Red Ledger- A Marvel Short Story

Part 1

A/N: This is from my One Shot story that got away from me. I was inspired enough to finish it, but decided to post it separately as a short story on it's own.

Timeline is.... there-ish. Set after Bucky is healed and cleared by Shuri in Wakanda, but IW and Endgame never happen. Steve wasn't an idiot, Natasha is alive etc, etc. Canon got blown off into the water a few miles back. Just go with it.

The bubble popped between your lips as you surveyed the area from where you lay on your stomach, stretched out in position on a roof, the sun slowly setting behind you. Chewing the gum a few times, you leaned your head forward to look down the scope of your rifle.

"Really, Y/N? Is the bubblegum necessary?" Sam Wilson's voice sounded in your ear, seemingly annoyed. You couldn't help the smile that spread as you chewed your gum loudly on purpose a few more times. Just for his sake.

"Helps me focus, Sammy boy." You slowed your chew as you observed several dark clothed Hydra agents moving throughout the compound a few blocks away.

The large gated compound settled smack dab in the middle of the European city you currently found yourself in-- listed under the guise of a private business-- was in fact a Hydra Assassin training program. The Avengers had been called in when one of the unwilling students had managed to escape and get in contact with SHIELD.

You weren't an Avenger, but given the location of the compound, combined with your history and skills as an Agent, Fury had called you in to assist. Though you'd worked with the Avengers several times before, nobody really knew much about you. When questioned, Fury had given them the "need to know and you don't" response.

Though they were still (understandably) hesitant, you'd quickly earned their trust after saving several members from enemy attacks on the first few missions.

This current mission was supposed to be a quick data mining mission for the others, while you confirmed who a higher up Hydra Agent was meeting before eliminating both from a safe distance.

Sam huffed out a smart-ass remark as you popped another bubble with a smirk.

"That's enough, kids," Tony chided in his usual sarcastic way. "Don't make Daddy Steve put you in time out."

You held your laugh in as you listened to several members of the team groan.

"Might wanna rephrase that one, Stark," Wanda suggested. You could tell she was smiling.

"Yeah, realized my mistake the moment I said it."

"I mean, he's not wrong," you responded, your eyes continuing to follow the targets through your scope. "I'd let Daddy Steve put me in time out." You could only imagine the blush creeping across Steve's face. The thought brought a smile to your own.

You spotted your target through your scope, checking on the notepad in front of you to confirm the man's identity. "Heads up, Cap. Bad guy's headed your way." Communication cleared, a serious blanket falling over the team as the mission moved forward.

"Alright, folks. Just hang back, let's see who this guy is meeting. We can't afford to let him get away." Cap's voice was clear and commanding.

"Lost visual contact," you updated over the comms as the man turned around a corner of the building, out of your sight. You snapped one last bubble as you made a quick decision.

Quickly, you pushed yourself up off your belly into a crouched position on your toes as you quickly threw the gun strap over your head, leaving your rifle to hang across your back. Silently, you scaled down the metal roof ladder, keeping to the shadows on the ground as you made your way down the block.