Starting Over

Ch. 31

Steve sighed as he got off the train in Moscow. He was hoping, praying, that the information Sharon had given him was still accurate. There wasn't much, a scribbled out address and a lone picture from a traffic cam. Four blocks north and he'd be there, maybe he could convince him to come home. He'd kept a tight watch since SHIELD fell, always a step behind, always too late. Natasha's contacts with Kiev had been helpful, he'd had a starting point. It didn't help that Bucky was still very much a wanted man, a weapon in the hands of evil. This was the first sign of him in over a year.

He walks the four blocks briskly, stopping in front of a rundown apartment building. The number 207 scribbled on the paper in his hand, is now crumbled as he walks up the stairs. He sits his bag down, hesitantly reaching out to knock on the door. His knuckles rap over it 3 times with no answer. If not for his advanced hearing he would not be able to hear the shuffling of feet inside. His hand slips to the doorknob, eyes brows furrowing in confusion when it turns with ease. He silently slips a hand into his jacket pocket where his gun sits before opening it.

The inside of the apartment is dark but he can see around well enough. There's a small couch, patched in places, stuffing bursting out of worn holes. A mattress lies in the corner, with a single pillow. There's a small table, a plate sits with a half eaten sandwich. Someone has been here, was here. He listens for any sound of movement before he catches a glimpse out of his eye. The curtain on the window sways slowly in the wind, it's open. He's gone. Steve looks around for a light switch only to hear movement behind him, thumb ghosting over the safety of his gun. He flips the switch on quickly turning around to the area of the noise, gun drawn. He drops it at the sight.
"He's gone." The blonde remarks accent thick
"Yelena." Steve says as he places his gun back into his jacket. "What are you doing here?"
"It's a shame, we keep meeting like this Captain." She replies
"What are you doing here?" He asks again
"You're not the only one looking for him, yes?" She replies. Answering a question with a question, great. "The blood is still wet." She says as she leads him over near the window "I found small tracings of gunpowder."
"If he's gone then why are you still here?" He asks
"Because I need your help." She replies, he goes to ask her another question but she swiftly places her hand over his mouth, pulling him outside to the fire escape. She drags him up two flights before she nods below. He watches as two men, stick their heads out the window glancing onto the fire escape. One drags his finger through the small stream of blood before mumbling a curse in Russian he doesn't understand. Yelena waits for them to leave before speaking. "He's being watched. The Red Room... They want him back."
"I don't understand...What does he have to do with the Red Room?" Steve asks
"Come with me, it's a long drive. I will explain everything on the way." Yelena replies
Steve runs a hand over his face before nodding.

They've been driving for hours, sitting in silence. Steve's duffel bag sitting in the backseat of Yelena's car. "She never told you."
"Hmm?" Steve asks shocked by the sound of her voice filling the silence.
"Natalia, she never told you about him."
"What about him?" Steve asks, taking his attention off the papers he is currently reading.
"The winter soldier was a trainer for the Red Room." Yelena says, she glances over to him gaging the expression on his face. "He was one of the most powerful assets. My sister was his favorite student, protégée , you could say."
"She never told me she knew him, not until yesterday... she said she didn't want to talk about it." He replies
"Sounds like Natalia." Yelena smirks
"Where are we going anyways?" Steve asks
"Back home, we'll need help." Yelena replies mindlessly, eyes focused back on the road. "After you and Natalia left, we tried to find Dimitri, he's basically a ghost story now. I haven't seen him since...before the graduation. Natalia left, and a few years later her and that arrow guy try to burn Red Room to the ground. It didn't work, they're still here."