Steve and Nat were off to a good start, finishing up their breakfast without rush or sideways glances to make sure they weren't being followed. Once they jumped onto Steve's bike, they sped off to get lost. Half of their day had been spent goofing off at the docks once they had gotten far enough to be under the radar. Nat had enjoyed the trip, with the rumbling of Steve's motorcycle and the whirling of the cool wind against her face. Once they'd gotten to the beach-side, they walked along the docks talking about nonsense, the past few days of grueling battles, with the occasional argument about Steve not wanting to share his funnel cake.
And not a single desperate call from Stark or a calming text from Pepper afterwards.
Yes, the day was going well.
By sunset, they drove back. Natasha felt like the morning's almost-confession couldn't wait any longer, but she knew better and she knew Steve. He'd probably swerve off in surprise if she told his as he drove along the dusk lighted road.
She smirked, imagining the scene, and decided to wait just a little longer for the sake of their healing bodies.
"Ready to go back to the tower?" Steve asked casually as he weaved through the streets as they began to populate with civilization.
"Not really, taking a break from being a superspy is far too enjoyable. We should really do this for a month straight."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. would go ballistic."
"We'd give them a notice, of course."
"Oh, right...yeah, that makes more sense," Steve said, looking up ahead towards Stark Tower.
"Rogers, did you contemplate going M.I.A. without telling the parents?" Nat asked, her wicked smile beaming with pride, "I'm so proud of you."
"Parents?"
"Obviously Fury is the angry father, Coulson the worrisome mother, Hill the aunt that covers for us. That makes all of us a big band of misfits they adopted."
"Can't wait to tell Fury that," he teased, earning a sharp slap against his ribs.
"I didn't peg you as a tattle-tale, Rogers."
"The price for silence is high, it's always been."
"Did you just quote yourself?"
"Technically, the first time I used the word freedom."
"Tell me again how you became America's Golden Boy if you're a sarcastic bag of muscles," Nat teased, squeezing her grip on Steve as they turned into the tower's garage.
"It all just happened so fast," Steve said, chuckling. Parking his bike, they jumped off and headed to the elevator doors, eager to shower (together, if Nat had a say in it) and have dinner (or just jump right into bed and onto each other - again, if she had any say in it.)
But no sooner had they walked into Steve's floor when her phone rang. Letting out a string of curses which made Steve chuckle, she took it out of her jacket pocket.
"It's Coulson," she said, holding Steve's shoulder for him to stop him from walking any further. Answering the call, they both came to a stop, eyes locked together. She noticed Steve's shoulders tense.
"Romanoff," she answered, keeping her tone of voice stoic - Coulson didn't know he'd just ruined an almost perfect day.
"We need you to come in. Rumlow has attacked and escaped. Three agents were killed. Maximoff and Barnes are in pursuit. Falcon, Vision, and Rhodes are handling damage control. It seems he had help from the outside. Hydra Agents. We need Rogers to bring in Rumlow."
"On our way," Nat said, hanging up. She didn't have to repeat Coulson's message. Steve was already strapping his shield and tossing two glocks her way.
"Tony?" Steve asked, seemingly to no one, but J.A.R.V.I.S. answered quickly.
"In the lab, sir. Shall I put you through?"
"ASAP J.A.R.V.I.S.," Natasha said, strapping up her suit. Stark's voice was heard a few seconds later.
"Talk to me," he said, with seriousness.
"Rumlow escaped. Coulson called us in. Barnes and Maximoff are in pursuit."
"The rest of the Avengers?" Tony asked.
"Damage control. It seems Rumlow wasn't alone. Hydra Agents attacked the facility," Nat answered, strapping on her Widow belt, ready to go.
"Jet will be ready in 3 min. Meet you there...how the hell did they disable security to get in," Stark said, mostly talking to himself now as they heard the tell-tale whizzing of his armor being pieced together.
Steve and Nat raced up to the lobby and out to the balcony where the jet waited. Tony, already inside, motioned them to close the hatch as they lifted off. No sooner were they in the air that they spoke again.
"Any details on how this happened?" Stark asked.
"Coulson was brief. Hydra attacked, Rumlow escaped, 3 agents killed, Maximoff and Barnes in pursuit."
"Just dandy," Tony muttered, "And we're sure Southpaw won't take revenge on, I don't know, the guy that most likely had a hand in his brainwashing?"
"Knowing Bucky…" Steve said, tense and ready, "Probably. He's been responding well to the trainings but...maybe Wanda might be able to curb some of those feelings. "
"Then we need to get there fast if she can't. Barnes is in enough muddled water as it is," Nat said, shooting a glance at Steve, "And Coulson asked you to bring Rumlow in. That's for a reason."
"I don't need Coulson's orders to do just that," he answered, his fisted hands against the tabletop where Nat was already pulling up the schematics and video feed of the facility. It didn't take long for Tony to get them there. Almost instantly, they arrived, hovering over the facility, damaged and in chaos.
"Dramatic entrance?" Tony suggested, opening the hatch before landing the quinjet on the roof, Steve and Natasha looked at him with slight amusement before jumping off making Stark smile, "Yay for dramatic entrance. J.A.R.V.I.S., land this baby right and maybe later you can meet your older brother."
Flying out of the jet, he took to catching up with the rest. There was still some gunfire heard as Hydra agents ran out of the wooded areas and into the fray. Vision and Rhodes had the west side covered. Coulson and his team kept the captured agents down and Falcon alone was taking on the Northern side of the building where most of the damage had been done.
"Where did they go?" Steve asked, voice commanding and urgent. Coulson turned, tossing comlinks at them. They dodged the debris of an explosion near by as Stark took down an obstructing wall, freeing several agents. Tony didn't hesitate to help Falcon, both soon engaging in combat and dismantling the gas launchers Hydra agents were using.
"East. Barnes and Rumlow engaged in combat until Maximoff managed to wound him. He caused the explosion and took off. Both of them followed."
"Any other details?" Nat asked. The chaos around them was lessening but it wasn't over. Gunshots and screams could be heard, the sound of scuffling and cracklings of fire filled their ears.
"There was a red surge of energy shooting up from the trees 3 minutes ago about 15 miles East. Captain, bring him in, whichever way you see fit. Agent Romanoff, I need all my Avengers back alive."
Without waiting for any other approval, the duo took to catching up to the others. It didn't take long to figure out their path. Scorched trees, bullet damage and broken branches soon led them to the half-clearing where they saw the three fighters battling out. Wanda was occupied with four other Hydra agents while Barnes and Rumlow fought in a deadly combat.
Natasha didn't hesitate to run into the fight, aiding Wanda immediately and bringing down an agent with her widow's bite. Swinging lower, she kicked his legs - snapping his knees together. She nodded at Wanda, who sported a deep gash over her eyebrow and a cut lip. The brunette nodded back before using her power surge to knock another agent to the ground.
Steve kept running; throwing his shield with precision, he managed to hit Rumlow's knees, bringing him to the ground. The sickening thud of bone against rock wasn't enough. Before Rumlow could bring out his gun, Bucky kicked it away while Steve brought his shield to the side of Rumlow's head.
"Ah, the mighty Captain America has arrived," Rumlow growled, looking up from the ground, hot blood running down the side of his face. A pompous smirk took hold of his busted lip, looking directly at Steve. Shoving a painted gas mask on, Rumlow laughed, "Just in time…"
Steve was only a few seconds ahead of Rumlow, noticing the light grenade he was about to detonate. He attempted to kick it away from his hand, but it was too late. A bright light, white and blinding filled his vision almost instantly while the all-too-powerful blast left him nearly deaf and dizzy. Steve heard Bucky's body shoot back and fall from the too-close blast, landing un-moving, but most importantly, heard the thuds of the rest as they hit the ground violently. He was the only one left standing.
"I knew you'd be hard to bring down," Rumlow said, seemingly unharmed from the blast, "Hydra gave me an upgrade similar to your buddy over there, and I like it."
"Falcon said you talked to much," Steve muttered, using all his waning strength to throw a punch. It hit it's mark, making Rumlow stagger as his jaw made contact with Steve's balled fist. Holding on to his shield, ready for the counter-attack, Steve blocked the blows of jabs and kicks until one connected with his ribs. Hissing in pain, Steve tried hard to blink away the confusion left from the grenade but he felt worse.
"Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention it…" Rumlow laughed, "Hydra makes better grenades, you see, the light grenade that just went off...well, they added some neat things...like a the gas that is slowly weakening you. Maybe next time you'll learn to wear a mask."
"You don't shut up do you," Steve said, using the remaining strength to throw the shield straight into Rumlow's chest, hoping it would bring him down for good. With no luck, he kicked Rumlow to engage in weak combat - his jabs weren't strong enough. Rumlow aimed a punch to his face, making Steve lose balance.
An explosion then followed. Steve turned to the distance they'd come from - fire clouds rising to the sky.
"There we go. Another explosion. No more Avenger's Facility, my dear ol' Captain America!" Rumlow laughed, connecting another jab at Steve's ribs. He felt the air around him tighten his lungs; his vision darkening more and more.
Disoriented and wary, Steve turned to see Natasha on the ground - blood trickling down her forehead. Steve attempted to go to her before Rumlow kicked the back of his knees, making him fall. Steve heard the cruel chuckle of his enemy before feeling the butt of a gun hit the back of his head with force strong enough to crack his bone.
Steve fell even further and before he lost consciousness, he heard three distinct gun shots.
"Rise and shine, Rogers!"
The voice sounded distant to Steve, muffled by a ringing sound that wouldn't go away. He tried moving but the restraints kept him steady. His eyelids were like heavy lead and the back of his head was starting to hurt unbearably. It almost felt broken. There was a sharp edge running down his chest leaving behind a burning sensation - was he being cut open? It felt like it.
Then he remembered - Rumlow, fires, grenade, fighting, Bucky, Wanda, Natasha. His eyelids finally listened, blinking away the blur. The room was unadorned - gray, dark, and empty except for the figure standing before him.
"Hiya Cap," Rumlow said, wiping away the blood from his hunting knife, "I was starting to think I went too hard on your head. Glad I didn't because you'll want to see this for sure…"
Pointing the knife around him, Rumlow gestured to the room they were in until stopping the tip of the weapon on Steve's neck.
"Because I know you're not much of a talker, I'll get straight to it. Welcome to the lab where your buddy was washed again and again...and again…" Rumlow said, chuckling, "And the best part is we get to do it all over again."
It was then that Steve tried tugging at the restraints, realizing what they were. His wrists and ankles bound to the cold metal of the makeshift chair, Steve finally felt the metal around his head, the patches on his now bare, bleeding chest and the machine next to him.
"It won't work…" Steve managed to mumble, making a note of his injuries - technically his whole body hurt but his head and chest were killing him.
"Then I'll keep doing it until it does work. Oh, right, by the way, I'll have to wake up the cheerleaders before we set this baby on you," Rumlow said, stepping off to the side to let Steve see for himself. Before him, Natasha, Wanda and Bucky were tied and hanging from their wrists - tied by metal bindings similar to his. Ankles bound and mouth taped shut, the three were unconscious.
"I heard the shots...I thought you'd-" Steve muttered, before Rumlow interrupted.
"You thought I'd killed them. Those weren't the orders. The others were useless. You four are valuable."
"You killed your own team…"
"I work for Hydra alone. The others were expendable."
"What makes you think you're not?"
"Because I'll be the one to hand over to Hydra what it's wanted all along. Super-soldiers - those who will follow orders no matter what."
Steve felt frustration and anger fill his body as he desperately tried to pull on the restraints. It made his captor laugh.
"Pull all you want, Rogers. These are magnetic. You may have gotten free from them in the elevator but now, with broken ribs and a fractured skull, I doubt you have the energy for it."
"It won't work…" Steve repeated, his voice still sluggish.
"But of course it will. You see, one brainwashed super-soldier was enough to wreak havoc for seventy years. Imagine what Hydra can do with four of them. I'll admit, the truce with Ultron was pathetic, but I'm glad you took care of him. Barnes will make a much better soldier without some idiotic A.I. controlling his every move."
Rumlow turned, walking over to a black switch on a lonesome stand - the wires sprouting from it were tangled and messy but Steve knew where they led - his eyes trailing along until they landed on each of the binds around his teammates.
"Let's wake up the rest of the party, shall we...how many shocks do you think it'll take? 1? 2? Bet it's going to be fucking painful for Barnes…"
With that, Rumlow flipped the elongated switch. Instantly, the humming of the current traveling up and to the binds filled the room. Jolting forward, Nat, Wanda and Bucky let out muffled screams of agony as Steve uselessly yelled at Rumlow to stop.
"Now we can begin," he said turning the electricity on them off. He walked over to Steve with wrath in his eyes. Without another word or warning, Rumlow turned on the machine.
Natasha watched, eyes wide in fear, as Steve was tortured before her. But her covered mouth stopped the screams coming out of her. And so she watched, helplessly, as Rumlow attempted to wipe Steve; as the love of her life arched in pain, bleeding and holding back agony-filled screams.
To her left, Bucky and Wanda squirmed forward, trying - like her - to break away from their restraints. She saw Rumlow turn up the knob then turn to them - the wicked smile only growing larger.
"Look at them Rogers - their last memory will be you being tortured. And your last memory will be seeing them squirm to help you."
Steve didn't answer - instead shook within the restraints as his mind burned, tore, and twisted. Natasha pulled on her bindings - feeling the unexpected warmth of blood run down her arm as the metal cut into her wrists. She saw Steve bite through his lips to hold back the screams.
Natasha saw Bucky lunge forward, still trying to break free and stop the torture. She was getting nowhere. Her strength wasn't enough to break the binds. All she could work on now was dislocating the bones to slip her hand out of the impossibly small cuff.
"Had enough?" Rumlow asked, not expecting a response as he turned to smile at his captives.
"You won't win," Steve said, his voice pained and hoarse. Natasha's heart leap and was crushed. Hearing him renewed her strength but the voice she heard was torn and weak. Worry and panic hit her as she imagined Captain America no more.
"You stubborn son of a bitch," Rumlow said, through gritted teeth, "I didn't want to do this but more pain will weaken your mind…"
The gleaming dagger in his hand was then stabbed into Steve's side, a muffled grunt in agony then left his lungs, heavy and crushing.
"Maybe I did want to do that…"
She heard Wanda scream through the tape over her mouth as Rumlow turned the knob on the machine yet again - to it's fullest extent.
Besides her, Bucky pulled his weight down, hoping to break through the chains holding him up. The ceiling gave in slightly, crumbling debris falling at their feet. Wanda turned, eyes glowing red, as she focused on Bucky's restraints - willing them to come apart.
"Don't break up the party," Rumlow said, rushing over to grab Wanda's face and turning it to his, "You're just asking for another jolt."
He flipped the switch on them once more - the current rushing through them like wildfire. Natasha felt her arms weaken, her knees twist and her back pull in odd ways. She locked eyes with Steve, still heaving and fighting the machine trying to wipe their history together. Blood trickled down his mouth and side; his blue eyes wild and half opened. Natasha hoped her eyes conveyed her thoughts:
Please keep fighting. Please don't forget. Please hold on.
The overbearing growl coming from Bucky brought Natasha back to reality. The electric jolts stopped. She turned to see Wanda's glowing red aura blast around them, shooting Rumlow back against the wall and weakening the already straining binds on Bucky. With another pull, he was free.
Falling on his knees, Barnes growled again - his head shaking. Natasha saw him get up clumsily and charge towards Rumlow grabbing him from his waist and shoving him against the wall.
Wanda wasted no time, her energy flowing out again to weaken their restraints. Natasha pulled again and again, each time with more vigor than before until finally both fighters crumbled into a heap on the ground. Bucky was still struggling with Rumlow as elbows connected with jaws and knees dug into ribs.
Natasha peeled off the tape over her mouth as she ran towards Steve - hands still trapped in the metal cuffs. Turning the machine off violently, she searched frantically to free Steve and get them out of there. Wanda was next to her almost instantly, her cuffed hands reaching over the metal hinges as the red glow emanating from her caused them to tremble.
Steve has breathing heavily now, his body tense and sweating - the wound on his side and the cut along his chest pooling in deep red blood. Natasha ripped off her sleeve, trying desperately to stop the bleeding.
"Steve, look at me," Natasha whispered frantically, "You have to listen to me. I need you alive. Please."
He didn't answer - his blue eyes simply stared at her.
"Don't leave. Don't leave, Steve," Natasha whispered frantically as Wanda broke one of Steve's cuffs. She pressed against the wounds willing them to stop bleeding.
"Watch out!" Bucky screamed. Both women turned quickly to see Rumlow charging at them, pushing them away from Steve. Once again, he turned on the machine - Steve tensed yet again, groaning in pain through clenched teeth.
Bucky pulled Rumlow off to the ground hitting his face again and again. Natasha didn't waste anymore time, jumping off the ground with Wanda following her, she turned the machine off. Wanda's red aura blasted out through her hands, breaking the rest of the binds.
"We need to get out of here," Bucky said, leaving a bleeding Rumlow on the ground, "Now!"
"Steve," Natasha tried again, "Let's go home…"
"Home…" he repeated in a slow whisper, distant and semi-conscious. Bucky helped her pull him up and away from the chair. He staggered, disoriented and weak, "The war..."
"Come on Steve, let's go. Our team is out there - they're looking for us," Bucky said, slinging Steve's arm over his shoulder for support.
"The Commandos...they're here?" Steve said, his head tilting to one side. Natasha reached out to him, touching his face. He sighed; eyes closed, "Peggy?"
Nat tried to focus on the task, but hearing Steve call out for his past froze her almost immediately. Biting her lip, she turned him to her, hands trembling in pain and fear. She took hold of his free arm; her heart crushing when he called her Peggy once more
"You remember me, Steve?" she asked, her voice frighteningly small, "Do you?"
"Nat," Wanda whispered behind her, "We have to go. Give him some time - he'll be okay."
"Steve, listen to me. Look at me," Natasha protested, ignoring her friends' pained expressions, "Steve?"
"Peg-"
"No, Steve, look at me."
He didn't answer for a moment, having trouble keeping his eyes open and his head straight, but once he did, Steve looked beyond her - eyebrows furrowing together.
And it happened all too quickly.
"Hail...Hydra!" Rumlow growled, aiming his gun weakly with one hand, a grenade in the other. Before another second passed, Bucky and Wanda attacked. Steve lunged at her - turning them around. And Natasha hear the shots fire.
She felt Steve hug tightly, clinging onto her shoulders. Nat's arms wound around him quickly and her hands soon became drenched in something hot, thick, and flowing. Blood.
Natasha blinked once before reacting again. Seeing past them, Bucky lowered his gun after shooting Rumlow dead, Wanda working to contain the explosion within her powers.
"Steve!" Nat cried out, realizing he'd saved her once again, "Steve..."
Falling to her knees as their combined weight brought her down, she lowered Steve to the ground. Keeping him on his side, she traced the bullet wounds marring his back. It wasn't until the tiny splashes of water hit his arm that Nat realized she was crying.
"You're not dying today Rogers," she whispered, "Not like this...not remembering us…"
Bucky and Wanda crouched with her.
"Let me take out the bullets - then we get him out of here and get him help," Wanda said, hands and eyes glowing red, "Keep him steady, Bucky. Nat, I'll need you to stop the bleeding afterwards."
They nodded and watched as three bullets were pulled from Steve's back. He tensed, hand grabbing Natasha's wrist with force. Once they were gone, Nat acted quickly, wrapping him in Bucky's now torn garments which now dripped in blood.
"Keep him breathing. We'll make sure it's clear and call for help," Bucky said, grabbing at Wanda - both running out of the room, ready to attack if need be.
Together and alone, Nat lay next to Steve - foreheads touching. Her tears kept flowing, making her vision blurry. Blinking away a few of them, she licked her chapped lips and kept her hands on either side of Steve's face.
"Steve, listen to me. You have to keep fighting. Please. Keep fighting," she said, lips pressing against his cheek, "We'll get you out of here. I promise."
Steve opened his eyes slightly; his breathing labored and slow.
"Is it over?"
"It is…" Nat said, brushing away his hair, "It's all over."
"Did we win the war?" he asked, eyebrows furrowing in pain once more, "It's been so long..."
"We'll go home. I promise."
"I can't Peggy...I can't go home," Steve said, finally showing some control in his movements as he looked at her. There was an all-too-brief flicker of recognition before his eyes closed again.
"Steve, please...it's me. Natasha," she said, pressing her lips to his, tasting his dried blood, her tears and desperation. Steve reacted, lips molding against hers for a split second before his shaky voice was heard.
"I need to get to you...I need to tell you...I love you…I didn't tell you sooner," Steve whispered. Natasha's heart broke completely - was he still talking to Peggy? The words she wanted to hear for so long couldn't be for Peggy. They couldn't.
But of course they could. She couldn't deserve those words - once again she was alive because of him. Because he took the bullets aimed for her. He was unattainable to her and all of her red - everywhere. But still...she couldn't let him go.
"The coast is clear. Wanda is calling for help. SHIELD is coming, Natasha. We're going to save him," Bucky said, crouching down. She turned to him - broken and tearful - clutching Steve's hand.
Natasha nodded and helped as Bucky slung Steve up and over his shoulder. And all the while, she didn't let him go.
