Part 10

"Do you think he's okay?" You fret, sitting beside Steve in the car as he drives down the freeway, his knuckles tight on the wheel. The traffic is thick, but the soldier doesn't seem phased as he slips in between the cars, driving like a maniac.

You do your best not to flinch every time he has to hit the brakes, or when he accelerates to a point you're forced back against the seat.

Maybe you should be wearing a seatbelt, but the pressure on your side is too much and you can't stand it.

You snuck out of the hospital wearing a borrowed pair of scrubs, which you'd ditched for one of Steve's shirts and a pair of blue jeans that are just a size too big but still wearable.

You hope Steve knows where he's going, because he's not following a GPS or any maps. His eyes are narrowed in concentration, and he's been mostly quiet the entire trip --- you'd only been gone two hours, and you know the others must have noticed already.

Would they assume you and Rogers left together? Usually just being in his presence is intolerable, he's so righteous and inherently good, it annoys you. Nothing is ever black and white, and you know the captain has to have some bad quirks or something.

"Bucky can hold his own, he's always been able too. As long as they don't use his trigger word, we should be okay."

"What if he's not where the tracker says? What if they know about it and they left it behind as a diversion?" You'd snuck the marble in his back pocket last minute, more so because you figured they'd take you and you wanted them to be able to get you back.

You never imagined Bucky would trade places with you.

"Then we keep searching," Steve replies, his voice terse. "We keep searching until we find him. He would do the same for us."

True.

You sigh, letting your head rest back against the seat. You stare out the window at the passing cars, chewing your lower lip nervously.

You never thought you'd end up in a predicament like this.

"I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest with me." Steve suddenly says, and you loll your head in his direction with a sinking feeling. Great.

"What?"

"What are you?"

You blink. "What?"

"What are you?"

"What the hell kind of question is that, Rogers?"

His eyes flick over to you. "Are you human? From an alien race? A different realm?"

"Are you fucking stupid?" You arch a brow at him. "No. I was born in Connecticut. Why?"

"When we were falling off the building, you used your power to stop us from hitting the ground. I thought you were unconscious, but when you looked up at me your eyes were glowing, and it wasn't human."

"You're fucking with me."

Steve scowls; he hates that you talk so crudely, he doesn't understand how Bucky stands it. "No, I'm not. I'm Serious. Your eyes were too bright and your power --- I thought you could only use it with your hands."

You snort, crossing your arms. "You don't know anything about me, Rogers."

He's learning that.

"So tell me." He says after a moment, glancing at you. "I don't want to be unprepared for anything. It's going to be a brutal fight getting Bucky back, and I need to know I can rely on you."

"Well I haven't let you die yet, have I?" Not that it's not crossed your mind.

"That doesn't mean you won't if you see a better opportunity."

You huff.

"Look, I'm pissed you sold me out and got me sucked into the Avenger nonsense, alright? But that doesn't mean I'm going to let you die or kill you, that's not who I am. I bake cakes for a living, or at least I did. The worst thing I'll ever do to you is put laxative in something you eat and watch you suffer."

Steve grimaces.

Somehow he doesn't doubt that.

~~~~~~~

"Are you sure this is the right place?" You whisper uncertainly, your stomach twisting as you look. It's looks like some kind of lumber mill, piles of planks and thick trunks of trees everywhere. You can see cranes and trucks parked behind a large bobwire fence, and the lot is a mix of dirt and concrete, as if they paved half and then gave up.

It's creepy as hell.

"This is where the tracker leads." Steve murmurs, squinting his eyes. His gaze is sharp as he overlooks the area; it's too quiet, he doesn't even see any guards.

They might have the wrong place, or be too late.

"Do you see anyone?" You're on your knees in the dirt and grass, your side throbbing. You're trying to stay as quiet as possible, but your chest is tight, heart pounding so hard you feel as if everyone should be able to hear you.

"No."

"Where does it show he is?" You brush a strand of loose hair behind your ear;  you'd lost your hair bow somewhere, so now you're having to contend with your hair getting in your way. You'd only started leaving it down because Bucky liked it better that way.

"Fifteen feet from us."

"But that's impossible unless he shape shifted into a dumpster."

Steve grimaces.

Hmm.

You tug your lower lip between your teeth thoughtfully.

"What if they're under us?"

"What?"

"Underground. This could just be a cover. They're under us."

Steve frowns; they might be, but how did the two of you get down there? Where's the entrance, if there even is one, to this underground facility?

~~~~~~~

Bucky strains against his bonds, held down to the silver chair. His metal arm is useless against Hydra, and he feels helpless, strapped down, listening to the machines around him. He flexes his fingers as he looks around. He's been here before, to this place. It's a halfway point between facilities, buzzing with enemy agents, hidden below a lumber mill that's operational during the day; the perfect cover.

His eyes flick up to the humming, luminescent lights, seeing the dust falling from the ceiling. He shifts his hips, feeling something hard in his back pocket, but he doesn't have time to worry about it.

Are you dead?

Did you die from your injuries, or from the explosion on the roof? He couldn't see what happened, he'd blacked out and woke up in this chair.

So far no one has come to him, he's been alone for at least ten minutes. There's computers opposite him, screens lit up but not showing anything. The screens reach up the walls, casting a ghastly glow about the room as the only other source of light.

He grinds his teeth as he strains again.

If you're dead, if Steve couldn't save you, Bucky knows everything is pointless. He'd went with Hydra to save you, but if you didn't make it ---.

"Ah. You're awake."

Bucky grimaces, cutting his eyes at the bald man entering the room, two white robed scientists behind him. He narrows his eyes at them, dark hair framing his face.

He's going to have to kill them all if he wants to leave.

The man speaking is bald, his skin tight on his face and his eyes dark. He's smiling, but it's all teeth, reminding Bucky of a shark.

"You don't know me, but my name is Johann. I've been keeping track of you for a few years now," he clucks, gesturing at the scientists. "Hope you don't mind, but we need to run a few tests."

Bucky jerks immediately at the steel holding his arms out along the chair, glowering at the scientists cautiously approaching them.

"You're not who we wanted, but we'll settle for you." Johann rambles as he sits down in one of the rolling chairs at the computers, scooting it across the floor towards Bucky. "We really wanted that mutant friend of yours."

"Mutant?" Bucky arches a brow, taken back. He wouldn't use that word to describe you at all --- you'd probably punch someone if they said it to your face.

"Yes. That's what those born with abilities or different are being called these days. She's a strong one, isn't she? You know I knew her mother, Abigail; she was a lovely woman, a brilliant scientist. Shame she died in that fire."

Bucky stares at the man.

Your mother? He knows your parents died in a fire when you were a child, but you'd never elaborated any details. Did you know she was a scientist? Did you know anything about your parents?

"Did you kill her?"

"Me? No. The fire was a pure accident as far as I know." Johann picks at his nails, and Bucky eyeballs the scientists. The chair he sits in is made of metal, not exactly comfortable and with steel manacles --- or at least some kind of metal strong enough to hold him. One of the scientists is talking on the buttons of the chair behind him, a long arch running above his head.

"I figure she didn't know she was pregnant and was exposed to some questionable research, explaining why her child ended up as she did. Or, it could just be nature, the world is changing after all."

The man talks too much.

Bucky squirms, his restraints tightening.

"She's a strong one, that (Y/N). I imagine she'll make a great recruit for us."

"You won't be able to control her." Bucky grinds his teeth as his head is forced back, a white bar being placed around his forehead to hold him still. His heart is hammering in his chest, but the way the man is talking --- you're alive?

You survived?

"Funny, everyone always says that. Doesn't matter how strong the will, it's easy to break people when you know their weakness. And thanks to Cody, we know all of hers."

So he thinks.

Bucky knows you better, though he won't dare say that. You're not the same person you were ten years ago, you're not a kid.

They're undestimating you.

~~~~~~~

"I can cause a distraction, see if I can't lure them out," you offer after a moment, tired of kneeling.

"They already know we're here. There's cameras all over this place."

"Then why the hell are we hiding? Let's fucking storm the place!"

"Just the two of us?"

"You have any better ideas?"

"We don't even know where the entrance is."

"Then by God let's find out." You grunt, and use his shoulder to help push to your feet; yeesh he's hard as hell, is that his armor or are his shoulders really that muscled?

"What are you doing?" Steve gasps, but you ignore him as you step out from where you're hiding, annoyed. You're too impatient and acting stealthy isn't your forte.

You'd much rather break shit and get some attention.

Your raise your hand as you spy the large yellow crane.

That should make a big boom, right?

You crook your finger, slowly pulling your arm close to your side. It's as if something latches onto the neck of the crane, the rough machine groaning and creaking as its lifted off its side. You shut your eyes as it collapses over, dust immediately billowing into the air as it crashes onto the fence and dragging half of it down.

There.

Now they know you're knocking.

You glance at Steve, seeing the incredulous look on his face. How the hell did you do that? You just moved your finger, you didn't even strain --- you're much stronger then even he gave you credit for, and he's reluctantly admitting you're sort of impressive.

Your power is immense, and yet you managed to hide from the world for so long.

You start forward, lifting your hand and acting as if your running your fingers against a wall. Equipment and logs topple as you pass, your power reaching out and dragging them down.

If no one pops out in the next ten seconds you're going to start ripping the building apart.

"Stop right there!"

Aha!

You cut your eyes to the left of the building, seeing black-armored men running out from somewhere to the side --- so the door is hidden, is it?

"Mind if I drop in for a bit?" You ask as you turn to face them, smirking. "Hope I'm not interrupting tea time."

Steve rolls his eyes from where he crouches. He saw where the men came from, the door must be hidden in the form of some of the equipment. He waits, knowing without doubt you can handle the men coming at you, you're a strong woman and you literally don't need his help, you'd only get mad at him if he intervened.

So, he waits until you have the soldiers trapped between a truck and a crane before standing, his legs tingling from how long he knelt. He walks to your side, quirking a brow but not commenting at your handiwork. You're impressive, he'll give you that much.

"So, where next?" You ask brightly.

Steve sighs, and begins walking for the hidden door.

This should be interesting.

~~~~~~~~

Bucky strains desperately against his bonds, his skin burning as needles pierce his flesh, digging into his veins. He knows they're giving him another sedative, something else to keep him contained while they do their fucking tests. They want to see how the serum inside of him is doing, and eventually they'll activate the darker side of him all over again, make him a murderer and a monster.

The bald man is merely sitting in his chair, chin propped on his fist with a bored expression. He'd obviously rather be somewhere else, somewhere more exciting. Really, he thinks the girl would have been a much more interesting capture ---- they already know everything about Bucky.

He tilts his head back as lights suddenly flash orange in the room, and he slowly swivels in his chair.

Intruders?

Not very shocking.

"I figured the captain would show up soon enough for you," he yawns, pushing the chair and letting it roll to the computers. He taps the keyboard, and seconds later the screens all light up, cameras angled around the facility.

He brightens as he recognizes you, following the patriotic captain down the narrow flight of stairs, your fingers trailing against the wall.

"Well, look at that! Your lady friend has come here without any intervention from us at all! Really, I'm surprised she's out of the hospital, she lost quite a lot of blood on that rooftop." He sounds cheery, as if commenting that a beloved neighbor has come to visit. Bucky tenses the instant he sees you, a closeup of your face revealing how pinched your expression is, how tired your eyes are.

Bucky stares, his eyes flicking down to your side as there's another camera angle, showing you and Steve striding forward cautiously --- what the hell are you wearing? Is that Steve's favorite shirt? Bucky can tell by the pocket on the front, the ink stain at the bottom.

Are you still hurt?

Why the hell would you risk yourself coming for him?

"Should we continue the tests?" One of the scientists ask uneasily, a new needle much longer than its predecessors, hovering above Bucky's flesh arm.

"No," the bald man says after a moment, looking gleeful. "Don't waste it on him, I want the enhancer used on the girl the first moment we capture her. I don't want the girl dead, I know she's already injured so she can't have much fight in her. Bring her in here when she's caught," he adds, and Bucky realizes he's speaking into the radio at his shoulder, alerting the other armed guards. "I don't care about the captain, just the girl. Do not hurt her or I'll rip your heads off your shoulders, understand?"

Oh no.

No.

What did he mean, enhancer?

You're already strong, too much power and you'd destroy yourself and everything around you.

You never should have come here! He can't let them get you!

~~~~~~~~

You cross your arms, watching as Steve effortlessly knocks the armed guards out of the way with his shield, using it like a battering ram. You trail behind him, glancing through the open doors curiously; you see lots of scientists, cowering back behind their desks of bunsen burners and mysterious bubbling vials --- okay, really, it's just computers and nerdy losers at them with shocked expressions, but that's not the idea you have of Hydra.

They must all look diabolical.

All the doors slam shut as you past, the locks jamming and breaking so that there's no way out. You definitely don't want any surprises running out at you, especially since you're behind Steve, after all. You keep your hands to yourself, shivering at the cool air of the facility; why does it always have to be so cold?

"Where are we going?" You mutter, keeping right on Steve' heels; you feel like it's too easy, that the two of you are walking through mostly unhindered. Shouldn't you be swarmed with guards? You didn't exactly come in sneakily.

"I'm following the tracker."

"How, exactly? Is it imprinted on your eyeballs?"

Steve sends you an annoyed glance; that mouth of yours is so irritating.

He ignores you, his steps determined. He glances around, hearing more shouting voices, and the slamming of doors as the two of you pass aren't exactly helping hide your location. He doesn't say a word, he knows what you're doing is actually helpful, you're watching your back the best way you can. 

You send and uneasy glance behind you as you hear footsteps, and eek, quickly ducking as a bullet pings off the wall by your head. Your hand lifts, and the gun flings itself out of the soldiers hands and to you, your fingers curling tightly around the heavy barrel; jeez this things weighs a ton.

Steve jerks around instantly, grabbing the gun out of your hand and quickly firing it, hitting the surprised soldier in the shoulder and sending him spinning around. You blink, surprised, before Steve is grabbing your arm and dragging you behind him as he begins to run, knowing the sound of the bullet is going to be bringing more in your direction.

"You didn't have to shoot him!" You gasp, doing your best to keep up with him but failing miserably, your side suddenly roaring to life to remind you that it's injured, and you stagger.

"If I didn't he would have come at us," Steve replies stiffly, slowing when he remembers your injury. "Are you alright?"

"Fine." You grunt, pulling out of his grip. "Now how much farther?"

"Just that door," Steve hesitates, looking down at the marble held in his hand. The black marble is completely smooth, and he can see the numbers in feet reflected in the center. He's been following it the best he can, but it's not like reading a map.

"Then what are we waiting for?" You huff, and stride forward without another thought. The door opens before you touch it, slamming open against the wall just as you enter the room.

"Bucky!" You gasp, seeing him strapped down to a chair; he's thrashing, trying to get out of it, but even his forehead is strapped down. You stiffen as you see the white coated doctors who'd been behind him, both of them staring at you with wide eyes. You glare at them, your eyes flicking over to the man sitting in the chair in front of the computers, grinning.

"You!" You gasp, recognizing him before before. He's the one who attacked you in that stupid fucking jungle a while back!

"Hello again," he says coolly, bald head gleaming in the flickering lights above. You can't remember his name, it had never been important to you, but you're incredibly pissed that he kidnapped your boyfriend.

No, not your boyfriend --- that's definitely not what Bucky is.

"What the fuck are you doing to him?" You demand, taking a threatening step forward. Bucky is staring at you, a sick look on his face. He's straining frantically against his bonds, which must be pretty tough since he can't get out of them.

"Nothing now that you're here. I'm very glad that you survived, (Y/N)," the bald man says as he slowly rises to his feet. "Still injured though, aren't you?" He nods, and your eyes flick down, tensing as you see the red flecks on the outside of your shirt.

Shit, are you bleeding again? Did you tear your stitches when you'd started running? You hadn't even felt it.

Oh well.

"I'm fine," you snap, your eyes flicking to Bucky's shackled arms. How the hell do those things come off!? "Now let him out of that thing!"

"Fine. We don't need him in it now." the bald man shrugs, although the scientists send him frightened expressions; they definitely don't want him out of it. "You don't have to hide behind the door, Captain America, I know you're there."

Oh.

You don't glance behind you, just cross your arms. Steve reluctantly steps to stand at your shoulder; he'd been trying to keep his presence unknown, maybe to lend a surprise attack, and he sends an uneasy glance on either side of him. He's not entering that room, it's too closed in and fighting will be difficult.

You step forward brazenly, knowing none of them will be able to touch you as you desperately reach for Bucky.

"You shouldn't have come," he mutters softly just as your hands close around the shackles on his wrists, and you sent him a look.

"Shut the fuck up, you damsel in distress."

He snorts, and the bald man arches a brow curiously.

Hmm.

He reaches back, pressing a button on one of the computers, and within seconds the constraints are removing themselves, sliding back to free his limbs. You hesitate, straightening slightly in worry, wondering why they're letting Bucky go.

Steve suddenly yelps, and you turn just in time to see him duck, raising his sheild hastily as gun shots suddenly echo down the hallway. He's forced to move back, leaving the door open, and you hear Bucky yell after him, rising to his feet and making it to the door.

The bald man suddenly says something in a different language, sounding like harsh gibberish to you but it makes Bucky freeze in his steps.

"Bucky?" You demand, seeing his entire body tense, and he makes a furious sound, almost like a pained animal, his hands rising to cover his ears desperately. You stare at him, wanting to go to him but unsure.

"What are you doing? Stop!" You start for the bald man thoughtfully, but he merely laughs, sidestepping you and causing you to crash into the desk, scowling.

"Get the girl in the chair and hold her there," he orders, and you scoff, your hands rising protectively. The two scientists, who you expect to attack you, merely cower back in the corner, faces bloodless.

Oh.

Your eyes go to Bucky as he turns slowly, long hair falling to frame his face as his eyes rove to yours.

It's no longer your Bucky, is it?

You feel your stomach drop as you stare into those dark eyes, finding them cold. It's as if his soul has been drained out of his body, locked away in some corner of his mind, letting something else take control.

"Bucky?" You ask uneasily, your hands faltering.

"Do as I order!" the bald mans snaps, annoyed when the soldier under his control doesn't immediately move to do his bidding. "Put her in the chair and hold her there."

Oh hell no!

"Don't!" You gasp, raising your hands defensively as Bucky takes a step towards you; three long strides and he'll have you, but you're not going to risk yourself. "I know you're not Bucky, but he's tough, so I'm not afraid to beat the ever loving shit out of you, asshole."

You mean every single word.

The bald man chuckles. "What fire, you have! You don't have to fight him, in fact, this is going to be good for you. We're just going to give you a little shot, one that is sure to enhance your already natural abilities."

"Bullshit," you grunt, and decide you don't want to hear anymore. The bald man suddenly gasps as you lift him up into the air, and he feels as if a hand closes around his torso, lifting him up like he's weightless. You throw him at Bucky, who scrambles to catch the man controlling him as you make a mad dash out of the room, sliding out of the door and running the best you can in the direction that Steve disappeared.

Your steps are loud against the tiled floor, and you cast a nervous glance behind you, seeing the scientists leaving the small room and going in the opposite direction.

Oh shit.

Okay, so magic words make Bucky crazy, you'd forgotten that. Now what's the magic words to turn him back!?

Where the hell is Steve when you need him!?

~~~~~~

Steve curses as he crouches behind a door, his shield dented where it had taken so many bullets at once from a machine gun. He's only a hallway down, he'd managed to lose those firing after him, but he needs to get back to you! Shit, he'd left you with Bucky!

He peers around the edge of the door, and takes his chance, sprinting back down the long, winding hallway, sliding as he cuts a corner too quick and ramming his shoulder into the wall. He grinds his teeth as he shoves himself forward, only to raise his shield immediately as he sees a soldier racing towards him, gun aimed.

"Fucking fuck!"

Well, you're nearby.

He hears a yelp, and he lowers his shield slightly, seeing the soldier slam up into the ceiling and than crash to the floor, not moving. You huff as you stagger to a stop, your eyes flicking to Steve's in relief.

"They --- they brain, brainwashed Bucky!" You pant, shuddering as you hand closes over your side. "He's all psycho right now!"

Shit!

"They triggered him?" Steve demands, grabbing you and pulling you to his side. He sends a nervous glance at your side, but your hand is covering it, so he can't tell if you're bleeding or not. He can tell you're winded, but he hopes you can make it.

"We can't leave without him," he mutters, stooping to grab the gun off the floor. He checks the chamber, then lifts it against his side, determined.

"How do we fix him?" you ask softly, leaning back against the wall. You can feel the sweat beading on your forehead, and you don't want to admit it, but you're pretty sure you tore some stitches. You don't want to leave Bucky either, he's only in this mess because of you, but --- well, maybe you shouldn't have come after him so recklessly.

Or at least brought some reinforcements.

~~~~~~~

You hit the floor hard, covering your head as the wall above you explodes. You shudder, curling your knees to you desperately as debris flies through the air --- this is the second time a wall has nearly fallen on you, dammit!

You crack open an eye, dust billowing through the air as you try to see. 

Okay, so this is one of your worst ideas, you're sure. You slowly push yourself up, gazing around at the disaster of the room. You can see Bucky and Steve struggling across the large, open room you and the captain had dashed into a few minutes ago to avoid the gunfire. It's mostly empty, just some tables and chairs and lots of columns holding the room open. 

You stagger up to your feet, twisting around in worry as you see some soldiers shove open the door; you'd blocked it with aforementioned tables and chairs, but obviously it's not holding. You glare across the room at them, your hands rising threateningly. 

"(Y/N)!"

Oh crap.

No!

You shove your hands forward, and immediately a table goes sailing across the room, hitting the door and collapsing instantly. Cody flinches back, but you hope you hit him at least. You turn your attention to Steve and Bucky as they grapple, your hands flowing to the two of them.

Steve grits his teeth as something closes around his waist, tight and unbreakable. His boots slide against the ground as you drag him back, separating the two of them so that they can't hurt each other. 

There.

"Now let's not fight," you hiss between your teeth, taking a few steps towards them. "Bucky, seriously, not isn't the time to be all crazy!"

He ignores you, his soulless eyes focusing on you as he remembers his initial order; to put you in that chair. He strains against your hold, but he can't break out of it. You arch a brow, seeing him strain, but it makes no difference to you; you can hold him there for hours if you want.

"Okay, wake him up or something!" You say to Steve, releasing him. You cut your eyes at the door, seeing more and more furniture topple. "Use you bromance powers!"

"Bromance?" Steve sends you a look, not understanding the word. 

Get with the times, Grandpa!

You growl in frustration, only to flinch back as the blockade explodes, wood and metal showering the room. You shriek, immediately raising your arms to shield your body, but you don't feel a single bit touch you. You blink as arms close around you protectively, your eyes flicking up --- how the hell did Bucky move so quick across the room?

Wait.

Shit.

You go to dart forward immediately, but his metal hand suddenly closes around your throat, cutting off your shrill voice as he rams you mercilessly into the wall. Your hands curl desperately around his hard wrist, gasping; he's not choking you, just holding you still, not hurting you at all. He shielded you from the debris, you can see pieces of wood decorating the floor around the two of you.

"Bucky!" You squirm against his grip, but it's fucking metal, not much you can do about that. "I don't mind this position normally, but now isn't the time!"

His brows actually furrow at the comment, and for a split second, you swear his eyes flicker. There's another blast, and he looks behind him, Steve being thrown through the air by the next fireball.

Cody!

Dammit!

None of this is going according to plan.

You writhe in Bucky's grip, feeling it tighten fractionally. You can always shove him away from you, blast him across the room with a slam of your hand against his chest --- but you're afraid you'll actually hurt him that way. The force of it could crush his bones, collapse his lungs or damage his heart. You've never really had to use your powers defensively, so you're not sure what all they can do, and it would kill you if you really hurt him.

It's why you haven't escaped, even though you know you could.

"Bucky, please," you whisper, tears of frustration building in the corners of your exhausted eyes. Your eyes flick down, feeling the dampness of your shirt; so far no one's noticed the blood steadily soaking through, so so much for all those transfusions you got earlier. His grip around your throat tightens, and you choke, suddenly unable to speak. You smack desperately at him, clawing his any flesh you can reach, but he doesn't relent, his attention elsewhere.

Ugh!

You see a rather singed Steve stagger to his feet, his clothing smoking from the heat as Cody strides into the room. Cody's glaring, flames enveloping his lower arms as he throws ball after ball of fire, Steve's desperately raising his shield up to defend himself.

How can Bucky just stand there, letting that happen? You've never seen him like this, so... not himself. How much control does the other guy have? Is it like flicking a switch?

Fuck, Steve's gonna be a roasted nut if no one does anything!

You raise your hand sharply, only to hiss as Bucky's fingers curl around it, clamping tightly before he pins it against the wall by your head, glaring down at you. 

"Don't make me hurt you," you rasp, your throat stinging in pain. He just looks at you, as if he could give a shit less.

The Bucky you know isn't this weak where he'd allow someone else to control him, you believe he just needs a headstart.

What if you kick him in the balls? That generally hurts any guy no matter their pscyhoness, right?

Worth a shot.

You bring your knee up sharply, hitting him right between the thighs, and he sort of lets out a breathless squeak before he starts to bend in pain. You take the opportunity, smacking as his shoulder hard enough to send him skidding across the floor, inhaling sharply as the grip on your throat disappears.

Shit!

Your hand rises immediately, and you know there's a handprint on your skin, an outline of those awful metal fingers. You stare at the man you slept with just the day before as he straightens, brows furrowing in anger as he squares off with you. 

He has orders to follow.

"Bucky, stop," you plead, giving him one more chance. You'll take care of yourself, you won't let yourself be murdered by him or forced into any kind of servitude. What if you just knock him out? When he wakes up will he be normal, or still an asshole?

"You know you lied to me," you say after a moment, straightening. Your hand goes instinctively to your side, pressing against the wound that's starting to burn. "You said you'd be back soon, but you weren't. You never should have lied, to my face!"

You're still salty over that.

You twist, slashing your hands through the air. Cody yelps as he feels an invisible wall slam into him, sending him sailing through the air and into a trio of soldiers that have been standing back, not wanting to get involved in the fighting. You thrust your other hand back out in front of you as Bucky starts for you, effortlessly stopping his approach.

Okay.

"What do we do!?" You demand of Steve, seeing him limping towards you out of the corner of your eye.

"We get out of here!"

"What? But we came here for Bucky!"

"You're bleeding, and I'm on fire," Steve grunts, patting down his shoulder hastily. "We need to ---."

"No! We're not leaving Bucky, we've been through too much to get him!" You growl. "You clear a path and I'll drag his sorry butt behind us until we get out."

"You can't ---."

"Don't fucking tell me what I can and can't do, Captain."

Steve sighs.

"Well, I see you're certainly making a mess out of my compound."

Steve looks over, glaring as he sees the bald man step into the room, Cody finally getting to his feet, his face badly bruised. 

"I ordered you to get the girl, wait are you waiting for?" the bald man demands of Bucky as he strides farther into the room. He has a gun in his and, and it's pointed directly at you and Steve; is the captain bulletproof or just his shield?

You're definitely not.

Bucky strains forward, and his feet dig and slide against the floor, but he can't even make your arm tremble. You glare at him, your fingers splayed out in front of you. Steve steps in front of you protectively, raising his shield to make sure the bullet would hit him first.

"Turn him back!" You command, strands of your hair clinging to your face as you glare at the bald man. "Right now!"

"He's one of our soldiers, he has no choice but to follow us. It's all he knows." The bald man retorts, and you guess that's his version of no.

"You turn him back, or I'm going to turn you into a pretzel," you growl, and this time, you mean it. You narrow your eyes at him. "I will break your bones and wrap them around your neck until you're screaming, and I will make sure you feel every second of it." Your voice is cold, furious, and the bald man merely smiles. 

"You'll be a wonderful addition to our team," he merely says, and fires.