Waiting was humiliating. Waiting was dressing up in an extremely tight American flag armed with anywhere from 10 to 20 chorus girls and whatever else was needed for the show, trying to bring some sort of happiness to the dying breed that was hope. Granted these were aimed toward children and the adults knew good and well what was really going on, people came from far and wide to see Captain America punch Hitler in the face and say some cheesy line about how they could save the day with war bonds. Waiting was kissing babies and hugging children, seeing the awe in their eyes as he shook their hands. Waiting was wishing Peggy were around and keeping his brothers' faces in mind as they laughed their way through the next few months. Waiting was tiring, but it had to be worth it. He would get his chance.

In the end, Steve never got his chance. He made it. He made it because no way in all the Realms was he going to let his older brother be strapped to that filthy table any longer than needed, and no one else would go get him.

"What are you going to do, walk to Austria?" Peggy implored.

"If that's what it takes." Steve growled, shoving the army jacket on over his American flag uniform. Tony waited outside, keeping watch for anyone who decided snooping was in their best interest.

"And I suppose you're going as well?" The British Intelligence agent scowled at his older brother.

"Anyone who thinks they can mess with my Pack without crossing me, well they are fools, of course." Tony informed her. "I do not tolerate fools lightly, Agent Carter."

She said nothing about the obvious slip-up, but shook her head.

"If anything, you're the fools. What good will possibly come of this?"

"You told me you thought I was meant for more than this. Did you mean that?"

"Every word."

"Then you gotta let me go."

"Well, there's no need to walk if you trust Howard's flying."

Tony groaned out a few curses.

"We'll take it." Steve insisted.

It was smooth sailing until they entered German territory, which was when the plane started getting shot at. Predictable, but annoying nonetheless.

"Get out as soon as we're off!" Steve yelled over the sound of explosions and the rickety plane. Howard nodded an affirmative and shot Tony a look before they jumped out. He knew that look and knew it well. It was a look that Atros had worn for one other person, long ago. Steve shook that out of his head and focused on landing as swiftly and silently as they could.

Fortunately enough, they were able to reach the prisoners without problem. Steve's newfound strength and their combined intelligence made for a much cleaner break-out than if he were to do it on his own. Especially since Tony set himself to planning the exit strategy.

He focused on freeing as many prisoners as he could with no regard to who they were. He was looking for his brother, and when someone from Bucky's unit pointed out where they took the middle child, Tony (who had finished with the guards outside and come back in to help with evacuation) charged ahead before the poor kid finished his sentence.
They found their brother bound to a metal table with thick leather straps, muttering the same phrase over and over again.

"Bucky?!" Steve hissed, alarmed. Tony looked grim and shook his head as he focused on undoing the straps. They got Bucky to his feet and started to walk, despite his groans. They barely made it out the door when a guard yelled for them to stop. Tony rolled his eyes and yanked Bucky onto his back. They made their way toward the roof, what with the guards already chasing after them there would be no use in fighting them all off. One of them was bound to get more injured than they could afford. The self-destruct alarm took care of any guards they previously would have bothered with.

"Fuck!" Bucky cursed. By this time, the soldier was healed enough to run with his brothers but nowhere near the picture of health. Considering his status as a wolf, that said something. They made it to the walkway before everything started blowing up and a few barbed insults later, the man formerly known as Johann Schmidt ripped off his face, revealing the fact that his entire head now shone a bright crimson in the firelight. Schmidt's assistant took the opportunity to pull back the walkway, effectively separating the two sides.

The boys weren't far behind them in getting the hell out of there. Tony waited until Steve and Bucky got over before making the jump himself, the explosions boosting his jump so that he slammed against the far wall, clear of the walkway altogether. They wasted no time in taking off after the madmen, only to find that Schmidt had taken off in his plane moments before and was now too far away for any normal human to bother trying to catch up. It would take a miracle, even by their standards. Bucky snarled his annoyance and they started for the freed prisoners. 30 miles to the base meant no point to bother trying such a feat. They had a long way to go.