Eternal Winter

XX: Diversion

December 31 2025

Somewhere above the North Atlantic Ocean

Steve sat on the uncomfortable metal bench of the small, altered helicarrier. Built for less people and less detection. It glided above the clouds as the sun began to set, its autopilot taking control of every movement. 

His elbows rested on his lap as he stared at the empty bench in front of him. In fact the entire helicarrier was empty. The sky and ocean was the only thing that accompanied him on his flight to the icy surface of Russia. Unlike Sam, his destination would be determined once he's over the country. Which bothered his thinking process, he only knew very little of the mission and nothing of his role in it. 

 Remember what side you are on.

Natasha's voice haunted his subconscious. He refused to be a part of anything that involve more collateral damage. He refused to have the shadows of casualties follow him and grab him in his sleep. Retirement is a strong word, however, ending is another. He put his shield down and never expected to pick it up and wipe the years of dust off of it. He turned to look at the symbolic shield, it shined with a tint of rebirth, making his stomach turn. It has been his job since the day he was born to help protect people, to stop the extinction of innocence. It's his destiny.  

With this is also a curse, people question them; him. They wanted to keep them locked up, under surveillance. They wanted to own the rights of the Avengers and if they did not cooperate then a line had to be crossed. The line disappeared and never returned that day. 

Steve shook the memory when the sound echoed across the helicarrier. His destination has been revealed and booted into the system. Forty-five minutes until landing.

Forty-five minutes of rethinking this mission.

Forty-five minutes of pure and dreaded silence.

December 31 2025

Area Classified

They sat in the familiar four walls of the tech room, staring at the TV's location system go in and out with possible targets. Fingers tapped on the mahogany table, and legs shook in impatience. Breakfast was filled with laughter while after was filled with nothing but the sound of breathing.

Wanda tilted her head up at the screen, her nut-brown hair spilling down her shoulder. Boredom shook the room like an earthquake. There has been nothing since the day Trikov appeared on the screen of a haunted room.

"This is a waste of fucking time." Natasha sat beside Wanda, biting her finger in annoyance.

"Language."

Everyone's head turned to the foot of the door where Steve and Sam leaned on the door frame. Facial expressions filled with surprise. Clint laughing silently at Steve's entrance.

"At least I'm not the only one with a sense of humor." Clint said as he stood up and hugged Steve.

"We aren't the ones that use ladles as microphones." Natasha said as she sipped her cup of water.

Smiles spread across James and Wanda's faces, hiding their laughter.

"That was one time!" Clint whined.

Wanda stood up and ran to embrace Steve. "Glad to have the Captain back."

"Not sure if I'm glad to be back." He said sincerely as he looked at Natasha.

She nodded and he nodded in response.

Once again tension spread across the room, this time like a broken dam, water rushing and leaving no space to breathe. They did not know how the reunion was gonna turn out but it is not as bad as they thought. 

James, who was sitting at the foot of the table walked over to embrace his best friends. Two boys that have grown into men together are reunited in negative circumstances. Natasha did not know what hurt more, the pain on their faces or the situation that forced them to work together as a normal team.

"Great to see you pal." James said with a small smile on his face.

Steve smiled back. "Seems to me like nothing has changed."

"Really? Nothing?" Clint said as he filled his mouth with popcorn.

Sam did a double-take. "Where the hell did that come from?" Pointing at the bowl.

"The microwave?" Popcorn was falling out of his mouth.

James changed the topic of discussion before things took a turn. "Shall we start then?"

Natasha and Wanda stood up and turned to the computer behind them.

"So far we have nothing, but that will change." Wanda said as she kept her eyes on the computer.

"And why is that?" Clint said while he held on to his never ending bowl of popcorn.

Natasha turned to face everyone. "At first, it was just James and I. Then you two," Natasha motioned her hands at Wanda and Clint. "Came and things took a different turn. Trikov had to think fast without making it look like he was ambushed. So he erased everything that lead to him, except for that video in the room. That was his way of making it appear to be plan B. Why leave and become nothing more than a grain of sand in an infinite desert?"

"He's outnumbered. Not by people but by power." Steve said as he took a seat at the table.

"So Trikov knows that if he acts now he won't stand a chance." Sam kept his place at the door.

"Exactly." Natasha said.

James focused on Natasha. "Now that there are more of us he's going to want to remove the threat as soon as possible."

"No more precautions." Natasha said in response.

"How do we fit in this picture?" Steve asked.

"Distraction." 

Clint choked on a kernel. "Distraction?!"

Steve and Sam could not agree more with his reaction. "You went through all the trouble of bringing us just to be a blind eye?"

"I never signed up to play a clown." Clint said as he threw a popcorn at Natasha.

"That's the most important part." Natasha responded.

Wanda, who was silent, realized where Natasha was going. "The distraction is what is going to draw him out."

"Too many people to pay attention to." Natasha stood up and headed to the entrance of the door.

"Aren't you gonna tell us what the plan is?" Clint asked.

"The plan has already started. Trikov knows you're here, now we just have to wait for him."

"Again." James chimed in.

Natasha nodded. "Well then, time to suit up."