Winter's Sister

5

Bucky and I's cross-country road trip lasted about three weeks before we reached New York. Mr. Killicks' mansion was in California, but Steve and his friends lived in New York City. Bucky had tried to explain what he had heard about the Avengers, Steve's super-powered friends. He also said he and Steve were in a big fight about two years ago, and after that is when he started to track me down. Since then, the Avengers had 'dropped a city on the world'.

We only stopped for food, gas, and restroom breaks, and stayed at a motel every second or third night. One day early on, when we stopped at a store so Bucky could get more bread and peanut butter, he also grabbed a pair of clothes that he assumed were my size (media pic).

Finally, we reached New York City. There were so many skyscrapers. More than any place we'd driven through, I think. I could hardly believe my eyes. But it also made me sad. Bucky and I would be separated again.

My brother parked in front of a diner, saying, "A bit of lunch wouldn't hurt."

We ate slow and silent. Neither of us wanted to be separated again, but we had agreed it was for the best. Not that he would let me have much say anyway.

♤☆♤

Avengers Compound

Third person POV

Tony, Steve, Natasha, Wanda, and Vision were all seated around the lounge area, talking while they had actual free time.

"Someone is coming up the elevator," announced Friday, the AI that had replaced Jarvis after Ultron attacked.

"Bring up the feed," Tony ordered, his eyes hard. They hadn't been expecting company.

On a screen came the image of the elevator interior. A man, easily recognizable as the Winter Soldier, stood next to a girl who kept her face down.

"Bucky?" Steve questioned in astonishment.

"Cap, it looks like your psycho murderous friend kidnapped someone. Would he kidnap someone? I think he would," Tony chattered.

Finally, the elevator came to a stop. As the doors slid open, Natasha placed a hand on her gun, Steve raised his shield, Wanda took a fighting stance, and Tony and Vision simply stood in wait. Bucky didn't seem surprised by the Avengers' untrusting behavior. Ree, on the other hand, looked a little terrified as she looked around at all the new faces, and one familiar face which was twisted in confusion.

"Ree?" Steve asked, lowering his shield. Slowly, the rest of the group lowered their weapons as the girl answered.

"Hi, Steve," she said quietly.

Steve walked forward, gently pulling the small teen to his chest in a hug. She flinched a little, but quickly relaxed, returning the affection.

"I thought you were dead," Steve said. "Or much older, but I never found any record of you."

"Can someone explain what's happening?" Tony demanded. "I can't just have a murderer show up in the compound with some kid and no one telling me what's going on!"

Bucky sighed impatiently. "She's my sister," he explained. "Steve, come on, I'll tell you everything, but not here."

Ree's POV

Steve and my brother went to another room, leaving me alone with all these new people. The initial silence was awkward and uncomfortable. A man with black hair and a mustache and beard to match walked up to me. I took a step back, and he seemed unfased. Everyone stared at us.

"So, the murderer has a sister," the man stated, taking another step towards me. "Let me guess, you're just like him, aren't you?"

"My brother is not a murderer," I defended quietly. Everyone could hear me, however, in this quiet room. "Th-they brainwashed him. It wasn't his fault."

"You sound like your convincing yourself, not me," the man said, squinting suspiciously at me. "Did he hurt you?"

Tears came to my eyes. Suddenly, a girl only a few years older than me stood between me and the man.

"Stark, stop this," she ordered. I couldn't place her accent. "She is just a child! And obviously she has been through a lot."

The man, Stark, rolled his eyes and walked away. The girl turned to face me.

"What is your name?" she asked kindly.

"Maureen Barnes, but most people call me Ree," I answered, giving a small smile.

"Wanda Maximoff," the girl smiled. She couldn't be more than eighteen. "These are Natasha Romanoff, and Vision. The, rather rude, man you met already is Tony Stark. Care to join me for some tea?"

I waved at the people as Wanda introduced them, and nodded that yes, I would join her. I followed her into the kitchen where she had a kettle already set up, as if this was a routine for her. She pulled out two mugs and poured the herbal tea. It tasted like apples and cinnamon.

"It's very good," I complemented. "I haven't had tea in, well, at least seventy years."

Wanda almost spit out her tea. "Seventy years? Is that how you knew the Captain?"

I nodded. "I was taken by Hydra when I was thirteen," I explained. "They froze me for seventy years. I was insurance that my brother had really lost his memories. He remembers now, though. Actually, you're the first girl I've talked to in seventy years. So, thank you for your kindness."

Wanda gave a soft smile. "You seem like a good kid," she shrugged. "I've had my fair share of Hydra as well. It was my own doing, but I see, now, how horrible they really were." She continued to tell me about how her and her twin brother, Pietro, had been protesters of war in their country, Sokovia, before letting Hydra experiment on them. She told me about Ultron, and how she and Pietro joined the Avengers. Then, she also told me how Pietro died, a hero.

"I'm sorry about your brother," I whispered. "I know nothing I can say will make it hurt less. You can talk to me whenever you want or need to."

"And you as well," Wanda stated.

Then, Steve walked in, looking at me with concern and sadness. Bucky had told him everything, most likely. Even about Mr. Killicks. But there was something else.

"He's gone, isn't he?" I asked. Steve nodded and I sighed. "He didn't even say goodbye."

"He didn't feel he had the right to say goodbye, after everything they made him do to you," Steve explained.

I shook my head. "It wasn't his fault, Steve. In the end, he saved me."

"I know, but it's not safe for you to stay with him." Steve agreed. "For now, you will be staying here, at the compound. Your room will be between mine and Wanda's. I don't live here, but I might as well. Also, um, he mentioned you could heal? A result of Hydra experimentation."

Nodding, I looked over at Wanda. I noticed a burn on her hand, probably from making tea. I took her hand and closed my eyes in cencentration. I felt the burn growing on my own hand, and opened my eyes. Wanda looked at our hands in wonder, and Steve appeared shocked.

"I don't exactly heal," I murmured. "I guess it's more like I steal the pain, or injuries, of others. I can't heal myself."