Fight or flight?
“Down this way!” Nat shouted at her fellow Avengers as she sprinted down the corridor.
She observed the empty hallway. She was sure she just heard a door slam shut and saw now that it was a cell door. Probably where Steve had been...
“Tony, get down there! I’ll follow. Nat, you’ve got our rear. Oh and Bruce? If anything comes out of this building either inform us or get it yourself.” Clint barked at the Avengers.
The Avengers split up and started chasing the sounds of footsteps and huffed breaths. The noise was faint, but Tony was sure he could hear it more and more clearly now.
That was until he was buried in rubble.
~
“Buck, what did you just do?” Steve asked, trying to look back but not being able to. He had to keep running or Bucky would disappear.
“Keep running.” Bucky hissed fiercely.
Steve shut up. He could only hope they had all survived the explosion... It would be on him if they hadn't. Oh, God.
“When we’re out we’re going straight ahead. There’ll be a tunnel if we jump from the cliff. It’s our only escape." Bucky informed Steve, still running while holding Steve’s wrist.
“We’re gonna jump from a cliff? This’ll be great. Tony will be so mad.” Steve muttered more to himself than to Bucky.
The two men ran towards the tunnel. Steve clenched his fists and took a leap of faith.
~
“Guys! Come in. Anyone on comms?” Tony asked as he extracted himself from the rubble and dust.
“Yeah, I’m great. Maybe a bit of bone sticking out of my leg, but fine otherwise.” Clint huffed, brushing some dust from his shoulders and out of his hair.
“Nice, Barton. We’ll look at that. Nat, come in. Bruce, you too.” Tony instructed.
“Yeah, no fuss. I'm right here. Didn’t even get hit. I watched your backs well enough, but you should watch your heads, fellas.” Natasha quipped, filled with relief when she heard her teammates were fine.
“HULK CATCH!” The Hulk bellowed through the comms.
“So, Barton, you all right there? Nat, can you help him? I’m gonna have to deal with the big guy and whatever he’ll catch.” Tony said, already blasting his way out of the building.
Before Tony could even assist the Hulk, he noticed two men inside the green giants hands.
The fleeing pair might have counted on resistance, but they apparently hadn’t counted on the Hulk.
But hey, a Hulk isn’t easy to beat.
“Nice work, Bruce.” Tony stated. Before he finished his sentence, though, the green giant punched him into a nearby tree. Tony dusted himself off and sighed, “Right. Don’t mention puny Banner.” He said it more to himself as a reminder.
The Hulk was still trying to hold onto the two men, who were still struggling to fight their way out of the Hulks grip, which wasn’t happening.
“Wow, feisty one, slow down. He won’t let go.” Tony said to the man with dark clothes. The guy swiveled his head around. Tony’s brown eyes met piercing blue ones.
The Winter Soldier.
“Guys, we’ve got the Soldier. And Cap!” Tony noticed, “Holy shit, guys!”
“Hulk, take both to the jet.” Tony instructed him. The Hulk returned the order with an angry glare. Tony resumed, “Please?”
The Hulk hummed in agreement and moved towards the jet.
~
“Tony? What’s going on?” Steve asked, regaining conscience in what he recognized as a quinjet.
“Ah Cap, nice to see you. You dumb bastard!” Tony’s voice picked up volume until he shouted the last words at Steve.
Yep, he sounded angry...
“Tony.” Natasha warned, sending him a stern look. She sent him over to another part of the jet and turned back to Steve.
“Look, Cap, we scoured every continent looking for you. You disappeared, remember?” She asked him but resumed her speech without an answer, “Bruce caught you two trying to escape. We’ve got The Soldier in confinement."
“You are a little dehydrated and should eat something, Cap. No further injuries, except for the big guy squashing you for a while back there. Sorry ‘bout that.” Bruce apologized.
“’S fine..” Steve shrugged, staring off to where Bucky must be held. Would he be alright? Would he ever talk to Steve again?
“No. You can’t see him.” Natasha told Steve, reading his thoughts. “Not yet at least. Don’t forget, Cap, he kidnapped you for days. We were worried sick.”