The Valentin Series, Book 2: Angel of Vengeance ( Winter Soldier Fanfiction)

Chapter 5: Humanity

Sorry again for not being to update sooner. Somehow my brain just gets stuck in the middle of writng a chapter or something. I'm really really sorry. Here it is now, though! Hope you like it!

Love Love, ~A2V~

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Angel wiped the sweat from her brows as she dipped the hot metal into water to cool, her earphones blaring random songs at the highest volume. She took a deep breath, trying to flush the images out of her mind. She concentrated on the music, the noise from her forge, the sizzle of the water from the hot metal. It had been five days since Czechoslovakia, and she was in her home in the Catskills, working on new weapons at her custom-built forge in a gray sweater, tattered jeans and steel-toes.

She screamed, tearing off the goggles on her head and throwing it to the far wall. She leaned on her work table and tried to clear her mind, taking deep steadying breaths. You should understand how humanity can get in the way of so many things. Pierce’s voice filled her head again, along with visions of The Winter Soldier strapped into a chair, while his mind was wiped through electric shocks.

“No, no,” she chanted to herself, begging her conscience to stop functioning. It never used to be this hard. Usually, every kill, every job could be done in a snap, and she would feel nothing after.

“You’ve gotten soft,” she told herself, “you’re letting yourself go.” She tried to drown out her conversation with the soldier, but it wasn’t working. So she turned down the fire in her forge, took another steadying breath and walked out of the outhouse. The wind cooled her neck and face, rolling up the sleeves of her gray sweater, she whistled for Diana, her Akita-Wolf mix, who came bounding out of the forest, tongue happily lolling out.

She patted her dog and wondered how Knight, her brother’s Tibetan Mastiff, was faring in the town with Andreana. Andy wasn’t due to be back until a month from now, she still had school, and while she was away with Knight, Diana kept watch over their large farmhouse in the mountains, her wolf instincts allowing her to hunt for small game.

Angel walked to her house, Diana happily walking with her. Will you find me, next time? It echoed in her mind, over and over again. She walked into the kitchen and fed Diana, then lay down on the granite slab she used as a dining table. Looking up at her ceiling, she couldn’t help but remember what happened on her last mission.

“Where are you from?” he asked from the floor, as he finished off the last rabbit.

“Siberia,” Angel answered coldly from the rafters.

“You said I was from New York, right?” he asked again, this time downing the whole bottle of water.

Angel just grunted an affirmative, trying to distance herself emotionally and mentally. He was a mark, a mission, nothing else.

“Have you been there lately?” his curiosity apparent in his voice

“Yes, I have,” she answered, unable to stop herself.

“What’s it like?”

“Like nothing you’ve ever seen before,” she smiled in the darkness, “There are lights everywhere, and clubs, and food, and people. It’s the perfect place to get lost in.”

“Maybe…” he paused, “Maybe we could go dancing there, some time. Or do people still do that?”

Angel laughed, she couldn’t help it. “Yeah, sure, you know, when your contract is done with these guys or if you get a day off, why not?”

“I’ll hold you to that, Angel,” and she saw him grin.

“Get some sleep, they’ll be here to pick you up soon.” She said.

Angel sat up and cradled her head in her hands. What had she done? What was she doing? Dooming a lost soul to lose himself again and again. She couldn’t do this, it went against who she was. Yourself first; family next. She could hear her brother’s voice in her head.

“Who is he, really?” Angel demanded of Pierce when they met up back in the HYDRA base.

“A soldier, programmed to do as he is told, plain and simple,” came the answer.

“He is a lost soul who does not even understand why he has a metal arm. Enlighten me as to how this is right?” she almost screamed.

“You’re one to be lecturing me on what is right or wrong,” Pierce said calmly, as he motioned for her to follow him, “You are nothing but a mercenary who goes to the highest bidder, stabbing friends and foes alike in the back as long as the cash is enough.”

They stopped in front of a window that showed a chair and some machines Angel had never seen before.

“You see, Miss Valentin,” Pierce continued as his men dragged a semi-conscious Winter Soldier into the cell and strapped him down, “I think of the greater good. What is the cost of one life if we can save so many others?”

Angel watched wide-eyed as the machines were lowered and James was fed a rubber mouthpiece. Then she saw the electric currents start to shoot out of the orbs at each side of his head.

“The best kind of soldier is the one who doesn’t ask questions,” Pierce said as James writhed in pain in front of them, “He needs to be wiped after every mission,” he explained coolly, “A conscience is a heavy burden, after all. You should understand how humanity can get in the way of so many things.”

“This is madness!” she told him, her hands balled into fists at her sides, trying to keep herself from shaking in anger.

“No, Angel,” Pierce chuckled, “This is the revolution. I suggest you not let your humanity get in the way of your next assignment. It could get you killed.”

And with that, she was escorted out of the building by three armed guards.

Angel looked up, and through her window at the bleeding sunset. She needed to make a choice, and she needed to make it before the next assignment.