Chapter 36:

Bucky quickly collapsed onto the mats he had been thrown in the direction of, falling at the feet of Icarus, who for some reason, remained neutral in her body positioning, evidently no longer restraining Luna, who lay collapsed at the edge of the mats, utterly disinterested in the crippled figure stood at her feet, looking only up to the viewing box above, seemingly awaiting her next instructions. Bucky shifted his body towards Luna, ready to begin slowly inching his way across the mats towards her. Yet he only lifted a hand to start the painstaking process, before a booted foot beat down on his back, Icarus holding him firmly against the matting, completely unable to move. Bucky felt almost regrettably glad that he didn't see that contraption taken off of Luna's eyes. The rage it filled him with made him want to be sick. But the next time he looked across the room to Luna and it was off of her, he couldn't help but feel relief. With all the shit they were having to deal with, it was the small mercies that were going to keep them going. In his head, Bucky reminded himself that Luna had her eyesight back, whatever ungodly poison they had used to blind her had worn off. They were both still in their own minds, they hadn't been taken over by the Black Moon or the Winter Soldier, and that was something. With a subtle motioning of his hand he asked Luna if she was okay, and he felt a wave of calm wash over him as she nodded her head, with a smile in tow. They'd survived worse. They'd survived this. They were going to get out of this. They were going to make it home. In spite of himself, Bucky couldn't help but allow a gritty grin to pull at the c corners of his mouth. He and Luna were going to win. Ignoring the boot pressing into his back across his shoulder blades, Bucky shifted his body up again, locking eyes once more with Luna.

Above the stretches of white that surrounded the Hydra base that Bucky and Luna were being held in circled a metal suit, oddly reminiscent of a falcon. "Okay Cap, what's the plan?" Crackled Sam Wilson's voice across the avenger's comm link. "Stick to the usual routine, we split into groups, flyers support each other and be ready for any evac call we may need. Keep your eyes open people. We're down Bucky and Luna, and for all we know, we may well find them in here. We don't know what shape they're going to be in. They are your first priority. We get our family back. Any questions?" Voices sparked to life across the comms, all confirming everyone was going to follow the plan and get their team home. Peter could see from the display inside his suit. Everyone was in position. This was going to happen. They were going to bring Luna and Bucky home. "Avengers," Cap's voice called across the comms, "Let's go bring our team home." Immediately the figures situated high above the compound, out of range of any sensors that could be waiting to pick up on any unexpected arrivals, all descended with such ferocity one could tell if they were flying, or in fact, falling. Blasts of power came from all different directions, Wanda hurling tendrils of red energy towards the designated entry point on the roof alongside a still recovering Vision and Sam. Tony flew close to the ground, charging at the armed soldiers blocking one of the bases entrances, alongside a sprinting Peter, while Rhodey flew in the direction of the roof, going to help team 3. Almost too soon Peter's fist had connected with the face of one of the guards and his spider-sense was screaming at him something ungodly. They were here. Luna and Bucky. Peter could sense it. Almost frighteningly quickly the guards protecting the Peter's way into the base found themselves indisposed. Behind Peter, Natasha and Clint were sweeping the outside of the base, looking for any Hydra operative who may be waiting to sound an alarm. It wouldn't make a difference really, because and Peter kicked down the steel doors in one blow an ear piercing siren began screaming above Peter's head as all the lights began to dim to red inside the compound. They knew the Avengers were there.

Just as Luna sent a wink across the length of the matts in Bucky's direction, she found herself pinned forcefully into the ground, surrounded by guards as a piercing sound screeched from the speakers in the corner of the room, and pure elation filled her. They were here. It was time to fight. She was so damn tired, every muscle in her body hurt, she desperately needed to eat something what wasn't mouldy bread or a protein bar, and she needed access to water that wasn't drugged, and a good nights sleep. But right now, fuelling her from deep inside of her soul, was her readiness to fight. She and Bucky were getting out of here. The Avengers had found them, their family had found them. And they were going home. For the first time since their capture, and since Luna had hurt Wanda in their training session, a spark of power fluttered awake inside of her, as slowly, Luna felt her powers creeping out of their forced dormant state, and in spite of herself, Luna let herself smile a little. She could feel her powers buzzing just under her skin, humming along in perfect harmony with the rest of her body. Go it felt good; like the moment your head breaks above the surface of deep water, or lighting a match in an oblique room. So, when the room around her fluttered into light, when the guards swarming the room yanked Luna and Bucky up onto their knees, threw them together in the centre of the mats, Icarus stood between them, set out as bait, Luna couldn't help but smile. Despite the heavy hands on her, despite the exhaustion, despite the pain and anguish of the last few days, Luna turned her head to lock eyes with Bucky, her irises glowing a dim purple. She smiled. Hydra may not have known about her powers before. But she was going to make damn sure they saw them now.

Quickly, and without him needing to request it, Karen adjusted the input levels of his suit, blocking out the drilling noise of the alarm, instead isolating the sounds of Peter's comm link. "Cap, Clint Nat and I are in." Peter spoke quickly across the comms, updating the rest of team on their position, knowing if things went south quickly, it'd help for them to know where everyone was. Everyone needed to communicate, now more than ever, after all, they needed to find Luna and Bucky, and get them out. But something was wrong. The base was quiet, too quiet. They'd expected to come across at least a few Hydra goons as they made their way through the compound. But no. No one. But before any of his group had a chance to speak to the team, Tony's voice spoke across the comms, "I know we're intimidating and shit,"

"Language" broke Cap's voice across the comms, "But where the hell is everyone?". Perhaps even more worrying, everyone seemed to echo the same sentiment. It was quiet. Too quiet. Peter opened his mouth to reply, but suddenly Karen's turned up Peter's outer input levels, and suddenly he could hear a voice speak clearly, bouncing across the steel doors and floors lining the hallway Peter was stood in.

"So, at last the mighty Avengers have come to bring their broken toys home. How touching." Peter's blood boiled as the callous voice called Luna and Bucky broken toys. They were so strong. Christ they were practically unbreakable. How dare Hydra call them broken, especially when they were the ones who had caused any damage was present. They were not toys. They were people. Just people. Good people who didn't deserve the shit that life forced unto them, the shit that Hydra forced onto them. They were getting them out. Peter didn't care anymore. Didn't care who got hurt, didn't care who he had to hurt. He was getting Luna and Bucky out. "It is a shame it took you so long. While I can promise you, we have had the most fun playing with our toys, I am not sure they can claim the same." Peter shut his eyes, rage making his vision redder than the lights flooding the room. He drew a deep breath in, allowing the rage, anger, hatred to drop away, and he focused. Focused on the night Luna fell asleep in his arms watching star wars. Focused on how it felt, in that moment, to realise his love for her and how deep it ran. His eyes snapped open, taking off, out of the blue down the corridor, his spider sense leading the way. Nat and Clint didn't even question it, they just nodded to each other once, their unbreakable bond affirming they would see that the other made it out of here, before following Peter down the corridor, in the direction of their family.

As the voice from the box above echoed down into the training room, Luna bristled at the words being said. But they brought no real fear to her now. Within herself she had found a kind of heady confidence, born out of something, although wether it was desperation and delusion, or sheer determination, she didn't know, or care. Her power was building up within her, she could feel it, a tempest swirling within her, demanding to be let out. She turned her head again to Bucky, ready to make him aware of her plan, to show him exactly what she intended to do, but instead, a boot forced its way into the side of her jaw, knocking her head violently to the side "Remember your fucking place, on your knees, at my mercy, Black Moon, it's where you have always belonged." Luna spat out a mouthful of blood, before looking up in defiance at the woman stood above her, eyes now shining a bright violet. "Oh don't worry, little birdie, I can't wait to clip your wings."

-an-

hello there my dear readers. i am well aware of how long its been since i uploaded last - but worry not - im back ! i wont make any promises about a new upload schedule, but know it will be at least once a week. This story is now slowly closing on an end, but dont fret - new ideas are already brewing ! if there's anything in particular you'd like to see, let me know!

love as always,

ERS xx