The date with James was nothing short of a success. The black-and-white photograph taken by the photographer that night now sat in my possession. James had insisted I keep it, saying, "If you ever feel lonely, just look at it—it'll bring you peace." His words stuck with me, a promise of comfort in his absence. We didn't rush into anything physical that night. I wanted to savour the possibility of what the future could hold.

My assignment to uncover the identity of the Golden Lady kept me occupied and away from the central operations of the SSR. I informed Colonel Phillips that it would take months to compile thorough reports and assemble a complete dossier on this elusive figure. Surprisingly, he agreed, granting me the time I claimed I needed.

This mission was classified as a high-priority task, held in the same regard as Steve and his team's efforts on the front lines. While they were dismantling Hydra's forces head-on, I was working in the shadows, piecing together a mystery I already knew the answer to. The irony of it all was not lost on me, but it was a necessary deception to maintain my cover.

I couldn't just sit idly by, buried in finding out who the Golden Lady was, I already knew. So, I came up with an alternative approach. Instead of staying in the shadows, I decided to track Steve's team and lend them a hand with their mission. When I first entered that factory as the Golden Lady, I felt that spark again—something that had dimmed over the years due to my enlisting in the military. But being back there, fighting Hydra, reignited something inside me. It felt good to be out there, to be actively helping again.

At first, Steve and his team were understandably cautious when I showed up. They had no idea why I was there or what my intentions were. The uncertainty in their eyes was clear as they watched me, wondering whether I was an ally or a potential threat. But as the fight against Hydra unfolded, I quickly proved myself. I fought beside them, moving with precision and skill, dismantling Hydra forces one by one. My presence was an asset—they could see it in my actions, and in the way I handled each fight without hesitation. Soon enough, the tension in the air dissipated, replaced by a sense of cooperation.

When the mission was over Hydra's hold on the warehouse was broken -- due to it exploding. I didn't stick around for thanks or celebration. I had a job to do, one far from the battlefield. With a mere flourish of my hand, I vanished from the scene, back to the UK in the blink of an eye, as if I had never been there. Karla had returned to her duties as an SSR Agent. But I knew I would be back by their side when they take on another base.

Months went by, and during that time, I continued to assist the troops whenever they took on another Hydra base. Each time, I appeared out of nowhere to lend a hand, taking down Hydra forces with precision. But just as swiftly as I arrived, I vanished before anyone could catch more than a glimpse of me. I kept my distance, never allowing them to truly interact with me or get too close. I was a fleeting presence, always there when needed, but always gone before questions could be asked.

I stood perched on a thick branch, my fingers tightening around the rough bark of the tree. My gaze swept over the snow-covered ground below, where Steve's team had set up camp after we'd just taken down another Hydra base. According to my calculations, only a few more remained.

From my vantage point, I had a perfect view of them—passing around flasks filled with booze, laughing, chatting with one another. Even in the biting cold, they weren't letting it dampen their spirits and their victory.

"Who do you think she is?" Dum Dum's voice echoed into my ears, his tone full of curiosity and a hint of disbelief. A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as I arrived just in time to hear them try to figure out who I was.

"I don't know," Gabe chimed in, his voice low, but laced with a trace of humour. "But whoever she is, she's one hell of a fighter."

"That's for sure," Jim agreed, the firelight dancing off his face as he took a swig from his flask. "I've never seen anyone take out Hydra like that. It's like she's got them on a leash."

"Maybe she's some sort of warrior," said Montgomery. "A mysterious woman, saving the day one Hydra base at a time."

Dum Dum shook his head with a laugh, though his eyes still carried the same thoughtful expression. "We'd be lucky if she was a warrior. Whoever she is, she's got skill... and she's hot as."

The men chuckled, nodding in agreement with Dum Dum's words, their laughter light and easy. It wasn't surprising, given their camaraderie. I stayed hidden in the shadows of the treeline, listening to their conversation with a faint smile tugging at the corners of my lips. They were full of questions, but they had no idea how far from the truth they were.

"I wonder if we'll ever find out who she really is," Gabe added, leaning back into his coat. "Maybe she'll show up again next time."

"Je n'ai jamais vu une telle force ! La façon dont elle bouge, la façon dont elle se compose," Jacques exclaimed in French, his voice filled with admiration. I understood every word, and a smile tugged at my lips in response to his praise.

I released my grip on the tree and stepped off the branch, my body soaring toward the ground. The snow rushed up to meet me, but my descent slowed, and I landed softly on the snow-covered earth, the only sound the faint crunch beneath my boots.

I moved silently behind a tree, stepping closer to another one just inches away from their camp. As I walked, I spoke softly, "La force n'est rien sans la finesse. Mais parfois, même la finesse doit se cacher dans l'ombre." My French was flawless, every word crisp and precise, with no room for error. To their ears, my voice carried an undeniable allure, as if I could captivate them with a single word.

But instead of the reaction I might have expected, all of them immediately stood, weapons drawn, aiming their guns at me. Despite our past battles fought side by side, there was still hesitation, a lingering wariness in their eyes.

"At ease," I commanded in English, raising my hands in a gesture of peace, my empty palms visible, though my armour was still intact. "I figured it was about time I finally met all of you." A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as my eyes briefly scanned each of the men.

They exchanged uncertain glances, hesitant to lower their weapons. It wasn't until their eyes met Steve's that the tension started to ease. Steve shifted his gaze from mine to his team, giving them a silent nod—a signal that I wasn't a threat. Slowly, they began to lower their guns.

As the men relaxed, a few exchanged looks, clearly curious about the mysterious woman standing before them. Steve, still eyeing her with a mix of intrigue and caution, was the first to break the silence.

"So, what's your story?" he asked, his voice casual but with a hint of suspicion lingering in his tone. "I've seen your skills, but you're not exactly the type to just pop up out of nowhere."

The others nodded, eager to know more about the enigmatic woman who had come to their aid on several occasions. Dum Dum, ever the curious one, stepped forward with a grin, though his eyes still held a trace of wariness.

"Yeah, who are you really? What's with the whole 'Golden Lady' thing?" Dum Dum asked, his hands resting casually on his hips as he sized her up. "You show up, fight like hell, and disappear just as quickly. Ain't exactly a normal pattern."

One of the other men, Gabe, chimed in, his voice rough and blunt. "How do we know we can trust you? You've been in the middle of all these battles with us, but we still don't know anything about you."

"Trust isn't given; it's earned... but even then, it's never fully understood," I said, letting the weight of my words settle between us like a secret just out of reach. "I could tell you stories, ones that would stretch your imagination to its limits. Impossible things, things so far beyond your grasp that they'd seem... inconceivable."

I let the pause linger, my gaze flicking over the men, reading their reactions, knowing they wouldn't quite believe it—not yet. But the seed had been planted.

The men exchanged glances, uncertainty flickering in their eyes, but none dared to speak up immediately. They were processing my words, weighing them against their own understanding of the world. Steve, however, tilted his head slightly, curiosity creeping into his expression.

"Impossible, huh?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with an almost playful challenge. "And what kind of impossible are we talking about here?"

I smiled, though it was more mysterious than reassuring. "It's the kind of impossible that changes everything you thought you knew," I said softly, my eyes locking with his for a moment before shifting to the others. It's the kind of impossible that makes you question what is truly real."

I let the weight of my words settle over them, watching as their expressions flickered between curiosity and intrigue. I could share the stories of my past, tales of impossible feats and unimaginable truths, but I knew they weren't ready for that yet.

Breaking the silence, I spoke again, my tone measured and purposeful. "Steve Rogers, James Barnes, Timothy, Gabe, Jim, James, Jacques," I said, letting my gaze rest briefly on each man as I named him. There was no hesitation, no uncertainty. I wanted them to understand that I didn't need introductions—I already knew them. "My name is Kyralia," I added, my lips curling into a soft, knowing smile as it was my true name. A name I haven't used in centuries.

Now they had something real, something more personal than just calling me the Golden Lady. A name they could hold onto.

"Nice to finally meet you, Kyralia," Steve said, his voice steady and sincere as my name rolled effortlessly off his tongue. The sound of it lingered in the crisp air, and I gave him a soft nod in acknowledgement, a subtle smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

"Care to join us?" Dum Dum offered, a sly grin spreading across his face as his tone carried a hint of suggestion. It was clear he, like the others, wasn't immune to the mysterious allure I exuded.

I stepped toward the circle of men as they settled back down on the snowy ground. The crunch of my sturdy boots against the snow accompanied the soft clinking of my armour with every step. Without hesitation, I positioned myself between Dum Dum and Gabe, their gazes flickering with curiosity. Dum Dum extended the flask of booze toward me, his grin teasing but inviting.

As I settled into the circle, the air around us seemed to shift, growing warmer despite the biting chill of the night. The soft glow of the firelight cast flickering shadows across their faces, bringing a sense of fellowship to the group. Dum Dum passed me the flask with a playful grin, his eyes twinkling with mischief. I accepted it with a small smile, bringing it to my lips in an easy, practised motion. The burn of the liquor was a fleeting sensation, one I couldn't truly savour, but I allowed myself to indulge in the act nonetheless.

The conversation flowed effortlessly as we exchanged stories and laughter. They recounted missions, close calls, and moments of victory, each tale woven with bravery and humour. I listened attentively, offering a remark or a wry smile here and there, careful not to reveal too much of my own truth.

The flask made its rounds, each man taking his turn before passing it along. When it came back to me, I took another sip, though I knew the alcohol would never have the intended effect. Despite the impossibility of feeling the buzz they chased, I found myself immersed in their world for those few hours. It was a rare gift to simply exist alongside them, I didn't often do this, but looking back I hardly did this.

Maybe this century would be different.

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