The team gathered in one of the meeting rooms to discuss the latest mission. Everyone was going to be required for this one apparently. You sat beside Bucky, the two of you holding hands as you waited for Tony and Steve to brief you on the assignment. Finally, everyone was present and the duo moved to the front of the room.

A picture showing a blond man and a red-headed woman flashed up on the screen behind them. "Meet Pietro and Wanda Maximoff," Tony said as he gestured to the screen. "Pietro is twelve minutes older than his twin. Born in Sokovia, currently residing at a Hydra base in Germany."

"Their parents were killed in a bombing when they were ten years old. They grew up in a series of orphanages and foster homes until they answered a call for volunteers for a government program." Steve sighed. "The truth was it was Hydra, of course."

Tony sat on the table that ran across the front of the room. "It's unknown exactly what they were subjected to but the result is clear." He clicked a remote in his hand and the picture changed to one of just Pietro and another of a blur. "Pietro Maximoff. Capable of achieving near supersonic speeds. His body has adapted to make him the perfect speed machine. His cardiovascular and respiratory systems function at a more efficient level. His body naturally sheds fatigue poisons so he doesn't tire. His bones, tendons and joints are more durable and more efficient. His reaction times are faster."

He swung his legs and ran his gaze over the room. "Along with this he has superhuman strength, accelerated perception, supercharged brain activity, superhuman agility, metabolism and reflexes."

With every new thing he listed, your brows lifted further. Damn. You weren't looking forward to this fight and you hadn't even heard about the sister yet.

"Wanda Maximoff," Steve said and Tony clicked his remote again. The picture switched to one of her sitting on the floor, blocks floating in the air in front of her. "It's believed that the full range of her capabilities have not yet been discovered. Known powers are telepathy, telekinesis, and phobikinesis."

Your brow furrowed. "What the fuck is that?"

Steve frowned at your language and you just grinned at him. When he wasn't trying to be professional his mouth could put Wade to shame.

"She can manipulate your fears, project images into your brain that you think are real," Tony answered.

"Sounds fun," Sam said.

"So, is this a rescue or a kill mission?" you asked.

Several looks were shot in your direction. You sighed. Half of the Avengers wanted to kill as little as possible. The other half did whatever was necessary to protect the innocent.

"We would prefer to take them in. According to our source, the twins have no love or loyalty for Hydra other than doing what they must to stay alive," Steve explained. "However, I'm not willing to trade one of them for my team. Do what you must to protect yourself and your teammates. Intel packets have been sent to your tablets for your review. Any questions in the meantime?"

No one spoke up.

Tony clapped his hands together. "Wheels up at 2300 hours. You're dismissed."

Bucky retained his grip on your hand and dragged you behind him to his room. You just shook your head and smiled the whole way. Surprisingly enough, the two of you managed to find the time to review the mission before you grabbed your gear and raced to the jet six hours later.

***

There was more resistance at the base than expected. It was crawling with soldiers and defense systems. But the team pushed forward, unwilling to leave the assets in Hydra's hands. While the others continued to distract their forces, you, Steve, and Bucky made your way inside.

You moved through the base taking out any resistance you encountered, planting explosives as you went. You had cleared about a third of the base when a blur ran past knocking your feet out from under you. A grunt of pain left your lips as you slammed into the concrete. "Ow."

Steve and Bucky stood to either side of you, watching the hall as they gave you time to get back on your feet. Another blur and Buck joined you on the ground while Steve slammed into a wall. You sat up but didn't get back to your feet as you attempted to make yourself look as non-threatening as possible.

"We're here to rescue you and your sister," you said though you couldn't see the man you were talking to. "We have no intention of harming you. Or using you."

"And we should believe you?" a feminine voice answered.

You jerked your head in the direction it had come from to see Wanda Maximoff standing a safe distance away. Her gaze moved between the three of you as wisps of red power swirled around hands that she kept at her sides for the moment.

"Yes." You stood to your feet but kept your weapon lowered.

"Why should we?" the other twin asked from the opposite end of the hallway.

"Because I was you not that long ago," you said. "Then they saved me." Okay, so technically SHIELD had saved you, but the Avengers were a better option anyway.

"Me, too," Bucky added.

There was a long stretch of silence until Wanda broke it. "We will go with you."

You smiled. "Good. I don't suppose you know what we could blow up to cause the most damage do you?" Even though your attention was to bring the base down, they always seemed to dig their way out. You preferred to keep that from happening if you could.

The blond gave you a wicked grin. "Yes. Follow me."

Steve glanced at the two of you but you simply shrugged and followed Pietro. You had to show a little faith if they were truly going to come to your side. Everyone else fell into step behind you.

It didn't take long for you to arrive at a room filled with tanks and barrels filled with who knows what. The majority of them were marked flammable however. A glance at the speedster showed him still wearing that grin. He crossed his arms over his chest as you caught his eye. "I was bored. Searched the whole base before they even knew I'd left our room."

Must be nice to have that kind of speed. Steve glanced around. "Near as I can figure, we're in the middle of the facility. A massive explosion here could bring down the whole building."

Well, that was convenient. The three of you placed charges around the room while the twins kept watch at the door. "Let's get out of here," Steve ordered as he placed the last explosive.

You were two turns shy of the exit when you suddenly found yourselves surrounded. Your eyes flicked over the soldiers, counting your opposition as you assessed their strength.

"Ah. Nicto and Soldat how wonderful to see you again. Dare I hope you wish to return to us?" Your lip curled at the familiar voice of one of the men that had tormented you, tortured you. A sweep of the men around you showed him hiding behind several of them as he stood with his hands behind his back. Once he realized your attention was on him, he nodded in greeting. Asshole.

"Go fuck yourself, Vogt." Bucky stepped closer to you, his eyes trained on the man as well.

Vogt held your gazes for another beat before shifting his attention to the twins. "And where do the two of you think you're going?"

Pietro straightened, rolling his shoulders back. "Away from Hydra."

"I am so disappointed. In all of you." He turned and began walking away, his hands still behind his back. "Reclaim our assets."

And just like that, chaos erupted. In the midst of it, you all missed the grenade that had been thrown right between you and Bucky until it was almost too late. Bucky shoved you away from it just before it went off. He was between you and it when it exploded. The force was still enough to send you to the ground. After a moment of being stunned, you looked around.

Bucky laid unconscious a short distance away from you, blood running from a cut in his head. You grimaced as you pushed yourself up, your ears ringing. You shook your head as you tried to shake off the disorientation. Before you could check on your soulmate, you were looking down the barrel of a gun and a knife was at your throat. Several other weapons were trained on you as well. Fuck. You lifted your hands in surrender not seeing any other option.

"Enough," a voice shouted. The Hydra soldiers stopped fighting immediately other than to defend themselves. Your team joined them once they saw the position you were in. Steve's gaze kept darting from your eyes to the blade pressed against your neck. As Hydra was explaining to your team why they should surrender, you caught Steve's gaze. You looked from him to Bucky then in the direction of the exit. You did it a couple of times.

When you looked back to Cap, his jaw was set and his eyes were hard. As they were prompted to make a decision about what they were going to do, he gave a barely perceptible nod. You drove your elbow into the man behind you and dropped to the floor. You fought, taking out who you could, trying to give the others the chance to escape. They just needed time.

Unfortunately, it didn't take nearly long enough for you to find yourself with your face shoved against the cold concrete as your hands were zip tied behind your back. Your ankles were next followed by another binding closer to your knees.

"The others are escaping," a voice said.

"Let them. We've suffered too many losses already." You were lifted from the floor and tossed over a shoulder. "And she is a prize too valuable to risk. Strucker will be pleased."

The name sent a shiver up your spine. Strucker was a sadistic bastard but you'd endure it. You had to. After all, it didn't matter what happened to you as long as Bucky was safe.