Chapter 2
“Bullshit,” Dugan said with a glare, Howard laughing. “Come on. You do not.”
“I do,” Howard said.
“One thousand dollar bills don’t even exist,” Morita said with a laugh.
“Jarvis, can you get a few thousand dollar bills for me, to prove it?” Howard asked before giving the group of men a look.
“Certainly, sir,” Jarvis said before he left the room.
“You doing okay, Peg?” Dugan asked.
“I’m fine,” Peggy said with a smile.
“Yeah, no, you’re not,” Morita said.
“Oh hush up,” Peggy said.
“Her British is coming out,” Dugan joked, Peggy laughing.
“I’m fine, really.”
“Come on, Peggy, let it all out,” Dugan said seriously. “Stop being so nice. Get pissed off.”
“We miss him too,” Falsworth said before taking another sip of his drink.
“I’m organizing another search party in a few weeks. We’re gonna find him, and we’re gonna find a body,” Howard said.
“Sir, the requested thousand dollar bills,” Jarvis said as he came into the room and handed the bills to Howard.
“See, I told you,” Howard said as he handed them out.
“Shit, can I take one of these home with me?” Morita joked, Falsworth laughing.
“Do you want to?” Howard asked, Dugan staring at the bill in his hand. “I don’t care.”
“You’re serious?” Morita asked.
“I’m rich. I can afford it,” Howard said before Morita slowly put one of the bills in his pocket, Gabe sneaking one too.
Dugan flinched when the telephone rang. Jarvis made his way over to it in the other room and answered it.
“You have a telephone in every room, don’t you?” Gabe asked.
“Almost every room. Not this one, but just about every room,” Howard said.
“Why?” Dernier asked with a laugh.
“Because I don’t feel like answering the phone if it’s in the other room,” Howard said, Peggy snickering.
“You have him answer the phone the entire time,” Dugan said with a laugh. “You know, you’re a pain in the ass.”
“Like Steve Rogers?” Howard asked, everyone quieting.
“No one was as bad as he was. Hell, him and the Sargent together were just…they were smart separate but when they’re together, their brains cancel each other out,” Falsworth said.
“Damn right about that,” Dugan said before chugging his glass.
“Sir,” Jarvis said as he quickly came into the room.
“Is everything alright, Mr. Jarvis?” Peggy asked.
“Steve Rogers is alive,” Jarvis said, everyone freezing.
——
“What the fuck?” Dugan asked loudly while Steve leaned against the wall of the plane hangar.
Steve continued trying to breathe rhythmically while the room was filled with panicking, swearing, yelling, and confusion.
“What the fuck?!” Dugan yelled.
“Dugan, stop yelling,” Morita said.
“No!” Dugan yelled. “What the fuck? I’m gonna kill those Hydra bastards!”
“Get in line,” Gabe said as he clenched his fists.
Steve noticed Bucky flinch from all the yelling. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
“Howard,” Steve managed to say, everyone quieting down and staring at him.
“Yeah?” Howard asked.
“Do you…do you have a change of…a change of clothes?” Steve asked as he fought back the nausea currently making its way out of his stomach.
“Yeah, I-” Howard said before getting cut off by Steve coughing and gagging.
“Christ, Cap,” Dugan said as Steve started shaking.
“I need…need this off…now,” Steve said anxiously as he clawed at the Hydra logo on his body.
“Steve, Steve, breathe,” Peggy said calmly.
“Jarvis, get the spare clothes from the car,” Howard said, Jarvis nodding and leaving the hangar.
“They did that to him. And I can’t…” Steve said anxiously. “They did this to me suit and…and my shield and…”
“Hey, hey, we’ll fix the suit and we’ll fix the shield. We’ll fix Sarge,” Dugan said calmly.
“Zola did this,” Steve choked out. “He…he wanted me to be Bucky’s…handler…”
“Handler?” Dernier asked.
“What is that?” Falsworth asked.
“The one who tells Bucky what to do, what missions to go on. They…they did this to him. And…what he’s been through…” Steve trailed off, thinking back to what Zola had said to him.
“You can make him do whatever you want, whether that’s for a mission or…more…personal wants.”
“I’m gonna be sick, I’m gonna…” Steve said as he started hyperventilating again.
Steve hugged his shield tightly, him needing the feeling of the shield. He turned it around so the logo was pressed into his chest, him hoping that he would even for a second forgot that the octopus was on the shield. He needed the feeling of the vibranium and…
The man, his handler, he was…having trouble breathing. That was familiar. That was…
“Steve…” Bucky mumbled.
Steve whipped his head up. Everyone froze and stared at Bucky.
“Bucky?” Steve asked.
“Asthma attack,” Bucky mumbled.
Steve froze and stared before looking back up at Bucky. He got up off the ground, being sure to keep the shield pressed against his body to hide the Hydra logo.
“Not asthma, buddy, but…anxiety,” Steve said softly.
“You had asthma,” Bucky whispered.
“Yeah, I did,” Steve said quietly.
“Back when you were small,” Bucky said, Steve nodding. “But now you’re big and…”
Bucky trailed off and froze.
“You died,” Bucky said suddenly, his eyes widened.
“We’re safe now, Buck. Hydra got us, but we’re okay now,” Steve said as tears filled his eyes.
“They hurt me. They…” Bucky cried.
“I know. I know. But you’re okay now,” Steve said as he nodded, tears coming down his face. “We’re both safe. You never have to be there again.”
“Steve?” Bucky asked quietly.
“Yeah?” Steve asked.
“You crashed the plane…” Bucky whispered, Steve nodding. “That was stupid.”
“Yeah, it was,” Steve nodded with a slightly amused smile. “You’re okay now. We’re okay.”