❛   𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧   ❜

❝ warn your warmth to turn away. ❞

          "WE looked for you after. Both of us did."

Anastasia ran her clammy hands down the skirt of her dress as Steve led Bucky and her up to his empty apartment. The church bell rang out in the distance, signalling another hour passing in the day.

"Folks wanted to give you a ride to the cemetery." Bucky continued on, shoving his hands deep in his trouser pockets.

"I know, I'm sorry. I just kinda wanted to be alone," Steve replied, keeping his gaze down.

Anastasia shook her head, although no one saw it, "You don't have to apologize, Steve. Never apologize for something like that."

Bucky shook his head, glancing down at her before at the back of Steve's head. "How was it?"

Steve shrugged, stepping onto the platform to his apartment. "It was okay. She's next to Dad."

Bucky glanced away, "I was gonna ask..."

Steve smoothed down his hair, suddenly turning to his two friends. "I know what you're gonna ask, Buck. I just..." He reached into his jacket pocket, fishing for something.

"We can put the couch cushions on the floor like when we were kids," Bucky finished his previous thought, watching Steve. "It'll be fun. All you gotta do is shine my shoes, maybe take out the trash. Come on."

He turned to look down at a random brick on the ground. Kicking it to the side, he found Steve's spare key. Bucky held it out to the smaller man, who solemnly accepted it. Steve paused, tapping the metal key against his palm. His blue eyes clouded in thought.

"Thank you, guys. But I can get by on my own."

Anastasia shook her head, pulling the thin sweater over her shoulders tightly. "Steve, you do realize you're not in this alone, right?"

"Yeah, the thing is, you don't have to," Bucky added after, smiling bittersweet at his friend. He clamped his hand on Steve's bony shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm with you till the end of the line, pal."

"We both are." Anastasia chuckled, stepping closer to the two. Bucky nodded with a smirk, using his other arm to wrap around her shoulders. "Now what do you say, a couple of drinks down at the bar?"

Steve was seemingly left speechless; only sighing quietly and smiling up at them. He felt so lucky to have both of them in his life.

Sam approached Steve, who was standing on the abandoned bridge outside the facility. "They're gonna be there, you know?"

"I know," Steve muttered back, hands in his pockets.

"Look, whoever he is and the guy he is now...I don't think he's the kind you save. He's the kind you stop." Sam regretfully informed the Captain, letting his arms hang at his side. "Even the girl; she's just as bad as he is."

"I don't know if I can do that."

"Well, they might not give you a choice. He or she doesn't know you."

Steve inhaled through his nose, finally looking at Sam, "They will." When Sam didn't bother to retaliate, he glanced away. "Gear up, it's time."

Sam watched Steve walk away, "So you're just gonna wear that?"

"No," Steve called back loud enough. He turned to give a final look over his shoulder. "If you're gonna fight a war, you got to wear a uniform."

          ANASTASIA'S eyes slowly pried open, hearing layered gunshots in the distance. Drawing in a calming breath, she pushed down the ill-feeling that sat buried in her gut.

Something really bad was about to happen, and it wasn't gonna end well for anybody.

Getting into position, she waited quietly. Pierce gave his orders; take out the targets and leave no witnesses behind. The launch was to happen no matter what.

"You two seem to know how to do things, given past missions," Pierce causally recalled, slowly pacing around. He fidgeted with his ring, turning it continuously. "So I'll send you out together for this..."

The ring was fucking distracting, and making Anastasia irritated. She and the Soldier watched him in complete silence.

"You're up against some big bogeys. One, as you know, is Captain Rogers. But, he seems to have brought along company. Samuel Wilson and Natasha Romanoff." He held up two photographs, disclosing the new face. They already knew about Natasha.

"Take them down, protect the Helicarriers and make sure they get into the air. No matter what. Failure is not an option here."

Anastasia stared at the faces. She didn't recognize the man.

"You leave in an hour," Pierce concluded abruptly, gripping the photos harshly as he exited the room.

Leading on the airway pad, suddenly allowing Bucky to lead towards the pilots. Swinging up his rocket launcher, he aimed for the nearest jet that was in the process of taking off. The explosion was nearly deafening, and Anastasia's stomach did a flip when the pained screams followed.

He shot off two more before a SHIELD agent finally drew their gun. Anastasia was faster. In under a second, she drew her pistol, landing two direct hits to his throat and forehead.

The man reeled back in pain, dropped to the ground. Bucky sprang forward, grabbing a fallen grenade and threw it into a closing jet. The machine blew up moments later.

Drawing up his metal arm, the asset deflected a few bullets before striking the agent to the ground. Kicking back another, he watched the body soar straight into the wing blades of another, destroying the entire jet.

Bucky stared at the flames for a second, seeming to think. Anastasia approached the Soldier, giving a single tap to his arm before sprinting off towards the last live plane. Jumping on the roof, he aimed down at the pilot and shot him dead.

Climbing in, the two Hydra servants took off towards the last Helicarrier.

BUCKY landed the jet with ease before climbing out silently. Anastasia followed and the two hid among the transportation crates.

As if right on time, the two listened for the sound of a small engine shutting down. Thick boots followed.

"You know, you're a lot heavier than you look."

"I had a big breakfast."

Steve's figure was the first to pass by the two. Bucky bounded forward, colliding with the super-soldier and tossing him off the edge of the Helicarrier.

"Steve!" Sam cried out, running forward. When he jumped off, Bucky grabbed the mechanical wing to his pack, throwing him back and up into the air.

Sam managed to recover, drawing out his own guns before firing. The Soldier backflipped away, hiding behind a large pipe.

When Sam made the move to fly away, Anastasia jumped out, firing a grappling gun at his wing. It clamped on and she pulled down. Sam's body smashed into the ground.

In a swift motion, Bucky grabbed the metal wire, sharply pulling again to rip out the wing. Buck kicked Sam off, watching his body fall to the Earth below.

Anastasia watched him from behind, noticing his head tilt lower. Something else caught his eye.

When he turned around, he brushed past her, "We need to get to the Target System. Now."

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒
↓
short and sweet? sorry for the lack
of length but here's an update finally
hope you enjoy xx