𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝙼𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ Steve Rogers

Back to Square One ~ 38

Bucky finds himself kneeling, battered and worn from his recent clash with Ultron. Though uncertain of the passing time, the familiar roar of jets signals the arrival of the quinjet on the grassy expanse behind the cabin, reassuring him that he hasn't been unconscious for too long, mercifully.

With effort, he pushes himself upright, his muscles protesting from the recent ordeal. As the quinjet's doors lower, he observes the first figures stepping out: Steve, Peter, and Wanda, clad in their formidable suits, poised for the imminent battle. Despite the lingering effects of his encounter, Bucky strides over to them with determination, resolved to stand alongside his comrades as they confront the looming threat of Ultron.

"What's happened?" Wanda calls out, hastening over as the other two gradually come to a standstill, their concern etched across their features. "Are you alright?" she inquires, reaching his side.

"I'm fine, Wanda," he brushes her off, striding purposefully towards the others.

Natasha and Clint emerge next from the jet, their countenances inscrutable as they survey the scene unfolding before them.

"Buck, what's the situation?" Steve echoes Wanda's question, just as Clint and Natasha begin making their way towards the safehouse, diverting Barnes's attention momentarily.

"Don't enter the house!" he commands, pivoting towards them as they pause. "Sam and Scott are inside, they've been incapacitated," he explains, grimacing as he clutches his side, the pain still palpable.

The group exchanges concerned glances as Tony, Bruce, and Vision emerge, the final stragglers from the jet. They immediately discern the obvious worry etched on everyone's faces. Tony takes charge, sealing the quinjet doors with a press of a button on a fob in his hand.

"Why are we all still lingering out here? Where are the others?" Stark queries, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Apparently, Wilson and Lang are incapacitated inside," Natasha murmurs quietly to Tony, who reacts with alarm, his gaze darting toward the safehouse.

"Where is she, Bucky?" Steve interjects abruptly, his voice low yet commanding the attention of all present.

Bucky's gaze falls to the ground, unable to meet his friend's eyes or those of anyone else. His expression is solemn, burdened by the knowledge that he has failed in his primary mission to protect Eva. "Ultron," he responds quietly, prompting a mix of worry and anger among the group.

Steve turns away, frustration evident as his hands reach his head, grappling with the realization that they have arrived too late. Natasha and Clint exchange nods before setting off towards the cabin, resolute in their determination to retrieve Scott and Sam from within.

"What happened?!" Steve's voice reverberates, his pacing abruptly ceasing as he fixes his gaze on Barnes, his stance becoming more rigid.

"What happened?" Barnes counters, somewhat incredulous at the hostility. "What happened was Ultron played us all, Steve! That's what fucking happened! While you were preoccupied trying to lure him, he forced us all in his own damn trap!" His words echo through the surrounding trees, carrying the weight of frustration.

Steve's eyes narrow in response, the tension between them reaching a boiling point. Before the situation escalates further, Bruce intervenes, positioning himself between them to defuse the growing conflict. "Barnes, elaborate. What exactly happened?" Banner's voice remains calm and steady, a calming presence amidst the charged atmosphere.

Bucky begins to retort, but before he can, Peter interjects. "Ultron has taken Eva," Parker deduces, exhaling heavily. All eyes turn to him, including Bucky's, whose guilt becomes clear. With a resigned sigh, he nods in affirmation, confirming Peter's deduction.

Natasha and Clint return with Sam and Scott in tow and the group's attention shifts momentarily. Sam, supported by Natasha, walks out with a recovered air, while Scott remains unconscious, Clint carefully dragging his limp body away from the house. Wanda and Vision hasten over to assist, offering their aid.

Bucky clears his throat with a raspy cough, his throat searing after the recent chokehold. "I stayed outside while Steve and Wanda left," he begins, finally divulging the sequence of events. "I heard something shatter inside the house. When I went to check it out, I found them both unconscious, thanks to that gas leaking throughout the room." He pauses to cough again, declining Peter's offer of assistance with a shake of his head, determined to continue. "So, I went to fetch Eva from her room, before the gas got me too. We managed to escape out here, and I tried telling her to leave, but Ultron intervened. This was all premeditated." He sighs heavily, feeling foolish for falling into Ultron's trap once more. "It's clear he was behind the disruption with the reception around here, Steve," he adds pointedly, directing a meaningful glance at Rogers, reminding him of his initial reason for leaving.

Peter furrows his brow and retrieves his own phone. "I have full bars," he remarks, earning a told you so expression from Bucky. Tony and Bruce exchange a knowing glance but remain silent.

"And what happened with Eva? What happened to you?" Steve's voice is calmer now, yet still filled with concern.

"He used me as bait," Bucky responds simply, turning to face Steve. "He threatened to kill me if Eva didn't go with him willingly. He already knew he couldn't control her while she was wearing that damn neck device. I told her to go, but she refused."

Steve looks skyward, unwilling to accept what Barnes is implying, while Peter casts a worried glance toward Stark. Tony pinches the bridge of his nose. "So, Ultron has duped us," he sighs, and Steve's gaze shifts to Tony, anticipating an argument, uncertain of its subject but needing an outlet, nonetheless. However, their conversation is interrupted by the sound of a spluttering cough from the patio.

Scott is waking up now, and Bruce takes advantage of the distraction to head over to the others to assist, leaving the remaining four standing in a circle near the quinjet.

"Then it's simple, we've got to find Eva," Peter declares after a brief pause, his brow furrowing as he looks around at the somber faces of his companions, puzzled by their apparent indecision.

"We understand that, Parker, but how?" Tony counters, shooting Peter a pointed glance. "We've been in the dark about Ultron's whereabouts from the start, and we're no closer to finding him now."

A heavy silence descends, punctuated only by the distant rustle of leaves and the faint hum of insects. Steve's gaze drifts away, his jaw tight with thought, while Bucky leans wearily against the quinjet, exhaustion etched on his features as he grapples with the situation.

"Tony, I really think it's time to bring SHIELD into the loop. We can't handle this alone anymore," Natasha suggests, her voice firm as she strides back into the circle, her arms folded across her chest, her expression determined.

"You haven't told SHIELD?" Steve's tone is laced with incredulity, his raised eyebrow a silent challenge aimed at Stark.

"No, I haven't told SHIELD..." Tony retorts, his eyes rolling with frustration. "I haven't informed them that the genocidal AI, responsible for decimating a whole country nearly a decade ago, has resurfaced with a vengeance! And it's all thanks to Hydra, who seems to be thriving, much to our dismay, Rogers!"

The usual tension fills the space between them once more as they exchange pointed glares, the weight of their shared history and current predicament evident in the air. Bucky and Peter exchange a knowing glance, silently acknowledging the ludicrously of their argument, while Natasha steps in, her patience wearing thin.

"Let's go, Barnes," Natasha insists, her tone firm as forcibly puts his arm over her shoulder without argument and guides him towards the safety of the house. "Clint has cleared the area; it's safe to return inside."

As the rest of the group begins to filter indoors, Natasha throws a pointed remark over her shoulder towards Stark, her words a warning shot. "We need to devise a new plan of action quickly, or I'll be making a call to Hill."

Peter hesitates for a moment before following Natasha and Bucky, leaving Stark and Rogers to grapple with the weight of their decisions. Steve lets out a resigned sigh. "Let's convene indoors and brainstorm a solution, just as Natasha suggested."

Tony nods reluctantly, his lips pressed into a thin line as he follows Steve towards the safe haven of the house, the urgency of their situation weighing heavily on his mind.