The Winter Soldier ran. He had the main target of his mission over his shoulder, sprinting towards a waiting helicopter. Yes, he hadn't killed the Captain, but, for some reason known only to his superiors, she took top priority.

"Bring her back alive," they said, "Do this before all else." As usual, he had nodded and gone off to complete his mission. He didn't really remember what he had done before working for HYDRA, which was slightly disconcerting, but no matter. It was his job, his duty, to finish this mission.

As the back of his neck began to tingle, he turned around to see the rapidly approaching figure of Iron Man.

"I wouldn't do that, buddy," came a mechanical voice from the red and gold suit, "Leave the girl behind, and I won't pummel you too much." Smiling from underneath his mask, the Winter Soldier casually tossed her on the ground, triggering screams of pain as she was jerked out of unconsciousness.

"Tony?"

"Gimme a sec, Sabs."

Sabs? That was...familiar. Sabs. His thoughts were interrupted as a ray of energy shot towards his face. Quickly sidestepping, he scooped up a stray gun off the ground and began firing to no avail. The bullets harmlessly bounced off of the armor, reflecting directly at him. Grinning, the Winter Soldier shot out his metal hand, swinging Iron Man onto the concrete, getting a burn on his arm in the process. Tony laughed, then shot his repulsors at him, just singing his skin as he jumped away.

"Stop," moaned the girl-the girl. Sabrina. It was Sabrina. Brina. Sab. Sabs. Realization struck the Winter Soldier, freezing him in place. Iron Man quickly took this opportunity to punch him in the face, knocking him back a few steps.

"Bucky…" He noticed the bone in her skin, the blood soaking her shirt, her pale face, and the tears. Had he really done this? To his Sabrina? "Please stop," she cried softly, "Please." All memory of the enemy behind him faded away as he locked gazes with her.

This was too much. So much confusion and pain. It overwhelmed his senses, threatening to break down the mental barriers that HYDRA had so painstakingly constructed. He convulsed, dropping to his knees. Memories began flooding back as he clutched his head in his hands, hearing her cry out as she pulled herself away from him.

She hated him, he could tell. He could see the fear in her eyes, pupils tiny as she scuttled back, blood mingling with her tears. He saw the anger, the disgust, and the sorrow. All directed right towards him. He had failed. Not just his mission, but he had failed her: Sabs. His Sabs.

And he ran. Not to the helicopter, or the armored cars waiting for him to take him back to HYDRA. He escaped, hiding in the shadows, running to a safe house. Far away. He looked back. Paused, waiting for something, he didn't know what. And ran.

"Brina, shhh, come here," murmured Tony, surprisingly gently. The tears fell faster as she remembered Bucky's eyes: hurt and confused. "We're going home."

But he was lying. Home was with Bucky, in her apartment where he could live in peace, in hiding from HYDRA.

A sinking feeling weighed down her heart as she realized Bucky didn't love her anymore. It was a simple fact that crushed her soul and heart and life. He was gone, he had run away from her and everything they once had. So she turned towards Tony and nodded.

Sabrina awoke in a hospital bed, covered in sterile, white sheets and IV supplies.

"Feeling better, Brina?" came a voice from her right. Painfully, she turned her head, locking eyes with a concerned Bruce.

"Bruce was just bawling when he saw you, Brina," smirked Tony, lounging in another corner of the room. Bruce shot him a look, forcing Tony to change his story, "He went all Hulk and destroyed everything."

"I didn't mean to," he replied softly, a look of remorse flooding his features.

"You done good," replied Tony, winking.

"Thanks, guys."

"84% of that thanks is directed towards me. FYI."

"Actually…" started Bruce.

"No. I'm right. Anyway, I'm gonna go get some blueberries. I've spent enough time in this godforsaken room to last for the rest of my life. Adios, suckers," he added, strutting out of the room.

"Tony was really worried. He stayed here with me last night."

"That's new. The great Tony felts some emotion?" Bruce's face turned serious.

"Ever since Pepper left, he's been more...scared. But I don't know. Maybe he was drunk."

"I feel so loved, Brucie."

"Sorry."

"Ah, you can leave if you want. I'm just gonna be sleeping."

"I might grab a bite to eat now. Just scream if you need the Other Guy."

"I'll make sure I do. But go have fun, Bruce. You deserve it." He grinned bashfully and squeezed her hand before leaving the room, making sure to lock the door behind him.

Sighing, Sabrina looked wistfully out the window before closing her eyes.

Bucky climbed silently, concentrating on each position of his hands and feet. Climbing up this tower was harder than he had expected. Finally, he reached the floor he had spotted Sabrina in through his binoculars. Gently pushing the window open, he lithely leapt through the space, landing softly on the white ground.

There she was, lying peacefully on the bed, hair splayed above her head. Moving towards her, Bucky tucked a stray strand of chocolate hair behind her ear. Her deep blue eyes were closed, chest rhythmically moving up and down as he sat next to her prone body. He slowly picked up one of her hands, running a gentle finger across the cuts and burns that marred the smooth skin. Bucky laced his rough fingers with her tiny ones, feeling them lock perfectly into place. Unconsciously, her hand tightened around his, pressing into his skin. Taking her face into his metal hand, he watched her sigh as his thumb stroked her cheek, her leaning into him.

Hearing footsteps down the hall, Bucky swiftly stood up and detached himself from her, sliding under the bed.

Tony strutted in, carrying a cup of iced tea. Shooting a quick look at Sabrina to see if she was awake, he set his glass down on the table next to her bed and crouched next to her.

"Hey, Brina," he murmured, running a finger down her cheek. She stirred, but remained sleeping. Bucky felt his hands clench into fists. "Sorry I screwed up. Promise it won't happen again. My bad. Again," he added, more softly. Leaning his forehead against the blankets, he closed his eyes, taking hold of her hand.

After a few minutes, Bucky slid out from under the bed, standing above Sabrina, who was fast asleep, and Tony, who was slowly worming his way to lie next to her. Face contorting, his metal arm moved unconsciously towards Tony, but stopped as the man opened his eyes.

"You fucked her over pretty badly, buddy." Bucky's gaze flickered from Tony's tight face to Sabrina's calm one. "She doesn't deserve to be hurt ever again. Do you even know her? Has she ever talked to you about her childhood? About her parents? No. Because it hurts. And she's been hurting her whole life, and here you come along, the guy she unfortunately fell in love with," he rolled his eyes and waved a hand in the air, "And you go and hurt her. You hurt her inside and outside. And you left before picking up the pieces."

Bucky felt his throat constrict. He didn't deserve her. His precious Sabrina, lying alone and broken. His fault.

"You're right." Tony looked surprised, but said nothing. "I don't, didn't, deserve her."

"But the question is: what are you going to do now? Leave her like this? Run away again?"

He winced. That had been his original plan. Get out and let time heal her wounds. Glaring, he said nothing. "So, Bucky, Winter Soldier, whoever you are, I think you should leave her alone."

Bucky considered this. Stay, and potentially hurt her, or leave and spare her the pain? If he stayed, he could accidentally injure her, and HYDRA was probably looking for him, so that would put her in even more danger. But this was Sabrina. His Sabs. He had spent three years of his life with her, lying low and finding solace in her apartment. Then again, did he want to set HYDRA on her? "How's it going, Frosty?"

He shot Stark a look, then picked him up by the shoulders, depositing him outside the door. While Tony pounded on the door, yelling empty threats, Bucky jammed the lock and knelt next to Sabrina.

"Sabs?" She blinked awake, focusing on him, then automatically jerked away.

"N-no-"

"Shhh, it's alright, Sabs, I'm, I'm leaving." Confusion flitted across her features before realization took over.

"You don't-don't have to-to," she stuttered, morphine making her stumble over her words, "Don't go a-again."

"It's alright, just for a bit. I'll come back," he lied, forcing a smile onto his face, "I always do." He could tell she didn't believe him at all as she reached a shaking hand to caress his leathery cheek.

"Please." Oh, fuck, he thought, How am I supposed to leave like this? "I don't want y-you to go," she sobbed, tears starting to fall. This has to stop.

Leaning down, he pressed a deep kiss to her lips as her hands trembled, knotting themselves in his hair. After a few long seconds, he pulled back as she scrabbled at his shoulders. "Please, please, n-no Bucky, p-please-"

"I'm coming back," he murmured, voice cracking, "Always, Sabs."

"Always?"

"Always." She blinked, wiping away the tears, as he slid out the window. Perching on the deck, Bucky unfurled his mechanical wings he had stolen from that bird guy with Captain America and jumped.