((Based on a rp with the Sherlock to my John and the Bucky to my Steve. Updates every Monday. Please enjoy! -outakurebecca))
The dappled sunlight of the forest played off the leafy bushes and the ax over Steve's shoulder. He whistled a patriotic tune as he strolled down the narrow path, searching for a tree worthy of his family's log business.
Darting through the forest quickly, Bucky chanced a glance behind him, a smile breaking out when he realized the Queen's men were no where to be seen.
Steve heard a fast approaching rustle and tensed. There had been reports of werewolves recently, though it was broad daylight. He took a defensive stance, his ax grasped firmly in front of him.
Skidding to a stop at a small clearing, Bucky looked around, breathing heavily as he tried to figure out where he was.
Motionless, Steve observed the stranger. He wasn't a wild beast, that was a plus, but he didn't look friendly either. He decided to back away from the clearing and avoid the threat altogether. His first step cracked a twig under his boot.
Tensing at the sound, Bucky fell back into a defensive stance, tightening his grip on his satchel slightly.
He scanned the encompassing trees looking for the threat.
"Come on!" he yelled, face cold. "Show yourself!"
I've done it now, Steve lamented. He took a breath, relaxed his shoulders, and stepped into the clearing. His ax was raised in warning.
Looking the stranger over, Bucky contemplated his choices: deal with this threat (possibly working for the Queen?) or find a way to get out of here and get back to Natalia and Clint as quickly as he could.
"Who are you?" he demanded. 'May as well find out if I need to get rid of him.'
"Ste-" Oh shoot. He shouldn't go around telling just anyone about himself! Steve cleared his throat. "A woodcutter," he answered. "...and you?"
Bucky bared his teeth in a maniacal smile. "I've got many names and none of them seem to fit this situation," he said, moving slightly as though trying to get a better look at the man in front of him.
Steve stepped back. "I think it'd be best we remained strangers," he said slowly. "I'll be on my way, don't try to-"
A shadow larger than the clearing swooped overhead. Sounds of distress cried out from the smaller animals of the forest. Both men turned their attention to the sky.
Bucky smirked as he saw what (or rather who) it was.
He called, "Hi ho, dragon! Come looking for a virgin to steal?"
"Don't provoke him!" Steve squeaked, futilely hiding under his ax.
Bucky laughed and tried to reassure the woodcutter, "Don't worry about Sherlock. His bark is bigger than his bite."
"Sherlock?" Steve's eyes widened. "You... know the dragon? Personally?" This was more and more confirmation that this stranger was not someone to get mixed up with.
He shrugged. "I have met many in my travels," was his answer.
Sherlock landed lightly a few feet away from them and rested his head on his taloned paws.
He snuffed out a billow of smoke. "Bored."
"A real dragon," Steve said in awe. He was twenty feet away from a real dragon.
Bucky nodded absently and offered, "Just wait until you see a giant."
He stepped closer to Sherlock. "What is it you're looking for?"
Sherlock rolled one large yellow eye and growled, "Bored."
"A giant?" Steve repeated. "Was that... an invitation?" He wanted to go in closer, but was too cautious to do so.
Bucky paused and looked back over to the woodcutter. The man was good looking; blond, all muscles and plaid, about 22 or 23.
He smirked at him. "Perhaps it was, my dear. You'll just have to wait and see."
"My dear," Steve scoffed. "Steve Rogers isn't anyone's 'dear'."
Bucky threw his head back and laughed. "But I did receive your name!"
Steve hit his palm to his forehead. He really needed to think things through before he said them.
"Anything's better than a ridiculous pet name, I suppose," he said grudgingly.
"Whatever you say, dear heart," Bucky purred.
"I can already tell you're impossible," Steve said.
"Being impossible is one of my best qualities. Now, if you'll excuse me, Sherlock, Steve." Bucky turned and started to leave.
Sherlock sighed and stood, shaking out his wings before folding back down. He let out another billow of smoke and muttered, "Good bye, Hatter. I wish Alice well."
"Hatter?" Steve looked incredulously at Sherlock. "The Hatter?"
Bucky grinned and bowed, tipping his suddenly appearing top hat. "The one and only." He straightened and the hat disappeared once more. "Now, I really must go. Places to do and people to go and all of that nonsense that is sense!"
"Oh yeah," Steve challenged. "Important things to do like running from the law? I should turn you in."
Bucky's eyes darkened and his face grew cold. "You could try," he spat, stepping away.
Sherlock laughed, watching the confrontation. "You shouldn't have said that, woodcutter. He was just starting to like you," he rumbled lazily.
"Justice doesn't shy from risk," Steve said boldly. He reached into the inside pocket of his cloak and procured a decorative mirror. "With this, the queen will know where you are in a matter of seconds."
"Then summon her and I can finally slit her throat!" Bucky snarled, glaring at Steve.
"What do you have against the queen?!" Steve was genuinely shocked.
Bucky glowered at Steve and turned to leave, stubbornly refusing to answer the question, as it was none of the damned woodcutter's business why he hated the horrid hag that dared call herself the queen.
Steve gulped. There was obviously more going on than a criminal on the run. There was a piece missing from what was needed to make sense, and Steve hated being in the dark.
"Show me Hamish!" he told the mirror.
Bucky didn't bother to turn around. Looking at the sinking sun told him he had already wasted enough time. He needed to get home.
"Steve!" the voice of a boy had a warped quality through the mirror, though it was clear he was very excited to get a call from his favorite baby sitter and friend.
"Hamish," Steve said in his 'this-is-important' voice, "I need you to listen, if I don't return by tomorrow tell the royal guard that The Hatter is in the forest. With a dragon."
Sherlock snorted, letting out another billow of smoke. "Just trying to make all kinds of enemies tonight, aren't we?"
"Hey, I'm new at this adventure stuff," Steve insisted. He stashed the mirror. "I have a feeling there's something about the queen you're not telling me, and it's my duty to my country to do the right thing."
Sherlock shook his head, scales glinting in the setting sun, as he warned, "He's called the Mad Hatter for a reason. You would do well not to provoke him."
With that, Sherlock got up and flew away.
"I'll keep that in mind," Steve said quietly to Sherlock's retreating form. It was already getting dark and he was in the woods, worse than alone. He was following a criminal. He didn't know which of them was more insane.
He jogged to catch up with The Hatter.
Bucky set a brutal pace, hatred burning through him, as it always did at the mention of the Queen.
He stopped suddenly and spun to face Steve as he finally caught up to him. "What?" he demanded.
Steve stiffened his posture. "I'm appointing myself your escort until I know what's going on."
He scoffed and rolled his eyes. "And what gives you the right?"
"Citizen of a free kingdom, Mr. Hatter," Steve quirked a smile.
Bucky gave him a long, hard look. "If you do anything to harm my family, I will gut you and leave you to the Jabberwockies," he stated coldly, before turning on his heal and continuing his brutal pace.
"Family?" Steve asked. "And don't worry, I only cut down trees." He gestured to his ax.
Bucky didn't answer as they came to a stop at a small cottage. He pushed open the door and motioned to Steve to keep quiet.
"Natalia?" he called softly.
The cottage was dark and looked deserted. Steve stayed a few paces back from the threshold, uncertain if this was all an act to get rid of him.
A cry came from the back of the house, prompting Bucky to quickly rush in that direction. "Close the door," he called over his shoulder as he disappeared into a room.
Not deserted then. Steve closed the door behind him, stepping carefully over the uneven floorboards after The Hatter.
Bucky sat on the edge of the small bed in the corner of the bedroom, gently shaking the nightmare-caught shoulder of Natalia.
"Wake up, dear heart," he pleaded. "It's just a nightmare."
He didn't look up as Steve entered the room.
Steve kept his back against the wall, sure he was intruding. The woman on the bed had covered her face with her hands and had tangled red hair.
With a strangled gasp, Natalia bolted up, eyes wide and unseeing.
Bucky grabbed her shoulders, not flinching as she thrashed, trying to get away.
"You are safe, Natalia!" he told her firmly as he fought to still her squirming body.
"What's wrong with her?" Steve asked with concern.
Bucky, finally able to grab her into a hug, glanced briefly at Steve. "She has nightmares of events long past," he replied, breathing a sigh of relief when Natalia slumped against his chest, no longer trapped in the dark corners of her mind.
"It must have been horrible," Steve said quietly. He glanced at The Hater, wondering if he shared any such memories.
Bucky nodded as he tucked Natalia under his chin. His voice was barely a whisper as he said, "It was a fate I would not wish on my worst enemies."
Natalia buried her face in his neck, tugging his collar down enough to reveal the scar that ran the length of it.
Steve eyed the scar. "You too, huh?"
With a faraway look in his eye, Bucky quietly stated, "Me too."
Natalia stirred and pulled away. She looked weary as she mumbled, "You're back early."
Bucky shrugged and pointed out, "Good thing that I was." He waved at Steve. "Steve Rogers, Woodcutter."
Steve held out his hand to Natalia with a slight smile.
She eyed him for a moment before shaking his hand. "I am Natalia. Though," her lips twisted into a semblance of a smile. "You may know me better as Red."
"I'm meeting the entire criminal underworld today, it seems," said Steve. "So far neither of you have tried to brutally murder me, so the official proclamations are false."
Natalia laughed, harsh and loud. "The queen is a liar and a fraud. She claims me to be a villain and yet... what is my crime? To love a man who turns to a wolf by the light of the moon, only to have her slaughter him and force me to watch?" She glanced at Bucky. "And his crime? Stealing? Did she mention in her proclamations that he only stole to provide his wife and son with a means for survival?"
"I-," Steve ran a hand through his hair. "I never considered any of that," he admitted. "In my village, barely anyone comes or goes, the only news we get is through the queen. To think that we've followed her so blindly..." He shuddered.
"Many follow her blindly," a new voice offered. A man dropped from the rafters of the ceiling and clapped Steve on the shoulder. "You are not alone in falling for her deception."
Bucky nodded at the man and introduced him as, "This is Clint- formally known as Hansel, the Witch-hunter- and now known as Natalia's husband."
"Nice to-" Steve alternated his gaze from the rafters to Clint and back. "Meet y- you just dropped from the ceiling. How long-?"
He shrugged. "Not long." Then he grinned happily as he held up his kill, two rabbits, arrows still protruding from the eye sockets. "Dinner!" he announced proudly.
Natalia rolled her eyes and said dryly, "All hail the conquering hero."
The rabbits dangled lifelessly under Steve's incredulous gaze. "You sir, are quite the skilled archer."
Clint beamed, looking all the world like Christmas had come early. Natalia rolled her eyes and warned, "Don't encourage him."
"Do you need firewood?" Steve offered. It was the only thing he was confident at, other than frisbee and befriending the kids he looked after. He wanted to help these people, since he had made so many false assumptions about them and intruded on their home.
Bucky opened his mouth to answer only to have Natalia cut him off. "You can help me bring some in." She grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him out the door.
She led him out behind the cottage where a diminishing pile of logs was stacked. Steve hefted a few into his arms and turned to Natasha, who had easily matched his load.
"You and Clint, huh?" he asked, trying to make conversation.
She quirked her lips and hummed. "Me and Clint." She sent him a sly look. "And you and my dear Hatter?"
Steve almost dropped the logs he was carrying. "Me and-? It's not like... He is very- We just met."
She threw her head back and laughed. "That is the same thing I said to him when he first met Clint and look at us now."
She paused and looked at him, a touch of sadness in her eyes. "I can see why he's drawn to you," she murmured.
Steve shook his head. "He's not drawn to me. He joked around a little at first, but then I threatened to turn him in; he probably hates me now."
Natalia shook her head, sending her fiery red hair into disarray. "No, he's just worried- and overprotective. He's been like that ever since-" she stopped and looked down, debating on whether or not to continue.
"That's right," Steve remembered. "Didn't you say he had a wife?" He bit his lip, hoping he wasn't asking too much.
She nodded slowly. "Alice," she whispered, pain etched in her eyes. "Dear Alice. She and their son, Jasper, were murdered by the queen." Natalia looked away. "That hag made him watch."
"No," Steve said in disbelief. His opinion of the queen was on a steady decline. "That's horrid. On what charge?"
She let out a humorless laugh. "James was a traveler. He retrieved exotic items from different realms for the queen, but then he met Alice on one of his trips to Wonderland. He decided to stop retrieving and settle down with her and the queen..." she trailed off.
"...doesn't like to share, does she?" Steve finished. He hissed a curse under his breath. "Even the child."
"Jasper was three," Natalia said quietly. "He looked so much like James..."
Steve imagined Hamish at that age, laughing with trail of snot down his face. He shook the image out of his head before he could picture him being subject to the queen's favorite form of punishment.
With a sigh, Natalia once again began picking up logs. "He hasn't been the same since then."
The two solemnly carried the fuel back into the cottage, depositing it by the hearth in the main room. Steve produced a matchbook and starter and quickly got a flame going.
"What took you two so long?" Bucky asked as he entered the living room.
Natalia shrugged and said, "I need to talk to Clint," as she waltzed out of the room.
Steve tried not to look forlorn at Natalia's exit. He felt uncomfortable alone with James now that he knew his past, and the way he had treated him before.
"Had to fight off some wayward giants, no problem," he shrugged, faking a smile.
Bucky let out a laugh. "I'm sure." He squinted suddenly and looked closer at Steve. "Are you ok?" he asked.
"Fine," Steve said quickly, turning back to the fire. He adjusted some logs that didn't need attention.
"Ah!" He pulled his hand back quickly. Zoning out was not something to be done by an open flame.
Bucky settled his hand on Steve's shoulder. "Are you sure?" he asked, concern wrinkling his brow.
Steve nodded mutely, sucking on his burnt finger.
Bucky gently took Steve's hand, ignoring his startled protests. After a careful examination, he murmured, "I think you'll live."
Steve cleared his throat. "I've had worse," he said, trying to sound manly.
Bucky smirked and placed a feather-light kiss on the burn, before straightening and pulling Steve up. "Let's go see about dinner then, shall we, dear heart?"
Steve gave a shaky laugh. "Again with the 'dear heart'..." He let himself be led into the next room.
Bucky shot him a smirk as Clint questioned excitedly, "'Dear heart'?!"
Natalia shot Steve a look that clearly said 'I told you so.'
Steve stiffened. "It's not...!" He pulled his hand out of The Hatter's.
Bucky didn't look to bothered as he sidled next to Natalia and began to help her chop up vegetables for their dinner.
Steve went to help Clint, but cringed at the amount of blood that came with skinning a rabbit.
Clint hummed happily, ignoring the blood that came from the rabbit, though he paused as Steve sat beside him.
He sent him a sly look. "You and James?"
"No, not me and James," Steve whispered, glancing over his shoulder at the two chopping vegetables. Natalia was definitely smirking.
Clint chuckled. "Yes, you and James."
"Why ask if you had already decided for me?" Steve harrumphed.
"Cause you haven't figured it out yet," Clint pointed out wisely.
Steve put his head in his hands. "Is this how it went with you and Natalia?" he asked.
He nodded. "James pointed out I was in love with her before I had figured it out." He shrugged. "Thought I could return the favor."
"Thanks, but I honestly have known him a couple of hours," Steve found a mirror on the wall, perfect for not looking at rabbit and watching Natalia and James throw the leafy part of carrots at each other instead. "It must take longer than that to fall in love."
"Not if you're soul mates," Clint muttered under his breath.
"Oh god, you sound like Hamish," Steve groaned. "Natalia's got you good."
"Hey, I'll be the first to admit that Natalia is the love of my freakin' life and who's Hamish?"
"A kid I babysat for back in the village," Steve explained. "He's got a heart of gold, his mom died when he was young, so I look after him when his dad's away."
Clint nodded his understanding as Natalia cleared her throat and suddenly appeared behind them. "Clint and I are going to enjoy our time together."
Clint glanced up at her and scrambled to stand. "Yeah, we haven't seen each other in a while."
Natalia gave Bucky a pointed look. "We are going to have sex and you two are going to leave us alone." With that, she dragged Clint out of the room and slammed the door behind them.
Steve didn't move, a shocked expression stuck on his face. "Do they do that... often?"
Bucky didn't hide his 'grossed out' look. "Unfortunately, yes. Sometimes they don't even give me a warning before they're going at it. I think you're the only reason we got one."
"Glad I could be of some help," Steve said, getting to his feet awkwardly.
Bucky looked at him. "Where are you going?"
"Away from the rabbit," he said. "Need any help with the vegetables?"
He shrugged and offered Steve a knife. "Sure."
"Already trusting me with knives, I see," Steve grinned at his own joke.
"Dear heart, I could have you pinned in 1.6 seconds flat. I'm not worried about giving you a weapon."
Steve tried not to imagine himself pinned by and failed horribly. "I could take you on if I needed to," he answered, more to reassure himself.
No more than 1.6 seconds passed, after the words had left his mouth, before Steve found himself pinned under Bucky. He smirked at Steve's blush, "Still think so?"
Steve kicked his knee into one of James', destabilizing him enough to reverse their positions. "Yeah," he said, slightly out of breath and still red in the face.
Bucky shot Steve a wicked smile and asked, "what are you going to do, now that you've got me here?"
Steve froze. The knowledge of James' wife was still fresh in his brain. Beneath him, James was almost compliment. "I'll think of something," Steve assured him, his head dipping lower.
The sudden busting open of the front door made them jump apart.
When they looked up, they were greeted by the sight of a palace guard.
"Seriously?" Bucky complained. "You couldn't have waited 5 more minutes?"
If Steve's face had been red before, it was a burning torch now. There were grumbled complaints from Natalia and Clint's room before that door, too, was forcibly opened.
With ease and utter disregard that she was only in her underwear, Natalia kneed the intruding guard in the groin, before dispatching the others that had come swarming into the small cottage.
When she was done, she stood back and nodded to herself and smirked when she heard Clint whistle.
Bucky groaned and covered his eyes. "Put some plants on, Clint! We don't need to see that!"
"Gosh, Natalia's amazing," Steve said, scrambling to his feet. He toed a guard that had passed out near him.
"Wait," one slightly shell shocked, not knocked out guard (who had been hiding outside while Natalia had been kicking butt) peered inside the cottage at Steve. He pointed at him. "I know you, Steve Rogers!" He quickly raced away to his horse and yelled, "To find the kid he babysits! AWAY!"
Steve's face blanched. "Hamish?" He broke into a run, not bothering to grab his ax, sprinting after the horseman.
But the horseman was too far away.
Steve stumbled. It had been a futile chase from the start. The village was a few hours away on foot, even running wouldn't get him there in time.
Bucky quickly caught up to Steve and demanded, "What's going on?"
"They're after Hamish!" Steve yelled. Worry crawled inside him, making his voice hysterical. "The mirror," he remembered. "I have to warn him!"
Bucky frowned, but followed Steve back to the cottage, where he grabbed a hand mirror from his cloak.
"Show me Hamish!" Steve commanded. The mirror lit up to show the room he had seen Hamish in earlier that day, but it was empty. "Hamish," Steve groaned. "What have I told you about keeping your mirror with you!"
Bucky peered curiously over his shoulder. "Who's Hamish?"
"My reason for living," Steve said. He located his ax and pulled his arms through his coat.
"Natalia! Clint! Come on, we're going to help Steve save his reason for living!"
Steve paused. "You guys would do that?"
Bucky nodded as Natalia called, "Don't be an idiot, Steve. Of course we will."
Steve nodded, unable to speak.
"Well," Bucky clapped his shoulder and moved towards the door. "No time to waste, let's go!"
His father was due to return sometime today, so Hamish had taken a stroll out to meet him. The village was boring without Steve anyway. He couldn't wait until he was old enough to go out cutting wood with him.
Really, he could now, but Steve was such a rule follower.
Bucky hastened to keep on Steve's heals as he quickly moved through the forest towards the village.
Hamish first sensed something was wrong when he heard hoof falls. No one in the village was wealthy even for horses, not horses that were meant for speed, that is. Suddenly he was hoisted by his hood onto the saddle of a tall stallion.
Clint had disappeared into the trees a while ago, though his head suddenly appeared as he called out, "Hurry up! A kid is getting grabbed by some of the queen's goons."
Hamish lashed out at his assailant, but to no avail. After the first hit, there was a curse and Hamish's arms were yanked behind him.
The horse pivoted away from the village with a neigh and galloped down the path to the east.
Steve, Natalia, and Bucky's running picked up speed at the sight of Hamish being taken away by horse.
"Let go of me!" Hamish shouted. Farther down the road, an adventurer returning home heard his shouts and was immediately on offensive mode. Whoever was harassing his son was not getting away unscathed.
A sudden arrow was loosed from Clint's bow, pinning the kidnapper's sleeve to a tree.
The rider and Hamish tumbled off the horse. The rider clutched at his torn sleeve, deciding if Hamish was worth drawing any more blood. He took off blindly down the path, straight into adventurer John Watson.
Bucky shifted behind Steve and shoved him forward, propelling him to get to the very shaken Hamish.
Steve rushed to Hamish, who was on the ground, cringing at his injuries. The two embraced, Steve apologizing and Hamish scolding him, saying half-jokingly what a horrible role model Steve is.
Natalia and Bucky shared a sharp glance, both of them parting to make sure the area was secure. (And giving the others a chance to calm down)
A strong string a curse words became more apparent from the direction of the rider's departure.
Hamish looked up. "Papa?" he said.
At the moment, John was punching the crap out of the horseman, who looked like he was going to pass out.
John was not making any effort to avoid his nose and mouth.
"Papa," Hamish approached him hesitantly. "I think that's enough..."
Natalia easily separated the man, Hamish's father, from the horseman. At his protests, she snapped, "Attend to your son"
"Right!" He turned awkwardly, like a child caught stealing a second breakfast. "Hello, Hamish! This guy," he pointed to the horseman. "What a bastard, hm?"
"Papa!" Hamish tried to sound offended, failed horribly, and ran the his father's arms.
The horseman, trying to take advantage of the distraction, turned, ready to flee, only to be stopped by the landing of a large reddish-gold dragon.
The horseman shrieked, falling back on his arse.
Sherlock snorted, smoke billowing from his nostrils. "Dull."
"Papa," Hamish gasped. "A dragon...!"
John looked just as thrilled as his son. "In all my adventures," he trailed off.
"You keep strange company, Hatter. Though, I see Hansel and Red live still," Sherlock murmured, paying no mind to the now passed out horseman.
Natalia rolled her eyes. "A pleasure to see you as well, Lord Disdain."
"Speaking of disdain," John addressed Steve. "What the hell, Rogers?! I trust my kid with you for a few days and I have to come back and rescue him myself! If anything ever happened to my Hamish, I'd feed you live to a pit of Morten Earth Worms! That's a slow death, my friend."
Bucky shifted slightly and protested, "Excuse me sir, but this wasn't Steve's fault."
Sherlock snorted but otherwise remained silent.
"And why not?" John's face was creased, his fists still tight lingering protective instincts of his fight with the horseman.
Bucky huffed and rolled his eyes, coming to an abrupt decision. "He was trying to capture me after I threatened his life."
"That's not-" the ever-honest Steve injected.
Bucky stomped on Steve's foot, shutting him up. He could hear Clint's muffled laughter from the trees above them.
"I was turning him in," Steve agreed, stifling an intake of breath from the brief pain.
Sherlock snorted again, muttering, "If you caught him, it was only because he allowed it to be."
Hamish tugged on his father's sleeve. "The dragon talks...!" he whispered
"Of course I talk," he scoffed, though he did lower his tone slightly as he addressed the child.
"My name's Hamish!" he said, bounding forward. "Nice to meet you." He smiled, thrilled at meeting a REAL LIVE DRAGON.
"It is good to meet you, young Hamish," Sherlock answered, sounding amused.
Hamish looked absolutely giddy.
Bucky couldn't help but smile, remembering fondly the day his son had met Sherlock.
For all the ways Sherlock hated most people, he had a soft spot for children.
"Alriiiiiight!" Steve said. "Let's stick the blame on someone else. I mean question that guy!" He pointed at the unconscious rider.
Sherlock glanced at the man crumpled at his paws and snorted in disgust. "Idiot."
John nodded. Anyone who terrorized his son was definitely an idiot.
"Perhaps you should awaken him and ask what it is he wanted with your son?" Sherlock pointed out.
John squatted down next to the man, inspecting his eyes for signs of life. "I, uh, did a real number on him," John scratched his head, slightly embarrassed. The man wouldn't be conscious anytime soon.
Natalia regarded the horseman, a smirk on her face. "Nicely done," she praised.
"Thank you," John replied solemnly. He felt around the horseman's neck until he found a specific spot. A swift movement in his fingertips brought the man gasping back to consciousness.
"Who-what?" the horseman struggled to sit up, confused and dazed by his surroundings.
"Why did you kidnap my son?!" John yanked on the man's lapels, back in parent mode.
"I- the queen-" he stuttered, eyes darting back and forth.
"Telling me sooner than latter will improve your health," John confided.
"T-the queen ordered that anyone found associating with the Hatter must be punished to the fullest extent."
John dropped the rider. "Hatter?"
Bucky sighed and squinted up at the sky. "Of course," he muttered.
"Explain," said John.
Bucky frowned at him and began, "I don't know what you've heard about me-"
"All useless propaganda," John said dismissively.
Bucky nodded. "The queen hates me and wishes harm unto anyone who so much as breathes the same air as me. It is my fault for placing your son in harms way and I apologize. I would never have... spoken to Steve had I known that it would place a child in danger."
John's features softened at the Hatter's apology. "Steve is rather dashing. I'm sure you couldn't help it."
Bucky nodded solemnly, before turning slightly and introduced, "This is Natalia and her husband Clint is in the tree above our heads."
Steve was confused. Hamish giggled.
"A fair bunch of adventurers, I see," John assessed.
Natalia shrugged delicately. "I suppose."
"How about that?" John's eyes gleamed. He stepped purposefully on the cloak of the rider who had tried to secretly sneak away. The rider huffed and slumped back to the ground.
She glanced at the horseman. "What are we going to do with him?"
"Do dragons eat bad guys?" Hamish suggested.
He glanced up at Sherlock.
Sherlock snorted, sending smoke out of his nostrils. "I do not."
"Don't eat me!" the horseman squeaked. "The queen has a tracking charm on me, it'll get caught in your esophagus!"
With a growl, Sherlock spat, "I would not eat something as slimy as you."
"Slimy!" he was suddenly offended. "The queen values me as an esteemed member of her court. I was put on her most recent mission to detain-" he cut himself off.
Bucky spun and stalked closer to him. "Detain who?" he demanded.
The man pursed his lips, determined not to cower.
With a cruel smile, Bucky jerked forward and, with a flourish, revealed his magic hat. "I'm sure you've been told all about this," he gestured to the hat. "About how it can take you to places beyond your wildest dreams," he shot the horseman a wicked smile. "and your darkest nightmares."
His eyes widened in fear, but his resolve was unbroken. "My loyalty is to the queen!"
"And mine is to my family! That hag has taken so much from me and I demand to know what the queen wants!"
"Only to rid the kingdom of scum like you!" he shouted. "Imprisonment was too kind for the mechanic bastard."
Bucky recoiled. "Tony?!" he lunged forward, grabbing the startled horseman's collar. "What the hell have you done to him?"
The horseman laughed, cackle dry in his last act of defiance. "He won't be making anything where we've got 'im. Those blasted machines aren't natural. He's a disgrace." With that, the horseman made a strange movement with his jaw and died with white froth on his lips. Hamish gasped.
Bucky shoved him away, disgust written on his face. "Cyanide."
"What do we do?" Steve asked.
"Banner," Bucky said suddenly, sitting up. "We'll go to Banner. Hamish will be safe there. Then we-" he looked to Natalia. "go and find Tony."
Natalia nodded as Clint suddenly dropped from above to stand beside her. "We need to hurry," he said. "It'll be dark soon."
"I know a safe route through the woods," Steve said helpfully. "Wouldn't want to run into anymore guards."
Bucky nodded and stood. "Let's go then." He glanced up at Sherlock, who still looked incredibly bored. "Are you coming?"
Sherlock let out a billow of smoke and said slowly, "I shall meet you at the scientist's home." With that, he stood and flew away