Chapter 9
(Warning later in chapter)
A man cloaked by darkness waited outside before his handler called him in.
Pierce was entering the kitchen as the asset snuck in and sat at the table.
"I need you take out 2 level six operatives and an alien, I want a confirmed death in 12 hours," Pierce said to the man.
The man in turn said nothing but looked over Pierce's shoulder.
"Sorry Mr. Peirce I forget my phone," the maid said slowly.
She looked between the two men but before she could get a scream out, two bullets were in her chest.
~At Sam's place~
A knock sounded on Sam's door and Sam went to answer.
On the other side Astral stood, but blood was trickling out of her nose.
Steve and Natasha had grim caked on them.
"Hey, I'm sorry about this but we need a place to lay low, everyone we know is out to kill us," Steve said.
"Not everyone," Sam replied ushering the group inside.
Steve led Astral to a bathroom while Natasha waited.
Steve pulled out a small towel and wetted with water.
"What happened?" Steve asked with concern.
Astral let Steve wipe off the blood before answering, "When I travel too far my magic takes it anger out on me."
Steve looked back at her, "I'm sorry."
Astral waved him off, "Anything for you, it wasn't much just a slight bleed."
Steve stripped off his uniform and went towards the sink in a white tank and his pants.
He cleaned up the best he could without taking a shower.
Astral transfigured her clothes and waited for Steve to come back out.
She had moved to the room that had the bathroom connected to it.
Steve walked back out and stood there, he sighed before sitting down next to his girlfriend.
"How you holding up?" Astral asked.
She moved so they were leaning against one another.
"I don't know anymore, everything I knew has been turned upside down," Steve said lowering his head.
Astral squinted before looking at him.
"Not everything, I love you. Don't ever question that," Astral said.
Steve looked at her and then at her lips before drawing her in for a kiss.
The kiss was of reassurance and making sure the other was okay.
The drew apart but their foreheads still touched.
"I believe you. I love you too," Steve said.
Sam knocked on the door and announced that he had some dinner had been made(switching time).
"I gonna head out to get some supplies, Sam said he'd come with me,: Natasha said.
They had helped cleaned up and now were waiting, like cows for the slaughter.
"Send a message when you get to your safe house, just say my name in your head and I should be able to hear you," Astral said.
Natasha nodded and looked to Steve.
"Make sure you have each other's back and stay vigilant," Steve said.
The spy and the airman left leaving the couple.
Astral was sitting on the barstool when she felt an ache in her heart.
She gasped and clutched at her chest. "Astral what is it?" Steve asked rushing over.
"The bond, it's angered that we haven't strengthened it yet," She gasped out.
She groaned as the burning started.
"What? why did it start?" Steve asked.
He picked her up and carried her to the spare bedroom they had used earlier.
"I don't know something must have triggered it," Astral said through gritted teeth.
'Astral roads are surrounded, staying at safe house until morning,' a thought came through.
"Ugh, Natasha said they won't make it back till morning, too many witnesses," Astral panted out.
Steve nodded his head as he held Astral. She groaned when the burning intensified.
"Steve we have to strengthen the bond, before my magic starts to turn on me," Astral said.
Steve blushed slightly but nodded.
"I can't let you suffer," Steve said gently.
He lay her back on the bed before leaning in to capture her lips.
Astral whimpered as she reached for him.
"Steve please," She begged.
Steve stood and removed his shirt as she did the same.
Steve stopped as he saw the exposed skin.
The porcelain skin called out to him and he followed his instincts.
He laid open mouth kisses on her neck and collarbone.
Astral gasped as she held onto his muscular shoulders.
Steve kneeled so he was above her one hand lightly stroking her skin and the other supporting himself.
Astral pulled Steve into a gentle kiss to encourage him.
Steve pulled back and looked down at his love.
Astral watched with hunger in her eyes as her mate displayed his chest.
Steve saw the gaze and blushed, he then kneeled back down to capture her lips again.
He let out a yelp when Astral flipped them expertly.
She gave a predatory smile before attacking his neck with nips and licks.
Steve groaned when he felt his blood thrum with fire.
Astral was straddling her delicious mate and looked down at him with lust.
She could feel the pull of the bond and she captured one of his hands to hold it above her heart.
Steve could feel her pulse under her chest as their hearts sped up.
Astral than placed his hand on her hip as she shed her cloth that bound her breasts.
Steve was in awe at the newly exposed skin and slowly reached out to explore.
Astral whimpered at the fire that crossed over her flesh as Steve touched her. S
teve could never have imagined such a beautiful sight in his wildness dreams.
He attentively turned them over so he was back on top.
"My beautiful Captain," Astral said cupping his face to bring their lips together.
Their chest brushed and they both gasped at the jump of electricity, but unlike earlier this was of lust instead of pain.
Astral whimpered when the pull drew stronger, "Please Steve, it hurts being so close yet so far away."
Steve looked down at his Astral with tender affection and felt his throat seize.
"Alright Astral, I love you," Steve said taking her lips again.
Astral waved her hand and their pants disappeared and Steve hesitantly pulled back to look down at her.
He could feel the heat radiating off her skin and felt the oncoming blush as he stared at the beauty underneath him.
Astral looked back at him with a mirrored look as he hesitantly parted her legs.
"There is no going back is there," Steve said.
"No, but we will feel the immediate release of the pull, take your time," Astral whispered.
She knew her love was new to this situation and saw him gulp nervously.
With a look of love, Steve slid in and almost burst at the feeling.
A groan from both of them echoed through the room at the connection.
Steve had to still has he controlled his breathing.
He reached down and laid tender kisses to her neck and chin.
Steve glided his hands over her smooth skin and then entwined their hands and held them out to the side.
"Move please," Astral asked with a roll of her hips.
Steve let out a low moan as he sank lower into her.
He set a slow and tender place.
Astral held onto his hands as Steve moved with the tenderness of a seasoned lover.
Their breath came in pants as they were reaching their peak.
Astral felt the familiar coil tighten in her body and she brought their lips together.
Steve nipped her lip and groaned when he felt a sudden movement.
He felt his gut tightening and saw the light in the room flicker.
Steve sped up and released a gurgled groan as he fell over the edge.
Astral felt a burning sensation her wrist and looked at it.
Her magic formed the familiar symbol of her mate on the inside of right wrist.
Steve tilted his head in confusion as his shield appeared on her wrist.
He hissed when he felt a burning sensation on his chest over his heart.
He looked down and saw Celtic knot form but in the middle was a beautiful tree.
A wave of love washed over Astral as Steve held her in his arms.
The bond was complete between them.
Lazy kisses were exchanged before astral waved her hands to turn the lights out and they fell asleep in each other's arms.
~Next morning~
Steve had never felt like this ever in his life.
For once his heart was whole and he could finally have someone anchor him down.
He gazed down at his love, who was sleeping on his chest with one hand curled over the mark above his heart.
Steve carded his fingers through her hair lovingly as he saw the first signs of her waking.
"Good morning doll," Steve said softly.
Astral cracked her eyes open and gazed into the loving blue eyes of her mate.
"And a good morning to you Captain," Astral responded.
She sent a wave of love through the bond and the action was quick acting as she heard Steve inhale sharply.
'Making our way back to Sam's see you shortly,' Natasha sent.
Astral groaned and rolled over and snuggled under Steve's arm.
Steve raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
"Is it time to face reality?" Steve asked.
"Unfortunately," Astral mumbled from beneath the pillow and blanket.
Steve went to get up but he was almost pulled back down.
"Astral we have to be presentable, we have to leave today to go after Sitwell," Steve said trying to get her to realize her hold.
Astral groaned and released his hand and slowly sat up.
Steve blushed lightly when he realized they were still naked from last night.
"My innocent Captain, you are quite a treat," Astral said as she stretched her arms over head and felt the satisfying pops of her joints.
She stood and padded over to the shower and turned on the water.
Astral scrubbed lightly at her yes in order to wake herself up more.
She let out a squeak of surprise when two arms wrapped around her and they walked into the warm shower.
"Agh, Steve," Astral complained lightly slapping his chest when she went under the spray.
The couple washed up and were soon suiting up for the mission.
Steve had cooked a light breakfast and laid it out in the counter.
The jingle of keys was heard and in walked Sam and Natasha in disguise.
They readied themselves as they got into the car Natasha 'borrowed' .
They drove to where Astral had used a locator spell on Sitwell.
"Alright stick with the plan and we'll see you once you have Sitwell," Steve ordered.
Astral used a disillusionment charm to disguise herself, while Sam just stuck sunglasses over his face.
Astral hid herself in the shadows as Sam took a table near where Sitwell was exiting the restaurant.
"In position," Astral said over the com.
"Widow in position," Natasha said as she cocked her rifle.
"Make the call Falcon," Captain America said.
"Roger," Sam responded.
Natasha flicked own the laser point to make it clear to Sitwell that Sam had help.
Astral walked behind Sitwell and led him to a corner before they disappeared to a roof where Natasha and Steve stood.
"Tell me what Zola's algorithm is," Steve demanded as he pushed Sitwell.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Sitwell responded.
"Tell me what you were doing on the Lumerain Star," Steve continued.
"I get sea sick, I was throwing up," Sitwell said as he looked behind him and saw that they were vastly approaching the edge of the building.
Sitwell Stumbled when Steve took another step forward and caught the flailing man.
Steve picked him up by his collar.
"This display isn't really your style Rogers," Sitwell said.
Steve had a stone face and looked over at Natasha and Astral.
"Well you're right, it's not my style, but it is theirs," Steve said.
In a flash Natasha kicked Sitwell off the building.
"You know there are spells to infiltrate his mind," Astral drawled.
"Yea that's true but I think this is more fun," Natasha said.
A roar of wings was heard as Sam flew up carrying the nearly dead man.
He dropped him on the ground and landed.
"Zola's algorithm is a program," Sitwell shouted as the group closed in on him.
"A program for what?" Astral said.
She held out a long black sword and pointed at his face.
"A choosing of targets, all the threats to HYDRA. You, Bruce Banner, Stark, Doctor Strange, Astral. Now and for the future," Sitwell squealed.
"Future?" Steve asked.
"Pierce is going to kill me," Sitwell muttered.
"All the information is online, test scores, bank accounts and anything. It's the 21st century we can use this data and track down all the threats with the tri-Hellcarrier," Sitwell said looking away ashamed.
Astral swiped the tip of her sword at his cheek and Sitwell slapped his hand on the shallow cut.
"Easy Astral, we still need him in order to stop the Hellcarrier," Steve said.
Astral huffed and relaxed her sword minutely.
"Stuff him in the car," She growled out as she disappeared.
The group was driving to the safe house and they were discussing on how to get into SHIELD.
"It says the program is launching in 16 hours, we are cutting a little close on time," Natasha commented.
"I know, we need to bypass the security with Sitwell's DNA," Steve said.
"Well we don't need him," Astral said as she shapeshifted into Sitwell.
"Oh why didn't do that sooner," Sam commented.
"You never showed me a picture of this rat," Astral said in Sitwell's voice.
"That's a terrible plan," Sitwell said and then there was a thud on the roof.
The car was ripped into and Sitwell was flung out the broken window into oncoming traffic.
A metal arm reached for Astral but she grasped it and twisted the intruding limb.
Gun shots were fired and Natasha expertly moved to the front seat as Astral formed a shield around herself.
The offending arm tried to shake her loose and then Steve pulled the break.
Astral let go and the attacker flew forward.
Astral went to get out the car but another car behind them crashed into them.
The attacker stood up and the team felt their face drop when it was the Winter Soldier.
More cars kept passing them as the vehicle behind them pushed them towards the Soldier.
At the last moment the Soldier jumped on their car and went through the roof of the car.
He grasped the wheel and pulled out with a jerk.
Natasha reached for her gun and opened fired while Astral threw throwing knives that grazed the Soldier.
The attacker jumped back as Sam hit the accelerator.
Sam had no control and Steve saw that we were going to go over the bridge.
"Hang on," Steve said as he grabbed Sam and Natasha and kicked the door.
He used the door and his shield to protect them from impact.
Astral teleported but was snagged by the Winter Soldier.
He held on as she flashed every couple of feet.
Finally shaking the man loose she threw an assailant of nasty curses at the man.
The assassin blocked them with his arm.
Steve ran over and started shielding Astral from on coming bullets.
The Winter Soldier was handed a grenade launcher and shot it at Steve.
Steve was blasted of the bridge into a moving bus.
Astral growled in rage and began transforming.
An earth shattering roar knocked down the attackers but the Winter Soldier seemed unfazed as the Dragon opened its black maw and released a green fire.
Natasha started picking off the fallen attackers with her bullets.
The Soldier let of another barrage of grenades but they merely sparked against the scaly skin.
Astral roared in annoyance and went to swipe at the man.
The Soldier easily avoided the swipe and set his eyes on the red-headed woman.
"Я получил рыжий, заботиться о драконе," (I got the redhead, take care of the dragon) the Solider instructed.
He opened fired and blasted the woman of the bridge.
The attackers surrounded the black dragon and shot at the beast with all their weapons.
Astral roared and curled her tail and whipped it at the shooters.
They flew back except for the ones that had ducked.
The Winter Solider took aim looking for the nuisance of the redhead.
He looked at the fallen bus and a crack reverberated against his goggles.
He fell back and Natasha smirked as she changed positions to try and find Steve.
The dark haired assassin took the goggles off and furiously whipped around and opened fire on the pest.
Astral stomped her way over but tripped over a netting someone had thrown at her two legs.
"Я получил ее, найти его," (I got her, find Him) the soldier commanded as he grabbed another gun and leapt over the railing.
The dragon blew out a stream of fire after the soldier jumped.
Astral opened her wings and flapped them.
The men shouted and yelled as the were blown back a few hundred feet and Astral dove after the assassin.
Astral changed back into her regular form and swung at the man with her swords.
Sam found a weapon and started taking out the shooters that were going after Steve.
Steve stood up and tried to knock out the man with the machine gun when the man took a bullet that ricocheted off the shield.
Steve heard the screech of metal on metal and saw Astral had taken on the soldier.
Steve went in search for Natasha when a bun shot went off and hit the shield.
Astral was pushed back by the strength of the metal arm and stumbled.
The soldier whipped out a knife but she blocked it with her arm bracer.
The arm whirred and his hand pushed against her arms.
The knife pierced the car underneath them and Astral kicked out with her legs, catching the assassin in the chest.
He flew a few feet into another car where Natasha ambushed him.
She wrapped her legs around his arm and neck with a strong cord and tried to chock him.
The Winter Soldier backed her up into a car and managed to grab her and fling her off of him.
He picked up the lost gun and went to fire but a the woman threw a metal disc that shorted out the metal arm.
The Soldier ripped it off but the woman got away.
The assassin took aim and let out a few rounds on the running figure.
Natasha felt the familiar sting of a bullet pierce her collarbone.
The attacker jumped on the car and took aim when heard the running footsteps and turned.
The Captain rushed the shooter but the metal arm struck the shield letting a loud ring fill the air.
The soldier grasped the shield and kicked the man in the chest, sending in back over a car.
Steve kneeled behind his shield as the assassin fired off rounds that bounced off the shield.
When the gun ran out of bullets the Winter Soldier rolled of the car onto the ground.
Steve did a tuck roll and stood ready to fight.
The assassin whipped out a new gun and took aim but Steve leapt over the car and kicked the gun out of his hand.
Another gun was pulled from its holster and it fired at the man with the shield.
Steve found an opening and swung at the face.
Steve went in with a swing from the shield but the edge was caught with the metal arm.
The Soldier got a punch to the man's face and took both hands to flip the man with the shield.
The soldier took advantage and ripped the shield away from the man along with knocking the man of his feet.
Steve stood up and saw the Winter Soldier holding his shield. Steve rushed the assassin but the man threw the shield at a fast release.
The Shield imbedded itself in the car next to Steve as he continued to run at the man.
The soldier withdrew a knife and twirled it with adept fingers.
Steve saw the knife and the two were in a hand to knife fight.
Steve blocked the best he could but a got a few nicks here and there.
The Soldier flipped the knife into the other hand and delivered a powerful strike with the metal arm.
Steve ducked and gave a powerful punch knocking the assassin back.
Steve did a spin kick when the soldier came back.
The Winter Soldier flew into the van behind him and dropped the knife. Steve ran at the disorientated killer and kneed him in the chest. Steve went for a punch in the jaw but the other man blocked it.
The other man tried to wrap his arm around Captain but Steve used momentum to flip the man onto the ground.
The soldier stood up immediately and choked the man with his metal arm.
The arm whirred with power and threw the man over a car onto the ground.
The Soldier jumped over the car ready to deliver the final blow with the metal arm but Steve rolled out of the way.
Steve stood up and knocked the soldier back a few feet and he made a grab for his shield.
"Steve disable the arm," Astral yelled from a far.
She was battling a few attackers of her own but she was being ruthless.
She was slicing limbs off with her swords that now dripped with blood.
More attackers kept moving in on her as she tried to get to the two men fighting.
Steve dug the edge of the shield into the shoulder joint of the metal arm.
With a sudden jerk Steve did an uppercut motion that knocked the Soldier in the face.
Steve turned his back and grasped the mask and yanked sending the assassin over his back onto the ground.
The man rolled away but the mask fell off.
Steve waited a hair of second to see the man's face and he froze.
The familiar jaw line and lips coupled with the brown hazel eyes.
Steve felt the air leave his lungs, "Bucky?"
The Winter Soldier looked at the man in confusion, "Who the Hell is Bucky?"
The soldier attacked, but Sam flew in and knocked the Winter Soldier off balance.
Astral finished up the rest of her attackers and went after the retreating assassin.
"Astral wait, it's Bucky! He's the Winter Soldier," Steve yelled.
Natasha shot a grenade after the retreating figure but Astral hesitated for a second before she followed the man.
Police sirens and large vehicles came speeding down towards Sam, Steve and Natasha.
Armored men with guns who were shouting for them to surrender surrounded the trio.
"Put the gun down, not here, not here," Rumlowe shouted when he saw the news helicopter.
Astral was still in pursuit and she saw the Soldier disappear down the alleyway.
She got an idea and changed to one of them men she killed earlier and called out softly, "Радуйся, Hydra."
The Soldier stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the figure.
He nodded his head and started walking towards the familiar man.
Unbeknownst to him, Astral was going to hitch a ride to SHIELD.
'Steve I'm following the Solider to SHIELD, I'm in disguise,' Astral sent telepathically.
'Wait Astral, it's Bucky,' Steve responded.
'No he's not, not yet, they seem to be using a type of mind control, I'm going to see what and hope to reverse it,' Astral said.
She and the Soldier went to the awaiting quin jet that was parked further down from the alleyway.
Steve and the other two were led to the van and were being transported to an unknown area.
"It was him, he looked right at me but he didn't even know me," Steve said looking at his restrained arms.
"How is that possible?" Sam asked in disbelief.
"Bucky's team was captured and Zola experimented on him, that's how he must have survived the fall. Zola must have found him and changed him," Steve answered.
"Steve, it wasn't your fault," Natasha said.
"Even when I had nothing I had Bucky," Steve responded.
Natasha leaned her head back a bit back a hiss.
Sam saw blood oozing through her jumpsuit.
"Hey we need a doctor, she's bleeding out," Sam said in shock.
One of the guards flashed a electric baton in warning but then turned it on the other guard.
The trio looked at the guard in confusion.
The Guard took the helmet off and it revealed Agent Hill.
"Man that thing was squeezing my head," she said smoothing her hair.