"I'm still so against this. It's a bad idea." Bucky mutters, shaking his head in disapproval at the fact that I'm here. I can't believe that this is still being discussed. "You're still injured, you should've stayed at the Tower. Stark's right."

"Told ya!"

"Shut up, Tony." I roll my eyes and Clint chuckles lightly from the pilot seat. The whole team is on the quinjet, well, what's left of the team. Natasha is right next to Clint; Steve, Bucky, Sam and Scott sit together while Wanda and Vision are on my side with Tony. "The injuries won't stop me from at least coming with you."

"You'll stay in the jet though." Steve insists firmly, agreeing with Tony and Bucky. "You can't even run, how's fighting supposed to work?"

"I shoot electricity with my hands." I remind him of my abilities with slight sarcasm, tilting my head. "I know how to defend myself."

"It's like we're back in the forties again, nothing has really changed." Bucky sighs with concern, "Stop being reckless, Eve. This is for your own good."

"Don't make us fly back to the Tower and lock you up in your room." Tony dares me and I groan in annoyance at his strict voice.

"So. Intense." Scott comments with wide eyes, gaining an odd glance from Sam. The new recruit wears a red combat suit and a strange helmet is placed on his thighs, ready to be used any time soon. He seems to be anxious, it's probably his first real mission. If he really has a daughter, then he shouldn't be here, it can be dangerous.

"Five minutes!" Clint informs us about the arrival and Steve stands up, looking at everyone. I lean back into the seat, knowing what's coming now. The famous Captain America speech. While each of us is aware of his patriotic words, Scott gets excited rather than bored or serious.

"Our plan is not to only take down the facility, we also aim to defeat Hydra. They've been playing games with us for way too long and now is the time to stop it. This is not just something that we'll do for the world, it's also about some good, old revenge. They mess up  us, we mess up them. Scott, Clint is gonna shoot you to the base with an arrow. You'll sneak into the facility and open the doors for us. Meanwhile, Tony and Vision will distract the soldiers and try to find out the function of the base. There must be a reason for their location, they always have a plan. Sam, Clint, you have an overview of everything."

"We've got your back, buddy." Sam smirks, nodding in agreement while Bucky rolls his eyes, mumbling words that I don't quite catch. "Hey, I heard that, Barnes!"

"Good." Bucky replies mischievously and I raise a brow in the air, questioning his attitude towards Sam. It's not worrisome though, just childish.

"Guys, we don't have time for this now." Steve interrupts them and turns back to the others. "Our priority is information about their organization. If this isn't their only base, then we have to find out where the others are and that's what Tony and Vision are responsible for. Nat, Wanda, Bucky and I will try to find Rumlow and invade the facility, Scott will join us later. Wanda, you have to stay with Bucky, in case the brainwashing starts again."

"And I gotta stay in the jet to do what? Make sure that the comm works?" I tilt my head sarcasm filling my tone.

"Just call Fury, in case we don't make it out."

"Oh, and why isn't he here if he can actually help? I mean, it's Hydra. What could be more important than the defeat of our oldest enemy?" I question, sounding slightly pissed at the absence of our lovely director.

"He's busy with something about SHIELD, they have problems with individuals." Natasha answers instead, keeping the details to herself.

"Fury and his secrets." Tony comments annoyedly, groaning about the agent's habit. The balance on the jet shifts slightly as Clint lets us know about the arrival.

"We're landing!"

"Vision, let's go. Popsicle, don't move and stay here." The billionaire commands, shooting me an urgent look before it lands on Bucky. "Mr brainwashed, convince her not to leave."

"Since when is there this bond between you?" I frown at Bucky as Tony and Vision fly away and we land on the steady ground. Bucky just sighs, ignoring the given nickname which I don't like at all. The snow and cold of the night in the Alps infiltrate the jet and decease the warmth, the temperature immediately sinks and my mouth already forms little clouds.

"Since the two of us talked. It was pretty emotional, in a manly way though." He adds and prepares his guns while Clint and Scott already leave the jet, followed by Wanda and Natasha. My curious eyes demand an explanation for their conversation that I didn't even know had happened. "Sorry, canary, it stays between us. All you need to know is that you don't have to worry about anything."

"Alright." A sigh escapes my lips and Steve motions for Bucky to follow him, Sam is right next to them. "Wait, Bucky!"

"Hm?" He turns around, already prepared to leave and I take off the dog tag, handing it over. An astonished expression is left on his face as he stares at the old necklace and back to me in disbelief, his blue eyes widened. James' mouth slightly opens, almost scared to say something. "You... you still have it? After all this time?"

"It was my lucky charm." I half grin, placing my hand on his cheek and stroking it slightly. "Be careful out there."

And for the first time since forever, I see a genuine smile on the lips of James Buchanan Barnes and catch a glimpse of his old self. The warmth of his smirk reaches my heart and only causes a wild flutter in my chest, especially when his soft lips plant a tender kiss on my forehead as I close my eyes for a moment in indulgence.

"Don't worry, I won't screw it up. This is my chance for compensation. And I mean, I have this." He smiles amiably as he points at the dog tag and an incredible bliss runs through my veins, making me feel like a teenager again. Is this real? It feels too good to be real, too precious. After everything that happened, I can't really believe that I have him back.

"Move your ass, Romeo." Sam pushes Bucky towards the exit, causing him almost to trip.

"You're just jealous because you don't get a girl!" Bucky groans annoyed and Steve sighs, following them after he waves to me. I exhale and lean back into the seat as soon as everyone's left. Now I just have to wait.

***

"FRIDAY, any news? Is everyone okay?" I moan of boredom while I stare at the monitor, checking on the time for the thousandth time. It's 4:21 am. I feel useless and patience has never been one of my strengths. None of my team mates have contacted me and all that I hear on the comm are pants and punches or bullets and missiles and beams.

"Everyone is well, Miss Farrell. Besides Mr Lang vomiting after flying on Mr Barton's arrow for too long, nothing spectacular has happened. Mr Stark and Vision are reaching the command center now while the rest of the team is fighting."

"And Bucky?"

"He still possesses his memories if that's what you mean. But they haven't located Mr Rumlow yet."  I swallow deeply when I hear his name and look down at my collarbone, slightly opening my combat suit. Helen Cho's miracle machine cured most of his mark but if I narrow my eyes, I can still see the thin, pink line of the C and some of the other letters. A heavy burden flattens my breath and I almost press my lips together when I imagine the knife cutting into my skin again, as if it would happen right now.

"Following the Chameleon Protocol." The gate of the jet suddenly fully closes as the dim lights go out and I'm left in complete darkness. Only a weak blue blinking, barely existent, is in the jet and I frown.

"FRIDAY, what's going on?"

"I located three unknown persons, male, around the quinjet. It is now on defilade mode and almost everything but the emergency system is turned off." Suddenly, a knock echoes against the jet, murmurs are audible and I stand slowly up and carefully walk to the corner around the gate.

"Öffnen!" Open!

"But I am certain that they know we are here."

Awesome. Well, at least it won't be boring anymore. I quickly take a leather belt and tie it around my thigh, in case the wound reopens. Leaning against the wall, I look over my shoulder, hearing how they constantly beat against the gate, then shoot against it with something much louder than a gun.

"90% stability left." FRIDAY announces with a low volume and I suddenly just grin challenging.

"Open the gate and deactivate defilade mode, FRIDAY. I've got a plan."

"Are you certain of your decision, Miss Farrell?"

"Not at all. But I have some faith in me. Women power, right, FRIDAY? It's just the two of us against them." I affirm my choice, even though I know that FRIDAY actually doesn't have a sex. Then I take the earpiece and place it on my right ear, excitement prickles in my stomach.

"Deactivating defilade mode." The gate slowly opens and the murmurs decease, a sign of their shocked reaction. Steps grow closer as they cautiously enter, not noticing my presence right around the corner yet. This is my advantage.

As the leader passes the corner, I don't hesitate and electrify him, a satisfying whiz ringing out. He screams in agony and kneels down while the other two finally react and attempt to attack me. I run off and drive my knee into the stomach of the second guy, then I use him to regain my momentum and jump towards the third soldier. Wrapping my arm around his neck, I pull him towards the ground and suffocate him until he's unconscious. From the corner of my eye, I notice how the second guy wobbles towards me, recovering slowly.

Generating a blast of electricity, I shoot him down as I let go of the unconscious agent. All three of them are knocked out and I pant slightly, trying to ignore the pain in my thigh. Grabbing the first one, I drag him out of the jet.

"Well done, Miss Farrell."

"Thanks, FRIDAY. I'm a bit out of practice though." I admit and groan, throwing him into the snow. The cold bites into my skin and I'm already shaking, freezing in the winter of the Alps. Even though I'm used to the cold due to my experience in the world war, the night is still unbearable and inhumanly torturing. "He's heavier than I thought- ah."

Glancing down, I spot a little blood stain on my thigh when I create light with electricity and mentally groan at the stupid wound. It just keeps me from fighting and the most important mission of my life.

"Ugh", I hear the soldier on the ground groaning and react fast, kicking his face to send him back into his dreams. Suddenly, I hear steps approaching the jet, at least four people who join me. And I thought that the mighty Avengers could handle it.

Clenching my fists, I prepare myself for another fight, ignoring my wound as Hydra runs into my sight. Before I'm even able to do anything though, I witness how they get beaten by... nothing? Frowning in confusion, I slowly lower my fists and narrow my eyes, improving the electric energy in my hand to see better. When the last one falls, Scott suddenly appears out of nothing, growing into a normal size and I almost flinch.

"What the f- "

"Thought you might need help but..." He looks at the unconscious soldier and the other two right behind me, "It seems like you got everything under control."

"And I thought Ant-Man was meant metaphorically." I only comment with a sigh. Why does it even still surprise me that stuff like this exists? "Where are the others??"

"That's why, I'm here." Scott reasons simply and his facial expression falls abruptly, turning rather worried with bad news than good ones. A bad assumption settles in my stomach before he drops the news like an atomic bomb.
"Steve got shot."