Of Love and Lines (MCUxReader)

Twenty Seven

Steve POV

Steve stormed out of the room they'd clearly held Penelope in. If he had to stay a moment longer looking at the evidence of her torture, he was going to fucking loose it. Everyone stared as he stalked past, his steps pounding down the metal staircase. He needed a fucking minute to clear his head. He ended up outside, in the alley behind the building.

Ripping his shield from his back, Steve let it loose on some unsuspecting trash cans. They fell, their contents scattering about the ground. He caught the shield on its return and glared at the mess, breathing harshly.

"Think you missed one." Bucky's voice carried to him from where he stood at the entrance to the garage, the light coming from inside illuminating his figure.

Steve sighed. "She was here. She was here and we were too fucking late!" He shouted.

"Yeah, we were. But beating the shit out of the trash cans isn't going to fix that."

"I know that." Steve glared in Buck's direction.

"So suck it up and get back in here. We need a new plan."

Steve stalked towards him. "A new plan? There is no new plan, Buck. There's no information. There's nothing."

"You wanna tell her that? Nel is out there, somewhere, going through god knows what, and you're ready to throw in the towel. Do you think she's giving up? I doubt it. That girl has more stubbornness than any of us. If she's still fighting, then so are we."

Steve's anger now directed itself at Bucky. "You think I'm giving up!? No. Never. I just need-"

Steve cut himself off when something moved behind Bucky. Without thought he sent his shield at the moving object, following it through the entryway when it impacted and the person let out a low grunt.

Bucky was right by his side, quickly disarming and subduing the Hydra guard. Steve watched as he got the man into a headlock and within seconds, he was out cold.

"Well? You wanted information. Looks like we just found a way to get it." Buck stood, letting the body drop to the ground at their feet and pushing some hair that'd escaped his bun out of his face.

Steve smiled and accessed the comm in his ear. "Everyone load up, we have a plan."

Steve returned his shield to its place on his back and bent down to drag their captive up the staircase by his arm, the man's limp body thumping over each grated step.

As the team saw what he had in tow, their eyes widened before they fell in line, following him the rest of the way up to the roof where Bruce was waiting with the jet.

Back on the quinjet, Steve secured the captive to a seat, binding his wrists and ankles just in case he decided to wake up mid-flight. The team gathered around the table in silence, waiting for Steve to address them.

He turned to Tony. "When we get back, he goes straight to lock up. No one talks to him until I've had the chance."

Tony nodded. "Done."

Steve nodded back and moved to the front of the jet to stand behind Nat and Clint, watching the night sky as he dealt with his racing heart, the murmur of the rest of the team falling quiet behind him.

"What will you do?" Nat asked, not turning to look at him.

"Whatever it takes." He answered.

She didn't press further, just nodding her head in acceptance.

The ride back to the compound seemed to take twice as long as the ride out. When they arrived, Bucky took point in dragging the captive down to the basement lock up. Steve didn't bother going to debrief with the rest of the team. He just followed along behind Buck quietly, his rage pouring out of every fiber of his being.