CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN —
( Speciman. )

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        After quickly stopping back at the apartment to change into different clothes, Steve discarded their uniforms in a gym since they had tracking devices hidden in them. Afterwards, they returned to the hospital to retrieve the USB. However, the USB was no longer there when they arrived at the vending machine.

"I told you," Evelyn told Steve. Natasha came into view in the reflection of the glass, popping gum in her mouth. Steve turned around and pushed her into the room behind them.

He shoved her against the wall and took his hoodie off. "Where is it?" Steve demanded.

"Safe," she replied.

"Do better."

"Where did you get it?" Natasha retaliated.

"Why would I tell you?" Steve asked.

"Fury gave it to you. Why?"

"Well, technically, he gave it to me," Evelyn piped up.

"What's on it?" Steve asked.

"I don't know."

"Stop lying," Steve stepped closer, but Evelyn pushed his chest back.

"I only act like I know everything, Rogers."

"I bet you knew Fury hired the Pirates, didn't you?" Steve asked.

Natasha frowned slightly and looked between Evelyn and Steve before the frown disappeared from her face. "Well, it makes sense. The ship was dirty; Fury needed a way in, and so did you."

"I'm not going to ask you again," Steve said, his voice low and menacing, his jaw clenched tightly as he glared with unwavering intensity.

"Whoa, whoa," Evelyn piped, pushing Steve away from Natasha. "She doesn't know anything. If Nat did, she would've told us by now."

"I know who killed Fury," Natasha declared. "Evelyn knows as well. Most of the intelligence community doesn't believe he exists, but those who do refer to him as the Winter Soldier. He's been credited with over two dozen assassinations over the past 50 years."

Steve turned his gaze towards Evelyn, sensing the change in her demeanour. "Your partner?" he inquired, his voice barely more than a whisper.

Evelyn hesitated, her heart heavy with memories. She nodded slowly, her expression turning sombre. "He was the one who broke me out of HYDRA, sacrificing his freedom in the process." Her eyes fell to the ground as she spoke, regret washing over her features. "I tried to return for him over the years, but by then, HYDRA had moved their operation. I can only guess they did it to keep me from leading S.H.I.E.L.D. straight to them."

Natasha stepped closer, her expression grave. "Going after him is a dead end. Believe me, we've tried everything," she said, offering Steve the USB drive.

Steve accepted the device "Well, let's find out what he wants."

Natasha nodded but didn't linger on sentiment. "You two go ahead," she said. "I'm going to reach out to some of our closest allies. We need to figure out who we can trust."

Evelyn offered a gentle smile tinged with worry. "Just promise me you'll stay safe. Don't trust anyone."

Natasha smirked, a hint of her usual attitude shining through. "You know I hardly trust anyone, Eve," she replied with a wink. "But you—be careful out there. Chasing this lead might bring more trouble than you expect."

Evelyn took a deep breath, meeting Natasha's gaze. "I will, but I'm finally ready to face him." Her voice, though steady, carried the weight of her determination to confront her past.

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Evelyn and Steve went directly to a busy mall full of shoppers to help hide them from cameras. Their destination was the electronics store, where they hoped to use a laptop that would allow them to investigate the contents of the USB drive. With cautious glances over their shoulders, they hurried inside, eager to uncover what secrets the USB held while staying one step ahead of their pursuers.

"I know this is your first time on the run, so I'll make this easy for you," Evelyn said to Steve, her voice calm and reassuring, her expression carefully neutral. She adjusted her cap, ensuring it sat snugly on her head and slipped on her fake glasses, a disguise that added an air of normalcy. "Just stay relaxed, and don't let your eyes dart around nervously. We're just a couple out shopping."

Steve looked down at his worn shoes, anxiety flickering across his face. "But S.H.I.E.L.D. could be anywhere," he protested, his voice tinged with worry. "If we need to make a quick escape, I don't think I'll be able to keep up. These shoes will fall off if I try to run."

"They make you look casual, and you easily blend into the crowd," Evelyn remarked, her gaze scanning the civilians around them. "Unfortunately, it seems that men over thirty have a particular fondness for those styles of shoes. So, if you want to blend in with them, you must dress like them."

Steve raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk spreading across his face. "Are you saying that I look thirty?" he teased, nudging Evelyn gently with his elbow.

Evelyn rolled her eyes dramatically, the corners of her mouth turning up mischievously. "Sure, old man."

Evelyn and Steve stepped into the electronics store, laptops placed all around the room. Evelyn moved quickly, her eyes locking onto a computer separated from everyone else. With a gentle press of the power button, the machine hummed to life, its screen glowing. She navigated to the desktop, her fingers dancing swiftly across the keyboard.

"The drive has a Level Six homing program," Evelyn explained, glancing at Steve. "So as soon as I insert the USB, S.H.I.E.L.D. will know where we are immediately."

Steve's brow furrowed in concern. "How much time will we have?"

Evelyn paused momentarily, weighing her words. "About nine minutes from—" she declared, inserting the USB stick into the laptop's port.

Instantly, a cascade of documents flooded the screen. Evelyn's eyes scanned the overflowing files with urgency as she began sifting through them, the urgency of their mission evident in her focused demeanour. "Nick was right about that ship," Evelyn said, her eyes narrowing as she examined the screen before her. "Somebody's trying to hide something. This drive is locked down tight and protected by a sophisticated AI. It keeps rewriting its own counter commands, like a digital fortress."

Steve leaned closer, his brow furrowed with concern. "Can you override it?" he inquired, his voice a mix of hope and apprehension.

Evelyn let out a dry laugh, the sound a blend of confidence and exasperation. "Of course, I can. But we won't be able to pry it open unless we access it from the source. I'm going to run a tracer now. This is a specialised program that S.H.I.E.L.D. developed to track and dismantle hostile malware. I'll pinpoint where it originated." As she spoke, a detailed map flickered to life on the screen, and she began to draw lines and traces on it, her fingers dancing over the keyboard with purpose.

"You're doing it again," Steve remarked, a playful tone in his voice.

"Doing what?" Evelyn shot back.

"You bite your lip when you concentrate," Steve observed

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, a playful smile breaking across her face. "And why exactly are you telling me this?"

"Because it does things to me," he mumbled, his cheeks flushing slightly, which prompted a bright laugh from Evelyn.

"And how do you think I feel when you laugh and smile? Or that adorably confused puppy dog face you give someone when you don't understand? Not to mention those bear hugs you wrap me in!" Evelyn said, her laughter filling the air like music, lightening the tension in the room.

"Can I help you guys with anything?" A tall guy with long, flowing hair approached the duo, a curious glint in his eyes.

Evelyn spun around quickly, a playful smile spreading across her face as she slipped her arm affectionately around Steve's waist. "Oh, no! My fiancé was helping me brainstorm some honeymoon destinations," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she let out a light giggle.

Steve nodded quickly and pressed a soft kiss atop Evelyn's forehead, a warm smile gracing his lips. "Yeah, we...ahh...we're getting married," he stammered

Evelyn snorted and turned back to her laptop, the glowing screen reflecting her eagerness as her fingers danced across the keyboard. The long-haired guy leaned in closer, genuine interest etched on his face. "Congratulations! Where are you guys thinking about going?" he asked, his tone encouraging.

Steve glanced over Evelyn's shoulder just as "New Jersey" appeared on the screen. He raised an eyebrow in surprise. "New Jersey," he said, an amused smirk forming. Evelyn wrinkled her nose in response, a hint of disappointment creeping into her expression. She had always dreamed of a romantic honeymoon in Paris, the City of Light, filled with charming cafés and breathtaking views.

An uncomfortable stillness hung in the air for a few seconds, broken only by the man's voice. "I have the exact same glasses," he remarked, adjusting the frames perched on his nose.

Evelyn's eyes widened with excitement. "Oh my goodness, you both look almost identical!" she exclaimed, a playful grin spreading across her face.

"Yeah, I wish!" he chuckled, gesturing towards Steve's body. "Specimen."

"God, I know right," Evelyn teased, gently nudging Steve with her elbow, her laughter infectious as the conversation flowed around them.

The man glanced at Evelyn, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. "I love your shirt!" he exclaimed, prompting her to look down and beam with delight. The fabric of her shirt showcased a vibrant design of Captain America, the iconic shield decorated boldly across her chest. "Captain America is one of my favourite Avengers, right alongside Gemini, of course," he added, his voice tinged with admiration. He sighed dreamily, his thoughts drifting. "Honestly, she can kick butt and look stunning while doing it."

Evelyn grinned as she exclaimed, "I know, right! Gemini is definitely my favourite!"

"If you guys need anything, I've been Aaron," he announced with a friendly nod before turning on his heel and walking away, leaving a faint trace of his presence in the air.

"Wasn't he lovely?" Evelyn said after he had walked away.

"You said it would only take nine minutes. Let's move," Steve urged

Evelyn leaned back, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Chillax," she replied with a drawl. As the digital map began to zoom in, her expression shifted from casual indifference to concern. "Wait a minute," she frowned, her brow furrowing as she recognised the location. "I thought that place was gone."

Steve glanced at the map, his expression dropping. "So did I. Let's go."

With a quick, discreet motion, Steve extracted the USB from the laptop, and they stepped out of the store and into the bustling mall. He glanced around, a sense of unease tightening in his chest, while Evelyn strolled through the crowd with casual confidence. Shops and lively chatter surrounded them, yet Steve's focus remained sharp. His eyes scanned the area, assessing the imminent threat. "Standard tac team," he murmured, his voice low and tense. "Two behind us, two across, and two advancing straight toward us."

"You're going to blow our cover," Evelyn whispered urgently. She grabbed his hand, threw his arm around her shoulders, pulled herself closer to his side, and wrapped her arm around him. Barely above a murmur, she said, "Now laugh at something I said."

Steve looked at her, confusion etched on his face. "What?"

"Just do it." He hesitated momentarily, then laughed awkwardly, the sound brittle and forced. After they passed the STRIKE team members, Evelyn smirked and quipped, "Looks like someone could use a few acting lessons."

Steve grimaced. "I'm not a spy. I've never done anything like this before."

"Thank god for that too." They approached the escalator, and as they began their descent, Rumlow began to ascend towards them. Evelyn quickly turned her head and looked up at Steve. "Kiss me."

Steve blinked, taken aback. "What?"

Evelyn tugged at his face without waiting for a response, drawing him closer. Their lips met in a soft, lingering kiss, a fleeting moment that felt exhilarating. She caressed his cheekbones gently with her thumbs, savouring the warmth of the connection before pulling back, a smile dancing on her lips. Steve's cheeks flushed a deep crimson as he stood there, momentarily stunned by the unexpected intimacy.

"Glad to see you still enjoy public displays of affection," Evelyn teased.

Steve sighed, the corners of his mouth twitching into a small smile. "I'm getting better at it."

"I know, baby," Evelyn replied, mirroring his smile as she reached for his hand. Together, they stepped off the escalator, her fingers interlacing with his as they moved through the thrumming crowd and made their way to the carpark.

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After getting out of the mall, Steve hot-wired a car and they were now on their way to the army base, but not before Steve wrote a quick sorry letter to the owner of the car, saying that he would return it, which Evelyn highly doubted.

Evelyn was silent in the car during the drive, drumming her fingers on her arm and humming to the music on the radio.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Steve eventually asked.

"About you hot wiring a car? Because I know I didn't teach you how to do that," Evelyn joked.

"I learnt it in Nazi Germany, and you know that's not what I'm talking about."

A brief silence settled between them. Steve wasn't going to press Evelyn for an answer, but she felt she should respond. She knew everything about Steve, from his favourite colour to his preferred brand of apples, and he knew everything about her. Everything, except for her entire experience with the Winter Soldier.

"He was my partner," Evelyn began, gazing out the window at the endless line of trees. Her eyes glazed over as memories of a different time flooded back. She had always tried to avoid recalling her time with HYDRA, blocking those thoughts out at all costs. However, everything came rushing back when she saw the Winter Soldier.

"Much like me, he used to be a normal person, but he was forced to become a killer," she continued. "I know this because our cells used to be beside each other, separated only by a wall. I never saw his face, only heard his voice. Occasionally, one of us would remember something from our past lives, but as soon as we shared that with each other, we'd be put back into the electric chair, and they'd fry our brains all over again."

Steve reached over and grabbed Evelyn's hand, and she immediately took it with both of hers. "The Winter Soldier was the one who broke me out of HYDRA. He saved my life. I want to do the same for him. I just wish I knew where HYDRA was."