inside.

"How are you going to stop it?" James asks us, and I look over at Steve for an answer.

The truck nears and I go to tell Steve, but then Spangles jumps out of the bushes into the middle of the road. The brakes screech and the tires dig into the gravel as the driver stops the truck. I hear them talking inside and wait until they exit to get to work.

Three men exit the truck, and then I step forward, my arm raised. They all turn to me and reach for their guns, but not before tendrils of white energy leave my hand, absorbing into their minds to knock them out.

The men slump to the ground, them nothing more than a pile of clothes.

"Okay, let's hurry up please." I say as I stride forward and start undressing one of the men.

We make quick work, stripping them of their outer layers and dragging them into the bushes for Nat and the others to take. Once we're dressed in Hydra's black uniforms, overtop our suits, we head into the car.

Steve drives, myself in the passenger, and then Bucky in the back. I take a cap out of the glove compartment and tuck the end of my braid into it, finding a gun in their too. I take it and slide it into the holster from the man.

Looking down at his name-tag, I see Andrews. Steve's says Alvarez and then Bucky's says Donnelly.

"So," Steve starts, drawing my attention. "Once we get in, we have to head straight to the kill switch."

"We'll probably run into some workers." I say. "And I might have to drop the enchantment once we get inside. There are cameras at every corner, so you just have to keep your head down. I'm not sure how long I can hold it."

"Got another cap in there?" Steve asks.

I rummage around and find one on the floor, handing it to Steve.

"Sorry James, I don't have another."

"It's fine. Just gotta keep my head down."

"When we pass people, I'll enchant them or something so they don't recognize you. I just, most likely, won't be able to hold it the whole time. I'm not sure of my limits."

We drive for about a mile until we see the first of two check points. Theres a small building with one of those gates similar to the ones in parking garages. As we near, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. Focusing on creating a mask over our faces, identical to those we handed over to the other part of our team when we highjacked the truck.

"I don't see a difference." James says.

Opening my eyes, feeling the waves of magic and energy float over us and coat our skin. Turning over my shoulder, I'm met with a brown eyed and brown haired man with a hooked nose and freckles dotting his face. Donnelly.

"You guys can't see the difference. But myself and everyone else can."

"So, you can make someone else look like...well, someone else without them knowing?"

"Yes."

James just nods in the seat, while I face forward. Steve's face is contorted to include a small button nose, high cheekbones and skin that looks to have been kissed by the sun.