A/N: I'm loving the feedback as always! I know the last chapter was not as action packed; however, hold onto your britches folks, this one is filled to the brim with action. This is the product of a teacher on summer break, drinking adult beverages, trying to kill time while all her friends are working. So needless to say, it's crazy and intense. You've been warned. Enjoy my loves! (little baby spoilers for Civil War)
We made it to the graduation site with no hiccups. I had a good feeling about the plan. Tony was brimming with confidence and although Peter was a little green to this whole super hero thing, I was assured that he was top notch. Tony noted with a tone of pride that Peter had taken down Sam and Bucky at the same time. I was definitely impressed. I had let my hair down so that I could put on my cap. The tassel was honestly kind of annoying. It refused to stay put and kept tickling my face.
As we approached the area were hundreds of us soon to be college grads, we were told to line up, Tony received a call seemingly through his communicator.
"Well hey there Link! Yep. I got our little southern belle here with me….. Calm down arrowhead. I've got it taken care of… yeah I can sense that you are a little angry…We aren't coming home Barton. McKay is aware of the dangers, I have back up and plus a promise is a promise…. We'll be fine. See you soon."
"So I'm taking it that Clint is not too happy about you kidnapping me?"
"Yeah he is bringing Stars n' stripes and the metal assassin. Just in case," He gave me a pointed look spitting out metal assassin with spite.
I linked arms with Peter and reassured both of them, "I'm not worried, I've got the best back up a girl could ask for! Now, Peter-err- Jeff, let's go get in line. Tony, see you with my diploma in hand!" I pulled Jeff, Peter's cover name, and we found our perspective lines. All of the students were excitedly chirping to each other. A tinge of sadness struck me in that moment.
I was in a sea of people that I didn't really know. Although I had spent four years at this institution, I had kept my distance for the most part. I was worried to make true friends, worried that I would reveal myself, worried that I would have to up and move again. Which as it turns out, I was correct about. I did see some faces that I recognized, seeing as the people lined up with me had the same major. I waved at a couple of girls that had been at the same school for student teaching. Student teaching could really bad people, whether you want it to or not.
And suddenly the sea of unfamiliarity parted, and a handsome man I knew walked towards me with a confused, but happy face.
"Chadwick?" I squeaked, surprised. I had completely forgotten about him. He beamed a bright smile at me and gave me a hug. I quickly realized that I had no idea what story he had been told about the night we officially met.
"I am glad to see you! I was worried about you. The cops told me that your family got in bad with some loan sharks. I didn't think I'd ever see you again."
My brain was trying to catch up with the lie he had been told. Plus, I forgot how handsome he was and boy did he smell good. Not as good as Bucky.
As I opened my mouth to say something, I was thankfully interrupted by an announcement telling us it was time. I gave him a big smile, "I'll explain later! It was good seein' ya!"
Peter and I then made significant eye contact and he gave me a knowing glance. Damn, he is pretty perceptive for a kid. The line started to move as butterflies floated in my stomach. We sat down in rows of about 20 and the Dean started off the speeches. Our keynote speaker, someone I had never heard of gave a quick speech about progress, change, innovation, and then it was time. Names started to be called out as if a pastor was reading from the book of Exodus. I saw Chadwick walk across stage giving several people a firm handshake. I looked around trying to be vigilant just in case Tony was wrong about big crowds. My row stood abruptly and I took a deep breath. Moment of truth. The line was moving quicker than I expected but I guess state universities tended to have the art of graduation down to a tee.
"August Magnolia McKay." I cringed when my middle name rang out. My mama had really loved Magnolia trees. She always talked about how easy they were to climb, that the flowers smelt good, but were subtle, and how if you throw a Magnolia leaf in the fire it sounds like a gunshot. All of that said, I am not sure what that was supposed to say about me.
I walked steadily, beaming, trying not think about how my parents weren't there, and started shaking hands. Skin to skin. Every time I shook a hand, they beamed right back at me. I felt like I was watching a toothpaste commercial. At the end of the line, I was given my diploma which I clutched like a precious gift. I made my way off the stage towards the back. Almost in the clear.
I entered the hallway which was dingy and poorly lit. Well this is creepy. I scanned my eyes, seeing students still in line, walking down the hall. Nothing out of the- Chadwick was leaning against what looked like a janitor's closet with a smile on his face arms spread wide. I was surprised that he had waited for me.. we didn't know each other that well, but I figured I owed him an explanation.
"We did it!" He exclaimed wrapping his arms around me. Thankfully my skin was covered by my gown.
All of the sudden, Chadwick opened the door to the closet pulling me. I was still wrapped up in his arms and his lips were close to mine. Blue eyes flashed in my mind. I reared back, realizing that maybe I had sent out the wrong signals.
"Chadwick, I'm not that kind of girl. I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression." I tried untangling myself from him but his grip was tight.
He pushed me against the wall and said, "No darling, you are exactly the kind of girl I am looking for. And that Hydra's looking for." As his words sunk in, dread and panic filled my body like someone filling up a cup with a cold drink. I went to scream, but his now gloved hand came up.
"No ma'am. Keep quiet. We have to hustle. But first I want to show you something that I think will inspire you to comply.' His hot breath hit my face. I cringed in disgust. I was in shock. Any minute, Tony would realize something is wrong. Peter will beat me to the exit. Surely, they would save me.
My thoughts of being rescued where dashed as he pulled out a phone and showed me a video that had been taken literally two minutes ago. I could see the barrel of a sniper rifle and in the far distance was the stage in which students were shaking hands with the deans and President of the university.
"Now what you see here is a Hydra sniper targeting your fellow students. You make one wrong move sweetheart and one of them is going to die. And it'll be all your fault. Now before Iron Man shows up and adds an extra complication, we need to make our escape.' He looked up at the end of his sentence, while taking of his cap and gown. I followed his gaze seeing an air duct.
"Take your cap and gown off sweetie and I'll hike you up there," he said with a stern voice.
"What?" I asked still in shock. He ripped my cap off in impatience. He tried to unzip my gown and I shoved his gloved hands away. Bile was rising in my throat.
'Tsk. Tsk. Do I need to let my sniper know that you are not behaving?" I shook my head no and unzipped my own gown. He reached up and removed the metal cover and then put his weaved hands out. I put my wedge heel into his hands and he pulled me up. I started to crawl, cussing the whole way. Thankfully it wasn't super tight, there was room to maneuver. Chadwick crawled in behind me.
"You're heavier than you look. Now go forward until I tell you to turn."
I growled at him, wishing I could scream and kick. But I wouldn't be responsible for people dying.
We continued crawling; I stalled a couple of times feigning scared about a couple of cobwebs.
"Keep going. And if I hear you complain one more time, I swear I'll hit you." A promise rang in his voice.
"I just- I just don't understand! You didn't attack me that night outside the bar. This doesn't make any fucking sense. How could you be Hydra?"
"Well, love, it was a two man team that night. I was the point man, but when you snuck out the back door, plans changed. My partner and I purposefully corned you on the sidewalk, but in a stroke of genius, I decided not to blow my cover and my partner went with it. Brilliant, right?"
I literally growled at the guy, wishing that there was bare skin I could touch. But other than his face, he was completely covered.
"I was surprised that you got away from him. You're lucky that your friends showed up when they did. Thankfully, we hoped that you would be dumb enough to show today. I knew you wouldn't suspect me, seeing as I tried to save you that night. And I'll say it has been worth it, watching you crawl in that tight dress. If only I could see up-" I lost it. My heel lunged back in a donkey kick, nailing the son of a bitch in the nose. He moaned in pain. In a flash of the eye, he had yanked me by the ankle underneath him. His body was fully on top of mine. I struggled, but there wasn't a lot of room. He was using our intimate position to freak me out, to intimidate me… and it was working.
"Get the hell of me!" I yelled. His hands came up around my throat. Already bruised there, I let out a hiss of pain.
"I will fucking kill somebody. I swear to you. If you do one more thing that even bothers me, I swear someone will die." His body was off of me and he barked at me to keep going.
Finally, we crawled out of the air duct and ended up in some meeting space. Grasping my wrist harshly, he dragged me into a new hall and out a back door.
Sun light blinded me. It was comparable to when you go to see a movie and then you walk out and think you'll never see again. A black SUV pulled up and Chadwick tossed me in like a rag doll.
"Go." He demanded. The car engine revved and we were off.
There was a man sitting in the front next to driver and one on the other side of the passenger seat. The second guy, closest to me, looked familiar. Half of his face was marred. He looked like he could've been handsome at one point, but his mouth was curled in an evil smile.
"Long time no see August." Hearing his voice triggered something in me. Some long lost memory.
Water dripping. Marble floors. Light that was tinged green. Make shift hospital bed. Pain. Blood dripping into a medical bag. Blue eyes. Loneliness. Fear. Harsh yelling. And that evil smile.
I shook my now pale face. Fear running in my blood, thick and tangible.
"Oh wait, that's right, you don't remember do you? We did a good job of zapping that right of you." I shivered trying to move away from this man only to be stopped by Chadwick. If that was even his name.
"Aw, come back honey. I brought you a gift. Something that will make this easier for all of us," He pulled out a strait jacket. My eyes widened. His gloved hands grabbed mine pulling me closer to him. Chadwick came up behind me, moving my arms. I gritted my teeth, struggling, heart racing.
"Get your goddamn hands off of me!" I yelled out. One of my arms was through a sleeve.
I head butted the man in front of me. His head snapped back; he clearly wasn't expecting it. A pained look, then anger, probably a mix of his anger and my anger that had transferred to him. He head-butted me right back. My head rattled and I whimpered in pain. My other arm was jerked into the last sleeve. The unnamed man from my past slowly roved his hands over my body, touching me in places he had no right to touch. I screamed in his ear, trying to bite him. He punched me in the jaw. Black specs entered my vision. My head hurt and I was disoriented. He and Chadwick together locked my arms in place.
"Mm, you've filled out honey. But that spitfire is still there." I spat blood in his face and he just laughed. This guy was really starting to piss me off.
I started to wiggle and free myself but I remembered something Steve had said during our training. When you are in a position in which you can't move, don't waste energy. Pretend to comply. Then look for weaknesses.
I took a big, dizzy breath and stopped moving.
I looked around the car. Being… armless definitely made things more complicated. My shoes could be used as a weapon which was evident by Chadwick's swollen nose. The man with the scarred face had a visible gun, probably more that I couldn't see. He was currently talking to the driver, giving terse directions. Chadwick had just dialed someone on the phone, probably the sniper. I saw a flash of gold and red speed by the window. I blinked shaking my head, hoping to God that I hadn't made it up.
A loud thud echoed on the roof of the car jarring all of us. Guns came out of holsters. A repetition of bangs, as if someone was pounding into the roof, sounded. Chadwick rolled the window down, leaned the majority of his body out of the window, shooting off his gun several times. I winced hoping that he had missed.
He leaned farther out the window and I was struck with an idea. Is this something that I could really do to a person? Remembering his comments, his hands on me, his threats, I confirmed that I could and I fucking would. The scarred man was preoccupied yelling orders at the driver. I laid my body down across the seats. My head practically in his lap, I pulled both my legs back to my chest. Before I could follow through with my plan, I made eye contact with the scarred man. His eyes widened realizing my plan, but it was too late.
With everything that I had, I kicked both legs like a spring hitting Chadwick square in the ass. His upper body toppled over and he was hanging over the ledge of the window, screaming. I reared back to kick him again, but the dickhead next to me grabbed my hair and pulled hard. I turned my head and sunk my teeth into the flesh of his thigh as hard as I could, kicking my legs at the same time. I didn't see what had happened to Chadwick, being busy trying to inflict as much damage on the hair puller as possible, but I heard his loud scream. I could taste blood in my mouth. Dickhead was yelling and basically pistol whipped me onto the floor of the car. If I didn't have a concussion, it would be a miracle. I saw some weird white looking stuff was covering the windshield.
After swerving, the car suddenly screeched to a stop. I could hear gunshots and yelling. I squirmed as if I was trying to do the dance move the worm. I couldn't sit up seeing as my arms were literally tied up. This was hard! I finally managed to sit up and throw my body back onto the back seat. Dickhead was gone and his door was open.
A red masked face popped in. Being filled with adrenalin and still dizzy, I screamed kicking out. My feet were caught and a tentative voice said, "August, it's me. Spider- Peter!"
"I have never been so excited to see a masked man! Get me the hell out of this thing."
I scooted so my back was to him. His hands started to loosen the first one, when I heard an oomph. I looked over my shoulder seeing an empty space. The door was slammed.
I cursed an ungodly amount of things, groaning in pain and frustration. I needed to reevaluate my plan, but I couldn't see anything. The only door not covered in… spider webs? Yeah, fucking spider webs, was the right front seat door. I placed my legs over the center console and scooted forward until my feet were dangling over the seat cushion of my targeted seat. If this wasn't such a serious situation, this would be pretty comical. Armless, short girl trying to stretch her body out so that she could get to the front seat, dress practically up to her hips. Well, at least I wore cute underwear. I tried to tuck my feet under anything that would give me leverage. After catching something, I tried pulling myself up.
"God, this is why I need to actually do ab exercises. Shit!"
I finally pulled myself up. I looked out the window. Light caught my eye as the sun flashed against metal. A metal arm. Bucky!
Joy filled me. He was kicking some guy's ass. His body moved and flowed, dodging and punching, kicking and flipping. It was like watching ballet, but in fast motion with bullets and blood flying. So maybe not a ballet.
He spun and kicked the guy in the chest and turned to look at the door. Our eyes caught each other and time stopped. Abruptly he was thrown against the window by someone, hitting his head. Undeterred he turned from me and continued to fight. I had to get out of this car.
Obviously, I couldn't just open the door, so I leaned over and tried to grab the handle with my mouth. The door clicked open. I sat up and kneed the door open. Bucky, who was still in the middle of the fight, kicked my door closed.
"What the hell?" I yelled. I reached down with my mouth and opened the door again. He had the guy in what was called a rear naked choke hold. I wish he was bare naked. Before I could move my body out of the car, Bucky slammed the man into the door closing it again.
'Stay in the damn car!" He shouted in annoyance. Confused, I stared at him with an open mouth. I leaned down to open the door again. The man was slammed against the window again.
"Stay. In. The. Car." He growled as he spun the man away from him snapping his neck. I grimaced. He turned back towards me breathing heavily.
"It's safer in there!" He yelled in explanation. Without warning something landed on the hood of the car, and for the first time in my short knowing of Bucky I saw panic enter his eyes. He ran towards the door.
"Get out of the fucking car!" He threw the door open with his metal arm, literally ripping it off of its hinges. His threw me over his shoulder and started to run away from the car.
The car exploded throwing Bucky and myself as we caught the edge of it. We skidded across the asphalt and rolled to a stop. My ears were rigging and all I could feel was pain. I could hear my name although it sounded like someone was speaking to me through a pillow. As my sense stabilized, I felt the ground beneath me move and suddenly I was standing on weak legs. The ground had actually been Bucky who had purposefully put his body in front of mine as another man charged towards him.
I realized that there must have been another car of Hydra operatives because the numbers weren't adding up. We were on an overpass, over a river. I saw Steve rescuing bystanders, Tony flying over head chasing someone, Peter literally swinging around wrangling up bad guys, and Clint fighting off the marred man from earlier.
In the light of day, I could see that my used to be capturer had some kind of metal chest plate with a white ex. Bucky yelled duck while I was off in lala land, but thankfully he pushed my head down as the guy swung. He ushered me back behind him hitting the guy with a series of punches.
I looked back over seeing Clint standing and Mr. Dickhead on the ground. Something glinted in the sun light next to his hand. It was a gun. My stomach dropped and my eyes zeroed in. Not Clint. Clint had a family. Clint had saved me countless times. As the man reached for the gun, I took off in a dead sprint. My brain wasn't thinking. I just knew that I had to save Clint.
I'm sure I looked ridiculous as I screamed Clint's name, running in a goddamn strait jacket in wedge heels and a dress that had hiked up way too far, but in the moment I could care less.
The gun was in his hands now and Clint was weaponless. He moved to try and get behind a car for cover. But I knew it would be too late. The gun went off with a bang as I full body tackled Clint knocking us both off the side of the overpass.
It was all wind, pain, and screaming as we both fell towards the river. It was like I was falling in slow motion. I could see the water getting closer. Right before the both of us hit the water, I felt are hard tug on my ankle flinging me off course and a loud voice yell, "Shit!"
I hit the water and it was surprisingly cold. My lungs tried to shrink and crawl up my throat. I started kicking my legs, trying to get to the surface. No arms. I had forgotten that when I threw Clint and I off a bridge. There was an unidentifiable pain in my side. My tired body wasn't getting me to air fast enough. A horrible thought skittered across my brain. I am going to drown. On my fucking graduation day!
My eyes were closed and I kept trying to kick. Desperate for air, my brain was overridden by my body and I tried to take a breath. Swallowing water, I gave up kicking. The moment I gave up, a hand grabbed the neck of my strait jacket pulling me towards the surface. Darkness overtook me. It was too late.