Chapter 6
A single overly armed truck waited outside the wood log arch that signalled the exit of the base. The truck was clean but clearly not new with small dents and miniature scratches lining the surface. Most of the newly named Howling Commandos stood freshly armed with immaculate, dangerous looking weapons courtesy of Howard Stark.
Timothy Dugan was the first to notice the approach of Bucky Barnes and a woman beside him. Dugan instantly recognised her as he commented to the others, "Why's Barnes with the dame from the bar?" At the question Jim Morita shrugged.
Dugan in his impulsive nature shouted, "Hey there sweet cheeks!"
To this James Falsworth cringed stating, "That's no way to address a woman."
Dugan scoffed, "Calm down England. Ladies love the direct approach."
Barnes and the woman reached the group. Dugan leaned against Bucky's shoulder, oblivious to his annoyed expression, "Barnes why haven't you introduced us to the pretty lady?"
Gabriel Jones had stood up from his examination of his new gun and asked, "Is she your girl or is she available?" at the question both Bucky and Annie flushed.
The men tensed as they heard a deep authoritative voice of their leader, Captain America answering, "No, my sister is not available."
They turned to face the agitated Steve no one had noticed arrive and then back to Annie. The group recounting the similar traits the two shared.
Annie's voice let the men's heads settle on her, "Hello, I'm Annie."
"And off limits", Steve added.
Annie shook her head not really surprised and then clarified, "And your tactical strategist. I'll be helping with the planning of your missions." She shook their hands as the Howling Commandos stated their names and she tried to remember them.
After introductions, Steve called, "Get ready to head out." The men slowly edged to the vehicle as Annie approached Steve.
"Be careful, ok?"
Steve smiled, "Don't worry, I've got these idiots to look out for me."
Annie huffed before placing her hands on his shoulders warning, "Remember that even though you're some sort of super-soldier that doesn't mean you can't get hurt. So don't go getting yourself killed or I'll have to go all the way to hell just to scold you, idiot."
Annie reached up further than she had ever had to with Steve to plant a kiss on his cheek. She then turned to Bucky pointing threatening, "The same goes for you."
Bucky smirked, "Are you joking? I would come all the way back myself just to hear you yell at me."
Annie slapped his arm attempting to drown her smile. The mood grew serious as Annie's face dropped with her tone, "Just be careful, you'll be in HYDRA territory. Come back," she finished as she pressed her lips against his cheek as she had done to Steve.
Bucky's grin fell as Dugan called out, "Do we all get a kiss?"
But it returned as he heard Steve yell, "No!"
Annie chuckled before stepping away from Bucky so he could climb in the truck. With Gabriel at the wheel and the rest fitted into the back, the ignition sounded, the rumbling too loud for their mission.
Bucky rolled his eyes at the numerous suggestive glances and winks sent his way. After an hour long ride and a thorough debriefing of the mission. The team was new and stabilising but they were sure in their leader, the man to which all of the owed their lives.
After their first successful mission, they had been ordered to meet with Colonel Phillips the following morning. Which left Captain America and his Howling Commandos here on the training ground, stretching and yawning away their remaining tiredness as they waited for what Colonel Phillips had in store for the new team.
Instead of the aged Colonel, the elite team was greeted by an impeccable Peggy and a busily writing Annie. "Good morning gents," The brit welcomed. The Howling Commandos responded with respectful nods knowing Peggy Carter to not be a woman to sass.
Annie rises from her clipboard to smugly notice the goofy smile Steve sent to Peggy. The brunette returned the smile before directing her attention to the group, "Now as our elite team, the Colonel has decided, under advisement-" Peggy adds glancing at Annie knowing full well that this was all her idea. Whether she convinced Colonel Phillips with the intention to keep Steve as safe as possible or for enjoyment purposes.
"That you will receive special training in a range of combat styles. You will have these training sessions at least twice a week, four for the Captain when on the base. Your specialised trainer will arrive in a few days, so for today I will be in charge of your training session." Annie could see the twitch of delight on her painted lips.
Annie watches amusedly as Peggy confidently approaches Steve, explaining, "You will partner up and learn how to use your opponent's strength against them. Captain if you don't mind?"
Peggy removes her jacket and waits for a slightly uncomfortable Steve to approach her. She encourages, "If you will engage Captain."
Steve squares himself before somewhat timidly lunging at Peggy. The woman moves to the side while grasping his arm and twisting him onto the ground with ease. Annie grins widely, this is why she was here. Peggy kindly offers Steve a hand up and a smile. Peggy turns to the others,
"See you use their momentum against them. Now find a sparring partner and rotate between one person attacking and the other on the defense. Because I will be training the Captain, one of you will need to partner up with Annie."
"What? I was just here to watch you beat up Steve!" Annie exclaimed.
Peggy ignored the comment and turned back to Steve, who had a firm glare set on his sister. Annie turned to see the members of the Howling Commandos perk up.
Before any of them could approach Annie as a partner Bucky jogged up towards her shouting, "Sorry lads but she's mine."
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders causing her to almost lose her clipboard. "Come on," he motivated and he stole her clipboard and set it down. Annie sighed before removing herself from his arms and taking off her jacket as Peggy had done. She stood opposite him readying herself for his attack.
Bucky prepared himself to defend with his signature amused expression. "This was completely your idea wasn't it?" Bucky clarified.
"Of course it was. If you and Steve continue just running into danger, I going to make sure you're as ready for it as possible. Plus that," Annie gestures with her eyes at Peggy once again slamming Steve onto the ground.
Bucky chuckles at his best friend losing to a woman almost half his size. With Bucky distracted Annie lunged at him, hoping to throw off his balance. But as soon as she started moving his smirk was once again on her. His hands wrapped around her upper arms and twisted her gently onto the ground. Usually, the element of surprise worked on most men but Bucky knew her too well.
With a thump, Annie landed on the ground with Bucky's hands still holding her arms. She frowned at him accusing, "Are you babying me?"
"Well, we can't get you all scratched up now can we?"
Bucky heaved her upright, "Yes well I hope you give the same courtesy to the enemy. They may swoon at your gentlemanly ways and switch sides."
"I can hope," Bucky teased.
The collision of the ground and men's backs could be heard around them as Annie readied for Bucky's approach. "Why did you choose me as a partner? Wouldn't it be more educational to pick someone closer to a HYDRA soldier? Last time I checked they didn't employ short women."
Bucky made a quick attack, most likely hoping to win with agility rather than strength. That was his mistake. Annie swiveled under his grasping arm and used it to flip him downward, onto the ground less passively than he did.
Bucky looked up at Annie's grinning face, answering, "Their loss." Annie crossed her arms, "I know you let me win. You could've easily escaped my awkward grip of your arm."
Annie helped him up as he confessed, "Okay, you got me. I didn't want any of those guys sparring with you. I don't know if I trust them enough yet." With the final statement, he glanced at Dugan, who laughed loudly as he helped up Tim. Annie ignored the little leap in her heart. It annoyingly did that when Bucky was protective. Actually, it did that when Bucky did much of anything.
Annie with hands on her hips retorted, "And why should I trust you?"
Bucky held his hands up in surrender, "Okay, okay. I won't hold back this time."
She gave him an unsure look before his charming grin won her over. "Okay."
Bucky exaggeratingly motioned his attack making Annie shake her head good-humouredly. He pounced towards her and Annie dodged once again but to the other side to get a firmer grip on his arm. She twisted the muscular arm upward to flip him with a flash of his cocky face Annie's arm was grasped by his free hand and she was pulled down with him.
Both tangled on the ground, Annie landing half on top of Bucky. His torso shaking as he laughed at her confused face and messy hair. A silly smile strained onto Annie's face as she jokingly smacked Bucky's chest. Her lips gave way and her own laughter burst out until a snort ripped through her nostrils. The laughter gave way to a sudden moment of silence. The two stared at each other before their laughter returned twice as strong, neither bothering to move.
Bucky wheezed in between laughs, "Your …face and your-you….sn-snor-"
Annie could barely hear Peggy announce, "Training is over for the day."
Bucky and Annie manage to find their way onto their feet and are met with Peggy's knowing gaze. Their laughter ceases and Peggy says, "That will be all Sergeant Barnes."
Bucky nods and whispers quickly to Annie, "For the record I won."
"Okay Buck," Annie chuckled. She ignored Peggy's raised eyebrow and called over Steve.
"Yes," Steve answered as he dusted off his dirt-covered pants. Despite the number of times he was flipped by Peggy, he showed no sign of fatigue or breathlessness. Annie felt a wave of relief at his lack of asthma symptoms.
"My turn now Steve," Annie smirked excitedly.
"For what?" Steve questioned with a delightfully quirked expression.
"I'm going to be teaching you tactical planning."
Peggy added, "Ordered by Colonel Phillips. Annie, I'm leaving him in your capable hands."
As Peggy left Annie placed her hands on Steve's unsure shoulders, the wicked expression never leaving her face, "I'm going to teach you everything I know."
Over the following months, the Howling Commandos dominated through the HYDRA territory, fighting and thriving even against the dangerous energy-based weapons of HYDRA. As a team they had brought down numerous facilities, bases, and factories, gradually weakening HYDRA's resources.
Steve cautiously trod through the winter nipped forest, the absence of leaves still not assisting him in noticing the looming HYDRA agent in the tree line. He strode on, his heavy boots crunching over the freshly laid snow. The sound of his footsteps disrupted by a shot and the collision of a body with the ground.
Steve's vision flicked to the dead body clad in leathers and sickly blue glow of his weapon. Steve turned to where he knew Bucky was hiding with his sniper and saluted him a thank you. With that, they had cleared that area and with the sun setting too soon to return back the Howling Commandos collected and organized a camp beside their truck.
With the sun down and the area clear of all threats the men set up a warm fire in the center of a circle they sat in. Some content on the twig scattered floor others created a seat with a fallen trunk. Timothy Dugan began retelling a story of a few months previous loudly. One that had already been told but most were content to listen once more. Bucky not wanting to listen again but not wanting to interrupt stood up to gather wood for the fire. He didn't go far from the camp, mindlessly collecting twigs and branches as he saw them. The chill in the air mixed with the scent of pine needles that patted the forest floor. His mind never strayed far from one topic, Annie. Even when she wasn't there, thoughts of her swirled in his mind, her face filling every corner of it. Bucky was almost certain that this girl was driving him insane.
"I know", the deep voice of Steve made Bucky jump. The insinuations of what Steve had just said sent Bucky's mind into a frenzy.
Bucky attempted to plaster on a confident smile asking innocently, "You could kill a guy sneaking up on him like that."
Dread took its place in Bucky's throat as he realised Steve wasn't buying what he was selling. Steve just remained perfectly still, with that serious expression Bucky knew was not good for him. "I know Bucky", Steve stated again.
Bucky's heartbeat shot up as he wished he had had his revelation before Steve was able to physically kill him. Steve pushed himself off the tree he was leaning against and slowly stepped towards Bucky.
"You said her name," He clarified. Bucky still looked confused and panicked. Steve continued, "When you were out of it on that table and I was rescuing you. When you came to your first thought was of Annie. Then there was the bar. Which I don't want to see again. But what told me was that." Steve pointed to Bucky's chest, he realised Steve was referring to the handkerchief, safely tucked away in his pocket.
Bucky's free hand moved to rub his fingers over the small corner of the handkerchief that poked out from his pocket. Steve noticed the action like he noticed it many times before.
"Just the fact that you keep that with you everywhere and stare at it all the time, it's pretty obvious Buck."
Bucky for once the nervous one spat out, "Look Steve, it just happened, I didn't even notice and I didn't do anything and I wasn't going to – I mean I – it's."
"Bucky it's fine," His face softened.
Bucky's fingers subconsciously brushed the textured fabric of the handkerchief as if hoping some reassurance will seep through into his skin. "Steve, when I thought I was going to die in that cell, the only regret I had was never telling Annie I loved her."
"You what?" Steve spat in disbelief. Bucky snapped his gaze to Steve surprised by his shock. Shock dripped off Steve's face as he stumbled, "Y-you love Annie?! I just thought you liked her but- Bucky?"
Bucky in a mode of panic dropped the wood he had collected and responded, "You said you knew!"
"Yes that you liked her not love! Of all the girls you could have fallen in love with did it have to be my sister?!"
"I didn't plan on this", Bucky justified.
"What about all those other girls you went out with?"
"I can't choose which girls I fall in love with and which I don't," Bucky shouted.
Steve raised his hands in front of him steadily, "Okay, I-um hadn't expected that."
"Sorry", Bucky puffed.
"Bucky what I came here to say and this… development doesn't change that is, I'm okay with it." Steve said in a calmer state.
Bucky's deep blue eyes widened at his friend, "You're okay with it?"
Steve placed his hand on Bucky's shoulder, "I guess I always kinda knew Annie wasn't going to stay with me forever and I trust you. You've been there for me, but you've also been there for Annie." A moment of sincerity was shared between the two men but was ended with, "But if you hurt her I'll kill you."
Steve grinned at him, but Bucky's face remained strained. It was so tempting with Steve's approval to say screw it and pull Annie into his arms the second they got back and never let go. But he would let go. He would continue to fulfill his promise to Steve, and he would leave her for dangerous missions for days. He couldn't do that to her.
"Steve I can't," Bucky sighed.
Steve's face dropped. "Buck I'm not really going to kill you," He tried to joke.
"Steve, 2 months ago I was in a HYDRA prison, sure I was gonna die. I thought about her for days, imagining a life we could have had together. Now I'm out here again and with the guy who has become a brother to me and we're taking down these Nazis. But I still can't offer her that life. Someone else could but all I can give her is days away and worrying I'll never come home."
"Buck I- you know you didn't have to-"
"No punk, you're not getting rid of me that easy. I made you a promise and I meant it," Bucky cut off Steve with nothing but seriousness.
But Steve didn't drop the concerned look on his face. Bucky was loyal to a fault. But Steve also knew Annie. He saw the way she looked at Bucky. For so long he wanted to deny there was anything between his sister and his best friend, now he couldn't miss the googly eyes they made at each other.
"You could just tell her and let her decide want she wants," Steve shifted to collect the kindling twigs Bucky had dropped into one arm and placed a firm pat on Bucky's shoulder. Steve moved back towards the camp and the distant cheerful chatter of his men.
Bucky leaned against the rippled bark of a pine tree. His face twisted with thought over Steve's words.
What was he going to do?
Just thinking about it started a whirlwind on contradictions in his head. Every time they left for a mission Annie was there to wish him and Steve well and demand they come back. As she leaned up to him as she always did to press a soft kiss to his scruffy cheek, Bucky would tense as he hopelessly went through the possible repercussions of confessing the truth.
If he told her, he could be outright rejected and then Annie would avoid him. Or she would tell him that she already had someone and then avoid him. He could kiss her and she could slap him …and avoid him. This fear-spiral of all the things that could go wrong frustrated Bucky immensely as he felt like all his charisma and experience with women just drained away. All of his worries and doubts thought they had a right to flutter about his thoughts preventing him from taking action. But after Bucky had thought through all of his worries he ended on his favourite outcome, where the world decided that he somehow deserved it and Annie would say yes and kiss him happily. Just the thought had his chest swelling and warmth reaching his fingertips.
This particular morning Annie approached as she always did before they left for a mission. But as she grew closer Bucky noticed her abnormal clothing. Her long hair was pleasantly pulled back into a ponytail. Instead of her ordered woman's military skirt and jacket, she wore a rougher jacket over similar khaki green pants and sturdy boots that ended just before her knees.
Bucky finally dragging his daze to the other Howling Commandos they all wore mimicked faces featuring scrunched eyebrows. Steve and Bucky both reached Annie at the same time staring down at her with questioning gazes. "Annie what are you doing?" Bucky asked.
"I am coming on this mission with you," she stated.
Both Steve and Bucky responded with a stern simultaneous, "No." Their tones matching their faces.
"I'm sorry Captain, Sergeant but you have no control in the matter." The two men looked at the voice of the man nearing, Colonel Phillips. Bucky frowned not particularly liking where this was going.
Annie explained preferring to answer for her actions instead of the Colonel, "There is some tactical resources and information we need to gather on this mission. It needs to be done fast and right, so I am going because I know what to look for."
At the idea of Annie in a battlefield, susceptible to injury or even death, a strong wave of fear shot through the entire length of his body. Causing him to answer harshly, "WE are not gathering anything."
Annie's mouth dropped at Bucky's reaction but the hereditary determined glint in her eye remained as she replied angrily, "Bucky this is not your decision to make."
Steve then stepped in and towards the Colonel he enquired, being the less hot headed of the three, "Colonel isn't there some other strategy consultant who can go?"
Phillips smirked, "Not one better with a gun or knows better what we need." He proceeded to walk away as he added, "If you didn't want your sister to go then you shouldn't have let her be so handy with a weapon."
Bucky and Steve flicked their skeptical gazes to Annie as Steve said, "I didn't think she was."
Annie returned their looks with her own stubborn one, "Do you think that they wouldn't train people who joined the army?" Bucky annoyingly couldn't deny that it was probably truth about the training and her ability. Annie had always picked things up quickly.
Howard Stark neared as Bucky was lost in his thoughts. Bucky was shocked when he noticed Stark giving Annie a huge automatic gun that looked too large for her but she handled it easily.
"This is the one you liked from the shooting range yesterday, right?" Stark more stated than questioned.
Annie looked down at the weapon nodded, "Yes it is. Thank you Howard."
Bucky did not like Annie calling Stark by his first name but he was more concerned about how he found Annie naturally wielding a deadly weapon surprisingly attractive.
Saying goodbye to Stark she moved on towards the truck in which the rest of the Howling Commandos were filing into. Steve and Bucky shared a looked before turning begrudgingly and followed. Bucky couldn't help it as his gaze drifted from Annie's back downwards in those pants.
This was going to be a long mission.
"You going to glare at me all day?" Annie raised a pointed eyebrow in Bucky's direction as he glowered beside her.
The group of Howling Commandos sans Steve were nestled behind a thick patch of trees and shrubbery. James Falsworth watching Steve efficiently take down the HYDRA perimeter guards through a pair of binoculars.
"I'm not glaring," Bucky tightly responded.
"I can feel your eyes burning into my skull," Annie matches his gaze as he once again starts glaring at her. Her lips press together and her eyes narrow and Bucky knows this means she is not going to move on this. "Buck, we need some solid intel on HYDRA so I made the decision to come on this mission."
"You could have just told me what you needed," Bucky grumbled.
"This base is suspected to be a sort of post office for HYDRA with a lot of info in there. I don't know exactly what, but I'll know what's important. We can't risk missing anything because we only get one chance at this."
Bucky's fear was seeping into frustration. "You just brushed over the part that this is a guarded HYDRA base. What if you get hurt?"
"What if you get hurt? I watched you and Steve run off into danger for months and now I can finally really help. You do not get to tell me it's too dangerous, it's literally part of my job to weigh the dangers. I am a grown woman and Bucky Barnes you need to respect my decision."
Bucky dropped his head in resignation before rubbing a hand through his hair irritably. His usually perfect look all messed up. This disheveled hair matching his turbulent insides. He knew she was right, and he knew it wasn't fair to freak out about her being in danger when he had been doing the same thing for months. But that didn't stop his insides from feeling like they were twisting him all up. And it certainly didn't stop the desire in the back of his head to just pick her up and run to a nice part of the Swiss countryside and live together in a log cabin.
"You're right," Bucky sighed. "Why do you always have to be right? It's so annoying."
Annie opened her mouth to say what was likely a witty retort but Falsworth moved closer to the group and signaled that it was time to move.
Bucky threw him a quick nod and turned to Annie, "I need you to stay near me the entire time." Bucky stared at her with an intensity she very rarely saw in him. "If I say duck, you duck. If I say hide, you run and hide without hesitation and if we get shot at, you use my body as a meat shield alright?" Annie knew that Bucky needed her to agree even if they both knew she wouldn't leave him if things went bad in there.
"I'll stay right beside you," Annie nodded.
As Bucky signaled with a tilt of his head to move, exhilaration simmered in Annie's veins. She kept her promise and jogged behind Bucky as they came out of the bushed area and towards the walled fortress of the HYDRA base.
The rest of the Howling Commandos were already scaling the wall for a more covert entrance to the base. For an enhanced being like Steve getting over the wall wasn't a difficult task, for a tall able man like Bucky there was slight difficulty but the task was not impossible by far. He jumped out and hooked his arm over the top of the wall and hoisted himself over. For a shorter creature like Annie it should be a struggle. But in moments like this Annie greatly thanked her childhood of carelessly climbing any structure that looked challenging or interesting.
"Steve" she whisper-yelled, knowing he would be the only one to hear it from over the wall with his super hearing. "My gun," She quietly notified before double-checking that the safety was one and then throwing it over the wall. She turns from the wall to she James Falsworth offer her a hand which Annie kindly declines. Annie takes measured back steps and then sprints at the wall, propelling herself up majority of the wall and catching the edge. She swings he leg over the top of the wall and uses it pull the rest of her up and over the wall. Already preparing for a barrel roll to absorb impact but it never came. Instead, she opens her confused eyes to see Bucky's smirking face. Annie frowned at the confident expression of the man who had decided to catch her.
"You enjoy being at the right place at the right time don't you?"
"Or maybe I counted on you deciding you could climb the wall yourself and jump off," Bucky responded satisfied.
"You know too much about me Barnes, I'm going to have to fix that," Annie said attempting to hide a grin.
Wait, he was holder her in his arms, no, cradling her in his arms. Annie's smile dropped. She always forgot how warm his arms were and his face was so close to hers as he looked down at her. Annie's cheeks erupted with heat as she scrambled out of his grip, murmuring, "We should get going."
Annie moved over to Steve who was carefully watching the surrounding area for any lose HYDRA soldiers. "My gun?" she asked and he slipped the strap off his shoulder and handed her the large weapon.
"Are you sure you're fine being here? We could still-"
"Steve I'm fine. I've got the Howling Commandos right?" Annie tried to lighten his mood but he didn't stop giving her that worried look. She could she how stiff and flighty he was. Annie wasn't sure if this was just how he was on missions or if it was because of her presence here.
Bucky moved behind her. Very close behind her. Annie was pretty sure he was trying to secretly shield her just in case.
"I'll look out for her," Bucky reassured Steve.
"OK, we've got to move," Steve addressed the Commandos as he started to lead them into the facility by an inconspicuous door that was wedged in an alcove.
For highly armed men the Howling Commandos moved stealthily when it was needed. At an intersection of the hallway. The right was wider and lead to a much larger door and the left was a smaller hall the verd off. Annie cautious moved to the left hall to see where it led. Bucky followed her like a shadow. The hall looked to eventually lead to a set of stairs. That was likely the direction. Of the information she needed. Annie had noticed that tacticians and generals tended to like being up high, maybe because they liked looking down at things like a chess board.
"The intel we need is likely to the left and up those stairs. The right probably leads to the larger warehouse," Annie informed as she returned to the group.
Steve, with authority dominant in his tone, commanded, "Annie, Bucky you two go and collect that intel and the rest you're with me. Our job is to entertain HYDRA for as long as they need and then get out."
Everyone nodded sure of the plan and Annie started towards the intel but paused as Steve gripped Bucky's arm, ordering, "Keep her safe." Bucky gave a firm nod before jogging to Annie signalling for them both to move ahead. Annie knew the faster she gets that intel the easier it will be on Steve and the others.
Annie and Bucky moved hastily through the corridor of dim greys and cold light, the noises of Steve and the teams weapon fire present but distant. They reached the hall the stairs were at the end of. Her mind was already searching through what they will need and its most possible locations for the specific data.
Her thoughts were stilled as Bucky slowed to a stop and his head twitched to the side. "They're coming", he spoke deeply. Fear instilled in Annie as she realised that HYDRA agents were approaching, and they wouldn't make it up the stairs in time. From the sound of their trampling there was too many for her and Bucky to handle and they were close. Bucky's gaze jolted in every direction searching for an escape. One was granted in a door a few meters behind them. Bucky gripped Annie's arm and dragged her to the door as he muttered under his breath, "God please let it be open."
Annie released the breath that had accumulated in her lungs as the handle angrily twisted opening the door. With the door open Annie was stuffed in the shockingly small space, the size even more apparent when another body entered.
From what Annie could tell the room, if that, was a small utility closet containing a few brooms and buckets but otherwise empty. The space didn't feel too empty though. It was the opposite. She and Bucky were almost pressed against each other. While Bucky listened diligently for the agents nearing Annie had noticed their proximity. Annie felt herself beginning to heat up as she did when Bucky was too close. Her face was inches away from Bucky's collar, but she couldn't decide if those inches were too close or too far away. Breathing became more difficult as the air grew heavy as it exited and entered her windpipe.
His head was turned to the side as he tried to look through the gap between the door and its frame. His deep blue eyes were hard and his jaw tight. Annie from this distance could see the stubble developing along his jawline. His strong nose clear from this angle. His features Annie found annoyingly perfect and rugged. The kind that clearly took no special amount of care or vanity to maintain. His hair was somewhat disheveled, a few strands had lowered to rest on his forehead. The hair seemed to tease her, taunting her to reach out and touch it; to run her fingers through it. It was tormenting for Annie being so close to Bucky, unsure of what to do.
Bucky, realizing the agents were passing them instead of crashing down the door turned back to Annie only to realize that the space they had entered was smaller than he had thought. Annie was close, really close. Her involuntary closeness to him had his pulse shooting up and his eyes darting about. His treacherous eyes quickly landed on Annie's face. His eyes took in her wide blue ones as they roamed about him. Her skin looked soft. Bucky wanted to hit himself for the stupid thought, but he really wanted to know the truth behind it. A small wave of joy passed over him as the pink tint flamed over her cheeks, but it was soon replaced by longing as his gaze ended on her horribly wonderful lips. They weren't large and didn't have the cupid's bow he always saw in magazines, but they were absolutely mesmerizing to him. He loved how the bottom lip was slightly bigger and how her top lip had a freckle speckling it. The colour matched the pink that her cheeks always were, and he would sooner go blind than change a thing about that smile. His mind drowned in thoughts of how they would feel.
Annie in a dazed state of mind felt herself dangerously begin to ease towards Bucky. As her hands slowly lifted themselves to rest on his chest without consulting the conscious part of her brain. She couldn't bring herself to care because his chest was firm and warm and wonderful. Annie had often imagined what Bucky's chest would feel like under her palms. God. She wanted to use it as a pillow. With the contact the heat in the small room suddenly spiked. The temperature whispered for Annie to get closer. Annie noticed that Bucky's gaze was locked on her mouth, a realization that had her own eyes sneaking to his mouth, that sat slightly open, drawing in warm breaths.
Bucky lowered his head at a painful speed. A speed that had Annie raising onto her toes. A shudder swallowed Annie's spine as Bucky's hands appeared on her waist and moved to her back, pulling her even closer against Bucky's body. His face incredibly close to her own.
Distant gunshots rang in the distance, jolting Bucky and Annie out of their daze.
Knowing that the gunshots were by or at Steve and the Howling Commandos had the power to kill the moment the two had been lost in and return them to reality. Bucky stepped back only to hit the wall and took a moment to regain himself, hands begrudgingly leaving to return to their owner. Both missing the warmth they had just experienced. Bucky pressed his head against the door listening for sounds that hinted to any sort of threat.
Annie assumed from the even expression of Bucky's that he couldn't detect anything of alarm. The door opened and the two walked out finally able to return to their normal temperatures.
Annie switched back into what she called battle mode as she commented, "Those soldiers were most likely heading towards Steve. We need to hurry."
Bucky simply nodded and the two started to run to the stairs. Rounding a corner they spotted a room but stop short and sunk to the wall. Hiding from two HYDRA agents that guarded the entrance.
"I'll bet you that's it," Annie grinned, her voice low.
Bucky whispered, "Well they'll hear the guns so we can't use those." He began rummaging through his bag, "I think I have a flash bomb, in here. That might work and then we can knock them out."
Bucky looked up for a response but found Annie was gone. "Annie?" he whispered harshly with an annoyed huff. His hand smacked into his forehead in irritation, he'd already lost her?!
"Are you coming", he heard her call causing him to walk around the wall to the entrance of the room. There in the doorway was Annie with two unconscious guards on either side of her. A triumphant smile and hand ready on the doorknob.
Bucky's thick eyebrows raised in surprise at her capability. "What did they teach you in training?" Bucky asked.
Annie turned the handle and swung the heavy metal door open with some difficulty, "This was more Peggy."
Bucky nodded knowing the spitfire reputation Peggy Carter had. Not at all surprised she had lent some to Annie, though in Bucky's opinion she was already fiery enough.
She stepped into the room, Bucky following as one of the guards groaned. Bucky sent a sturdy fist into the man's covered face sending him once again into an unconscious state calling, "You missed one."
"Drag those two in here so no one sees them," Annie advised, her eyes already scanning through the contents of what looked to be the strategy room.
She instantly started filtering through the organised papers, opening cabinets and draws knowing which of the papers were useful and which weren't. "Bucky find anything with a marked map and collect it. Those are important." Bucky was relieved that Annie had told him to find something that was easily recognisable. So he circled the room scanning the tops of desks, walls, and cabinets for maps, satisfyingly finding 5 different ones. By that time Annie had efficiently found all of what she deemed important and stuffed them into her backpack hastily.
"You ready to go find Steve?" Bucky questioned ready to move on.
"Yeah," Annie answered.
The two exited the room, shutting the door and hurriedly moved back down the familiar hall. Annie assuming a door was that which led to the outside darted through it. It actually led into a vast warehouse like space, littered with crates and supplies. German shouting signaled that their presence was not unnoticed.
The explosive sound of gun fire and the clang of spraying bullets had Bucky driving over Annie, landing them safely behind a large wooden box. The move that saved their lives also placed them in the awkward position of Bucky landing on top of Annie. Annie's back pressed against the cold floor, Bucky's hands preventing his weight from crushing the smaller woman. His hands placed on either side of her head as she stared up at him in surprise.
The way his body encased her own and how he stared down at her had her organs twisting accompanied by a tingling sensation traveling across her back.
"I-I uh," Bucky stumbled as he moved away, stunned.
"I-I'm sorry about that. I shouldn't have entered the room without knowing what was inside," Annie confessed shamefully.
"Just stay behind me. We need to get through that door," Bucky pointed to the latched steel door the distance of the room. "And remember, use me like a meat shield."
"You can't be serious." Bucky responded with just a frown.
Annie squinted at the door measuring the length of the space between them and it. She turned back to peer over the side of the box protecting them and decreasing the amount of bullets fired. "I count 15, maybe a few more." She huffed and gazed down at the gun she had been lugging around, "Well I didn't bring this for nothing."
With the large weapon in a ready position and with little warning to Bucky Annie rolled out from behind the box and fired accurate rounds at the guards searching for their targets. After a set amount of rounds released Annie rotated back behind the wall, muttering, "I got about 7."
Bucky was already firing his own weapon at the HYDRA agents, able to view over the crate. Though his shots were more experienced and calculated than Annie's.
"That should be most of them. Go, go!" Bucky ordered.
Annie snapped up and ran to the door as Bucky followed with his gun circling the warehouse gallery for any soldiers they missed. Annie threw the door closed as Bucky exited. The two took a moment to catch their breath.
"Bucky! Annie!" they heard Steve call as he and the rest of the Howling Commandos rounded the side of the facility. "Come on, they're hot on our trail," Steve shouted not slowing his speed or allowing for question or objection. The two followed suit.
As they reached the wall the men made quick work hoisting each other up. Steve wasted no time seizing Annie and throwing her over the wall, not accommodating for her lightweight. She was able to manage a clumsy touchdown but not without a scrape and a stumble. If they were not being pursued by crazy men with guns she would have scolded Steve for man-handling her.
She instead surveyed the area, alert to any threats outside of the facility. With all the men over the Howling Commandos and Annie was able to put some distance between them and HYDRA, nearing their escape truck.
Steve slowed his pace to walk at Annie's side asking, "Did you find the intel you risked coming into the field for."
Annie didn't appreciate the guilt Steve was attempting to lay but smiled up at him, "More than I had hoped for, completely worth it."