What If...? Rumlow Turned Against Hydra: Book One

11

He suspected that being part of the STRIKE team had dulled his imagination. Rumlow had been involved in many many different missions for his duties with SHIELD, and surreptitiously Hydra, but none had been so completely undercover. The missions where he had to use stealth he had still gone in shooting, or with the intention of doing so; he had never had to hide in plain sight. It was disconcerting to not be sure if he was spotted or not, to not know if he needed to act differently or if he was over thinking. He looked enviously at Romanov, who wasn't in any particular disguise, she was simply acting completely casual and relaxed, drawing no attention. Rumlow knew of her skillset but would never have guessed Barnes would be equally adept, not with the metal arm and general air of inhuman stillness. He was just as casual as Romanov, metal arm covered with a worn jacket, hair brushed and tied back, walking not with the powerful strides of a super soldier and assassin, but with the shorter, less cadenced steps of a normal human being. There was even an impression of fatigue, subtly done with the slight hunch of the shoulders that turned Barnes into someone no one would look at twice in a crowd. It made Rumlow feel as if he was the one who was superfluous, but he was determined to help where he could, trying to assume a different posture as opposed to simply being the STRIKE team leader in different clothing.

They were in the midst of the spring tourists in the heart of Washington D.C. not quite walking together but remaining close. Barnes stopped briefly to look at one of the phones he'd managed to get from somewhere, with Romanov pausing to sit on a bench nearby, facing the Washington Monument, looking as if she was sightseeing. Rumlow took his cues from them, stopping to read the signs showing the nearest major attractions near the Monument and while attempting not to look like he was a man on the run. Barnes gave a subtle nod and they were off again, remaining in the crowded areas for most of the morning. All of them instinctively and deliberately made sure to never show their faces to any of the myriad security cameras everywhere until they were sitting more or less together at the side of the reflecting pool, Romanov and Rumlow eating a quick lunch like so many around them were doing.

Rumlow made a small gesture, alerting the others to a girl approaching them, looking for all the world like a very bored teenager. She did not deviate from walking toward them, with Rumlow trying not to be tense as she stopped in front of Barnes who looked up at her with a very well-done expression of confusion.

"Can I help you?" Barnes asked with puzzled politeness.

"You dropped this, awhile back," was the reply. She held out a small backpack.

"I was wondering where that went," Barnes said as if surprised. "You are a very honest person to give it back."

"I wouldn't want to lose my backpack, so I thought it was the right thing to do." She smiled slightly. "You probably have people waiting for you, so I'll let you get on with your day."

"Thank you, very much."

She walked off, Rumlow looking quizzically at Barnes. They finished their food in silence; when they stood up to throw away the wrappers and bag the food came in, Barnes handed a phone to Rumlow. There was already a text message on it.
"Meet at this address in one hour."

Barnes, Romanov and Rumlow all walked away in different directions. Rumlow tried not be paranoid but it was difficult since he knew just how many places Hydra had infiltrated. The address was miles away; to get to the location on time, he had to risk taking a public bus, slightly less confined than the Metro, but still far too likely a place to be spotted if he was being actively hunted. An entirely unwelcome thought intruded as he rode the bus, ignoring the other passengers. He might not be actively hunted, not with Hydra's attention on Steve and what they were doing to him. It didn't help, it made the entire situation worse, as he imagined just how low on the priority list he probably was. Romanov wasn't on their radar just yet, but as an Avenger, she would be. Only Barnes would be actively hunted. How anyone would be successful in hunting him, Rumlow couldn't fathom.