At least I’ll be with Bucky now, Steve thought numbly as he lied on the floor of the plane.
Steve didn’t even shake from the cold anymore. Everything in his body was numb. He smiled at his Shield lying on the floor next to him and touched it.
Till the end of the line
Steve’s eyes got heavy and he closed them before taking in one final breath. He opened his eyes again to an almost high pitched ringing sound. It took all of his strength to glance over at the blue cube on the floor of the plane, which was now glowing more than normal.
The last time it glowed like that, Red Skull got…disintegrated? It looked like he got sent to space, which is impossible. But then again, everything with this cube was impossible.
Steve stared at it, not even bothering to express a confused look. He was too cold and too tired for anything. Steve closed his eyes again and took a breath.
At least I’ll be with Bucky, Steve thought again before giving into the cold and darkness.
“Steve?”
——
Steve woke up slowly and blinked his eyes open. He felt…warm? That wasn’t right, was it? The last thing he remembers is the coldness of the Arctic. Then the blue cube started doing some weird stuff. Steve didn’t bother moving yet, he still needed to adjust.
There was brightness. Not the blue hue that he got used to from the magical blue cube, but an almost warm, regular lighting. He also heard…cars? Cars? That couldn’t be right. And he heard someone talking. Not in the room. No, yes in the room, but not…it sounded…weird.
A game. It sounded like a game, on the radio. This was…definitely weird.
Steve sat up slowly, his body still incredibly sore. He managed to lean against the wall but still staying on the bed. Steve glanced around the room and realized he wasn’t in the plane anymore.
There was a fan on the ceiling, windows open with cars passing by. The radio was on and it was playing a…a baseball game. Wait…he remembers this game. This was…he knows this game. May, 1941. He was there. He was…
Steve tensed up when the door opened. He saw a woman walking into the room with a smile on her face.
“Good morning, or should I say afternoon,” she said with a smile after glancing at her watch.
“Where am I?” Steve asked, trying his best to keep the nervousness out of his voice.
Something definitely wasn’t right here. Something was wrong.
“You’re in a recovery room in New York City,” she said calmly.
“What happened?” Steve asked.
“You crashed the plane and saved everyone. Congratulations,” she said with a smile. “Howard Stark found you. You seemed to be in…a form of…you seemed to be asleep. I guess the serum helped you survive.”
“Can I see Howard?” Steve asked as he tried to get up.
“We wanna keep an eye on you for a little bit longer, but then you can have guests if you like,” she said.
Steve couldn’t even manage a nod. His body was…exhausted and sore and everything felt…numb. Steve tried to get up again and managed to stay upright while standing, surprisingly.
“Captain Rogers, I would advise you to not get up right now,” she said.
“Where am I really?” Steve managed to say.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand,” she said nervously.
“The game, it’s from May 1941. I know because I was there,” Steve said before the door opened.
Steve readied himself to fight before feeling a sharp pain in his leg. He collapsed on the floor and got hit in face. Steve’s vision swirled before he blacked out. Fuck, he was in trouble.
——
Steve blinked his eyes open, again. This was really starting to become a horrible habit. He went to move but felt pressure around his wrists and ankles. Steve tried to turn around to see but realized his arms were pinned behind him extremely tightly. The restraints on his legs were bulky too and wouldn’t budge when he tried to break them.
Shit. Shit. Shit. He should have just played along longer until he was better, or at least strong enough to stand for two minutes at a time without feeling like he was gonna pass out.
Steve jumped when the door opened. He quickly noticed he was in a dark room with a light on the ceiling, but not much else was in it. The man walking in was…Steve froze.
“Captain, nice to see you again,” Zola said with a smile as he walked over.
Steve struggled against the restraints. He tried to talk but it only came out in muffled noises.
“Let me get that for you, Captain. That’s probably unpleasant,” Zola said before walking over and untying the rag around his mouth. “There? Is that better?”
Steve breathed in a long breath and coughed. He glared up at Zola.
“Where am I?” Steve asked as he pulled against the restraints again.
“A secure place,” Zola said with a smile. “The rules here are quite simple. You be good and you don’t get hurt. You don’t obey and you get hurt. Simple.”
“Go to hell,” Steve said with a glare.
Zola smiled before whispering to the person in the doorway. Steve tried to listen but only got bits and pieces of German. Something about bringing a Soldier? Whoever that was, he definitely didn’t want to meet them.
“Captain, I am going to ask you a few questions and you’re going to answer them,” Zola said.
“Not happening,” Steve said with a glare.
“You haven’t even heard the questions I’m doing to ask. They could be as simple as me asking what your name is. You shouldn’t assume the questions are bad,” Zola said.
“If they’re helping you then they’re bad,” Steve mumbled before tugging at the restraints again.
“I’ll make you a deal then. You answer my questions and I don’t hurt the Soldier,” Zola said.
“What soldier?” Steve asked before someone got pushed in the room and onto the room.
Steve tried his best to see who was there but only saw long hair and…a missing arm? Their only arm was pinned behind them, probably using chain.
“Captain, meet the Winter Soldier,” Zola said before turning on another light in the room.
Steve blinked his eyes from the blindness and froze.
“Bucky?” Steve asked, his eyes wide.
“Steve?” Bucky mumbled as he tried to look at his friend through the long hair in his eyes.
“The Soldier fell off the train and was found soon after. He was brought here,” Zola said with a smile.
“Oh my god,” Steve said, his eyes shaky and staring at Bucky.
“So, answer my few questions and I don’t shoot him,” Zola said with a smile before pulling out a gun and putting it to Bucky’s head.
“Wait!” Steve yelled anxiously.
He was not about to lose Bucky a second time. Or was it the third time? Whatever time it was, it wasn’t happening.
“Be good,” Zola said with a smile.
“Don’t, Steve,” Bucky said before getting kicked in the face.
“I’ll answer your questions,” Steve said quickly. “Please.”
Zola smiled.
“What happened on the plane?” Zola asked.
“Red Skull was escaping on the plane and I jumped on board while he was flying away,” Steve said before Bucky mumbled something about stupidity, causing Steve to smile slightly. “And then…and then…we fought. Red Skull knocked the…the blue cube thing out of its container and touched it. And he…”
“He what, Captain?” Zola asked.
“He like…disintegrated…but the ceiling was…the ceiling looked like…space…stars and…and colors. It was almost like…like he got…sent into space,” Steve said as he tried to think back.
“Interesting,” Zola said slowly, trying his best to keep the confusion out of his voice but failing. “Then what?”
“I crashed the plane in the Arctic. The bombs were on board and I…I couldn’t risk it. I couldn’t risk people getting hurt…families getting hurt,” Steve said before looking at Bucky again. “I crashed it. I knocked myself out when it crashed and then woke back up. I…lied down on the floor and went to sleep. Then…the cube started…glowing and…and making a ringing sound. Then I…I woke up in that room, with the baseball game playing.”
“You appeared into the Soldier’s cell, Captain,” Zola said, Steve freezing. “The blue cube appeared with you as well. It seems that cube is more useful than anyone thought.”
Zola holstered the gun and smiled at Bucky again. He kicked Bucky so he was now on his side on the floor, and not on his knees.
“I’ll be back in a few days, Captain,” Zola said with a smile.
“What?” Steve asked.
“You were going to attack the woman in the room. Attacking handlers is against permission. Therefore, punishment,” Zola said. “I’ll be back in a few days and see if you will be more appreciative of Hydra after starving for a little bit.”
Zola left the room and Steve flinched when he heard it locking. He immediately turned to Bucky with watering eyes.
“We gotta stop meetin’ like this, Stevie,” Bucky mumbled tiredly, Steve choking out a sob. “Hey, don’t cry. I’m…I’m okay. I mean, I could be better. You know, maybe a hot blonde would be nice, you know?”
Steve stared at Bucky and sniffed, his eyes watering extremely. Bucky sat up and sighed as he leaned against the wall. Bucky shifted with a wince when the chains around his waist dug into his side.
“What happened?” Steve managed to ask.
“I fell off the train. Hydra got me, Steve. They got me again,” Bucky said, his eyes watering. I…um…I’ve been here. Seein’ you is helping me. You’re real, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, Buck, I’m real,” Steve said with a sad smile.
“I lost my arm when I fell,” Bucky said quietly. “And they…they’ve been injecting me with…some blue liquid. I don’t…”
“The serum,” Steve whispered, Bucky tensing up.
“That explains a lot,” Bucky said.
“What do you mean?” Steve asked.
“Everything’s…loud,” Bucky said quietly. “They keep…changing the restraints. First it was rope, now chain. They keep…they keep doing that, Steve.”
“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Steve said as tears came down his face. “We’ll get out of here.”
“I hope so. I can’t…I can’t take this anymore, Steve. They’re…they’re breaking me,” Bucky said, his voice breaking as tears starting to fall down his face.
“We’ll be okay,” Steve managed to choke out. “I’m not leaving you again.”
“You better not, you punk,” Bucky mumbled, Steve smiling.
——
“We don’t even get a week off to…to deal with loosin’ Cap,” Dum Dum mumbled to himself as he stared at the maps in front of him.
“The war may be…over but there is still one Hydra base left,” Peggy said before taking a breath. “Here, Siberia.”
“I better pack a coat then,” Dugan said.
“Jeez, it’s in the middle of no where,” Gabe said.
“We’re getting in by plane, right?” Falsworth asked, Peggy nodding.
“I’ll help with this mission and then by the time this is over, I’ll be all set to head out,” Howard said.
“Head out?” Dernier asked.
“You leaving us?” Morita asked.
“I’m getting a boat and crew ready. We’re gonna…we’re gonna find…we’re gonna find Rogers,” Howard said before getting quiet. “But until then, I get to keep an eye on your asses.”
“So thoughtful,” Dugan said sarcastically, Howard smirking. “So once we go in by plane, we what? Parachute in?”
“Yes, that’s the plan. We don’t know much about this base, so try to stay alert,” Peggy said.
“Yes, ma’am,” Dugan said with a nod.
“Use the transponder and then it’ll send your location. It’ll probably take two hours for me to get there, so beware,” Howard said.
“Got it,” Gabe said.
“One last mission,” Morita mumbled.
———
“I hate the cold,” Dum Dum complained as he untangled himself from his parachute.
“Come on. I wanna get out of this cold,” Morita whispered before walking over to the door closest to them.
Morita grabbed the handle and froze when he realized it was unlocked. Everyone gave each other looks before walking inside the base. Dugan shivered and rubbed his hands together.
“Fucking cold,” Dugan mumbled to himself.
“Don’t think they expected visitors way out here,” Falsworth said in a whisper.
“Be ready,” Gabe said quietly.
“Get down!” Dugan yelled before ducking behind a wall as the gun shots started.
——
“Come on, Buck, stay awake,” Steve said tiredly.
“I spy with my little eye something…reckless,” Bucky said quietly.
Steve glared at Bucky with an amused look. Bucky did his best to smile. Both of them were feeling the effects of not having eaten for a few days. Being chained up in the dimly lit room with barely any water didn’t help either. They were breaking, both of them.
Steve knew what Zola was doing. Torturing them in front of each other to keep them both in line. Everyone on the planet seemed to know how much Bucky and Steve cared about each other. And they seemed to also know that they would do anything to keep each other alive.
“Keep talkin’,” Steve said quietly. “Gotta…”
“I’m tired, Stevie,” Bucky mumbled.
“I know,” Steve said sadly. “I know, Buck. Talk about anything, come on.”
“My folks, how are they…” Bucky trailed off.
“I couldn’t visit your mom and sister when…after you died…” Steve trailed off. “There were…there wasn’t time. We had to keep going. I…I wished I could have.”
“I know. I know,” Bucky said before hearing a loud bang. “What was that?”
“I don’t know,” Steve said as he tried to shift but winced.
Steve’s entire body was sore and in pain. Every muscle hurt and flared when he shifted. Steve flinched when the sound of the door unlocking echoed through the quiet room.
“Freeze!” Someone yelled before stopping. “Cap?”
“Dugan?” Steve asked.
“Guys! I found Cap! Cap’s alive!” Dugan yelled before freezing when he saw Bucky. “Sarge! Sarge is alive too!”
“Jesus, Dugan, stop yelling,” Bucky said tiredly. “My head…”
“What do you mean you found Cap and Sarge?!” Gabe yelled as he ran into the room.
“Captain?” Dernier asked as the room quickly filled up with people.
“Bucky!” Gabe yelled.
“Hang on, there were keys on the wall outside. We’ll get these off,” Falsworth said as he started unlocking the restraints around Steve’s limbs.
“How are you alive?” Gabe asked.
“Long story,” Steve mumbled as he leaned against the wall tiredly.
“Stay awake! Come on, give into that stubborn ass personality and stay awake,” Jones said.
“What happened to your arm?” Dugan asked as he started untangling the chain around Bucky.
“I took it off when it was bothering me. Left it in another room,” Bucky said sarcastically, his voice filled with exhaustion.
“I never thought I’d be so happy to hear that Barnes sarcasm,” Dugan said with a laugh. “Can you stand?”
“Don’t know,” Bucky said.
“We sent word to Howard,” Morita said. “He’ll be here in a few hours.”
“Hours?” Steve mumbled.
“It’s Siberia. It’s kinda difficult to get planes out here,” Dugan said as he helped Bucky off the floor, Bucky whimpering. “You’re okay, Sarge. You’re okay.”
“The guards,” Bucky whispered.
“Everyone’s dead, kid,” Dugan said. “You’re safe now.”
“You’re real, right?” Bucky whispered.
“Yeah, yeah, kid, we’re real,” Dugan said. “Come on.”
——
Bucky woke up and barely opened his eyes.
“Sarge, go back to sleep. We’re still on the plane,” a voice said.
“Plane?” Bucky mumbled.
“Yeah, go back to sleep. It’ll still be a while,” the voice said.
“Wha…bout…Steve?” Bucky slurred.
“Asleep, like you should be,” the voice said.
“Okay…” Bucky trailed off before falling asleep again.
——
“Only the Howling Terrors could find out that two of their own who were presumed dead are actually alive,” Philips said.
“We’re stubborn like that, sir,” Dugan said.
“I can see that,” Phillips said before walking away.
Dugan rubbed his eyes and leaned against the wall behind him. He glanced around the waiting room and saw the rest of his team, Peggy, Howard and Phillips scattered. Peggy seemed to be deep in thought. Howard was mumbling to himself, something about the serum. Phillips was rubbing his temples. And the rest of his team we’re talking to each other around the room.
“You okay?” Dernier asked Dugan.
“Better now that they’re out of that place,” Dugan said. “Still pissed about Hydra, but better. I’m glad Sarge is alive, Cap too.”
“The Sargent has always been resilient,” Dernier said.
“Always been ‘keep Cap’s recklessness in check’ guy too,” Dugan said. “The universe probably decided that Cap wasn’t done being stupid and needed Sarge to keep an eye on him.”
“Probably,” Bucky said from the doorway, everyone freezing.
“What the hell are you doing up?” Phillips asked.
“I needed to…get out of that room…sir,” Bucky said quietly before looking down at the floor. “I just…I needed…”
“Fine, you stay, only until a nurse comes and drags you back to your room,” Dugan said before ushering Bucky to sit down in the chair.
“How’s Steve?” Bucky asked quietly, his throat still hurting slightly.
“We’re waiting for results,” Dugan said. “Got any stories to tell us about him in the meantime?”
“One time, this girl was gettin’ harassed by this guy. So Steve launched like…all 90 pounds of asthma at the guy and tackled him,” Bucky said with a smile. “I got the girl to safety and had to go back for my angry asthmatic chihuahua.”
“I’m calling him an asthmatic chihuahua anytime he pisses me off now,” Dugan said with a laugh.
Everyone quieted down when one of the nurses came over.
“He’s awake now. We wanna keep him here for a while, but he’s okay now. His healing is slower than normal but we have him hooked up to an IV so that should help. Captain Rogers is ready for you, James,” the nurse said before walking away.
The room filled with sighs of relief before all of them went to leave.
“What are you doing?” Morita asked.
“Jacques is French for James,” Dernier said with a confused look.
“That doesn’t count, Dernier,” Bucky said.
“You go by Bucky, he clearly didn’t mean you,” Falsworth said.
“Oh really, Monty, we’re going there?” Bucky asked with a glare.
“Guys, guys, clearly-” Morita started.
“Jim, I swear to god,” Bucky said with a glare.
“Honestly, a bunch of children,” Peggy said to herself as she walked down the hallway, Dugan following.
“They probably didn’t even realize we left,” Dugan said with a laugh.
“Probably,” Peggy said with a smile.
“Hey, Cap,” Dugan said as he walked into the room. “How you doing?”
“Hey,” Steve said tiredly, wincing silently. “Where’s Bucky?”
“Oh that’s who you wanted to see,” Dugan said with a laugh.
“Yeah, I…I clarified it for the nurse. She asked who Bucky was and I said James,” Steve said, Peggy and Dugan laughing. “Why are you laughin…”
“It’s glad to have you back, Cap,” Dugan said with a smile.
“Glad to be back…glad Bucky’s back,” Steve said quietly.