Chapter 22
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“Baby doll, I need you to breathe."
“James this is my brother's-my family's life-and they were...I don't even want to know, on my refrigerator! I eat out of that, James!"
“Well, it would only be a sanitary issue is if they did it while in the-."
“James!"
“Sorry! Sorry! Okay look, I know, believe me I know, but this is temporary. They'll be all lovey dovey for a couple days...then they'll be at each other's throats unless the kids are around again, but-."
“We don't have days, J-!"
“BUT they would never intentionally compromise a mission. I've seen them in action, I've worked with them together for years. Steve led the Commandos, Li trained every enhanced. They've taken out HYDRA bases faster than I could blink. They're a master class to watch."
You stared at your boyfriend for a long minute, debating on whether further argument was worth it. Finally, you sighed and backed down. If Bucky's saying his superiors will pull it together, you trust him.
“Fine. But if I even think they're putting my family in danger I'm done."
You started heading for the kitchen, but, Bucky, held you back. You looked at him in confusion when his expression went stony.
“I'm not finished yet, (L/N)."
“Jimmy, (Y/N)! You two done yet? If not too bad come in here."
Bucky sighed, rolled his eyes, and did as he was told, pulling you along with him. When you two came through the doorway, Steve, was holding his wife with what looked like an expression of fear and self disgust on his face. Li motioned for you and, Bucky, to sit down with her usual cocky smirk and continued to talk with her telepathy.
“Haunter, Soldier so good of to join us. Steve isn't there something you'd like to say?"
She jerked her head towards you. Her second in command continued to just trace the buttons on his soul mate's glove with a clenched jaw. Obviously, he was very pissed. You took deep breaths to keep yourself from feeding off him.
“Captain-," Major Rogers began out loud.
“I'M...sorry for yellin' at ya, (Y/N)," the blond supersoldier sighed, still not meeting your eyes, “Ya right, we should be controllin' ourselves..."
Li smiled in relief, kissed her husband between the eyebrows, and turned her attention back to you.
“(Y/N) I'm sorry for causing all this. I should've stayed away until after this was all over, but I just-."
She looked down and started messing with Steve's fingers before shaking her head.
“Anyway, I'm sorry and I accept the one Jimmy's about to make you give right now."
You looked over at your slightly red soul mate as the Major raised an eyebrow at him.
“You think that's the first time someone's called me a bitch, Jim?"
Bucky went even redder, but didn't break eye contact. You couldn't hear what they were talking about anymore, but after a minute they gave each other a friendly smile and, Li, set her gaze on you.
“Alright, so what's the battle plan, Agent?"
“Me?!" you asked. Li shrugged.
“Well, since you called me and Steve out on not taking this mission seriously, obviously, you have doubts about our leadership abilities. So I'm giving you full control."
“Li I really don't think-," Bucky started.
“Well, luckily you won't have to. Right, Haunter? A smart girl like you can figure this out, right?"
“I-."
“This isn't a game, Spawn!" Bucky shouted.
You could feel worry and confusion seeping out of him, who could blame him since one of the “crown jewels" of HYDRA was asking you a rookie SHIELD agent how best to take down their evil counterpart. That changed to fear when the room temperature rose and Li's fists clenched.
“Who says I'm playin', Solider? You forget I have stock in this too. Believe it or not, I have people t' protect too. A life I want back."
You felt the Winter Soldier's instinct to submit come back as Li's now silver glowing eyes burn holes into him. You growled and clutched his hand tighter. Bucky snapped out of his terror and looked up at you in wonder. You kept your eyes on Li. Spawn went back to her human appearance, studying you with curiosity...and hope? Finally, she spoke again.
“What's the plan, Agent?"
You glared at her while telling everyone what you thought should be done. Bucky paled a couple times, but Li's and Steve's expressions remained stoic. When you finished, Major Rogers nodded.
“I like it!"
In your own disbelief, you missed Bucky's looked of shock. Steve remained a wall, but, Li, grinned.
“R-really?" you stuttered.
“Couldn't've come up with a better one myself!" she assured, hopping up, “I'll go get ready now!"
Bucky followed her out. A minute later, Steve, cursed and pounded his fist on your table, cracking it right down the middle. He unconsciously mumbled out an apology while staring at the floor with murder and self-loathing in his eyes.
“Steve?" You reached out for him, but he flinched away from you. “Steve, what are they talking about?" He continued to ignore you until you heard the stairs creak. Finally, the Captain looked back up at you with a blank expression.
“I dunno what ya tryin' t' do t' me, (Y/N)," he said quietly, “But stop it before I stop ya. Are we clear, Agent?"
“Y-yes, Captain," you stammered in confusion.
He nodded firmly and then followed his soul mates. Bucky came back in from the living room. He frowned at your facial expression and cupped your cheeks.
“Baby doll-?"
“James. What did, Li, say to you?"
“She-."
“James, think harder about that sentence before you say it."
Bucky sighed and moved his hands to yours.
“You do not want to keep testing Steve's anger management skills, Haunter."
"I'm not trying to, Buck-."
“I know. And I know how frustrating, Steve, is. I'm just warning you, though, that serum amplifies everything. Good gets better, bad gets worse.
Keep pushing your luck and you'll push him back to that place that almost killed us two years ago."