Bucky's Anchor

Chapter 9 - A Dangerous Offer

I found Steve sitting alone in the dimly lit corner of the safe house, staring at the map spread out before him. His eyes were unfocused, lost in the maze of lines and locations, but I knew his mind was elsewhere—on Bucky, on the Accords, on the fractured team we'd left behind. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to say. I knew my decision was already made, but saying it out loud would make it real.

I walked over, my footsteps soft against the creaky wooden floor. Steve didn't look up, but I knew he sensed my presence. "Whatever you need," I said quietly. "I'm in."

Steve's eyes flicked up to mine, a mixture of relief and concern reflecting in the blue depths. He had been so used to carrying the weight of this alone. I could see the burden etched into every line on his face.

"You don't have to do this, Emily," he replied, his voice low. "Going against S.H.I.E.L.D., the Accords... it puts a target on your back."

I pulled out the chair across from him and sat down, meeting his gaze with all the resolve I could muster. "I know what it means. But Bucky deserves a chance to clear his name, and you deserve someone by your side who can help you get through this. You're not alone in this fight."

Steve's expression softened slightly, and he nodded. "Thank you," he said, his voice heavy with gratitude. "I can't do this alone."

---

We spent hours going over possible routes, potential safe houses, and how to track down Bucky without attracting too much attention. Steve was focused, driven, but there was an undercurrent of fear in his eyes—a fear that Bucky was running out of time.

"You know," I began carefully, "if we do this, we'll need a plan not just to find him, but to help him afterward. If we can get him out of there, he's going to need more than just physical protection."

Steve paused, looking up at me. "You mean... his mind."

I nodded. "He's been through hell. The brainwashing, the conditioning... it doesn't just go away because he's free. I've worked with trauma patients before. They need a support system, a process to help them reclaim themselves."

Steve's gaze dropped back to the map, and for a moment, I thought he wasn't going to say anything. Then he sighed deeply. "I don't know if Bucky can ever fully come back from what they've done to him. But if there's even a chance..."

"There is," I assured him. "But it's going to take time. And patience."

Steve glanced at me, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "I'm glad you're here, Emily."

---

With our plan starting to take shape, the weight of my decision settled heavily on my shoulders. I knew what this meant—going against the Accords meant turning my back on the law, on everything I'd been trained to uphold. But more than that, it meant pitting myself against people I considered friends. Natasha, Clint, Wanda... they'd all see us as criminals. It was a price I wasn't sure I was prepared to pay, but I knew it was one I had to.

That night, I stood by the window, staring out into the darkness. The city was quiet, the world outside blissfully unaware of the storm brewing within our ranks. Steve came up beside me, his presence a comforting weight.

"Do you think we're doing the right thing?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Steve didn't answer right away. He followed my gaze out the window, his expression contemplative. "Sometimes," he said finally, "the right thing isn't always clear. But we have to follow what we believe in. And I believe in Bucky."

I nodded, feeling a mix of fear and determination swirl within me. "Then I believe in you."

---

The reality of our choice was daunting. We were about to step into the line of fire, to cross a line that might never be uncrossed. But as I looked at Steve, at the unwavering resolve in his eyes, I knew I couldn't turn back. Bucky needed us, and Steve needed someone who believed in him as much as he believed in his friend.

We were risking everything—our safety, our reputations, our very freedom. But sometimes, standing on the right side of history means standing against the tide. And for Bucky, for Steve, I was willing to face whatever came next.

"Whatever you need," I repeated, my voice steady. "I'm here."

Steve nodded, a silent acknowledgment passing between us. We were in this together, for better or worse.