The Equivalents

59. The Compound Prison.

All of the heroes took the villains of the Marvel universe to their prison/mental institution and brought the DC universe villains to a temporary holding physicality on the campus of the compound.

"And.... that takes care of Mr. Headache." Tony smiled. They had to make a special inhibitor collar for Vertigo's powers.

"Good. Now we just have to figure out a way to get you guys back to your world." Bruce B said.

"I've already had a few ideas." Bruce W began. "We should be able to be done in maybe a week."

"Then let's get started. We should probably get you back before, like, we destroy both our universes or whatever." Tony added.

Jason woke up in the room he had been staying in. The room he'd been sharing with Dick and Tim. It took him a moment to realize he was back at the compound. He looked up and saw Tim on a computer.

"Good. You're up." He said.

"How long have I been out?" Jason asked.

"Couple of hours." Tim answered. "Everybody succeeded in their missions. As soon as we find a way to get there, we can go back home."

"Ok." He rubbed his eyes. "I need food." He then got up and started to make his way into the kitchen.

Bucky on the other hand, didn't react so well when he woke up. He couldn't remember what happened. He only remembered that Zemo used a codeword on him and then he lost control. When he woke up, he kept his eyes closed. He wanted to make sure that Zemo wasn't still there. Did Zemo take him somewhere? And Steve.... STEVE! What happened to Steve? Hopefully nothing bad. Bucky could tell he was in a bed, but it didn't feel like it was his. That was a red flag. After a minute, he could hear someone sitting next to him. Their breathing. It had to be Zemo! Bucky immediately sprung up and punched towards the figure. Luckily, the figure dodged out of the way.

"Easy, Buck." Steve laughed. He put the book he was reading down and looked at his friend. "You alright?"

"Yeah, sorry." Bucky said. "I thought you were Zemo."

"Zemo?" Steve asked.

"I don't know. I can't remember what happened." Bucky said. "So... what happened?"

"He turned you back. He tried to make you kill me, but I tried to get you to snap out of it. Then... you just passed out." Steve explained.

"Why are we in the med bay?" Bucky asked as he sat up.

"Banner wanted to keep you under observation for a little bit. We don't know what code words Zemo used for you so we wanted to make sure you were alright. We don't know what words could make you turn again." Steve replied.

"Yay." Bucky deadpanned.

A minute later, Alpine came in and jumped onto the bed and cuddled up with Bucky. "After this is all done, I'm taking a vacation with my cat."

"Heh." Steve laughed. For a moment there was an awkward silence until Steve finally spoke up again. "Buck-"

"I can't do this anymore." Bucky interrupted. "I thought they got all that stuff out of my head. Yet it was so easy for him to just put it all back in. No matter how hard I tried to fight it. It always takes over."

"We'll figure it out. We always do." Steve said.

"For how long? Until one of them gets me again? So they can just start the whole process all over again?" Bucky questioned, although he said it like he knew exactly what the answer was.

"I know you're concerned. I know you're safety..." Steve began, but was once again interrupted.

"I don't care about my safety, Steve. I could've killed you!" Bucky exclaimed. "I... I can't do this anymore. Not when I'm around people I care about. People I could hurt."

"I'm sorry. I know life has never really been kind to you. But I'm not gonna leave you. I'm not gonna push you away." Steve put his hand on his shoulder. "You're my best friend. Bucky, you're my brother. I'm never going to make you go through this alone. I'm with you, till the end of the line."

Bucky smiled at him. "I know."

Steve smiled back at him.

"But... what if we tried something else? If someone's going to try and take over the soldier, then it should be someone I trust." Bucky suggested.

"What do you mean?" Steve asked.

"What if you had a codeword? So that if someone made me the soldier, you could say something that would give you control until I get back?" Bucky explained.

"Bucky, I couldn't..."

"Steve? This might be the only way to make sure everyone I care about is safe. No matter what happens to me." Bucky said.

"We can look into it." Steve caved.

Jason went into the kitchen. Nat was in there too and Cassie was sitting on the couch, reading a book, in the area next to the kitchen, but with the openness of the room, they could all see each other.

"Look who finally woke up?" Nat smirked. "Dick said you took a nasty blow to the head that knocked you out. I don't see a mark or a bump though. Guess you got lucky."

Jason was kinda relieved Dick covered for him. Everyone in his family knew he was the emotional one, but he didn't exactly want that rap with anyone but his family.

"Yeah, guess so." Jason replied.

"Gotta be nice. Being the 'lucky one'." Nat joked. "I'd never have someone hit me that hard and not get a mark." She rolled up her sleeve and showed a bad scar on her arm.

"I wouldn't exactly call myself lucky." Jason answered as he looked through the fridge. "Besides. Dickie's golden boy and 'lucky one' seems a little too close."

"You're funny." Nat laughed. "Glad after what all has gone on lately that it didn't break your sense of humor."

"I was bludgeoned to death with a crowbar by a laughing clown maniac. My sense of humor isn't exactly normal." Jason replied.

"I should go. Wanda and I are having a girls night. See you later." Nat smirked and then left.

Jason smiled as she left the room. "She seems nice."

"You're kidding, right?" Cassie asked.

"What?" Jason questioned.

"She likes you. I didn't need to read her body language to see how blatantly obvious it was." Cass joked.

"That's bad." Jason stated. Bucky liked Nat. Jason and Bucky had become close friends. What would he think? "She used to date Bucky. He still loves her."

"Maybe that's a good thing." Cassandra replied. "If she likes you, it means she still likes him. You are equivalents."

Jason was shocked. Could it be true? Did Natasha still like Bucky? Maybe they would get a happy ending after all.