Mine (Bucky Barnes)

Twenty-Three

We're so close... so close... <3 Artie

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Hydra had given Zaštitnik a day to train. He went over new weapons again, and did quite a bit of sparring with some agents. Malo was amazed that there were so many who were willing to go up against The Winter Soldier. She swore at least one of them asked to have him wrap his metal hand around their neck.

That guy is now dead.

But not at her Zaštitnik's hand. Another agent shot him point-blank after the question had been made. No one batted an eye, except for Malo. Zaštitnik had been too stunned by the request to react.

She had barely sat down in their cell when Izak and Miller came rushing back down the hall, frantic. Zaštitnik stopped pacing to face the men.

"Time to go! We found the Captain and we need to take him out now!" Izak explained. He rushed to unlock the cell they'd been led to only minutes before. He and Miller led the way upstairs and into the back of a convoy. Malo's usual bag of supplies and a variety of weapons were already waiting for them.

"Why are we rushing? Don't we normally get briefed and have a game plan set up?" she inquired. The heavy doors of the armored vehicle slammed and locked behind her.

"That's normally the case, yes. But the Captain knows he's wanted. We need to get to him before he can get an army together," Miller explained. "As for the plan, it's going to be off script. Malo, you're going to stay here in the vehicle. If it becomes compromised, you need to stick with one of us. But no matter what, do NOT get hurt, kidnapped, or leave one of us."

Malo nodded, her hands automatically going to the thick device that was still wrapped around her neck. If she went too far, all it would take was the press of a button to lose her head. Literally.

"Coming up on the target in five. He's with three others, two males and one female," a young female agent announced. Malo leaned forward to see what she was staring at on the screen in her hand. A map was displayed, with two blinking dots that grew closer together.

"That's an incredible sonar system," Malo complimented.

The woman shot her a look like she was crazy. "...it's GPS. Not that big of a deal. They have one of our agents in the car with them. At this point he's considered a traitor, so feel free to get rid of him, too, soldat."

Zaštitnik gave a sharp nod. Izak handed him a pair of dark goggles.

"Here, try these on for size. Since it's the middle of the day, we need you as covered up as possible."

Malo helped him to situate the goggles on his face. She frowned, brushing her fingers through his hair. "I don't like them. They hide your beautiful eyes."

"They're necessary, though," Miller grumbled.

"Approaching! Soldat, go now!" the female interrupted. Zaštitnik gave Malo's hand a squeeze, before he kicked open the back door and climbed to the roof.

"He'll be okay, right? Going up against another super soldier?"

Izak shrugged. "He'll be fine."

There were no windows where they sat, and someone had already shut the doors. Gunshots could be heard, however, sending nervous shivers down Malo's spine. As anxious as it made her to wait in another building, she preferred it to being in the middle of the gunfire. If she had to watch her love get injured – or worse, die – Malo was certain she wouldn't be able to survive it.

The vehicle slammed on its brakes, sending those in the back to slam into the wall that divided them from the drivers. Miller and the female agent jumped out the back of the car.