𝗀 𝗁 𝗈 𝗌 𝗍 | | 𝗌 𝗍 𝖾 𝗏 𝖾 𝗋 𝗈 𝗀 𝖾 𝗋 𝗌

𝗍 𝗐 𝖾 𝗇 𝗍 𝗒 － 𝖿 𝗈 𝗎 𝗋

⍟ 𝟣𝟫𝟦𝟧, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗉𝗌, 𝗌𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗓𝖾𝗋𝗅𝖺𝗇𝖽 ⍟

MARTA'S CAREFULLY DRAFTED MISSION PLAN was being executed flawlessly, so far. Steve had allowed himself to be captured, and was being held with Schmidt in the center of the base. Marta was timing the entrance into the base through the large windows to the second, and her timing was spot on.

She was the first body to break the glass with some of her explosives and zipline into the base, shooting at the guards holding Steve while other Commandos followed in after her. Marta's grey hood was over her head, her mask covering her nose and mouth. She was after Schmidt. That's how the mission would end.

Marta and Dugan stood beside each other, Falsworth and Jones flanking them as they all shot at the agents. "Where'd Schmidt go?" Marta asked, rolling to avoid being shot and taking down another agent. She set off explosions, distracting some Hydra members and killing others.

No one could answer her, because everyone was focusing on the Hydra agents before them. Falsworth reached for Steve's shield. "Rogers! You might need this!" He tossed the circular shield at Steve who caught it and placed it on his arm.

"Thanks! Come on, Mar!" Steve shouted to Marta, knocking out an agent pinning her to the ground, pulling her up and briefly checking her over before they ran in the direction Schmidt had fled in. He still cared about her, and Marta let herself smile at the thought.

They ran out of the room, turning right and barreling down the hallways as the other Howling Commandos and the SSR moved into the base, taking down Hydra agents. "There!" Marta yelled to Steve, pointing after Schmidt. She ran at the same pace as Steve, but he kept her close, guarding her with his shield.

Schmidt had a weapon with a blue tinge that would vaporize any of its targets. Steve deflected the shots with his shield while Marta used her pistols to get shots off at a fleeing Schmidt. "The door!" Steve said in alarm, noticing where Schmidt was heading.

Marta looked at his shield. "Throw it!" She shouted, allowing Steve to push her behind him as he threw the shield at the walls of the base, letting it lodge itself in the closing door.

"You're in 'Save Marta Mode' today." Marta joked, breathing heavily alongside Steve.

Steve rolled his eyes. "I'm protective of you because I care about you. Is that a problem?" He said, looking down at her.

Marta smirked, but was unable to answer as a Hydra agent in a large suit came at them with flamethrowers. "Go!" Marta yelled, pushing Steve towards a doorframe, knowing her suit was fireproof.

The agent advanced, Steve and Marta pressing their bodies against the other, feeling the heat from the flames continuously creep closer to them. It was Peggy who shot the agent down, SSR agents among her. Marta and Steve awkwardly removed themselves from the other, sending a nod to Peggy before they rushed to the door Schmidt ran through.

Steve let Marta duck through the door first before he tugged his shield free, slipping through the doors before they closed. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Steve asked Marta as they ran. He wanted so badly to hate her, to be mad at her for what happened between them. He just couldn't, because he loved Marta more than anything else. Steve couldn't reason being mad at her anymore. They were all the other had left.

Marta nodded. "I'm good. How about you?" She asked, panting. Marta tugged her mask off, finding it much easier to breathe. They were having such a casual conversation in the midst of chaos around them. Marta and Steve were able to ignore everything else and just breathe in the other. Marta was soaking up the moments for all that they were worth.