The Fox's Return

The Not So Dead Director

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Marlene was in a state of stunned silence. She expected herself to wake up in her room to the obnoxious sound of her alarm clock beeping. She expected to wake up and make her way to Avengers Tower for training. 

She was barely aware of Hydra agents surrounding them. She was barely aware of Rumlow shouting for Steve to drop the shield. 

It wasn't until he made his way towards her did she finally snap back to reality. 

"I had high hopes for you, Rogers," he said, shaking his ugly face in disappointment. 

"Awe!" Marlene teased, calling to her friend. "You hear that, Nat? He believes I care what he thinks! How adorable."

"Hands up," he ordered, pointing the gun in her face. He stepped forward, the barrel centimeters from her forehead. "Or I'll shoot."

"Is there a reason you're such an asshole?" she countered, not caring there was a gun pointed at her forehead. She knew that it would take her less than five seconds to have the gun turned on him. "Is it because you need a personality to match your looks?"

Rumlow's eyes flashed with anger. His jaw tightened and pushed the barrel to her forehead. 

"Are you really gonna shoot me?" Marlene said, her hands floating above her head. "Are you gonna let your little bitches shoot us? Let them shoot Captain America? An airforce veteran? The Black Widow? In front of all these civilians? In front of the media, for it to be broadcasted across the world? Come on, Rumlow, I know you're dumb, but not that dumb."

"Not here!" Rumlow ordered the man who held Steve at gunpoint. "Not here."

It was safe to say that when Marlene had finally come to terms with what just happened, she was beyond happy. She felt like she could take on the world. 

James was back . . . sorta. He looked like him, but he wasn't exactly himself. 

Marlene knew without a doubt that she'd move Heaven, Hell, and Earth to see that James was free from Hydra. She didn't care if he still loved her or not. She didn't care if he wanted nothing to do with her. All she cared about was making sure he was free from their mental brainwashing, or whatever they did to them. 

She'd do anything for him. Even if that included withholding information to people torturing her in three years' time, and eventually, lying to them about his location . . . or rather, lack thereof.

***

"It was him," Steve said solemnly, looking down at his feet. "He looked right at me like he didn't even know me."

Marlene, Sam, Steve, and Natasha sat in the back of an armored truck after being detained. 

"He didn't recognize me either, brother," Marlene said, shifting in her seat. She'd never say anything, but she might have broken a rib.