Bucky's Anchor

Chapter 23 - Allies in Defiance

Steve gathered us together in the dimly lit room, his face set in that determined expression that I'd come to know so well. We were on the move again, heading to a location where we'd meet the others who shared our stance against the Accords. My stomach was in knots. Meeting with the others meant more people getting involved in this mess, more faces to imagine on the other side of a battlefield.

"Who's joining us?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Bucky stood beside me, silent and tense. I knew he was thinking the same thing. Every new ally was another person at risk.

"Sam, Clint, and Wanda," Steve replied, his gaze flickering between us. "They're on their way to the rendezvous point. They're with us."

I nodded slowly, letting that sink in. Sam and Clint—trusted allies, friends. Wanda, who had already been through so much scrutiny and control in her young life. They were putting everything on the line to stand with us.

"They're risking a lot," I said quietly. "Especially Wanda. After everything that happened in Lagos..."

Steve's jaw tightened. "They believe in the same thing we do," he said. "That we need to be able to choose our own battles."

Bucky hadn't said a word yet. He was staring out the window, watching the passing landscape with a distant look in his eyes. I reached over and touched his arm gently. "You okay?" I asked softly.

He turned to look at me, his eyes clouded with an emotion I couldn't quite place. "I just hope we're not dragging them into something they can't walk away from," he said.

"We're all in this together," Steve interjected, his voice firm. "None of us are being dragged into anything. They're here because they want to be."

Bucky nodded, but I could see the doubt still lingering in his eyes. This was exactly what he had feared—his presence putting others in danger. I squeezed his arm reassuringly, hoping he understood that he wasn't alone in this.

As we arrived at the safe house, my heart began to race. We were taking a stand, but the reality was that we were also drawing lines in the sand, lines that could turn into chasms between friends.

We stepped inside, the air thick with tension. Sam was already there, standing with his arms crossed, a grim expression on his face. He glanced up as we entered, his eyes flicking to Bucky with a guarded look. Clint sat on the edge of a table, his face hard to read, while Wanda stood off to the side, her arms wrapped around herself as if warding off a chill.

"Glad you made it," Sam said, his gaze lingering on Bucky for a moment before shifting to Steve. "I take it this is the point of no return?"

Steve nodded. "It is. We're officially on the opposite side of the law now."

Clint let out a slow breath. "Well, it's not the first time for some of us, right?" He gave a small, tight-lipped smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "But let's get one thing straight—if we're doing this, we're doing it for the right reasons."

"We are," Steve assured him. "This isn't about defying authority for the sake of it. It's about fighting for our right to choose. To act when and where we know it's right."

I stepped forward, feeling the need to say something, to make sure they all knew the risks. "Look," I began, my voice wavering slightly before I steadied it, "we're standing against a lot of powerful forces. This isn't just about government oversight. It's about taking a stand for our autonomy. But it's also going to make us targets."

Wanda looked up, her eyes meeting mine. "I know what it's like to be a target," she said softly. "To be seen as something dangerous. I can't let that happen to us. Not again."

I felt a pang of empathy for her. Wanda had been through hell—Lagos, the scrutiny, the blame. She deserved a life where she could make her own choices without being viewed as a ticking time bomb.

"We'll protect each other," Steve said, his voice a low promise. "We move as a unit. No one gets left behind."

Sam uncrossed his arms and took a step forward. "So, what's the plan, Cap? We just go on the run forever?"

"No," Steve replied, shaking his head. "We find the evidence that proves Zemo's manipulation. We clear Bucky's name and show that the Accords aren't the answer to the problem. We have to make the world see that this kind of control isn't what keeps them safe."

Clint let out a small sigh. "Not exactly a straightforward mission, is it?"

"Since when has anything we've done been straightforward?" Bucky muttered, a touch of wry humor in his tone that surprised me. I glanced at him, catching the faintest hint of a smirk.

Clint chuckled lightly. "Fair point, Barnes."

I took a deep breath and stepped closer to Bucky. "You know," I said quietly so only he could hear, "they're here because they believe in what we're doing. Not just because of Steve, but because they see you for who you are now."

He met my gaze, his eyes softening. "I hope that's enough," he murmured.

"It is," I assured him. "It has to be."

Steve moved to the center of the room, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright," he said, his voice carrying the authority of a leader who had guided us through countless battles. "Here's what we're up against..."

He laid out the plan, detailing how we would move forward. We would gather evidence against Zemo and expose the truth behind his manipulations. It was risky, but it was the only way to stop the cycle of mistrust and control the Accords had ignited.

As we listened, I watched the faces around the room. Sam's resolve, Clint's stoic acceptance, Wanda's quiet determination. This wasn't just about opposing the Accords anymore; it was about preserving the integrity of who we were. We were more than weapons to be wielded by others. We were people with the right to choose our path.

"We're with you, Steve," Sam said firmly when Steve finished. "Whatever it takes."

Clint nodded in agreement. "I'm in. Let's do this."

Wanda simply gave a nod, her eyes shining with a mixture of fear and courage. She was younger than the rest of us, and she had been through so much, yet here she was, standing with us in defiance of a world that had tried to define her.

I looked at Bucky. "We're not just doing this for ourselves," I said. "We're doing it for everyone who comes after us. To show them that they can choose who they want to be."

He took my hand, squeezing it gently. "Then let's make sure we do it right," he replied.

Steve nodded, looking around the room. "Then it's settled. We're in this together."

As we prepared to leave, the weight of what we were about to do settled over me. We were going to war against the very people who had once been our allies. It felt like stepping into the abyss, but I knew we had no other choice. Our belief in the right to choose our battles was what made us who we were.

We were more than soldiers. We were more than tools. We were people fighting for our right to be free. And we would not be silenced, no matter the cost.

With one last glance at our team, I felt a surge of determination. We were on the precipice of something that could either save us or tear us apart. But no matter what happened, we were going to face it head-on.

"Let's move out," Steve ordered, his voice steady. "We have a world to change."

And with that, we stepped into the unknown, ready to fight for the freedom we believed in.