𝓘 𝓼𝔀𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝓘𝓶 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓪 𝓶𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻

Chapter 9

Steve

A barely recognizable girl sat in the corner. Her hair had been cut very badly and she looked thinner than before.

She finally looked up and saw me.

"Come on, kid. Let's go." I said, moving forward to help her.

She shook her head and pointed to a collar around her neck.

I didn't understand fully but I knew I needed to get that off of her.

"Clint! Get over here!" I yelled.

Clint came running into the room and I pointed at the kids collar.

"Think you can get that off?" I asked.

He looked at it for a second and then seemed to make up his mind. "It would be my genuine pleasure, Cap."

"Great."

Clint got to work on the collar and I went out for a second to check on the others.

They were just where I left them. There was a few unconscious agents on the ground but other than that, everything was the same.

I went back to the kid. She looked very panicked but relaxed only slightly when she saw me.

She sent me a look that told me all I needed to know. She was scared, and the only person she trusted was a few million miles away. But I was that persons best friend, I was the best thing she had right now. And maybe, eventually, I might become somebody she trusts almost as much as Bucky.

I decided right then and there that I was going to protect this kid at all costs. And that I wouldn't leave her alone again, considering she looked very uncomfortable with Barton.

"What's it look like, Barton?" I asked.

"Well, I might be able to get it off if I had better resources, but the best I'm able to do right now is deactivate it, Cap." He answered and stood back to look at it.

I nodded and sat down, leaning up against the wall.

This might take a while.

Nadia

I was alone with the man they called Clint. I saw him a few times before the fight, but I didn't trust him at all. I looked at the door and waited for Steve to come back.

It was a very uncomfortable silence, but I didn't dare break it. I didn't know this man, I barely had an idea about what was happening and the only person I trusted was gone. The closest thing I had to him was Steve.

Part of me was mad at Bucky for going back under, but another part of me was happy. I was glad that at least one of us got some closure of our time at HYDRA.

Steve came back into the room, and I was very relieved.

I didn't know what else to do so I just stared down at my bare feet. My hand subconsciously went up to touch my newly cut hair. It was jagged and short but it was different.

HYDRA liked their hair to be long, easier to tie back and not in your way as much. They also just didn't have the humanity to have their hair cut regularly.

Clint and Steve talked a bit but I just zoned them out and focused on my feet.

My toenails were like claws. They hadn't been cut in weeks, I was surprised they hadn't just came off.

"Kid? Clint's gonna work on disabling your collar, so that we can get you out of here." Steve informed me.

I nodded my head and waited for Clint to approach. He came slowly and bent down next to me.