Marvel Short Stories

Chapter Four

"Let me out," I start, banging on the door.

"I can't," the woman says, but she doesn't see it. Hell, I'm surprised even I see it. I'm slow at everything that's thrown in my face, but this is subtle. And I can understand subtle.

"I'm serious! Something bad's about to happen!" I hit the door again, but I step back, starting to strategize.

James said he didn't do Vienna. If he's telling the truth, and he was, then someone framed him. Finding a latch on the cell, I follow the latch's mechanism, making sure it can do what I think. If someone framed him, why? Because they knew this would happen. Finding the latch's handle, I pull it, the door coming off with ease. "I can't let you out," the woman says, getting in position to fight me.

"And I can't let anything bad happen to James." Lunging out, I continue connecting the dots. Anyone with common knowledge would know that the Avengers successfully took out HYDRA. Natasha fights me off, while I examine her pattern to figure out how to best take her down. Finding the pattern similar to my mother's, I remember her greatest weakness. Taking advantage of this knowledge, I succeed in throwing Natasha to the ground, and by the time she looks back up to get at me, I'm already running out the door.

Someone who can hack can also know the Winter Soldier's connection to HYDRA, and know that if it's anyone who can arrest him, it's the Avengers. Framing him pulled James out of hiding. Framing him brought us to get him, and getting him made him more accessible. Dammit!

Running through the halls, I see Sam and Bucky heading my way and I wait for them. "Someone's after James!" I tell them, and they reach me.

"We know!" They say, the three of us running. I follow them to James's cell coming across bodies on the floor, and I reach down to try and find a pulse on one.

"Help me," I hear from inside, the call almost too quiet to hear. "Help." Looking over, I see Steve storm up to the guy.

"Get up," Steve orders, only to pick him up and pin the guy to the wall. "Who are you? What do you want?"

Staring straight at Steve, the man answers. "To see an empire fall." From behind, I see Sam duck, the sound of metal clashing against concrete and I see James attacking Sarah's brother.

"James!" I yell, running over. James throws Sam over into the room, and he completely ignores me, attacking the two guys I came here with. Trying to get him off of Steve, I jump on his back, wrapping my arms around his neck . "James, stop!" I yell as he throws Steve through the elevator shaft. He then grabs my arms, pulling me off with ease and throwing me aside, my head hitting the wall.

When I next open my eyes, I see Sam and Steve are gone, but the lights are still out. If I'm about to go on the run, where would I run to?

To the chopper on the roof.

Knowing the government, the chances of someone not showing up by heli to give a show of power is slim, and I know that I'd want to get out and get as far as I can. Heading up to the roof, the view is not a pretty sight. The chopper is crashed, and Steve is on the ground. I can see a form in the helicopter, and I just know it's him. "James!" Running up, I land on all fours, trying to look through the window.

And I can't breathe. His metal arm moves faster than I could see, cold metal wrapping around my neck and the man before me is glaring at me, not recognizing me at all. And I can't recognize him either. In a last attempt to bring the man I love back, I brush my hand down his face, my other hand on his metal arm. Then, the chopper falls and the last thing I hear is Steve yelling before I hit the water.

I know I'm out for a while until I wake up, and I open my eyes, the three men staring down at me. Seeing James, I panic, sitting up. "Wh-" Coughing, I'm not even able to get a sound and James looks about ready to break.