Chapter 30

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid--

Now, is not the time! Focus on the mission! Get those bastards before they make it through!

I ran across buildings and structures, pillaring lights and using the momentum to move quicker.

The garbage truck was moving too far ahead of me.

"Oh, f-"

Before I could successfully intervene, the garbage truck goes ramming into the barrier gates, flipping upside down and crashing the wall to pieces.

Boots skittering, I paused in my stance, breathless at the billowing smoke.

"They already made it in," My teeth gritted.

Screams of panic started to circulate the area.

Loud gunshots and explosions practically overpowered my senses, making my echolocation go haywire.

I had to do something.

Jumping down, I landed gracefully on all fours, rolling the rest of the way before setting off in a run.

The rest of the team were still on the way. Wincing at that, I put a hand to my comm.

"Steve, I'm sorry, but I'm going in."

Flaring out the lights, they lash out through my palms hitting the debris blocking the gate. I moved it aside, pushing the wall so it knocked down a couple of Rumlow's oblivious guards.

They didn't see me coming.

I pivot forward and create an energy blade, quietly creeping into the facility whilst using the layer of dust as a smokescreen.

It won't take long for Rumlow to realize he was being attacked, the rest of his guards were already flooding out the facility taking caution at the unseen enemy.

"There's about... five hostiles? maybe six...? I can't really tell--"

"Body armour. AR15s. I make 7 hostiles. And Riley, don't even think of escaping when I come for you."

Steve grunts out, his tone pissed off at the end for disobeying his orders.

Yikes.

Oh well, Super Soldier's going to have to deal with it.

Appearing on the field that had been cleared out by the rest of my team, I carefully made my way over to the two yellow trucks and scanned the area for hostiles.

"I make five," Sam lands on the roof of the facility, his boots thumping. He looks down to see me, finger, pointing in Steve's direction.

He mouths; "Steve is pissed."

Yeah, yeah don't need to tell me twice.

A jet of red glowed behind Sam and Scarlet appears, gliding downwards to the ground, using her abilities to make her fly.

One of the guards took notice and before I could stop him, Wanda has her hand out, abilities already crushing the guard.

She grunts at the effect and looks back at Sam. "Sam!"

Sam flies down and jets out his legs, knocking the guy back against the truck, rendering him unconscious.

"This is going very well," Peering at the knocked out guard, I let out a whistle. "We certainly kicked ass."

Wanda rolls her eyes playfully at me as I approached her, hands wrapping around her shoulder to give her a half hug.

"You did great,"

"I still can't focus on the power like you told me to. " She frowns, obviously upset she hadn't done better.

It was one of her frustrations.

During our many training sessions, Wanda has a habit of tiring easily. This is because she spent half of her focus on making sure her abilities don't go out of control in the first place.

I told her not to hold in her abilities but to accept them as they are. That would give her more energy rather than prevent it.

Of course she's spent half her life being afraid of who she was so it's no surprise why'd she be pensive about it. It's a tough habit to break but hopefully, she'd get the hang of it soon.

"Rumlow's on the third floor," Sam informs, having used his drone to scan the building.

The Super Soldier appears mid-stride, holding onto his shield with a tight grip. His blue eyes scanned mine for injuries, doing another once over before looking away.

Oh, he is certainly, mad.

"Wanda, just like we practised." He tells her, going past us.

She raises an eyebrow, slightly worried. "What about the gas?"

"Get it out."

"Hold on now--" I turn around, just in time to catch Wanda weave her fingers, allowing the Captain to float upwards and into a window, breaking it down to enter the building.

What was he doing?

Jumping into a gas-filled building, with no safety, no regard and no concern for his well-being?

"You know Steve if I didn't no any better, I'd say you were doing this on purpose," Exhaling softly, I counted to ten with my teeth gritted.

"Now why would I do that, Riley?"

It's the fact that he sounds innocent at the end of it, that makes me want to explode the building.

Fine.

I deserved that.

"Alright girl, you heard the Cap, get it out." I eyed Wanda with optimism giving the girl a confidence boost. "Sam and I will cover for you."

She nods and with determination shining in those brown orbs, her fingers twitched and she began to drain the gas out.

I watch her with a smile.

She was doing a remarkable job.

We as a team had agreed earlier on that on missions, I shouldn't help Wanda out too much. If she were to fight some battles by herself, she needed to learn how to properly control her abilities.

I could've easily helped Steve get up on the building, but that wasn't my job. Wanda had sort of taken my position for that in this mission.

Therefore, I'm back on clean-up duty.

Turning around, I take out two daggers from my ankles and prowl backwards onto a yellow truck, my back leaning against the metal.

Hostiles were flooding out of the building.

Rumlow must have sent them out.

Gunshots began to fire in Wanda's direction. Sam has taken the initiative to shield the girl with his wings.

That left me to deal with them.

I slid under the yellow truck, belly on the floor, mask pulled up over my face.

The guard didn't see me coming. By the time he'd realized it, I'd pull at his ankle, causing him to fall flat on his back. A knife was on his throat the minute he hit the ground.

"Hey!"

"Oh crap--" Scrambling, I grab onto the dead guard, using his body armour as a shield as I run forward, bullets raining across pavement.

The guards had taken notice.

I threw out my other dagger, hitting one of them in the shoulder.

He dropped his gun, startled, and I dropped the dead guy, using the distraction to kick forward simultaneously gutting him in the abdomen.

There was a muffled grunt, as he grappled against my hold, but I'm quicker, twinning my body around and stabbing him in the neck.

He falls to his knees, and I sighed out loud.

That was rather difficult.

Both guards lay still and unmoving so I made my way back to Sam. He'd just finish taking out four more attackers using the latest feature in his suit.

Meanwhile, Wanda was pulling the green gas out of the building. The swirling red was gathering it, leading the fog outside of the building.

The greenish mist swirled like a tornado before hitting the skies and evaporating with the wind.

A small accomplished smile plastered on Scarlet's lips and I find my heart, warming.

Atta girl.

"Rumlow has a biological weapon," Steve announced.

Ah it never stops does it?

No time to waist, I strain my fingers, feeling around with my echolocation. "He's at the back, I count a dozen guards."

"I'm on it," Natasha cuts in.

"Come on, we're the only people that can fly," I ordered but stop when I realized what I meant. "Okay, you two can fly, I run on beams--whatever, just get moving!"

Both Sam and Wanda took off towards the back.

I watch them go, about to follow, when my fingers spark their familiar bluish green.

The gold swiveled out through my palm as it always done, but it was disoriented, stuttering a couple of times, before eventually morphing into black.

"Shit," I cursed, clenching my fingers and making the lights go away. It's why I opted not to use my powers earlier.

Damn it, the serum is wearing off.

The more I used my powers the more the black came to fruition. I had to avoid using my abilities altogether.

It was the only way I knew to slow it down.

However now wasn't the time to debate about it.

I had job to do.

Growling under my breath, I focus on the power within my veins and created a blockade within myself that would stop the blue veins from growing.

It was a dangerous method since it meant I had to constantly push and pull against it. If I lose, the consequences could be disastrous. If I win, well--I don't win.

Either way, the veins will only grow. The only difference is that is will grow slower.

I only had 10 minutes.

Give or take.

Manifesting beams, I jumped up and ran behind the building, stopping mid-air when I see both Natasha and Steve on their backs.

"I'm sorry is everybody knocked out?" I mocked, watching them from above.

Steve slowly rises, a grunt leaving his lips.

"He's in an AFV heading North,"

Turning to my right, I ran over the facility and out into the buildings overhead, using my echolocation to detect exactly where they are.

The truck was speeding like a bat from hell, knocking into everything and anything that was unfortunate enough to be in its way.

"Market," I informed, having reached the area first. "There are civilians caught in the fight, Wanda, get them out while we handle these assholes."

The truck hits a ramp, ploughing to a stop.

Instantly, five people got out. All armed, including Rumlow.

His armour was impressive, I'd give you that.

Full-blown metal suit with a face painted like a skull.

Was he going for the Punisher?

Copy-cat.

"I got four, they're splitting up." Sam landed on a roof ahead of me and scanned the crowded area.

Four of the guards began to split up into two pairs, each heading off in different directions.

"I got the two on the left." The redhead jumped to the fray and headed for the other guards.

Sam got the other two, his wings propelling him forward.

I land on a roof of a stall, my fingers sparking with the familiar lights as I do my best to find out where the other hostiles are.

The gold was gone but the black as well so that means my blockade was still working.

I try to fish out the hostiles, threads reaching far and wide. But there are too many people and too many energies. I can't get a read on anything.

Where the hell did Rumlow go anyway?

"Guys--" My ankle was pulled and I dropped, hitting my head on the roof and rolling right off it.

Well, I found him.

"F-Fuck," I groaned, holding my bruised head. It was pounding and my entire torso screamed from the assault of the blue veins.

His attack has caused the blockade in my system to snap.

I hadn't prepared for it, that's why it hurt so much.

Civilians were screaming in panic, trying their best to get away.

A metal arm came down to grab me by the hair and I cried out in pain as my scalp threatened to bleed.

Rumlow's metal face came into view his eyes looking at me crazily.

"Well, well, if it isn't HYDRA's pathetic lab rat,"

Grabbing my pulled hair, I bit my lip, drawing blood before giving him a death glare. "Well, well, If it isn't the burned victim of a tragedy," I spat.

Rumlow's eyes darkened and I smirked at his obvious anger.

"What? Momma didn't love you enough to keep you?"

He slams me against a fruit cart and shoved a hand to my throat, choking me dry.

I gurgled, holding my breath. "Maybe it's because you're too ugly."

"Maybe you should shut up." He hisses vehementedly, aura fuming with malice.

Well he's pissed.

Let's make it worse.

"You know there's only one person in my life that has a metal arm and can tell me to shut up--that's not you." Clicking my fingers, jets of blue shot at his body like bullets.

It pushed him off of me so he backhanded against another cart.

He fell over the other side, groaning.

I took it as an opportunity to escape.

"I got Rumlow, Cap," Clicking on the ear comm, I kept my head low, avoiding the copy-cat Punisher as much as possible. "Now would be a good time to join me,"

Leaning against a cart, I found to be empty, I peek my head to the side and silently muttered a; "I hate my life."

This was not a good situation to be in.

"They ditched their gear," Steve , sounding worried. "It's a shell game now. One of them has the payload,"

Damn it.

Rising from my position, I watched the Super Soldier from afar.

He was too out in the open, and the civilians were practically gathering around him.

Not the best idea.

"Great, Steve, maybe you should--"

There was a loud clang.

He looks down at his shield in confusion before throwing it in the air.

The shield explodes into a fiery mess, the shining metal landing a couple of distances away.

Rumlow punches Steve in the back just as he's distracted, using some sort of metal construction.

It sent the Super Soldier flying in front of him and crashing hard against a wooden cart.

"-get out of the way." I finished, already running forward.

"There you are, you son of a bitch--" Rumlow growls, taking stomping steps closer to where a disoriented Steve laid.

"He doesn't have it! I'm empty!"

Sam's guards had nothing which means Natasha's did.

"Nat, you closing in?"

Jumping against a table, I wrapped my legs around Rumlow's neck and proceeded to grab Rumlow's mask, trying in vain to remove it.

He grapples at my thigh and holds it in a bruising grip before throwing me forward onto a rising Steve.

Steve catches me easily before we both hit the ground amptly rolled me to the side and out of Rumlow's way.

"I've been waiting for this!" Rumlow, pulls back his hand, deploying the metal mechanism.

In one swift move, he punches the Super Soldier again, knocking him upright. Steve crashes through tables and chairs and I watch in anger as Rumlow laughs in glee.

"Payload secure," Natasha confirms for us. "Thanks, Sam,"

"Heh, don't thank me," He replies back.

"I'm not... thanking that thing,"

"His name is Redwing!" Sam protests, sounding whiny.

"I'm still not thanking it,"

"He's cute, go ahead, pet him."

"Is now really the time?" I speak, manifesting an energy blade and slicing it through Rumlow's armour.

The blade doesn't quite cut it, only creating a thin slice that barely hits Rumlow's flesh.

I watch with wide eyes as the blade flicker frantically, my powers dilating to nothing.

The blue was fighting with the green unlike when they would coexist normally.

Oh no.

Rumlow watches curiously. "You're not the same as before... are you?" He observes, something dark in those words.

Letting the blade drop, I pushed out my fists in front of me. Now was not the time to think of this. "Maybe. But not my physical skills."

I lunge forward, kicking him in the stomach and punching his shoulder. He's covered in body armour.

Each punch felt like a dense wall.

I try in vain to hurt him but my fists were complaining with each brutal hit.

Somehow we managed to go over another cart near Steve. The former HYDRA agent, doesn't miss his chance.

He stomped his foot downwards making Steve roll away just in time.

"Someone needs anger management classes." Kicking at Rumlow's legs, he doesn't budge by my attack, instead, he turned right around kicked at me.

My chest heaved in pain and I am knocked onto glass, the sharp edges cutting into my suit.

Agony seared at my skin. A newly formed cut appeared above my brow.

I just needed a bit of time. My powers will regain their strength soon.

I wasn't as strong as I was before, and it was killing me, being so useless.

Both Steve and Rumlow advanced on each other punching and kicking, hoping they'd get the upper hand.

Steve manages to land a blow on Rumlow but he is quick to retaliate. "Come on!"

He punches Steve back into an array of materials. The Super Soldier voices out his pain and Rumlow pushes against him, holding him still.

"This is for dropping a building on my face," The metal contraption deploys a sharp blade and my entire being went back into focus.

"You dropped a building on us, first!"

Slamming my fists into his arms, Steve huffs a; "Thanks," Before knocking Rumlow backwards with his elbow, barely snatching the equipment off Rumlow's arm.

He throws it aside in disgust, his anger plausible as he began to approach Rumlow.

Rumlow pulls out another blade and I weaved my fingers, ignoring how my body protested before bending the blade backwards.

The metal gives way, dropping, and Steve advances on the ex-HYDRA member, hitting him to the ground.

Rumlow huffs, sliding on his knees, breath heaving in pain.

He rips off his helmet in one swift move, his entire body trembling.

Steve goes up to him and grabs him by the collar but pauses upon seeing his messed up face.

Burned and disfigured, Rumlow was the shell of who he once was.

"I think I look pretty good. All things considered." He smiled cockily.

I stayed at the side, not wanting to get close to a man who nearly killed me all because my powers were acting out.

"Who's your buyer?" Steve demands, clutching Rumlow's collar tightly.

"You know, he knew you. Your pal, your buddy-- Bucky."

The very name freezes my entire body. My mind goes blank as I try to process what is happening.

"What did you say?" Steve's voice is ice cold and filled with rage.

"He remembered you," Rumlow laughs. "I was there. He got all weepy about it."

"Shut up." I step forward, the warning clear in my tone.

"Of course untill they put his brain back in a blender--"

"I said, shut, the fuck up." Stomping onto his splayed hand, I hear the crunch of my boot against his fingers. "You don't deserve to talk about him."

"You're one to talk," The ex-HYDRA member mumbled through gritted teeth. "Don't you remember, Lorelie? You were the one that stood by and let us fry him."

I punch him, making him fall to his side.

It's not true. Why would I just stand by and let them do that to my Protector?

That's impossible.

And yet...

My eyes find Steve's.

The look in his gaze makes me flinch. It was unfamiliar. That careful, dangerous look was filling with something.

One would even assume it to be betrayal.

He's accusing me of doing that to Bucky.

I shake my head, desperate to tell him that I didn't remember. I couldn't.

My mind had been erased--used against me. Until now, I still couldn't quite get all the details of that day. Everything was a smokescreen.

But even if I wanted to defend myself what proof did I have?

The only people that knew what happened that day was the HYDRA members in that room.

I remember nothing.

I only truly woke up when my abilities had transported me to where Pierce was located.

It's why I didn't tell Steve, because why say something at all, when there was nothing, to, say?

Deep down at the back of my mind, there are doubts that creep in. Doubts that give power to nasty thoughts.

What if I did stand by and let them do that to my Protector?

I just couldn't remember.

Rumlow notices the small exchange, his smile broadening now that he's created conflict.

He stares straight at Steve. "He wanted you to know something."

Steve dragged his eyes back to Rumlow, glare running deep. He's about to say something but the ex-HYDRA member is faster.

"He said to me; please tell Rogers, when you gotta go, you gotta go... and you're coming with me."

There was a loud click. Something in his suit started beeping.

I try to react in time, hand launching out, but the explosion is so quick, I falter as the searing flames bursts open.

A twinge of red stops it, the red lights swirling around Rumlow, containing the attack into one ball.

I turn around, eyes wide.

Scarlet is right behind me, wincing, her fingers straining.

The ball is taking too much of her energy.

We didn't train for this because I was the one that would normally handle these situations.

Her fingers trembled, shoulders shaking.

She can't contain it.

I throw my own power against it, the weak blue flizzing out and encasing hers.

The veins on my skin screamed; telling me this is too much. I can't handle it. I can't do it. I'll fail.

And no matter how hard I resisted, how hard I prayed at that moment that I cannot fail, I mustn't-- the pain got to me and my powers evaporated.

Rumlow's pained cry is all I hear and Wanda's movement is too quick for me to catch.

She moves the ball upwards, her fingers flailing at the worst possible second around the same time the blue energy, weakened now--shatters.

The ball hits the side of a high rise building.

A shockwave swept the ground.

No.

I watch in horror at the ashes, at the crumbling concrete, at the windows--all shattered and broken. The building was burning.

Fire and smoke billowed out in hollow fumes.

My body crumbled to the ground.

Screams of pure terror were happening all around me in all different directions.

It was utter chaos.

Steve stumbles to a stand, watching the burning building with pain in his eyes. His words faltered. "Oh my..."

His horror is mirrored among all of us.

At the younger girl who remains behind me, shell-shocked, a hand to her mouth, watching the destruction go down with regret.

"Sam... we need, Fire and Rescue. On the south side of the building. We gotta get up there."

The Super Soldier leaves us behind to help but I can't move. I can't find myself to do it.

What have I done?

I peer over to the Sokovian girl, feeling the bond shake with agony.

Wanda's entire stance was crippling before my eyes. Her body is shaking and her tears flowed.

My heart breaks.

Nobody was there to comfort her.

"Wanda... Wanda, listen to me." Crawling over to her, I cupped her face, dragging her gaze away from the blazing fire.

"I-I did that--" Her eyes filled with tears and her mouth begins to mumble in panic. "I didn't mean to--"

"It's not your fault okay? You couldn't control it. I should've helped you." I shake her hard, making sure she listens to me.

Her mouth opens in protest, tears falling in big splotches.

"Those people! I killed those people!" She wails, and I pull her against my body, hugging her close and not letting go as the two of us looked away from the deaths we had just caused.

The terrified people running away and the cries of distress ring clear in my mind as their energies hit me all at once.

"I'm sorry," I choked, stroking her hair as she bitterly cried. "I'm so, sorry."

~~@ @ @~~

A/N

Well... damn...

;(

......

*Unable to keep my mouth shut*

"ITS ONLY JUST THE BEGINNING FOLKS!"

*Retreats to corner, sulking*

Vote and comment for my weirdness?

XD