First Light | Steve Rogers (Book Two)

Chapter Seven: Nine

"You'll be provided with an office instead of a cell," Ross explained to T'Challa, "Now do me a favour and stay in it"

"I don't intend on going anywhere"

Nat made her way over to us as we strode down the hallway, falling in step with Steve and I. "For the record, this is what making things worse looks like"

Steve shrugged, "He's alive"

We entered a large room with computers lining the walls and a very agitated Tony Stark, who was pacing the office as he tried to explain things to someone over the phone. Nat gave us all a pointed glare, "Try not to break anything while we fix this"

"Consequences?" Tony asked the phone as he walked towards us, "You bet there'll be consequences. Obviously you can quote me on that, because I just said it. Anything else? Thank you, sir"

Steve frowned, "'Consequences'?"

"Secretary Ross wants you three prosecuted, had to give him something"

"I'm not getting that shield back, am I?"

Nat shrugged as she glanced over at us with a forced smile, "Technically, it's the government's property. Wings and blaster, too"

Sam shook his head as he glared at them, "That's cold"

"Warmer than jail"

I made my way over to Steve and gave him a quick smile. He returned it and glanced around before leaning a little closer, "You got it?"

My eyes flicked down to my necklace and I nodded, "You think I'd go anywhere without it?" We stood in silence for a moment and I sighed, noticing that his gaze was fixed on the footage of Bucky's cell. "He'll be okay," I murmured, "He has to be"

"You sure about that? They don't care about his past, they don't care about the truth. They blame everything on him" he huffed.

"Whatever happens, I'll make sure he's safe. I don't care about some stupid job with the government, you're not gonna lose your best friend"

His sky blue eyes gazed into mine, filled with surprise and something else that I couldn't quite recognise. "Thank you," he finally said, "For everything. I know it's not easy for you to be at odds with Nat"

I shrugged and glared over at the redhead in the corner, "She made her choice, I made mine. I just hope she keeps her promise and looks after Wanda"

After an hour of waiting, Stark stormed out of the meeting room, pausing next to me. "You know," he huffed, "You might wanna have a word with your boyfriend. Someone needs to put him in check"

I rolled my eyes and walked past him, deciding that he'd be even more upset if I didn't bother to engage in an argument with him. Steve was pacing in the room, glaring angrily at the floor. "Hey" I murmured softly as he stared up at me.

"Hey" his gaze softened and he watched as I approached him.

"Stark seemed pretty pissed. I'm guessing you told him where to go?"

The man sighed and shook his head, "Rory, he's got Wanda on constant watch at the compound. She's practically a prisoner in her own home"

My hands curled into fists and I let out a quiet growl, "Bastard. We're gonna get her out, right? W-we can rescue her from there and... find a safehouse, we can hide her all of from this"

"I don't know if that's an option right now. We'll get her out, though, I promise"

Sam and I were sat together in the waiting room, quietly discussing possible escape plans. Steve was stood in the corner, staring at the silent footage of Bucky's psych evaluation through the glass walls. Sharon entered the room and passed Sam a file, "The receipt for your gear"

He read through it and I let out a quiet chuckle. "'Bird costume'?" he groaned, "Come on"

"I didn't write it"

I watched as she leant against the table, glancing around before she pressed a button on the small control panel in the centre. A screen in the corner of the room flickered to life and the same footage of Bucky appeared on it.

"I'm not here to judge you. I just want to ask you a few questions," the psychologist sighed, "Do you know where you are, James? I can't help you if you don't talk to me, James"

The man drew in a shaky breath, "My name is Bucky"

Steve sorrowfully stared at the security footage pictures of Bucky before placing them down on the table, "Why would the Task Force release this photo to begin with?"

Shanon sighed heavily and shrugged, "Get the word out, involve as many eyes as we can?"

"Right," Steve nodded, "It's a good way to flush a guy out of hiding. Set off a bomb, get your picture taken. Get seven billion people looking for the Winter Soldier"

"You're saying someone framed him to find him?"

Sam let out a quiet huff, "Steve, we looked for the guy for two years and found nothing"

"We didn't bomb the UN. That turns a lot of heads"

I leant back in my chair and crossed my arms as she tried to come up with an alternative, "Yeah, but that doesn't guarantee that whoever framed him would find him. It guarantees that we would"

My eyes widened in realisation. Before I could say anything, the lights went off and we were plunged into darkness.

Sharon stared around before speaking in a hushed voice, "Sub-level five, East Wing"