He waited until the other weapon had settled in his arms, breathing normally, no longer humming with vibrating tension. Then he moved to gently guide him the last ten feet to the rendezvous point. Those last ten feet were important. Though they would doubtless have been noticed where they stood now, the disparity between where they were and where they should be would also have been noticed by their handlers. Questions would be asked about why they had willfully waited where they were not supposed to, questions he did not want to answer. Better to eliminate the need for questions and undue stress at all.

And so they would be picked up exactly where they were expected to be picked up. The mission was reported as a colossal success as they were transported back to headquarters for debriefing and, inevitably, for storage.

He knew it was coming as well as the Soldier did. But he wouldn't take his arms from around the other weapon for as long as he was permitted to hold him. As long as it kept them both quiet, he would be allowed.

There would be other missions in the meantime - some they undertook separately, some together, while other assassins and agents of rival organizations whispered of them like children of mosnters under the bed.

Until, at long last, they would finally be allowed out once more to ensure the completion of HYDRA's ambitions...