CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR —
( I knew him. )

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        Fury arrived precisely ten minutes later, pulling up in his bulletproof black car that definitely was not inconspicuous in the afternoon sun. Evelyn sat calmly, her fingers tapping lightly on her lap, her gaze drifting to the bustling street outside as she awaited them to reach a safe house where nobody could hear them. They knew that what Fury wanted to share could change everything for them.

"Activating communications encryption protocol," Fury's car told him.

"Open secure line 0405."

"Confirmed."

Evelyn leaned back against the plush leather seat, a mischievous glint in her eye as she turned to him. "So, how's your wife?" she asked, her voice casual yet tinged with an underlying edge, a spontaneous move to throw off anyone who might be eavesdropping on their conversation.

Fury relaxed as he replied, "She's good," his tone easy. "She's been asking to see you again. Heaven help me, she likes you more than she likes me."

Evelyn's grin widened. "Oh, please. Everyone likes me more than you. That's just a proven fact," she teased.

"This is Hill," Maria Hill's voice suddenly came over the speaker.

"I need you here in DC," Fury told her. "Deep shadow conditions."

"Give me four hours."

"You have three. Over." Fury braked once they approached a red light, and a police vehicle pulled up alongside them. The officer inside eyed Fury's car with a scrutinising gaze, his expression tinged with suspicion, as if trying to pierce through the tinted windows to see what was inside.

"Want to see my lease?" Fury asked them. The police officers turned on their car's sirens and lights and drove forward. Fury began to drive when an incoming car suddenly rammed into his vehicle.

Evelyn winced as her forehead collided with the cold glass of the car window, sending a jolt through her. As she blinked away the daze, she peered out the window at the four police cars surrounding every side of them.

"Fracture detected." The car showed that Fury had broken his left arm. "Recommend anaesthetic injection." Evelyn reached over, grabbed the injection the vehicle provided, and pulled the cap off. She handed it to Fury, who injected himself with it. "DC Metro Police dispatch shows no units in this area." Evelyn looked out of the windows and saw both SWAT and police people surrounding the car with guns trained on them.

"Get us out of here," Fury told the car just as the men started firing at them.

"Propulsion systems offline," the car said.

"Then reboot, damn it!"

Evelyn's heart raced as she swiftly unclipped her seatbelt, her mind buzzing with adrenaline. Just as she was about to launch herself out of the car, Fury's firm grip closed around her upper arm, stopping her in her tracks. She turned to face him, confusion written across her features as she sought clarity in his piercing gaze.

His voice was low and steady, a hint of urgency underlying his words. "If you jump out now, it'll look like you're attacking law enforcement," he warned, his gaze fierce and unyielding. "Unless you're prepared to face the consequences and end up behind bars, I suggest we find a different approach to handle this."

The firing suddenly stopped, and Evelyn looked out Fury's window and saw they were bringing something else out. They aimed the object at the window. "Warning. Window integrity compromised."

"You think?"

Evelyn vaulted into the backseat with an energised urgency, her heart racing as Fury maneuvered himself into the passenger seat, a determined look sitting on his face. With a swift motion, Evelyn transitioned to the driver's seat, gripping the steering wheel tightly, her senses heightened and eager to accelerate at a moment's notice. She awaited his command while the car continued to get attacked.

"How long to propulsion?" Fury asked.

"Calculating." The "officers" set off the device, which smashed into the window and rocked the car. "Window integrity 31%. Deploying countermeasures."

"Hold that order!" Fury ordered.

"Window integrity 19%. Offence measures advised."

"Wait!" Fury yelled. "Parrish, when we're at one per cent, lean back as far as you can and get us out of here!"

Evelyn nodded, not understanding why she had to sit back but doing it anyway. They hit the window again and made their way closer to the car. "Window integrity 1%."

"Now!"

A machine gun suddenly emerged from the narrow space between their seats. With her heart racing, Evelyn slammed her foot onto the pedal, sending the car lurching backward into the vehicle behind them with a loud crash. She leaned back immediately, bracing for impact while Fury unleashed a hail of bullets, compelling and chaotic, targeting everyone and everything in sight.

With adrenaline pumping through her veins, she swiftly shifted the gear into drive, the engine growling in response. As she tore away from the scene, tyres screeching against the asphalt, she felt a violent jolt beneath the wheels—an unfortunate consequence of her reckless escape, as she realised too late that she had run over a man in the frantic scramble. Chaos filled the streets, blending with the echoes of gunfire and shouts as they barreled downtown.

"Initiate vertical takeoff!" Fury ordered the car.

"Flight systems damaged."

"Then activate guidance cameras!" Fury ordered his car.

Evelyn weaved past pedestrian cars as she sped through. She noticed a few vehicles gaining on them through the rearview mirror. "Get me Agent Hill," Fury commanded.

"Communications array damaged."

"Well, what's not damaged?" Fury asked.

"Air conditioning is fully operational."

Evelyn held her hand up to her window and used her ice powers to create a new one, then did the same to Fury's window. "Traffic ahead."

"Give me an alternate route," Evelyn ordered.

"Traffic alert on Roosevelt Bridge." On the window in front of them, it highlighted in red the best route to take. "All vehicles stopped. 17th Avenue clears in three blocks, directly ahead."

Evelyn accelerated, weaving skillfully between the cars that crowded the road. The traffic flow abruptly stopped as she approached an intersection, forcing her to slow down. Frustrated but determined, she glanced towards the sidewalk and made a bold decision. She veered off the road and onto the sidewalk with a quick turn of the wheel. She constantly pressed the horn, the sharp sound echoing to alert startled pedestrians as they jumped aside, wide-eyed at the unexpected sight.

Evelyn jerked the steering wheel, veering back onto the main road, her heart racing with each reckless maneuver. She swerved around honking cars, sometimes colliding with them to push her way through the chaotic traffic. The tyres screeched as she took sharp turns, sending the vehicle skidding dangerously close to the edge.

Amidst the chaos of blaring horns and screeching brakes, she darted through the maze of vehicles, some drivers yelling in frustration as they barely avoided her. Suddenly, a man leaned out of the window of a car adjacent to her, his expression twisted with fury. With a swift motion, he fired a shot, shattering the icy window Evelyn had hastily formed.

Bits of sharp ice erupted in a violent spray, cutting into her side and face. The cold shards sliced through her skin, adding to the panic coursing through her veins as she pressed on, desperate to escape the chaos surrounding them.

Evelyn held her hand onto Fury's chest as she turned the car to the left and rammed it into the side of the man's car. He reached into the car, so Evelyn pulled the gun off of him and shot him in the head. She shoved him forcefully out of the car just moments before his vehicle violently collided with the side of their car. The impact was accompanied by metal grinding against metal as another vehicle slammed into the opposite side of them. In an instant, they found themselves trapped in a sandwich of cars.

"Warning. Approaching intersection."

Evelyn's heart raced as she peered ahead, her eyes widening at the sight of the road dividing into two distinct paths. She slammed on the brakes, the tyres screeching against the asphalt. In that tense moment, she watched as the two police cars barreled forward, their blue lights flashing wildly. They sped into the lane of a massive oncoming truck and collided with such impact that it caused the vehicles to roll.

Evelyn turned left and made their way downtown with no more police cars following them. "Get us off the grid!" Fury ordered his car.

"Calculating route to secure location."

Evelyn's frustration boiled over as she shot a glare at Fury. "What have you gotten us into?" she demanded, her voice laced with anger.

Fury shifted uncomfortably in his seat as pain coursed through his body. "S.H.I.E.L.D. is compromised. You're the only one I trust."

Suddenly, a figure emerged and stood in the middle of the road. Clad entirely in black, the man was holding a large gun trained on their vehicle. Evelyn squinted her eyes, her heart sinking as recognition washed over her. "Oh no," she whispered, dread pooling in her stomach just as the figure fired a projectile toward them.

The object stuck itself to the underneath of the car and, with a blast, sent the car flying through the air. In a moment of instinct, Evelyn pressed one hand firmly against Fury's chest for support while her other hand grasped the cool, metallic roof. As the vehicle flipped upside down, the jolt was jarring, and she felt the impact as her head collided sharply with the car's ceiling. When the vehicle finally crashed onto its roof, Evelyn let out a low groan, the sudden shift in gravity pulling her body downwards, leaving her suspended awkwardly against the inverted interior.

Evelyn let out a low groan, a sharp, stabbing pain radiating through her left wrist and right shoulder. As she reluctantly turned her gaze to her wrist, the sight confirmed her fears—it was at an unnatural angle, clearly broken. Gritting her teeth against the agony, she summoned all her strength and grimaced as she popped her wrist back into place to start the healing process.

Glancing to her side, she saw Fury lowering from his seat, his face pained but focused. "Nick?" she asked quietly.

Undeterred by their condition, Fury swiftly pulled a small device from his jacket, its metallic sheen glinting ominously. With a flick of his wrist, he activated the device, and an intense beam of heat erupted from it, searing a hole into the car's roof and the road beneath.

Evelyn seized the moment to glance out the window, her heart racing as she spotted the imminent figure of the Winter Soldier. He moved with lethal grace, closing the distance towards them, his mission clear and deadly—to eliminate them. The gravity of the situation pressed down on her, amplifying her pain as she realised the urgency of their predicament.

Fury lowered himself into the hole, and Evelyn crawled in after him, landing in the disgustingly wet sewer. Evelyn scrunched up her nose and gagged as the smell hit her senses. She stood up and looked up at the hole before Fury approached her and cupped her face in his hands.

"As of this moment, S.H.I.E.L.D. is compromised. Trust no one." With a fierce determination, he snatched his earpiece and crushed it against the hard ground, severing all communication.

"What do we do now?" Evelyn inquired, her voice laced with concern.

Fury paused, rolling the situation over in his mind for a brief moment. A slight smile crept onto his face, illuminating the tension in the air. "How about I swing by your place for coffee?"

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As the last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, they arrived at Evelyn's apartment. They approached the front door, and Evelyn's heart sank as she patted her pockets, only to realise her keys were missing. With a knowing nod, Fury stepped forward, expertly pick-locking the door with nimble fingers. The lock clicked open, and Evelyn shut the door behind them, sealing off the outside world.

Once inside, the familiar warmth of home enveloped Evelyn. Despite Steve not being present, his presence was everywhere in photos and old fashioned items. His smell even lingered in the air. It made Evelyn relax drastically. Fury turned to Evelyn with a look of readiness, and without hesitation, she extended her arm toward him. With a swift motion, he popped her shoulder back into place, causing a small groan of discomfort to escape her lips.

After tending to her, Fury sank heavily into the plush armchair that creaked under his weight. Evelyn made her way to the kitchen, her footsteps soft on the hardwood floor. She opened one of the cupboards, the door creaking slightly, and retrieved a large mixing bowl alongside the brightly coloured first aid kit.

Carrying her supplies back to the lounge, she pulled up a dining chair and positioned it directly in front of Fury, who looked exhausted. She settled down, ready to tend to whatever needed care next, the air thick with the tension of the day's events.

"You alright?" Fury asked.

Evelyn glanced up briefly, her eyes meeting Fury's for just a moment before shifting back to the first aid kit laid open before her. With a steady hand, she retrieved a needle and thread, the metallic glint catching the room's soft light. "Yeah, I'll be alright. I don't know if you will be, though," she said, a hint of concern lacing her voice as she prepared for the task ahead.

Fury adjusted himself in his chair, a quiet determination settling over him. "I've survived worse," he admitted, a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips despite the pain etched on his face. As Evelyn expertly threaded the needle, he reached out and turned on the vintage record player tucked in the corner. The warm crackle of vinyl filled the air, bringing with it the familiar sound of one of Steve's favourite records from the 1940s—a romantic song about a soldier returning to his lover after the war, which contrasted sharply with the tension in the room.

Drawing a deep breath, Evelyn held the needle up, examining Fury's more significant gash with a focused stare. She met his gaze, silently asking, 'Are you ready?' He nodded firmly, and with that, she positioned the needle about a centimetre to the right of the wound, her hands steady and practised. Gently, she punctured his skin, the needle piercing through the flesh before twisting her wrist clockwise, guiding it through to the other side of the gash. The delicate thread trailed behind as she pulled the needle back, stitching him up carefully.

As the minutes slipped by, the melody from the record player provided a comforting backdrop to their urgent task. After about ten minutes of Evelyn meticulously weaving the needle in and out of Fury's wounds, the moment's tranquillity was broken. The window suddenly opened, and Steve's familiar face appeared, his shield gripped tightly. But the tension eased from his expression when he realised it was only Fury and Evelyn, the warmth of relief washing over him as he registered that they were both safe for the moment.

"You do realize I live in this apartment as well," Evelyn remarked, her voice steady and cool as she focused intently on her work, the flickering light illuminating her determined expression. She didn't so much as glance over her shoulder, absorbed in the task at hand.

"Yeah, but you only ever listen to these records with me," Steve replied, punctuating his words with a casual shrug as he scanned the numerous vinyls lining the walls. The room was heavy with the warm, vibrant sounds of jazz swirling around them. Evelyn hummed softly in response, a slight note of agreement.

"Besides," Steve continued his brow furrowing in thought, "I know Eve never has a key because she tends to forget it. And as far as I recall, I never handed you a spare."

A low grunt escaped Fury's lips as he attempted to shift his position on the couch, but Evelyn swiftly pressed her elbow into his thigh, thwarting any movement. "You seriously think I would need one? My wife kicked me out," he muttered, bitterness lacing his tone.

"I had no idea you were married," Steve said, his curiosity igniting, eyes wide with disbelief at this new revelation.

"There's a lot you don't know about me," Fury replied, his words hanging heavily, revealing layers of untold stories deep within him.

"I know, Nick. That's the problem," Steve shot back, his voice laced with concern as he turned on the overhead light. The sudden brightness pierced through the shadows, and in that moment, he froze at the sight before him—Fury and Evelyn were splattered with crimson streaks, the stark contrast against their skin revealing their desperate circumstances. Evelyn was in the midst of carefully stitching up Fury's deep cuts, her hands moving with a steady precision that belied the gravity of the situation. The air was thick with tension and the unmistakable scent of blood, and Steve realised they were intertwined in a story far darker than he had initially thought.

Fury raised his hand, the gesture a clear indication of silence, as he flicked off the light, plunging the room into darkness. The faint glow of his phone illuminated his face as he began typing with swift, deliberate movements. Once finished, he turned the screen toward Steve, revealing the message and the urgency behind his expression.

'EARS EVERYWHERE'

"I'm sorry to have to do this, but I had nowhere else to crash." Fury typed something else onto his phone.

'SHIELD COMPROMISED'

Steve furrowed his eyebrows, a deep crease forming between them as he scrutinised the message on the screen. "Who else knows about your wife?" he inquired, his voice steady but edged with tension. Meanwhile, Evelyn shifted in her chair, leaning back slightly to give Fury the needed space. With a limp in his step, Fury stood up and walked across the room, his eyes never leaving Steve.

"Just my friends."

'US THREE'

"Is that what we are?" Steve asked.

"That's up to you."

Three sharp gunshots echoed through the air, each one piercing the tense silence and striking Fury squarely in the chest. The third bullet whizzed past, narrowly grazing Evelyn's arm and leaving a stinging pain in its wake. As Fury collapsed forward, the weight of his injury evident in his faltering steps, Evelyn sprang into action. With a surge of adrenaline, she rushed to catch him, her hands grasping his shirt as they stumbled together. She dragged him into the safety of the kitchen, the distant sounds of chaos fading as she pulled him away from the vulnerable reach of the windows.

Evelyn ripped open his shirt and assessed the three bullet holes in his chest. They were all large, clearly the work of a sniper. Evelyn held her hands over two of the wounds to stop the blood from pouring out. "Nick?" She asked with a concerned frown.

Fury pulled one of Evelyn's hands away and slipped the USB she gave him earlier in the day back to her. "Don't trust anyone," he coughed out.

The front door was kicked open, and footsteps began to approach. "Captain Rogers? Agent Parrish?" Sharon called out. Evelyn peeked her head around the corner and saw her walking towards them with a gun in hand. "Captain, Gemini, I'm Agent 13 of Shield Special Service."

"Kate?" Steve asked.

She looked around the corner and walked forward. "I'm assigned to protect you two."

"On whose order?" Steve asked.

Sharon spotted Fury on the ground, her eyes widening. "His."

Evelyn's voice trembled with urgency. "He has three bullet holes—one in his shoulder and two lodged in his chest. His pulse is weak and thready," she reported

Sharon quickly crouched down next to them and fished her walkie-talkie. The metallic click of the device echoed in the air as she called, "Foxtrot is down; he's unresponsive. I need EMTs."

"Do we have a 20 on the shooter?" The dispatcher asked.

Evelyn looked towards the window, watching as the Winter Soldier ran away. "Tell him I'm in pursuit," Steve told her.

Evelyn watched as Sharon's hands replaced her own on Fury's wounds before she slipped the USB into her bra and ran towards their window. Evelyn carefully maneuvered through the window's narrow opening, peering up at the roof of the adjacent building. With a determined breath, she bent her knees, feeling the cool night air rush against her skin, and then propelled herself upward, soaring through the air and onto the roof, her feet landing softly as she steadied herself onto it.

Evelyn sprinted after the dark figure of the assassin, her heart pounding in her chest as she closed the distance between them. The wind whipped through her hair, and she called out, "Slow down, Winter Soldier! I just want to talk!" in Russian, knowing he responded most in that language.

Evelyn's heart raced as she sprinted toward the Winter Soldier, just as he made a bold leap off the roof and onto the next building with a calculated grace. In the split second that followed, Evelyn mimicked his daring move, springing down and landing behind him. The sound of shattered glass echoed behind them as Steve propelled himself through a nearby window.

With a fierce grunt, Steve hurled his shield toward the Winter Soldier, its metallic surface glinting in the moonlight. But in a swift motion, the Winter Soldier turned and caught the shield effortlessly with his metal arm, the impact sending a shockwave that resonated between them.

As his eyes flickered with intensity, he returned the shield with a swift toss, sending it hurtling back toward Steve. The force of the blow staggered Steve backward, his footing faltering for just a moment as the tension of the encounter escalated.

Evelyn sprinted urgently toward the rooftop's edge, her heart pounding furiously. She watched as the Winter Soldier propelled himself off the building, his silhouette momentarily framed against the twilight sky. But by the time she reached the precipice, her breaths coming in quick, sharp gasps, he had vanished into thin air, leaving her grasping at nothing but the fading echoes of his presence. A cold wave of panic washed over her, causing her breath to shorten and her mind to race with questions. Where had he gone?

"No," she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. The tremor in her breath betrayed the horror gripping her heart. "No, this can't be happening."

With urgency, Steve rushed to Evelyn, his hands finding her shoulders, shaking her gently as he searched her eyes. "What is it?" he pressed concern across his face.

A distant look clouded Evelyn's gaze as she struggled to find the words. "I—I knew him," she finally confessed, her voice trembling with fear and regret. She turned her eyes away, staring into the vastness before them, before drawing her focus back to Steve, her expression heavy with sorrow. "I promised him I would come back for him. That I would come back to save him."

Steve's frown deepened, confusion mingling with his concern. "What do you mean?"

Evelyn's sadness intensified, her brow furrowing as she stared contemplatively into the distance again, memories washing over her like cold waves. "I broke my promise," she murmured, a deep ache in her chest. "And now he's back."

AUTHORS NOTE

The fact that pre-serum Steve is taller than me shocks me because they make him seem soooo little in the movie :') But I am only 5'3", so I'm only a little smaller than him, which is still a decent height for me 😁
But Steve after the serum 🤤
To all the guys lying and saying they're 6-foot need to think about whether they'd be the same height as Captain freaking America
Don't forget to like and comment!!!
Pheebs / -rosepetal