The End Game | MCU FanFiction

Chapter 42

Peter didn't know what was going on. He didn't like it.

He should've known something was wrong the moment he'd seen his mentor. He had been standing straight, there was dried blood everywhere. Cuts and bruises stuck out clearly on his pale skin. But he had just been so happy to see him, he didn't pay much attention to the blood. Or to the cold eyes that stared back at him, lacking the usual spark that always danced in the chocolate brown colors. They had been a cold, dull gray. Peter had seen no emotion in them as Tony had picked him up by the throat with ease, having seemingly no trouble in hurting him.

Now, Peter was scared.

He had seen Michelle and Bucky as they walked in, they had looked the same. He'd felt a little bit relieved at the sight of Michelle- she had seemed to be spared the torture. The physical, at least. But when he'd yelled her name, nothing had happened. No smile, no response- not even a sign of recognition. Bucky had looked the same, and that's when all the pieces fell together. The gray eyes, the emotionless look. Peter had seen it all before, the night he'd saved Michelle. Bucky had walked in looking just like that- murderous. Now, to see it in both his mentor's and his girlfriend's eyes... He wanted to break down right there. But he knew they had been able to get Bucky out of it. So there had to be a way to get all three of them back, somehow.

He carefully walked over to Dr. Strange, who was watching the small group and few HYDRA agents warily.

"Mr. Strange," Peter whispered softly. "I think I know what's going on,"

--

Bucky looked at the group of enemies. He clenched his metal fist as he eyed the number of kids in the group. One of the boys walked over to the wizard-like man. He was just a skinny kid, he reminded him of... What was his name? He shook his head, pushing the thought away. The mission came first.

He looked back, meeting eyes with Michelle who was standing behind him. He saw the bravery in her, the determination in her stance. But he also saw a bit of fear shining in her eyes. He knew how she felt. She was probably currently struggling with her memories. Or rather, the lack thereof.

He looked next to him, to the man who he barely even knew, but somehow felt a connection with. They met gazes, and Bucky knew instantly that he was struggling with the new feeling, too, even if he tried to hide it.

He looked back to the enemy. A feeling he couldn't quite place settled in his stomach, and he was left asking himself one question; what exactly was his mission?

--

Michelle was silently grateful for the two men standing in front of her. She was in a battle with her own mind, her own memories. Voices she vaguely recognized but couldn't quite place echoed around in her head. But as soon as they came, they disappeared again. She wanted to find out more, figure out who the voices belonged to. But she felt her mind being pulled back to the task at hand; the mission. She was sure this was her first mission, but it all seemed actually quite familiar. She felt all the muscles in her body tense and tingle as she eyed the group of strangers. Her very first mission, how awesome was that! But she knew very well that she couldn't let herself be excited, that didn't fit in her programming. She was trained to be impassive, to feel no emotion. 

But she did. She felt the excitement of the mission, but also fear. A tingling feeling burning underneath her skin, always present. She wasn't ashamed to admit to herself that she was perfectly satisfied there, hidden behind the two men. But she also knew that she couldn't stay there. She had to prove herself, too. She wasn't a baby, she could defend herself!

She was suddenly tired of waiting, she wanted action! She'd waited... well, she couldn't exactly remember how long she'd waited. But it was definitely long enough.