wolf among the sheep

“I’m not normal either, and yet I know not to give someone a heart attack by making them think you’re an active member of the terrorist organization that killed their parents…You don’t agree with anything Hydra stands for, right?”

“They killed one and imprisoned the other for me too, ‘lest we forget,” he mused rather dryly. “Nope. I wasn’t a believer. I did my job, I had my partners. It was my life, not my faith. And after Price died, I left. Well, when he led us to believe he died.”

“So you whisper Hail Hydra in my ear? There are a hundred ways you could’ve told me that, you know, like a normal person! Hydra is a very sore spot for me.” 

“Fair enough,” he drew out. “I know. Better than most, I imagine, but I guess that wasn’t enough for me to think that through. My bad.” His arms cross loosely. “In my defense, I’m not exactly a normal person.”

“You keep using past tense. Does that mean you’re not Hydra anymore?” Ally was doing her best to keep calm and not blast him to another country. 

“Haven’t been for nearly a decade and a half. I just, needed an icebreaker -- it felt like a secret and it was kind of making me uncomfortable.”

Ally felt her heart sink into her stomach and her hands curled into fists. “Explain.” 

“There was this man. I... trusted him. He gave me my life back, gave me a purpose. I didn’t care what they were. Nothing else mattered to me back then because all I had was him.”

“…I don’t get it…Are you…Did you infiltrate Hydra?”

“I appreciate the vote of confidence, but no. I just was.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I’m a shapeshifter. It beat secret handshakes.”

“My…handler said you wanted to see me sir?” He’s not used to English but the meaning comes across. 

"Sure did.” Going down on one knee, he met the boy’s eyes. “How are you feeling today, little spider?” This would be the first time they met, at least with this face. The risk was far too high for much else.

“Oh my god, right.” Ally hit herself in the head. “Sorry, it’s just been a long time. Yeah, I did meet him. He was really nice and, honestly, very cute. What’s he been up to lately?”

“Don’t get all bent out of shape. He warned me it was fleeting. He can only take so much excitement. Which answers your next question -- he’s been busy being a big brother. That’s his number one priority right now.”

“Aw, that sounds sweet! It sounds like something I would’ve done as a little kid.” She snorted. “What, there can’t be two heroes? What’s he like? Or you guys similar or are you those brothers that are polar opposites?”

“He’s my son, and I like to think Ezekiel is most like his mother. She can be as cold as I can, but she’s a sweetheart under all the damage. Little Zeke is the purest creature I know. Prime and ready to save the world.” Canaan cocked his head to the side. “Do you not remember him? I thought he told me he met you, but my memory could be playing tricks on me.”