You Can't Save Everyone

Chapter 3 - The Volunteer

Y/N POV
My team was ready to fire questions as soon as I stepped foot into our living area on floor 22.

"Please explain why we have to work with those posh pricks y/n because I really can't fathom why you of all people would agree to such a thing." Jess snapped, arms folded as she stood in the middle of the room.

"I second that." Kayleigh said standing up from her armchair. "I know we made you our leader y/n but this is not the sort of decision you can make on your own."

"And how the fuck do you plan on working side by side with the Winter Soldier?!" Leanne added.

I kept my face neutral displaying my unnerving resting bitch face. "Are you all done so I can speak or would you like to state more of the obvious?"

None of the girls spoke up, "Thank you" I said sarcastically. "I'm way more vexed by this arrangement than you girls so don't for a second think I want to be here."

"Then why are we here? Let's just go." Leanne stated.

"We can't. Fury has between a rock and a hard place." I replied.

"How so?" Jess asked arching an eyebrow.

"If we try to leave we'll be arrested in a heartbeat and we'll never finish our plans.... but if we do as he wishes... he can get us to the Red Skull."

The original Red Skull that Steve and Barnes had known died decades ago but each new leader of Hydra had adopted the same codename because of the status it held and sense of fear it spread. Alexander Pierce had been the Red Skull for most of Barnes' time as the Winter Soldier but after he left, a new figure took up the mantle. The latest Red Skull had always held control over me and my team, Pierce only ever cared about his Winter Soldier. The problem was, ever since we broke out of Hydra, our Red Skull had disappeared completely... but now Fury was offering him to us on a silver platter.

"Sorry, did you just say Fury can get us to the Red Skull?!" Leanne yelled.

"Jesus Leanne, dial it down a few decibels. We don't need or want the Avengers to know everything about our deal with Fury! That's our business, not theirs and I don't want them interfering." I replied in a harsh tone.

"What exactly does Fury know?" Jess asked.

"I don't have the details yet Jess. We get what we want when Fury gets what he wants." I said.

"And what does Fury want from us?" Kayleigh asked.

"We have to work with the Avengers to take out the remaining Hydra bases" I stated and it was met by looks of disbelief from the girls. "Believe me I know it's less than optimal circumstances but it's a small price to pay to get to the Red Skull and we'll be continuing to take out bases like we planned."

"What about our plan for the Avengers? And more specifically, your plan for the Winter Soldier?" Leanne said.

"They're on hold for now. There's no way out of this, we don't have a choice. So make the best of it and do your jobs. The sooner the bases are down, the sooner we can get out of here." I said. "Are you in agreement or should I just ask Fury to free up four cells on death row because that's how this ends for us if we go on trial?"

"Fine." Jess replied and the others nodded. She was my unofficial second in command so if she agreed, the other two didn't have a leg to stand on.

"Good." I said. "I'm going to go to the gym and clear my head. Choose a room and do whatever you want."

There were six bedrooms on this floor, three on each side of the tower. Jess and I chose two on the left while Leanne and Kayleigh settled into rooms on the right. My room was spacious and had an en-suite bathroom. I made a beeline for the full wall length wardrobes on the right side of the room and opened a few doors. The wardrobe was mostly empty but had a small selection of both men's and women's clothing in different sizings for any guests who stayed. I pulled out black workout leggings and a black sports bra, putting both on before tying my hair into a ponytail. I had worn black trainers to the base in Russia anyway so I just continued wearing them.