The Seventh Avenger - (Marvel x OC)

CH 1.6 The Star Spangled Man

Andrew blinked a few times before slowly opening his eyes to see Bucky laying on the table he himself had been strapped to days before mumbling nonsense to himself. At least he thought it had been days. He didn't know. Not anymore. He was losing his sense of self. He could feel it. Bucky had been up there the last sixteen times he'd been able to open his eyes.

"Bucky? Andrew weakly murmured, still exhausted from whatever Dr. Zola had done to him. "Buck, you alright?" Andrew asked, hoping this was the time his best friend would respond, but his eyelids began to feel heavy. "Please...wake up" Andrew lost the battle with his body and his eyes closed as he drifted off to sleep again.

Meanwhile, at an ally base in Europe a medical vehicle pulled up and medics begin frantically helping the soliders inside. A large muscular man wearing a red, white and blue costume under a leather jacket talked to a female agent about fifty feet away before he noticed the vehicle. "What happened to them? They look like they've been through hell" Steve muttered solemnly, looking over at the Peggy. Peggy leaned over and looked at the small sketchbook in front of Steve. The pages were gently wet with rain but she could make out a very good drawing of a monkey in Steve's costume juggling while riding a unicycle. He like a mascot, not truly playing for the team. A marketing gimmick. Useless. She knew that. Steve had just gotten done with a tour of every major city on the East Coast. He got up on stage with twenty synchronized line-kicking women and read off a speech before punching a fake Hitler and sending the audience into applause. Every time. The same. It was driving him crazy. They'd traveled to this military base in Europe to perform. He'd been met with boo's and scraps of food, while the girls were cheered for. He hated this. He should be out there fighting. He'd never been more disappointed in his life.

"These men more than most" She answered in her English accent. "Schmidt sent out a force to Azzano. Hundreds of men went up against him and less than fifty returned. Your audience tonight contained what remains of the 107th. The rest were killed or captured."

"The 107th!?" Steve shot up from his seat on a crate, book splattering to the mud. Shock faded and Steve's heart sank into his stomach.

"What?" Peggy asked as Steve took off and ran into the rain.

"C'mon!" Steve yelled over his sholder, waving Peggy to follow. After a few seconds of running, they reached the main tent of the military base and Steve marched into the tent to speak to the Colonel.

"Well, if it it's the Star Spangled Man. the Colonel said jokingly. "What is your plan today?"

"Colonel Philips, I need the casualty list from Azzano" Steve replied firmly.

"You don't get to give me orders, son" Colonel Philips said slightly annoyed.

"I just need two names, sir. Sergeant James Barnes and Sergeant Andrew Williams, both from the 107th" Steve begged in a sad tone.

"You and I are going to have a conversation later that you won't enjoy, Agent Carter" Phillips said pointing at the woman, upset that she's spilled the beans to Steve.

"Please, just tell me if they're alive, sir" Steve pleaded, desperate for a small sliver of hope.

"I have signed more condolence letters today than I would like to admit." The Colonel said, standing up. "But, the names do sound familiar...I'm sorry." he said turning to Steve.

"What about the others? Are you planning a rescue mission?" Steve asked sadly as he looked down at the ground.

"Yeah, it's called winning the war" Philips replied sarcastically.

"But, if you know where they are why not-" Steve started to speak before being cut off.

"They're thirty miles behind enemy lines...in one of the the most heavily fortified bases Hydra has...we'd lose more men than we'd gain." The Colonel said. "But, I don't expect you to understand that."

"I think I understand just fine" Steve replied firmly, knowing he needed to do something.

"Get your ass outta my tent." the Colonel said angrily.

"Yes, sir" Steve replied as he walked out of the tent frustratedly.

Agent Carter found him a few minutes later in the barracks clearly gearing up for a mission after stealing the real helmet of one of the dancers he performed with.

"You can't be serious" Carter said with a sigh.

"I have to try" Steve answered, looking up at her with those trademark Steve Rogers puppy eyes.

"What are you going to do walk to the battlefield?" Carter threw her hands out exasperatedly.

"If that's what it takes, then yes" Steve replied, determined to save as many people as he could. If Andrew and Bucky were dead, he needed to know for himself.

"You heard the Colonel! Your friends are most likely dead!" Carter said firmly, not willing to watch Steve run into a suicide mission.

"You can't know that" Steve rebutted, refusing to believe they were gone. He finished his packing and walked out of the barracks, toward a Jeep. He began loading his things into the Jeep and turned to Agent Carter. "Peggy...you said you thought I was meant for more than this. For more than performing and selling bonds. Did you mean that?" Steve questioned as fear, sadness, and determination melted together on his face.

"Every word" Peggy replied looking up into the man's blue eyes.

"Then, you gotta let me go" Steve sighed, hopping into the jeep. Peggy ran to the driver's side of the jeep before answering. Howard Stark owed her several favors and happened to own a plane

"I can do more than that, Steve..."