Steve knew he didn't want to see just how far Hydra had taken this project. He knew they were sick and twisted enough already. The situation at hand however did not give him an option to turn a blind eye (as if he would anyways).
He stepped to the window of the cell. The scruffy haired figure curled up in the corner didn't catch his eye until the head snapped up facing his partner. Bucky removed his weapons clearly in front of them, and crouched.
The enhanced hearing of his picked up Bucky talking to them in a gentle tone. His words were reassuring, as if coaxing a scared animal. The blond wanted to see the situation in full, but remained grounded at the glass. Fear was a delicate thing, especially after captivity and who knows what else.
It took about ten minutes of Bucky quietly promising he would help the subject, that everything would be alright, that Hydra wasn't going to do anything to them anymore. Even with enhanced hearing, Steve didn't hear a single response but small breaths.
Bucky held out his flesh hand, the other taking it to stand up. Steve stiffened. On the other side of the glass was a child. Hydra actually had a child locked up. The poor kid was small, gaunt even. The grey cotton shirt and sweatpants he had hung from his body loosely. His fingers were long and boney. The way his skin hugged tightly to his clavicle showed too much bone.
The harsh light of the room did nothing to make the boy seem healthy. The complexion was frightfully pale and littered with bruises, both old and new. The freshest one was a deep purple welt over his cheek, causing the kid to squint through that side's eye. There were a couple more dark marks across his forehead from what Steve could see through long unkempt bangs.
His eyes were also dark, jet black. While they looked sunken and tired, they remained fixated on Bucky who was leading him out of the room. They quickly moved to Steve once he was in sight.
The boy didn't say anything. There was a tense clench in his jaw, and his posture swayed into a more defensive one. It was a subtle movement. He was guarded even while he kept eye contact with Steve. The man was surprised by just how well the boy maintained eye contact, having expected him to most likely shy behind Bucky or the door.
"Hello. I'm Steve." He quietly spoke to the boy. "We're going to help you. Ready to get out of here?" The dark eyes blinked at him for a moment. Behind his bangs his brows furrowed ever so slightly before giving a slight nod.
"Alright team, let's get moving out of here." He announced before the three of them hurried up stairs.
"Sweet, we can blow this popsicle stand. Banner, want to get those stretchy boxers of yours on?" Tony responded, eager to get back to the compound away from crazy men with guns. This was supposed to be a day off!
The doctor's only response was a sigh and an unseen eye roll.
None of them didn't really know what to expect their find would be. A stack of paper files, samples of the drug maybe?
It was probably a good idea Bruce had exited the jet to Hulk out as the destroy phase of the "search and destroy." Because everyone's attention went to the child Bucky was now carrying as Steve used the shield to keep bullets off of them. Thor paused to take in the sight, the Hulk did too when barging in loudly. Though the others did more of a double take.
None of them really needed the full story to feel anger tightening their chests. A child in the hands of Hydra was already terrible.
Natasha hurried to the jet a moment after, preparing the getaway. Hawkeye shot off any threat to the two soldiers, providing cover for the others.
Meanwhile, the Hulk was properly pissed and indiscriminately wrecking the place. Thor joined with violent lightning flashing through the air.
The team gathered in the jet, giving the green monster a moment more of destruction before letting out a deafening roar and returning to the others.
With the team in the air, Natasha took the liberty of landing the final blow, sending missiles into the rubble. Then the team was on their way home.