Remembrance//Book 1//CATWS and AOU

8. Helicarriers

(flashback that takes place after steve's)

Even though she herself hadn't been there for Sara's funeral, Annie remembered her heart being stung with a shard of glass when she'd heard the news. Right after the funeral itself. 

Her hurt over losing a very close parent-figure had overcame the anger of not being told. It was tough ever since first war, and there wasn't much communication between Steve, Bucky and Burdge at the time.

Annie knew that she'd been very distressed, working on various blueprints with Howard Stark and keeping up with most of the tests in college. Annie suddenly saw Burdge getting reprimanded about the dress she wore. The men in her class always treated her as a minor, both because of her gender and the unknown ethnicity. 

Anyway, Burdge had been finished with her semester at college, they took a two-week break from classes. Burdge had found herself a ride to Steve's apartment. It had been hard to figure out where he lived after moving out of the neighborhood.

Burdge had made it in time, to see Bucky descending from the stairs and leaving Steve to go home and rest. Annie herself felt her heart tug from sadness. Bucky had combed his hair back, and he wore a nice black-fitted suit. 

Through this memory, Annie felt Burdge's throat dry of words. Nothing could make this day worse. Or relieved now that she's with Bucky.

"How's he doing?" Burdge says when Bucky catches sight of her. 

The way he looks at her, Annie can tell that there was an apparent difference in Burdge's appearance. To start off, Burdge had started practicing with the S.O.E agents to learn self defense. The after effects on her body were suitable for the fitting black dress that is below knee length.

"Steve's good," he mumbles, walking towards Burdge with a sullen face. 

"He was lying to you?"

"I offered him to stay with me."

Burdge presses a grin on her face. "And he rejected?"

"As always."

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It was more likely for Annie to die than to be captured by HYDRA if she went along with Steve, Aspen, Sam, and Maria. Annie felt it unnecessary in the equation, unneeded by her brother. An empty void fills her heart, thinking about the weight she held for Bucky. Annie should be there, for comfort. Steve just didn't understand the way Bucky had been tortured. How he had been put through more than her.

No, Bucky will remember. The hellicarriers will fall, and HYDRA will be disabled temporarily enough for Annie to sneak away and find Bucky. Surely he wasn't just going to go along with Steve. Annie knew Bucky like it was herself. Through all of the things HYDRA had done to a good man, he would run in shame. Annie wasn't good at all.

Through the intercepting com Annie set up in her eye, she reads the words, "I'm willing to bet that I'm not," from Steve's very provocative and sweet speech. Though, as compelling as it was to do the right thing, Annie wasn't here to stop HYDRA yet, but to find Bucky.

The unease thought of him being used as a weapon against his best friend tightened Annie's heart in fear.

All HYDRA agents were stiff, and through the glass doors of the Insight launch room, she sees Agent 13 standing up. Slipping into the room, Annie surveys the place.

Though, she immediately catches sight of Rumlow. Her stomach coils in disgust. Tilting her head away from him, she hopes that he doesn't recognize the suit.