Black Star: HYDRA War

丅𝔀𝓔︎𝓷𝐓︎ⓨ︎-Ŧเ︎Ｖ︎𝓔︎

DENIAL is a funny thing. Even when the evidence you've just lost somebody or something you care about is staring you right in the face, denial will persist. And as you stare helplessly at Steve, it begins to work overtime. Steve couldn't have known Bucky killed your grandparents. He didn't betray you.

    "He's lying."

    "What the hell are you talking about?" Tony asks.

    "Steve. He's lying. He would never betray us like that."

    Tony whirls around to face Steve, looking furious. "You see that? That's how much Lexi trusts you. I bet you're feeling real proud of yourself right now, aren't you?"

    Steve looks at you, but he can barely meet your eyes. "Lexi, I–"

    "No. Stop. There's no need for you to apologize, because you didn't betray us."

    He doesn't say anything, just looks at you sadly.

    "Right?"

    Still no reply. Everything begins to blur. Something wet rolls down your cheek, though it's quickly soaked up into the mask's fabric.

    "Steve!"

    Tony shakes his head, glaring contemptuously at Steve. "Great job, Rogers."

    "Lexi, I'm– I'm sorry."

    "But the tape..." you turn to Bucky. He looks like he could say sorry to you a million times, and it would never be enough. "You–" your voice breaks. "It was you?"

    He doesn't take his eyes off you once. Slowly, painfully, he moves his head up, then down, then back to its original position.

    There's a metallic thunk and a grunt, and you whip around to see Tony with his helmet back on and Rogers on the ground. Barnes raises his gun, but before he can shoot, Tony blasts it out of his hands. You punch Barnes in the face, and while it doesn't knock him to the ground, it does catch him off guard. You go in for another attack, this time thrusting your knee up between his legs. He grunts in pain and stumbles, almost falling, but catching himself just in time. You pull out a dagger — but it's not the one you're used to, so you're not as good with it. It feels clunky in your hand, and though you do make a wound just above his left knee, it's not as deep as you were hoping for. It does make him collapse onto his knees, though.

    Barnes reaches down, trying to pull it out, but before he can, Tony grabs him and flies him across the room, pinning him to the ground. He prepares to blast him in the face, but before he can, Rogers throws his shield, hitting Tony in the side of his head.

    Rogers launches himself at Tony, tackling him and sending him skidding a few feet away from Barnes. Tony flies right back over to the two of them, aiming straight for Rogers's shield. He knocks into it with his whole body, sending Rogers flying away from Barnes. Tony then launches cuffs at him, which pin Rogers's ankles together. Tony resumes fighting with Barnes, and you turn your attention to Rogers.

    "Was this worth it? I bet you're glad you kept that secret now, huh? Because why tell the people who trusted you when you can fight them instead?!" you shriek.

    "I know you're angry, and you have every right to be, but–"

    "Oh, good," you say sarcastically. "I'm so glad you're letting me know it's okay to be angry, because for a second there, I was worried I shouldn't be angry at the person who betrayed me!"

    Rogers lifts his shield, and in one fell swoop, breaks the cuffs open. He jumps to his feet, but hasn't even regained his footing by the time your fist connects squarely with his nose. In a flash, he's back on the floor, blood falling from his nose and his shield from his hand.