“Good, now hit me harder.” Steve told Ava as she returned to her training position that she had just got the hang of. The team meeting consisted of them agreeing the best place to go to put a plan into place was Avengers Towers. It was kitted out with technology and security and right now that’s exactly the two things they needed. Steve knew Tony wouldn’t be home for a few days so it gave them a chance to have a head start before they had to let him in to the team. Ava had asked would one of the soldier’s train her in hand-to-hand combat because she knew it wasn’t one of her strengths. Bucky flat out refused, scared he would hurt her if he punched too hard. Sam was already training with Wanda so it just left Captain America himself. She did as he said ignoring the world and humming her song to get her in the mood as she easily took down the super soldier who looked up at her with approval. She helped him up and looked over at Bucky who had a look of admiration covering his handsome features.
“Captain, Mr Stark is home and on his way to this floor.” Friday spoke over the speakers as footsteps could be heard from the stairs that lead directly into the training room.
“Cap” Stark nodded his head at his friend. “It’s good to have you all back.” He smiled a genuine smile. Tony knew he had to be on his best behaviour, his little mess up with Ultron meant he was not in the good books of the nation’s sweetheart.
“Stark. We need your help. Unofficial business.” Steve told him as Tony looked intrigued, inching closer into the room with a small smile. “It’s HYDRA.” Steve spoke out as the billionaire looked over to the bench at the far end and saw the wanted assassin and a girl with her back to him.
“I figured.” He drew his eyes away from the terrifying looking Winter Soldier to look back at his friend. “I see you brought guests.” He motioned his head towards them.
“Tony this is Bucky and Ava.” Steve spoke out as the girl turned round revealing a familiar face to Stark.
“Ava Buchanan.” He breathed out as he shook Bucky’s hand, amazed at the strength.
“Tony.” She looked up at him.
“Long time no see. I see chasing the ghost finally paid off.” He nodded at her as she rolled her eyes.
“Hold up you two know each other?” Sam interjected as he watching the interaction.
“Yeah, she came to Stark Towers to learn about technology and to assist me with some personal projects.” He smiled spinning on his heels to look at the Falcon. Bucky looked up at his wife with a questioning glance as Ava shook her head quickly.
“Wow way to make it sound a lot more than it was Stark.” She sighed shoving his shoulder as she walked past him to her water bottle. “He had daddy issues and was trying to overcome them by using my DNA and blood to recreate the serum. Personal project.” She told the group taking a big swig from her water bottle.
“Anyway you should all probably get cleaned up and meet me upstairs to fill me in properly.” Tony informed them all as he headed back to the staircase. “It’s good to have you back Captain.” He smiled over at his old friend before heading back upstairs.

“You used my middle name as your surname?” Bucky asked as he opened the door for his wife as they entered the meeting room.
“Well if I went by Barnes people would have figured, besides not many people remember you as James Buchanan, you’re Bucky. I still wanted to have some connection to you.” She told him blushing slightly as she took a seat on the left side of the table, Bucky sitting next to her.
“So what’s going on?” Tony interrupted all conversation once he entered, not sitting down just standing at the head of the table, opposite the Captain.
“HYDRA are after Buck. They have a way of turning him into the Winter Soldier and using him as their weapon. Wanda picked up on a plan that they are planning something major in Washington again. We need to find a way to stop them and to ensure they don’t trigger off Winter Soldier.” Steve told the one known as Iron Man.
“How they controlling you?” Tony asked Bucky directly, who shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
“They have a book. More a diary. They say certain words in Russian that they conditioned in me to trigger him off.” He looked up at Stark, his face remaining moody.
“Ok. So here’s the problem. We don’t speak Russian or have the book, and if you say the words this room is going to turn a deep shade of red pretty quick.” Tony sighed, flopping down in the chair that was free.
“Ava knows them.” Bucky’s simple answer came out as he felt her eyes burn holes in him with her glare. She felt all eyes on her and it was her turn to shift uncomfortably.
“I’ve never actually spoke them out loud in front of him so I wouldn’t know properly.” She tried to defend herself.
“Ok well that could work. Right?” Steve spoke looking over at Tony who nodded. “We need to track the remaining HYDRA agents there can’t be many left.” He added.
“I can do that. Have you still got that software we got?” Ava asked Tony who nodded. “Give me an hour.” She smiled up at them, standing up and walking out to the room she knew so well.

“Cap can I have a word.” Sam asked the super soldier once everyone had gone their own ways.
“Sure what’s up Sam?” He looked over at one of his most trusted friends.
“I don’t trust Ava. I know she’s Bucky’s misses and you seem to trust her, but, there’s something about her Cap.” He told Steve who looked at him with a questioning glance. “Look we know nothing about her, she speaks Russian? She knows Stark? What’s her power? How did she get it? Where’s she been for the past 70 years?” He asked all the questions he’d been thinking of.
“Look Sam she came back to help us fight, she can’t be that bad right? She’s on our side.” Steve tried to reassure him.
“I’m not disputing that she came back and helped, but, why? Tell me the truth that you believe that story about her being injected because she asked too many questions? Think about it Steve, this is HYDRA we’re talking about, they wouldn’t just snatch her and inject her; they’d kill her or turn her into a him.” He searched the Captains face for any hint of agreement, and to his shock there was a glisten in his eyes.
“Her story doesn’t add up. As long as she’s here we can keep an eye on her. I don’t think she’s against us, I think she’s a woman with an agenda.” Cap told him slowly. “I don’t think we should push it though.” He told him as Sam nodded slowly, thinking the complete opposite.
“Rodgers, Wilson. We’ve got something you better come down here.” Tony’s voice came over the com causing the two to look at each other before heading off to Tony’s lab.

“Alright. So Mrs Barnes here has hacked the files and found what it is the intend to do in DC.” Tony spoke as Ava typed furiously on the computer keys, the screen being projected thanks to Stark tech. “They’ve set up ports all across the city, they’ve gained access of a biological weapon. Parts of their files show that over time they’ve been introducing some form of poison into the population and this is the true test of strength. The poison is the antidote for the biological substance. Those who have responded to the antidote and survive will be the strongest most elite, the others will.” Tony informed them, not really wanting to finish the sentence. “We’ve sent the information to the lab and they’re working on what is in the antidote in order to try and discover what the weapon is, it could take them days, days that we don’t have. The plans show that it’s set to happen the day after tomorrow during the president’s speech. Bringing chaos to a world.” Tony looked round. “Luckily she’s found the main port where the weapons being held. If we destroy that port, then the shipments can’t be sent out to the other ports. It’s not ideal but it gives us more time and more factors to work with when it comes to antidoting the antidote.” He finished.

“Ok. That port is going to be heavily guarded. Tonight we sleep and rest tomorrow we go to the port. We’ve got 24 hours before this city crumbles.” The Captain told everyone, as the realisation set in that tomorrow they would soon be at war.

Notes