Steve was furious. More so than he had been in recorded history. More so than maybe ever. The ocean responded to his rage instantly; the waves that normally lapped gently at shores were fierce and angry. The sea animals were restless and even the sky was roiling with storm clouds. He felt a little bad the way some of the innocent ships around the world were being buffeted, but only distantly. He didn't feel bad at all for crumpling a couple of the submarines on the opposite side of the mortal war from Bucky. He launched himself from the seabed to the surface in seconds and turned his eyes skyward.
"Sam. I need passage." He requested.
On a gust of wind Sam blew down to hover in the air in front of him. "Steve? What's going on?" Sam asked.
"I need passage. Now." Steve growled and Sam's eyes widened as multiple sharks rose to the surface and bared their teeth at him.
"Steve?" Sam asked cautiously, not because he didn't want to help his friend but because he wasn't sure he had ever seen Steve act like this.
"They are hurting Bucky." Steve growled and instantly it clicked. Sam held out his hand and Steve accepted it. "Thank you." Steve said and Sam nodded.
"Course. Come on. Let's go get your boy back." Sam promised. Then he summoned the wind and lifted them both up. They blasted through the air as fast as the winds could carry them and reached the shore in mere moments.
"I need water." Steve told Sam, who gently set them down on the sand. There were a couple of mortals around, but they were invisible to their eyes. The tendrils of water Steve called to himself, though... those, the mortals noticed. As they wrapped themselves around Steve he let himself become visible in as close to his godly form as he could without killing all the mortals in attendance. But they could certainly see him.
A couple quickly dropped to the ground in very low bows when they realized who he was but most just stared. He understood. Whether they thought him just an Ancient God or recognized him as a Primordial, it had been more than three thousand years since one had appeared publicly and visibly on Earth. But Bucky needed him and so he drew the water around him and started walking.
His footsteps covered miles in moments, but he needed no guide. He was always drawn to Bucky, no matter the circumstances, and could find his brunet anywhere. His destination was a cement construction, standing out like a black stain in the wooded area and Steve felt a prick of annoyance on Tony's behalf that someone had so crudely ruined the forest. But it was a raindrop in comparison to the ocean of anger already coursing through him.
His water ripped through the outer wall like it was paper. There were mortals in black suits who shouted and started running around the base when it exploded into rubble. But he walked through without hesitation, even as a few fools tried shooting at him. The shots didn't hurt in the slightest as the bullets bounced harmlessly off his skin but he narrowed his eyes in their direction anyway. It only took a thought for the tendrils to end them.
His water tore through metal cars and cement buildings, flesh and armor alike for all those in black. There were some men who were obviously different, hurt and weakened and abused by the others, and Steve recognized them as some of Bucky's allies. So he spared them. But the men in black were offered no such mercy. He reached the building where Bucky was in quick time; he could feel the brunet as easily as he could feel the water all around him.
He ripped down one wall, exposing various rooms including cells, labs, tables, and in one room in particular, Bucky. There were several men in black around him, but the two actually holding him dropped him when they saw Steve. Bucky shoved himself out of the small pool of water they'd been drowning him in and he coughed briefly before he looked up at Steve. Steve couldn't help feeling warmth in his chest when Bucky smiled when their eyes met.
But the warmth didn't stem the accompanying rage, because these men had hurt Bucky. Had given him bruises and hurt him and tried to drown him. Steve held out a hand and the men in black scrambled backwards as multiple tendrils of water shot into the room, separating Bucky from the others. Gently Steve used one to pick up his brunet and with a twist of his wrist Bucky was brought to his arms.
Steve held him close to his chest and Bucky gave him a small smile. "Hi, Stevie." Bucky muttered, exhausted and quiet. Steve smiled.
"Hello, Buck." He answered softly as well and he couldn't help but say it warmly.
"Thanks for comin' to get me." Bucky said, just as quietly as before, and Steve frowned. He called some water back to him and wrapped it around Bucky, allowed the water to tell him everything he couldn't see. Bucky was… different. That's what the water told him. The mortals had done something to him, changed him. Made him stronger and heightened his senses. His hearing was far better and it would hurt him to hear anything loud.
Bucky hummed pleasantly at the touch of the water that warmed itself for him without Steve needing to consciously command it to do so. Steve held him closer and warmed it further. "Of course I'd come for you." Steve promised softly and Bucky nodded sleepily.
"I'm so tired." He whispered and Steve kissed his head. It had been so long since he'd been able to do that physically and not just through a water connection. But the water was telling Steve Bucky was truly exhausted, dehydrated and starving and injured. He needed to rest.
"Sleep. I won't let any harm come to you." Steve promised and Bucky smiled, shifting slightly to curl into his chest.
"I know that, punk." He promised quietly before he fell asleep. Steve felt his worry settle in his chest just a little; Bucky was here, in his arms, and safe. Now he just had to insure that neither these men nor any others would ever be able to hurt Bucky again.
He slowly looked up towards the men in the room. They had gathered their wits once again and stood up. Steve glanced between them and was easily able to see which of them was in control of the group. A simple thought was enough to end the lives of the others and he wrapped the last up in tendrils of water, lifting him from the room until he was hanging in the air in front of Steve. Steve made the bonds tighten until the man was flinching.
"You hurt someone important to me." Steve stated and the man literally shuddered at the weight of the power in Steve's words. "I wonder what a fitting punishment would be, for a man who ordered the lover of a Primordial be tortured for something as petty as your mortal war." The man went unnaturally pale at the word Primordial.
"I didn't know. I didn't know." The man pleaded desperately but Steve wasn't feeling particularly merciful. He tightened the water further and the man cried out. "Please, please. I'm not in charge. The Red Skull and Dr. Zola. They're in charge. It was their decision. I just followed orders." He offered desperately.
"Perhaps. But you are not innocent either. The water tells me the truth and you enjoyed hurting him." Steve stated then ripped the man apart. The scream was probably horrific but Steve just let the pieces fall to the ground undeterred. He hadn't nearly satisfied the anger in his chest. Knew he wouldn't be until Red Skull and Zola both got their own taste of his vengeance.
He glanced behind him at the fight. His water had easily taken care of any of the men in black that had attempted to sneak up on him. Or that just passed within range. Or tried to escape. There were a lot of bodies around, but there were almost as many living. Those who Steve believed to be Bucky's allies. He lowered himself to the ground and walked up to them. Immediately the one who had been watching him bowed his head, as did everyone else.
Steve was pleased at least some mortals seemed to know manners. "You are his allies, yes?" Steve asked. The man glanced at Bucky and nodded.
"Yeah." He barely managed to say the word he was so awestruck.
"Then I have no quarrel with you." Steve started to turn, but the man spoke up.
"Forgive me, but are you taking Sergeant Barnes with you?" He asked before Steve could turn away. Steve narrowed his eyes and the water responded; tendrils rose into the air, ready to come to his aid if he needed them.
"Are you going to try and stop me?" Steve demanded and the man quickly shook his head.
"No. I just wanted to know so I could let the right people know. So they didn't think he deserted or something." The man explained and Steve nodded once. A low rumbling filled the air and Steve's head snapped towards the rocket that was attempting to take off.
It took no more than a thought for Steve's water to wrap up the propellers up and rip them to shreds. He moved himself towards the machine as he used the water to take it apart. The pilot appeared in the opening and he tried to jump down, but Steve caught him, all but encased him in water. The water told him that this man was different in the same way Bucky had become. He was enhanced, but no match for Steve.
Steve gave the man enough time to take in who he was, who he held in his arms, before he let the water take the man apart. The man's face came off in the process, revealing the red skull that no doubt stemmed his name. But Steve didn't care because now the man was very very dead, even if it hadn't been nearly as long or painful as Steve had wanted to make it. The men in black who were still alive had watched with gobsmacked expressions and now seemed more than ready to flee. Steve was willing to let them, with one exception.
He found Zola in a fancy car, struggling to start it. He lifted the scientist from it easily and pulled the man close to his face. Zola seemed more amazed than afraid of him. Steve studied him in return and found him unimpressive. "You are Zola?" Steve asked and the man nodded.
"Yes. And you are… a water god?" Zola asked and Steve frowned.
"I am the Primordial Water God." Steve corrected, and he was immensely satisfied with the way Zola paled. "And you hurt someone important to me." Steve warned.
Zola glanced at Bucky. "He was the ideal candidate for the serum. It made him more than mortal. The pain is a necessary part of the process." Zola offered and Steve tilted his head.
"He already was more than mortal. He has been more for a very long time, with my blessing, and because of you he can no longer go home to his family without suffering." Steve considered it than smiled as a dark thought came to him. "You are a scientist, yes? And you wish to witness what your serum has done? I'll give you the chance."
Steve wrapped them up in water and they rocketed back to the coast. The ocean welcomed him and Bucky. Bucky almost more so because it knew Steve, had known him for centuries, but Bucky was relatively new and the water knew that Bucky was special to him. Both of them were caressed by it, welcomed by it, and Steve placed a kiss on Bucky's lips to give him the ability to breathe underwater to save them trouble. Steve was also pleased when Bucky relaxed further as the water wrapped around them, like Bucky knew he was safe. And he was.
Zola did not receive the same greeting. The water felt Steve's hatred for him and responded accordingly. It made itself cold and dug against him, let Zola feel some of the pressure as they descended, made him struggle for every breath. Steve didn't even bother to correct it. He didn't want Zola dead, that was the whole reason for bringing Zola with them, but Zola wasn't going to die from just this. He wanted to make Zola pay for what he'd done and now he had the time.