𝚄𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝙾𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 - 𝓑𝓾𝓬𝓴𝔂 𝓑𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼 [1]

1. {Not in Charge}

The moon hangs low, casting haunting shadows as you and Bucky Barnes stealthily advance through the enemy base. The tension between you crackles like static electricity, each movement calculated and precise, yet brimming with unspoken animosity.

The mission ahead is straightforward: infiltrate the target, meticulously gather vital intelligence, and execute a seamless escape without raising any alarms. It's a task you've executed countless times, but it's become increasingly tiresome, particularly with Bucky Barnes as your frequent companion. As you gear up, you can't help but ponder the prospect of partnering with Steve or anyone else for that matter—anyone but Barnes, whose presence has grown wearisome on these expeditions.

Bucky's gaze pierces through the darkness, his eyes cold and accusing as they land on you. "Try not to fuck this up, this time, sweetheart." he mutters, his voice laced with thinly veiled contempt, resurrecting memories of a past confrontation. It was a time when your patience with Barnes's disregard for orders nearly shattered, risking not only the success of the mission but also both of your lives.

You grit your teeth, suppressing the urge to snap back. "I don't need your fucking commentary, Barnes," you shoot back, your tone sharp with irritation. With your weapon firmly in your grasp, you maintain a low stance as you navigate the shadows. Barnes strides ahead, and you shadow his movements, a silent resolve etched on your features.

He scoffs, a derisive smirk playing on his lips. "Funny, you seemed to have needed the commentary from me last night." He taunts over the comms, his voice faint, ensuring no risk of detection. His words reverberate in your ear, stoking a simmering glare directed at his retreating silhouette.

"Guys..." Steve Rogers's voice breaks through the comms sounding somewhat defeated and prompting you to redirect your gaze and proceed without engaging in a verbal exchange with Barnes. "Remember, I can still hear you both." His words linger in the air, a gentle reminder that reigns in your attention, grounding you back to the task ahead.

The weight of Steve's interruption is a sobering reminder of the importance of the mission and the need to maintain professionalism, even in the face of personal animosity. With a silent nod to yourself, you refocus your attention on the task at hand, pushing aside the lingering frustration that threatens to distract you.

Bucky's presence looms ahead, a constant reminder of the tension between you. Despite your best efforts to ignore him, his words linger in your mind, igniting a simmering anger that threatens to boil over.

As you navigate through the shadows, your senses on high alert, you can't help but wonder what it is about Bucky that gets under your skin. Is it his cavalier attitude? His disregard for authority? Or is it something deeper, something you're not quite ready to confront?

The mission unfolds with a precision that belies the tension between you and Bucky, each step calculated and executed flawlessly. But as you gather the vital intelligence you came for, you can't shake the feeling that something is about to go wrong.

Suddenly, a voice crackles over the comms, breaking the silence and sending a jolt of alarm through you. It's Bucky, his tone urgent and panicked as he alerts you to an unexpected complication.

"Hostiles incoming, three o'clock," he barks, his voice cutting through the static.

With adrenaline coursing like wildfire through your veins, you spring into action, your honed instincts taking control as you brace for the imminent threat. You cast a wary glance towards your 'three o'clock,' only to furrow your brow in puzzlement at the absence of any visible danger. But there's no time for contemplation as gunfire erupts from the 'nine o'clock' direction, compelling you to swiftly duck and roll for cover.