Chapter Fourteen
There was a green army uniform waiting for her when she returned to her room.
It was both every bit as horrible and not as bad as she feared. The uniform wasn't the frame swimming fatigues she'd mentally cringed at, but rather a neat looking suit with a modest length skirt. It was however the olive green she'd been dreading.
It was hanging on the back of the door in Buffy's little designated room. She'd spotted it dangling there, like a bad green ghost, just as she closed her door after saying goodbye to Steve. Buffy had stumbled back in surprise, jaw dropping. Before a groan escaped her and she sat down hard on her single iron frame bed.
As she did so, she noticed something on her usually empty bedside table. A booklet on army regulation hairstyles.
Buffy flopped back onto the bed. This time she was sure her groan could be heard all the way down the hall.
Someone came and got her early the next morning. She'd dressed in her new uniform with a resigned acceptance. Before being led to have her new file photo taken…probably so there was now some kind of proof of her wearing the uniform.
It hadn't taken as long as they thought it would, so Buffy was free to head off towards Howard's lab for gear requisition.
Howard had set up for the equipment meeting in true Stark fashion. By getting ready for it, in the most extravagant over the top way possible.
Buffy walked the long table scanning the shields laid on display, ready for Steve to choose between. Each large gunmetal grey shield seemed more fearsome then the last, almost vicious in their design.
"Looks like 300 meets Mad Max," Buffy muttered, pressing a fingertip against a spike on one of the shields. She quickly pulled away, rubbing at the pad of her finger.
It was very sharp.
"Hey there Dollface," Howard greeted, as he walked into the room. "You're here early."
Buffy turned with a grin, which somehow widened when she noticed the crate Howard was carrying.
"All part and parcel with the army life." Buffy said dismissively, as she focused on the long crate as Howard settled it down on the end of the table. She shrugged. "Or so I've been told."
"Well…well…well…" Howard hummed giving Buffy a quick once over. "Look at you, Lieutenant. You look so…. professional."
"Or not." Buffy corrected rolling her eyes.
"You were right though. Green really isn't your colour." Howard told her, wrinkling his nose. Buffy gave him a 'You see!' gesture and Howard laughed. Before he asked. "You ready to start?"
"That depends." Buffy said with a shrug, aiming for nonchalant. It failed completely when she asked quickly, "Is that for me?"
"That's right Dollface," Howard said gesturing towards the crate with a flourish. He grinned over at her and stepped away from the table. Buffy grinned back at him, approaching the crate with barely concealed glee.
Because… presents.
Buffy ran her fingers along the edges of the lid, before she found the latch. Pulling it open with so much force she was afraid she'd pulled the lid completely off. But the sight inside made all thought escape her... her breath as well.
"Oh." Was all she managed, as she took in the sight of her gift. Nestled inside with almost delicate packing, were two identical blades. They were shaped like combat knives, but the blade was over a foot long. The handles wrapped in red leather.
Reaching out to take hold of one of the blades. She brought it up for a closer look. The metal gleamed in the underground lighting, in a way that almost glowed. Buffy's breath caught in awe, as she tilted the knife this way and that. Making it catch the light.
She'd never seen a blade like it.
"You saved my life with a knife, remember?" Howard said, breaking through the amazement filled trance Buffy had fallen into. "Plus… I had a feeling you were a blade girl, rather than a shield girl."
He gestured over to the shields, before adding with a quick. "Not that you couldn't pull off a shield."
"Howard." Buffy said softly, pulling the second blade from the box. "These are beautiful."
"I called in a favour from a friend," Howard told her, his hands coming to rest on his hips. He looked extremely pleased with himself. "I managed to get myself a sample of Doctor Myron Maclain's alloy. He was happy to help when I explained what it would be used for."
"Alloy?" Buffy repeated, flipping the blades around. Watching the silver blur through the air.
"That's hot…." Howard informed, going a little glazed in the eyes. He quickly shook his head. "Yes the alloy… he says it's Adamantine. You know after the Greek myth?"
At Buffy's blank look, Howard explained. "Hercules's enchanted mace…? We are hunting Hydra here."
"Adamantine." Buffy repeated, before almost reverently tucking the blades back into the case.
Buffy was still drooling over… or rather admiring the blades when Steve arrived.
"Hey," Steve greeted as he came to Buffy's side. His eye's flicking over the blades and her uniform before saying. "I like your hair."
"Thanks." Buffy said smiling happily at him, patting at her chignon. She didn't have it in her to tell him, she'd tried most of the styles in the booklet before finding one that suited her. "Nice deflection too. But seriously tell me… what do you really think?"
Buffy stepped back from the table, straightening her army jacket.
"I think it looks good on you." Steve told her honestly. The heartfelt tone and the intense look he gave her, warmed Buffy's cheeks in a blush that probably clashed horribly with the army green.
"I have some choices set up for you," Howard called, motioning Steve over to the row of shields. He gestured to the closest one. A rather vicious looking spiky thing. "This one's my favourite…Carbon polymer. Should withstand your average German bayonet. Although Hydra's not going to attack you with a pocketknife."
Howard picked up the dented prop shield, Steve had taken with him into Azzano. "I hear you're uh… kinda attached?"
Steve looked decidedly smug with his answering smirk and shrug. "It's handier than you might think."
"Well this one has been fitted with electrical relays." Howard said gesturing back to his proclaimed favourite. "It'll allow you to…"
Steve however had stopped listening, obviously not as taken with the shield as Howard was. He'd noticed something on the ground, focusing on it with curious intensity. "What about this one?" He asked, as he leant down. He pulled back a drape and picked up a round silver shield that had been beneath it.
"No!" A surprisingly loud yelp escaped Howard, before he cleared his throat and started again. "No. That's just a prototype."
"What's it made of?" Steve asked, hefting the shield to get a closer look. He seemed so fixated on it, that Buffy was reminded of her own reaction to her new blades.
"Vibranium." Howard explained. "It's stronger than steel and a third of the weight. It's completely vibration absorbent."
"Vibranium…Adamantine…" Buffy listed, smirking at Howard. "Are you sure you're not just making all these up."
"Oh Dollface, these things are very real." Howard mocked jokingly. "The only thing stronger than those blades is that shield."
"How come it's not a standard issue?" Steve asked, sliding his arm through the leather straps on the shield.
"That's the rarest metal on earth." Howard explained, sounding annoyed about the fact. "What you're holding there? That's all we've got."
"What about the stuff the blades are made of?" Buffy asked, arching an eyebrow at Howard.
"That… well… Myron won't admit it, but it was a freak accident that made that material." Howard replied with a shrug. "He'd deny it but he… doesn't know what he did."
"Oh? So, I get the freak accident gift?" Buffy asked crossing her arms. But she dropped it a second later, when something came to her. "That means… rare gift then."
"You quite finished, Mister Stark?" Peggy asked as she entered the room. She shot a surprisingly venomous look at Steve. "I'm sure the Captain has some unfinished business."
"Hey Peggy." Called Buffy, waving her friend over. "Did you see what Howard got Steve and I? Steve likes that shield over there and I got these pretty blades."
"You should throw them at the Captain." Peggy instructed, her glare increasing in intensity. Steve ducked behind the shield as if to protect himself from the power of Peggy's glare.
"It would be no less then he deserved." Peggy said in a sickly-sweet voice, that sent shudders down Buffy's back. Steve and Howard's too, given the way the two men huddled together. As if they were both trying to fit themselves behind the shield.
Satisfied with the reaction, Peggy turned briskly on her heel and strode from the room.
"I…?" Buffy begun, before frowning in confusion. She gave the two men a bewildered look, that they returned. Before she hurried after Peggy.
"Peggy?" Buffy called as she left the lab, rushing down the corridor after the determined strides of her friend. "Peggy!"
The Agent stopped just ahead of her, her back ramrod straight. Buffy could see her fists opening and clenching again.
"Peggy? What's going on?" Buffy asked in concern. "Did something happen between you and Steve. 'coz the guys a bit of an idiot when it comes to woman."
Peggy made a scoffing sound, that had Buffy frowning deeper.
"Oh, believe me." Peggy said, crossing her arms as she turned. "His exactly the same with woman as every other soldier."
"…. What?" Buffy could only ask, her confusion so great.
Peggy grit her teeth and dropped her arms, before she shook her head with a sigh. Showing more resignation then aggression, she softly explained. "I saw him and private Lorraine…kissing."
"Private Lorraine?" Buffy repeated, not recognising the name.
"Colonel Phillips's secretary." Peggy clarified.
"A secretary…" Buffy muttered, closing her eyes and sighing. "Of course, she is."
Her father's own …affair with his secretary was burned into her memory. Buffy knew to the very core of her being that Steve Rogers was nothing like Hank Summers. That didn't mean that this private Lorraine wasn't anything like the floozy her father had left her family for.
Buffy pushed passed Peggy, stalking her way down the corridor towards Phillips's offices. It was Peggy's turn to hurry after her, calling her name.
When Buffy reached her destination, she came to such an abrupted stop that Peggy almost ran into her.
"Is that her?" Buffy asked nodding down the hall. With her tilted chair and flicking through something on her lap with an almost detached interest, the blond secretary looked more like an uncaring corporate secretary than a military one.
"Private Lorraine." Peggy confirmed, her red lips pursed as she looked at the other blond. Buffy felt a swell of gratitude towards the woman, for her solidarity she was showing to Buffy.
Buffy looked the private over. She was pretty in a cold distant way, that reminded Buffy of Cordy from the early days at Sunnydale high. Like Cordy, maybe she just needed a wakeup call?
"Private Lorraine?" Buffy asked as she put herself in front of the woman's desk. She enjoyed the way… a little bit… how the other woman was forced to look up at her. The private quickly dropped her legs and sat up properly.
"Yes ma'am!" The secretary said, suddenly looking every inch the professional. "Colonel Phillips isn't in his offices right now. But if you…"
"Oh no," Buffy cut her off with a wave of her hand. "I wanted to talk to you… about Steve."
"Steve ma'am?" The other blond echoed, frowning slightly. "I'm sorry ma'am I'm not sure…?"
"Oh?" Buffy's voice raised with fake surprise. "You don't know Steve? Do you make a habit of kissing men you don't know?"
"You mean Captain Rogers?" The private asked, eyeing Buffy with an almost disbelieving look.
"Yes!" Buffy replied, throwing her arms up. "Unless you know any other Steve Rogers!"
"Sorry ma'am… I didn't realise you knew him also." Lorraine's nose turned up slightly.
Buffy closed her eyes and mentally counted to ten.
"Okay," Buffy said after a deep breath. She opened her eyes and stare down at the secretary. Buffy watched as the private's nose dropped a little, a slightly uncertain look entering her face.
"I'm going to say this once." Buffy said as clearly as she could, trying to insert how much she didn't want to relive high school level drama into her voice. "Keep your skank lips off my boyfriend! Do I make myself clear?"
The private's lips shifted, as her jaw worked slightly, clearly thinking about her response. Just when Buffy was sure she was about to unleash whatever verbal attack she'd thought of, Lorraine stopped, and a calm settled over her. She gave Buffy a brisk nod of understanding and a firm. "Yes, Lieutenant."
Buffy paused for a minute, having not expected the quick dutiful reply. Not knowing what else to do, Buffy simply nodded once and turned to walk back to Peggy.
"How'd it go?" Peggy asked, frowning over Buffy shoulder at the private.
"Umm…" Buffy hummed, tilting her head in thought. She'd half been expecting a Cordy level retort and some snark filled back and forth. Not a calm quick… military response.
'This really isn't anything like high school.' Buffy thought, before she gave Peggy a quick smirk. "I guess that rank thing… does come in handy."
#SC#
They had started going over changes to the uniform, just after Peggy and Buffy left. The latter hadn't been gone long, storming back into Howard's lab with more force then her size belied.
She locked onto Steve with all the lethal intensity of a bullet. Steve found himself bracing as she approached. The serum might have made Steve physically stronger than Buffy and every bit as durable… maybe more, but as she'd shown again and again during their training sessions. Such things meant little to someone like her.
"Hey Dollface!" Howard called. He waved the notebook he was writing in around. "Steve and I are going over uniforms. Do you have any input?"
"Don't know, don't care." Buffy replied shortly. But Steve had a feeling she wasn't really listening to the inventor.
"Are you sure?" Howard was grinning. "I might make you two matching costumes or something."
"Go away Howard." Buffy said sharply.
Howard instantly left Steve side. But he didn't leave the room. Instead putting himself off to the side, where he was out of sight but could still shamelessly listen in. Steve gave him a quick glare that the other man completely ignored, before his attention was pulled back to Buffy.
"Buffy." Steve greeted, smiling at her. It faltered slightly when the usually happy blond simply narrowed her eyes at him. "Is something wrong?"
"I dunno." Buffy replied. "You tell me?"
Steve caught movement over Buffy shoulder, spotting Peggy hovering near the doorway, her arms crossed as she glared at him.
"Ehh…." He managed, eyes flicking from one deadly woman to the other.
"Does the name private Lorraine mean anything to you?" Buffy said, she hummed a mock thoughtful look. "Maybe… I dunno, say her lips… on yours?"
"What? Oh!" Steve's confusion faded to sharp realisation. As he remembered his encounter with Phillip's secretary. "No wait… It's just a misunderstanding."
"What you tripped and fell? Somehow landed on her lips?" Buffy asked, almost daring him to come up with an even worse excuse. Or any excuse.
"What? No!" His denial was said to her back, as she huffed and walked from the room. "Buffy! Wait!"
Any move Steve made to follow was blocked by Peggy, as she planted herself in the doorway. Arms crossed and glaring. When Peggy was sure she'd all but frozen Steve in his tracks, she turned and followed Buffy.
"That was actually kind of painful." Howard commented, after a moments silence. He gave Steve an assessing look and asked. "Do you have any idea about woman, Pal?"
Steve scowled, turning to face the other man. "What do you recommend then?"
"Flowers." Howard replied simply, with a shrug. "Lots of flowers."
#SC#
The next morning, the last thing Buffy expected when she opened her quarters door, was a single rose to be thrust in her face.
She looked from the delicate red flower to Steve's hopeful face.
"Sweetheart." Steve started. "I'm sorry. Can we please talk?"
Buffy took the flower without a word.
"Not enough?" Steve asked looking unsure, he glanced back down the corridor towards his own room. "I left the bunch in my room. There's about two dozen of them. You can have as many as you like."
"Where'd you get so many roses?" Buffy asked. Before realising what was the best way to get roses onto a military base. "Howard?"
"I'm sorry sweetheart." Steve said again, before he begun to explain. "It was a misunderstandin'. We were just talkin' and suddenly she kissed me. I was so surprised! I was 'bout to pull away when Peggy arrived."
Buffy gave a small laugh, that escape through her nose. "That does sound like somethin' that would happen to you."
Her annoyance and hurt, left her at the explanation. Leaving her feeling drained and a little silly that she'd gotten so worked up over it.
"I'm sorry I hurt you. I never meant to." Steve said softly. "I love you. You're my girl."
Buffy stared up at him with a wide eyed stunned look.
They'd never said anything like that to each other, despite the time they'd spent together. While most woman from this era would have already been discussing curtain patterns by now. Buffy however had been happy for things to go slow. Her… unique situation had made her wary of any kind of attachments. Not that it mattered now, she realised.
"I love you too." She replied just as softly. Leaning in Steve's hand as he gently cupped her cheek. She narrowed her eyes at him and warned. "Don't do that again."
"Never." He swore, before leaning down to seal his promise with a kiss.
Buffy reached up to thread her fingers through his hair, running her fingernails over the back of his head. She grinned smugly into his kiss, as she felt the shudder go through him. He retaliated by swiping his tongue against the seam of her lips. It was her turn to stifle a soft moan, as she opened her mouth and welcomed him.
Steve ran his hand up her back, causing her to arch into him. She was just about to wrap her arms around him and pull him closer when, an awkward clearing of the throat reminded them both that they were still standing in the hallway. The two of them pulled apart to find, who had found them.
It was Bucky… because of course it was.
"Hey… am I interruptin' somethin'?" Bucky asked, a smirk pulling at his lips. Ignoring the fact that it was obvious to everyone, that yes, he had interrupted something. He however didn't look like he cared in the slightest. If anything, he seemed to be enjoying the fact. Or maybe it was watching the bright red blush spread across Steve's face.
"Stark wants to see us." Bucky said after a moment of watching his friend squirm. "Somethin' about uniforms."
"Oh!" Buffy almost cheered. The new topic pulling her quickly out of her embarrassment. "I remember Howard mention something about new uniforms. I can't wait to get out of this army uniform"
No one said anything. But there was something in the way Bucky arched his eyebrow at her. Especially given the timing of her sentence and what he had just interrupted between her and Steve. Buffy quickly hazarded a glance at Steve, only to find him looking at everything but her. A faint red dusting across his cheeks, told her… he'd gotten the innuendo too.
Her impersonation of a fish lasted as long as it took, for her to be the bigger person and turn around and walk off. If the bigger person, was actually the physically smallest of them all and sporting red cheeks. Someone sniggered behind her back, it didn't take too many guesses to know who. Especially when she heard Steve hiss for him to 'cut it out'.
She called over her shoulder as she walked away. "I hope Stark gives you something with red tights and a silly little mask!"
#SC#
It was a few days later that Buffy finally got to see her new uniform. It was made of a dense fabric weave that Howard had yammered on about for ages, before Buffy had stopped listening.
The top was high necked and long sleaved. Coloured a dark shade of blue. Except for a large white star on her chest and stripes of red and blue, that ran from under her bust and down her stomach.
They'd designed her uniform with trousers, Buffy was happy to note. They were the same high waisted design that were popular for woman's trousers. Starting at her small natural waist before going down to be tucked into her knee high red tinted boots. The pants were the same blue as the rest of the outfit and thankfully not too tight.
She slid her pretty new blades into the sheaths attached to her boots, giving her foot a little shake. Trying to get a sense of it being there. Strange but bearable.
Buffy was still yanking on her dark red gloves as she left the changing room. When she registered the others already waiting for her. They were all dressed in their new uniforms. But Buffy's attention was focussed on one man and his outfit.
Steve Rogers. He was staring at her in some sort of stunned shock, while dressed in….
"Matching costumes?!" Buffy demanded turning to Howard. She planted her fist on her hips and turned to glare at Howard. A faint snigger went through the gathered group and Buffy remembered her outfit. She quickly dropped the pose. "You got us matching costumes?"
"Uniforms, Dollface." An unrepentant Howard corrected. "Besides, it wasn't my idea. Higher ups thought it would help sell your image… and other things."
"Other things?" Buffy repeated in trepidation.
"I dunno Buffy." Bucky commented, as he moved forward to scan her new look. His blue eyes seemed even brighter in his new bright blue jacket. "I think it's a great idea. You can be Stevie's side kick."
"If anyone is Steve's side kick, it's you Bucky Barnes!"
"Hey!" Steve said finally, reaching out to lightly touch her arm. He still seemed a little stunned by the sight. "I think you pull off the look better than me."
That thought really didn't help her, as she couldn't stop herself from pouting at him.
"Is it really that bad?" Steve asked in concern.
"Yes." She answered quickly, before shaking her head and answering truthfully. "But I can deal for now… But seriously! Howard come on! Something original next time, please!"
"Okay Dollface." Howard cheered brightly. Looking surprisingly thrilled with the new task he'd been given. Howard reached out and picked something up off a nearby table. "Oh Buffy! You forgot this."
A blue cowl, complete with a giant A painted on the forehead.
"Looks like you're the one getting the mask Doll." Bucky's laughing comment did little to distract Buffy from the horror before her.
"No!" Buffy yelped with startling volume. "Nonono… do you have any idea what that will do to my hair?!"
The men looked at each other in barely concealed amusement. So, Buffy tried her denial again. This time with a firm and clear statement.
"I'm not wearing that!"
#SC#
She was wearing the cowl.
It had been a Phillips rule, for if they came across other army personal or journalists. He'd said it was his way of making sure her identity didn't get out, just in case she was doing this for the fame.
Buffy thought he just made her wear it because he knew she hated it, but Steve had argued he didn't think an army Colonel would be that petty.
They lucked out with the placement of the first Hydra factory. Its location had been somewhat known to the French resistance in the area, just not confirmed. Despite Hydra's apparent fondness for remote unknown areas for their bases, it was hard to miss towns of people going missing.
For this Hydra factory, the workman weren't prisoners taken from Allied forces. But rather civilians taken from surrounding towns.
Screams echoed in Buffy's head, the sound of gunfire and tanks. As for a split second she relived the attack on the little French town she'd been in, just after coming through Glory's portal.
Jacques had been quick to make contact with the resistance. His countrymen were happy to help get this blight off France's landscape, and to free the prisoners.
Hydra's factory had been a massive lumber mill, once upon a time. Surprisingly large given the remote woodland area it was in. Not that Buffy really knew, maybe they were all that big? Maybe that was why Hydra had claimed it?
It made their approach easier though. As they crept through the forest all the while keeping to the shadows of the massive trees.
Jacques was just ahead of them, crouching with a small group of men. One of them pointed into the trees, before saying something in rapid fire French. Jacques nodded, before saying something to Gabe, who quickly relayed it to Steve.
It was details of the building. Estimated number of troops seen moving around. Estimated number of … civilian prisoners. Buffy clenched her teeth.
The damn mask didn't seem all that necessary to her as she pressed her back up against the tree. Dum Dum was crouching beside her, holding his machine gun. Buffy looked to her right, spotting Steve in a similar position at the tree next to hers. Bucky beside him, his rifle already in position.
The rest of the group… or the Howling Commandos as they taken to calling themselves, were spread out around them.
"Buffy, you and Dernier get to the prisoners. The rest of us will secure the building." Steve started ordering. Gesturing to each of them as he gave them their tasks.
"How we getting' in there?" Buffy heard Bucky asked.
"We're gonna use the front door." Steve answered simply.
Of course, they were.
#SC#
Stealth had gotten them into Azzano. Before their plans went up in flames… literally. Steve had apparently decided to skip the sneak and creep for this Hydra base, the fact it was still daytime, probably had something to do with it.
The plan was to just go for overwhelming force. Which the howling Commandos could definitely bring, against the unsuspecting Hydra factory.
Cracking shots of Bucky's rifle sounded, followed by the sharp repetitive ring of Dum Dum's machine gun. The Commandos went to work clearing out the sentries. The massive wooden double doors to the main factory floor, gave easily under Steve's forceful shove.
German shouts echoed from within the building. Followed by enemy fire. Thankfully not the blue flashes of death Buffy had seen at Azzano, but rather good old-fashioned bullets. They hit Steve's red and white painted patriotic shield, before bouncing off.
It didn't even scratch the paint.
Buffy hung back with Jacques, waiting for the moment she needed to break away to try and find the prisoners. The last thing they wanted was for the Hydra troops, to turn on their prisoners at the first sign of attack. It might have seemed to them as a pointless, unnecessary, heartless, evil thing to do…so Buffy didn't want to risk it. Because that was exactly the kind of thing Hydra might do.
She had to wait for a perfect opening, the last thing she needed was to run into enemy fire. Or block her own teammates. Buffy's hand brushed against her sheathed blades. She might have brought a knife to a gun fight… well two knives. But in the hands of a slayer, the blades were more than enough.
As Steve and the others herded the enemy deeper into the factory. Buffy and Jacques split from the group, ducking behind the massive hulking equipment that lined the factory floor. It's function Buffy couldn't or wouldn't even hazard a guess for. Probably something horrible…
The cracking sound of exchanging gunfire faded slightly, but Buffy could still hear the distant sound of yelling… mostly German. Buffy took it to mean that they had Hydra on the run. Or at least she hoped they did.
Buffy also really hoped she was heading in the right direction. All they had to go on was the scouting done outside by the French Resistance and the vague memories of what this place had once looked like before Hydra had gotten their hands on it.
'I doubt this was here.' Buffy thought as she ducked behind a piece of equipment, a split second before bullets sparked off her new cover. Jacques took cover too, before returning fire. A quick peek out from her shelter, showed her two enemy soldiers. They quickly turned their attention on Jacques. No doubt mistakenly chosen by them as the more dangerous target.
She was quick to show them their error, as Buffy used the distraction to get the drop on them… literally. She'd quickly scaled the massive piece of equipment, before dropping down behind the surprised enemy soldiers.
Buffy grabbed one of the soldiers pulling him back and clear off his feet by the back of his leather jacket. His companion turned with a yell of surprise, right into Jacques sights. He jerked as the bullets hit him. Buffy swore she could feel the splatter of his blood through the heavy material of her suit.
She started slightly, before she mentally yelled at herself to focus. Buffy levelled a glare at the Hydra soldier. She spun him around and slammed him up against the machine. "Where are the prisoners!"
Shouts came from further down their path. Towards what Buffy could only guess had once been officers or storage… or something else other than the dungeon Hydra had seemingly transformed it into. It wasn't German, given what she could hear and Jacques's reaction as he rushed forward.
They'd found their prisoners.
She looked back to the man in her grip who, despite the fact he was dangling in the grasp of a tiny woman dress as the American flag, managed to glare at her. Buffy slammed him one last time against the machinery and let his unconscious body drop beside the other… body.
Buffy turned to walk toward Jacques as he waited for her. But faltered slightly, as she saw the Frenchman yell something. She watched almost in slow motion as he lifted his gun towards her. Jacques fired and Buffy jumped. But he hadn't been aiming at her, as the shot went straight passed her. The slayer turned, watching as the man she'd left behind… crumple. Dropping the gun, he'd had aimed at her back.
Buffy stared at his body for a second, in breathless shock. She'd pulled the shove she'd given him, she knew she had. He was human… she hadn't wanted to kill him. In return… he'd almost killed her.
Jacques grabbed her arm, pulling her towards the yelling prisoners. The sudden increase in the fervour of the screams, jerked Buffy from her shock. She overtook Jacques as she picked up speed. Bursting through the doors, she only had a moment to take stock of what lay before her.
A row of cages filled with the forms of huddled villagers. Some however, clutched at the bars reaching…yelling… at a single Hydra soldier. His gun against the head of a young boy kneeling in front of him. A young boy no older than Dawn had been, when Buffy had last seen her tear streaked face atop Glory's tower.
With the recent lesson of half measures still so fresh in her mind and a young boy's life on the line. Buffy didn't even think, she had one of her blades in her hand before she even registered drawing it. It had left her hand just as quickly. Slamming into the soldier shoulder so forcefully, the blade buried itself up into its hilt. Knocking the man into a wall behind him and pinning him there.
Buffy heard Jacques talking to the prisoners. No doubt trying to calm the still understandably distressed people. The boy had fled into the grabbing arms of a man and woman, clutching at them despite the bars that separated them.
Buffy watched them for a moment. Feeling the heady rush of relief that she'd gotten there just in time... that she had saved the boy. The young terrified boy and his family. The commandos had saved them all.
Taking a deep breath Buffy crossed to the wounded Hydra trooper wrenching the blade from the wall and from his shoulder. Freed the man could do little else but slump forward, straight onto Buffy's knee. He flew backwards into the wall, before falling face first onto the ground.
"I see you've got things handled here." Steve's voice commented from the doorway. Buffy turned to watch him enter. Bucky came behind him, eyeing the shattered remains of the door with a stunned expression.
Buffy quickly slid her blade into its sheath with a faint click, before giving Steve a nod. "First Hydra base… done."
A/N: As if, I could put Buffy The Vampire Slayer in the marvel universe and NOT give her almost indestructible…cut thru anything blades.
In the comics Doctor Myron Maclain created Proto-Adamantium … by accident. By mixing Adamantium, Vibranium and Steel. The process has never been repeated and can never be duplicated. The only sample was used to make Cap's shield. True Adamantium was an attempted recreation which was used on Wolverine. (The first-time round).
Buffy's blades can be considered Proto-Adamantium. Though whether or not I've removed the Vibranium from the equation and just have them as some kind of prototype adamantium (still super indestructible and super sharp just not as much as pure Vibranium or True Adamantium) remains to be seen… on how OP this makes Buffy.
Buffy's American Dream uniform … sorry for those that wanted an epic costume. But at this stage she and Steve are in matching outfit….awww so cute. But maybe later…. . . .
Steve's stronger than Buffy? …It was pointed out, that the Captain American in the MCU was based on was the Ultimate comic version. This version is stronger and much more durable… then even Buffy. Cap's strength stats are: Base of 10 tonnes max of 25. Slayer stats are between 2 and 3 tonnes, you can up Buffy's because of her age and experience. But that's still a large strength gap.
Now… this doesn't mean Steve would win in a fight against Buffy. Especially at this stage. Buffy has more experience, more training and Slayer instincts… she spent her nights fighting things that are stronger, faster and extremely deadly.