Unexpected

IV

Nina was in Fury's office. They were discussing the mission when Steve walked in angrily.

" You just can't stop yourself from lying, can you?" He accused Fury, before realising Nina was in the room.

"I didn't lie," Fury answered. "Agents Romanoff and Jones' missions were different than yours."

"Which you didn't feel obligated to share," Steve retorted, walking next to his desk.

"I'm not obligated to do anything," Nick retorted. He was right, he didn't own Steve any explanations, but it sure would be dumb not to give him any. Nina knew they could trust Steve, but for some reason, Nick didn't want to share anything.

"Those hostages could have died, Nick," Steve tried. Nina kept pretending she wasn't in the room.

" I sent the greatest soldier in history to make sure that didn't happen."

"Soldiers trust each other, that's what makes it an army," Steve told him. "Not a bunch of guys running around shooting guns." That was a good point.

"The last time I trusted someone, I lost an eye. Look, I didn't want you doing anything you weren't comfortable with. Agent Jones doesnt mind and agent Romanoff is comfortable with everything." That was also a good point.

"I can't lead a mission when the people I'm leading have missions of their owns," Steve told him. That was als- oh you get it.

"It's called compartmentalization. Nobody spills the secrets because nobody knows them all."

"Except you," Steve remarked with a challenging smile. Nick looked at Nina and then back at Steve. Nina just sat there at her chair in silence.

"You're wrong about me," Nick told him. "I do share. I'm nice like that." Fury and Steve left the office and went into the elevator. Nina sat down on the chair for a few mire seconds, co templating for the two men had simply forgotten about her presence.

She then stood up and went home.

The day went off, and a little bit after noon, there was a knock at Nina's door. She opened the door to a sweaty, sad Steve Rogers.

"What's up?" Nina asked him. "Did you run here?" He nodded. Nina opened her eyes in surprise. "You live about 13 miles away." Nina couldn't believe he had run from Manhattan to Queens. And yet, she could absolutely believe it. It was such a Steve thing to do.

"You up for a ride?" He asked. What could she say? Was she about to say no to a Sad Steven Rogers? Who could ever do that? She smiled at him and nodded. "With your car, obviously."

"Sure where are we going?"

♧♧♧

They walked into the Smithsonian. For those who don't know, it's a museum in which were all of the information about Captain America in his early years.

As the two walked inside, lost of posters of the Captain America were visible everywhere. Steve was wearing a cap to hide his face. Nina was obviously not as famous as he was. She was way less present in the footage and in the photos because for the most time, she was leading her own men. After the disaster that was her mission with the 107th, where only half of them came back, the general decided she should take a break.

"A symbol to the nation. A hero to the world," a voice said on a video. Steve lowered his head, but secretly, Nina knew he was blushing. He didn't like the compliments. "The story of Captain America is one of honor, bravery and sacrifice."

The two of them stopped in front of a big monitor showing Steve's height before and after the serum. Children were comparing their heights to young Steve, but their heads still under his shoulders. By its side, there was a small plaque.

PRE-SERUM
Weight: 95 lbs.
Height: 5'4"

POST-SERUM
Weight: 240 lbs.
Height: 6'2"

"You're almost a foot taller," Nina remarked as they read it. Steve smiled. "You're welcome. Be assured that I take credit for this."

"Denied enlistment due to poor health, Steven Rogers was chosen for a program unique in the annals of American warfare. One that would transform him into the world's first super soldier."

In the middle of all the children, there was one particular boy wearing a Captain America t-shirt that was staring at Steve. Steve smiled at him, and then placed one finger over his mouth, telling him so stay quiet. The boy nodded, not taking his eyes off the man.

They walked over to another screen. There was some footage of one of his missions playing. Beside it, there was an exhibition of their outfits back in their last mission in 1943. In the front, right in the middle, was Steve's old suit, a copy of the one he was found in under the ice. He was also holding his shield in front of him, with his two hands. To his left, was Sargent James Buchanan Barnes' mannequin. It was wearing a dark blue coat and brown pants. He had his sniper strapped to his body. To his right was Nina's mannequin. Or, as she was called back then, Commander Agent Jones. She was wearing a dark green coat that went a bit above her knees and black pants. She also had a gun strapped around her waist.

"Battle tested, Captain America and his Howling Commandos quickly earned their stripes. Their mission, taking down HYDRA, the Nazi rogue science division."

The two of them walked to a big glass monument with a lot of text on it.

A Fallen Comrade

That was it's title. It was only then that Nina realised it was about Bucky. How ironic was it that they'd used the word comrade to describe him without knowing he had become a Russian spy for Hydra.

"Best friends since childhood, Bucky Barnes and Steven Rogers were inseparable on both schoolyard and battlefield. Barnes is the only Howling Commando to give his life in service of his country," the narrator said. Nina looked over at Steve's devastated face. He's not dead, she wanted to scream. But how could she? He was the Winter Soldier now. He had no idea who Steve was. And if she told him, Steve would go looking for Barnes, which would result on his death.