In Another Life...

26

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A/N —
I'll be honest my friends, I don't
feel like writing out the entire battle
of New York.
So I'm not doing it.
But as a heads up, I'm adding
my own plot points that will be
mentioned again at a later date.
So there's that.

— A. Barnes

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Twenty-three felt good on Anastasia. After years, things finally started looking up. She was financially secure, worked sixty-five hours a week, had weekends off, and made a couple amazing friends.

It had taken eleven months to become a trusted Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., which was admittedly one of the quickest introductions in the history of the agency.

She had also been able to spoil Peter more, and he grew to call her his older sister, despite having no blood relation at all.

Things were going good, until the phone call.

On a Helicarrier in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean was the last place she wanted to hear that one of her best friends had been compromised by an enemy.
Her anger in the situation fueled her determination. Who was she kidding? Twenty-three years of anger began to bubble over, but was quickly contained by Natasha's arrival.

"I assume you already heard the news, judging by the fact everyone is actively avoiding you."

"You'd assume correct. Any news on the situation?" Anastasia questioned, falling into step beside Natasha. She reminded her a bit of another redheaded girl she was close with.

"None right now, it's like they fell off the face of the earth." Natasha responded. Anastasia groaned dramatically.
"Whoever has him better hope I don't get my hands on them." Natasha laughed.
"I'd love to see that, you almost tore that one agent to shreds last month."

"He slapped my ass and called me princess in a condescending manner, I'd say it was well deserved. . . And if he was going to to it, he shouldn't have complained to Hill." Anastasia laughed as they approached the deck. "Should've seen him when he came out of her office."

"What did she do to him?"
"I'm not sure, but he hasn't looked at me since the incident and he's a bit skittish around any woman above level one."

"Traumatizing men since the eighties." Natasha joked quietly, nudging Anastasia in the side.

"You got that right." Anastasia said just in time for her phone to vibrate in her back pocket. She pulled it out and sighed. "Hey — you greet the guys and I'll meet you in base command."

"See you in a few minutes."
"Yeah, just don't scare them too much, Fury says we need them."
"Don't ruin my fun!" Natasha called as Anastasia walked away. Her loud laughter could be heard a moment later.

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"They're looking at you." Natasha stated from where she was in the pilots seat of the Quinjet. Anastasia raised her eyebrows questioningly from the co-pilot's seat.
"Who is?"
"Our other four passengers."

Anastasia chuckled and sat up a bit straighter. "That's hilarious, really. You sure they're not looking at you? Shit, I'd rather look at you."

"Liar. You spent three hours in front of the mirror just flirting with yourself yesterday."
"I did not!" Anastasia swatted at her arm.
"You did. You do that often."

"Sure I do." Anastasia scoffed. "Besides, I'd kindly like to remind you that I've not spoken to anyone except you since we got on this American made death trap."

Natasha hummed. "Maybe you should at least introduce yourself to the ones on our side, maybe throw a couple creative insults at the other one. You're the only one on the team they know nothing about."

"I wasn't even supposed to be on the team."
"But you are, so, go introduce yourself."
"Fine, mother."

Anastasia huffed and unbuckled herself. She stood, cracked her back, and turned around.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." She sighed, moving towards the three standing near the back, completely ignoring the one tied to the chair for the time being.

"I'm Anastasia, your other teammate. No, I wasn't mentioned initially, I wasn't supposed to be here, Fury put me on. Said I could be of use if things go south."

"You look familiar — you were with that kid a year ago at the expo." Stark said. Anastasia looked genuinely shocked for a moment.
"I'm surprised you remember that, with everything you had going on."
"Didn't know you were an agent."
"I wasn't then. . . It just happened."

There was a beat of silence. "So because you're Stark, I assume that means you're the Captain I've heard so much about and that you are the God that almost knocked us out of the sky."

"What gave it away?" Tony asked gesturing for Steve.
"I'm not sure, but the star spangled spandex certainly helped piece it together."

Tony grinned. "I like you, kid."

"Everyone does." Anastasia smirked and turned around, so she was standing beside them. Though her smirk began to fall when she saw the face of the man they'd been after.

Recognition flashed in her eyes.

"Dad! Can we go see our cousins? Please? I've behaved all week."

"Not today, Ascella dear."

She could see her frown reflect in the shiny artifact on his desk, though her eyes traveled to her eldest sister, who was motioning for her to leave with tears in her eyes.

"But—"
"Ascella, leave us. We will discuss this later."

Ascella nodded and began making her exit. Just before the door closed roughly, she turned around to make sure it closed gently. It didn't close in time. She heard the unmistakable cry of an all too familiar unforgivable — Crucio.

Before she could show too much emotion, she excused herself and went back up front.