Again // The Winter Soldier

ten.

The second Carmen reached her apartment she ran to her room and opened her closet. There had been a large shelf she had used to store things she thought of no use but couldn't get rid of. The metallic casing wasn't hard to find as she pulled it out. But the pink and black boutique case with white chevron stripes was a bit harder. Finally grasping it she ran off to her bathroom. Carmen had learned, mostly from taking care of Peggy, the slightest familiarity could spark any memory.

So Carmen wiped the dust off the boutique case and immediately got to work on her hair. She hadn't had such trouble with her hair before but it wasn't as long back then. Finally the tight curls held and the crocodile clips scattered her hair. It was like looking in a time capsule. Carmen quickly shook it off and began doing her makeup. One perk was she didn't have to struggle to remember how she used to do her makeup because she had been doing it the same since 1945.

After accomplishing her silent mission, and removing each crocodile clip, she walked back to her room. Tony had sent her the metallic case about a month after the Battle of New York. He had claimed it was for when she got back into field work and Carmen thoroughly reassured him she would never get back into it, New York was an exception. But now here she was slowly opening it to reveal the signature navy blue of her suit. Yet Tony had added his own flare and the original S.H.I.E.L.D. eagle lay displayed in a vibrant white across the chest of her uniform.

After slipping her guns into the thigh holster's and a few quick hand knives into their places she found herself back at the undercover base, walking through the woods with Hill, Sam, and Steve. Steve had struggled to keep his eyes off her. He had never seen her hair resemble her old self so perfectly since he had been back and now her lips displayed a bright shade of red. She had mostly stuck to pink but this Carmen was full bore 1940's and it made Steve's heart rate pick up. "Is it to much?"

"What?" Steve shook himself out of his thoughts as he looked to the girl beside him.

"My makeup, is it to much?" Steve lightly chuckled and leaned towards the girl.

"It's perfect, your perfect" Carmen smiled and looked at Steve's suit. He must of had the same idea as her because Carmen hadn't seen that exact uniform since 1946. It almost felt like playing dress up but it was them. The real versions of themselves.

Up ahead they spotted the Triskelion and continued their journey through the woods. Getting in was a little bit of a hassle but they went unseen. Carmen led them to a control room on one of the tech floors. Hill messed with the system and then they prepared their weapons towards the door for the awaited S.H.I.E.L.D. Tech worker. Slowly the door opened and Steve stepped forward.

"Excuse us" the worker quickly put his hands in the air and moved out of the way for them to file out of the room. The group made their way to the PA system and Hill turned it on before motioning Steve to the microphone. "Attention all S.H.I.E.L.D. agents this is Steve Rogers. You've heard a lot about me over the last few days. Some of you were even ordered to hunt me down. But I think it's time you know the truth"

Steve had now removed his helmet and Carmen stepped beside him before he spoke again. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is not what we thought it was. It's been taken over by Hydra. Alexander Pierce is their leader. The S.T.R.I.KE. and Insight crew are Hydra as well. I don't know how many more. But I know they're in the building. They could be standing right next to you. They almost have what they want. Absolute control. They shot Nick Fury. Attacked Carmen Erskine. And it won't end there. If you launch those helicarriers today Hydra will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way. Unless we stop them. I know I'm asking a lot. But the price of freedom is high, it always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay. And if I'm the only one then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not"