For a moment Theresa merely stands there, stunned that he had made such an assumption ( if, indeed, it was merely that ) about her and contemplated if he realized just how correct he was. Once she had collected herself however she gave a shallow laugh and a small shrug of her shoulder, toeing the ground with the tip of her boot. “Well…You’re not wrong there,” she hummed, “but it’s not quite what the legends make out, let me just say.” He had no idea what to expect, of that she was sure, but she was also sure that he wasn’t expecting the rather humorous-looking marine animal she could become. Swallowing her nerves as best she could Theresa stood straighter, looking to him head on. “Mind telling me why you’re dragging up my past, sir?” The young woman asked, voice clipped; it wasn’t always the fondest of memories, her heritage, so why here, why now, of all places?

“you’re something like the rest of us then.” never was he surprised with whatever the new superheroes brought to the table. in the beginning t’challa was a man who saw things in black and white but as time had passed, he noticed all the different grey areas. “that is true with most lore isn’t it?” he kept his collected facial expression. he had never heard of anything like it but it was fascinating. “forgive me for my bluntness. but with everything that has happened the last couple of years i have my reasons to see who might be potential threat.”

“I mean…I can’t exactly blame you there. I didn’t quite trust myself after all that. But hey if anyone has your back it’s me. Literally, often enough.” She smirked, teasing Sam lightly as she worked on the gloves she was developing for him. “Here we are, you’re very own portable forcefield. It will only take a few hits but it will work in a pinch.”

“glad we’re on the same page with that one...” sam didn’t trust anyone easily, but the ones who were good people, he warmed up to them eventually. “and i’m totally not saying this because you give me new gadjets. promise.” and then his usual grin was painted on his face as he took the glove from her. “i hope you’re sure about that so i won’t just stand there taking a big ass hit in the face.”

The Woman was sat next to her partner, The Winter Soldier, struggling to figure out her own mind. She often got hallucinations (or atleast what her handlers told her were hallucinations) of voices calling out for an Alumina, images of a man with a beard and a glowing chest crying out for the same woman. The Woman wasn’t sure who this “Alumina” was and all she knew was that she wanted it to stop.

When the Asset spoke beside her, The Woman turned and looked at him with dimly glowing eyes.

“All the time… Of the same man…. I don’t even know who he is…” She whispered, knowing what was going to happen soon enough but she was sick and tired of it, “I want out…. I want out of THESE.” Lifting her arms, The Woman showed him the silver cuffs encasing her wrists. HYDRA used them to control her power, to keep her as the weapon they wanted her for, and to stop her from lashing out and using her energy abilities to kill their agents.

“Help me… Help me get out of these cuffs…”

GIF by winter-is-coming-valar-morghulis

they were hydras favorite toys to put into battle even when they didn’t need them. the winter soldier never second gussed that, cause he was trained not to. but the flashbacks were messing with his head, he didn’t know what was right or wrong. he turned to look at her as she talked about the cuffs. in seconds his mind was racing, because what was he supposed to do? he held some type of loyalty to the people above him. she was in cuffs but he was not. he had never given them any reason to doubt his obedience before. without a word he ripped the cuffs off her, not knowing why exactly. “don’t do anything you’ll regret.” the soldier wasn’t even sure what he meant by that. but he knew if they found out about their confusion, it wouldn’t be good for either of them.

“i have to admit you got some fire in you kid. but seriously, how old are you? 12?” sam was always a big tease, but that was how you knew he was comfortable enough around you. “do i have to baby sit when i get paired up with you for a mission?”

“you know i didn’t like you in the beginning right?” it was quite funny looking back at it now. but back then sam kept his distance to make sure who he could trust. “working for shield isn’t exactly a god job reference after what went down.” but as time went on, he had to trust the people beside him with his life. it wouldn’t work if they didn’t. 

he always felt out of place when he was amongst the avengers. it didn’t matter if he had been brainwashed or not, he always felt that guilt present. “i thought about what you said that one time... that we had met. that i should’ve recognized you.” things like that always puzzled him to the point where he couldn’t put it aside. “i don’t remember it. any of it...”

special qualities. but before meeting her he had done some research about what exactly a selkie was. he watched her closely, cause’ being the king he was he had to know peoples motives. who was an ally and who was a potential threat? “as i understand it you can change form.”

“of course i know who you are.” his face was soft as he looked at the other. “or i’ve heard about you at least. after things got calm for a second i tried to stay away from all the trouble. even the avengers... but they told me about you.”