❛   𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞   ❜

❝ it's the connection
we can't explain. ❞

THE Asset dragged Steve on the shore with little effort. His broken arm was tucked close to his chest and his hair dripped water on his face.

After slumping the Captain down, the Soldier stilled, waiting.

A long moment passed before water suddenly bobbed from Steve's mouth and spilt down his cheek. He was alive and breathing on his own.

Bucky's shoulders subconsciously relaxed before the splash of water made him freeze. Slowly turning, he found Anastasia standing in the thicket, staring back at him with wide eyes; like a doe in headlights.

Above the silence between the two, droplets of water hitting the soft ground filled their ears. It was nearly deafening.

Her movements were slow but calculated. Her feet shuffled in the water, the agitation smeared across her features and on display for him.

When her boots sunk into the soft mud below, she swallowed and glanced around, as if someone was hunting for them already.

"Run."

Both of the assassins' heads turned, staring with wide eyes.

"You have to keep moving." Anastasia averred shakily in a demure manner. Her hand travelled across her torso, pressing on a bleeding wound below her ribs on the opposite side. Bucky watched the movement.

"Hydra has deep and thick roots. They'll always snuff you out and dig their claws deep." She sniffed harshly, trying to get the water out of her nose.

Bucky's lips parted to say something.

Anything.

The words seem to get stuck in his throat, but he didn't know if it was from dehydration or his own fear.

By the time he focused back again, she was already pushing her way through the bushes and disappearing.

Bucky leaned his weight on one foot, tucking his right arm closer to his stomach.

After completing another survey around the deserted area, he walked the opposite way.

Bucky halted after a few steps, looking over his shoulder.

She didn't turn around or stop. She was truly gone. Licking his chapped lips, Bucky turned and limped the opposite way.

THREE MONTHS LATER

         ANASTASIA couldn't help but tilt her head in wonder, staring up at the carved-out portrait of Gabe Jones. Part of a World War Two group called the Howling Commandos.

Alongside him, was Dum Dum Dugan, Jim Morita, James Falsworth, Jacques Frenchie Dernier, James Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers.

They all seemed like brave young soldiers in their portraits; faces full and brazen. She read each of their short biographies, fighting more and more to contain a smile with each one.

Taking small steps along the exhibit, she suddenly stilled as she came up to her own section. She's been here multiple times before, but it always seemed to stop Anastasia when she laid eyes on it.

Anastasia "Ana" Valentine Perova became a proud resident of Brooklyn, New York in the early spring of 1937. From there, she quickly befriended Steve Rogers and James Barnes.
Joining the Strategic Scientific Reserve in late 1940, she helped fight back against HYDRA's Nazis. In June of 1943, SHIELD Agent Peggy Carter and Anastasia were the supervisors for Camp Lehigh's division, where Steve Rogers was recruited for Project Rebirth—

Her head jutted away, forcing herself to stop reading her biography. Readjusting the straps to her bag, Anastasia pulled her cap down again. It was becoming a reflex.

Walking along, she quietly slipped into the film viewing room. It was small and dark, meant to seat about ten people at a time. Luckily no one was there.

Leaning against the wall at the entrance, Anastasia listened. A few short interviews played.

One by Colonel Chester Phillips, Agent Peggy Carter and Howard Stark.

Pulling back her sleeve, Anastasia stared at the inside of her wrist, where her small watch sat. Noticing the time, she slipped out of the room and made her way across the Captain America exhibit.

She stopped suddenly in front of the Steve Rogers sector, watching the video that looped of his life story.

Anastasia's eyes softened at a picture of him, Bucky and herself that faded onto the screen.

After a few seconds, it cut to a video of them all.

Steve stood tall and respectfully, arms held behind his back. As the camera slowly zoomed out, Bucky and Anastasia stepped closer to the Captain. Anastasia tripped on her heel, accidentally bumping into Steve's side.

They all glanced at one another before everyone broke out in a peal of silent laughter. Bucky curled an arm around Anastasia's shoulders as Anastasia did the same to Steve's torso. All three stood proud, grinning benevolently at the grainy camera.

All the silence. She hated silence.

Anastasia let out a breath before taking a step back from the screen.

Glancing towards the entrance of the exhibit, she spotted his large and dark figure, heading her way.

With a hinted smirk, she pulled up the large hood of her jacket before walking towards him.

The two passed each other without another pause, one knowing and one not.

When Anastasia was about to leave, she gave one final look over her shoulder before moving towards the entrance of the Smithsonian.

Bucky's head perked up when he stopped in front of his own memorial from World War Two.

Giving a cautious survey around, he didn't see anything or anyone out of the ordinary. Brushing it off, he stared up with hallow eyes as his own picture, wanting to learn more of his past.

Outside, Anastasia squinted against the cloudy afternoon brightness. Taking a quick glance, she set off for another location.

THE leaves crunched under her feet as she trenched over.

She slowly approached the grave, feeling anxious within. It was a small graveyard, with only a handful of tombstones sticking from the ground. Her eyes searched the area, spotting the thin chain fence that protected the eroded graves.

After a few minutes of walking, she ended up in front of two small stones, chipped and cracked from years of abandonment and ill care.

VALENTINA MIKHAILOVA PEROVA
1901 — 1983
❝ HAIL HYDRA ❞

ANTON IGOROVICH PEROV
1897 — 1972
❝ HAIL HYDRA ❞

She frowned, not helping but bite down her feeling to cry. As her eyes momentarily filled with tears, she mentally noted that she was never even informed of her parent's passing.

Anastasia never had a real connection with them, but it still hurt.

Her eyes found the ground, noticing a patch of weeds nearby. After picking a handful, she left a few on each stone top.

Anastasia gazed around, watching as the sun slowly loomed over the horizon. A crow shrieked in the distance as a soft breeze shuffled her hair.

When she looked back at the stones, a single tear fell.

"Надеюсь, ты сгоришь в аду." she whispered with a tremor, before shoving her hands in her pockets and walking away from the graveyard.

Letting go of one strap, Anastasia dug into her small bag, pulling out a slightly crumpled piece of paper.

Printed on it was a one-way ticket to Bucharest, Romania. The plane was departing that night. She had to get to the airport soon.

With a quivering bite to her lip, Anastasia marched away with her head hung low.

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒
↓
" Надеюсь, ты сгоришь в аду "
means "i hope you burn in hell"
in english

anywho, this marks the end of my
second book of the remade mini-series

now i have been getting messages about
why the third fic isn't out before the forth
(tfatws obvi) and it was kind of a snap
decision. i was too excited for the show
so i just wrote it and published it
right away.

but alas! i am NOW releasing my third
book (cap america: civil war obvi) to
let those who care know! 🤍 love y'all
stay tuned ;) xoxo

im so excited for the next book 😋