Past:
The night is calm, a strange thing for the stormy HYDRA mountain base. Dorothea-Lavern and The Winter Soldier's soft snores fill their small cell, creating a comfortable atmosphere for both people. Just having each other present sends comfort and a strange feeling or family to both prisoners.
The door bursts open, startling Vernie and the soldier. The soldier sits up straight, putting on a blank expression, waiting for his orders. He doesn't want to go yet. He barely returned from a mission merely hours before. He was hoping to be able to spend some time with Dorothea-Lavern. He only managed to help clean her up and feed her before it grew time for her to sleep.
" Winter Soldier, you've got a mission. " The commander says roughly.
Everyone in Hydra's been waiting for this moment. This direct minute. 12:00 am. It's been a month since they placed the girl in the soldier's care. They've waited a month to see how the soldier's emotions are. If he'd grown attached to the kid or if he'd be fine to go out and kill certain children now. The last time they tries to have him kill a child, he hesitated and the child got away.
Vernie squeezes herself in a tight ball int he corner of the bed farthest away from the commander and his men.
The Winter Soldier quietly sighs with a nod, standing up to prepare to leave. Vernie whimpers, partially scared and partially upset. She doesn't want the soldier to go. She wants him to stay. Vernie grabs onto the soldier's arms shaking her head to tell him not to go.
The commander's walkie talkie gets a call from someone and he answers, exiting the room before replying.
" I've gotta go, Vernie. I'll be back. I promise. Be a good girl. " The soldier whispers, quickly stroking her cheek and kissing her forehead before grabbing his weapons and leaving the room.
Vernie nods, watching the soldier's retreating back before closing her eyes. She expects the door to close with a clank, but it doesn't close at all. Someone grabs her, and she squeaks.
*****
" Pick a weapon. You'll kill her in the training room. " The commander says with a bored, blank tone.
' Her? ' The soldier thinks. ' Who is it? And why do I only need one weapon? Usually, I need multiple weapons. ' The soldier shrugs it off and selects a gun. Simple and it'll get the job done quickly. As soon as he's done, he should be able to return back to his cell before Dorothea-Lavern wakes up. Today he plans on teaching Vernie how to spell a little bit. The soldier smiles slightly at the thought of the adorable little girl.
" Okay. Bring her in. " The commander calls into the walkie talkie.
A group of officers carries in a squirming thing. The soldier patiently waits for the soldiers to set the oddly quiet person down. The person, a small person, cries and an officer yanks his head back away from the person. He grabs his jaw angrily, blood slipping down his nose. The duct tape in the officers' hands explains why the person's so quiet.
The officers give up and cuff the girl's leg to a chair. The soldier's heart pounds a little harder when he sees that the person's a child.
The brown, cloth bag is yanked off the child's head and the soldier's heart stops.
Dorothea-Lavern.
" Shoot her. " The commander commands.
The soldier's still for a moment.
" Now, Winter Soldier. Shoot her now. " The soldier lowers his gun, shaking his head.
" No. " He avoids the commander's gaze.
" What did you say? " The commander asks coldly.
" No. I will not shoot her. Not her. " He repeats quietly.
The commander thinks. His angry expression calms slightly when he speaks again. " Fine. You may keep her alive. But, " The soldier's heart pounds quickly, afraid of what the commander might say. " if you mess up on a mission or refuse to kill again, she won't live to see her next morning. "
The Winter Soldier lets out a quiet breath he didn't know he was holding.
" Leave her for him to deal with. " The commander nods for the officers to follow him out of the room.
As soon as the officers and commander leave the room, The Winter soldier launches himself at Dorothea-Lavern. He hugs her tightly apologizing over and over while untying her hands and tenderly pulling the tape off her lips.
Dorothea-Lavern, sobbing, hug the soldier tightly. " Don't hurt. Don't hurt. " She mummers panicked.
" Shh. Shh. I won't hurt you. I will never hurt you. I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry. " At that moment, the Winter Soldier swears to never raise a gun or anything to the little girl who stole his heart, ever again.