Chapter Two
Soroya

Analiese is sitting on her bed when I walk into her prison cell. She's listening to the radio I gave her a couple years ago, and coming through the tiny speakers is classical music, which she always seems to be listening to when I come here. I think it calms her, there's a peacefulness in her face whenever she hears the music. It makes me glad I gave her that present.

She glances up at me in confusion as I walk in, turning down her radio. "I saw you two months ago, why are you here?"

I've kept my promise to her and visited her every six months for the past two years. These two hour visits mostly consist of me trying to make conversation for half of it, then giving up and listening to music with her for the remaining half. Her dislike of me hasn't faded in the past two years.

"Do you know a HYDRA officer named Lucas Foreman?" I ask her, pulling her desk chair in front of her and sitting down.

She nods, giving me a skeptic look. "Why?"

"We just captured him, and as a bargaining chip to get less prison time, he told me that he knows where Julian's body is buried."

All the confusion and skepticism fades from her features, completely replaced by shock. "What?"

"Foreman was in charge of disposing prisoner's bodies in Siberia, so he was the one who buried Julian. I worked out a deal with the FBI, they have granted you permission to leave for the next week and stay in our custody while we try to find Julian's body. Once we do, we'll make sure he's properly buried."

"You really came all the way here to bring me along?"

I nod, giving her an obvious look. "You're his sister, of course I would bring you along."

Usually everything out of her mouth is filled with venom, fueled with hatred, but she gives me a sincere nod, her voice full of gratitude as she says: "Thank you."

I nod back, gesturing towards the door. She pushes herself off the bed and walks with me out of her prison cell, shock still filling her features as she asks: "No handcuffs? No restraints?"

"You're about to get on a ship with two shapeshifters, a super soldier, two military men, and a woman who can blow things up with her mind. I don't think there's any need for that."

"So there's a new addition to your merry band?" Analiese asks. She had never met Jade before, and I don't think she knew about her during her time in HYDRA.

"Her name is Jade Rosales, she was a HYDRA prisoner. She has the powers of molecular combustion, she's been with us for the past two years."

Analiese looks mildly curious about Jade, but keeps any lingering questions she has to herself as we walk out of the prison. I watch her expression relax as we make our way over to the patch of grass the ship is parked on. It's an expression I know all too well, one I've had myself before. This is her first time leaving that prison in two years, this is her first taste of freedom in a long time. As someone whose been imprisoned before, I know how she feels. Getting out of the confines of a prison cell can feel intoxicating, euphoric depending on how long it's been.

Analiese is met with mixed expression as she climbs up the ramp and enters the ship. Bucky and Alex are sitting next to Foreman, who's chained to a bar on the side of the ship, glaring at her. John and Sam's expressions aren't pleasant either, the only one who isn't hostile is Jade, who is only that way because she's never met her before.

Analiese shares in their hostility, especially when it comes to Bucky. The first words out of her mouth are: "Hello Barnes, murdered anyone else's brothers lately?"

Bucky replies coolly: "Nice to see you too, Analiese, murdered any children lately?"

"It's still early in the day," She says, glancing at my brother. "I see the HYDRA reject is here, where's your annoying lover?"

"My husband is back home helping his people, but I guess you wouldn't understand that because you're a life sucking creature who can't fathom the concept of human decency."

Analiese smiles at him. "Oh I've missed you too, Alex. I see the sidekicks are here," she says, glancing at John and Sam, then finally resting her eyes on Jade. "You must be the woman who can blow things up with her mind."

Jade nods, looking mildly uncomfortable as she introduces herself. "I'm Jade Rosales."

Analiese nods back to her and chooses to sit down next to Jade, which makes Sam tense up. But she knows better than to try anything, so I feel comfortable turning my back to her and asking Bucky: "Will you fly?"

He nods, kissing my cheek briefly as he passes me by. I take his seat next to my brother, which is right across from where Analiese is sitting. She's being surprisingly civil as Jade begins asking her questions.

"So, how do you know Soroya exactly?" She asks more shyly than usual, still looking uncomfortable.

Though Jade and Alex both endured the same torture by HYDRA, they were left affected in different ways. Alex came out of prison as a fiery, outspoken, angry man, but Jade came out of prison as a shy, observing, quiet woman. I can tell that talking with new people makes her uncomfortable, which is the one thing she and Alex have in common: they both have a difficult time opening up and trusting new people. But with that being the case, she still tries to get to know new people. She has a much kinder demeanor than Alex does, which I think Analiese sees, which is why she replies calmly:

"She and her one armed husband are the reason why my brother died, so I kidnapped her two years ago and tried to kill her, all while trying to find a cure for my shapeshifting powers."

Jade shifts awkwardly in her seat, moving a little closer to Sam. "You're a shapeshifter too?"

"Not anymore. She and her friends helped me find a cure." Analiese admits reluctantly.

"I'm sorry about your brother." Jade says sincerely,

Analiese nods to Jade before turning her eyes onto the ground, leaning back against the seat to get more comfortable. I think Analiese expected everyone to treat her like a villain when she got on board this ship, so Jade's kindness has caught her off guard.

"This is a really bad idea." Alex whispers to me.

"She doesn't have her powers anymore."

"She's still a murderer."

I place my hand over Alex's, giving him an insistent look. "Everything will be alright. Did you call Khari while I was gone?"

Alex knows that there's no point in arguing with me about this, so he accepts this subject change. "I did. He wishes he could be here with us, but Ross's annual check up is coming up so he can't leave Wakanda."

Ah yes, the annual check up. Ross may let Everett handle the UN's agenda in Wakanda, but he can't help himself, he has to make sure he has control over everything. Prepping for Ross's annual checkup means putting up a facade that Wakanda is wrapped around the UN's finger.

"How's our little nephew doing?" I ask Alex with a growing smile.

A couple months ago, T'Challa and Nakia welcomed a son into the world. His name is Zy'aire, and he's the cutest baby I've ever seen. Bucky and I were able to go back home and see them a few days after Nakia gave birth, and I was beyond happy to be referred to as 'Aunt Soroya' by both T'Challa and Nakia. Alex, Khari, Bucky, and Okoye have been made aunts and uncles to the little prince as well. I don't think anyone is more excited for the new arrival than Shuri though, who has already stated to Okoye and me that she'll be the favorite aunt.

"Zy'aire is doing fine, he's been spending a lot of time with Shuri while T'Challa and Nakia are preparing for Ross. Khari said he walked into her lab and heard her teaching Zy about chemical bonds."

I can imagine it clearly in my mind, and it makes me rather home sick. We've only spent days at a time in Wakanda the past two years and it's beginning to weigh heavily on me. This is the first mission in four months that Alex tagged along on, this is the first time I've seen him since then. With Khari it's even worse, I saw him when we visited for Zy'aire's birth, but before that I didn't see him for nearly six months. I miss my brothers, I miss my friends, I miss the house that Bucky and I bought for ourselves. It's on the edge of the city close to the water, with a big basement so I can have a dance studio, and two other bedroom for our children some day. I miss home.

Alex seems to know what I'm thinking, because he scooches over and wraps his arm around my shoulders, letting out a sigh. "I miss home, too."

"I have a feeling Ross is going to keep sending us to different places and we'll never get to go back and actually live our lives. I mean I love what we do, I love helping people, but I want to stay in my house for more than a couple days, I want to wake up in my bed next to my husband, I want to have kids. Ross is making all that impossible."

"You'll get all that." Alex says, his voice unwavering, completely confident.

"I was expecting some comment about how much Ross sucks and then a sarcastic remark about his name or his mustache."

Alex drops his jaw open and places his hand on his chest, giving me a dramatically shocked look. "Am I really becoming that predictable? This is inexcusable, unacceptable. It's the beginning of the end, my witty humor is failing me, I'm no longer at the top of my game."

I arch an eyebrow his direction, elbowing him hard in the stomach. "The day you lose your sarcastic touch is the day the apocalypse begins."

Alex looks satisfied with this reply, because he becomes more serious as he whispers to me: "You will get all that and more, I don't doubt that for a second. No one deserves that picture perfect life more than you, and I know you'll fight for it until you get it.

Feeling deeply touched by his comment but still annoyed from his dramatic spiel, I say to my brother: "How can you annoy me so much I want to punch you, then moments later say something so sweet it makes me want to hug you?"

Alex sinks back in the seat and shrugs, grinning like the cocky dork he is. "It's a gift only brothers have."

I roll my eyes and lean back in my seat as well, leaning my head against his shoulder. My eyes fall onto Analiese, who quickly darts her eyes down to the floor. She had been watching Alex and I for who knows how long, and in her face I see something I haven't seen in her before: jealousy. I bet seeing Alex and I interact reminds her of Julian, of the brother she no longer has.

I loved Julian very much, but I'll never understand the pain Analiese feels. I may know what it feels like to lose a brother, but a twin, I can't even begin to fathom the depths of her despair. It makes me glad I made the decision to bring her along, she deserves the chance to say goodbye to her brother.

Analiese and I may not see eye to eye, but we both will do anything to help Julian, including working together. Hopefully our collaboration won't be for nothing, hopefully we can finally give Julian the peace he was robbed of, the peace he deserves.