We Get One Shot At This

When Do We Start?

Okay, so maybe you underestimated them. Or perhaps you had overestimated yourself. Hydra was gaining strength again, and all you wanted to do was stop them while you had a shot; you wanted to stop history before it repeated itself and there would be more who would suffer as you and Bucky had. It sounded easy in your head, but as the plan came to fruition, things got a little bumpy. Bucky was the last person you wanted to see right now, but you sure wouldn't turn him away if he suddenly showed up; especially if he brought the entire Avengers team with him.

~~~

The jet was eerily silent as the team closed in on Washington, and no one had said a word since departing New York. Steve fastened his helmet and leaned back into his chair, closing his eyes and sighing deeply; his mind was moving faster than he could track, and he was worried that going in without knowing what was happening and without a plan would get his team hurt. He knew in his heart that there was no way that you would defect to Hydra after all they had done to you, at least not knowingly. He would be a fool to not admit that he considered your state of mind when you left, and that you could be under their control again.

"Are you ready for this?" he whispered to Bucky.

Bucky only shook his head, staring at his metal arm with a look of disgust on his face. His opposite hand grazed over the cool metal of his fingers, then across the palm, and up the forearm as if it were the first time he had experienced it. The arm was seemingly foreign to him, and it was making him angry.

"Promise me that we're gonna stop them, once and for all."

Steve nodded and cleared his throat as he replied, "I think she's giving us a head start, Buck. There's no way she's on their side. She can't be...right?"

The jet shook slightly as it landed, calming as the engines quieted and the rear door opened for their arrival. As the rest of the team gathered their gear and moved to the exit, Bucky stood and clenched his hand into a tight fist and sighed, watching the joints of the metal shift and connect. "Right," he mumbled absentmindedly, pausing at the door to take a breath and look back at the Captain. "Could you do it, Steve? If she's...if she's not herself? If it came down to a choice of life or death? If you knew you could release her from that hell?"

The look of shock that crossed Steve's face flashed quickly before it changed to one of determination. "No. Never." He stood up to stand behind his friend, hesitant to hear the answer he might receive from him. "Could you?"

The answer never came before Bucky disappeared into the building where you were last seen, and Steve had never been more afraid of anything in his life.

~~~

"Buck, we're never going to get away with this," Steve whispered in a harsh tone. "This is the worst idea you've ever had."

"If you could shut up about it for a minute, we won't get caught."

"This is illegal."

Bucky let out a heavy sigh, looking down at Steve and using his best sarcastic tone in his reply, "No shit? Stealing street signs is illegal?" He laughed and continued to remove the sign from the pole, Steve trying to support him so he didn't slip. "It's one little sign. They can get a new one. Do something adventurous for once in your life!"

Steve looked around nervously, knowing that his luck would never hold out for something like this, even though it really was a pretty low-risk crime. "Buck, if we get arrested, we'll never be able to enlist. Not to mention what (Y/N) will do to us. It's not worth it."

"Settle down, ya punk. I'm done."

Steve stepped out of the way just in time to miss Bucky's foot as he jumped down, cursing under his breath as he regained his balance. "Can we get the hell outta here now?" They turned to walk away but froze in place when a spotlight hit them and a yell to stop came from behind.