Chapter 16

[Bucky's POV]

I slammed the back door of the Hummer shut, feeling my rage grow more and more. It was the mechanic, the one that Tony had promised us was "totally chill" and his credentials were "sound". I marched over to the driver's side and yanked open the door, pausing slightly when I heard footsteps behind me. Instinctively, I pulled the Glock 17 I always kept in my back hip holster, and pointed it towards the human-sized door in the garage.

Wanda gave me a smug smile and cocked out her hip. She was decked out in her black corset, leggings, boots, and bright red leather jacket.

"No."

Wanda's smile faltered and she crossed her arms across her chest.

"Why not?" she demanded, her accent thicker than ever. "I told you to do this. I should be coming with you."

"I'm not putting another person in danger," I replied gruffly, putting my handgun back. I checked my armored vest one last time before I slipped inside the Hummer. Within a few seconds, Wanda was sitting in the passenger side. "Wanda..."

"What kind of friend would I be to you and Emily if I didn't come watch your back?" Wanda fired back. I was silent and she smiled triumphantly. "Now, do you even know where she is?"

"The abandoned warehouse on Miller and 3rd," I answered, pulling a folded up map from my pocket. I handed it to her as I added, "Target's name is Norbert Tangstum. He was that shifty mechanic guy that Tony hired a few weeks before Emily joined. Jarvis tracked his car to that warehouse."

Wanda stared at the map, her finger slowly drawing a circle around the building. "How do we know she is still there?"

"Norbert, ever since he started working here, has asked for only one thing: let me see the Winter Soldier." I flipped on the engine and it roared to life. Darkly, I said, "Now it's time for him to meet me."

:/:\:

[Emily's POV]

I shivered, moaning as shocks of pain arched throughout my body. I gritted my teeth and tensed up. Ever since the two madmen discovered my metabolism, every non-life threatening drug they could think of they shot me up with. Morphine, opium, even another round of zolpidem. There were never satisfied.

The good news was I was slowly becoming immune to the drugs, so the curare was wearing off. I could roll my shoulders, twitch my fingers. Everything was coming slowly, but it was coming.

Norbert and Joseph (the man in red) were loudly arguing with each other in the darkness. As quietly as I could, I started shifting the ropes back and forth across the back of the chair. The corner of the wood bit into the ropes and I could already feel them loosening up.

"Sir, we have a perimeter breach," a new voice broke through the arguing. I froze and I could see that they stopped too. "It's the Asset and the witch."

Wanda! I cheered in my mind. I calmed myself and focused on her, bringing forth a picture of her face. Wanda, please tell me you can hear me?

If I said no, would that be a yes?

I resisted the urge to burst out laughing, and instead gave a sigh of relief. Wanda, you need to go back. These guys are after the Winter Soldier. They will stop at nothing to get him. Go. Back!

Considering he would kill me if I even mentioned that, I can't, Wanda replied. We're about to come through the gates. We'll see you soon.

Wanda! I screamed, but she disconnected us. I growled in a low voice and clenched my jaw. I wasn't going to let her get killed.

With some newfound strength, I screamed and yanked at the ropes. They snapped, and I pulled out my claws, snipping away the ropes at my ankles. Norbert and Joseph turned towards me, disbelief in their eyes.

"Next time, chaps, don't piss off a mutant."

Gunshots rang throughout the building, but I was up in the air before the bullets could even touch me. I swarmed towards the dozens of men with guns, knocking each of them out as soon as I got close. For those farther away, I brought out Wanda's magic, using the auras to trip them or fire their guns at other people. I flew up towards the rafters and hid in a dark part, tucking my wings close to my back.

"Someone get her!" screeched Norbert. "Someone destroy her!"

"How sad," I said, my voice echoing throughout the building. I slipped to the other side of the building as gunshots fired at where I was previously. "Is the little scientist having problems?"

"Where are you?" Joseph yelled, his handgun raised high in the air.

"I'm everywhere," I replied, before catapulting myself towards the two men. Just as I did so, a large Hummer broke through the giant doors.

:/:\:

[Wanda's POV]

I flicked my fingers, sending three men into the wall and Bucky brought out his handgun, driving and nimbly firing at a few others. He slammed on the brakes and we both hopped out. Instantly, I spotted Emily fighting a large man with red hair, while a familiar face was scrounging through the papers on his desk. I stuck my hand out and watched in satisfaction as my magic tied the man up, preventing him from moving.

"I have the scientist!" I called out to no one in particular. When I turned, I saw the man in red was disabled, and Emily was lying on the ground, panting. "Emily...?"

"Man, I need a cheeseburger," she groaned, putting her hands over her eyes. "Or maybe a taco...hey, do you happen to know what the greasiest, most unhealthiest food in New York is?" I chuckled and motioned Bucky over with a finger. He knocked the last guard out and strode over to me. "Looks like you lost, Norbert."

"How is she holding onto me?" Norbert stuttered, looking at me with wide eyes.

"Maybe I'm a witch," I sneered, and he shrunk back a little. "Now, why don't you tell my friend here what he wants to know?" Norbert nodded frantically and Bucky took two giant steps forward, putting his handgun to Norbert's chest.

"Why did you want to see me?" Bucky demanded, pushing the gun farther into the man's chest. The man gulped and responded, "E-Everyone wants to see the Winter Soldier." Bucky flinched at the name and I saw Emily sit up, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Y-You're the Winter Soldier?" she gasped, and Bucky ignored her for the time being. He nodded to me and I dropped my magic, leaving Norbert unharmed.

"You are coming back with us," Bucky ordered quietly. "You will answer all my questions, or you will die a death worse than pain itself." Norbert nodded frantically as his face went pale. "Wanda, load him up. I'll be right there." I nodded and wrapped my magic around Norbert, walking away to leave the two lovebirds by themselves.