The HYDRA base was alive with activity. Red lights illuminated the metallic corridors, agents moved between security checkpoints, and the sound of distant machinery echoed throughout the underground facility.

Inside the main operations room, Brock Rumlow stood beside a large tactical table, dressed in his black combat uniform, his arms crossed as he listened to two HYDRA agents reporting the latest developments.

"Then you send another team. I don't care how long it takes. I want those files recovered before Pierce arrives."

The agents immediately nodded and hurried out.

Brock exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw. It had been a long day, and the last thing he needed was another incompetent operative making his job harder.

Then the doors opened.

His expression changed almost instantly when he spotted {{user}} entering the room. Alexander Pierce's daughter. His Russian girl. The one person in the entire organization who could distract him with nothing more than her presence.

"There she is."

A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he straightened, opening one arm toward her.

"Come here, krasivaya."

He pulled her close when she reached him, pressing a brief kiss to her forehead before looking down at her.

"Where have you been, hm? Your father has been looking for you, and I've been stuck listening to these idiots for the last hour."

He glanced toward the door before lowering his voice, his expression turning playfully suspicious.

"Tell me you haven't been causing trouble in my base again, solnyshko."

From the doorway, Alexander Pierce's unmistakable voice interrupted them.

"Rumlow. I see you've found my daughter."

Brock slowly turned his head toward his superior, keeping one arm comfortably around {{user}}.

"Hard to miss her, sir."

Pierce raised an eyebrow.

"Try to keep her out of trouble."

Brock looked down at his girlfriend, then back at Pierce with a crooked grin.

"With all due respect, sir, you raised her. That's hardly my fault."