The Reluctant Hero

Bucky - 14

"You didn't need to tase her!" Loki shouted.

"She was running. We still don't know if she's a threat," Natalie said calmly. 

Loki ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "I could have convinced her to come with us willingly and talk. She's a victim as much as your metal-armed soldier."

"Did she tell you that? Huh? Did you get her to tell you anything or did you just like those big doe eyes?" Tony quipped.

Loki whipped his head around angry. "I am not swayed by pretty faces or clever words. I know because of her actions. She had many opportunities to turn me over to either side for her own benefit. She made sure the things she stole likely would be returned to their owners. She never intentionally used bystanders as shields. Her character told me enough."

"It sounds like you like her," Steve said quietly.

Loki looked at him with a frown. "I respect her. I understand, her situation."

Thor rested a hand on Loki's shoulder. "If my brother trusts her, that's enough for me. I say we offer the girl a truce. A peace offering of sorts."

"I agree. She has only ever tried escaping, never attacking. It doesn't seem like she means us any harm and she likely has plenty of intel we could use if we can get her to trust us," Natalie said.

"We may need to let her calm down first. I'm sure she's going to be on the defensive again," Bruce offered.

"I doubt she ever stopped. Perhaps we should let Bucky talk to her," Steve suggested.

"Maybe but I definitely think we should keep reindeer games away from her for a while. I doubt she'll trust him again," Tony added glaring at Loki who couldn't argue.

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I woke up in a familiar cell. Again I remembered everything but this time wished I didn't. Everything was sore but didn't compare to my heart. It wasn't much, but it was the closest thing I'd had to a friend in years. I had let myself trust him even though Hydra had pretty much taught me trust was pointless. 

I assessed my current situation. I'd been played by the Avengers and was yet again their prisoner. Hydra likely wanted me dead now so attempts would be made. No one out there would be coming to my rescue and I had two powerful parties against me. While the Avengers wouldn't kill me, they had enemies hidden among them so nothing was safe. It didn't look like there was a way out this time. 

I lay there starring at the wall replaying the last few days wondering why I hadn't noticed the deception and realized I had but had ignored it. Parts that seemed too easy, or Loki abnormally quiet at moments. Before I could berate myself, my cell door opened.

"Hey kid, hungry?" a male voice said behind me. I didn't recognize it nor did I care. It wasn't safe to eat anything they brought at this point but I wasn't going to bother explaining that.

"Well, I'll just set it here in case you change your mind. I know you don't have any reason to trust me, but I was hoping you would listen. I've been where you are. They sent me in here to talk to you because they knew I'd understand. I was Hydra's puppet for a long time."

I knew who it was then. I'd heard of him within the organization many times and one of their greatest accomplishments. I'd heard the things they'd had him do but when he'd been taken by the Avengers, the hell that had rippled to everyone else including myself had been brutal. Everyone was blamed and suspect and more brutally beaten as an example they'd said. I bore no resentment towards him, however. In fact, I'd silently cheered in my head that he'd made it out. That didn't mean I would trust him. He worked with the Avengers and I'd been a Hydra puppet. Information was all I was good for to them. I doubt I knew much they didn't and I would die that much sooner if I opened my mouth. Call it stupid but a small part of me still hoped for a way out. 

"I know it's going to take time, but I hope that you will talk to us. We'd like to kind of call a truce. You are a victim and we were hoping for an exchange of information in exchange for protection. Loki told us you didn't want to go back to Hydra and that you'd fought to get away from them. We can help with that. To prove that, we're preparing a room for you to get you out of this cell."

I didn't respond or look at him. He sighed and said, "Well, if you change your mind or want to talk, just knock on the door. If you want something different to eat, just let us know. We want to help when you're ready." He waited a moment more, then left, locking the cell door behind him.

As soon as they figured out how little I knew, I would be of no use and likely charted off to prison for my crimes or some secret government facility for people like me. That's if I lived long enough for them to figure it out. The food smelled good but I knew it wasn't safe. This was going to be a whole new kind of hell.