The Choice

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While Lexie was flying to the helicarrier, the S.H.I.E.L.D. files Natasha had just published popped up on a screen. She hadn't reached the helicarrier yet so she decided to take a peek in her own file. She didn't really know much about her past, specifically her parents and their murder, just that it'd been HYDRA, and here was a golden opportunity to get answers. 

She looked through it and got to the part about her parents. 

'Father: Williams, George'

'Mother: Williams, Lisa'

'Killed: 2001'

'Murderer: HYDRA assassin (security cameras confirm the Winter Soldier was at the scene)'

This made Lexie stop reading and look up at the helicarrier she was quickly approaching.

The Winter Soldier.

James Buchanan Barnes.

Steve's old friend.

Steve's old friend that was trying to kill all of them.

She didn't know what to feel at that moment. Did she want vengeance? Not necessarily. Did she want to do nothing? Definitely not. Did she want him to get away with it without consequences No.

There was no more time to think more about that though. She'd arrived and entered the helicarrier. 

She saw Steve climbing up after fighting the Winter Soldier, the latter just starting to get up after having been knocked unconscious. She ran towards the man who'd killed her parents just as he was taking his gun out to shoot Steve. 

He would've shot him straight in the head, had a new figure not tackled him to the ground, causing him to miss, and shoot Steve in his upper thigh instead. 

Lexie had no business, really, going up against a super soldier with a metal arm, both herself and Steve knew that, as he watched them both get to their feet, Lexie's katana already in her hand. But she didn't really have much of a choice. She couldn't let him kill Steve. She wouldn't let him take away the closest thing she had to family.

Not again.

"30 seconds, Cap, Lexie," Hill said over the mic. 

She had to keep him distracted for 30 more seconds, so Steve could put the card in. 

He charged at her, metal hand forming into a fist, and she ducked in the last second, slashing his back with her sword. He quickly retaliated, though, and sent her flying. He was able to fire another shot at Steve, this one hitting his stomach, before Lexie was back on her feet, and the two resumed their fighting.

Punches were thrown left and right and parts of the blade on her katana was soon covered in blood from the many slashes she'd given him. 

He was an extremely good fighter, but she'd been trained by a black widow for years and knew how to use her size to her advantage. She was a lot smaller than he was, which meant she was faster. When he stretched out his arm, she saw her opening and drove her sword through his stomach. 

He let out a pained scream and grabbed her wrist, pulling the sword out of his stomach, and threw her harshly back, snapping her wrist in the process and delivered a swift, hard punch to her head, knocking her out cold.

Steve had been able to put the card in, but they were out of time and he knew none of them would make it out. As much as it pained him to admit that, and wishing he could magically teleport all three of them to safety, there was nothing to be done.

"Fire now," he spoke into his mic.

"But Steve..." Hill tried.

"Do it! Do it now!"

The guns fired at the helicarrier and it started going down. Steve began climbing down, trying to get to his old friend, and his new friend. His past and present life colliding. 

He was interrupted by another scream. He could see Lexie out cold, and Bucky being crushed. 

•••

Steve had climbed down and saw Bucky trying to lift piece of the helicarrier that had fallen on top of him. First checking on Lexie, who was fairly close to where Bucky was, but luckily not being crushed, he saw that she was okay, just knocked out, and would probably suffer yet another concussion. He moved towards Bucky and tried to help lifting the heavy weight off him. He was able to lift it enough for Bucky to climb out.

"You know me," Steve began.

"No, I don't!" Bucky screamed and punched him

"Bucky. You've known me your whole life."

Bucky punched him again. Steve landing next to Lexie and Bucky falling as well. 

"Your name is James Buchanan Barnes," Steve tried again, as they started standing up again. 

"Shut up!" Bucky punched him again, sending them both to the ground.

Steve pulled off his helmet. "I'm not gonna fight you." He dropped his shield. "You're my friend."

Bucky tackled him. "You're my mission." He continued saying those words while punching Steve repeatedly, before he stopped.

"Then finish it. Because I'm with you to the end of the line."

Another part of the helicarrier fell down, and the glass gave out, sending Steve and Lexie falling down to the water below, as Bucky watched.

They were beginning to drown, until a pair of hands reached out and grabbed both their arms, pulling them up.

Bucky had one arm on each of them, dragging them towards the shore before dropping them. He was beginning to walk away before a gasp and a series of coughs made him stop. He turned back around to see the girls eyes wide open as she scrambled to her feet, still heaving and coughing, but watching him with careful eyes.

They stood still for a few beats, just watching each other.

Lexie had an inner turmoil. Here he was. The man who killed her parents. He was injured, confused... vulnerable. This would be the perfect time to kill him, and she could. But something made her hesitate. The hurt, lost look in his eyes, reminded her of how she felt all those years ago, when she first arrived at S.H.I.E.L.D. Then again, he was partially to blame for that. The reason S.H.I.E.L.D. took her in so early was because HYDRA had sent someone for her. He was that someone. 

Her eyes drifted to Steve. Her friend. She hadn't known him for long, but she considered him family. The Winter Soldier might've been the one who killed her parents and robbed her of her childhood. But Bucky Barnes had been Steve's best friend. And Steve was a good judge of character. He wouldn't fight this hard for someone who wasn't worth it. Someone who didn't have good in them.

So she looked back at the Winter Soldier. 

James Buchanan Barnes. 

Bucky. 

And she made a choice. 

To take the high road and forgive.

Well, not fully forgive, he did kill her parents and give her another concussion, but she wouldn't do anything to him at least.

She gave him a small, barely noticeable nod and said: "Go."

He watched her for a second longer, before whispering "Thank you," and turned around again, this time walking away. 

She stood watching him until he was out of sight, before she sat down next to Steve, leaning against a tree and letting out a deep breath. Waiting for help, or for him to wake up. Whichever came first.

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So, Bucky killed her parents. And Lexies loyalty to Steve is what kept her from getting revenge.

I also re-watched Age of Ultron two days ago so I'm gonna try to start writing today. I didn't have time yesterday because it was my moms birthday.

Vote and comment xx

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