You'd received the message loud and clear.

Cooperate with Hydra or be destroyed.

You didn't want to do what they ordered. Didn't want to steal, to kill, to devastate but they would see you do it one way or another. If you continued to resist and they turned you into one of their killing machines, who knew the horrors they would use you to commit. And there would be nothing left of you to stop it.

They wouldn't believe their 'treatments' suddenly started working so you needed them to believe you'd made a choice. They needed to believe you chose Hydra to save yourself. It was the only way to buy yourself enough time to get out with your brain intact.

When Strucker arrived the next day, he ordered them to shock you again.

"Wait," you interrupted when they went to put the bit in your mouth. You were so tired of them frying your brain.

He held up a hand to stop them. "What is it, my Nicto?" he asked when you remained quiet.

You suppressed a shudder of revulsion at being called his. "I'll do what you want. I'll stop fighting. Just...no more."

He stepped closer and smiled down at you, his hands behind his back. "And how could I possibly believe that? You've always been stubborn. Willful. It's such a joy to break you normally. Unfortunately, Pierce has no appreciation for my work. You can't rush art and he wants results immediately."

"How much fun will it be when there's nothing of me left? No snark. No fight. Let me train and I'll prove it to you. I'll follow orders like a good little soldier." You'd beg if you had to, though you really hoped it didn't come to that.

Strucker studied you for another long moment before lifting a hand to gesture to someone on the other side of the room. He was handed a long syringe. Your eyes followed the glint as light reflected off the needle.

"What is that?"

"This?" He wiped your arm down with rubbing alcohol. "This is merely a sedative. Nothing to fret about. We need you still while we perform the procedure. We wouldn't want to damage the parts of your brain we wish to keep, now would we?"

With that, you fought the best you could, jerking against your restraints and shaking your head while you screamed at the top of your lungs. You couldn't let them do this. You'd rather die than be their slave. As anyone could have predicted your resistance was ineffective. Strucker's needle still found your arm and his drug flooded your system. In moments the edges of your vision blurred as sleep pressed heavy on your mind. Finally, you could fight no more and your world went black.

***

The team was gathered in an empty hangar at the SHIELD facility. They were using it as a central meeting place for the help they'd called in to rescue you. Bucky sat in a chair along the wall chewing on the end of his thumb while his leg bounced. Anxiety had him tied up in knots and the coffee he was mainlining wasn't helping. He'd relax when you were back in his arms. Not before.

He stood as Fury strode into the room, a small group of ten agents trailing behind him. "Stark," Fury greeted as Tony met him halfway. They shook hands then Fury looked at the rest of them. "SHIELD will not be helping with this mission."

Steve's hand immediately found Bucky's shoulder to hold him in place before he could do something he probably wouldn't regret that much. Others were protesting. Loudly.

Fury held up both hands. "Calm down and let me finish."

The team continued to talk over each other as they voiced their displeasure.

"Shut the fuck up!" Fury finally shouted over the din. When everyone fell into stunned silence, he continued. "Good. Now as I was saying, the powers that be have decided SHIELD will not involve themselves in this mission. They feel it is too many resources to risk to retrieve one person, whoever that person may be."

"Then why are you here? Why are they here?" Tony asked indicating the other agents.

"I simply was showing these volunteers where you were located. They got lost. Coincidentally, they all have the next week off with pay." Fury smirked and gave a little nod of his head before turning to leave. He stopped at the door. "There are more volunteers enroute. They should be here within the hour."

After everyone introduced themselves, the agents were directed to make themselves comfortable while they awaited the others.

"Who else is coming?" Steve asked.

Tony shrugged. "I have no idea."

Clint crossed his arms over his chest. "I called Wade. Told him to bring some friends."

Sam tilted his head. "Mercs could be useful."

"What about Yelena?" Clint asked Nat.

She shook her head. "On mission in Italy."

Bucky's gaze moved between them as they talked. He hadn't uttered a word since Steve found him crying in your room. Bucky had spent every moment since heartbroken and drowning in your fear and pain as he tallied the new bruises and scars that decorated his skin in an echo of yours.

Waiting was driving him insane but he knew they would only have one shot at this. One chance at getting you back alive. They needed all the help they could get.

The main door of the hangar opened to admit a trio of agents. The sun shining behind them made it impossible to make out their features. These must be other volunteers Fury mentioned. Once they were close enough to be seen clearly, a collective gasp went up from everyone save Bucky and Sam. Was he supposed to know who these people were?

"Holy shit," Tony muttered.

"Stark," the older man at the front of the trio greeted with a nod. His hands were clasped in front of him as he surveyed the group in front of him. Two women stood to either side and slightly behind him.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me." Bucky didn't think he'd ever heard Clint sound so angry or so disgusted.

"It was need to know, agent."

"And your daughter didn't need to know?" Clint asked. "Damn it, Phil."

It took Bucky a moment to process that this was his soulmate's deceased father standing in front of him. Before he could say or do anything, a voice coming from behind him startled him.

"Well freeze my ass cheeks and call me Captain, it's Daddy Coulson. Princess is gonna be pissed."

Bucky looked over to see a man in a head to toe black and red spandex suit with twin katanas strapped to his back. The stranger nodded at him. "What's up, Buttercup?"

Bucky had a knife held against his ribs in a blink. "Who the fuck are you?"

There was a heavy sigh as Phil Coulson stepped over to them. "Hello, Wade."

"Wade?" came from pretty much everyone in unison.

"You're telling me that Wade fucking Wilson is Deadpool?" Nat said.

Wade gasped and placed his hands on either side of his face. "How did you know my middle name?"

"You should put that knife away now," a deep voice said and Bucky glanced over to see Daredevil looking at him. Beside him was another man in blue and red spandex. That spider kid. Bucky put the blade away. Where the hell had the three of them come from and how had they snuck up on him?

"Who are your friends, Wilson?" Bucky asked, not taking his eyes off the strangers. His voice sounded rough from disuse.

Wade waved a hand through the air in dismissal. "Oh, that's just Matt and Pete."

"Wade!" This time it was the merc's two spandex buddies that said his name.

"Matt? As in the blind lawyer?" Sam asked. When no one answered, he added, "The blind guy is a vigilante? Does no one else have a problem with this?"

Bucky pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. You knew the strangest people.

"Mr. Barnes."

He opened his eyes to find your father looking at him.

"May I have a moment of your time?" Phil gestured to the side of the room.

Bucky nodded and led the way. When he turned around, a punch connected with his jaw. His head jerked to the side and he worked his jaw as he turned it back to the front. The chatter from the others that had been filling the air went silent.

Phil straightened the cuffs of his suit as he ran his gaze over your soulmate. "You broke her heart once. I trust you won't do it again or we'll be repeating this conversation."

"I have no intention of ever hurting her again."

Coulson nodded and turned to walk off when Bucky grabbed his arm to stop him. Phil glanced at him.

"You broke her heart too, you know. Are you going to disappear on her again?"

The silence stretched as everyone waited for the agent's answer. "The circumstances that led to my departure were beyond my control, but no, I don't plan on leaving her again."

Bucky released him. "Good, because I don't think she'd survive it a second time."