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mirrorballgrayson · 6 years ago

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Adjusting was hard, Elise would almost admit that willingly. The normal world was a challenge, and it didn’t help that she was doing this alone. After the Winter Solider had failed his mission to kill Captain America, Elise had been sent out to do the job he couldn’t. She had originally been a SHIELD agent, kidnapped by Hyrda upon seeing her hopeful potential – for years she had been brainwashed. She had no memories of her past, all she knew is that she had one mission, to make sure Hydra thrived. Captain America was the one thing stopping that, and Elise was now in charge to put an end to it. But much like her predecessor, Elise failed as well. Steve was able to free Elise from the memory suppressor that had been controlling her for years. However, with the fall of Hydra and the downfall of SHIELD, Elise was unsure where she fit in it. Originally she had been leaning on Steve for help but the man ended up disappearing, a war criminal now. And Elise was left to flounder.

It was a challenge to find ways to support herself, with all the SHIELD files readily accessible now any research of her name was pulling up all terrible things she had done while under Hyrda’s control. So she was stuck doing odd jobs, mostly working with animal control – working with snakes, which the woman did enjoy, but the work isn’t as fulfilling as she wishes it to be. Her life missing the action it once had, long hours spent working out still doing little to ease her active mind. However her long months on her own would soon be ending.

Elise wasn’t exactly sure what time it was, though all she knew is that there was someone in her apartment. The woman was quiet as she pushed herself out of bed, making sure to be light on her toes – Elise made a way over to the terrarium that is settled in the corner. The lid hardly on the object but the snake coiled in the corner has free roam, only returning to its place to sleep and to sunbath. There is someone in the apartment, you know what to do. Elise whispers to the snake as she heaves the large python out of its place. She waits in the dark, behind the door, waiting for her partner to return with information. It isn’t long she has to wait when Basil returns. Male, six feet, broad build. With that information Elise knows what she needs to do. She can easily take whoever that man is, giving Basil a nod she begins her quiet trek down the hallway. Be ready to coil. She informs the python, the two always working together when they can.

The living room is dark, the only light is shining from outside the now open window. The male’s back is to her ans Basil is already slithering out into the dark once more, waiting for Elise to make the first move. Once she has a plan mapped out, Elise doesn’t hesitate. While the woman is unarmed she’s sure that some idiot robber is no match for her, even if the man is armed Elise will always have the upper hand. With quick work, Elise goes sprinting forward, jumping onto the coffee table to launch herself over the couch, pushing off the back of it so that she can fly onto the man’s shoulders. Legs wrap around his leg easily, making the male stumble back hands struggling as he attempts to pry her legs from around his neck. The two tumble backwards, his legs hitting the couch and Elise goes down with him, her head barely missing the coffee table thankfully. The woman untangles herself from the man, aiming to get the upper hand, but as she moves to make her escape, a large hand wraps around her ankle stopping her.

It isn’t until the man speaks her name that she stills, her foot close to his face – nearly kicking him in attempt to knock him out, though she doesn’t make it that far. “How do you –” but before Elise can finish her sentence the man makes his identity known. Steve Rogers. “Are you an idiot?” she spits at the man as she pulls her ankle away from her grip. However, even with her harsh response, Elise offers down her hand to help him up. “Maybe using the door would have been a smarter idea, Rogers.” With a shake of her head, Elise moves to turn a lamp on and fall back down into her shitty couch. However when he informs her that he could have been caught on cameras coming in, she supposes it makes more sense on why Steve came in the way he did. “You could have at least announced yourself, I thought I was being robbed.” She informs him, a bit put out, but also secretly glad that he’s finally returned. “Shouldn’t you be in prison?”

While she’s obviously teasing, Elise can tell that he’s got something more on his mind. “What are you really here for?” And it isn’t long before he’s explaining himself, asking her for a lot. A place to lie low for awhile. “This isn’t the place to do that.” She tells him honestly. The apartment is barely big enough for her, but she won’t let Steve get away that easy. “There’s a safe house I know of, from what I read of the leaked SHELID files, it’s so off the grid that it was never filed anywhere. You had to hear it by mouth. I doubt anyone’s been there for a few years.. you’ll just have to be up for roughing it.” And it seems like a quick answer, the man willing for Elise to tell him the address. “It’s not that easy – and like hell you’re leaving me again to sit here in this shitty apartment. I rather be living out in the middle of nowhere than sit here and listen to sirens go off all night.”

It didn’t take too long for the two of them to pack up everything Elise had. Steve already had a truck ready to go which only make Elise shake her head. “And they said I was the bad guy.” She teases the man as she closes the bed of the truck, Basil’s terrarium safely tucked away in the bed while the snake herself get’s comfortable in Steve’s lap. “It’s a long drive, so you’ll have to keep an eye on Basil. She doesn’t bite – but she might squeeze a little bit.” Warm. The snake informs her, which only makes Elise smile a bit. “I think she likes you already.”

#i've been the prey ;; self paras #002

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mirrorballgrayson · 6 years ago

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Elise stood with her arms crossed near the entrance gates of the Stark Expo. It had been Bucky’s idea to bring the her and Steve out to celebrate Bucky’s last night before he was shipped off. However, as usual the two seemed to take their time arriving, which left Elise standing in the cold. Every now and again the young woman pushed up on her toes attempting to see Bucky over the crowd, though it was more of a challenge than usual, he was wearing his new uniform much like every other man about to be deployed – and it’s not like it would do her any good to look for Steve, even Elise is taller than him. Though, she’s secretly glad for Steve’s short stature. While devastated that Bucky will head off to war, she’s sure that he can take care of himself. Steve however, she would be far more nervous for. He’s a good man, the best man that’s ever walked foot on earth Elise swears, but his many aliments and refusal to back down would get Steve killed.. and well, Elise isn’t sure she could stomach that. So as selfish as it is, Elise is harboring a lot of happiness that Steve’s many attempts at enlisting have all failed.

Elise hasn’t told anyone about her feelings towards Steve, not even Bucky.. partly afraid that man wouldn’t keep it a secret from Steve himself. So she sits on her happiness that Steve isn’t enlisted, though it does still hurt to see the man so determined only to be rejected again and again. So, she hopes that with the Expo, Steve can see he has a much greater potential that just going to war. It isn’t until that Elise stops looking for the boys that her name is called, Bucky’s arm waves above the large crowd to catch her attention. Though it’s not only Steve at Bucky’s side, two women stand near them giggling as one holds onto Bucky’s arm. A sinking feeling fills her stomach that Steve’s brought someone along. She wasn’t sure when either of those boys had even met girls but there they stood. “Can you two ever get anywhere on time?” She questions as she approaches. “We would if someone wasn’t too busy getting beat up in a back alley.” Bucky informs her, which only makes Elise’s eyes fall to Steve, a cut sitting right on the boy’s lip. Thankfully for these two idiots, Elise is in a nursing program, nearly finished up with it too. She knows exactly how to take care of these things, that is if they would let her. Steve waves her off, telling her it was really nothing. While Elise knows it really wasn’t nothing, she doesn’t push it, not with strangers here. Instead she gives him a small smile.. “At least ice it when you get home.” She tells him before they head off further into the Expo.

The exhibits are interesting, though Elise feels like a bit of a fifth wheel – despite Steve’s supposed date seemingly interested in everything else but him. It’s irritating to say the least, the woman of course judging Steve purely based on his stature. She has to resist the urge to roll her eyes at the scene of it all, that girl should consider herself lucky to get time with Steve. Though it isn’t long until the main event is signaled to start. A loud rumble from the stage nearby pulls a large crowd in, the group of 5 included. Elise stands watch as Howard Stark, saunters onto stage, making what Elise feels to be bold claims and she feels as if she’s proven right when the so-called flying car comes to crash on the stage in front of them. The girl can’t help but laugh – “I should have placed money on it failing.” She tells Steve, who had been standing next to her. However when she turns to look around, he’s gone. Her eyes scan the crowd frantically, afraid he’s somehow gotten himself into another fight. Hand reaching out to tug on Bucky’s sleeve. “Steve’s gone.” The four set off looking for Steve, Elise jumping up every now and again to see if she can’t spot him over the crowd. It isn’t until she notices the recruitment center, that she calls out to her friend. “He’s gotta be in there.”

Bucky takes it upon himself to head into the center, leaving the three girls standing outside. Elise stands a bit away from them as they huddle together, speaking to one another. “I thought you said Bucky found me a good date.” The blonde whispers to her friend. “He did! – I swear if I had known he was going to bring him around I wouldn’t have dragged you along.” And that was all that Elise needed to hear before she brushed past the girls in a huff, knowing that Steve and frankly Bucky deserved far better than those two. Though as Elise approached the stairs, Bucky was already headed down the steps towards her. “He’s going to get himself arrested – come dancing with me and the girls he’ll meet up with us afterwards.” Elise already had her mind made up, though. With a shake of her head she sighs. “I think I’ll wait for Steve out here. – Those two are eager to get out of here – I’m sure those two will give you a good send off.” Elise teases, nudging her shoulder against Bucky’s, both sure he’s getting laid tonight. As the three head off, Elise waits outside the building.

It takes far longer than expected if Elise is honest with herself. The girl sitting on the stairs by herself as she watches the Expo start to pack up around her. She can’t imagine what could be taking so long, unless he has gotten himself caught. Even then the officers would have dragged Steve out by now, seeing as this is the only way to get in and out. Time seems to drag on before Steve is behind her, finally calling out her name. “I was starting to get worried you were back there getting arrested.” She jokes, rising from her spot on the stairs. The woman hardly worried that he’s enlisted, so instead she nods towards the exit of the Expo. “We could get dinner, head to bed early so maybe see Buck off in the morning.” At Steve’s next words, though, Elise’s heart falls from her chest. Steve’s been enlisted and he’s heading off tomorrow afternoon. “Wh– How?” She can’t help but ask, attempting to mask her own heartbreak with confusion. Her hands begin to shake as she forces them into her coat pockets, all Elise wants to do is yell at him – call him an idiot, tell him he’s doing the wrong thing. The words don’t seem to escape, they can’t when she sees the absolute awe and excitement on his face. It’s hard for Elise to listen as they walk along, Steve excitedly informing her about what’s to come for him – some science experiment. She hardly retains the information, all she can think about is how Steve’s got no family left – if he dies in war then she’ll never know. Elise is going to be left behind, her two best friends shipped off to England with no regard for their own safety. It hits her like a ton of bricks, this night could be the last night she ever sees either of her boys again – Steve especially.

Though as Steve walks her home, she still doesn’t tell him her feelings. They won’t make a difference she swears, her love for him or her anger and worry won’t stop Steve Rogers from trying to be a hero. So instead, Elise sits up half the night crying – body wracking with sobs as she sits numbly on the floor, fearful of what’s to come. It’s not until the sun starts to rise that she attempts to pull herself together, eyes weary as she rises to close the curtains and as she heads towards her bed, her own medical book catches her eye and it all comes flooding at once. She’s flying out of her house, shoes barely on her feet as she races down the sidewalk. She may not be able to fight in the war, but she sure as hell can save a few lives. The woman comes bursting into the clinic as a man gathers up a few papers. “I need to enlist to become a nurse and I want to leave as soon as possible.” The man looks at her like she’s a bit crazy, though he sets his papers back down.

“We’re always in need of a few nurses. You won’t ship out until the first of the next month. You’ll be with the new recruits.” Relief floods her body, while she won’t get there as soon as Steve does – she won’t be far behind. She can at least hope he won’t get himself killed in training until Elise is there to patch him up. “I think I can manage that.”

#i've been the prey ;; self paras #001

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mirrorballgrayson · 6 years ago

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7 years, 138 days, and 8 hours. That’s how long it had been since Steve had disappeared. Each and every single one of those days Elise and Bucky had been on the search for Steve, with a lot of help from Howard Stark. With the man’s endless riches, the twos determination and a vague place of where Steve went down they were sure they would find Steve. At least that was the hope at first. As days turned to weeks and weeks turned to years, hope began to dwindle. Seas began to rise and freeze between Europe and New York – currents could have swept the ship away a long time ago, brought it half way across the world by now.

Though Elise was sure she’d spend the rest of her life looking if it meant she got closure. Steve could be alive somewhere out there, not even Howard was sure how much effect the sure had on Steve so it could be still a possibility. While the worst case scenario would be Steve’s death, at least they could still bring him home. He would come home a hero and get to rest where he belongs – not somewhere in a Hydra ship. Though so far it seems that Steve will remain missing – after 7 years its hard to wonder where they haven’t searched. Though here they sit in a tiny little pop up tent built by Howard on the unlivable north coast of Greenland.

Elise sits by herself, watching as the gray clouds move across the horizon. The ocean that’s near by is far too frozen to have waves lapping at the ice. A small fear settles in the back of her mind, warning her not to get her hopes up. Even if Steve was found out here, there’s no way that he could survive this cold. The only reason her and the other two men are is because of Howard’s inventions, though they’re dodgy at best. She’s still wrapped up in her warm layers in fear that the advanced heating system will give out – still remembering all those years ago when Howard’s flying car failed. She wasn’t going to freeze to death on account of bad science.

Elise wonders if she could even freeze to death, despite getting cold – Hydra did a number on her and Bucky both. After Bucky’s first survival of Hydra’s experiments, an accident on a train left the man back in Hydra’s hands once again.. repeating the brainwashing that had been done to Elise before rescued by Steve. Luckily for Bucky and unluckily for Hydra – within the first year of Steve’s disappearance Elise and newly found SHIELD were able to locate a bunker where they were Hydra was hiding a few of their test subjects, Bucky was there. It had been a process in itself to help him regain his memories – but it wasn’t long until she had one of her best friend’s back, minus a limb but Elise didn’t mind that too much.

“We’re going to find him.” A familiar voice reminds her, glancing over her shoulder there stands Bucky brushing off a bit of snow from his shoulders as he ducks into the bunker. Were once was a human arm, is a metal one icing over as the other removes his jacket. A star, that once was red but now painted red white and blue, sits high on his bicep. “And you’re going to get a frostbite if you keep going out without covering your skin from your arm.” She reminds him in return, getting up to help the other remove the frozen limb. It’s easier for her to brush off his reminders, she rather not think about not finding him in general – because then what was the point in all this?

The two look worse for wear in Elise’s opinion, Bucky’s hair just about as long as Elise’s now – and they’ve spent so much time hiding out in bunkers and tents her hair is no longer the bright blonde it once was. She sometimes wonders if they find Steve will he even recognize them? The two becoming so obsessed with the mission that they’ve nearly forgotten to care for themselves. While Bucky moves around the tent to begin to make some sort of food for them to eat, Elise sets out to defrost the arm. She knows even now, Bucky has a strong dislike for the object – only reminds him of the pain he’s caused in his short time as the Winter Solider, a man who Elise believes only wore the man’s face not his heart and soul. Its quiet between the two as it often is, both fearing that if they begin to air their worries that it might become too real– that they may never find Steve. So as Elise finishes warming the metal object, she returns to her friend’s side, head resting on his good shoulder.

“When did you last speak to Howard? He hasn’t called into the radio for awhile.” Howard Stark was wildly adamant about coming along, swearing up and down that they couldn’t find Steve without him. And frankly Elise knows he’s right, he’s got access to technology that has helped them tremendously, taking them to far away places. Some more helpful than others – though Greenland seemed to have Howard in higher spirits than any other place. The man hardly able to sleep or eat, more than sure that Steve crashed here somewhere. Going onto their third week in Greenland, Elise hopes he’s right and just hasn’t gone insane.

Just as dinner is coming to a close and Bucky is packing up soup for Howard when he returns, the man of the hour comes busting in the door. Facial hair frozen with ice but the man seems unaware. “I’ve found the ship.” The words send the bowl of soup from Bucky’s hands clattering to the floor and Elise’s ears ring with the words. It’s a mad dash of throwing on coats, Bucky cursing at Elise as she wraps his skin. “You’ll be more useful if you don’t get frostbite!” She hisses in return. Though its not long before they’re packed onto the back of Howard’s small snow truck.

The further they from base, the worse the weather – the terrain becomes slick and bumping and Elise swears for a moment Howard may be taking them out here to murder them. She isn’t too sure how long the drive is but by the time they’re coming to a halt the sun is beginning to rise. It didn’t feel like they drove the night but maybe her anxiousness made time tick by faster. As she and Bucky climb out the back, it isn’t until Elise turns around she can see why Howard brought them out here. The front end a mysterious object protrudes out of the ice. “How do you know this is the ship?” Bucky yells over the roaring wind towards Howard, though the man seems to ignore him in favor of getting a machine out. Elise takes the time to inspect what they can see.. with such rough terrain and sub zero temperatures all year around she could see how its easily possible for a ship to crash here and end up frozen solid. Though she fears what’s inside.. if Steve is in there, he can’t surely be alive. The elements would have gotten to him.. and for the first time ever she wonders if it was better to leave the mystery alone. Suddenly faced with the high possibly of a dead Steve nearly sends her into a panic. She doesn’t have time to fall into a full blown panic attack. Howard is soon shoving gear into her hands. “You and Bucky are going down here, get prepped.”

With harnesses on and tool bags full of flashlights and Howard’s new trademark warmth machine – Bucky and Elise are lowered down into the ship through a hole that that Howard’s machine had carved into the thick ice. While there is a little more warmth in the ship, it isn’t much; the elements still had their way with the ship. Unhooking from the pully, Elise makes off in the opposite direction from Bucky, both wanting to cover as much ground as possible. Her flashlight shines into the dark, scanning over metal walls the inner workings almost looking like a structural nightmare, no doubt warped from the cold. She makes her way through the ship slowly, not wanting to slip and injure herself.. though she can feel her hopes fading fast. It looks like every other Hydra ship they’ve discovered, abandoned and busted. Though as she wanders further in, a weird ice formation in the front of the ship catches her attention. If this was a ship belonging to a higher ranked officer perhaps the main control console froze over differently. As she approaches, she reaches out warm the ice, wanting to look at the console a bit better. Her sleeve rubs in circles as the frost begins to fade away – only to reveal something that Elise was starting to begin to think she’d never see again.

Right in front of her, laid Steve’s shield. A shaking hand reaches out to touch the layer of ice that separates her and the shield. “Steve..” her voice is small and fragile as she speaks to the ice. Steve’s body and face still not visible but there isn’t any way in hell that he’s not in there. She stands there motionless for a moment, unsure of how to even form any word’s besides her love’s name. It isn’t until Bucky’s voice rings over the radio that she’s pulled back into the the present.

“There’s nothing here, Stark.” But god is he wrong. She lets a few moments pass before finally speaking into her own radio.

“I found him.” There’s silence.

“What did you just say?” She isn’t sure which man asks her.

“I found him.” She repeats.

Elise can hear the slide of Bucky’s boots as he runs to her side, she hasn’t moved an inch from where she had been standing. The shield still as clear as day as Bucky stands next to her, taking it in. They both know he’s dead.. but at least they know where he is and where he will be after this. Elise breaks the silence first. “Let’s get him home.”

Its a quiet moment shared between Elise and Bucky as they began to warm the ice formation with Howard’s handheld devices.. slowly but surely the ice begins to melt away and it isn’t until Elise actually sees Steve’s body she begins to cry. Her hands shake as she sobs above the man, trying to continue to melt the ice away but it’s becoming quite the struggle. It isn’t until she nearly drops the device she decides to take a break. She sets the object on the floor as she returns to Steve’s side, the man’s face down to his torso are now free from the ice and Elise can’t help herself. She slips her gloves off, placing her hands on his face. It isn’t until then she notices the man isn’t.. blue – nothing signally frostbite in the slightest. It must be something to do with the serum, she swears. Her fingers trace the curves of his face, salty tears beginning to freeze to her face from the bitter cold. Her hands travel down to his jaw, and further down to his neck, just wanting to feel his skin under her hands once more.

Her breath soon catches in her throat, something moves against her fingertips along his throat. “No..” she mumbles, frozen fingers pressing harder against the man’s pulse point. Her mind must be playing tricks on her, there’s no way. Though she feels it again, – it’s slow but there. “Bucky, take your glove off.” During the entire defrosting process they hadn’t said a word to each other. Both grieving in their own right but suddenly it isn’t time to grieve. Elise doesn’t give Bucky a change to question her before she’s reaching over and taking Bucky’s good arm and ripping the glove off herself. Dragging the man over, she place’s his newly exposed hand against Steve’s neck. “Just — tell me I’m not crazy.” The confusion that once was settled on the other’s features slowly morphs, the realization suddenly hitting Bucky as it did Elise. “He’s still alive.” Elise feels crazy, the words choked out of her. “Howard, we’re going to need a medical evac as soon as possible. We’ve still got a pulse.” The woman informs Howard on the radio. A garbled mess of questions fall from the radio, but Elise doesn’t care. All that matters in this moment is they get Steve home, alive.

#i've been the prey ;; self paras #003

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