You're My Mission
The fall towards the river below was never-ending, as Katy refused to open her eyes, not wanting to see the inevitable impact coming. She hoped her friends would remember her. She didn't like the thought of being forgotten. Not again. She kept her arms wrapped around her body, as a stray tear escaped her eyes, flying away in the strong winds. Her last thought was of Bucky, not how he was now, but when they first met. When they were all each other had-
All of a sudden, Katy felt a hand grabbing her shoulder, as her descent came to a sharp halt, her limb almost dislocating from the action. Her eyes snapped open to find familiar brown eyes looking down at her, her saviour's face covered in his own blood.
"Thought you could use a hand" Sam exclaimed, adjusting his hand to get a tighter grip on her arm.
Katy was lost for words as Sam's mechanical wings had them ascending back up towards the helicarriers, and away from the cold water below. Her eyes flickered down just in time to watch Rumlow hitting the surface, disappearing from view a moment later. An odd emotion clawed away at her as she watched the water ripple from the impact, realising slowly that it was relief. The feeling was short-lived as Rumlow reappeared with a cry, pushing his head above the water, arms flapping around to keep himself afloat. Katy tore her gaze away as soon as Rumlow lifted his head, not wanting to see the hatred on his face that she knew would be there. She and Sam continued their ascent towards the third helicarrier, knowing that would be where Steve was. Katy could tell Sam's strength was waning, his hand shaking as he refused to let go of her. Once they made it to the runway on the helicarrier, Sam was able to throw Katy onto the aircraft, collapsing beside her a second later, having used his last ounce of energy to get them there. Katy was now able to have a better look at Sam, noticing that a dangerous amount of blood was continuing to seep out of his thigh where Rumlow had shot him. He must have jumped out of the other helicarrier seconds after she did, not caring about his own safety. Katy grabbed the belt that was still attached to his waist and quickly pulled it around his upper thigh, creating a makeshift tourniquet to stem the bleeding.
"Sam?" Katy questioned, as his eyes fluttered shut.
"S-steve...we need to..." Sam murmured, before losing consciousness.
Katy pressed her finger to his carotid artery, glad when she felt a steady heartbeat underneath her fingers. He had only passed out. She wiped some blood away from his face, surprised that Sam had been able to regain consciousness at all after Rumlow had attacked him so brutally. He was stronger than she had realised. She pressed her finger to her earpiece after that, praying Agent Hill would answer.
"I'm on Charlie Helicarrier with Sam...he's been shot...needs extraction" Katy panted into her comms.
"I've got a location on Sam's wings. Stay where you are. We'll be there in sixty seconds" Hill's voice replied, as Katy was able to hear the sound of a chopper incoming.
"Is Steve with you?" Katy asked, hearing silence through her comms.
"...He's not coming" Hill told her, as Katy's eyes went wide, her throat constricting.
She was pushing herself to her feet in the next second, her mind already made up. She would not let Steve die. Not after he had already given so much. She spared one last glance at Sam's motionless body, knowing help would soon be coming for him, and stumbled towards the nearest door. Katy flinched as an explosion occurred right beside her, ducking as bullets rained down at her from all sides. It didn't take her long to realise what was happening, as one of the helicarriers came into view. Steve must have placed the server blade into the ship, allowing them access to the helicarrier's weapons. She dashed forward, as flames grew all around her, burning away at the aircraft which was creaking under her feet. Just as she made it to the door, she saw the chopper landing beside Sam's body, and watched as a familiar redhead jumped out. Now knowing he was safe, she raced inside the helicarrier, which was swaying from side to side, holes blown into the numerous corridors from the explosions that were happening all over the ship. It was like a war zone. It seemed that most of the agents had already abandoned the helicarrier, or were dead as she came against little resistance as she stumbled towards the hull. Katy slipped down the last staircase, her hands wet with her own blood, shoving the exit door open and reaching the glass dome which housed the server blades. She held her hands up to shield herself from the flames that covered the doorway. Gritting her teeth, she pushed through, her arms being scorched but otherwise unharmed. Katy's eyes darted around, desperately trying to find Steve, her heart stopping when she recognised a different voice from close by.
"Shut up!" Buck screamed, in a pained tone.
A gasp left her lips as she found the man below, who was charging at Steve, throwing the blond onto his back. Katy watched in horror as he then began to viciously hit Steve, leaving the man beneath him battered and bruised. Katy lunged forward, dropping down onto the metal walkway and staggering forward, clutching at her stomach which throbbed from the motion.
"You're...my...mission!" Buck cried angrily, between his punches.
She had never seen Buck in such a frenzy before, becoming almost animalistic as he pummelled Steve's face until he was unrecognisable. When she was directly above them, she climbed over the walkway rail, ready to jump down when she heard the words that left Steve's lips.
"Then finish it...cause' I'm with you till the end of the line" Steve exclaimed, as Buck's hand came to a stop in mid-air.
Katy felt tears welling in her own eyes as a memory flashed before her. The last day she had with Buck before he was taken from her. The first and only time they had embraced.
"Even if they wipe me again…I'll still come back for you. I promise" Buck murmured, resting his head on her shoulder, as he held her tightly in his arms.
"I'm…I'm with you till the end of the line" Buck whispered, before pulling away suddenly, his eyes wide.
Katy noticed the far-off look in his eyes, realising he had fallen into another memory. It took him a few moments to come back to reality, a beaming smile now on his face.
"What did you remember?" Katy asked.
"I said that to someone before. I'm just…I'm glad I found someone to say it to again" Buck admitted, as a genuine smile grew on Katy's lips.
It was Steve he had said it to. Who else could matter so much to Buck? Katy pushed herself off the railing a moment later, hurtling towards the glass below, letting out a hiss at the hard impact. Her knees instantly gave out, just as Buck twisted around to face her, a tear dripping down his cheek.
"Let him go, Buck" Katy all but pleaded, as Buck's grip on Steve lessened.
"I...I am malfunctioning, what...what did you do to me?" Buck questioned, pushing himself onto his shaky feet.
"They wiped you. They've made you forget again. But I know you're still in there. I know it" Katy murmured, as he glared at her.
"No! I am the Winter Soldier, I follow my orders-" Buck growled, getting cut off by Katy.
"Look at him, Buck. Really look. He's your friend. You know him!" Katy cried, gesturing to Steve's battered body.
"Bucky, p-please..." Steve stuttered, only barely conscious now, as his eyes connected with his best friend.
"Stop it! Stop!" Buck yelled, reaching up to claw at his head, scrunching his eyes shut.
"You've known him since you were children. Since before Hydra. I know it hurts, but you have to remember!" Katy insisted, inching closer to him, as Buck shook his head, with a cry.
"I don't know him! I don't know you! You're lying!" Buck screeched, violently shoving her away from him, almost throwing her to the ground.
"March 10th" Katy announced, watching as Buck's movements stilled instantly.
"That's your birthday..." Katy trailed off, as a look of horror dawned on Buck's features, his eyes flickering over to Steve.
The blond's face seemed to morph in front of him, into a younger, smaller version of the man, smiling in front of him. A birthday cake in his hands, other people surrounding them, singing a song he couldn't remember. He had been...happy? They had been important to him. The man he had attacked had been important, he still was...
"Buck?" Katy called out to him, bringing the older man out of his disjointed thoughts.
"You're...you're the Machine. He ordered me to...I have to..." Buck murmured, shakily.
"Who did?" Katy frowned, as Buck's hand suddenly shot out to grab her neck.
"Commander Rumlow. He ordered me to bring you to him. You are the enemy. I must follow my orders" Buck told her, squeezing hard enough to leave a bruise.
"T-the Commander's gone. Hyd...Hydra is gone. We're the only ones left" Katy panted.
"Then I must avenge them" Buck growled, his arm tensed, ready to snap her neck.
Grabbing the metal arm that was holding her in place, Katy sent an electric current through the limb, making it malfunction and forcing Buck to release his grip on her. She stumbled back a few paces, gasping for breath, feeling how the glass dome shook underneath them. They didn't have any more time. Her eyes flickered to her feet, seeing that they were getting dangerously close to the river below. The ship was going down with them inside.
"I'm not gonna' fight you..." Katy trailed off, her eyes finding a discarded gun nearby, a thought coming into her head.
Before he could stop her, she had lunged forward, her fingers gripping the weapon and turning it on him. Katy watched as he stilled, a strange emotion welling up in his blue eyes. His face was contorted in a broken expression, almost looking betrayed by her actions. Did he really think she would be capable of killing him?
"Do it" She exclaimed, twisting the gun around to grab it by the barrel and handing it towards him.
He took the weapon without a second thought, pointing it directly at her head, his finger curling around the trigger. She nodded with sad eyes, as she leant forward to press her forehead against the barrel. Buck frowned as he realised, she wasn't scared, in fact, she seemed...relieved?
"It's okay. It's okay, Buck. Just do it" Katy cried, as their eyes connected.
The gun shook in his hand, as he clenched his jaw so hard she could hear how his teeth strained at the force. Buck shook his head, seeming to be fighting against something, muttering words under his breath. She wasn't sure if he could fight through his brainwashing, but she was willing to die trying.
"You're the enemy. My enemy..." He frowned, as Katy kneeled down on the ground in front of him, leaving her completely defenceless.
"I...I forgive you" Katy told him, reaching out to touch his metal hand which was holding the gun, and shutting her eyes.
If Buck really was capable of killing her, she knew she didn't want to be alive any longer. Katy didn't think she had anything else left to live for. She waited for the inevitable bullet, hearing Buck inhale sharply in front of her when the gun was suddenly pulled away. Her eyes snapped open to watch the weapon clatter to the ground, soon followed by Buck's knees as he dropped down beside her, his head leant forward, dirty hair covering his features.
"I don't want to do this anymore" Buck whispered, almost too quietly to hear.
In the next second, Katy was leaning forward to wrap her arms around his shoulders, gripping on tightly to the leather that was strapped to his back. She felt him freeze against her, hands rising in the air as if expecting her to attack. He was scared. She let out a sigh of relief when she felt him slump against her moments later, bringing his face to rest in the crook of her neck, metal arm wrapping firmly around her waist.
"You don't have to. You don't have to take their orders ever again" Katy promised, feeling him shake against her.
"...I know you? We were...partners?" Buck questioned, slowly pulling away, his forehead wrinkled in confusion.
"We still are" Katy replied, watching his lips twitch into something that could almost be classed as a smile.
A loud creaking noise had their heads snapping up, seeing the mainframe falling onto its side, where it would crash into the glass floor in just moments. Buck's eyes immediately shifted to Steve, whose head was lolled to the side, his chest barely rising and falling. Without a second thought, Buck was racing towards his former friend, lunging forward to grab the man. Right on cue, the mainframe hit the glass, which splintered and cracked all around them. Buck kept his grip firm on Steve firm as the glass finally shattered, leaving them to freefall towards the river below. He heard Katy's panicked scream, but it was quickly silenced by the sound of the strong winds. He kept his arms wrapped around the blond, twisting them around so that Steve was lying on top of him. The impact of hitting the water was enough to have him blacking out for a few seconds, knowing it would have broken a normal person's spine. He never once let go of Steve and strained to pull them both towards the surface. Buck let out a sharp gasp when they finally got above the water and made quick work of dragging his former friend towards the shore. Every bone in his body ached, as the water lapped against them, threatening to pull them both under. The wreckage from the helicarrier shot into the water like bombs all around them, making Buck flinch, memories of being involved in bombings before, hitting him constantly. He flopped down onto the shore beside Steve once they were safe, his eyes shutting momentarily in relief as he watched Steve splutter, water dripping down from his lips. He slowly pushed himself onto his unsteady feet, looking out at the river, in a panic.
What about the girl? He had left her.
Bile started rising up in his throat at the thought of her still being in the helicarrier as he watched it crash into the river, and soon being swallowed up by the water. What if she hadn't been able to escape? With a shake of his head, he began racing back into the river, eyes darting around for any sign of her. His hands thrashed around in the water, worried that she might have been stuck under the surface. Just as he was about dive into the depths below, he heard a panting sound from nearby, his head shooting up to connect with familiar blue eyes. He was sprinting instantly, battling against the water to get to her as quick as possible. His hands reached out to grab her shoulders, as she slumped against him, her head falling against his chest.
"Katy?" He questioned, the name leaving his lips before his brain had time to catch up.
Nothing else mattered to him in that split second but the safety of the young girl in front of him. She had to be alright. He had to keep her alive. That was his mission.
"...I'm okay. A-are you?" Katy stuttered, as Buck nodded, quickly.
"And Steve?" Katy asked, her tone full of concern.
Steve. Stevie. The name seemed so familiar, so right. How could the blond he had saved be called anything else?
"He's breathing" Buck replied, only now properly noticing the way the front of her shirt was soaked in blood.
"You're hurt" Buck exclaimed, with wide eyes.
"Not by you. Rumlow...he shot me. It went straight through but..." Katy trailed off, the adrenaline from their fight wearing off, being left with the pain of her wounds.
"I will save you" Buck insisted, suddenly bringing his hand underneath her thighs and hauling her up bridal style.
"What about Steve?" Katy murmured, looking over his shoulder to the blond by the shoreline.
Before Buck could reply, the pair heard the tell-tale sound of a chopper from nearby, realising the Captain's friends were already searching the wreckage for him. Buck was quick to take off running, keeping her steady in his arms, not prepared to let her go again.
Steve grimaced as he reached up to grab a mug from his kitchen cupboard, feeling his abdominal muscles straining. It had been five weeks since the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D and he had healed well since then, but that hadn't meant he had gone easy on himself since. He had thrown himself into finding Bucky and Katy and had no plans on stopping. His movements stilled as he saw his expression in the glass of the kitchen cupboard, a feeling of self-loathing almost swallowing him whole. He was glad when his mobile rang a moment later and he eagerly picked it up, feeling the same sense of excitement he always did.
"Hello?" He answered, the hopeful tone clear in his voice.
"Hey, man" Sam replied, as Steve's face fell.
"Any news?" Steve questioned, hearing a soft chuckle on the other end.
"Straight down to business, huh?" Sam suggested.
"Sorry. I just...it's hard to think of anything else right now" Steve admitted, running a hand over his face.
"It's alright. I get it. But no, nothing on my end at the moment. I was just checking in" Sam informed him.
"I'm fine" Steve retorted.
"Uh-huh? You eating enough? Sleeping at night?" Sam inquired, as Steve's jaw tightened.
"What does it matter?" He murmured.
"You're my friend, Steve. I've already lost one recently, don't make me lose another, man" Sam pointed out, as Steve let out a sigh.
"I'm sorry. Again. But we haven't lost her, Sam. Or Bucky. They're out there. I know they are" Steve went on.
"And if that's true, he'll come back. You're with him to the finish line, right?" Sam stated, making Steve huff out a laugh.
"Till the end of the line" Steve corrected.
"Alright, alright. I don't pay attention to all your lovey-dovey shit, Rogers. Now sit down and eat a proper meal. I'll check in again tomorrow" Sam all but ordered, before hanging up, making Steve's lips twitch into a smile.
Turning around, he went to do what he was told, turning on his cooker, and reaching back for his mug, planning to have a cup of coffee. He frowned when he heard his doorbell ring, eyes flickering up to the clock to see it was already eleven o'clock at night, and wondered who would be knocking on his door. Cautiously, he made his way into the corridor of his new apartment, knowing he would have to move after S.H.I.E.L.D's fall. Only a very select group of people should have known where he was. Grabbing his shield from near the door, he reached out for the front doorknob. Taking a deep breath, he ripped the door open, holding his shield up in front of him, ready for an attack. Instead, he came face to face with a bruised and bloodied man tied up on his front porch, a note attached to his forehead with a pin. With a frown, Steve pulled the note away, as the man let out a hiss of pain, trying to edge away from him.
Steve.
I do not know how to start a letter. Bucky said you should write the first thing that comes into your head. This does not sound like a very effective method, but he has more experience in the matter. He told me you used to write letters to each other in the war. I suggested he should be the one to write to you again, but he refuses. He is still upset with what happened on the helicarrier. I know you will not blame him.
I am glad you are alive. That was my first thought when I began writing this letter. I came to the hospital once while you were still asleep but I did not make it to your room. It was not safe. Just like now. I am writing this from the roof of the building opposite, I can see you've just turned on the light in your bedroom. It is concerning that you spend many of your days sleeping until 6 PM. This is not productive, Steve. It is worrying.
Before he continued reading anything else, he pushed past the man on his porch, looking up at the building opposite. His eyes darted around, hoping to find any glimpse of Katy or Bucky, even just a sign that they had been there. He looked back to the letter moments later, needing to hear more.
Bucky and I will be gone by the time you read this. I'm sorry. But it has to be this way. The remnants of Hydra are still watching you. The seventy-two-year-old who is living on the floor below you in Apartment 20-B has been filming you for weeks now. Bucky has dealt with her while I am writing this. He won't kill her. I hope
We cannot allow ourselves to be captured by Hydra. Not again. We would not be safe with you. We have to stay away. It has not been easy. I think of you a lot. And Natasha. And Sam. You should see them more often. I heard that Tony Stark has offered for you to stay at the Avengers Tower? This would be a good idea, I think.
The man in front of you is an ex-Hydra agent. He deserted in 2007. He has been on the run since. After Natasha leaked Hydra's files onto the internet, he was easy to find. He was involved in the taking of children for the experiments I was in. He took eleven children personally. Stole them away from their families, and gave them to scientists to torture and experiment. I do not think he realised what would happen to them. He showed me one of the gravesites that they dug for the children. There was no signpost, no gravestones. Just dirt. I thought about killing him. I might have if he had not left Hydra soon after that. I think the torture he puts himself through every day is better than the satisfaction he would feel at dying. Still, I did not know what to do with him. That is why he is here. If anyone knows what the right thing to do is, I believe it is you, Steve.
He looked up from the letter, his eyes connecting with the beaten man in front of him, taking in the tear-tracks on the man's cheeks, the muffled sobs that were still leaving his gagged lips. Steve's lip curled up in disgust but knowing deep down that he would let the man live, just as Katy had. Because she was right.
You should stop looking for us. No good can come of it. Death goes where we go. That is something that will never change. We are leaving America. I want to find the other children that died, their families. I want the world to know what happened to them. I want them to be remembered.
I hope you can move on with your life. Move on from us. Even so
The last line had been crossed out, but Steve could just about make out the words 'we miss you'.
Please be careful. For us.
Katy and Bucky.
Steve didn't realise he was crying until a teardrop hit the paper, causing him to rub at his sore eyes. He felt more determined than ever to find them, now he had the proof they had made it out of the wreckage. Besides, what kind of life could he have without them?
Katy kept her eyes firmly on the floor as they walked through the Smithsonian, crossing her arms to wrap her denim jacket more tightly around her. Her wounds were healing well, but she was no super-soldier. Her body had to be stitched back together, and the cuts that littered her face would still take months to stop scarring. She stayed close by Bucky's side, feeling uncomfortable at being surrounded by so many people. She wasn't used to crowds. Bucky came to a sudden halt in front of one of the exhibits, as Katy's eyes widened, seeing it a picture of his face only metres away. He looked the same in many ways. The picture was clearly of him when he was a little younger, but the main difference was his eyes. The Bucky she knew had always had haunted eyes. She was still getting used to calling him Bucky instead of the Winter Soldier or Buck, but that was what he wished to be called. Just as she wanted to only be called Katy.
1917-1944.
Bucky Barnes start and end. Had he really been only twenty-six or twenty-seven when he had been captured by Hydra? She often wondered just how much of his early days in Hydra he truly remembered. The leaked Hydra articles stated that it had been some years into his capture when the brainwashing started. Katy sincerely hoped he had been kept on ice before then, but something made her doubt this. Her face contorted when she saw a few words graffitied onto the bottom of the exhibit in red paint.
The Winter Soldier.
Bucky would never be able to escape his past. Neither of them would. But at least they had each other now. Nervously, Katy reached out to take Bucky's metal hand in her own, which was clad in a black glove. He flinched for a split second, before linking their fingers together, blinking a few times as he finally looked away from the picture of his former self. His eyes then flickered over to an exhibit for Captain America, a sad expression growing on his face.
"He must hate me" Bucky murmured, quietly.
"I don't think Steve has ever hated anyone" Katy pointed out, as a slight smile grew on Bucky's lips.
"Damn punk" Bucky huffed, the words slipping out of his mouth naturally.
"What does punk mean?" Katy inquired, curiously.
"I...I don't remember..." Bucky trailed off, with a frown, knowing it was something important to him.
Katy gave his hand a quick squeeze, before starting to pull him away from the exhibits. They had decided to go one last time before leaving the country, thinking it was the right thing to do. Like saying goodbye to their former lives. She came to a sudden halt when she found a small child staring up at them, his nose dripping and a toy Captain America in his hands. He could be no older than seven or eight. His eyes darted from the exhibit to Bucky and back again, his jaw-dropping open.
"You're Cap's best friend!" The young boy squealed, clutching his toy tightly.
Bucky grimaced at the comment but stayed frozen to the spot, noticing a middle-aged woman calling out a name, guessing she was looking for the boy. This could end very badly for all of them.
"You're a superhero!" The boy exclaimed, watching Bucky clench his jaw.
"No. I'm not" Bucky retorted, trying to keep his anger at bay.
He pulled on Katy's hand, wanting to get as far away from the child and his awe-like expression as quick as possible. He was a monster. Hydra had made him that way. And nothing could change that.
"B-but...you saved Captain America from the bad men. That's what Mommy said" The boy called after them after they had turned around.
Bucky whipped around, wanting to tell the child the truth. That he was the one who had put Captain America in danger in the first place. At that moment, the boy's mother noticed them, coming to rush over to her son, placing her arm around his shoulder as her eyes connected with Bucky's. She froze. Letting out an audible gulp a second later, Bucky braced himself for her to scream, to cry for help. He was planning their escape when he noticed tears welling in the woman's eyes.
"...I'm so sorry. For what happened to you" She told him, as a single tear rolled down her cheeks.
Bucky didn't know what to say. He felt like he couldn't breathe and was thankful when Katy began to drag him away, as he clutched onto her hand tight enough to bruise, feeling like it was the only thing grounding him. After Black Widow had leaked all the Hydra's files, his past, what had been done to him, what he had done had become public knowledge. He could handle the hate. The fear. But the sympathy? That was something he would never be able to cope with.