Ummm Yeah so next chapter! I hope you're enjoying this so far. It's kinda my big project at the moment. End game is to rewrite all the films but I'm not sure whether that'll happen. It's an excuse for me to really explore all the characters. It wasn't supposed to be such a slow burn fic though... but yeah. Enjoy!


No one was really paying attention as Steve led Bucky's small group of friends to the edge of the camp with Peggy by his side. Steve was stoically discussing the beginnings of a rescue plan with Peggy. There were trying to pin down the strengths and weaknesses within their mismatch group of soldiers. So far Steve's plan was to go in all guns blazing, much to Peggy's dismay. Bucky chuckled under his breath and rolled his eyes. Steve never changed, even with the super serum he always tried to take on battles that were bigger than him. Dum Dum gave him a questioning look and Bucky remembered the others couldn't hear what Steve and Peggy were saying upfront. He'd forgotten to mention about the enhanced hearing he'd been blessed with as a result of Zola's special treatment.

"Hey Steve!" He yelled to the blond who turned around to face him with a smile. "I don't think you're wearing enough protective gear." Peggy mouthed a 'thank you' in his direction and he gave her a quick wink.

Steve on the other hand just smiled back mischievously. "Last night you said I was wearing too much." The group all groaned and rolled their eyes. Jones covered his ears with his hands and started singing.

"Will you two stop flirting for just one minute?" Dum Dum muttered with a tired laugh.

Bucky grinned, he knew they were happy for him really, after all he'd been telling them about his Steve since they'd been shipped out to England. They were just a little put out that Bucky had his partner with him whilst theirs were all back at home. Steve smiled widely, clearly in a good mood despite the danger and the upcoming mission.

"Sergeant Dugan is right." Peggy said with a steely glare at the two of them as they brushed their fingers together, not quite holding hands but close enough "We need to make a plan. Erskine is deep within Hydra territory Steve."

"And you need a helmet at least!" Bucky chimed in, as beautiful as Steve's blond hair was, he would prefer it if Steve's head didn't get riddled with bullets.

Steve rolled his eyes and clapped him on the back with a strong hand. "Stop worrying about me. I heal fast." He laughed, his hand lingering on Bucky's shoulder a little longer than it should have.

"Stop worrying, stop worrying" Bucky flailed his arms in disbelief. "Steve our entire relationship was founded on me worrying about you!" How on earth did this mad man expect him to stop worrying? If it wasn't pulling Steve out of back alley fights, it was spending hours by his bedside praying he would wake up before he had to call the priest. Bucky could barely remember his life before Steve and he was pretty sure that most of his time with Steve was spent making sure he didn't get his dumbass killed.

"I saved your sister." Steve stated calmly with a smirk. Bucky rolled his eyes, Steve had been using that against him for seven years already and he had a feeling that Steve would never give it up.

"You used yourself as bait" Bucky cried in despair. The other men were looking at them strangely, trying to work out the odd dynamic that their relationship had. They'd heard of Captain America, America's hero and Nazi killer, they'd seen a part of the show with Steve performing in tights and knocking out Hitler but they had never really met the sarcastic little shit from Brooklyn that was Steve Rogers in all his Irish, skinny ass glory.

"Great plan Bucky. Jones!" Steve patted Gabe on the back and the smaller man looked up at him with suspicious eyes.

"Yes Sir?"

"Grab me one of the girls helmets from backstage." Gabe nodded and ran back to the tent where the show girls kept all they props from the USO tour. "Morita?"

"Captain?" Jim said with a cheerful salute. Bucky could hear the unsaid 'Spangles' in his friend's voice.

"Make sure Jones doesn't get distracted by the girls -" They all laughed at that and Morita sprinted off to catch up with Gabe. "-There. Plan and a helmet. Lets go." Steve stalked off out front with the rest of the team in tow. Bucky trotted to catch up so they were walking side by side, he shared a look with Peggy as they both wondered how they were going to stop Steve from doing something unbelievably stupid.

"How are you planning to get deep into enemy territory? We can't exactly steal a tank?" Bucky pushed, desperately trying to get Steve to think this through. He wanted to save this Doctor guy as much as Steve and lord knows he wanted a shot at Arnim Zola but he'd already lost too many men to Hydra. He really didn't want to lose anymore.

"We'll walk." Steve replied as if walking miles into Austrian Hydra territory was as easy as taking a trip to Coney Island.

"It's miles!" Bucky cried. He wondered what it would take to knock some sense into Steve. Clearly the super soldier serum that had done wonders for his body had had no effect on his self preservation, if anything it had made it worse. He recalled Steve telling him that the Serum enhanced everything, that's why Eskine had chosen Steve over the other soldiers. Steve was a good man at the very centre of his heart and the serum would only bring that out more. Finally the rest of the world could see in Steve what Bucky had always known was there.

"I could get us a ride." Peggy added thoughtfully. "I do know the best civilian pilot the US has to offer." Steve smiled fondly down at her. Bucky couldn't believe it. Peggy was betraying him! How was he supposed to keep Steve safe if she just offered a plane ride right at him.

"Call em in." Peggy nodded and began to make her way back to base so she could call in her friend. "We'll walk in the meantime. Get far enough away from camp that no one will notice us then your ride will pick us up."

"Who is it Carter?" Falsworth called and she spun round on her heels to answer with a smile. Bucky pondered how she managed to wear those things without getting stuck in the mud. The girl did not get enough credit.

"Howard Stark." She called back and Bucky's brain went into overdrive.

"Stark? Howard Stark?! Like flying cars and science genius!" Bucky couldn't believe it.

He was going to meet Howard Stark. He thought back to his science magazine collection back in Brooklyn. Steve had never understood his fascination with the genius that was Howard Stark but he was in total awe of the man. His weapons were state of the art, powerful and sleek, he was constantly changing the way the world viewed technology and energy. Stark Industries pretty much owned America, all car engines were Stark's, the radio broadcasts used Stark technology to make the sound clearer, even the docks used machinery branded by Stark. Bucky poured over the magazines, the man was discovered new atoms almost every year and his work with electromagnets was just amazing and now Bucky was going to get a chance to meet him.

"Yes James… that's the one" Peggy said curiously and Steve rolled his eyes at his obviously excitement.

"Aww man I gotta get his autograph" Bucky whispered in wonder. Peggy laughed and said something about not needing to feed Howard's ego.

"You didn't ask for my autograph?" Steve pouted.

Bucky laughed and put his arm around Steve's shoulder and ruffled his hair. "I've wiped snot off your nose… I think we're passed autographs."

"Bucky!" Steve whined as he flushed a beautiful red colour in embarrassment

"What?" Bucky smiled innocently and quickly placed a kiss on Steve's hair.

"You're such a jerk." Steve mumbled but leaned into Bucky anyway.

Bucky laughed and pushed his friend away teasingly. "You're such a punk, don't see me complaining."


Stark's plane was not a big one, it certainly wasn't big enough for Captain America, six fully grown soliders, Peggy Carter and a pilot. So they were all huddled close together with their knees up to their chests as they went through the final touches to the plan Steve had reluctantly put together. Bucky was half convinced his best friend was being stubborn on purpose, surely Steve knew they needed to think this through. They weren't in Brooklyn anymore, this was war. Steve had split the team into three groups, it had been decided that if they were breaking into a Hydra Facility then they at least needed to gather some intel so they wouldn't be totally in the shit when they got back to base. Bucky was slightly nervous that the Colonel was gonna shoot every single one of them if they managed to return from this mission. Hopefully the Colonel wouldn't be dumb enough to shoot Senator Brandt's new poster boy for America, the rest of them probably didn't stand a chance.

"Doctor Erskine was last seen being pushed into a Hydra vehicle just outside of Krausberg." Peggy was saying to the rest of the group. Bucky felt his heart sink and the colour faded from his face. No one had mentioned that they were going back to the same factory they had just escaped. "We're not sure but intelligence sources indicates he's being held in the same factory as the 107th" Peggy had the decency to look apologetic and the rest of the soldiers groaned.

"Krausberg…" Bucky whispered and Steve grabbed his hand, stroking circles with this thumb. Bucky looked up and smiled weakly. Steve's ocean blue eyes were gazing at him sadly and Bucky desperately wanted to reach up and kiss him to let him know he was gonna be alright but he didn't quite trust Stark enough. Peggy had said he could be trusted with their secret but Bucky, as much as he idolised him, wasn't sure. They barely knew the man apart from that he helped turn Steve into a weapon for the US Government.

"We should be able to drop you right on the doorstep." Stark called from the pilot's chair at the front of the plane.

"No offence Stark but we just got off that doorstep." Dugan yelled back over the noise of the engine. The rest of the soldiers muttered in agreement. The thought of going back to where they had only just escaped was not a pleasant one.

"Nobody has to leave this plane if they don't want to" Steve told the group, even now he was giving them a way out. He was also so damn noble. The sky outside turned into a firework show as the Germans noticed the foreign plane in their air space. Howard only just managed to dodge a missile and they all instinctively ducked for cover. "Just get me as close as you can!" Steve yelled at Stark before turning to Agent Carter. "You know, you are all gonna be in a lot of trouble at the lab."

"And you won't?" Peggy raised a sculpted eyebrow up at his blond idiot. Steve tilted his head and grinned.

"Where I'm going, if anybody yells at me I can just shoot em" Bucky wanted to grab the idiot and drag his ass back to Brooklyn. How did they end up on a tiny plane in Europe about to go on a suicide mission?

"They will undoubtedly shoot back" Peggy responded and Steve had the audacity to laugh.

"Well, let's hope it's good for something" Steve lifted his shield and gave her a wink. Bucky's heart was racing. The damn idiot thought he could deflect bullets with a fucking theatre prop. He wasn't even wearing any armour. He was going to get himself killed. Bucky struggled to catch his breath as another missile narrowly avoided the plane. In an instant Bucky found himself back in the lab, Zola's shadow looming over him and a long needle glinting in the darkness. "Buck? You alright?" Bucky blinked and tried to focus on Steve's voice. He realised he had the blond's hand in a death grip but Steve didn't seem to care.

"Krausberg" He whispered weakly.

"Yeah… I know." Steve replied softly. "You can stay on the plane" Bucky shook his head. That wasn't an option and Steve knew it.

"The hell I can. I'm coming with you. I'm with you til the end of the line, pal." Steve smiled softly and gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. Bucky nodded and gave his friend a weak smile. He could do this, with Steve by his side he could do anything.

"Agent Carter, if we're not in too much of a hurry I thought we could stop off in Lucerne for a late night fondue." Stark called breaking the tension in the air. Steve's brow furrowed and opened his mouth to say something but Dum Dum beat him to it.

"He's the best civilian? That guy?" They all laughed. Bucky adored Howard as a scientist but had taken them all about ten seconds to realised the man was an arsehole; a great man but not always a good one.

"He's mad enough to brave this airspace, we're lucky to have him." Peggy said matter-of-factly and Howard gave them all a quick salute and cheeky grin. Bucky wondered what exactly he saw in the crazy man, then he remembered he seemed to have a thing for reckless idiots. He was never going to get out of this war alive.

"So are you two…? Do you…? Fondue?" Steve asked hesitantly and everyone stared at him. Bucky was barely able to hold in a laugh. Steve had been poorer than he was but surely he knew fondue was cheese? Did he think Stark was propositioning Agent Carter in the middle of a mission. Steve blushed as he noticed everyone's stares "What?" Bucky brought Steve's hand to his lips and pressed a quick kiss to his gloved hand.

"I'll explain later punk." He whispered in Steve's ear which only made Steve blush more.

"This is your transponder." Peggy handed Steve a device, ignoring his strange fondue comment. "Activate it when you're ready and the signal will lead us straight to you."

"Are you sure this thing works?" Steve asked and Howard rolled his eyes.

"It's been tested more than you, pal." Steve sighed and they all laughed.

The mad genius had a point. No one was really sure what effects the serum would have on Steve in an actual battle environment. So far the most he'd had to do was lift up and few girls on a motorbike. It wasn't exactly the same as taking on Hydra agents in enemy territory and who knows how much success Zola had had with his own version of the serum since Bucky had escaped from the factory. Bucky wondered how many people Zola had experimented on before him, how many survived? Had he been the only one whose body hadn't given out under the extreme chemical torture? Would he have survived if the dark stranger hadn't saved him? A voice in the back of his mind told him that this would be a very different rescue mission if he hadn't been freed. He had a vision of Steve sat in this small plane all on his own, not knowing whether Bucky was dead or alive, never having kissed him. He saw Steve storming the Hydra factory all by himself trying to find him. Would he have found him? Bucky had been kept apart from the other men, if he'd found the others without him would Steve have assumed he was dead?

"Get back here! We're taking you all the way in." Peggy's voice interrupted his thoughts. Steve was in the doorway of the plane pulling a parachute over his shoulders, watching the gunfire in the sky.

"As soon as I'm free, you turn this thing around and get the hell outta here!" Steve yelled back. Oh no. Bucky thought. He recognised that look in Steve's eyes. It was the same look he had just before he did something stupid. Bucky scrambled to find his own parachute.

"You can't give me orders!" Peggy said firmly but Steve just grinned. Don't you fucking dare Steven Grant Rogers…

"The hell I can't! I'm a Captain!" And he jumped, falling backwards out of the plane with a salute.

"STEVE!" Bucky launched out after him without thinking. He was going to kill the blond idiot himself once they reached the ground.


Bucky had opened his parachute too late. He'd known it when he pulled the strap, the ground was approaching too fast but with gunfire in the air it had been safer to hit the ground hard than spend anymore time floating to the ground. Plus Steve had barely pulled his parachute strap and Bucky was determined not to be outdone by a scrappy kid from Brooklyn so he waited until the last possible moment. Bucky was regretting that decision now. He was pretty sure he'd fractured at least one of the bones in his legs and his knees were screaming in pain. He sat in the dirt and watched the others land safely next to them, expertly guiding their parachutes into the gap in the trees. Steve, looking like a blond God, walked over to him and helped him to his feet, a strong hand grasped around his arm. Bucky hissed in pain as he took a few hesitant steps forward.

"Fucking hell…" Bucky cussed under his breath as he dusted himself off. Thankfully he could already feel his body healing itself. He guessed he could thank Zola for that.

"Everyone ok?" Steve's eyes met his in concern. Even now a smirk danced across his face, damn idiot was enjoying this.

"No thanks to you." Bucky muttered.

"The rest of us had the brains to wait til Stark brought the plane in lower." Dugan laughed at him as he folded his parachute back into his backpack.

"But not Sarge." Jones chirped with a stupid grin.

"Jumped straight after you." Morita added. Bucky was starting to feel decidedly ganged up on. Weren't these men supposed to be his friends first?

"Barely had time to grab his parachute." Falsworth joined in the hate on Bucky brigade.

"Shut up." Bucky muttered and kicked dirt at his friends. It was childish but it made him feel better.

"You're an idiot Sarge." Dum Dum rolled his eyes at him.

"He's my idiot." Steve smirked and gave him a quick nudge. Bucky did not blush, he was a soldier and deadly sniper and snipers do not blush. "Everyone remember their orders?"

"Aye aye Captain!" The troop all yelled in unison and Bucky couldn't help but laugh. How had Steve managed to unite such a crazy misfit group of soldiers on a mission to find one man?

"Me and Jones are in charge of weapons, get as much as we can then get to the rendezvous point." Dugan reported with ease as he inspected his gun.

"Good. Falsworth?" Steve, no, Captain America pointed to the Englishman.

"Dernier and I are looking for intel, any Hydra plans, schematics, locations of bases. Then meet at the rendezvous." Falsworth rattled off easily.

Cap nodded. "Good. Morita, Barnes and I are going after Erskine. Jim's got us all linked up on radios with the help of Stark. You're gonna talk to each other every step of the way. You need help. shout. We've got each others backs. Now break. Good luck Soldiers." The four other men ran off towards the factory leaving Bucky, Jim and Steve. Bucky stared at his lover in awe. He'd always known Steve was incredible but watching him take command with such ease had been beautiful.

"When did you get a chance to practise that?" Bucky bumped into Steve playfully.

"I didn't." Steve ran his fingers through his hair with an awkward lopsided smile. Bucky laughed in wonder. How did this man go from magnificent army Captain to awkward shy Brooklyn idiot in seconds.

"But you're not a soldier." Bucky couldn't help but wonder how Steve had managed to rally the men without an ounce of leadership training.

Steve smirked and Bucky saw Captain America's persona fall back over his friend's features ."I've knocked out Adolf Hitler over two hundred times."

Bucky was doomed.


Steve tried to ignore his pounding heart. He had expected old factory to be more abandoned following the rescue of the 107th but Hydra had regrown in the old building. The place was crawling with agents, none of whom were happy to see America's new national icon. He prayed that the rest of the team were holding out alright. He wasn't sure he could live with himself if the ended up getting recaptured breaking into the same place they'd only just managed to escape with the help of the tall handsome stranger.

He was grateful for the shield Jones had grabbed from backstage. It felt right in his hands and made a very effective weapon when combined with his new found strength. Steve left a trail of broken-nosed bloody Hydra agents behind him and any that didn't get instantly knocked out Bucky would shoot through the head with deadly precision. Steve tried not to look in Bucky's eyes after he made the shot. His winter blue irises were cold like steel and not full of warmth like they should be. Steve realised in that moment how much the war had already affected the young charming man he'd met in the back alley in Brooklyn.

Bucky directed him through the maze of corridors as Dum Dum and Falsworth kept them updated on their progress. They were a little beaten up but there were no casualties so far and Dum Dum had apparently hit the jackpot on Hydra's weapons. Eventually, Steve entered a small concrete room. It was dark and the thick scent of blood hit Steve like a tidal wave. He struggled to stop the nausea from overcoming him. Bucky had been here, in this room. There was a small table in the corner filled with strange looking metal instruments and needles. He glanced at Bucky who had gone very pale but showed no sign of backing down.

"Steven?" Doctor Erskine was lying on the gurney, held down by leather straps. The remains of a metal cuff lay broken on the floor. Steve ran over to the older man and pulled off the straps with ease.

"Hello Doctor. Sorry I'm late." He pulled the man to his feet and Erskine threw his arms around Steve's broad shoulder to help support him.

"You shouldn't be here Steven. The serum." Erskine's voice was weak and Steve felt rage pulse through him. He wanted to hurt the people who had hurt the man who had saved his life.

"I couldn't leave you. Come on. We gotta get out of here." They stumbled out of the makeshift lab.

"Schmidt!" Erskine cried desperately. Steve took a deep breath, he had not been expecting to encounter the Doctor's failed attempt at the Serum. He hoped that he'd be able to hold the other man off in a fight, he'd relied so far on being stronger than his opponent but he knew that wouldn't be an option against Johann Schmidt.

"We'll handle it. Come on!" Steve hoped he sounded more confident than he felt.

They walked together towards the exit with Morita and Bucky guarding their backs. Steve hoped they gotten rid of most the Hydra goons on the way in but so far there was no sign of Johann or Zola. They were stumbling up metal stairs when he saw them. The heat of the fire caused by the collapsing building burned against his skin and he could feel the beads of sweat dripping down his face.

"Captain America! How exciting! I'm a great fan of your films." A tall stern looking man with a thick German accent called across the room, a large crevice stood between them from where the floor had fallen through.

"Schmidt!" Steve called out. Jim took Erskine's weight from Steve and he ran towards the other super soldier, the metal platform creaked under their combined weight.

"Zola" Bucky growled from behind him and vaulted easily across the room to chase after the mousy looking scientist that was making a break for it.

"So you managed it after all, Doctor." Schmidt smirked as he took in Steve's appearance. "Not exactly an improvement, but still impressive."

"You've got no idea." Steve threw a punch at the man but it was easily blocked. Steve stumbled backwards, not used to being met with equal force.

"Haven't I?" Schmidt, to Steve's disgust, pulled at the flesh of his neck. Steve realised he was wearing a mask, a very convincing one, as Schmidt proceeded to pull of the skin of his face; revealing a grotesque shining red skeleton behind. "No matter what lies Erskine told you, you see I was his greatest success!"

"You don't have one of those, do you?" Bucky called from where he trying to get to Zola who was shooting at him from the stairs.

"You are deluded, Captain. You pretend to be a simple soldier, but in reality you are just afraid to admit that we have left humanity behind." Schmidt started backing away from Steve as Zola managed to slip away from Bucky. Bucky roared in frustration as he lunged, unsuccessfully, at the Swiss scientist. "Unlike you, I embrace it proudly. Without fear!" Steve grimaced as Schmidt ran after Zola and towards the exit. The building shuddered around them, debris falling from the ceiling.

"Then how come you're running?" Steve yelled after Schmidt's retreating figure.

"Steven, the building…" Erskine called from where he was sheltering with Jim.

"Captain Spangles, Doctor's right." Jim nodded in agreement as Steve blocked some falling debris with his shield. "The building is about to blow. We gotta get out of here." He added.

"Bucky?" Steve called after his friend who was punching the stairs where Zola and Schmidt had disappear on the other side of the crevice.

"The fucker got away, but I got a tracker in his suit." Bucky growled as he clung onto the metal staircase.

"A tracker?" Steve raised his eyebrow, trying to picture what Bucky meant by that.

"Stark, explain later. Get your cute ass over here." Steve laughed as Jim groaned behind them. Apparently even in a life and death situation Bucky Barnes had time to flirt.

"Ok. One at a time, Doctor Erskine. Do you think you can climb?"

Erskine nodded and assessed the beam in front of him. He looked warily over the edge and frowned. "I'll be fine Steven." Steve wasn't convinced but they didn't have much choice. Hopefully Bucky would be able to help from the other side.

"Bucky, support the beam your end." Bucky nodded and leapt down to the edge of the gap. He held the metal beam firmly in his hands and his blue eyes met Steve's "Doctor first, Jim you'll go next."

Silence fell between them as Erskine made he way across the beam. His almost stumbled a couple of times and Steve held his breath in anticipation. The only sound was the rumble of the building falling around them and the roar of the flames. No one dared to move as the doctor edged closer towards Bucky. As he got near the edge Bucky reached out his hand and pulled the Doctor onto the solid ground. Jim took a deep breath and began his journey. Steve was more confident as Jim shuffled across, he was steadier on his feet and less hesitant. Still Steve wouldn't feel completely happy until they were all back to base with the serum safe from Hydras hands. The beam creaked under Jim's weight as the whole building shook. A large chunk of ceiling fell on the beam and Jim leapt for his life, barely landing on the ledge as the beam fell into the pit below and the flames engulfed it. Bucky cried in despair as the watched Steve's only form of escape disappear. Steve's heart sank, they'd made it so far. How had he thought he was ever good enough to be a soldier? Serum or no serum he was still just a kid from Brooklyn who never knew how to run away from a fight.

"No!" Bucky screamed and frantically started looking around them. "Gotta be a rope or something!" Steve shook his head and tried to memorise Bucky's face.

"Just go! Get out of here!" He yelled. Bucky couldn't die here with him. Bucky had to survive.

If he was going to die in this hell hole he wanted to at least die with Bucky's perfectly sculpted face in his mind. He wanted to remember the exact colour of his eyes, piercing blue like the colour of the winter sky that were always full of so much emotion. Bucky's eyes that could tell a story better than a thousand words or a whole library full of books. Bucky's lips that he had finally kissed, that had explored his body with such hunger, that uttered his name with reverence and adoration, that were warm and soft against his when they both struggled to catch a breath. Bucky's hair that was soft and smelt like cigarettes and moss, that shone bronze when the summer sun hit it, that eliciting such delightful moans of pleasure when Steve tugged at the strands when they kissed. Bucky's body strong and toned, that pressed up against his with desperation, the feel of Bucky's skin against his as they tried to express a lifetime of suppressed feelings.

Bucky, as always, was looking out for him. "No! Not without you!" He yelled back, tears welling up in his beautiful, haunted eyes.

Steve sighed and glanced around him. There was really nothing to help him. He only had one choice, it would never work but he had to try. He took a few steps back and gaged the distance. God he was so fucked. Even with his new body and strength he was certain this wasn't going to work. Maybe if he could leap just far enough that Bucky and Jim could grab his hands. That might work. So with one final deep breath he ran and pushed hard off the ground. He didn't look down as he soared through the air…

… And landed.

He'd done it.

He couldn't believe it.

Through a dizzy haze he heard the others cheering and Bucky's arms were around his neck. Steve blinked and returned his boyfriends embrace, instinctively pressing his lips to the bronze strands of hair. They were alive.


Let me know what you think. I'm on tumblr at Avengersbarnes too.