For you, I'll risk it all

XVI

Steve was asleep when the digital clock on his bedside flashed 5 AM. The tranquillity of the early morning was suddenly shattered by the voice of JARVIS.

"Everyone is needed on the jet as soon as possible, Mr Stark has discovered a lead on Hydra's mission"

The jet stood ready in the hangar. As the team boarded, the tension was palpable. They knew the risks of confronting Hydra's supersoldiers, but they also knew the stakes if Hydra was indeed building up their forces with the serum.

As the jet ascended into the early morning sky, the team members fell into a tense silence. Each was lost in their thoughts, mentally preparing for the confrontation ahead. The last remnants of sleep had long since faded, replaced by a laser-sharp focus on the mission.

In the dimly lit cockpit of their aircraft, Natasha approached Steve with a worried expression on her face. "Do you actually think we can fight this?" she asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.

Steve sighed heavily, his hands fixing the ends of his suit "We have no choice," he replied,"They are targeting a research hospital."

Clint, who had been listening quietly from the side, couldn't help but intervene. "Are we intercepting them right? Tell me we are not fighting in front of a hospital," he questioned, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief.

"That's the idea," Steve replied, his tone steady and resolute.

Meanwhile, Tony Stark was completely engrossed in a holographic map. His fingers traced the coordinates of their target location, a hospital that served both as a research center and a patient ward. The information he'd uncovered about Hydra's operations presented them with a golden opportunity they couldn't afford to lose.

Back in the main cabin, Steve gathered everyone to go over their strategy one more time.

"Is everything clear?" he asked.

"Yes," everyone responded in unison.

As everyone took their seats, he approached Thor and Loki. "We don't need to kill them all," he said, his gaze firm.

"Why not?" Loki chuckled, leaning onto his sceptre in an nonchalant manner.

"Brother..." Thor scolded him, his tone mixed with exasperation.

"I'm joking, don't worry," Loki retorted, patting Steve on his shoulder with a smirk. "Don't worry captain, I'm here to help." He paused "This time."

Steve then moved to sit next to Bucky who was flipping his knife "Are we really trusting those gods?" Bucky chuckled, his eyes never leaving the blade. "Oh man, sometimes I miss the ignorance of the universe I had in the 40s."

Steve chuckled along with him "I guess I do too, Buck," he replied, patting him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry I lashed out the other day..." he sighed, his gaze lowered.

"I get it, Steve, sometimes you miss her," Bucky said, "Fortunately, you are someone who cares about others."

A small smile appeared on Steve's face as he continued, "I never told you what she wrote in the letter," he confessed, his gaze now on Bucky who kept his eyes on his knife. "She told me that it's the love that I can give that makes me a hero," he chuckled lightly shaking his head "and that as much as she hated to admit, that's what brought you back," he sighed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Bucky paused, his knife still in his hand, his gaze lost in the distance. "She knew you weren't the Winter Soldier anymore, she saw you changed," Steve continued.

"She... she was right...about the first part," Bucky mumbled, his voice barely audible. "You saved me."

"'Till the end of the line, remember?" Steve patted on his shoulder, giving him a comforting squeeze before standing up as they heard the jet landing.