[ WWII AU ] a ghost story

[from_the_outside]

It's been almost two years since she's been home, and little by little, the grief has gotten easier to live with.

It hasn't gone away. But she's able to focus on her job, watch movies, chat with friends, sleep most nights. She still dreams about him, but the dreams are tinged with wistful longing and only sometimes does she wake up with tears on her cheeks. She can't have his picture out in this apartment, Kate's apartment, but it's safe in the mountain house, along with his last letter to her, and she has a scan on her phone to look at when the long day is over and she's in bed, the stars from the lamp he'd given her filling her dark room.

Steve has helped, more than she could ever explain, and she hopes she's helped him in return. Aside from a few deeply classified missions here and there, they haven't worked together all that much, but she still sees him almost every day. In the halls, she's undercover as his mild-mannered neighbor, Kate, but in her secure apartment they can talk over anything, everything.

And it works. Every day is a little easier. They lean on each other when they need to, and they spend hours remembering and reminiscing about Bucky, talking shop, chatting about how Steve's fitting into the future. It's nice. She still misses Bucky, an ache that never really goes away, but they can both breathe through it, work through it, live through it.

She's on her way up from the basement laundry machines when she hears a familiar step in the hall, and has to smile to herself – first her own, then Kate's sweeter, more open one. "Hey, neighbor."

Comments

[marvel_npc]

He's said too much. Cold horror grips him. "Oh my god," he whispers. "Pierce is gonna kill me."

[from_the_outside]

Sharon shoves forward and grips his shirt again, shaking him. "And then what?" she demands.

[marvel_npc]

It jerks him out of his own thoughts, and he grabs her arms, ignoring the way the man starts forward. "You have to protect me," he demands. "You have to! He'll send the asset after me."

[from_the_outside]

"If we're going to protect you, you'd better make it worth our while," Sharon warns. "Intel and anything else you can give us."

[marvel_npc]

It's a devil's bargain, but it's also the only way he can see to survive. "Okay. Okay. It's a deal."

Sitwell licks his lips, his glance shuttling back and forth between her and Romanoff. "You wanted to know what happens after the algorithm chooses the targets? The Insight helicarriers scratch them off the list. A few million at a time. And HYDRA takes over. Everything."

[from_the_outside]

Sam exhales, explosive, and Nat swears, low and under her breath. Sharon looks up at her, clinging to her control, unable to stare directly at the swirling mass of panic that's trying to set in. "Insight's locked down," she murmurs. "We'll need access."

[marvel_npc]

"You and what army?" he snaps. "Are you out of your tiny little mind? There's no way in there that won't get you noticed."

[from_the_outside]

"No one asked for your opinion," she tells him, and stands up, gesturing for Sam to watch their captive before she catches Nat's glance and tips her head to the side, indicating a spot where they can talk.

[marvel_npc]

"Don't get any ideas," she hears Sam tell Sitwell. Nat doesn't bother looking around.

"We knew it was going to be bad," she murmurs. "But this? We're going to need help."

[from_the_outside]

"Yeah."

They need help, but is there any to be found? "Any chance Tony's back in business?"

[marvel_npc]

"I can try. He was pretty determined about being out of it for good, especially with what happened to Pepper, but for something like this? Maybe."

She frowns, thinking. "Do we know when Insight's scheduled to launch? I didn't have the security access for that one."

[from_the_outside]

"Let's shake our magic 8-ball and find out."

She pitches her voice louder. "Sitwell, when is Insight launching?"

[marvel_npc]

"Tomorrow," he calls back. Nat's pretty sure that's vicious satisfaction in his voice. "A little over sixteen hours away. Which means you won't have time to do anything about it."

"You should be more worried about that," she advises, looking over at him. "You haven't given us much reason to keep you breathing yet."

[from_the_outside]

"Damn," she mutters, crossing her arms. "We've got to get in there."

Sharon looks back at Nat, brow furrowed. "He bought that I might be HYDRA. It's possible more of them will, too. Maybe I can get in that way."

[marvel_npc]

"By yourself? And do what?" she counters, eyebrows raised. "That's assuming they aren't using SHIELD clearances as well as only assigning HYDRA personnel to the project."

[from_the_outside]

"And get the rest of you access so you can use what will undoubtedly be a brilliant plan."

She sighs and scrubs at her face, then winces as her hand rubs over the raw markings around her mouth. "I don't know, Nat. But we have to get a foot in the door somehow."

[marvel_npc]

Nat scowls. She doesn't like it, but Sharon's got a point. "I can't believe he bought you might be HYDRA," she mutters. "The only one less likely's Steve."

She stares over at Sitwell, thinking. "But if he did... would Pierce?"

[from_the_outside]

Sharon shakes her head. "I don't know. The only thing going for that plan is the assumption that they don't even trust each other enough to know who's involved and who isn't."

Nat's got that look on her face, the one that says she's putting pieces together. "Maybe we bring him back to base, talk it over with the others?"

[marvel_npc]

"Better strip him of any and all tech first," she suggests. "The last thing we need is for STRIKE to descend on Fury. Or James."

[from_the_outside]

Her flinch is miniscule, but Nat knows her too well. She'll see it. Sharon nods and takes a deep breath.

"Do it. Then hit him with one of your Bites," she suggests. "That should short out anything else he's got on him."

[marvel_npc]

"Good idea," she says, lightly, even while her eyes narrow. She and Sharon are long overdue to catch up, but it's going to have to wait a little longer. "He'll hate it, which makes it even better. Come on."

She tosses her hair back over her shoulder, saunters over to Sitwell, and gives him a brilliant smile. "Hold still. We're about to get up close and personal."

[from_the_outside]

Sitwell flinches back from her, but Sam puts his hands on the man's shoulders and forces him to sit still as Nat searches.

Her mind whirls. Bucky, the helicarriers, the algorithm, Pierce. How can they stop them all? How can they save Bucky and destroy the rest?

What happens to SHIELD when they do?

[marvel_npc]

She finds his phone and a second phone, which she considers for a few moments before destroying both. The intel would be good, but they'll just have to coax Sitwell to give up anything they need, and the risk of being tracked is far too high otherwise.

"Better back up a step," she advises Sam. Sitwell's eyes widen in alarm. "What? No! We had a deal--" He breaks off there with a gargling sound as she flicks one of her Widow Bites at his chest and watches sparks crackle over him, dancing across his lapel pin before fading out.

[from_the_outside]

Sitwell shrieks and shudders, then falls limp and silent, and Sharon sighs. "We'll need a car to get him back to base."

[marvel_npc]

"Not a problem," Nat assures her. "There's a garage in the basement of this building."

"You are one scary lady sometimes," Sam observes. He looks like he's struggling not to laugh, and she beams a cheerful smile at him.