It's Been A Long, Long Time ; Bucky Barnes

Chapter Ten

2014 - The Twins

There were surprisingly many people in the airport, some hurrying to their flight, others asleep in the uncomfortable chairs. Cara had made it to Sokovia and she already felt on edge. She kept thinking about the last time she was there; thinking about Iryna, the girl from the shop all those years ago. Her time in Sokovia was the one thing she remembered most vividly, probably because that was when her mind was the most active.

The sound of a plane taking off snapped her back to reality. Cara walked out of the airport and called a cab, the driver brought her to the hotel where she was staying and she paid him. Checking into the hotel she thought about her mother, whose name the room was under. She missed her mother, Sarah Rogers. She got the key card and swiftly made her way to her room, Cara was on the fourth floor closest to the stairwell.

The room was small but tidy, it had a weird smell, kind of how she thought a nursing home would smell; but the bed was her own and it wasn't too soft which was perfect. She wanted to see the city before looking for James, she threw the key card in her purse, along with some money, and went for a stroll. The city looked the same but more dull, a sense of gray washed over it as if there were no people around. The people were more sad and lifeless than the last time she was there and she knew it was her fault, Hydra ruined this city.

Cara pushed that thought to the back of her head and walked to the town square, where she first met Iryna. The small shop was still there but it was a building now, not just a tent with some trinkets and clothing in it. She opened the door and saw three people in there, one worker at the register and two people shopping for clothes.

Cara brushed her hand along the shelves and clothes hanging on racks. She touched the necklace Steve gave her around her neck and thought about the one it had replaced. The horseshoe necklace that Pierce ripped from her throat and destroyed. He told her it symbolized weakness and that an assassin shouldn't need luck. She had hidden it from all of her previous director's but Pierce caught a glimpse of the necklace when The Dark Agent was sparring with The Winter Soldier and it appeared from behind her shirt. It took every ounce of self control in her not to bash his head in, now Cara wishes she would have listened to the voice in her head telling her to hurt him.

Someone tapped her on the shoulder and she spun around, on guard, "Sorry," the store clerk said, "Didn't mean to startle you. I was just wondering if you'd like any help." Cara chuckled quietly and let out a sigh of relief.

Cara smiled at the young woman, "I'm just browsing. Thank you though." The woman nodded and went back to stocking the shelves. Cara's smile soon faded when she felt eyes on her. She grabbed the small mirror in her purse and stepped behind one of the clothing racks. Cara pointed it in the general area of where she felt the person looking at her. All she saw was the back of a woman with short black hair, she knew Cara was looking at her.

The woman turned around and Cara got a glimpse of her face before looking away from the mirror and putting it back in her purse. Anya? It couldn't be her. Cara thought to herself, Pierce said she was dead. Although, that wouldn't be the first time Pierce lied. She took a deep breath and wondered what the best move would be. She didn't want to fight, knowing there were probably Hydra agents in the city, but if it was Anya then she would be safe... right?

Wrong. The woman grabbed Cara's arm and pulled her into a changing room, "Are you insane?" Anya asked, "Y- You can't be here." Cara's heart sank and she quickly wrapped her arms around the woman in front of her, "Agent. I'm serious."

Agent Cara thought, "I'm Cara." Anya gave a sigh and looked at her, "How are you so young?" Anya looked just like she did the last time Cara saw her, which was almost fifteen years ago.