@knewvalue liked for a starter
a broken window; not a good start to an investigation slash mission to steal a hydra weapon. but the air outside is cold, and he’s too busy trying to get his mind off it to worry about the window too much. (he wonders when it’s ever not going to be too soon. if he’ll ever get in the pilot’s seat of a plane again. how’s he gonna handle new york winters if he keeps locking up?) he flexes his hands to keep them loose and warm. sighs because, of course, stark would send him into this.
if the shattered glass isn’t enough to put steve on alert, there’s a man handcuffed to a pipe just behind the front desk. two men scattered in the hall, knocked to all hell unconscious. and — if his nose is right, poisoned gas up ahead, where the vault to the zodiac should be. steve curses, and grabs the trapped man by the collar and yanks him forward.
the man whimpers, but it’s not enough to make steve falter.
“who did this to you?” it’s not a question steve asks out of particular concern for the man. he’s hydra and he deserves everything that’s comin’ to him.
the man’s eyes are wide, terrified. he breathes shakily, “s-she’s—”
steve shakes him, and repeats to prompt him, “she?”