Chapter 51
Steve
Steve looked to Mark after he drank the essence. Mark wasn't recovering.
"Hold on. Come on, just hold on until the essence works," Steve said to Mark.
Steve felt tears fill in his eyes. He could not stand the thought of losing Mark. His tears began to fall down his cheeks.
"Don't cry, Steve," Mark said. "I don't like it when you are sad."
Steve felt more tears fall from his eyes. He could not believe at a moment like this Mark worried about Steve being sad. Steve leaned in to hold Mark closer to him.
"Sorry, Steve," Steve heard from Mark as he held him close. "I am sorry."
Steve looked at Mark, his eyes were closed now. Steve couldn't bear to think of what this meant. He hugged Mark. "I am the sorry one," Steve said between the tears, "I couldn't protect you." Steve slowly laid Mark to the floor. Steve just looked at Mark. He could not believe the man he just lost. The man who meant so much to him and showed him so much about himself. Steve ran his hand through Mark's hair. Steve leaned down and kissed Mark on the forehead.
"I am sorry," is all Steve could think to say. He just looked at Mark. Then Steve heard a noise from the other side of the room. Red Skull was beginning to get up from when Steve knocked him out. Steve looked back at Mark. "I will finish this for you," Steve said, and he stood up.
Steve ran to grab his shield. He saw Bucky was still knocked out. He paused for a moment seeing his old friend. Steve felt rage build in him. He did not know what he would do. He just stared at the friend who took Mark from him. Steve had nightmares of this very moment, and Bucky made it a reality. Steve felt himself to move forward to finish what Mark started, but he heard Red Skull begin to run from him. Steve stopped himself, He remembered how Mark liked the morals Steve held. Mark said not to lose that innocence. Steve had run toward Red Skull before he did anything to damage what Mark saw in Steve.
Steve ran down the storage room and saw Red Skull turn the corner around crates. Steve quickly rounded the corner but heard a gunshot. Steve felt pain in his knee, seeing a bullet had gone through. Steve fell to the floor, blocking another gun fire with his shield.
"Like it Captain America?" Red Skull said. "We made these bullets using your friend's powers. They can go straight through body armor. Your suit is no match for it. Sad he died, and we lost his powers, but we have enough here to win a war," Red Skull pointed to the crates.
Steve felt his rage flood through his body, he felt disgusted that Mark's powers would be used to start a war. Steve braced himself and threw his shield at Red Skull when he was distracted. Red Skull dodged the shield and shot it, keeping it from returning to Steve. Red Skull turned to Steve shooting him in the other leg. Steve felt the bullet go completely through his bone. He yelled at the pain and held his leg.
"I may have lost the ability to make more weapons, but at least, I can finally end the life of Captain America," Red Skull gloated as he pulled out a grenade launcher. "Another product from your friend's powers. The ammo in this one is set to vaporize the target it hits. It will be a fitting end to you," Red Skull said as he took aim. Steve just looked at Red Skull, he couldn't move with his legs shot, and his shield was on the other side of the room. This was where it would end for Captain America. Steve braced himself for the shot, he closed his eyes. "I'm sorry, Mark," Steve said to himself, "At least I will see you soon."
Steve heard the grenade launcher fire, he heard the explosion. Steve felt no pain. Steve only felt the pain in his knee and his leg. Steve slowly opened his eyes to see someone blocking the explosion. A man was standing there. The man made a wall of metal to shield Steve. Steve's eyes went wide when he focused on the man.
Steve saw the metal evaporate as the fire died down. The man quickly moved and held Red Skull by the neck against the crate.
"What are you?" Red Skull asked as he tried to aim his grenade launcher at Steve again. The man broke the grenade launcher in his hands. The man looked to Red Skull, "indestructible," is all he said and punched Red Skull through the crate sending him through three more before he hit a wall.
Steve just watched the man. His eyes turned from black and yellow to the brown that Steve remembered The markings disappeared from his arms and face. Steve saw the dark aura dissipated around the man. Steve saw Mark. Mark as he was the first day he walked into the Avenger Mansion.
"How are your wounds," Mark said looking down to where Steve was shot. Steve couldn't answer; he used his strength to jump into Mark's arms, bringing them both to the floor.
"I am taking that as you are okay," Mark said.
Steve felt tears in his eyes, these tears felt different from before. "I thought I lost you," Steve said as he hugged Mark tightly. "I couldn't protect you, and I thought I lost you." Steve felt his tears, full of happiness to see Mark was alive and in his arms.
"Steve," Mark said as he pulled Steve to look at him, "I am alive because of you. You saved me. You got the essence to me before I died." Mark wiped the tears from Steve's face. "Today, you are my hero for doing that."
Steve kissed Mark. Steve kissed him like he thought it would be the last time he would get the chance. Steve wanted Mark to know what he means to him. Steve pulled away from the kiss.
"I don't know what I would have done if you were gone," Steve said.
Mark caressed Steve's face, "Well you don't need to find out. You're hurt, let's get you…" Mark cut himself off as he stood up. Steve saw Mark look at the open crate he smashed Red Skull through. "Shit," Mark said as he pulled Steve up to walk over to the crate.
"It's a bomb," Steve said.
"Not just a normal bomb," Mark said putting Steve down. Mark saw the countdown on the bomb, set to go off in five minutes. Steve watched as Mark put his hand to the bomb.
"I know this metal," Mark said. Steve watched as Mark tried to remember something. Mark switched on the comlink. "Tony, what's the situation out there look like?" Mark asked. Steve switched his on to listen in on the conversation.
"We are looking good, they are backing down. Lucinda took out the majority of the weaponry and the soldiers when she hacked the tanks. How are you looking?" Tony said.
"We took out Bucky and Red Skull, I got my powers back, but we have a bigger issue here. I need you to get to the second level storage room," Mark said.
"I will be there soon," Tony said.
"What do you think it is?" Steve asked Mark.
"Let's hope it is not what I think it is," Mark answered Steve with worry in his eyes.
Mark and Steve heard a blast at the wall, and Iron Man came flying through.
"Of course he didn't use the elevator," Mark said. "Over here Iron Man!" Mark shouted. Steve looked as Tony noticed them and flew down.
"Cap, you don't look good, are you alright," Tony asked Steve.
"I am fine, these will heal, nothing serious hit," Steve said.
"Tony, come here," Mark asked.
Tony walked over to Mark, "What's up?" Mark put his hand against Tony's chest and held the other to the bomb.
"Um…I don't think Andrea will appreciate you copping a feel," Tony said.
"Well she won't appreciate the bomb either," Mark said. Tony looked down to the countdown. "So we have an Arc Reactor bomb, how do we defuse it?" Mark said to Tony.
"You are kidding me? That is impossible," Tony said as he bent down to take a closer look at the bomb.
"I wish I was. It has the same make-up as the metal in your chest. It feels older, more unstable, though. How do I defuse it, or, at least, bring down the blast radius?" Mark asked.
Tony stood up, "We can't defuse it, but we need to bring down the blast radius. It will take us all out even if we had the full five minutes to escape," Tony said.
Steve looked at the bomb. "What do we do?" Steve asked.
"We can stabilize it more the same way I did with my Arc Reactor. Can you read the metal in it?" Tony asked Mark. Mark put his hand on Tony's chest.
"I can, but I am not sure how to recreate it," Mark said.
"You are going to need about a hundred thousand volts of electricity to do it," Tony said.
Mark looked at the ceiling. "Walk me through it," Mark asked Tony.
"Recreate the metal in my Arc reactor and before it forms, zap it with the electricity. The electricity will make a new metal and cause it to stabilize, bringing down the blast radius to just what is around this factory," Tony said. "How are you going to get that type of electricity?" Tony asked.
"I have another stupid idea," Mark said.
"I don't like your stupid ideas," Steve said.
"I do, so far they have been very effective," Tony said. Steve gave a glare at Tony.
"Tony, blast a hole through the ceiling. Take Steve to the Quin Jet. Get to a safe distance away, I will meet you when I get this stabilized more," Mark said.
"I am not going anywhere without you," Steve said.
"Yes you are, I can survive this, you can't," Mark said to Steve. "Tony do it."
"Alright," Tony said as he blasted a hole in the ceiling, "But where are you going to get the juice to pull this off?"
"Thor," Mark said. Mark put his hand to the comlink. "Thor? Do you read me?"
"Assassin, it is good to hear from you. Were you and Captain victorious?" Thor replied.
"Sort of, listen. Iron Man is leaving the factory through a hole in the roof. I need you to find that hole. You will see me. I need to defuse a bomb, and I need your help," Mark explained.
"Any assistance I can lend, I will for you assassin. I will seek out the Iron Man," Thor said.
Steve watched as Mark turned to him. "You need to go; I will make it out as soon as I get this down. If I don't we are all dead," Mark said.
"But I just got you back," Steve said.
"I will be okay Steve," Mark said with a smile. "I am indestructible remember?" Steve laughed at Mark's comment.
"Tony take him now, show Thor where the opening is," Mark said.
"Right," Tony said as Steve climbed on Tony's back and held on. "Be careful," Tony said to Mark. Mark nodded.
Tony took Steve through the roof, and they saw Thor fly past them. Steve put on his comlink to listen.
"I am here assassin, what should I do?" Thor asked.
"This sounds crazy, but I need you to hit me with a lightning bolt," Mark said.
"What? What purpose will this serve?" Thor asked.
"We need electricity for the bomb Thor. You are the only person who can do this. Hit me with a bolt of lightning then go for the Quin Jet. Tony will get everyone to safety," Mark said.
"You are a brave warrior, and it is an honor to be at you side assassin," Thor said.
"I don't intend on dying, Thor. Just hit me with a bolt already," Mark said.
Steve saw the flash of lightning from Thor. It was only a quick second, but Steve knew Thor hit his target. Thor came flying behind Steve and Tony.
"Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Lucinda head to the Quin Jet. We need to get a distance away. We are heading back to the jet now. There is a bomb," Tony said over the comlink.
Tony landed near the Quin Jet and still supported Steve as they walked into the jet. Steve sat and watched as everyone else entered.
"Where is Mark?" Andrea asked.
"Doing something stupid," Steve replied.
"What else is new? What is it this time?" Andrea asked as she walked over to Steve.
"There is an Arc Reactor Bomb. My guess is Red Skull somehow created it using Mark's powers. Mark is trying to stabilize it enough to make sure the blast radius is small, and it doesn't take us all down," Tony said.
"An Arc Reactor explosion can wipe us out from here?" Clint asked.
"If we fly now in the Quin Jet in the opposite direction, the radius would still get us," Tony explained.
"And that type of explosion is in your chest right now?" Clint asked again.
"Not exactly, the bomb is like an atomic bomb. So much larger in scale," Tony explained.
"And Mark is risking his life to save us all," Natasha said.
Thor walked into the Quin Jet. "I did as the assassin asked. He said to take flight, he will call to us when he is out," Thor said.
"Alright," Tony said as he closed the doors to the Quin Jet and the plane slowly took off. Steve watched out the window at the factory, looking for any signs of movement which would be Mark. Time kept passing by as they flew away from the factory. Steve watched as the factory exploded, taking a blast radius much smaller than Tony anticipated.
"Looks like he did it," Tony said.
"But did he make it out?" Clint asked.
Steve held his comlink close to his head. He waited for Mark to radio the team. Which each passing second Steve felt his anxiety increase. He wondered if he did lose Mark this time.
"So can I get a ride? Or am I walking?" Steve heard Mark ask over the comlink. Steve breathed a sigh of relief.
"You are walking after all you put us through," Andrea said to Mark.
"I agree," Natasha said, "I think some walking will help you think about what you had us all go through."
"Come one!" Mark said. "I have some cargo I don't want to carry all the way back to S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Cargo?" Steve asked.
"I see him," Tony said as he brought down the Quin Jet. Mark walked in carrying Winter Soldier in his arms and his backpack.
"Why the hell did you bring him back?" Andrea asked.
Steve looked at Mark. Mark was looking at Steve with a smile. "Someone asked me to be an Avenger today, and not an assassin. Winter Soldier will face justice at S.H.I.E.L.D. for his crime," Mark said as he handcuffed both Winter Soldier's hands to the chair.
"What if he wakes up?" Andrea asked.
Mark looked over to Winter Soldier, "Then hit him with your stun baton a few times, you will enjoy that."
Andrea smiled as she held up her stun baton near her face, "Oh I sure will," And a few sparks came from the baton as she walked over to be near Winter Soldier.
"Save some for me," Natasha said, and Andrea handed her second baton to Natasha.
Mark laughed, and he went over to sit near Steve. "You okay? Your legs look bad," Mark said as he gently touched Steve's legs.
"I will heal, nothing major is hit. I can't believe what we went through," Steve said.
"Well you are stuck with me for some time," Mark said as he sat down.
"Oh, I am? For how long?" Steve asked with a smile.
"Let's not kill the mood by putting a number on it. I am not a member of the Avengers anymore, remember," Mark said.
"I think after today, it will be a tough case not to sell to the United Nations," Clint said. "You almost died, a few times, I think, and saved our butts from the bomb."
"All in a day's work for the world's dead…"
"The newest member of the Avengers," Steve interrupted.
"I prefer my old title better. Had more of a ring to it," Mark said with a smile. Steve grabbed Mark playfully over to him. "Oh really? I prefer a different title for you," Steve said with a smile.
"And which title is that?" Mark asked with a coy look in his eyes. Steve just kissed him when Mark did that.
