I swallowed. Nick Fury walked around the table and sat opposite me. I looked to Natasha. She was looking back and forth between us. I looked up to Steve. He had a grim look on his face.

"So, y/n," Fury said, causing me to look at him. "You want to be an Avenger?"

"Well... yeah..." I said, glancing between Natasha and Steve.

Fury pulled a Glock out of his pocket and pointed it at my face. My eyes went wide as I stared at the weapon.

"How do we know you're not a spy?" he asked.

"I... um... I was – I was kidnapped when I was sixteen. I could... if we could find the article –"

"I didn't ask for an article of your kidnapping," he said. "They could have converted you."

"Well how am I supposed to prove it?" I asked angrily.

Fury narrowed his eyes at me. He slowly lowered the gun, and I kept my sigh of relief internal.

"You can stay. For now. But we'll keep a close eye on you," Fury said.

He then stood up and left, leaving me slightly shaken.

"Is he always like that?" I asked.

"Grumpy?" Nat said.

"I was thinking more along the lines of terrifying," I said.

"He's nothing to worry about," Natasha said.

I nodded slowly, disagreeing. He'd just held a gun to my face, for crying out loud!

"Well, we'd best get you to bed, huh?" Nat said. "It's been a long day."

I nodded as I stifled a yawn. The two Avengers led me through the tower and to another door.

"It's a bit small," Steve said, "but it was the only one we had on such short notice. It's on Nat's floor, so you'll have her near you."

Steve opened the door and my jaw dropped. They called this small?

Behind the door was a massive room. It had a king size bed, a tv, a couch, and a desk. There were two doors on the sides which I assumed led to a bathroom and a wardrobe.

"I think you guys are too used to living in luxury," I breathed, walking into the room in awe.

Steve chuckled.

"Well, this is all yours," he said.

Nat left to grab me some pyjamas. Steve and I spoke a little bit. He told me that, if I was up to it, I could meet the Avengers the next day. It seemed a little scary, but I'd been through worse, so I agreed.

When Natasha came back, the two of them said their goodbyes. I said mine and they left, leaving me to go to sleep. I got changed into my pyjamas and got into the bed.

I tossed and turned, not getting comfortable. The bed was too fluffy, too soft. I wasn't used to it.

I grabbed a pillow and a blanket and lay on the carpet. It was also fluffy, but bearable. I closed my eyes and allowed sleep to take me.

*

I sat in a room. I had no bindings. This was the first time they had taken the hand cuffs off. They still had precautions, with the Winter Soldier standing guard beside the door. The door opened and a man with a bag over his head was dragged in. He was struggling, and one of the bodyguards carrying him struck him in the stomach. He doubled over – or tried to – and was practically thrown into the chair across from me. He was tied in and the bag was ripped off. His eyes were wide, and he stared right at me. I turned away, unable to meet his eyes.

Minutes passed and nothing happened. I glanced to the Winter Soldier to see him already looking at me. I glared at him and he looked towards the man in the chair instead.

"Why am I here?!" the man yelled.

I jumped and turned to face him.

"You're a spy."

I shuddered at the voice that came from directly behind me. List.

"No – no I'm not!" the man said.

"Don't lie," List spat.

The man trembled in his seat.

"Kill him, y/n."

I looked back to List with wide eyes.

"I – I can't –"

"Yes, you can," List growled. "Either you do it, or the Winter Soldier will. Death at his hands will be slow, and you will have to watch."

I gulped as I turned back to face the man. I dove into his mind and heard his thoughts.

The Winter Soldier. He's real. Shield knows I'm here. They'll come and find the Winter Soldier, and this woman. She doesn't look compliant. She looks like she doesn't want to do whatever she's about to do.

I kept my face neutral.

I'm sorry, I said into his mind.

His eyes widened.

I don't want to kill you, but if I don't, they will, and death and my hands will be much less painful, and much faster, I told him.

Shield will find you, he thought. They'll save you.

I smiled sadly. They wouldn't find me. I was stuck here. Forever.

I'm sorry, I said once again.

I closed my eyes as I concentrated. I switched his mind off, like a light switch, and he slumped back into his chair. Blood began to drip from his nose and ears. A bodyguard went over and pressed his fingers to his neck and wrist.

"Dead," the bodyguard announced.

"See, y/n?" List drawled. "That wasn't so hard."

*

I woke up, breathing heavily. I shook my head, trying to forget the memory. That was the first time I had killed for Hydra. I looked to the alarm clock. Two in the morning. I wrapped my arms around my knees.

Pepper's gonna kill me if she finds me here this late.

I shook my head, ignoring the voice. Maybe I just needed more sleep. I settled myself back to the floor and closed my eyes.