Chapter 34

Tony Stark was many things. Genius. Billionaire. Playboy. Philanthropist. He tried to help out where he could. He liked to think he was a better person than he had been in the past. He liked to help people. He normally could help people. But as he sat on the quinjet next to Peter Parker, whose leg had been bouncing up and down non-stop for the last 40 minutes of their flight, Tony Stark realised that what he was at this very moment was afraid. Oh he was furious too, he was ready to kill anyone who had even looked at Luna whilst she had been with Hydra. Hell, he'd even kill anyone who had hurt Bucky. But first and foremost, Tony Stark was scared. Because Peter Parker was loosing it. And for the first time since he'd really gotten to know the kid, Tony felt like he couldn't help. He could, of course, and he was. He was on his way to find Luna and Bucky, and he was going to do it if it killed him. But he felt like he wasn't doing enough. The jet was going as fast as it could. The team was prepped and ready to start scouting the second they reached Germany. Together, through what was most definitely some illegal 'accidental' hacking that would have to be reported to S.H.I.E.L.D at some point, Natasha and Tony had drawn up a list of all possible sites for where Hydra's base could be. Tony and Rhodey would go to the south most location, whilst Sam and Vision worked their way north. On a mini-jet Nat and Clint were headed east and while Peter, Steve and Wanda went west. Bruce was staying in the quinjet, ready to provide either medical support, or that of the more green variety, which ever was more needed. It had taken seconds for everyone to reach the jet when they had their rough location (Peter was there first, unsurprisingly if you asked Tony) and only seconds more for everyones roles to be dealed out to them. It seemed to be an unspoken decision that they weren't coming back without Luna and Bucky. It didn't matter what condition they were in. It didn't matter if they had to kill a thousand men. The team were bringing their family home and that was that.

The jet landed in record time, but that didn't stop the whole team from being stood at the port, ready to leap out of the jet practically before it had touched the ground (Steve nearly did without a parachute, until Sam gave him a look that made Steve reconsider). Just before the jet hit the ground and the ramp descended, Tony pulled Peter aside as Cap went through final checks with the rest of the team. "Pete, honesty time. Can you do this?" Tony's voice left little room for argument or dishonesty, practically daring Peter to do anything but tell the truth or face the consequences.

"I don't know Mr Stark," came Peter's reply, as the nano's in his mask folded away so his mentor could see the blood shot eyes and dark bags the boy wore under it, "But I need to do this." Tony's own face plate detached itself from his suit, as Tony carefully pulled the boy into a hug. "You need me, you call me, okay? No ifs or buts. We gotta find Luna and Bucky, but I'm not losing you in the process, okay kid?" Peter nodded sincerely back at Tony, "Okay Mr Stark, I promise."

"Good," came Caps voice from behind the two as the ramp lowered to the ground, "then let's go find them."

Bucky and Luna stayed exactly where they were for a few hours, taking as much comfort as they could from each other, whilst they both drifted between states of consciousness. Every once in a while Luna's breathing would dip into what Bucky was quickly recognising as the 'danger zone' hinting that she was headed towards a panic attack, and each time, Bucky placed his metal arm on top of her right hand, whilst helping her trace it with her left, grounding her. It wasn't until this had happened for the 4th time, that Luna slowly sat up, body aching in protest. Her mind was working slowly, clumsily, still covered in the drug filled haze Hydra had forced onto her. "I cant do this forever Buck." Her words were slurred. "I know kid, I know. Please hold on. We're gonna get out of here Luna, I swear I-"

"They're coming Bucky." Slowly, tendrils of low voltage electricity crawled out of Luna and Bucky's implants, enough to have them curl in on themselves, letting out low moans of pain, as the burning sensations took over their whole body, yet not at the level of debilitating shocks the pair had become accustomed to. "I'm done fighting Buck." ground out Luna through waves of pain racking her body, at a level only just endurable. "Now that is what we like to hear!" Came a disturbingly cheery voice from behind Luna and Bucky, whose bodies quickly tensed against the pain threatening to drag them under into a sea of unbearable pain as Bucky turned to see the white coated Hydra scientists that had entered the room, surrounded by a ring of goons. Without even realising what he was doing Bucky shifted his body in the direction of Luna, putting himself in-between the potential threat and the still currently blind Luna. Looking up defiantly through the field of pain Bucky stared down the Hydra members, as he lifted his head and spat out at them "I will kill you for hurting her." Suddenly behind him Luna let out a violently sharp shriek of absolute pain as the power of electricity coursing through her veins doubled. "I wouldn't threaten us if I were you Mr Barnes. It may not turn out so well for our little soldier over there. We don't need to carve any more scars into her back do we?" Tutted a smug looking woman now towering above Bucky. Luna breathed in a heavy gasp of air, signalling to Bucky that the pain had, momentarily lessened. "Take them both," instructed the woman, already headed out of the room, face drenched in evil glee as she held the remote to Bucky and Luna's implants, turning the notch one higher as she stepped out of the cell, letting out a laugh as both super soldiers visibly tensed further in pain, "It's time for a little fun."

Immediately the mindless goons that were the Hydra soldiers stormed forward, in too many directions at once, the heavy noises disorienting Luna, whose body was working in over drive trying to overcompensate for her loss of sight. She hated the cry of fear and pain she let out as she was manhandled by the men, dragged by tight fists in her hair and over the new cuts and bruises on her arms courtesy of Icarus, to her unstable feet. Her head shot around in panic, as though looking in the right direction would return her vision, or give her a clue as to what was happening. "Luna, listen to me yo-" the sound of Bucky being hit in the head with a baton made luna want to throw up, and if she had even a semblance of food in her system she was sure she would have. "Stop Bucky," she practically whispered out, her head flopping to hang low, "Please, just stop." Luna felt a sharp tug on her hair, pulling her face upwards in the direction of a Hydra goon, "Good pet," the man spat at her face, "you're learning your place. Learn quick and you and I can have some fun."

Bucky let out a violent growl, as he threw the men surrounding him off of himself, hurtling one of them at the wall, a snapping sound emanating from the mans spine as Bucky lunged towards the man above the terrified, defeated Luna. "I'm gonna fucking kill you.", pulling the man off of Luna, sending her tumbling into the other man holding her, while Bucky pounced on the man, slamming his fist into the goons face over and over, sending blood splatting across the room"You. Wont. Touch. Her." Bucky carried on in an animal kind of rage, raining hell down on the bastard, before Luna let out an ear piercing scream. "LUNA" immediately jumping from the man towards the girl crouched on the floor, Bucky desperately tried to figure out what to do. "I did warn you," came the scientists voice from down the corridor, "Now come along soldiers." Defeated, Bucky submitted as Luna's implant cooled off, stopping the surge of electricity tormenting the poor girl, and was dragged to their feet and down a long corridor, towards whatever the Hydra people had planned for them.

"We're about 5 minutes out from the sight." Came Steve's voice across the comms direct channel he had set up with each of the 'team leaders'. Wanda and Peter still hovered in the air above his bike, moving at significant speed as the three of them headed across plains of white snow and tall fur trees towards what was supposed to be their destination. Talk between the three team members has been practically non-existent, an odd occurrence for them all, with Cap usually going over plans, Peter trying to lighten the mood and Wanda, still a little quieter than the others, joking around with Peter, him being the closest team member in age to her. But not today. Peter Parkers mind was alight. He hadn't slept properly since Luna and Bucky had been taken, even less so since he attacked the doctor at the recent Hydra base. He was scared of what losing Luna, a girl he had only known for 2 weeks was doing to him, but he was even more desperate to find her. He had to find her. He needed to know that she was alive at least. He could help her, would help her through anything else he needed to, as long as she was still alive. And he was going to save Bucky. Bucky didn't even know it, but months ago Peter had been struggling, seriously struggling. He'd spoken to Tony since, and Ned and May. He was seeing a specialist, and was doing much, much better. But months ago, Peter had been sat on the roof of Stark tower, with a thought in his head that truly scared him. He'd been sat over the ledge, nothing would alert F.R.I.D.A.Y or Tony, after all, he had swung into and off of the tower at every levels almost now. And then the door to the roof had opened. Out walked a tired looking Bucky Barnes, clad in pyjama bottoms and a black hoodie. Seeing Peter had startled him, clearly the sergeant hadn't expected anyone else to be up that late at night. Barnes slowly made his way over to Peter, joking "little past your bed time ain't it kid?" That night Bucky Barnes sat and talked with Peter, and unknowingly, had saved his life. Peter was determined to return the favour.

He wasn't deluded, he knew the reality of what he would be walking into if they found Luna and Bucky. He understood what Hydra did to those they considered to be their 'property'. He knew the fight would be hard. He knew he would probably see Icarus, and that the guilt of knowing Luna had let herself and Bucky be taken to protect him would eat him up inside, but he knew more than that, that he needed to get them out.

He, Wanda and Steve reached the outer perimeter of the base, all coming to a silent halt, taking immediate cover in the trees as an unmarked Jeep drove past them, fully of men in Hydra uniforms carrying automatics. Peter stood again, looking ready to storm the warehouse himself, until Steve whispered to him "Pete, we wait for backup." "But I-," started Peter, only to be interrupted by Cap "You think I dont want to storm in there too? They have Bucky. But we go in unprepared and we get them killed. How are you gonna feel then." In a voice which highlighted the non-negotiable element of his command, Steve said, "We circle back 50 feet, we wait for backup." Across the teams comms crackled Steve's hushed voice. "We've found the base, converge on my location, we follow entry plan 3."

AN

a short upload while i get back into the swing of writing ! i cannot believe this story is nearly at 100 followers, i am so very grateful for every single one of you.

see you next time

ERS xox