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[center][color=black]"Splintered" | Issue #1 | Prague[/color][/center]

The Winter Soldier closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Dušan?” Štefan’s voice was barely audible for a normal man’s hearing. “Are you okay?” The aid placed his hand on the Soldier’s arm. The assassin barely restrained himself from ripping the man’s arm clean off. “You’re pale.” There was a pause. “And shaking.”

The Soldier’s eyes finally opened and he looked down at the crumpled pad. Indeed, his hands were shaking. The serum Hydra had given him took care of all physical ailments. He should never shake. He should report this back to his handler. At the thought his hands trembled just a little more. Being seen by Hydra had never made him shake before.

“Are you sick?” Laid asked from Dušan‘s other side. She placed her hand in the crook of his elbow.

“Men.” She sighed and shook her head. “Never taking care of themselves. You got this Štefan? I’m going to take him to the clinic.” The two [i]friends[/i] exchanged looks. 

“I’ll cover.” The aid agreed. “You make sure he doesn’t pass out on his fool ass.”

Ladi’s rogue mouth twisted up into a smirk. “So gracious.” She tugged on the Winter Soldier’s arm and pulled him out of the room. The immediate area was clear of people and he drew in another breath. The shadows of what he just saw still clung to him.

“I’m fine.” The man pretending to be Dušan groused.

“Sure. And I’m the Queen of Sheba.” Ladi poked him in the side. “Why don’t you sit down for a second?”

The brunette man let Ladi sit him down on one of the benches in the Castle. She sat down next to him and he turned his head to avoid her concerned look. He had no answers for her. None even for himself. 

Report to Hydra.

The Winter Soldier ran his hands through his hair and inhaled shakily.

“Dizzy? Nauseous?” Ladi rubbed her hand up and down his back.

“Just-“ The man pretending to be Dušan took a deep breath. “I think I need to go home.”

The woman nodded her head. “Of course. Think you can make it on your own?”

Dušan nodded in return. Then before he could think twice he reached out and hugged her. “Thank you.” With that he was gone like a dream.