Save Us First (Bucky)

24

"This is nice. We haven't done anything apart from the avengers in ages", Bucky said, as they were walking into the cinema, holding hands and making jokes about everything and everyone.
"Yeah, totally. I haven't watched a movie in theater in like...two years?", Ivy said, and pulled her phone out of her pocket, to show the guy behind the counter their tickets.

"Yeah, me neither. I still haven't completely gotten used to how modern they are", Bucky said and shook his head.
Ivy giggled.
"You want popcorn or something?"
"No. You?"
"No, I actually hate corn."
"Okay, but popcorn doesn't actually really taste like corn", he said confused and she giggled.
"Doesn't matter! It's disgusting anyways."
"Wow. Don't say that too loud."
"Eh, nobody's here anyways."

Indeed the cinema was almost empty. It was Wednesday, early evening, and most people were probably still working. Plus, it was the last day their film was being showed.
Perfect conditions for them to leave the compound.
Bucky hated the attention he sometimes got, and even though Ivy didn't mind most of the time, she didn't want him to be uncomfortable.
And she didn't want gossip about them. If anyone was to tell the world they were couple, it was them, and not some paparazzi who followed the avengers around.

They found their seats and Bucky put an arm around her.
"The whole cinema to us? What did you do, buy the whole thing?"
"I would've needed Tony's card for that."
"As if that would hold you back."
"Of course not. But no, I guess we just got lucky."
"Yeah, I'm a pretty lucky guy", he said, and smiled down on her.
She had to smile, too, and gave him a kiss.
"You're so cute."
He smirked and gave her another kiss, before he leaned back in his seat and sighed.
"This damn movie better be good."
"It's a Nolan movie. Of course it will be good, Buck."
"I'll believe you for now."

They were not even half into the movie, when she suddenly noticed something strange:
"Did that movie just...lag?"
"Yeah, I noticed that, too", Bucky said slowly, shifted in his seat and looked around them, when suddenly, the movie stopped.
Ivy swallowed and looked at him.
"Bucky..."
"Ivy, stay behind me", Buck said slowly and stood up.
"I'm sure it's nothing...probably just a technical error. Let's just wait", Ivy said, trying to pull him back, but Bucky grabbed her wrist.
"Ivy, just trust me. Something's wrong. I knew this was too empty...we should've just left."
She swallowed and followed him to the door, when she heard a noise outside.

Bucky pressed himself against the wall, pulling her against his chest, his hand on her mouth.
"Shh."
She nodded slowly, her hand on his arm over her chest.
They waited for about a minute, then she noticed that she was slowly running out of air.
She pushed his hand away.
"I need to breathe, fuck's sake", she whispered.
"Sorry, I'm...tense."
"I know, me too!"
He took her hand, slowly opened the door and checked out the hall.
"I think it's clear", he whispered and she slowly followed him outside, when he suddenly pulled her onto the wall behind a post, his hand on her mouth again, but this time he took it off after a few seconds.

"I can see two guys with rifles down in the lobby", he whispered into her ear.
"Well, do we have a weapon?", she whispered back and Bucky sighed.
"I got a vibranium arm. It'll be fine", he said.
"Yeah, you take out one guy and the other one shoots you in the head, great plan, Buck!"
"Oh you know I'm faster than them."
"What if there's more, hm? What if these two are just supposed to look out and the others are just around the corner?"
"Alright fine, so what do you propose?"
"I don't know! Fuck. Causing a distraction?"
"How?"
"You've seen movies, just...throw something!"
"And what? You?"
"Very funny. Wait."
She reached into the pocket of her coat, and pulled out a small black ball.
Squishy, easy to bounce, one of her fidgeting toys.
"Didn't think my adhd would ever come in handy", she mumbled and he grinned.
"Ah, you're just fabulous."
"I know, I know. Now, throw!"

He let go off her, positioned himself new, and then threw the ball against a glass door.
Due to his strength, the glass shattered immediately and she heard the two men downstairs shouting something.
"That was german!", she hissed.
"Hydra", Bucky said.
"Right. Forgot you speak some, too."
"I do, but I'm not sure what word that was."
"Well, technically it was a last name, and then they told the person to come. So I guess they're three."
"Okay. Let's just get behind them and the fuck out of here!"

He grabbed her hand and they started to walk as fast as they could without making noise.
Bucky climbed over the railing down into the lobby, which luckily wasn't too high.
His super soldier serum made it possible for him to jump from a lot.
"I'll catch you. Come on!", he whispered.
Ivy made a face, but then she followed him and landed safely in his arms.
"Got you."
"I know you do", she said and he pressed his lips onto hers for a second.
"Ready?"
"Ready."

And then they started to run, through the hall, down the stairs to the door.
She heard loud voices behind them, shots being fired.
The adrenaline kicked, she could feel her pulse throbbing in her ears.
Even though Bucky was way faster than her, he always stayed right beside her, ready to protect her with his life if needed.
She heard more shots, one barely missed her, and she squealed.
Bucky grabbed her arm, pulled her around a corner.
"You okay?", he asked quickly.
"Yeah, he missed."
"Good!"

He pulled her with him again, and they finally made it to the door, when another guy stormed inside, pointing his rifle at them.
Before Ivy could even react, Buck threw himself against him, forcing him through the glass door and to the ground.
Ivy clenched her fists, stormed after them, and exhaled slowly, when she saw Bucky sitting on top of the guy, slowly choking the life out of his eyes.

Still, when she heard his neck snap, she had to close her eyes for a moment.
Sometimes Bucky's brutality scared her.
Buck stood up, panting, and grabbed the rifle.
"Fuck!"
He had some cuts across his face and through his clothes, but overall, he seemed fine.
"Buck. We need to go."
He nodded, reloaded the weapon, and took her hand.
"Stay behind me!"
"Okay."

They hid behind a corner, waiting for the other guys to come out.
Ivy barely dared to breathe, when she heard a noise behind her.
"Put the weapon down or she dies", she heard a raspy voice and the hair on the back of her neck stood up, when she felt cold metal, a gun, against her skin.
James swallowed, then he slowly lowered the rifle.
"James..", she whispered.
"It's alright, doll. It'll be fine. I'm sure they'll tell us what they want", he said and turned around to them.
"What do you want?"

The man behind her, she still couldn't see his face, pressed the gun a little tighter against her skin.
"The winter soldier."
"Impossible. That's not me anymore", Bucky answered cold.
"Nothing is impossible, James. You of all people should know that. I mean, look at you. After all you've done, you still managed to find some peace. Friends. A lovely, lovely, girlfriend.."
Ivy swallowed and Buck took a deep breath.
"Let her go."
"Oh, where would the fun in that be? Without her, I have nothing to threaten you with. And don't bother telling me you don't care about her life, I can see the fear in your eyes. You fear for her life. She's your...escape route. Your chance to a normal life. Well, that chance can be gone in a second", he said, and she heard another click.

"No, no no no no no, please! Please, don't hurt her. I...I'll do anything, just please, don't hurt her", Bucky begged, and Ivy felt a tear running over her face.
She was the thing that would finally break him.
They would kill her to get to him, and then it would kill him.

"I love you", she whispered.
"I know, doll. I know, I love you too. It'll be fine."
"Yeah, keep lying to her. We both know this won't end well for you two. Let's go, shall we."
The man pushed her forward.
"Where to?", Bucky asked angrily.
"You don't need to know. Let's see if we can get that program back inside you, shall we?", he said, and she saw the other men, from the cinema, pointing their weapons at them too.
Bucky swallowed and she saw more fear in his eyes.
"No, please", he whispered, but their kidnapper just chuckled.
"Come on, kids. We don't have all night."