We touched down on a mountainside in Siberia. A vehicle is already present outside, probably the doctors. Hopefully we're not too late. Steve's nimble fingers readies the Quinjet for landing. Determination in his blue green eyes. Ready to tackle whatever is going to happen. He looks back at me. Possibly refusing to let me go inside, I will not stay behind. He needs all the help he can get if the other winter soldiers are activated. Bucky described them as unpredictable, and what better way to ensure that neither Steve nor Bucky get hurt then by going inside myself. He takes a deep breath in to say something, "Where you go, I go." Steve's mouth goes in a straight line, but nods and wraps me in his warm embrace.
Steve leads Bucky to the armory and Bucky chooses a weapon. His assassin training kicks in. He's prepared and anticipating anything. We three stand at the back as the door opens, myself sandwiched between the two super soldiers, their large physiques towering over me.
Steve breaks the silence, "You remember that time we had to ride back from Rockaway Beach in the back of that freezer truck?"
"Was that the time we used our train money to buy hot dogs?" Bucky answers. I would love to chat about these two's lives from the past. A forgotten world. I stand quietly wanting them to reminisce. Bucky's crooked smile makes my heart swell.
"You blew three bucks trying to win that stuffed bear for a redhead."
"What was her name, again?" Bucky asks, and grins down at me.
"Dolores. You called her Dot."
"She's gotta be a hundred years old right now."
"So are we, pal." Steve's realization of his age makes him chuckle as he slaps his hand on Bucky.
"You two old men are cheesy. I believe we have work to do." Steve's hand slides off Bucky's shoulders and around my own waist pulling me tightly against him, Bucky reaches his hand over to me which I quickly take in my own.
"You're right. Charlie, I'm not going to repeat myself multiple times in here. I need you to listen to me, and not be a brat." He snickers. "I want to keep you close and safe, but please don't act irrational in there.
"Irrational?" I give him an accusatory look.
"Yes, you tend to easily get frustrated when you feel I'm in trouble."
I nod my head. He's right. "But we'll be here to protect you, doll." Bucky gently squeezes my hand and releases me from his hold. Steve's own arm unravels from my body and we head towards the entryway, into the mountain.
"He can't have been here more than a few hours." Steve replies before we enter. My skin is crawling with anticipation.
"Long enough to wake them up." That simple statement from Bucky sent chill bumps up my skin. We have to stay alert.
We soundlessly step in an elevator. It obviously wasn't meant for too many people. Steve cups my chin with his hand and gently rubs my cheek. I see the fear in his eyes, but I know the same fear is staring back into his. Not fear of a fight, fear of losing him. Losing them. Bucky's metal hand grips my hip tight before trying to calm me with gently using his thumb to caress my hip. I can feel his breath on my neck. Maybe in a different situation I would enjoy our close proximity.
The elevator stops loudly. It's eerie, the quietness mixed with an unmistakable bang. Steve and Bucky quickly remove their hands from me and we make our way off; listening and watching to anything that may appear in front of us. Bucky has placed himself in front and Steve behind me. Guns, and shield at the ready for attack. We stealthily walk through the maze of the Hydra base, trying to find any life. Our blood is pulsing highly as it's almost too quiet, and too easy. The quiet is making everyone paranoid as we all glance around, looking for anything.
We ascend a staircase and hear a loud banging noise behind us, all of us turn prepared to strike the person making the noise. A door creaks and we know that they are coming and expecting an attack, "You ready?" Steve asks. Bucky with his rifle and me with my own two hand guns ready for whoever may be coming to greet us. "Yeah." Bucky's gruff voice answers.
The two doors are pushed open by the one and only Tony Stark in his Iron Man suit. My face softens momentarily before I remember the civil war amongst the Avengers. Tony was on the opposing team. I position my body a bit more in front of Bucky, I feel him let out an amused huff behind me. I don't care, no one will hurt him. Tony's mask comes off and he makes his way closer. He doesn't seem defensive, but I still can't let my guard down. I notice Steve's body language changes, but only slightly.
"You seem a little defensive." Tony remarks. I scoff. Does he remember how we left each other. I know he has to be angry about Rhodey, as I myself would be.
Steve advances closer to Tony and I stand my ground beside Bucky. "It's been a long day." Steve answers.
"At ease, Soldier. I'm not currently after you. Charlie, quit trying to kill me with your eyes."
"Then why are you here?" The edge has returned back to Steve's voice. He doesn't fully trust Tony's intentions right now.
"Could be your story's not so crazy. Maybe. Ross has no idea I'm here. I'd like to keep it that way. Otherwise, I gotta arrest myself." Tony chokes out an arrogant snicker, and his posture seems more at ease. Maybe he isn't here to hurt Bucky. My stiffened body somewhat relaxes, but my eyes never leave Tony's face.
"Well, that sounds like a lot of paperwork." Steve's light bantering is returning to his voice. Tony scoffs, before Steve's posture completely goes at ease dropping his shield. "It's good to see you, Tony." My body completely relaxes and my face quits scowling at Tony.
"You too, Cap." Tony's attention focuses on me for a second before back up at Bucky who is still tensed. "Hey, Manchurian Candidate, you're killing me. There's a truce here. You can drop...Charlie, tame your dog." I turn to face Bucky and gently brush his arm, his eyes glance down to me, before he quickly nods his head, lowering his gun. His eyes lighten as he looks back at me and returns his gaze back to Tony.
I turn to finish the descent down the stairs to where Tony and Steve are. Bucky follows suit, careful to keep close to me and Steve. Thankfully we now have the technology of Tony's suit. If things go well, I may mention my suit needs some upgrades. "I got heat signatures."
"How many?" Steve asks.
"Uh, one." Tony answers, discomfort aced in his words.
We enter into a big room, that's more round in shape and tall structures tower above us. Again, it's too quiet. We all glance around at our setting. A pit forms in my stomach, this can't be good. The doctor has already been successful in deceiving us once. We can't afford to make the same mistake. The cryo chambers are dimly lit, and noisy. Are the soldiers still in there? But Tony only saw one heat signature.
"If it's any comfort, they died in their sleep." A voice comes over a speaker. We all take another look around; all the soldiers have a single bullet in their skull. "Did you really think I wanted more of you?"
Bucky stiffens beside me. "What the hell?" His knees are bent as he circles around trying to locate where the doctor is hiding.
"I'm grateful to them, though. They brought you here." A light comes on in a tiny observation room, revealing the doctor. Tony points his hand at the room, while Steve throws his shield, only for it to bounce back to him. He returns it to his arm with a grunt. "Please, Captain. The soviets built this chamber to withstand the launch blast of UR-100 rockets."
"I'm betting I could beat that." Tony calls to him arrogantly. Bucky and my body shuffles to the other side of the room. My eyes never leave the doctor's cold eyes sneering down at us.
"Oh, I'm sure you could, Mr. Stark. Given time. But then you'd never know why you came." He's toying with us.
"You killed innocent people in Vienna just to bring us here?" Steve marches even closer to the doctor, causing me to tear my gaze from him and look only at Steve.
The doctor catches my eyes watching Steve and smirks over at me, before only addressing Steve, "I've thought about nothing else for over a year. I studied you. I followed you. But now that you're standing here...I just realized...there's a bit of green in the blue of your eyes." He turns his head towards me as he releases a manically chuckle. He knows Steve is my weakness, and I'm guessing he knows Bucky now is as well. "How nice to find a flaw."
Steve ignores his constant glances towards me and Bucky. His eyes bore into the doctors. "You're Sokovian." He states. "Is that what this is about?"
"Sokovia was a failed state long before you blew it to hell. No. I'm here because I made a promise."
Steve looks the doctor up and down. "You lost someone." I see the guilt ripple across his face.
"I lost everyone. And so will you." Again, he turns towards me and Bucky sneering. "Although it appears you've already lost one. Unless, you think you can share." The doctor scoffs. Steve looks at us while the doctor turns around, he pushes a button, powering on a monitor. "An empire toppled by its enemies can rise again. But one which crumbles from within? That's dead. Forever."
Steve is the first to reach the screen. He stands motionless, eyes not blinking. Tony looks only at Steve's face as he makes his way over. Bucky uses his hand and guides me to the screen, creating a protective stance. His rifle never leaving where the doctor is standing.
Tony's eyes finally leave Steve's as he looks at the monitor. Pain flashes in his eyes and he looks between Steve in the monitor. I move the tiniest bit closer, and Bucky grabs my elbow, urging me to stop. I don't comply. I look at the screen and between Tony and Steve. I don't understand.
"I know that road." Tony's voice finally breaks to unnerving silence. Tony looks at me confused and hurt. I want to take his hand and use my empathy but his suit has his flesh covered. "What is this?" He shouts to the doctor.
The doctor is silent. Steve and Tony's eyes never leave the screen. Bucky pulls on my elbow a bit; I look up at him. There's terror in his eyes. I position myself back to where he's pulling me. Away from the monitor. He whispers, "Doll." Under his breath, and I see the doctor, staring. I don't like this.
My eyes focus on Tony. Whatever is on the screen has hurt him. His eyes brim with tears and he can't remove his eyes from whatever is happening. I feel the need to go closer, and Bucky holds me back. I comply. Steve removes his eyes from the screen and stares only at Tony. Hopelessness lingers in his eyes, and then Bucky looks at Tony. I feel I'm the only one out of the loop, but Bucky looks sorrowful. He couldn't have? Tony's parents died in a car wreck. But why would the doctor be showing us this, unless?
"Help my wife." I hear a man's voice on the monitor. "Please. Help....Sergeant Barnes?" The voice on the screen confirms my suspicions. I give Bucky's hand a squeeze and place myself between him and Tony, my body tenses up, and I ready my hand guns. It wasn't Bucky. That was the Winter Soldier. He had no control over his mind or body. He was a weapon that Hydra used.
"Howard!" No! I know how close Tony was to his mom. He put her on a pedestal. Tony glares at Bucky and then at me and my defensive stance over him. Hurt crosses through his eyes when he realizes the truth and my reaction to it. Bucky's eyes briefly meet Tony's before Tony looks back at the screen to watch his parents' demise. "Howard!" Another scream from Maria. I see Tony's heart shatter through his eyes. Tears creep back to his into the brim of his eyes. He refuses to let them fall. If only I could use my empathy, I could make him understand that wasn't Bucky.
Steve briefly looks back at the monitor before sighing and looking back at Tony, he too wants Tony to realize it wasn't Bucky. Bucky wouldn't do that. Tony quickly advances on me and Bucky causing us both to flinch back, my hands briefly pull up to point my guns at Tony, until I meet his eyes, and my arms go limp.
Steve grabs at Tony's arm. "No, Tony."
Tony searches for the words to say to Steve. He's paralyzed. "Did you know?" He whispers.
"I didn't know it was him."
Tony was taken off guard. "Don't bullshit me, Rogers. Did you know?"
"Yes."
Tony jumps back from Steve. He looks at him as if he's never met him before. Like he's a stranger. Bucky tries to get in front of me to block myself from Tony and I shift, refusing him to be between us. Tony's eyes find mine. "How could you choose him? Them?" He points between the two super soldiers; I shake my head not knowing what to say.
Tony's body tenses before he turns back to Steve hitting him in the jaw, flinging Steve's body to the ground. My body shifts to go after Tony? To help Steve? "No." Steve says. I comply, and stand my ground.
Tony turns a Repulsor towards me and Bucky firing, and barely misses. Tony knocks me away from Bucky, wrapping a hand around his neck and flying off with him. He slams him on the floor before stomping on his arms causing him to scream out. Steve throws the shield at Tony, distracting him from Bucky.
Tony and Steve begin to fight, while I run to Bucky, standing over him, pistols aimed at a now advancing Tony. Steve attempts to distract him again, but Tony throws a device at Steve that binds his legs. Bucky takes the opportunity to use his left arm to start punching Tony. Tony picks him up again flying him to a wall before pushing his back into it. I throw the shield at Steve and run towards Tony firing at him. He doesn't pay me any mind, but Bucky is able to use the cybernetic arm to crush Tony's hand.
He aims at Bucky's face, and thankfully Bucky pushes his arm away at the last second. Steve is able to break the bonds with his shield as he rushes towards me. The shot Tony fired however is causing the structures in the room to topple. Steve pushes us out of the way of the falling debris. It falls trapping Tony, for the time being and we stand trying to locate Bucky. He stands spotting us, "Go with him." He pleads. I run over to Bucky as Steve shouts, "Get out of here!"
Bucky and I run to find an exit, but Tony escaped the debris and, is on a mission, to kill Bucky Barnes. We change the direction we're running, right before Tony fires his Repulsor right at our heels. Steve jumps down in front of Tony trying to give us a window to escape. "You ok, doll?" I nod my head. He hits a button that opens up a trail of ladders to the roof. We begin our climb up, never looking back.
I use my ears to figure out where Steve and Tony are. I hear Tony's suit lift off before Steve's pleading voice, "It wasn't him, Tony. Hydra had control of his mind!"
"Move!"
"It wasn't him!"
"Bucky, we have to hurry!" Bucky intensifies his speed. I glance back for a moment to find Steve holding on to Tony's leg, as Tony tries to fly towards us.
I hear Tony in the shaft and look down. One of his boot jets seem to be down, because he's not making a smooth flight to us. But he's still gaining on our location. Bucky jumps over to the other side, trying to distract Tony from me, "No!"
Tony catches up with him knocking him down a few levels on another landing. His Repulsor powers up as he begins to fire at Bucky and Steve jumps in front blocking him with the shield. It ricochets back to Tony, knocking him down.
Steve helps pull Bucky back up into a standing position. "He's not gonna stop. Go." Bucky looks over towards me and begins jumping up. We finally meet back up and begin our climb to the top. Steve stands and waits to try and stop Tony. I hear a loud groan and look down. Steve is pulling Tony back to the bottom before the crashing at the bottom. Bucky throws me up to a level as we near the top and jumps up himself. We're almost there.
I hear more noise coming from below, "Doll, just get to the top!" Bucky shouts at me before I'm able to look back down. It hurts me to see Tony with murder in his eyes, and it's focused just on Bucky. We reach the top and Bucky goes to push me up to climb over, we hear something fly past as it makes contact with the cover of the shaft. Bucky looks over to see it coming down and pulls me down with him. Just before the top closes on us. We land on a lower level, both letting out a groan. "Are you hurt, doll."
"No." I jump up, giving him my hand to help him stand. Before he grabs my hand, we notice Tony flying up. He grabs a pipe smashing it across Tony's chest. In the scuffle Tony hits me knocking me down a few levels and he twists Bucky into a chokehold.
"Do you even remember them?" Tony asks, venom spewing out of his voice.
"I remember all of them." Bucky responds. He is welcoming Tony's attempts to kill him. To forget what he did. I see red. I cannot lose him. I go to jump where they are and Tony kicks the wall sending them both flying down, his grip never loosens on Bucky's neck. Steve jumps off a level towards them, Bucky lands on a lower level, while Steve and Tony crash to the bottom.
I grab out a grapple hook and jump down the center to reach Bucky faster. I reach Bucky, looking him over. "I'm ok." He answers. I glance over and Tony's now turned his sights on Steve. No, no, no.
"Come on, we got to go." I reach down, helping him up. He lets out a groan. He looks over and sees the shield. Reaching down to grab it. He jumps down before running behind Tony, jumping up and hitting him hard in the back with the shield. Tony fires at him but Bucky is able to block it with the shield before passing it to Steve. Tony advances on him, and I feel helpless. I'm no match with Tony and the suit, and I would only get in the way, but I continue watching for an opportunity to jump in.
Bucky is able to get the upper hand, his metal fingers clutching to Tony's arc reactor crushing it. Steve was pushed to the side, and I run to him, helping him up. "I'm sorry." He says, defeat in his voice, for not being able to resolve this without a fight. Bucky's right hand moves to Tony's face pushing it aside. He screams with veracity as he continues to crush the arc reactor.
Tony losing hope fires a unibeam from the arc reactor. The beam his Bucky's metal arm, as it falls to the ground. "No! Bucky no!" I scream. Bucky collapses on the floor and looks at his now missing metal arm. I start to run towards him to hold him, and Tony fires another shot from his Repulsor, sending him flying. Steve sees where I'm going and goes to Tony. I run to Bucky, picking his head up, laying it in my lap. He forces a smile up at me, "Doll."
"Shh. It's ok. I've got you." I move his hair away from his face. Caressing his sweaty face, that's covered in grime, dirt, and blood. A tear rolls down my face, I'm not sure where it lands. I look up at Steve, and there's a pit in my stomach. Tony wants to kill. Steve wants to stop, but he will do anything to protect Bucky and me. "Shh." I rock Bucky's head in my lap, my anxiety has reached a boiling point and I can't quit moving, trembling.
Tony fires a Repulsor at Steve, who blocks it with the shield, and he continues firing. Creating a sunburst where the Repulsor and shield meet. I did not think this day could get any worse. One man's bitterness caused this. The Avengers saved more people than those that were killed in Sokovia. Casualties and death are the most unfortunate part of this life.
Steve and Tony do not let up. It's currently a battle of who will survive. Steve's pure brute force is beating out Tony's now malfunctioning suit. I don't want Tony dead, but he also won't stop. Tony is able to push Steve off of him, firing a Repulsor at his stomach and causing Steve to double over.
Tony looks behind Steve where I'm holding Bucky in my lap, caressing his face. He walks towards us, Steve looks up at him, "He's, my friend."
"So was I." Tony darkly answers. He's hurt, and angry. A deadly combination. He punches Steve twice before he falls to the ground beside us, coughing up blood. He's injured and badly.
Tony reaches down, grabs Steve by the collar and throws him into a wall. "Stay down. Final warning." His gaze never leaves Steve.
Steve struggles to get back up. I hear his panting as he slowly pushes himself upright. Steve moves to a fighting stance, fist raised, "I can do this all day." Bucky grimaces and attempts to stand. I tighten my hold on him, and he quits.
I hear Tony's Repulsor fire up. Please, don't Tony. Bucky reaches out grabbing Tony's foot, stopping the fire up. Tony kicks Bucky's face that also lands on my shoulder causing me to wince in pain, and I return my focus back to Bucky's now heavily bleeding face.
Steve comes up behind Tony, lifting him up above his head, throwing him hard to the floor. He begins punching him in the face, and pauses only to grab the shield, and continues hitting his face, breaking the helmet off Tony. His face is battered and bloody like the other men.
Steve's last blow with the shield is right in the arc reactor. Tony's eyes go wide as he looks down. He knows he's been defeated. Other than Steve's and Tony's panting there's complete silence. The hurt and pain palpable in the air. Things will never be the same. Steve falls to the side of Tony, exhausted. He looks over to me and Bucky and nods his head. I gently lay Bucky's head on the floor and stand above him, "Come on." I reach my hand down and he takes it. Bucky awkwardly stands up, using me as a prop, his muscular body leaning against me, steadying himself.
I look over at Tony and he's shell shocked. Eyes wide, looking between the three of us. Steve stands, pulling the shield out of the arc reactor and makes his way to us, assisting in helping Bucky. He roughly kisses the side of my temple.
I hear Tony shift his weight, "The shield doesn't belong to you. You don't deserve it. My father made that shield!" He's trying to hurt Steve. He pauses, looks at us, and drops the shield, without another word. We continue our walk out. "Charlie...Charlie!" I don't look back. I can't.
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Tony's POV:
Tony...I'm glad you're back at the compound. I don't like the idea of you rattling around a mansion by yourself. We all need family. The Avengers are yours. Maybe more so than mine. I've been on my own since I was eighteen. I never really fit in anywhere, even in the Army. My faith is in people, I guess. Individuals. And I'm happy to say that, for the most part, they haven't let me down. Which is why I can't let them down either. Locks can be replaced, but maybe they shouldn't. I know I hurt you, Tony. I guess I thought by not telling you about your parents...I was sparing you, but I can see now that I was really sparing myself. And I'm sorry. Hopefully one day you can understand. I wish we agreed on the Accords. I really do. I know you're doing what you believe in, and that's all any of us can do. That's all any of us should. Don't be so hard on Charlie. Her life has changed tremendously in the past few months, and I'm mostly to blame. She never wanted any of this to happen. She loves you Tony, you're like another father to her.
"Priority call from Secretary Ross" F.R.I.D.A.Y. announces. "There's been a breach at the Raft prison."
"Yeah, put him through." I reply.
"Tony, we have a problem." Ross's voice comes over the phone.
"Uh, please hold."
"No, don't."
I press down on the hold button. Watching the light blink, smiling to myself
So, no matter what...I promise you, if you need us...if you need me...I'll be there.
I turn down the envelope and an old flip phone slides out. Only one number installed. Steve.
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Bucky's POV:
In a Wakandan lab a tech busies himself by wrapping my now missing metal arm. I sit in the clean, white, and smelling of disinfectant lab. Lost in thoughts. Steve walks in glancing around the room, and then I see her. Despite everything that's happened, all the turmoil she's faced, I still feel her warmth radiating from her, inviting me in. But not today. My heart pumps a little bit faster when I realize she's going to be gone, while I'm in deep sleep. I won't be there to protect her. She smiles in my direction, hazel eyes lighting up. Her eyes never leave mine.
They walk over to me and she places her tiny little hand over my own, tracing small circles with her thumb. Steve doesn't even pay it any mind, "You sure about this?"
I look down at her hand and over to Steve, "I can't trust my own mind." I look over to only her and huff out a laugh, turning back to Steve. "So, until they figure out how to get this stuff out of my head...I think going under is the best thing." I pull my hand out from under Charlie's, and take her own hand in mine, returning the gentle circles on her hand, "For everybody." I look into her hazel eyes. There's a sadness in her usual bright eyes.
Steve looks between us, seeing our interaction. "I've got to talk to the tech really quick." And walks away.
"Are you scared?" She innocently asks me.
"No."
"How long will you be frozen?"
"You missing me already, doll?"
Charlie sighs finally looking into my eyes. "Every second you're not with me. Us." She motions towards Steve. "Doesn't make sense, does it?" I shake my head no and place a hand on her cheek. "Will you call when they wake you?"
"When they feel they've done all they could, of course."
"Do you think it will work?"
"I hope so." I look over to Steve, his back is turned and he's involved with whatever the tech is telling him. I lean over and kiss Charlie's cheek, forehead, and moving slowly to her lips. Leaving space between our lips, not actually touching, breathing each other's breath. I want to feel her one last time, but not now. She leans forward closing the gap before placing an innocent kiss on my lips. She pulls back. Her hazel eyes are shining brightly again as she blinks slowly smiling at me. She's stunning.
Steve strides back over as they put me in the chamber, "Wait...Charlie..." I place out my hand to her, she walks over taking it in her own and closes her eyes. I see that she's at peace for now. She has faith in my sabbatical in Wakanda. I see she's excited to see me when I wake. She opens her eyes, stepping back. A calm, peacefulness washes over my body. Her empathy soothed me so I can have tranquil rest in cryo sleep. She takes her place beside Steve, as he takes her hand in his. I close my eyes as they fill the chamber with cold. Until I see her again.
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Charlie's POV:
Steve and I stand emotionless staring out at the Wakandan countryside, under different circumstances this would be an ideal place. Hand in hand, I look up at him for a moment. His usual blemish free face is patterned with cuts, scrapes, and bruises. His eyes hold a scarring that wasn't caused by something physical, but a true hurt of feeling he lost a friend. I rub on his hand feeling the battered knuckles under my fingertips.
Gentle footsteps walk up behind us, I turn, T'Challa. "Thank you for this." Steve responds, eyes never leaving the window.
"Your friend and my father...they were both victims. If I can help one of them find peace..."
"You know, if they find out he's here..." Steve's hand tightens around mine. I use my other hand to rub his arm, trying to calm him. He loosens his grip and looks down at me, but talking to T'Challa, "they'll come for him."
"Let them try." T'Challa confidently answers, looking out at the country.
Steve finally looks back to T'Challa thanking him one last time. "You ready, princess?"
"Yes, Captain." I smile and we start to leave.
"Actually, can I have a word with her before." Steve nods, knowing he wants to speak alone.
"See you on the jet." He turns and walks away.
Once he's fully out of sight T'Challa turns his attention to me, "Sergeant Barnes asked me to have a word with you in private. He mentioned something about an empathy power you have?" I nod. "And you two have a connection?" Again, I nod. He hands me a phone. "He wanted a way for me to contact you directly. When he was ready. He thought he might like to speak with you one on one when he wakes."
I take the phone from him looking up at him. "You mean not let Steve know."
"When that time comes you will know if you want to mention it to your Captain or not." He turns and walks away, and I turn and head towards the jet, and Steve. My Captain.