Katy lay on the floor in Sam Wilson's guest bedroom, staring at the ceiling, watching the shadows fade as the sun rose higher in the sky. The Captain had ordered her to rest thirty-four minutes ago, and she had tried her best to comply. Sleep was never something that came easy to her. More often than not, she required sedation to fully rest, but she knew that wasn't possible in the scenario she found herself in. She could hear shuffling coming from the kitchen, documenting the movements of the Captain and their new ally. He seemed trustworthy, but people could be deceiving. And clearly, she wasn't a good judge of character. Katy found her thoughts drifting to the Winter Soldier and where he could be. He had remembered her, at least to a degree. He said he had been told she was still defective…did that mean he had asked about her in the time they had been apart? Something about that made Katy's chest tighten in a way that was becoming a regular occurrence. Emotions were strange, but she decided not entirely unpleasant.
Footsteps outside the room had Katy's eyes snapping to the doorway, as she scurried behind the bed, reaching for the knife she had in the waistband of her trousers. As the door creaked open, Katy peaked over the top of the bed to find a familiar redhead scanning the room, clearly looking for her.
"Katy?" Natasha called out, slight panic in her voice.
"Are we under attack?" Katy suggested, standing up immediately, standing to attention.
"Oh…no. No, I just…I thought you were gone" Natasha admitted, making Katy frown.
"I wouldn't leave you or the Captain" Katy replied, bringing a smile to the older woman's lips.
"Why were you sleeping on the floor?" Natasha inquired, seeing the blanket by Katy's feet.
"It's where I usually rest. Beds are too…squishy" Katy responded, earning a chuckle from Natasha.
"Interesting word choice" Natasha snorted.
"I wanted to apologise. For fighting you…three times" Katy told her, sincerity in her voice.
"Well, just don't make it a fourth" Natasha grinned, coming to sit on the bed near to the brunette.
"How are your injuries?" Katy questioned, as Natasha gave a half shrug.
"I've had worse" Natasha responded.
"I'm glad. Your death would be unfortunate" Katy informed her, as another smile grew on Natasha's lips.
"How're you holding up?" Natasha asked, as the other girl mulled the question over.
"Are you concerned I will defect back to Hydra and betray you?" Katy frowned.
"No. I'm the last person who would judge you for your past" Natasha scoffed.
"Because of your past with the KGB?" Katy guessed, as Natasha's eyes snapped up to hers.
"You know about my that?" Natasha pushed, clearly a little uncomfortable.
"A little. What from your past could make you weak, your fighting styles…anything that could help an opponent beat you. And…you fought the Winter Soldier once" Katy explained, coming to sit on the bed beside her, perched right on the edge as if she wasn't sure it was allowed.
"He told you about that?" Natasha huffed.
"He shot his target right through you. He expected you must have had at least had some internal bleeding, yet you still ran after him. You were the only person who's got close to beating him in hand-to-hand combat" Katy told her.
"It sounds like I made a lasting impression" Natasha murmured, as Katy's frown deepened.
"…He'll have forgotten you now. I don't think…I'm not sure what he remembers of me" Katy admitted.
"You two were friends?" Natasha inquired, as Katy's lips twitched.
"I think so. He was good to me. Looked out for me…that's what friends do, right?" Katy queried, unsurely.
"I'm not sure I'm the best person to ask" Natasha replied, as Katy gave her a confused look.
"You and the Captain are friends. And you have the Avengers, a team" Katy pointed out, as Natasha pursed her lips.
"Truth is, no matter how hard everyone tries to befriend me, include me…I think I'll always feel like an outsider. A traitor" Natasha mumbled, shaking her head a little after the confession.
"Then perhaps we can be friends? Two traitors together" Katy responded, giving Natasha a soft smile.
"Well, if that's the case, you'll have to start calling me my name" Natasha prompted, watching Katy's eyes widen a little.
"It still feels inappropriate. You're my superior. It's disrespectful" Katy exclaimed.
"One thing that even I know about friendship, is that you have to be equals. I'm no better than you" Natasha stated, as Katy mulled over it some more.
"…You called Rumlow by his name. Does that mean you thought you were friends?" Natasha couldn't help but ask, seeing how Katy froze at the mention of the Hydra agent.
"He didn't like me using his title when we were alone" Katy answered, quietly.
"And uh…were you alone a lot with him?" Natasha pressed, the uneasiness clear in her tone.
"I made most of the other agents uncomfortable. They didn't like being around me. I'd hear them whispering sometimes. Freak. Metal Bitch. Rumlow's pet" Katy muttered, her lips drawn into a fine line.
"…Do you think that's all I meant to him? That I was just his…guard dog?" Katy asked, her eyes flickering back up to Natasha's.
What's wrong, Rumlow? Scared your guard dog might go rabid?
Natasha's words from the day before echoed through both their minds. A strange emotion flashed over Natasha's features. It seemed like guilt. Katy had always been taught such feelings made you weak, but she knew the woman in front of her was strong. Maybe even the strongest woman she had ever met. Katy was still trying to decipher if everything she had been taught was a lie.
"I'm sorry, for what I said. It was out of line. I didn't understand you then" Natasha exclaimed.
"I don't think I understand myself. I never needed to. I just did what my handler told me to. Helped them, fought for them, pleased them…everything else just seemed unnecessary" Katy told the redhead.
"Before all this, there was never any time you wanted something else?" Natasha questioned, as Katy was pleased to see there was no pity in the other woman's eyes.
"…I wanted to stay with the Winter Soldier. I still do" Katy admitted.
"Why?" Natasha inquired.
"It was the only time I felt comfortable. Safe. He felt like…home" Katy frowned, surprised by her own words.
"I'm glad that you had that feeling. Even if it was only for a little while" Natasha smiled at her.
Slowly, Natasha raised her hand, and inch by inch she moved it closer to Katy's shoulder. The younger girl tensed at Natasha's hand clasping her shoulder, her forehead wrinkled in confusion. It wasn't uncomfortable. In fact, it was quite nice, Katy decided. There was no expectation behind the touch, no need to respond, just a gentle feeling of someone being beside her. Natasha was trying to comfort her as a friend would. And something about that brought a smile to Katy's lips. The touch only lasted for a few seconds before Natasha pulled away and went to stand up. She was surprised when Katy suddenly leant forward to grab her wrist, a question on her lips.
"I need to ask you for something" Katy announced, still holding her wrist.
"A favour?" Natasha guessed, receiving a nod.
"My kill switch has been removed. And I am unable to decommission myself. I don't want to be taken back by Hydra. To have my inhibitor fixed—" Katy began, when Natasha pulled her arm away.
"What are you asking me?" Natasha frowned.
"I want you to kill me if the need arises. I would rather be dead than go back to what I used to be" Katy admitted, as Natasha shook her head.
"You can't ask me to do that" Natasha retorted, firmly.
"I have no one else to ask. I believe the Captain would not be able to fulfil my wishes. And...I don't trust anyone else" Katy explained.
"I'm not that person anymore. I can't do that" Natasha insisted, as Katy pushed herself to her feet.
"I don't want an assassin. I just want a friend" Katy pushed, as Natasha looked away with her, eyes burning with an emotion Katy didn't understand.
"Please…Natasha" Katy all but begged, taking a step forward.
"You're really something, you know that?" Natasha scoffed, noticing it was the first time Katy had used her name.
"…I'll do it. Only as a last resort" Natasha agreed, as Katy gave her a smile.
"Thank you" Katy nodded.
"And just so you know, asking someone to kill you isn't really how to make friends" Natasha muttered, with amusement.
"It seems to be working well so far" Katy answered, a lopsided grin on her face.
"I'll let you get some rest" Natasha announced, turning to walk away.
"I…I can't sleep" Katy admitted, rubbing at her arm in a way that seemed far too human.
"Neither can I" Natasha replied, an idea growing in her mind.
Thirty minutes later, and Katy was back to lying on the floor, a blanket over her shoulders and a pillow under her head this time. Her eyes flickered up to the bed where Natasha was sleeping, hearing soft breathing coming from her lips reassuring. It wasn't just the Winter Soldier she felt safe with anymore.
Katy stopped her pacing when she heard footsteps outside the motel door, quickly jumping into a fighting stance. Her ears picked up on the metal whirring of Buck's arm as the door sprung open, revealing the dishevelled man. Katy let out a sigh of relief, glad to see he was unharmed, her gaze falling on the paper bag in his hands.
"What's wrong?" Buck frowned, closing the door behind him, after one last look outside to make sure no one had followed him.
"You've been gone for hours. I thought…" Katy trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence.
She couldn't understand what had been so important that Buck had decided early that morning to venture into a town. They were on the run from Hydra, making their way cautiously towards the Canadian border, and every move mattered. Stupid risks were illogical. Katy wasn't sure what she would do if Buck was captured by Hydra. She had grown so used to him in the last couple of months. He had slowly become an anchor to her, keeping her connected to her human side.
"I went to a town far from here. I was not followed. I have something for you" Buck announced, taking something out of the bag and fiddling with it for a few moments.
Katy wasn't sure what she had been expecting but finding a chocolate cupcake with a candle stuffed in the middle, certainly hadn't been on her list. She frowned as he extended the offering to her, not understanding the gesture.
"You've jeopardised our mission…for a cupcake?" Katy inquired, her forehead wrinkled.
"It's not like the ones we had back in my day, but the woman at the counter said it was their bestseller. Here" Buck insisted, placing the cake on her palm.
"Why?" Katy frowned.
They had only just started being able to eat more solid foods, no more than a few grapes or a piece of chocolate, so between them, it was unlikely they'd be able to finish the cupcake. Maybe he was testing her?
"Do you know what day it is?" Buck questioned.
"May 1st" Katy replied, wondering why the date was of importance.
"And that doesn't…mean anything to you?" Buck realised, a flash of sadness etched over his features.
"Should it?" Katy pushed
"It's your birthday" Buck informed her, as she mulled over the information.
"The anniversary of the day on which a person was born, typically treated as an occasion for celebration and the giving of gifts" Katy pointed out, staring down at the cupcake.
"This is a gift?" She tried to clarify, earning a small smile and a nod in return.
"I…I've never had a gift before" Katy mumbled.
"I just remembered the date from your files and…I used to celebrate birthdays. I thought it might make us feel more normal" Buck explained.
"When is your birthday? I think I would like to give you a gift too" Katy exclaimed, looking at him expectantly.
"…I don't…it was…it's just blank now" Buck admitted, his jaw clenched.
"Then you should share my gift. That way we can celebrate both our birthdays" Katy insisted, taking a step forward, holding the cupcake in front of him.
Katy then swiped a bit of the frosting off with her fingertip, bringing it to her lips, feeling her tastebuds come to life. It still amazed her every time she ate something other than the usual sludge Hydra gave her. Taste was an incredible thing and she hoped she wouldn't lose it again. Buck did the same motion a few moments later, a grin growing on his face as he tasted the frosting.
"I think…I think I may have eaten cake before. I recognise the taste" Katy admitted, with wide eyes.
Her memories before Hydra were still practically non-existent, but certain things like muscle memory seemed to be growing back. Tastes, smells, sound…she really must have had a life before.
"Do you think anyone remembers us? Who we used to be?" Katy asked, after devouring the rest of the frosting, beginning to feel her stomach growing fuller, as she placed the cake of the drawer beside the bed.
"You seem pretty memorable to me" Buck grinned at her, as she shared the expression.
"…But everyone I used to know…they'll be gone by now. Even Stevie…" Buck trailed off, sadness clear in his eyes.
"I won't forget about you, Buck. Not ever. I promise" Katy announced, as their eyes connected.
Katy felt her chest tighten, her face beginning to flush a little under his gaze. She didn't flinch when he slowly raised his arm out, touching her shoulder, before giving a soft squeeze. Unsurely, Katy slowly went to do the same, her hand landing on his metal shoulder, watching surprise grow over his features for a moment.
"It doesn't scare you?" Buck asked, as she ran her fingers down the metal plates of his arm, shaking her head.
"It's just another part of you" Katy responded.
She held her breath for a moment when Buck suddenly leaned forward, his flesh arm wrapping around her shoulders. Something about the gesture seemed familiar to her. Her own arms slowly moved to rest on his back, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. A small smile grew on Katy's lips when she felt his metal arm wrapping around her, bringing her body closer to his chest.
"Even if they wipe me again…I'll still come back for you. I promise" Buck murmured, resting his head on her shoulder.
"I'm…I'm with you till the end of the line" Buck whispered, before pulling away suddenly, his eyes wide.
Katy noticed the far off look in his eyes, realising he had fallen into another memory. It took him a few moments to come back to reality, a beaming smile now on his face.
"What did you remember?" Katy asked.
"I said that to someone before. I'm just…I'm glad I found someone to say it to again" Buck admitted, as a genuine smile grew on Katy's lips.
Katy's eyes slowly flickered open a moment later, realising she must have fallen asleep at some point. The smile was still on her face. She turned to her left, able to make out the outline of Natasha still laying in bed, her chest slowly rising and falling.
Rookie.
Katy let out a yelp at the sound of Rumlow's voice, instantly jumping to her feet, her eyes scanning the room. Natasha had awoken quickly, grabbing a gun that she had been hiding under her pillow, raising it in the air at the invisible threat.
"What's wrong?" Natasha panted, seeing the panicked look on Katy's face.
"N-nothing. I thought…it was just a nightmare" Katy murmured, running a hand down her face.
She had been so sure she had heard Rumlow's voice, but that was impossible. Maybe she was starting to hallucinate? With her jaw clenched, she made her way to walk out of the room, deciding she had rested enough.
"So, how bad is it? How many S.H.I.E.L.D agents are actually Hydra?" Steve questioned, as the group sat down at the breakfast table a little while later.
"Forty-one per cent" Katy replied, as Steve almost choked on the piece of toast he had been eating.
"You're sure?" Steve tried to clarify, earning a curt nod.
"But how? How was it kept a secret for this long?" Natasha inquired, as Katy looked down at her feet.
"Threats were neutralised before they could become a problem. Hydra agents are not allowed to form attachments, and if they do, they themselves are neutralised" Katy explained, as Steve ran a hand through his hair.
"Still, there must have been incidents" Natasha pointed out.
"Correct. At times, large groups were removed. The biggest cull happened after the Battle of New York. It was easy to kill threats and simply blame it on the aliens" Katy informed them, making Steve frown.
"You helped?" Steve guessed, seeing guilt flash over the young girl's face.
"It was my first mission after my re-capture…I killed sixty-seven people in four hours" Katy admitted, as a tense silence grew over the room.
"You were being controlled—" Steve began, but she cut him off quickly.
"No. I had control over my decisions. I just…simply didn't care. I had a mission. Everything else was irrelevant" Katy told them.
"It sounds awful" Sam stated, coming to sit beside her.
"I was awful. But I'm not that person anymore. I want to help. I can help you infiltrate Hydra" Katy suggested, as Steve shook his head.
"Use you as bait? No. It's too dangerous" Steve retorted, watching Katy quirk an eyebrow.
"Was that an order, Captain?" Katy challenged, bringing a smirk to Natasha's lips.
"You heard her Steve. She's making her own decisions now" Natasha exclaimed, as Steve slumped in his seat.
"…So, what's your plan?" Steve asked.
"The Strike team are all Hydra. They know me. And I know them. Jack Rollins will be the easiest target, I know where he lives, what his weakness are…" Katy trailed off, as Steve's forehead wrinkled.
"Why'd you know where he lives?" Steve inquired, watching Katy's jaw clench for a second.
"Rumlow used to take me there" Katy replied, tensely.
"For what?" Natasha couldn't help but ask.
"Recreational activity" Katy murmured, as Sam noticed one of her hands had balled into a fist, her nails digging into the skin of her palm.
"What the hell does that mean—" Steve started, but Sam was quick to cut him off.
"Alright, you two need to finish up your breakfast. You mind helping me with the dishes, Katy?" Sam announced, pushing himself to his feet.
Katy instantly followed the older man into the kitchen, keeping her gaze down as she avoided Steve's eyes. She looked down at her palm, seeing a small speck of blood from where her nails had pierced her skin. She rubbed the blood away absentmindedly on the black trousers she was wearing and made her way to the sink. The pair soon entered a routine of Sam cleaning the dishes, before handing them to her to dry, a towel in Katy's hand ready and waiting.
"The Captain showed me your wings. They are very impressive…I expect you would be a fine asset in a fight" Katy exclaimed, as Sam quirked an eyebrow.
"I thought you might dig them" Sam grinned, watching a frown growing on her face.
"They are underground?" She inquired, as Sam's mouth fell open.
"No, I didn't…sorry. I'll try to use more literal words around you" Sam told her, watching her face fall even more.
"You don't need to change your speech. I'm just slow. Naïve. Stupid…" Katy trailed off, rubbing the dish in her hand so hard that it split down the middle.
Katy stilled, her body going rigid as her eyes darted to the man on her left, clearly expecting to be punished for her actions. What she wasn't expecting was for Sam to suddenly smash his plate on the kitchen counter, giving her half-shrug.
"They're just plates. No big deal" Sam reassured her, grabbing the broken plate from her hand.
"Did they tell you what my job is? Since I came back home?" Sam queried, throwing the broken bits of the plate in a black plastic bag.
"You counsel soldiers" Katy replied, earning a nod.
"You know, your kind of like a soldier. Maybe you'd want to talk?" Sam suggested, as Katy mulled over it.
"Why?" Katy frowned.
"It might make you feel better" Sam went on.
"I don't care about feeling better. I just want Hydra destroyed. And to find the Winter Soldier" Katy explained, going back to drying the dishes.
Just because she was human didn't mean she deserved things. But she did have promises to keep. A part of her hoped she wouldn't survive the fight against Project Insight. It would make things easier. Simpler. She always liked simple things.
"What you said before, about being stupid? Do you think that about yourself?" Sam pushed, making Katy scoff.
"Yes. For following my orders blindly, for not thinking for myself, for doing what Rumlow wanted me to…" Katy trailed off, with a shake of her head.
"If we stick to your plan, you know there's a good chance we might run into the bastard, right? Do you think your up for that?" Sam questioned.
"I'm not scared of him" Katy exclaimed.
"Maybe you should be" Sam stated, as Katy pursed her lips.
"I will not put the mission in jeopardy," Katy told him, a little offended he would think that.
"That's not what I meant, kid. I'm just worried about you" Sam admitted, patting her shoulder twice, confusing her further.
"You just met me. How could you care?" Katy frowned.
"Guess that's just me" Sam shrugged, making Katy tilt her head.
"You seem like a good man, Sam Wilson" Katy stated, earning a smile from the older man.
"Thanks—" Sam began, but she cut him off.
"It was not a compliment. Hydra will use that against you. It is a weakness" Katy warned him, finding that his smile didn't waver.
"Then I guess I'm happy being weak" Sam said, giving her a small grin before grabbing another dish to wash.
Katy wasn't sure why, but something about Sam's words brought a smile to her own face. She liked him. If there were more people in the world like Sam Wilson, maybe Hydra wouldn't exist. And if Hydra didn't exist, maybe there was a chance she could be happy again...
"I still don't get it" Katy murmured, having spent the last ten minutes listening to Buck describe something called 'dancing' to her.
"It's simple" Buck stated.
"But why do people do it?" Katy frowned.
"For fun" Buck went on, seeming to confuse her further.
"It sounds unnecessary…and sweaty" Katy pointed out, earning a huffed laugh from Buck.
"I swear, it's all I used to do on my birthday. Me and Stevie would find some pretty girls, and danced till our feet hurt" Buck informed her, with a small smile.
"But we have no music. You said there was always music" Katy pointed out, as Buck strode forward, approaching her with a determined look in his eyes.
"Just give it a try" Buck insisted, quirking an eyebrow.
"…I suppose…if it's tradition…" Katy trailed off, watching Buck's smile grow wider.
Despite herself, Katy found a smile pulling at her own lips, the gesture still seeming strange, but it was becoming more comfortable day by day. As was the fluttery feeling she got in her chest sometimes when her eyes connected with Buck's blue ones. He reached out to take her hand in his flesh hand, but before he could, Katy had leaned forward to wrap her fingers around his metal hand. It took Buck a moment, but he was soon intertwining their fingers, a little unsurely. He then moved her other hand to lay on his shoulder, before placing his palm against the small of her waist. All of a sudden, he was moving them, as Katy tried to follow in his footsteps. Her eyes flickered down to their feet, cringing every time her toes connected with Buck's or her knee bumped into his. She had a feeling she wasn't a natural at dancing.
"I don't appear to be very good at this" Katy mumbled.
"You're doing just fine" Buck replied, as her eyes snapped back up to his.
Something similar to a grin grew on Katy's face a moment later, her face flushing a little. Buck seemed to up the tempo after that, moving them around the room a little quicker, rocking them back and forth. Buck seemed so…happy. Katy decided she liked the look on him. All of a sudden, he spun her around, letting go of her waist, only to pull her back in, as she almost collided with his chest a moment later. A noise left her lips a second later, making Buck's eyes widen a fraction.
It was a laugh. A real laugh.
"I'm laughing" Katy exclaimed, through her giggles, excitedly.
"Yeah, you are" Buck grinned, spinning her around again, making her laugh louder.
"How did you—" Katy cut herself off instantly, her eyes snapping over to the window.
Buck could feel how she had stiffened under his hands, knowing her well enough to notice something was wrong. Katy's eyes flickered over to the bed, where she knew they had an array of guns, as she brought her finger up to her lips.
"Listen" She mouthed, her words no louder than a whisper.
Nothing.
There was no sound from the motel. Not their neighbours two doors down with a baby that stayed up all night, or the kids that had been spray painting the entrance to the motel twenty minutes ago. There was nothing but silence until—
Click.
Katy instantly lunged forward and pulled Buck to the ground, just as a bullet whizzed through their motel window, as glass shattered into the room. In a split second, Buck was gone and replaced with his Winter Soldier persona. He jumped up to grab a metal circular object that he had hidden within a nearby lampshade, and threw it through the broken window, before jumping back down and covering Katy with his body. A tremendous explosion from outside shattered the rest of the glass in the room, as Buck made sure to protect her with his metal arm, keeping the sharp glass from her skin.
"S.H.I.E.L.D?" Katy questioned, as Buck's eyes flickered over to the bullet casing nearby.
"Hydra" Buck replied, as they heard shouts getting closer.
"How did they find us?" Katy asked, hearing Buck curse under his breath.
"I must have been seen in town" Buck muttered, with clenched fists.
"What do we do?" Katy gulped, looking up at him with wide eyes.
"We fight" Buck told her, reaching out to grab her hand and pull her upright, a plan already forming in his mind.
The agents seemed surprised when they knocked the motel door down to find no inhabitants inside. Katy and Buck listened closely from the room next door, having crawled through the air vents that joined the room, and waited with bated breath. A group of six piled into the room, their guns raised in the air, as Buck's finger itched over the device in his hand. None of them saw the bomb in the corner of the room until it was too late. Just as the explosion ripped through the room, Buck ripped the door off of the room they were occupying, throwing one of his knives at an unsuspecting agent, hitting him in the neck, severing his carotid artery instantly. Bullets were raining down on them immediately, as Buck kept himself standing protectively in front of Katy, his arm covering his face. All of a sudden, Katy's hand sprung out, as the car park in front of the motel was illuminated in light. Two black armoured vehicles had come to life, with no one behind the wheel and were soon surging forward into the crowd of Hydra agents. The cars managed to hit four agents, with one being caught under the wheel of a vehicle, his bones cracking underneath the heavy machine. The rest of the agents scattered, with some falling to the ground, making them easy prey for the Winter Soldier. Taking a handgun out of his thigh holster, he gunned down the nearest three agents, managing multiple headshots. Now out of the line of fire, Katy made her way to his side, raising her rifle in the air and killing the soldiers that were still picking themselves off the ground. A whirring sound had Katy's eyes snapping over to Buck, finding a circular disk had been thrown against his arm, sparks now flying from the metal. His arm spasmed, his metal fingers dropping his gun to the ground, leaving him open to attack. Katy lunged forward to grab one of the knives from his belt, sending the weapon spinning towards the agent who had thrown it, hitting him squarely in the chest. Katy then reached up to rip the metal disk away, sparks burning at her fingertips as did so. With a cry, she managed to pull the weapon off his arm, throwing it to the ground, staring at her singed fingertips.
"Are you okay—" Katy's voice was cut off, as something collided with her shoulder.
Her eyes fell to the limb, widening when they saw a strange metal bullet had pierced the skin there. She let out a sharp cry when metal spikes suddenly came out of the device and began to bury deeper into her shoulder. She tried to claw at the advanced bullet, but received an electric shock in response, feeling it burrow deeper into her skin. With no one choice she could see, Katy pressed her palm against her shoulder, sending a shock through her body, causing her knees to collapse under her. The bullet was still wedged within her shoulder, but she could tell she had blown the device, but that wasn't all she had done. Her CNS was malfunctioning from the electric current, causing her vision to blur. She looked up to see Buck continuing his assault against the remaining Hydra agents, letting out a vicious growl as he slammed one man's head into the concrete so hard his skull cracked from the force. Over twenty bodies lay in the car park, but still more crept out of the shadows. The Winter Soldier was the best fighter she had ever seen, but even he couldn't take on an army of Hydra agents. Katy's eyes darted around the motel, desperately trying to find something she could use to even the playing field. It wasn't long until she found such an object, and crawled to her feet, almost stumbling over.
"Buck!" Katy cried, pointing over to the object in question.
He spun around, immediately realising her plan and racing over to her side. With a hard kick, he broke the fire hydrant in front of them, as water spilt out into the car park. Katy waited a few seconds, allowing the water to seep over the feet of some of the unsuspecting agents. She then sent her hand forward, sparks flying from her palm and hitting the spraying water. Screams erupted over the car park, as multiple agents fell to their knees, the electric current pulsing through their bodies. The agents who hadn't been electrocuted stumbled backwards, sending each other looks, clearly beginning to realise they were being outmatched.
"Желание" A voice pierced through the cold night, as Buck's head snapped up.
Katy felt a shiver go down her own spine at the fear in Buck's eyes, watching as he stumbled back a pace, the knife he had been clutching falling from his hand.
"Ржавый" One of the agents continued, clutching a red book in his hand.
"No…" Buck shook his head, his metal hand beginning to shake.
Katy suddenly realised what was happening. His trigger words. The agent knew them. Once he finished the words, Buck would be back under their control. He'd be empty again. Without a second thought, she grabbed his hand and began dragging him away, a desperate look in her eyes.
"Семнадцать" The agent called after them, as Buck clutched at his head with his flesh palm.
Bullets had begun to rain down on them again from the rooftop, multiple snipers watching their every move, trying to stop them from getting any further. A bullet sliced past Katy's forearm, causing blood to splatter over the pavement, but she still didn't stop.
"Рассвет" The agent yelled, as Buck's feet came to a halt.
"What are you doing?! We have to keep going!" Katy exclaimed, seeing how Buck's bottom lip was quivering.
"G-go…Now" Buck insisted, as she shook her head vehemently.
"No. No! We stick together—" Katy began, but he cut her off, dropping his hand from hers.
"It's too late. This is the only way" Buck told her, as Katy felt her vision begin to blur.
"Печь" The agent continued, beginning to gain on them now.
"Please don't do this. I can't do this without you!" Katy cried, feeling something wet dripping down her cheek.
Buck reached out to touch her cheek, his blue eyes filled with sadness, as he brushed the tear away from her cheek. It was only then Katy realised she was crying. It hurt. It hurt so bad.
"Девять" The agent went on, as Buck's face crumbled, wrenching his hand back and clutching at his chest.
"Please, Katy. Go…I don't want to…to hurt you…" Buck begged, as he dropped to his knees.
"I'll save you. If it's the last thing I do…I'll save you" Katy sobbed, before turning on her heel and racing away.
She could hear the agent shouting the words, combined with Buck's cries as she pushed on. She could see the metal fence behind the motel, which she knew led into the woods. If she could make it into the treeline, she knew she could make it. She had to. For Buck. Blood was still dripping from her shoulder, as she made it to the fence, meaning she had to use her other arm to hike herself up. Once she scaled the fence she could—
A gasp left her lips as she felt a burning pain shot through her abdomen, watching as blood began to pool underneath her shirt. The bullet had flew straight through her, now lying in a puddle of blood in the grass. Katy's legs crumpled underneath her, as she remained clutching onto the fence. Suddenly, she was being wrenched back by her hair and thrown onto her back. Her vision had blurred when she felt a metal hand wrap around her neck before she was hauled off the ground, her legs now suspended in the air. Her eyes connected with familiar blue ones but found no recognition behind them. There was nothing but coldness there now.
"B-buck…" Katy stuttered, grabbing onto his metal arm with both her hands, having barely any energy left.
"That's enough, soldier. Mission complete" A gruff voice announced, as Buck's palm opened and she was dropped to the ground.
Katy was slowly slipping out of consciousness when she felt something being pressed against her stomach, her eyes fluttering open to see a bearded man pressing a large piece of gauze to her wound. The Winter Soldier was being cuffed by another man, who looked like he was close to pissing his pants as he was forced to manhandle the taller man.
"You got her, Rumlow?" The man asked, as he began to lead Buck away, who complied easily.
"Yeah" The man pressing gauze against her wound nodded, looking back down at Katy with a strangely fond gaze.
"I gotta' say, I'm impressed. Glad we'll have you back on our team soon, kid" The man grinned at her, as Katy's eyes fluttered