the fine line between us ¹ ∣ ʙ.ʙ

4. blackmail for decades

📍 REDROOM, UNKNOWN

            DREYKOV'S OFFICE WAS WOODEN, with a square wall of glass having a television that was placed above Y/n's desk. The office was more private, with two long and tall wooden doors that had two small steps leading up to them. 

His desk was arranged in front of Y/n, while he stood next to his chair. The desk was cluttered with things, and the light was located nearby. A small warm white chandelier hung from the ceiling. 

It was the following day and the sun was softly streaming through the windows. Y/n stood in front of the black television. When Dreykov felt that she was looking at him, he slammed his hand against the desk and paced away from it as he sighs. It didn't take long for Y/N to feel the tension in the room as she studied him emotionless. 

"Leviathan agents seeking to retrieve one of his inventions that resulted in many deaths of Soviet soldiers during World War II." Dreykov explained to Y/n, looking over at her, standing there like a toy soldier, tall with her head high. 

"Despite the failure of the revenge plot, Johann Fennhoff found an unexpected ally following his arrest. His cellmates included Arnim Zola, who would later be recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D. for Operation Paperclip." Y/n nodded her head, listening and showing that she understood. "Unsurprisingly, Zola became interested in Fennhoff's hypnotic methods and began working together with the Soviet agent. Zola led Hydra and the Red Room's predecessor to cooperate."

"HYDRA was an authoritarian paramilitary-subversive terrorist organization bent on world dominance." He explained, "Hydra used a highly effective form of brainwashing called the "Faustus method" in order to hypnotize the most loyal SHIELD agents into serving their greatest enemy...Hydra's super-soldiers, the Winter Soldiers, were chemically enhanced agents who are being brainwashed into obedience."

"This technology might cause harm to the wrong individuals if it was used in the wrong manner," he added, manipulating the naive Y/n. "That's why I need more in my hands, too keep it safe-" 

After furrowing her eyebrows in answer, Y/n glanced up unsure what to do. 

"We sent two of our agents, along with you and other widows, to retrieve the technology. During our investigation, we became aware of Hydra's mind-control methods...I am also aware of their recent takeover of S.H.E.I.L.D." 

"Now, I am going to take back the thing that was taken from me," said Dreykov, looking over at Y/n, before standing once more in front of her behind his desk, "I am taking back, what they're putting out...".

After Dreykov clicked something on his tablet, Y/n immediately turned around looking at the television. The television had a picture of a boat with storage containers on it that were shown on its display. 

"Captain America, Natalia Alianovna Romanova" Dreykov moved his finger on the tablet, while photos of Steve, a blonde hair and blue-eyed muscular man. 

While showing a woman with red hair, and brown eyes. Y/n examined the woman furrowing her eyebrows. 

As Y/n recognized her for the first time, something inside her changed. Together they shared many memorable moments and experiences. Her brow furrowed as she viewed Natalia, who was now known as Natasha. 

She couldn't put her finger on where she knew her from. 

It was as if a spotlight shone on her, causing her to fall to the floor and knock the wooden floor against her. The hand that Dreykov extended towards Y/n has moved away from her, as she fell to the ground without reply. 

"Are you too sensitive for this mission, cause why don't we go and watch snow white?" 

"No, General," Y/n said shaking her head and remaining on the ground. 

Dreykov pressed two buttons on the tablet before Y/n stood back up by force, her mind was clear as she watched the television. 

"S.T.R.I.K.E retook the ship and Romanova transferred the Project Insight data to Fury on a USB drive, I've seen that HYRDA has the files now, after two hours ago when Romanova uploaded it." 

"In 2014, HYDRA ordered Jasper Sitwell, Project Insight was a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. operation initiated as a direct response to the Battle of New York. The project involved three Helicarriers that would patrol Earth and, with the use of an algorithm that evaluated an individual's behaviour, eliminate humans who posed a possible threat..."

"Zola died shortly after the events of the Red Skull, however, his consciousness was downloaded into the computer system he created, so his mind continued to live in cyberspace." 2 of HYDRA within the government organization." he asserted. 

Dreykov glanced wryly at Y/n and had a sickening smile on his face. "You will discuss the Winter Soldier with him and don't be afraid to kill him if he touches you," Dreykov explained. Y/n nodded her head, now with a new mission in her head. "Don't forget the real mission, kill any Winter Soldier who gets in your way...including Romanova."

"Yes, General," Y/n replied with a head nod. 

Once a piece of the started flashing red, Dreykov went back to his desk, looked down, and then looked back up at Y/n once the red stopped flashing in her face. It was at that moment that she turned to him confused. 

"The old S.H.E.I.L.D base was destroyed, with Zola in it-" He explained, "Go talk to Pierce...I have people looking over Steve Rogers, right now...He's been talking to the Falcon," He slammed down a file in front of Y/n. 

"Sam Wilson is a member of a secret rebel group, now he is working with Captain America, to the knowledge that I know of-" Her gaze was drawn to the file bearing the words Falcon, as she nodded her head in agreement with everything that Dreykov had said. 

There are several reasons why this scenario began, including blackmail since Dreykov is holding the information over HYRDA's head. Although Y/n did not consider this a wrong thing. She was simply carrying out the orders that were provided to her by Dreykov.