Chapter 19
Uh Oh
"Move!"
The sound of shattering glass and wood blasted all around us as the rapid fire of machine guns exploded through the thin walls of the apartment. Before I could even process it, I found myself planted face first on the floor as Bucky hovered over me like a human shield.
I couldn't help but scream as splinters of glass rained down all around us.
'What the hell is happening!'
Bucky grunted as he flipped me over onto my stomach before grabbing the table and throwing it upright against the onslaught of bullets. It didn't do much but that wasn't the point.
The icy barrel of a pistol nearly smacked me in my face as Bucky snatched my hands in an iron grip and wedged the weapon in my shaking fingers. Terror echoed in my voice as my blood turned to ice.
"BUCKY?!"
"STAY DOWN! DON'T MOVE!", he thundered into my ear as the hail of gunfire continued above us before army crawling across the kitchen and smashing the nearby window with his metal arm. I gaped after him, dimly aware of the bullets flying above my head as he watched him rip open the latch and quickly disappear out the broken window.
'…Did he just do what I think he did?'
My heart nearly jumped out of my throat when the front door was kicked in, locks and chains knocking uselessly against the wall as they snapped apart like cheap plastic.
My hands scrambled for the cold metal of the gun in front of me before snatching off the floor and holding it close.
'What the hell am I supposed to do with this? Turn into Annie Oakley and shoot everyone?!'
I slammed a fist to my mouth as my body shivered to the faint ringing in my ears and the pounding of my heart.
'Do I even have a choice?'
A beat of eerie silence followed. Gritting my teeth and knowing it was only a matter of time until I would be discovered by god knows who, I huddled further behind the broken table.
Sudden, heavy, footfalls boomed like thunder in the near silence as they echoed all around the house before stopping abruptly.
I sent out a quiet prayer before swiftly switching off the safety of the gun with a defining click.
In something less than half a second, a dark shadow loomed over my hiding spot as the table was flung across the room, spraying shards of wood everywhere as it crumbled upon impact. I lunged away before being mercilessly kicked in the back and sent tumbling to the ground.
"Ugh!"
The small gun in my hand slipped out of my sweaty grasp as I hit the rotting floorboards.
So much for saving myself.
Sitting up and throwing up my arms in front of me I was suddenly stopped by a jeering voice that cut through the air with all the grace of a chainsaw.
"Well if it isn't the little lady from the store!", I blanched at the familiar voice invading my eardrums.
Oh, you have got to be kidding me.
Before I could react a swift hit to my ribs knocked me across the table and away from the gun.
I coughed painfully as the gun was kicked carelessly to the other side of the room.
A hand suddenly wound its way into my hair before yanking. My neck cracked loudly as my head was thrown back.
I couldn't help as I cried out through my tears, my entire head throbbing painfully along with my still busted nose.
The feeling of cold, jagged, metal on my throat confirmed my worst fears. The taunting voice jeered again as they bent over me, giving me a great look at their face.
"And here I thought I told you to watch your step? Huh?", sneered the stranger from the grocery store.
I scowled blackly at him.
"Get off me!", I barked, a lot braver than I felt a moment ago.
Dark eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Hm…No, I don't think I will", he frowned quickly dropping the nice guy façade as he squeezed the knife closer to my throat.
"How did you even find us?", I gritted my teeth, both desperately trying to stall for enough time for Bucky to come back and partly wondering how Hydra was able to sniff out the Winter Soldier so quickly.
'It's probably my fault. Although, I sincerely hope Hydra doesn't have another Winter Solider in the works. Otherwise, we are both in deep trouble.'
"Well here's the thing, you could hide all you want but Hydra is everywhere and everyone. So, it was only a matter of time until you ran straight into us, literally", he tapping the knife to his chin thoughtfully, "Although it's a lot easier when your little face is plastered on every Hydra wanted database from here to Burbank in good ol Cali."
My eyes widened. Seeing my shock the man quickly used the advantage to shove me over, sitting on my legs. I tried to kick him off before he pressed the knife back to my neck.
"Now then, I am going to be a gentleman and ask you nicely. Where is the Asset?"
Despite it all, I rolled my eyes.
'Gentleman my ass.'
"I have no idea"
My pulse began to hammer against the cold kiss of the blade held against my throat as it drew closer.
"Last time, where is he?"
"I'm telling you I don't know! He left!"
"You know what, for every wrong answer I think I'll cut just a little bit deeper.", he hissed as he held the knife up for me to see. A gleaming silver hunting knife winked menacingly at me in the light.
"Sir."
I swallowed thickly as one of the men stepped apart from the group of goons thrashing what remained of the apartment.
"Anything?"
"Nothing of value."
"Forget it, doubt the Asset would leave anything important just laying around", he motioned towards the rest of the men, "Go help set up the perimeter. Fan out, be sharp, leave nothing to chance, and don't be shy to shoot the bastard."
"I thought you weren't supposed to kill us?", I questioned shakily, my bravo quickly fading me at this point as I stared hypnotically at my wide-eyed reflection in the shining blade.
"Oh I'm not. But I don't think I would be in too much trouble if I roughed you up a bit.", he grinned wickedly as he eyed the girl under him.
A shiver crawled up my spine at the predatory gaze.
'Bucky you jerk! Where did you go?!'
"Well, If you want him you are going to have to look somewhere else because he isn't here" I yelled desperately, trying to get his attention off me.
"Oh I trust me, we want him back but I'm not going to go on a suicide mission trying to bring down that crazy son of a bitch when I got my prize right here", he patted my head, grinning triumphantly, "Besides, at this rate the Asset is starting to become more trouble than he's worth. You, on the other hand, are becoming increasingly valuable to certain, hmm, how do I put it, influential people."
The floorboards nearly vibrated from the force of my groan.
"Ugh, not this again…", I spat.
The hand on my hair tugged sharply.
"Aw, come on. Don't be like that," the man cooed as he patted my cheek mockingly, "Now be a good girl and hold still for me", he added as he held up a vial. An icy feeling shot down my spine as the familiar, shinning, blue liquid swirled thickly in the weak light of the cheap electric lamp.
My eyes nearly popped out of my skull as panic exploded in my chest and my feral brain went on autopilot.
"Get off!", I shrieked.
"Hold still!"
"No!"
Kicking furiously against the body atop me I managed to wiggle myself free enough to free a hand from the iron grip to reach out blindly.
"Get off of me!"
"Damn it. Hey somebody come here and help with this!", he shouted, twisting around to call back to one of his companions.
Rough wood scrapped against my palm as I continued fighting as I reached out blindly for something, anything, that could help. Anger and fear blended into something potent as my hand wrapped around something.
"I. Said. Get. Off!"
It happened so fast that I barely registered it had happened until something warm and sticky was spilling all over my hand.
I froze in shock, the man atop of me doing so too.
Though in hindsight, he was probably as surprised about the small wooden stake jutting out in his neck as I was.
It took a second before his eyes bulged and his mouth fell open in an anguished scream. Rearing back in pain and clutching his neck as he continued bellowing in pain and rage.
With a scream of my own, I scrambled backward out from under the bloody man until my back hit the wall.
Wide eyes shot to the open door, waiting for a flood of wrathful men with guns to burst in and start swarming the cramped apartment like a hive of angry hornets.
Fortunately, there was only one wrathful man that rushed through the threshold and I couldn't tell whether I was supposed to feel relieved or angry.
The Winter Solider stormed through the remnants of the doorway like a tank as the floor shook under his heavy stomps, his old gear strapped to his person and his metal arm out in full view. The poor, broken door splintered under his boots, his eyes nearly pitch black, as he thundered towards the still wailing Hydra agent.
He didn't spare a glance at the stick sticking out the man's neck as he expertly flipped open a blade hidden from God knows where and swung it in a vicious arch without mercy. I still had enough of my wits to slam my eyes closed and wrench my face away when the thin red line began to blossom across the nameless man's throat.
A heavy thud echoed in the suddenly too still room, the only sound being my harsh breathing filling it.
My eyes popped open as rough fingers gently grasped my chin.
Blue met blue.
It took a few minutes of heavying breathing until I was able to swallow down the bile that threatened to come up every time I opened my mouth.
"Bucky", I breathed deeply, "where did you go?"
I reached out to grasp his hand that had moved to my cheek, lacing my fingers through his in silent thanks. He paused, glancing at their hands for a second before sighing heavily.
"Had to take out the machine gun"
It was my turn to pause.
"They brought a machine gun?"
"Yep"
I whistled.
"Wow. They're definitely scared of you."
"They should be", he growled as he helped me up before letting go of my hand and crossing the room in two large strides. I barely ducked in time to avoid a duffel bag to the face, "Start packing. We don't have a lot of time."
I blinked at the new bag that he had suddenly thrust at me before shrugging it off and throwing in the handful of items I had and standing.
"Ready"
He huffed in response as he ripped open a loose floorboard and retrieved his own bag from inside before pointing across the kitchen.
"Out the fire escape, the stairs are broken"
I leveled a look at him as I walked towards the destroyed kitchen.
"Do I even what to know?"
He leveled me with an unreadable look back before shrugging half-heartedly.
Well then.
I rolled my eyes before carefully going through the broken window and down the rickety metal staircase. The groans and creaks of the ancient metal seemed to echo in the soft din of the city and made me bite my lip as I slowly descended.
With a soft huff, I jumped the last few feet to the ground, careful to keep my balance as I waited for my ever grumpy and silent companion.
It took less than a minute before he soundlessly slipped beside me and snatched my wrist.
I flinched in surprise, not even having had heard even a whisper of noise.
'That's impressively terrifying'
He snatched my bag before walking ahead.
"Come on"
I nodded dumbly as we escaped into the never-ending sea of people.
…
"Hey, Bucky?"
He grunted against the silent night as we made our way towards the harbor. Our feet were nearly silent against the faint din of the city and the sound of lapping water.
"Where are we going again?"
"Away from that mess", he replied after a moment.
"Anywhere, anywhere? I frowned as I glanced around curiously.
He ignored the question as he continued walking soundlessly next to me, like a hovering shadow in the night.
It was quiet again for a moment.
"Are you ok?"
I couldn't help but snort.
"You're asking me now? After like, an hour of walking?"
The man rolled his eyes before turning away; although I could have sworn it looked like he was pouting for a second. I chuckled.
"I'm fine. No new broken bones or stab wounds to report Sarge", I patted the hand around my wrist.
He huffed before descending into thick silence again as he chewed on whatever was on his mind still. The grip on my wrist finally slid away.
"I do have one more question"
I raised an eyebrow.
"Shoot"
He spared me an unimpressed glance.
"What was he doing earlier?" Bucky wondered, motioning back towards the apartment.
"Honestly? Telling me typical Hydra stuff. Kidnapping, tell me the future, going to sell you, blah, blah…" I paused before looking back at the prone figure with a small glare, "Actually, I get the feeling he was going to try to take me himself while he sent the rest of them after you. He didn't seem the type to share. Called you crazy too."
He glanced at me from the corner of his eye.
"Is that why you stabbed him?"
"I wasn't planning on it", I muttered, clenching my teeth at my bloody hands before glancing away. Bucky glanced at my hands too before turning away to mumble something unaidable in what sounded like Russian.
"What was that?"
My brows furrowed in curious concern before shooting up into my hairline when I felt a large hand grasp onto my wrist, halting me in my tracks. I whirled around.
"Bucky?"
"We have to leave New York"
"We?"
"You need to stick with me."
"You still want me to come with you?"
"The target Hydra has on your back is bigger than I anticipated. Possibly bigger than my own right now."
"How do you figure?"
"Using heavy ammunition is restricted in standard retrieval missions. Those agents weren't there to take me back or if they were it was secondary to the actual mission target", he glanced flatly at me, "They were there to take you first and possibly eliminate me if they had the chance or at the very least distract me."
"That's stupid, I am just the tag along. Besides, wouldn't they have known that it would take a lot more than some low-level nazis with a big gun to take you on?" I answered flatly.
A small flash of what I swore was a smirk twisted the corners of his mouth before it dropped into a flat line.
"Like I said, most likely a distraction."
"Huh…That does make a lot of sense now that I think about it", I looked off for a moment at the glittering city lights, "Well, it's not like I have anywhere to go anyways. So, I am fine going wherever you go as long as you need me Bucky."
"Good", the feeling of cold metal suddenly was pressed into my palm.
I blinked blankly down at the gun in my hand.
"You do realize I don't know how to shoot this right?", I chuckled nervously.
"You were doing fine when you shot at me in DC."
My jaw dropped.
"Huh? You remembered that?!"
"Guess I do…"
Bucky paused briefly before continuing his stride.
"Come on", he urged before snatching my arm again.
I stumbled dumbly after him in amazement.
'Is his memory healing already?'
A small grin snuck its way into my face as I stared after him before dropping once I looked back to the pistol in my hand, tucking it away safely.
I couldn't help but sigh heavily, shaking off thoughts of the safe life that I once had taken for granted that seems to be fading more and more into a fever dream the longer I go on in this crazy place.
I watched the swirl of the dark docks absently as Bucky continued walking towards our supposed escape route. A part of me distantly wondered more and more about the reality of what was happening and how I would fit into the things I knew were to come.
'I don't think I am going back too soon. Especially like I am now.'
I sighed as my gaze wandered back over the cityscape of New York, mildly surprised when I could spot what I faintly recognized as the Avengers Tower apart from the cluster of skyscrapers. It didn't hurt that it was nearly the biggest one of them all with a giant A on it.
Nice job, Stark. Bigger is better.
I snorted to myself.
Not that there weren't supposed to be other important things in New York aside from himself.
'Let's test myself a bit. Hmm, there is Spiderman, Bucky, and Steve, SHIELD, those Defender guys I think, Dare Devil?.'
"I know there are more. It's like the hub of all comic books.", I muttered to myself.
'Ugh! I wish I had a time machine so I could just go back in time and never had gotten up that morning-'
My mind suddenly came to a screeching halt.
My jaw nearly hit the ground as the lightbulb over my head nearly exploded in a blinding flash.
'Oh, DUH!'
"Wait, wait, Bucky! There is one last place we have to go before we leave New York!"
He eyed me suspiciously as I ran to catch up with him, beaming excitedly. He crossed his arms.
"Where?", he asked, frowning a bit.
"The Sanctum", I exclaimed breathlessly.
"What the hell is that?", he frowned in confusion.
"Well, um. How do I put this? Ah-ha!", I rubbed my chin thoughtfully before snapping my fingers.
"How do you feel about a good old fashion magic show, Buck Shot?"
*Deep breath*
I'M BACCCKKKKKKK!
...and I am so so sorry. I have been dying to update this story after I heartlessly abandoned it for so long. I am not going to lie I had a lot of terrible things that went on during the majority of lockdown and this past year which completely robbed me of any and all creativity. However, things are back on track for me and so is this story.
Stay tuned because it's time for me to get the old hamster wheel that is my brain working again!
And a heartfelt thank you to all of those that have read, followed, and have stuck with this story for so long. You have my deepest thanks and gratitude.:)
Thank you so much!
Best Wishes,
Mara Gin