(Bucky Barnes x OFC Elliott "Ellie" Mabry)
Elliott is an Avenger, sent on a special mission to stop an oncoming threat. To do so, she's sent back to 1940's era Brooklyn. Knowing she needs to focus on the task at hand, she hopes to avoid her crush in the form of a pre-War Bucky Barnes. But what happens when Bucky has no desire to avoid Elliott?
Warnings: language, angst
"You want me to do what?," Ellie asked Tony, making sure she heard him correctly. She knew that Harland was a threat and he needed to be stopped. That much was clear. But Stark couldn't possibly be serious. "I know it seems crazy, Elliott," Tony sighed, running a hand through his hair, "but it's completely safe, according to Strange," he said and Ellie's eyes flickered over to the sorcerer, who simply nodded.
"I need you to go back, take him out before he can make the deal with HYDRA," he told her, repeating the plan. "According to all the records, he hid out in Brooklyn before making his way to Germany. I need you to stop him," he said and she let out a breath, nodding. This was insane.
"One more thing," Bruce said from the corner and Ellie turned to look at him. "You obviously won't be the only Avenger in Brooklyn. You need to try and avoid Rogers AND Barnes," he said knowingly and she swallowed. Of course. "You could alter more than one event," he explained and she nodded again.
Yeah, right. If she couldn't avoid her feelings for Barnes now, how in the hell would she avoid them then?
***
Jack Harland had been a threat to the world since World War Two. He'd gone to Germany under the pretense of starting over, making a new life for himself. Instead he'd struck a deal with HYDRA, making him powerful, dangerous. The first of the Winter Soldiers. He'd recently re-emerged, the Avengers learning of his presence in Europe.
It would have been easier to head there, track him down. But Stark had other ideas. Strange had seen the destruction he'd lay down on the Avengers, Bucky in particular. And despite the issues between the two men, and Tony's reluctance to admit it, he'd hate for anything to happen to Barnes.
So he hatched a plan, one that involved his recent discovery of time travel. He spent time tracking Harland down pre-war and knew what he wanted done, what he could do to get around Ross's rules. And he knew who he wanted to wanted to do it.
Elliott was a former spy/assassin, trained by HYDRA herself before escaping and being taken in and recruited by SHIELD. She was the best of the best. Silent, charming. And he knew she could get the job done. But this, this was bigger than anything she'd ever done before. Time travel was new to her.
***
Ellie pinned back her hair and applied the red lipstick. She smoothed out her smirk and took a look in the mirror. She barely recognized herself, the 1940's style now covering her body. She looked over the files once more, tucked the money into her handbag and packed it inside the small suitcase. She went over the plan, her backstory. But the nerves took over.
"You look great," she heard from the doorway and looked up to see Steve. She smiled a bit and sat on the edge of the bed, slipping her feet into the heels. "Accurate?," she asked him and he nodded. She certainly did look accurate for the time, even though she didn't feel it. She kept thinking that there was no way she'd fit in, that she'd most definitely stick out like a sore thumb.
"Take a breath," Steve told her, "you'll do an amazing job. Just keep your mind on the task at hand and don't get distracted," he told her and she nodded silently. "And don't pick on Skinny Steve if you see him," he teased.
***
Ellie waited for Strange to open the portal, her heart racing in her chest. She knew she could do this. She had to do it. Just focus on the job and get out, she reminded herself. Stark and Strange wished her luck as she picked up the suitcase, slipped the small Derringer into the garter under her dress and stepped through.
The small alley was dim, dusty and she smoothed out her skirt once more as she stepped out onto the street, looking around a bit to get her bearings. The neighborhood was familiar, yet completely different than the Brooklyn she herself had grown up in. She recognized a few buildings and took a deep breath, heading to her destination.
She pulled the paper from her pocket, checking the address once more, her mind trying to focus on what she needed to do, not paying much attention to her surroundings. She almost immediately slammed into something solid. "'Scuse me, ma'am," she heard the voice say and her breath hitched in her chest. That voice, she knew that voice. "You okay, Doll?," he asked and she nodded a bit, raising her head to stare directly into the blue eyes of James Buchanan Barnes.
