Training room when everyone is asleep.
-A
Was the message Steve found on his pillow when he returned to his room after his shower. He wondered when she snuck in here to put the plain white papered note on the pillow, knowing he would find it. His mind wondered to what she could possibly want to talk to him about especially being so secretive. Remembering the note; he carried on with getting changed into his sweatpants and tight t-shirt before going downstairs to the kitchen where Bucky, Wanda and Ava all sat around the breakfast bar talking about what life was like for Wanda and her brother growing up with powers in Sokovia. His eyes jumped from each face, lingering on Ava for a moment longer than anyone else’s, thankfully the other two didn’t notice. “Are you ok? You seem a little distant?” Rodgers heard from the side of him as he saw Bucky stood there pouring more coffee for himself.
“Yeah I’m fine. Just thinking about what’s coming you know?” Steve sighed as his best friend looked at him.
“If you let the Winter Soldier out it wouldn’t be so difficult.” Bucky mumbled, as much as he hated what he had become he knew that the hidden side of him would be their best shot at survival.
“You’ve come too far to go back now Buck. Besides what about Ava? It would break her.” The Captain reasoned with his best friend.
“She’s the reason I don’t want to let him go. I have to protect her.” He spoke honestly his eyes never leaving his wife who was laughing with Wanda.
“You can do that as you though Buck.” Steve grabbed his attention as the killer assassin offered him a small smile. The rest of the night they spent watching films, talking about the past and contemplating the future.


“Ok I’m beat, going to go to bed.” Bucky yawned standing up from his spot on the couch with a stretch. “You coming up?” He looked over at Ava who smiled at him shaking her head.
“I’m not tired yet.” She smiled as he leant down to kiss her goodnight.
“I’m going to go too.” Sam spoke as everyone wished him a goodnight, leaving just Wanda and Ava. Steve feigning a headache had gone up shortly after they’d all eaten.
“Hey Ava can I ask you something?” Wanda asked, looking over at the older woman nervously, she caught her nod. Taking a deep breath before asking “Does it get easier?” She asked her softly as she picked at the chipped nail varnish covering her long nails.
“Does what get easier?” Ava asked, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion.
“Missing someone you lost.” She whispered as Ava closed her eyes taking a deep breath.
“You don’t forget them, you don’t forget the pain, but you start to forget the sorrow. It’s not easy and it’s certainly not quick, but, you’ll get there Wanda.” Ava whispered over to her like she was telling her the secrets of the world. “I never really lost Bucky. I mean I did when he was James; but, his body was still here and that meant no matter how small, that so was he.” She closed her eyes as the feeling rushed over her again. “You’re still grieving. You lost Pietro, you lost your home and you’ve been thrusted into this. You care for Sam and Steve and your scared that you’re going to lose them but that’s not the case Wanda. You need to trust yourself and them that the sorrow will eventually subside if you allow it. Part of that is accepting who you are.” She nodded to the younger girls hands as she closed them quickly.
“Thank you Ava, I needed to hear that.” She smiled sadly, “you’re wrong though. It’s not just Steve and Sam I care for. When you first came here you scared me but now I see your just afraid to let anyone in.” She saw the shock in the older girls face as someone had finally figured her out. “Welcome to the team.” She smiled as she hugged her tightly, as Ava tensed.

She waited until she could hear everyone’s steady heartbeat, except one that she had come to recognise, before going down to the training room. She checked she had everything she needed and that the security camera was on a loop whilst she paced the area waiting for him to come. The door silently opened as the Captain slipped in silently, but, not before checking he was alone. “You came.” She mumbled as she turned to face him. He was stood tall, his shoulders broad as he was in a protective stance.
“What’s this all about? Why the secrecy?” Steve questioned, she could tell he was uneasy; and, he could tell she was nervous.
“Because I trust you. I need to know you trust me too.” She whispered making her way over to him slowly, standing less than arms-length away.
“This is giving me every reason not to. Tell me what’s going on.” He looked down at her remembering Sam’s warning about her.
“We both know that one of us is going to die at the end of this.” She started, holding her hand up when he opened his mouth to protest. “They’ve sent him after you because they only knew about you. Now that they know about me they know they have more leverage over him. Tony and I have managed to hack some of their files and it seems they’ve built up quite a file on me, they know of my skill set.” She breathed out nervously. “He said something weird to me back at the house, he said he could probably rip my spine out. The Winter Soldier isn’t trained for that, weapons – yes, hand to hand combat – definitely, but not that. There was training videos that showed him attempting, and succeeding, in ripping out a human heart. They are going to make him choose and that is going to be the method they use. It’s brutal and personal. They know once he comes round he’ll welcome the brainwashing to forget the pain, he’ll be theirs willingly. I can’t allow that.” She shook her head looking up at the Captain.
“You don’t know this, it’s all just speculation.” Steve tried to reason with her as she shook her head more, the tears forming.
“You’re a good man Captain but stop being so naïve. That is what they are going to do. I made a promise when I saw him that day at the café. I told myself I’d never give up on him; I’d never let him get hurt. I’ve tried and tried to fulfil that promise, I’ve nearly died countless times for it. I’ve come too far to lose him to this. I’ve made the choice for him who will die, I won’t lose him again.” She looked up at the Captain before taking one steady breath and plunging her hand into his chest as she saw the realisation on his face what she was about to do. “I’m sorry Captain, but, this is something I’ve got to do.” She whispered as he fell to the floor gasping for breath as the seconds ticked by. She saw him fall to the floor, still staring up at her holding the now slowing beating organ as she closed her eyes to block out the image of the now helpless Captain.

Notes

Hey!
Thanks for reading! I think this was actually one of my fave chapters to write, maybe Sam was right about her after all? Let me know what you think? Do you think she could do that to Steve and Bucky?

- L