Steve hadn't stopped searching for Barry ever since the Quinjet had crashed. They had been stranded out in the Tundra for two weeks now. After the crash, Tony had tried contacting S.H.I.E.L.D but he hadn't had any luck so he had spent the past couple of days trying to get in touch with Bruce, who had insisted he stay at the Tower in case the whole mission was a bust.
Whilst Nat and Clint were busy getting food, Steve had gone on yet another search for the Scarlet Speedster, his concern mounting each day. They all knew Barry hadn't died in the crash, they all remembered seeing him in random intervals of consciousness after the crash so whatever had happened to him meant that he had been taken by someone. Steve's best bet was that it was the H.Y.D.R.A soldiers they were after.
Steve had managed to get past this hill made of snow when he spotted something. He spotted a base, or more specifically, H.Y.D.R.A's base.
"That's new" Someone commented behind him, making him jump. He turned around, sighing in relief as Thor walked towards him.
"Pleasure to see you, Thor" Steve joked, turning back around to face the base. Thor stood beside him, his hammer in his hand.
"He's in there," Thor commented, "You know he's in there"
Steve sighed and nodded his head. He knew this is where Barry would be. Thor grabbed Steve by the arm and began dragging the man towards the base. There was only one way to test his theory. Steve tried to resist the man, knowing full-well his attempt was futile. It was when they reached the outskirts of the base that Thor finally let go of the man. The man spotted a camera and walked straight towards it, knowing what he had to do. Thor turned to Cap and nodded, he was going to distract them all whilst he went in and grabbed Barry-it seemed simple enough.
"All these hallways seem the exact same" Steve grumbled to himself, walking past an empty room. Then he felt it. He felt the wind fly past him, plus, he recognised that lightning trail anywhere.
"Barry?" Steve called out, gaining the Speedster's attention. As Steve went to go hug him though, he turned around, his face stoic as he looked at Cap. Any hope Steve had was long gone as he saw the emptiness behind Barry's eyes. They had changed him. Destroyed him, and Steve wasn't so sure if he even wanted to see Bucky alive in the flesh anymore.
"You left me" His voice was void of emotions, it was completely plain as he stared at Cap, "You let them hurt me for weeks whilst you were all too busy partying to care"
Steve's heart clenched as Barry spoke all the lies he had been told. They really had broken him, because the Barry he knew would've known they were looking for him this whole time.
"Bear," Steve spoke softly, lowering his shield, "They're putting this stuff in your head. I spent every day looking for you"
Barry had looked down upon hearing the nickname Steve had called him.
"Now, now." A voice spoke, stepping out from a room, "Let's not put even more stuff in his head shall we"
Steve froze at the voice. No.. no.. not-not like this. Bucky Barnes made himself known, standing beside the Scarlet Speedster. Bucky turned towards Barry, seeing the lost look on the man's face. He sighed and turned to the Speedster, whispering something in his ear. Steve swallowed visibly as he saw the lightning begin to crackle in Barry's eyes. This was not good.
The next thing Steve knew, he was outside the base, clinging on for dear life on the roof, keeping himself from falling onto the ice down below. He could feel Barry pressing his foot very hardly onto his hand, trying to get the man to fall, but Steve held on. He was not giving up this easily.
Steve heard footsteps coming from the roof, and he smiled as he watched Barry get whacked around the head by Clint's bow, the Speedster falling to the ground unconscious. Steve pulled himself up and glanced at Barry's limp body, smiling as he heard the Chimera's engine roaring above them.
When Barry awoke, all he felt was numbness. He didn't feel a single emotion whatsoever. He tried to sit up, grunting when he felt his hand stop. He looked over, confused as to why he had been handcuffed to the bed.
"Easy, Barry," Steve said, sitting up in the seat he had taken vigil in. He could see the lightning bubbling away underneath the surface, trying its hardest to evade containment as it battled for control. He always hated watching Barry fight for control with the Speed-force, he knew how much it took from him.
"Bear, talk to me," Steve began, placing his hand against the younger man's thigh. He pulled it away when the man flinched upon the contact, "What's going on in that mind of yours"
The thing was, Barry had no idea what was going on up their either. He had learned from the first few hours being held captive to separate your mind and your body. He knew how to control his body, but his mind, it was just empty.
Steve noticed that the Speedster had zoned out, so he took that as his time to slip away for a little while and just let out his own emotions.