Once Bucky's new arm was secured in place, he bolted upright. Adrenaline surged through him and his heart pounded in his chest.
"You! I should've known," Bucky shouted, as a bottomless rage filled him.
The darkly dressed Hydra doctors rushed to contain him, but Bucky punched one in the face before kicking another in the chest. The other two doctors quickly ran for the door. Bucky winced slightly as he slid off the metallic table, placing one hand on the table to maintain his balance.
The Red Skull sighed, removed his pistol from its holster, and shot both doctors in the head. They dropped to the floor like flies.
"You can't keep me here forever," Bucky said.
Still feeling dizzy, he slowly inched down the length of the table and toward the door.
The Red Skull laughed the sound dark and sinister. "You may certainly try to escape, though you will not succeed."
At that moment, numerous darkly dressed Hydra soldiers rushed into the room. Bucky set his jaw as he pushed away from the table and stood upright.
"Incapacitate, but do not kill him," the Red Skull instructed.
A guttural scream erupted from Bucky as the Red Skull left the room. The door closed and Bucky charged at the closest soldier. He punched the man in the face and then in the gut for good measure.
The man fell to the ground as the other soldiers charged at him.
I can beat these guys, Bucky thought. I have to. I have to get back to Cap.
Bucky dodged one Hydra soldier's punch and jumped when another soldier stuck his leg out. The young adult kicked one soldier in the back of the leg and punched another Hydra soldier in the face. Both went down and Bucky grunted when one of the soldiers punched him in the face.
When another soldier's fist flew near him, he grabbed it and spun the man away from him. Bucky kicked another soldier in the knee and the man grunted as he slid back.
Just as he raised his fist, additional soldiers flooded the room. Bucky fought as hard and as long as he could, but they overwhelmed him. As the Red Skull instructed, they didn't kill him. They just kept him pinned to the floor, unable to fight back. Shaking with rage, Bucky twisted his head to one side.
"I will never stop trying to get away! Do you hear me, Skull?" he screamed, despite the soldiers pinning him to the floor.
XXXXX
After all those years, it's finally over, Bucky thought. I'm finally free. But what the hell does that mean?
He contemplated this on a stool at the counter nursing a beer. He couldn't remember the name of the bar, some dive just north of DC. There were a few other truck drivers and locals dispersed throughout the establishment, all looking to take a load off before going back to work or their homes.
At least they have homes to go back to, thought Bucky. What's that old expression? You can never go home again?
Even though he was free of the Red Skull's control, he could still hear the Uber Nazi's voice in the back of his mind. Like nails on a chalkboard.
He will never control me, Bucky thought. Never again.
Taking a swig of beer, his gaze moved to the small television screen that hung in the left corner of the room. A brunette reporter from Excelsior rambled on.
"After his brief escape, the Red Skull is back in custody thanks to the Avengers. Sources say that the Red Skull will be returned to Hydrobase. However, security measures are being tightened."
Just then, an image of the Red Skull in handcuffs appeared on the screen. S.H.I.E.L.D agents led the Hydra War Criminal out of a helicopter and across the deck of Hydrobase.
"Good, I hope they toss him in a hole and throw away the key," said one of the patrons from the other side of the room.
I can't disagree with him there, Bucky thought.
While he'd originally considered finishing the Skull once and for all, he hadn't for two reasons. First, Cap would never have allowed it. He would insist that killing was never the answer. Second, he'd determined cleaning up the wreckage of his past was more important. At least, for the time being.
If he escapes again, he's mine, thought Bucky.
He quickly finished off the remains of his beer before pushing off the stool and walking to the dark-haired bartender on the opposite end of the counter. He reached into his and removed a twenty-dollar bill. The young man, not much older than Bucky had been in 1943, looked at Bucky.
"Keep the change," said Bucky as he slid the bill onto the counter.
Shoving his hands into his jacket pockets, he turned and walked out of the bar.
I'm going to take back what's mine, he thought. Even if it takes me decades to do it.
So, as you can probably tell, I've been on a bit of a Marvel kick lately. This story takes place after "Winter Soldier" and was also inspired by "Rest In Peace" by Dorothy, for those who are curious.
I would once again like to thank The Solar Surfer for beta-reading this. Thanks a million!
If you enjoyed this story, please feel free to like, comment, or follow. Your constructive criticism is the best paycheck I have!