❛ 𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ❜

❝ they made you into a weapon,
and told you to find peace. ❞

          FROM outside to in, the trip to Anastasia was a blur. The asset led her to the inside of the dome, waiting their next target; the Captain.

Her stomach seemed to do a few flips before burrowing deep within her.

There was a heavy thud in the distance before the off rhythm running started to grow louder. He was here.

A large figure dawned in that familiar blue suit stood before them.

Bucky stood in front of the walkway, while Anastasia was guarding the third power board.

"People are gonna die. I can't let that happen."

Neither responded.

The Captain inhaled sharply, his voice growing weak, "Please don't make me do this."

Bucky inclined his head, standing his ground. Steve mirrored him, quickly winding back his arm. Twisting his body at light-speed, the shield flung straight for Bucky.

His metal arm reeled up, deflecting the disk away. Drawing up his pistol, Bucky fired a single round up before down at Steve's legs.

Both shots ricocheted off the smooth surface before Steve swung up his shield to smack Bucky's weapon away.

The two men were scuffling back quickly, inching closer to Anastasia.

Bucky did a quick spin before dropping down to one knee. In a flash, both assassins aimed at Steve.

Steve lifted the vibranium to protect himself, but Bucky's bullet grazed his waist. He hissed, spinning around on his heel when Bucky lunched for him.

He bodychecked Bucky with the flat surface of the shield.

Bucky's body flopped at Anastasia's feet. Using the railing on either side of her, she lifted herself into the air, vaulting over Bucky's body.

Unsheathing the first knife on her person, she pointed the blade downwards in her hand.

Steve stepped back before swinging down his fist. He managed to hit her on the wrist before she attacked with her free hand. Using the shield, Anastasia leaned back to avoid being hit.

Slicing upwards to his face, Steve pushed against the side of her hand with his palm, guiding it away from him. Both spun as Anastasia kicked up her leg, nearly hitting Steve.

Hefting his leg, Anastasia had enough room to aim for Steve's crotch. Using the force she could deliver, Steve flinched back when her boot hit directly between his legs in a stomping motion.

He went down to one knee, lifting his right arm to block a sudden punch from Bucky who was now standing. Standing up, he managed to shove Bucky away.

Steve turned to fling his shield at Anastasia, but she went for him quicker. Using the curved side, Steve bashed her. Next, he used the edge carefully to knock her back, hitting her stomach. Her body lurched back as a loud cough escaped her.

Wth a few seconds to spare, Steve went for the main power board. Entering the code, the casing opened to show the different chip boards inside.

Turning back around, Steve side-stepped when Bucky attacked for him. Hooking his arm around Bucky's metal one, he pushed the man back. Giving a quick kick, Steve grabbed Bucky's arm that swung at him.

Hitting the edge of the shield at Bucky's arms, he grabbed it in his metal grasp. Leaning forward, the two fought for dominance.

The plates along his arm shifted for more reinforcement, allowing Bucky to hold Steve off of him. Steve broke away, jumping in the air to kick him in the chest.

Anastasia used the railing to jump on Steve's back from behind. Using her bruised fists, Anastasia punched him along the shoulder, neck and face. Using her elbow, Anastasia aimed it at the crook of his neck.

Steve reached up, grabbing a fistful of her Hydra uniform. Bending forward, Anastasia's body slid over and slammed against the metal walkway, rattling the entire thing.

Moving for the circuit board, Steve removed the closest one. Flipping open his leather pouch where the new chip was, Steve suddenly thrust the shield behind himself to block Bucky's metal fist.

A clang echoed out before Steve pushed Bucky backwards. Now holding on to one leather strap, Steve swung it around to gain space between the two assassins.

Anastasia curled up her legs, swinging them out to jump back onto her feet.

Bucky raised his arm in protection while Anastasia leaned back. Steve smacked Bucky before twisting to hit her arms. Back and forth. Bucky managed to swiftly punch Steve's stomach.

Steve landed a punch back to his face, knocking him into the metal railing. As much as he didn't want to, Steve grabbed Anastasia's wrist to pull her closer and forcefully punch her in the cheek, promptly knocking her out.

Bucky suddenly cried out, tackling Steve over the bar railing. Landing on the level below, Bucky slipped down the smooth curved surface. The new clip slid under his arm, unbeknownst to him.

Running at each other, they tackled in the middle. Bucky stepped back, delivering another punch to Steve's torso. Steve grabbed Bucky's arms, lifting them up. With his dominant hand, he suddenly struck a punch across the assassin's face.

Bucky wound up his arm, slapping Steve away.

When he landed in his side, Steve managed to grab the chip. Bucky followed, sliding down to him.

Both man exchanged a few punches, losing the chip again. Steve gave a harsher hit to Bucky's face and kicked him off the edge of the surface they fought on.

Jumping down to to the glass dome, Steve sprinted for the hard drive that was discarded there. The blunt hit of the vibranium shield had Steve trip and fall onto his back. The disk flopped to the ground.

Bucky jumped onto the glass, aiming another gun. Steve kicked the shield into his hands, blocking the shots. Throwing the disk, Bucky punched it across the dome.

Dropping his gun, Bucky grabbed his knife. Steve seized his wrist, pushed the knife away.

Using his left hand, Bucky drove the blade into Steve's bicep.

Steve cried out, having no choice but to head-butt Bucky in return. Doing it again, Bucky wavered from the helmet he wore. Diving away, Steve tore out the knife.

Bucky jumped for the computer piece, grabbing it with his right hand. Steve then jumped on his back, grabbing his neck before hoisting his entire body into the air.

With a mighty swing, Bucky's body folded and smashed against the ground. Steve held Bucky's arm across his thigh, keeping it there. "Drop it!"

Bucky hissed, trying to hit him with his left arm, but not being able to reach.

"Drop it!"

Anastasia blinked slowly, opening one eye before the other. A heavy throb in her temple made her cuss, gingerly touching it with her grimy fingers. Her hand was trembling.

Her cheek was sore and it hurt to run her tongue along the inside of it. She felt a small gash at the tips of her fingers, noticing it was slick with blood.

Sitting up, she blinked away the blurriness. Watching from her height, her brain switched into action mode when she saw Steve and Bucky down below.

With a firm push, Steve broke Bucky's right arm. Bucky yelled out from the pain, refusing to drop the hard drive.

Steve flipped onto his back, holding Bucky's head in his arms. Bucky kicked and writhed, using his left arm to pry at his hand. Slowly tearing his arm off, Steve suddenly pushed with him, swiftly trapping the vibranium arm between his thighs.

Forcing her leg over the railing, she fell to the platform below. The heaviness of her landing caught Steve's attention, and his face blanked for a moment.

He was running out of time before Anastasia would join the fight.

Anastasia took a deep breath to abide her growing headache, forcing her body onward. Clenching her jaw, she jumped down to the glass barrier, bending her knees to lessen the fall.

Her legs felt heavier than before, and she felt like she had to drag them along as she staggered towards the two.

Bucky tried to fight unconsciousness, licking his lips as his vision started to tunnel. The sound in his ears started to muffle before his chest tightened up. Straining as much as he could, his eyes found Anastasia's for a moment.

Steve felt Bucky's movement slowly subside as the chip dropped from his hand.

Grabbing it, Steve shoved his friend off of him. He jumped to his feet, shoving the chip in his leather pouch. Anastasia was behind him when he looked, and her eye was starting to swell underneath due to the cut.

Steve gave her a look of sympathy, not that she cared. He didn't mean to cut her skin. He shook her head, trying to alleviate everything before Bucky woke up. He wouldn't win if it was both against him, let alone with a bullet already in him.

"You don't have to do this, Anastasia. We can all leave together."

She didn't reply. Her teeth pressed harder together, clenching her fists together. After a long pause, the two jumped at one another.

Anastasia reared up one leg, swinging it at his head. Steve used his hands to smack her foot away, backing up when she kicked again after.

Her foot missed his face, causing her to land closer to him. Steve swung a punch back, but she dodged it. Grabbing his arm, she grave a sharp twist, almost dislocating it.

Steve hissed under his breath, punching her in the ribs with his free hand. Using her shoulder closest to him, Anastasia rammed into him to gain space, pulling up her leg to boot him in the stomach.

He lurched back from the hit, tripping onto his backside when she struck him a second time. Knowing he was going to roll over to stand, Anastasia did an aerial jump over him.

The two stood for a moment before Steve reached for her, dodging her head to the side, he grabbed a fist of hair, holding her in place. She grunted from the scalp pain, using her right hand to hold on to his.

With the close proximity, Anastasia used her fist to hit him in the chin, Steve pulled his face back, nearly missing her hand when it swung again. She bashed her fist into the crook of his elbow, not being able to shake his grip in her hair.

Driving her elbow into Steve's jaw, she twisted the opposite way to kick him from behind. With two more punches to his stomach, she felt his hand go slack before yanking herself away from him.

Anastasia patted her right thigh where her holster was strapped on, searching for another pistol. With a half a second to spare, Steve jumped in the air, turning his body to swiftly kick her across the face, accidentally hitting the same spot as before.

Her body paused in a standing position, before her eyes rolled back and her body flopped beside Bucky's.

Steve staggered, nearly falling with the momentum. Shaking his head, he peered behind his shoulder. Running back to the centre machine, he started to climb.

Bucky's eyes slowly pulled open, blinking away the fuzziness before remembering what was happening. Lifting his head, he noticed Anastasia unconscious, lying beside him. A darker bruise was starting to form under her eye, swelling up more.

Seeing one of her guns discarded beside her hand, Bucky reached for it with his left hand.

Climbing up the middle, Steve jumped up to grab a metal bar. He swung around to get up and suddenly hissed when a sharp twisting pain bloomed at his side.

Bucky stood hunched over, right arm tucked in with a pistol in his left hand. Steve continued to climb up, almost slipping when Bucky shot another bullet.

Steve was able to pull himself over the walkway overhead. Bucky watched, swaying heavily and nearly falling.

"Thirty seconds, Cap." Hill barked in his ear, causing him to flinch.

Limping for it, Steve leaned against the machinery. "Stand by."

He groaned, reaching in his leather small pocket. With a quick inhale of breath, Steve reached up with the chip in his fingertips.

"Cha—"

The sharp explosion cut through the air like a knife as the last bullet sank deep into Steve's stomach.

Bucky's grip on the gun only tightened, nearly crushing the grip on Ana's gun. He watched Steve's body slump to the ground with a weighted bang.

Steve gasped like a fish, staring out at nothing. With ragged breath, he gazed down at the wound, watching quietly as the blood oozed out.

His body was on fire with pain, but Steve pushed on. Climbing onto his elbows, Steve exerted the last of his strength to slide the chip in, successfully shutting down Hydra's virus.

"C-Charlie lock." Steve sighed heavily, slumping back to the ground.

Anastasia gave a light groan, reaching up to scratch tiredly at her unwounded eye. Bucky glanced down, left arm lowering. Tucking away the pistol, he bent down to help her up.

"Fire now..." Steve's distant voice commanded. Both assassins stilled, listening to him talk to whoever was on the other side of his comm. "Do it! Do it now!"

Bucky pulled her up to her feet with his left hand, giving her a small nod. She nodded back before an explosion threw them off balance.

The guns from the other two Helicarriers fired at theirs, beginning to destroy the flying ship.

A section of the glass dome smashed open, causing the metal and steel cage to tear apart. Steve was thrown around from the momentum, crashing into the railing. He pulled himself up, flinching when a chunk of metal fell from the ceiling.

Bucky stood again, pulling Ana with him. It was now about getting out.

He looked around before the loud creaking of metal caught his attention. Peering up, he watched some framing fall for the two. Crying out, he suddenly shoved Anastasia away as it fell on him.

Her body flopped into the glass, already too tired to move. She groaned before rolling over, noticing Bucky now trapped under the bulk of metal.

Bucky's breaths were staggered and short, trying to relieve the immense pressure on his body. She crawled forward, sitting on her legs as she tucked her hands under a gap.

As Steve climbed down, he was about to watch two of the three Helicarriers crash into each other in a blaze of flames, diving straight into the water below them.

He slumped to the ground below, landing near the two. As Anastasia continued to pull, Bucky eyed Steve suspiciously. He grunted again, pushing against the piece of metal.

As another explosion set off on the Helicarrier, Steve landed against it before being thrown the other way. He lost hold of his shield.

The Helicarrier was slowly started to descend.

Steve sat on his legs, sitting on the other side of Buck. Anastasia and him pulled, being able to lift the metal enough for Bucky to climb out.

The assassin twisted around, using his left arm to pull his body out. Bucky lifted to his knees, pausing as he realized Steve saved him.

"You know me." Steve huffed with his lips tucked. He glanced behind Bucky towards Anastasia. "You both do."

"No I don't!" Bucky screamed back with a hoarse voice, swinging his left arm blindly under his mess of hair blowing in his eyes.

They both fall in fatigue, wanting this to be over for both of them.

Anastasia just sat back, feeling the adrenaline pumping through her body. She felt like she was vibrating.

"Bucky," Steve tried again, standing up with a wobble. "You've both known me your whole life."

Internally denying it, Bucky nearly grimaced at his name. He hasn't heard that term in decades, it feels like.

"Your name is James Buchanan Barnes," Steve sputters out, feeling the blood in his mouth. "And s-she is Anastasia Valentine Perova—"

His arm coils around again, punching Steve in the cheek. "SHUT UP!"

Anastasia's eyes slightly widened from the cry. She's never heard him be this vocal before, let alone his voice breaking with such intensity.

The two men tumbled over again, Steve going down face first. Bucky huffed, watching the Captain beneath his messy hair. The flames were all around them. In a quick moment, Bucky turned to watch Anastasia.

She sat back with her arms holding her up. She stared back like a deer in headlights; not knowing what to do next.

"You two were engaged—" Steve coughed from his place, trying to get back up.

Bucky shot Steve a wild look, not believing what he just said. Engaged? To be married?

Her? The Enigma?

He turned back to Anastasia, noticing her have the same reaction. It couldn't be true. He was trying to manipulate him--get in his head to let his guard down. That was it. Her dark eyes flickered over to Steve for a moment before around her at the destroyed Helicarrier.

The walls felt like they were closing in.

Steve shoved off his helmet, swaying on his feet. Bucky did as well, leaning back on one foot as he flicked his hair from his face.

"I'm not going to fight you." The Captain panted, holding out his right arm. Bucky watched as the shield slip off, sliding through an opening beside him and in to the ocean below.

"You're my friend."

Bucky stared at him, fighting to stay standing. He wanted a fight that Steve wasn't giving him. He disliked that Steve wasn't engaging, wasn't fighting back.

With a new flush of anger, Bucky cried out before tackling Steve down. Bucky sat on Steve, limping pushing his right arm on Steve's chest. "You're my mission."

Holding up his metal fist, Bucky drove it into Steve's cheek, cutting it like Anastasia's. He punch Steve as hard as he could three more time, allowing all his anger to flow out through his fist.

"You're! My! Mission!" Bucky yelled out again, striking down on Steve's face with each word.

Lifting up his metal fist again, he noticed two hands wrap around his metal wrist. Giving a snarl, he looked back to see Anastasia hold him back.

"Then finish it." Steve weakly said through all the cuts and gashes littering his face. Bucky raised his fist higher, silently threatening him. Steve tilted his head up, locking eyes with him.

"Cause I'm with you till the end of the line."

Steve could barely watch the two of them freeze. While Anastasia looked stunned, Bucky seemed horrified.

The sudden weight of his words crashed on him, like a bucket of ice cold water. He suddenly filled with terror when he realized the damage he caused to Steve's face. Tears quickly pooled up in the Soldier's eyes as he watched the Captain behind the hair that blew in Bucky's face.

Anastasia only slumped back, sitting on the ground as the words sunk in.

Bucky slowly opened his mouth to say something back when another metal framing crashed against the glass dome, breaking the rest of it.

Anastasia managed to grab on to some of the broken casing, watching Steve's limp body fall to the water below. Shifting her head, she saw Bucky hanging on by his left arm as well, staring down.

When Steve's body hit the water and sank underneath, the two assassins finally gazed at one another.

The thought of them in her past life, being happy and engaged crossed Bucky's mind once more. He still wouldn't believe it.

Anastasia's body slowly swung back and forth, unable to do anything but watch. After a long moment, her hands slipped and she fell to the water below.

Bucky locked eyes with her on the way down, watching her crash seconds later.

Looking back to the area Steve went in, Bucky was the last to let go and dive into the water.