AN: Unfortunately The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has pretty much killed my interest in this pairing because it was so cold and there were so many inconsistencies. I honestly think it's the most depressing show I've ever seen. Sam Wilson did not get the respect or care from the writers which he deserved. Still, I thought I should try to find the will to complete this, considering I left it on a cliffy and only have a couple of chapters to go.
Because of the accords, Stark and Vision had to sit the non-sanctioned mission out. Thor knew it was one of the things Steve had been afraid of; red tape delaying time-sensitive missions. And he was right, because if they waited for the politicians to argue it out, Loki would be long gone. Banner didn't want to get involved, not in a fight that was in a densely populated urban area, the witch was the same. Steve and Colonel Rhodes were still not battle fit, not that Rhodes would have gone against the accords and taken part anyway. Wilson had gone MIA at the last minute. It meant that he had Barnes and Romanoff who were willing and able to back him up. He hoped they'd be enough.
Stark at least, had been good enough to look the other way when they helped themselves to a jet. Romanoff was piloting.
"What's the plan?" Barnes questioned, a large automatic weapon resting across his knees. He was an assassin, so Thor knew which way his skill set leaned. And honestly, after what Loki had done to Steve, putting Loki down seemed to be the only option. Thor had long since given up on getting through to Loki, and it felt like a case of 'them or us' now, the bad blood ran too deep. "Thor?"
Barnes using his name felt strange, and so did the civil tone. They weren't friends by any stretch of the imagination, but they did have an enemy in common, and more than that, they both loved someone who had been wronged by that enemy.
Barnes was watching him closely, waiting for an answer. The fact that he was even considering sparing Loki, spoke volumes about his regard for Steve. It was hard to love someone you disagreed with, but setting aside your own wishes to act as your loved one wanted, well that was a true demonstration of one's feelings. Barnes wanted Loki to die for what he'd done, but he was willing to consider other options, because Loki was the brother of his best friend's lover. And yes, like his own feelings towards Loki, the whole situation was very complicated.
"We know Loki is working with HYDRA, therefore he will know your history. He will taunt you and try to exploit any vulnerability you show. He's very good at it, but you cannot let yourself be drawn into his games. That's what he wants, to expose your weakness and to see you suffer."
"Some brother, huh?" Barnes said.
"Yes," Thor agreed. "He was once."
But Thor couldn't think about that now, Loki must simply be the enemy to him, not a wayward little brother. It was hard though, even after everything he'd done, but Thor didn't have a choice now, what Loki had tried to do to Steve was unforgivable.
"He is more powerful now than when I fought alongside him. I can't tell you all the dangers he presents because I don't know them myself."
"Then we don't give him a chance to strike first."
Steve had said the exact same thing last time and had almost died anyway.
"Don't underestimate him," Thor warned. "I know you are fast and strong and well-trained, but Loki revels in this, he loves power. He will do anything to secure his victory."
Barnes just looked him in the eye and locked his weapon.
"Then it's a good thing I'll do anything to make the kill."
xxx
Nat had a bad feeling about this. They were going into battle at nowhere near full strength. Of course she understood all the reasons that the others had to sit this one out, still the odds could be better. Wanda probably could've taken Loki out no sweat, but they'd left her behind because they couldn't afford to take her into combat on US soil, not if they ever wanted a hope of getting her legitimate citizenship. Plus Nat was still terrified of Loki sinking his claws into Wanda. He'd have so much ammunition to get in her head and mess with her. Wanda hadn't exactly been happy with the decision, but she understood.
They were coming up on the target, she had to focus completely on the mission now.
"You ladies ready?" she called to Thor and Bucky, both of whom replied in the affirmative. It was time to get this thing done.
xxx
Natalia was a great pilot, but the location Loki had chosen meant she had no room to land. The best she could do was get them close and drop them. Thor could fly and Bucky could jump, so it was fine. Bucky was used to simply doing whatever he needed to do.
Immediately, a bunch of HYDRA lackeys came up on them. They were easy enough to take care of, but the numbers meant it did take time, time they might not have. Bucky let Thor handle them while he pressed on, searching the building. Eventually, Bucky found Loki, catching him unawares in the open. Without a second thought, Bucky shouldered his weapon and opened fire, sending a spray of bullets into the alien menace. It was easy, but easy was good. He'd take easy after a lifetime of really fucking hard. Loki was down, and Bucky was all but ready to pack up and be home in time for tea, when he heard another voice, reciting a string of familiar words, and Loki suddenly vanished from right before his eyes. What the hell?
xxx
"Желание. Семнадцать. Ржавый. Рассвет. Печь," Ward recited. The Winter Soldier didn't look intimidating at all, after all the stories Ward had heard he expected more. In fact, the man was almost too pretty to believe any of it, and maybe that made Ward hate him all the more. "Девять. Добросердечный. Возвращение на родину. Один. Товарный вагон."
He was focused on the Winter Soldier, anticipating his compliance, anticipating Loki's gratitude, when the hit came from out of the blue. It knocked him flying and the last thing he heard was Loki's voice screaming the word 'no' from the shadows.
xxx
One of Loki's underlings was trying to take control of Barnes, and Thor couldn't risk that, it would hurt Steve too much. So he swung Mjolnir and eliminated the threat. The man went flying with the force of the blow, crashing into the wall and dropping to the ground with a thud.
Loki appeared, sparing a glance for the dead minion, and then turned a savage look on Thor, always like Thor was out to personally hurt and victimise him, but he would not have to do these things if Loki would simply choose the right path.
"Why do you take such pains to injure me?" Loki demanded. "What did I ever do to you, brother, that made you hate me so?"
Loki couldn't be that delusional, could he?
"You had me banished to Earth. You tore down half of New York. You usurped father."
"Petty grievances," Loki dismissed. As yes, perhaps Thor could forgive all that, but Loki's latest betrayal he could not.
"You tried to kill the man I love!"
"And what do you think you've just done to me?!" Loki screamed in a rage.
Thor blinked, taken aback, unsure what Loki meant, but then his eyes landed on the crumpled form of the man he had just saved Barnes from. Could it be? And then he saw the tears on Loki's face, and was sorry, against all sense and reason. If Loki was indeed telling the truth, he was horrified to have taken such a thing from him, two wrongs didn't make a right, but as always Loki had pushed him into acting badly.
Loki used his distraction to launch an attack. The blow connected hard, and Thor had no choice but to counter. It was kill or be killed now. They exchanged a series of heavy blows, until he got the better of Loki whose anger was making him careless. Thor was poised to deliver the final strike, when Loki sneered up at him.
"Kill me and you'll never find Odin."
It was the only thing Loki could have said to stay Thor's hand and Loki knew it.
xxx
Bucky hadn't felt nothing when the words were recited, but he hadn't felt the compulsion to comply either. In the time it took him to shake off the eerie feeling, Thor and Loki had engaged in a fierce battle. Steve was right about these guys, they were next level, and as Bucky watched the gods fight, it felt like the whole city might fall down around them. He probably wasn't a match for either of them, not that he'd ever admit that out loud. Thor was beginning to get the upper hand, and then when he was about to deal the death blow, he stopped. Bucky should have known it, Thor couldn't take out his own brother, not even for the man he claimed to love. As always, Bucky was going to have to do the job himself.
He threw himself into the fray, landing a solid hit on Loki that sent him skidding across the ground. He looked up at Bucky, something dangerous in his blue eyes.
"You're strong enough for a human, but you are no match for a god."
"We'll see about that."
Bucky increased the intensity of his blows, holding nothing back, kicking and punching with all his might. He was actually doing pretty good, until Loki got really mad.
"It wasn't my wish to see you dead, Soldier, but if the programming no longer works, then you are of no use to me!" Loki screeched, pulling a set of long knives and launching a savage counterattack. Bucky did his best to hold his own, but he wasn't used to being outmatched in speed and strength. He fought as hard as he could, using the memory of Steve's pain as his driving force, dodging Loki's blades, trying to land effective hits of his own. The best weapon he had now was his vibranium arm, and he blocked what strikes he could, but Loki was fast and skilled and managed to make a strike that knocked the wind out of Bucky. He gasped and tried to gather himself, knowing he couldn't win this fight, but he'd be damned if he wasn't gonna go down swinging.
xxx
Sam arrived on the scene, flying in high and fast, to find Bucky and Loki viciously battling it out. Loki was armed with a pair of long daggers which he wielded with expert precision. Bucky was quick though, and he was holding his own well enough until Loki lunged forward and delivered a hit which doubled Bucky over.
No. Not again...
Crashing through the window, swooping in feet first, Sam hit Loki at speed, sending him sailing away from Bucky. Sam's feet hit the ground, one of his wings failing to retract because of the damage it had sustained. But he didn't care about that now, all he cared about was making sure Bucky was alright.
"Bucky? Are you okay?"
Bucky turned towards him, and for a second Sam thought he was okay, but then he looked down to where Bucky's hands were pressed to his stomach and things that should be on the inside were trying to escape between his fingers.
Bucky looked down, pale-faced, frowning at the mess.
"That can't be good," he muttered before collapsing to his knees. It took Sam less than a heartbeat to get to him. He added his hand to the press of things trying to keep Bucky's insides where they should be. He helped Bucky down, so he was lying on the ground, at least this way gravity would work for them.
"Hold on, we'll get you help. Thor!"
Momentarily, Thor arrived at Sam's side.
"He needs a hospital." Sam knew Bucky's freedom would be lost, but better that than his life. Thor quickly ripped up his cape and used it to bind Bucky's middle.
"I know a doctor," Thor said, scooping Bucky up.
"Be careful," Sam pressed, he didn't see how this could work but they had to try. He squeezed Bucky's hand. "Don't you dare die before I get a chance to kick your ass."
Bucky managed a little smile for him. Sam would remember it for the rest of his life.
"Go!" he urged Thor, and then they were gone. There was no time to freak out, now he was solely responsible for dealing with Loki. Disembowelling would be the least of his worries when Sam was done with him.
He found Loki still on the ground, but he had moved across the room and was clutching the body of a dead HYDRA agent. Sam wasn't exactly sure what to make of it, beyond the fact that Loki looked beat. Then he noticed the fancy looking cuffs around his wrists that Thor must have clapped on him.
Suddenly, Iron Man and Vision arrived.
"Aw, don't tell me we missed all the fun," Tony quipped.
"And what marvellous times they were," Loki taunted, directing a malicious grin at Sam, despite the tear tracks on his face.
"I'm gonna kill you," Sam stated. If Bucky died, he planned to follow through on that.
"Give it your best shot then. Didn't do your friend much good."
"Shut him up," Tony ordered. Vision promptly hit Loki with a beam of energy. Unable to defend himself Loki slumped into unconsciousness.
"You got this?" Sam checked.
"Yeah," Tony answered. "What happened?"
"He tore Bucky up pretty bad. I have to go..." All Sam could think about was getting to Bucky before it was too late.
"Here," Tony said, sensing the urgency. He took a quick look at Sam's broken wing, poked a few things here, zapped a few things there, and declared it would do. Sam hit activate and took off, following the abnormal weather patterns to an old, brownstone building.
He let himself in the door and took the steps three at a time, following the sound of voices. When he got to the source, the doctor was on the phone.
"...bring a trauma kit," he said, ending the call.
"Loki?" Thor questioned when he spotted Sam.
"With Tony and Vision."
"You summoned them?"
"I thought you did. How is he?"
"Alive."
That was a start. Bucky was unconscious, lying on a table, a new dressing packed against his wound. Sam stepped forward, hands fluttering uselessly over Bucky's still form as he gazed down at Bucky's sleeping face with a knot in his gut. He would do anything to have those eyes look at him again.
"What do we do?"
"Christine is on her way," the doctor informed him. "She's a very capable surgeon."
Between one blink and the next, a blonde woman appeared, swaying for a moment as she clutched her bag. Sam didn't question it.
"Christine," the doctor greeted. She gave him an exasperated look, but then her eyes landed on her patient and she was ready to get to work.
"How do we anesthetise him?" she asked. "Local?"
"You can try," Sam said. "But drugs tend not to affect him."
"We don't," the doctor decided. "Just do it before he wakes up."
The surgeon looked frightened.
"You can do it, Christine," the doctor assured her. "I'll assist. Thor, be ready if he starts to wake."
Thor nodded.
"What can I do?" Sam asked.
"Pray," the doctor replied. "Alright, intramuscular layer first, then subcutaneous tissue, then outer dermis. Nothing to it."
She swallowed and picked up a needle.
"You'll need a bigger one than that," the doctor directed. "Super serum infused skin." She nodded and selected another. With an almost steady hand, she threaded the curved needle.
"It's alright, Christine," the doctor reassured her, laying a scarred hand on her shoulder. "Just take a deep breath. You've done this a thousand times before and he's more durable than most. Sew away." She nodded and began to stitch.
The first two layers were done and the third one started, when Bucky began to move.
"Hold him still," the doctor instructed. Thor did his best, but Bucky was quickly coming to. His eyes slid open and for a second he looked scared.
Sam held Bucky's face and leaned in close so Bucky couldn't see beyond him. He just needed to buy Christine a minute to finish.
"Sam?" Bucky said, voice quivering, eyes full of fear.
"Shh, yeah, it's me," Sam assured, smoothing his hands over Bucky's clammy skin. "You just need to hold still, okay? Just a little bit longer."
Bucky tried to sit up, but Thor wouldn't let him. The look in his eyes turned to panic.
"Hey, hey, c'mon," Sam soothed, rubbing his thumb over Bucky's cheek. "Just look at me. You know you can trust me." He needed to say something, anything to distract Bucky. "I went and saw my parents. Pop told me what you promised him. You didn't have to do that but thank you. I think Mom thinks we're getting married."
Sam had to smile at that because the absolutely crazy thing was that he didn't hate the idea.
That last bit finally caught Bucky's complete attention, his blue eyes locking on Sam's brown ones.
"We should probably date first."
"You asking me out?"
"All done," Christine declared.
Sam pulled back and looked at the imperfect stitching. It wasn't pretty but it would do the job, it just had to hold together for a day or two, Bucky was going to heal a lot faster than an ordinary person. Bucky looked down too, at the big cut that ran right across his abdomen from one side to the other, then let his head fall back on the table.
"Man, Steve was right. That Loki packs a punch."
AN: Yeah, I know there is at least one plot hole in this chapter, but it's the best I can do. I'm sorry.