Dark Arrow

Chapter Forty Two

I waited anxiously as Steve read over the files I'd just explained to him. It didn't take much to connect the dots, but it wasn't an easy pill to swallow. His face scrunched up as he concentrated, flicking back and forth over everything.

He looked up at me, the colour drained from his face. "Are you sure about this?"

I nodded. "Unfortunately yes."

"Does Bucky know?"

"That someone's trying to exploit his past to tear us apart? No."

I knew this secret was unlike any other. The damage it could do if it wasn't handled properly would be untold. It wasn't just the team that it threatened to destroy, it had the power to undo all Bucky's hard work. To make him feel like the monster he was convinced he was. Not to mention how devastated Tony would be.

"If this gets out..." Steve all but read my mind.

Giving him a soft kiss, I tried to show him my most reassuring smile.

"We'll worry about that after. We need to stop this Zemo."

"How?" He asked.

"Siberia."

Steve left to get ready first, we couldn't risk the team finding out. Not yet at least. My hands shook as I desperately tried to calm myself down. This mission was the biggest risk I'd ever taken, and I'd taken a fair share of them.

Without saying a word to anyone I snuck up to the landing pad, taking the stairs to avoid being seen.

Steve thankfully had the jet ready and waiting. Within seconds he had us in the air, his fingers linking with mine.

"We can't tell him sweetheart."

Disagreeing with him wasn't anything new, but this felt more potent than any time before.

"No. We can't keep this from him." I stood my ground.

As much as I understood Steve's need to protect Bucky, I had to think of Tony too. They were both dearer than anything in the world to me. As much as this would end in chaos, Tony had every right to know.

"It will tear the team apart."

Like I need reminding what's at stake.

I gripped his hand tighter, wanting him to know this wasn't me fighting him for the sake of it. This was me fighting for what I believed was right.

"I'm well aware of the consequences Steve, but he has a right to know."

I could see the internal struggle written on his face. Fighting between wanting to protect Bucky but knowing deep down that I was right.

He sighed. "It wasn't him."

"I know that." It was the Winter Soldier, not our Bucky. "We'll just have to hope that Tony sees it the same way."

An uncomfortable silence settled over us, the hum of the engine the only sound besides our breathing. Not once did our hands separate, even as we disagreed on what needed to happen. I needed him by my side for this and he needed me too.

As we landed at the abandoned Hydra facility we noticed the parked ATV in front of us. Steve held up his shield as I pulled an arrow from my quiver.

The solid iron door groaned as we walked inside. The empty passageways gave it an almost haunted feel.

"This place is creepy." I thought out loud.

As we began to ascend the stairs in front of us a sound from behind. Spinning round the last person I expected to see coming through the door was Tony.

"Oh for the love of God."

"What are you doing here Tony?" Steve asked.

His iron man helmet opened up so we could see him. "When you go to these lengths to hide a mission, it's got to be something big."

Why couldn't he just leave things alone? This is not how he was supposed to find out.

"You shouldn't be here shell head." I gritted out.

"Only makes me want to stay more."

"Stubborn asshole."

Steve looked at me, neither of us sure what to do. I knew Tony well enough to know the more I argued for him to leave, the more he'd want to stay. Whether we liked it or not he wasn't going anywhere.

Shrugging my shoulders I carried on walking in the direction we were headed.

The main chamber seemed more depressing than the rest of the place combined. Cryogenic chambers sitting either side of us as we walked further in.

A voice thick with an accent came through the speakers, shocking me temporarily. "An empire toppled by its enemies can rise again, but one that crumbles from within? That's dead. Forever."

A small window revealed a smug looking man. Watching our every move as a video began to play on the screen in front of us.

I knew what we were about to see, Steve and I sharing a worried look as Tony moved closer. I could tell by Tony's face that this wasn't going to end well. Bucky wasn't safe at the tower.

'Get Bucky and get somewhere safe.' I signed to Steve behind Tony's back.

'What about you?' The worry was clear as day as he looked between Tony and me.

'Just go. I can handle Tony.'

'You know where I'll be.'

'Be careful. I love you.'

I nodded, watching as he ran back the way we'd came. Sure I'd just lost my ride home, but I'd find another way.

Turning my attention back to Tony, he watched as Bucky came on the screen killing his Mom before his Dad. I couldn't imagine the pain he was feeling right now. Even as I looked at the screen it was clear it wasn't Bucky looking back at us.

"Tell me you didn't know." Tony looked to me, his eyes red as he fought back tears.

"Found out this morning." I admitted. "I was going to tell you after I blow this place to hell."

"That's why you hid this mission from me."

"Tony please, he didn't know what he was doing."

"I don't care!" He snapped. "He killed my Mom."

I stepped in front of him as he tried to leave, his anger evident both in his voice and on his face. He was itching for a fight.

"Tony please. This is what Zemo wants."

"You're defending him?"

I knew he was hurting, no one could blame him for that but how couldn't he see the truth?

"He's not the Winter Soldier anymore."

Tony let a tear fall as he looked at me, knowing just how much Bucky meant to me.

"I'm sorry Rain, but I can't forgive him."

"Then I guess this is goodbye Tony."

My heart broke to walk away from him but I had no choice. He couldn't forgive Bucky and I couldn't let Bucky believe Tony's anger. If I had to walk away from my one of my best friends to protect the other then I would. Even if it would destroy me to do so.

The team was effectively disbanded, but it could've been so much worse. Only time would tell what damage had really been done. I hoped that it would be temporary, but with the amount of stubborn males involved that wasn't a given.

I'd just have to find a way to get through this. With Steve by my side that was a possibility.