Thanos looked up in surprise. "Ah, another one? He must've missed the raid. Good work, Coulson."
"Thank-you, sir." Coulson stoically said, Bucky in chains. "I'm probably gonna call it a night. This one wore me out."
Thanos eyed Bucky. "I'll make sure to punish him accordingly. See you in the morning, Lieutenant."
"Yes sir." Coulson led Bucky back to the cells to begin their plan of mass exodus.
"Steve!" Bucky whispered.
"...Bucky?" Steve groaned. "How-"
"Not now, we gotta get out of here." Bucky literally picked his friend up and ran with him.
"Anthony...where is he?"
"We're headed there right now..." Shouting was heard down the hall, and he grinned. "The party is just getting started."
"And I want to leave." Steve found the strength to keep up with him as they jogged towards Anthony's cell.
"I'll go get Thor." Coulson said, a ringlet of keys in his hand he apprehended from a knocked out guard.
"Alright." Bucky and Steve searched the rooms Coulson unlocked. Gypsies and prisoners were all filing out.
Steve was getting desperate until they came across a cell with a man sitting on the ground, his head hanging down in shame.
"Anthony? Come on..." Steve grabbed for his hands, but was gently swatted away. "What's wrong?"
"Go on without me..." Anthony whispered.
Steve looked helplessly at Bucky. "Go find Carol and meet us outside...by the tree." Bucky nodded once and ran off. "Anthony? Anthony, look at me." Steve lifted his chin up and stared at the saddest face he had ever seen. "Remember what I told you? I'm sorry I haven't been doing to good at keeping my promise, but give me a second chance...please?"
"Thanos said-"
"To hell with what Thanos said!" Steve shouted. Then quieted down when Anthony jumped. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry. I know he made you believe you were safe for all these years, but-"
"He killed my parents..." Anthony said. "He kept me a prisoner...he said you don't care about me...he said-"
He was stopped by Steve kissing him hard but so lovingly on the lips. When they finally broke free from each other, he was left panting.
"I love you, Anthony..."
Anthony froze, not knowing what to say...not even sure if he could move...
"Now, we can talk about this later, but we really have to go now."
"Ok..."
That was all Steve needed to get his friend up and moving and as far away from Thanos as he could manage.
"Thor?" Coulson circled his friend, shocked at the condition his fellow soldier was in. "Oh my...I'm so sorry..."
"It's not so bad..." Thor tried to play it off, but he was so sore. His back was numb and throbbing. Either he was ignoring the pain too well, or he just accepted it as his new normal. He cried as his hands were freed from the chains and they dropped without warning.
"Here." Coulson ripped his cape and helped wrap his wrists up to keep them from bleeding.
"Thank-you, my friend." Thor smiled, but quickly frowned. "Where is Thanos?"
Coulson thought a moment. "He was up by the entrance, but that was before all of...this."
"Carol." He ran off out the door, searching frantically for her.
"Thor? Thor!" Couslon chased after him, finally getting his attention. "Everyone is out. We've opened every door. It's empty."
"Where is she?!"
"Maybe she's outside?"
Thor shook his head. "No...I need to make sure."
"I'll go with you-"
"NO! Just make sure they all get out of here!" Thor ordered.
"Yes sir." Coulson made that promise and double checked cells as he ran past them. He came outside to the group of gypsies. "Hi..." He realized he was wearing his uniform. But he was the farthest thing from their enemy. "Follow me, and you'll be safe, I promise."
The crowd was not sure, scared it was a trick, but Bucky spoke up. "You can trust him." He made eye contact with Fury. "He's a friend."
Fury gave Coulson a look, and judging his character, he believed him. "You heard the man. Let's move!"
"Hey." Coulson turned to see Matthew, who had lost his cloth covering his eyes. "Thank-you...for saving us."
"We're not out of the woods yet." Coulson grabbed the man's hand, so he could feel the sincerity.
Matthew smiled, and they all left.
"Kid, you alright?" Wade caught up to Peter.
"I've been better." Peter tried to make light of the situation, but Wade could tell he was scared.
"So have I...let's make that a regular thing, ok?"
"Sounds good." Peter looked around the crowd. "But where's Carol? And Steve?"
"I don't know..." Wade said.
"We can't just leave them!" Peter suddenly stopped running. "What if they need help?"
Wade was torn, wanting to keep his friend safe, but did not like the idea of the others not making it out.
"Don't make me regret this."
