The Break of Winter ▸B. Barnes

Chapter 4

Olivia's POV
HYDRA base, exact location unknown

After not being able to find a lever to reconnect the walkway, we found a beam that crossed over to the other other side. Bucky went first, then me. I was about a meter away from the end when the beam started to shake. I looked up to Bucky in panic. "Jump!" He yelled, and I did. He leaned over the railing and caught my hand just in time. Once I was safely over the railing, we turned to Steve, who was still on the other side. "There's got to be a rope or something!" Bucky looked around.

"Just go, get out of here!" Steve called to us.

"No, not without you!" Bucky pleaded.

Steve sighed and looked down before bending the railing back, leaving an opening. He started to step back some. "Stevie if you're about to do what I think you're going to do... I don't like this idea," I commented.

He took a deep breath. "What other choice do we have?" He started running and jumped once he reached the edge, disappearing behind the flames.
•••
Bucky, Steve, and I lead the large group of soldiers. My legs ached from the painfully long walk, but I couldn't admit that. I wasn't about to be shown up by a bunch of guys. Finally, I saw the camp come into view. Before we even entered the camp, soldiers were running up to greet us. Soon, even Colonel Phillips and Peggy Carter came to greet us. "Some of these men need medical attention. I'd like to surrender myself to disciplinary action," Steve said as we approached Phillips.

Colonel Phillips took a look at the 107th members who had been freed before replying, "That won't be necessary." Next, Peggy approached Steve. I could tell by the way they looked at each other that there was something going on between them.

"You're late."

"Couldn't call my ride," Steve replied, holding up a broken remote.

"Hey!" Bucky called out suddenly. "Let's hear it for Captain America!" The camp erupted in cheers. Steve turned to us, and I smiled at him.
•••
I entered a rather large room where I found Steve marking off HYDRA bases on a map. "Aren't you supposed to be receiving some kind of medal or something?" I smirked.

"Eh. There's more important things for me to do right now." He shrugged. He continued to have a conversation with Phillips about taking down HYDRA.

"We are going to set a fire under Johann Schmidt's ass. What do you think Rogers? This is your map, you think you can wipe HYDRA off of it?"

"Yes, sir. I'll need a team," Steve responded.

"We're already putting together the best men."

"With all due respect, sir," Steve looked down at me. "So am I."
•••
I sat at the bar with Bucky as Steve tried to recruit men from the 107th to join our team. The group of men consisted of Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones, Montgomery Falsworth, Jim Morita, and Jacques Dernier. I rolled my eyes at them. "Sometimes I wonder how they got this far," I joke with Bucky.

"No kidding. It's amazing how much alcohol they can hold," he smiled, sipping his own drink. I took a sip of mine as Steve walked up to us. "What'd we tell you? They're all idiots," Bucky and I laughed.

"How about you two? You ready to follow Captain America into the jaws of death?" Steve looked at us.

"Hell no," Bucky said. "But that little guy from Brooklyn who was too dumb not to run away from a fight..."

"We're following him." I finished. "But you're keeping the outfit, right?"

"You know what? It's kinda growing on me," he smiled. The group of men Steve had recruited suddenly stopped singing. "Wow, something big must've happened to make them finally shut the hell up." I turned around to see Peggy walking into then bar. "Ah. A hot girl. That's why." Steve and Bucky stood for greet her, but I pulled Bucky back down, knowing how he is. He gave an innocent look and I just rolled my eyes.

"Howard has some equipment for you two to try tomorrow morning," She said to Steve and I. A confused expression crossed my face. Why for me? "I see your top squad is preparing for duty."

"What, you don't like music?" Bucky asked.

"I do, actually. I might even, after all this, go dancing." She responded.

"Then what are we waiting for?" I elbowed Bucky in his side.

She turned her attention to Steve. "The right partner. 0800 Captain. You too, Quinn."

"Yes, ma'am," Steve and I said in unison.
•••
Steve and I arrived to where we were supposed to be meeting Howard. Peggy met us there. "Sergeant Quinn, Howard wants to speak with you first." She said to me. She led me back to a room where Howard Stark was standing at a table with multiple shields and weapons.

"Ah, Olivia Qu-" I cut him off.

"Just Liv," I smiled.

"Well, Just Liv, I'm Howard Stark. I wanted to talk to you because word got around that you're quite handy with both a gun and a bow. So, being the wonderful man I am, I took the initiative to make you one of each."

"I'm listening."

"This one," He started, picking up a matte black bow. "Is light, yet heavy duty. I made 5 types of arrows for it. The green ones are normal, the yellow ones split into 3, the purple ones can be used like a grapple hook, the blue ones are electric, and the red ones are explosive."

My eyes lit up as I examined the different arrows. I looked back up at Howard. "I- thank you," I said in shock. Steve and Peggy walked in. Steve looked embarrassed, while Peggy looked pissed.

"I also made you a hand gun. It's mostly just for backup, though." He then turned his attention to finding the right shield for Steve. I turned my attention back to the bow, fidgeting with the arrows. I jumped when I heard gunshots go off. I looked around to see that Peggy had shot at Steve, who luckily deflected the bullets with his shield.

"Yes, I think it works." Peggy said with a fake smile before walking off. I approached Steve.

"What the hell did you do to her?" I raised an eyebrow. He just sighed and walked off.