Third in the Timeline series |
After being told she was the infamous Agent 4, that every S.H.I.E.L.D agent thought was a rumour, Clara decides to get back in the field. Her old boss, and presumed dead, Phil Coulson guides her as she reunites with ol...
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The three of them ventured outside into the snowy mountains. The door to the facility was embedded in the rock face. It was already open.
"He beat us to it." Clara mused under her breath, but just loud enough for Steve and Bucky to hear.
"He can't have been here for more than a couple of hours." Steve reassured as he stepped in side. Bucky motioned to Clara to hang back.
"Be careful." He cautioned. Clara smiled up at him.
"I'm always careful."
They all stood in silence as they boarded an elevator and rode it down to the lowest level. Bucky raised his gun as Steve opened the doors once they'd reached their stop.
Bucky went out first and Clara sandwiched between them protectively as they stalked the corridors, always alert for danger. As they reached the stairs, the elevator doors creaked to life again.
All three of them turn around, weapons raised and hearts racing as the doors were prised apart by two red, metal hands and they came face to face with Iron Man.
Neither of the three of them moved for a while. They weren't sure how to react. Was Tony here as a friend or a foe? He advanced forward, taking down his mask to talk.
"You seem a little defensive." Tony spurned.
"It's been a long day." Steve retorted, walking forward to meet Tony.
"At ease, Soldier. I'm not currently after you." Tony addressed Bucky and he slowly, cautiously lowered his gun. "Good to see you, Clara."
"Tony." Clara greeted. "I'm sorry we couldn't agree on this. I hope you can understand why."
"I understand." Tony said, "Well, I don't have the same feelings you do. Sorry, soldier, you're just not my type." Somehow, Tony always managed to make everyone feel uncomfortable.
"Why are you here, Tony?" Steve asked defensively.
"Your story checks out." Tony admitted. "I guess you could say we're on the same team. For now."
*
They all followed Tony through the winding, empty corridors as they went further underground. Tony had tracked a heat signature with his suit- it had to be Zemo. They tracked him further into the facility until they reached a chamber.
As they entered the room the light flickered on, dimly illuminating the room. Before them lay five cryogenic chambers. The technology looked ancient.
The four of them slowly entered the room, advancing forward in a protective circle. They made it to the center of the room without any danger so Clara dared to break the circle.
She made her way to the nearest cryogenic chamber, closely followed by Bucky who defensively held his gun up ready to fire. Clara rubbed the dust off the glass and jumped backward in fright as she was met by the cold, unseeing face of another super soldier. He lay motionless thanks to both the cryogenic chamber and the bullet in his head.
"If it's any comfort," Zemo's voice sounded over the crackling sound of the room's speaker system. "They died in their sleep."
"What's going on?" Clara thought out loud.
"Did you all really think I wanted more of them? But I am grateful to them. They brought you here." Zemo admitted as a light came on in a separate chamber where Zemo was sheltering.
Tony raised his blaster and Steve launched his shield at the small window that protected Zemo. It bounced right back to him, nothing had been accomplished.
"Don't waste your breath." Zemo taunted, "The Soviets built this as a bunker. It'll with stand anything you throw at it."
"I bet I could break it." Stark threatened.
"Indeed." Zemo confirmed, "But then you would never know why you were brought here."
Tony, who had advanced toward Zemo, froze. A screen near the window flickered to life, drawing the attention of Tony and Steve. Bucky fell behind, his hands trembled and his grip on his gun loosened.
Clara brought her hand up to meet his to calm him. They locked eyes and she smiled softly. He would have smiled back too had the CCTV footage on the screen not started playing.
Clara walked forward, releasing her grip on Bucky's hand as the car on the screen violently crashed as a familiar man with a metal arm strode toward the wreckage, prying another man she recognized out of the car.
It was Howard. Oh God it was true. The Winter Soldier grabbed him by the neck and hauled him upright.
Bucky reached an arm out to Clara but she was too far away now, captivated by the screen. He turned away from them, unable to watch.
Clara couldn't take her eyes off the screen as a strong metal fist slammed repeatedly into Howard's skull. She gasped subconsciously, breaking the tense silence.
A wave of guilt suddenly overcame her. She was unable to look Tony in the eye. Clara had known all this time. The look of Tony's face said it all.
Tony raised his head to stare accusingly at Bucky. He couldn't meet Tony's eyes.
When Howard lay lifelessly at the Winter Soldier's feet, he moved onto the taking care of the woman still in the car. Clara clocked that it must be Tony's mother. She couldn't imagine the Howard she knew to have ever gotten married.
The Winter Soldier reached a lethal metal arm into the car that enclosed around Maria Stark's throat until he had choked the life out of her.
