A/N: I'm supposed to be writing two other fics right now but this plot bunny went rabid and projectile vomited out of my brain. This is not a romance btw. It's totally platonic in nature. I think. It should stay that way. Don't quote me on that. My muse is very forceful.

I don't remember anything from before. All I remember is Hydra. They must have wanted it that way though. In fact, my earliest memory is when I first met The Winter Soldier. I was barely eight and he was cold and emotionless, but he was familiar. I didn't know why, I still don't, not really. I took to him and when he started to train me, it was gently, despite his super strength and metal arm. He never hurt me enough to break a bone or give me a concussion. He was the closest I ever had to a friend.

I was supposed to be copying the words from the English copy of The Hobbit. Most of it didn't make sense, though I had read the Russian version over three times. They said my learning was increased by the serum that they gave me last year. Unfortunately, I was bored out of my mind. The English alphabet made no sense and I couldn't figure out the logic behind it. I had tried to argue my way out of learning it but Dr. Ellicott insisted that it was very necessary that I learn. At eight, I wasn't the best negotiator. The door to my room opened and I looked up from my doodling.

"Child," the agent peered through the door. That was my name. I was sure I had another name, before, but I couldn't remember. I thought it might of started with an 'e'. They told me that I had been nothing but a homeless orphan before. I wasn't sure but being an orphan sounded right.

"Yes, sir?" I got off my bed.

"Follow me," he left the room with me on his tail. We wove through the chilly corridors of the compound. Occasionally we passed a window. It snowing outside, which wasn't surprising in Russia during the winter. We entered the gym and I was surprised to see Mr. Zola standing with someone else. I gaped at his metal arm.

"Woah," I said and the man spun. He looked confused and slightly nervous.

"Child," Zola said in his thick German accent, "This is the Winter Soldier." I had walked up so I was standing in front of the tall imposing man.

"Nice to meet you, Winter," I said holding out my hand. I knew how this worked; I also knew it drove the scientists nuts when I called people by their first names.

"He will be training you in combat," Mr. Zola said, grimacing at what I called this 'Winter Soldier'.

"I'm going to learn how to fight?" I squealed, my eyes growing huge. "Thank you, Mr. Arnim."

"Call me Dr. Zola," he snapped.

"Of course, Mr. Arnim," I smirked mischievously. He rolled his eyes before turning to the soldier.

"Soldier," he commanded, "teach her everything you know." Zola left me alone in the room. Winter stared at me, a look of horror on his face.

"Have I grown cat ears or something?" I asked, "'cause you look terrified." He didn't answer. "Not the talkative type," I gave him a broad grin. "That's okay. I talk enough for four people." I kept chattering on and noticed that the look of horror had changed to annoyance.

"Shut up!" he finally shouted. I snapped my mouth shut, trying to hide my smirk. One thing I prided myself on was my ability to piss people off. He huffed. "Do you know anything about fighting?"

I shook my head.

"Fantastic," he grumbled.

I was escorted into the cafeteria by a soldier. His hair was shaggier than most and he was likely to get it cut soon. I fingered my own brown hair. It was kept short because Dr. Zola said there was no time for vanity.

I got small portion of food and scanned the room. In the far back corner, Winter sat alone. I grinned as I scurried over and sat next to him. I didn't anything as I started to eat and ignored his occasional glances in my direction.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Sitting with you," I said with a devilish grin. "I think I remember you from before. I don't care how Mr. Sanders says otherwise."

"Sanders?"

"Everyone else calls him Dr. Ellicott but I hate last names. Probably because I don't have one," I shrugged. Winter didn't reply; he just kept eating his pot roast.

"You sitting with your crush, eh Frostbite?" one of the soldier yelled. I pulled my eyebrows together and glared in the direction of the soldier.

"Ooh," one of the other soldiers laughed, "Frostbite. That's good." I considered the name for a moment before nodding. I could deal with being called Frostbite. At nine. I finally had a name.

I spun and blocked the hit directed my way. I dove down and hooked my arm around his ankle, tugging his leg up and throwing him off balance. I froze though, when I felt a cold blade on the back of my neck. I looked up at Winter whose expression was blank.

"I can only move so fast," I muttered.

The door to the gym opened and Dr. Ellicott strode in.

"There is a mission for you two," he announced. Next to me Winter stood up straighter and nodded. "Follow me," he said as he left. I quickly scrambled after to as he led us to our armoury.

"Since it's your first mission we wanted something simple," he told us. "We have a hostage situation down in western Mexico. At least four of our agents are being held along with about five technicians. Your job is to get them out."

"Sir?" I asked in a small voice. "I'm twelve and your sending me out to fight fully trained mercenaries?"

"You have the best training we can afford. You've trained for four years nearly nonstop with the asset-"

"Winter," I corrected automatically. I hated how he didn't get a name but I did. He was always just the asset and I hated it. He had a name, Winter.

"You've been trained by Winter and should do just fine. This is a level 1 mission. All it should require is taking out the heads and getting the hostage out." He grit his teeth at my reluctance. I bit my lip before nodding.

The plane flew high in the air, passing cities and jungles as we approached the target location. My job was simple. I was to find the hostages and protect them while the STRIKE team got them free. Winter was going to find the men in charge and take them out.

I pulled the straps of my parachute a little tighter, nervous that I would slip right out of it. It wasn't built for a small twelve year old girl.

I was the first to jump from the plane and I landed about a quarter of a mile outside the enemy camp. I unclipped the parachute and began to creep through the lush greenery. It was loud in the forest from all the wildlife. I reached the edge of the camp and peered through a clump of tall ferns. The camp wasn't terribly large but the enemy was formidable enough to pose a challenge. The four agents were chained to a tree, while the technicians were chained together in a circle on the opposite end of camp. Men in black berets walked around the camp, pistols on their hips and rifles on their back.

I took a deep breath before bursting out of the bushes laughing and grinning. I needed to look innocent. Immediately guns were pointed at me. I let my lip wobble as I stared at all the men with big eyes.

I started spouting nonsense in Bulgarian. I was pretty sure none of them spoke that. The men blinked at me and the leader revealed himself by motioning for everyone else to lower their weapons.

He crouched in front of me. "Do you speak English?" he asked with a thick spanish accent. I bit my lip and shook my head. I began spouting Bulgarian between sobs. The man cringed at my tears and began to shush me desperately. "How about Spanish?" he asked in the language. I shook my head. I switched to Russian.

"She is speaking Russian sir," one of the other men said, his accent telling me he spoke my native language.

"What's your name?" he asked when the leader motioned him forward.

"G-gwen," I stammered.

"What are you doing out here?" I was surprised at the kindness in their tones but I knew my mission. I bit my lip. I didn't know the story here but they seemed like they merely had a personal vendetta against HYDRA. I glanced at the four agents chained to the tree. They were my mission. I had to save the hostages. Let Winter deal with the enemy; it's what he was good at.

"I came for them," I hissed as I kicked the man in the face. I dove behind a tent as Winter and our backup team charged in. I ran to where the four agents sat and handed them a knife telling them to cut the rope. The technicians had been cut free when I had everyone's attention and I made my way over to them with the four agents following after. They were unarmed and would sit out this fight. I ushered the men and women into the trees but just before I was out of danger an arm wrapped around my throat.

My instincts kicked in instantly. I kicked up and flipped so that I was kneeling on his shoulders. A sharp punch to his temple knocked the man out cold. I took his beret and with a shrug pulled it on.

Winter was fighting a man that I swear was twice his size, not something we saw on a regular basis and I moved before I could think it through. I dashed through the fighting and with a leap I jammed my knife into the man's throat. The man froze and a gurgling sound came from his mouth as blood began to spurt from the wound. I backed away and watched as the man toppled over. He was dead.

I didn't notice how most of the other fights stopped as the men stared at the dead giant. I didn't notice as they surrendered because 'they weren't crazy'. I did notice Winter prying the bloody knife from my hand and practically shoving me out of the clearing because I was no longer thinking anything but that I had just made my first kill. I hated it.