Chapter Text
"Agent Y/N, your presence has been requested in conference room three," FRIDAY's robotic voice interrupts my focus, pulling me out of the endless lines of code I'd been reviewing. "Thanks Fri, I'm on my way," I respond as I make a note on the line I'd been looking at and get up from my chair. I let my eyes linger on my notepad for a moment before I step away from the desk and begin the short walk out of the office space designated for technical development.
I fiddle with the necklace hanging at my collar bones as I wait for the elevator to arrive. I drop the teardrop gem when the door slides open to reveal my favorite person in the compound. "Bucky, what are you doing here?" I ask with a smile as I join him on the elevator and let him pull me into his arms.
"Well, I was coming down to ask you to join me for lunch, but you must have read my mind." He rests his hands on my waist, as I wrap my arms around his midsection, enjoying his warmth and the subtle scent of gunpowder and oak. I might swoon a little at his thoughtfulness, but I'll never admit it to anyone but him. "Not quite," I admit, reaching up on my tiptoes to press a chaste kiss to his lips. "I got called to a conference room for something. I'm not actually sure what's up actually." This brings a frown to his face and he spends a moment taking in my features, eyes bouncing around my face before responding, "Which conference room?"
"Um 3 I think, right Friday?" I respond, glancing at the ceiling when I ask the question. The robot responds with a quick, "Yes Agent Y/L/N," and I look back at Bucky. His eye brows are pulled together is his 'this is worrying me but I don't know why yet' look. Smiling softly, I press my thumb to the little wrinkle between his brows, smoothing it out for him. "Don't look like that, it's probably not that serious."
"Steve has a meeting with Hill and Romanoff in conference room 3 today," is his response but he does seem to relax a little bit. "There you go, they probably have a mission coming up and have a question about something they need fixed or explained. This happens all the time Bucky, that's why I'm here." This seems to help him relax further as he pulls me closer to him, resting his chin on my shoulder. "Okay, but we're getting lunch after."
I agree and give him one last kiss as the doors slide open and I have to leave him at the elevators. He has that look again, but I know I won't be able to sooth his fears until after I know what Steve needs from me. I make it to the room in just a couple of minutes and knock politely before opening the door. I am indeed greeted by Steve, Maria, and Natasha all standing around a computer and several haphazardly lain files and papers.
"I was summoned. What can I do for you?" I joke, stepping up to the table. Steve and Natasha both soften at the joke, but I feel the tension in the room. "We're debating something and I would like your expert opinion before we make a decision," Steve starts, turning the laptop toward me. I'm confused when I see a screen of code before me. "Wow, Steve, are you coming after my job? I didn't know you could read code." The joke pulls a laugh from him and he shakes his head. "Not a chance, brainiac. That is all gibberish, but do you recognize it?"
At this question, I pull the laptop toward me and take a seat at the end of the table. After a few moments, I let out a gasp and look up at three expectant pairs of eyes. "I wrote this code. Where did you get it?"
I can't tell if this information shocks any of them, that's the problem with working with spies, they don't let anything show, but they share a look before Steve lets out a sigh. "That is currently protecting a Hydra base we've recently learned about. Normally when we plan to take down a base, we do some recon on the base and figure out defenses are protecting whatever might be inside. We also take a look at the systems they have up, whether that's data or cameras or records. This base has the best digital defenses we've ever seen."
The color drains as I think of all the safeguards I'd built into this program. "Steve, you won't be able to break this firewall like any other. I built this really well," I cringe as I think about it. I'd never thought that anyone would use my program except me really. I had uploaded it once for another computer science student to study when I was in college but I haven't thought about it since then.
Natasha responded this time. "Can you take it down remotely?" I shake my head, turning to the computer and skimming through the code for a moment. "I'm afraid anything done remotely will lock down the system entirely. Then it could give the owner, that’s Hydra, the ability to access the computer trying to access, that would be us, and do whatever they want with our systems." This bit of news doesn't land well. The three share a look and Steve crosses his arms in frustration. I think I hear him mumble, "This was easier in the 40s," but I decide not to acknowledge it.
"Okay," Natasha starts, "so we have to take it down from a computer in the base, right?" I nod. "So that's what we'll do. I've done it before. I'll get to a server room and take it down." I try to hide my grimace but she sees it and I see her shoulders fall an inch. "I'm sorry, it might not be as simple as releasing a virus into the program. If it's not done right, the system will still shut down, and by that I mean it'll be untouchable by everyone except an expert. It's like Jenga except with firewalls and a lot of code."
The room is silent for a moment as they consider this. I look back down at the code before me, hoping to find a weak spot. "You're field rated, and an expert. You can go," Maria suggests, breaking the silence. I look up at her, shocked. No one had ever suggested I go into the field before. It was true that I was capable and I did regular training with other agents to be prepared in case there was ever a reason to, but I hadn't actually given it thought in a long time.
"Absolutely not," Steve responds before I can even think of a response. "Why?" Natasha, Maria, and I say at once. He pauses before continuing. "Bucky would kill me first of all. Y/N have you ever been in the field? It'll be too dangerous. I don't think it's a good idea," he defends, holding his hands up, palms facing out. Once again, I don't have time to respond but this time it's Natasha. "Steve, I don't really see another option. It's not like she'll be alone, we'll both be there with her plus a full shield team as well. This isn't something we can chance. You know as well as I do what they're doing in that base, we need to shut it down. All of it. And we need to secure, then destroy all of the data they've collected. Y/N is the only one in this building who can ensure we do the job right."
Steve thinks about this for a moment, and I take the chance to add my thoughts, "Steve, I still train on a regular basis, I'm no avenger but I can take care of myself, I promise. If it's as important as Natasha makes it sound, I kind of have to do this. Look I built this program, so it's my fault they even have this much protection. I don't think anyone else in the entire shield could break this as fast as I can." He meets my eyes and scrutinizes me for a moment before releasing a sigh and dropping his hands to his side. "Fine but you're telling Bucky. We're leaving in 4 hours, get everything you need and meet us at the helipad then."
I nod and slide the laptop away from me, standing from the table. "Don't worry, Steve, I can handle Bucky and I can handle this." Of course handling Bucky is easier said than done and I think Steve knows that, based on the sympathetic look he gives me as I exit the conference room and head toward the elevators at the end of the hall. "Friday, where's Bucky?" I ask as I hit the call button.
"Right here, doll," his gruff voice responds as two arms wrap around my middle, pulling me into his embrace. I release a sigh and place my hands over his. "How was your meeting?" he asks, clearly still worried. This is going to be fun. "Well, there's this program I built. It's like a bomb shelter dialed up to 10 for computers and data. They found a Hydra base using it to secure their base."
"So you're going to disable it so they can go in?" he asks, tensing at the thought of the Hydra base still in operation. Biting my bottom lip, I turn around in his arms, so I'm looking up at his face. "Not exactly?" He's making that face again, but it's very warranted now. I place my hands on either side of his face, tracing my thumbs over his slight stubble. "I can't take it down from here. I have to be at the base." He freezes, every muscle going taut as he stares at my face and takes in the information.
"Absolutely not," is all he says, and I sigh. "That's what Steve said. Listen Buck, there isn't any other way to get through it. I put safety measures on safety measures. It won't be easy, but I know this program. I can get through it quickly. I promise it'll be okay." His jaw ticks as I try to explain, but my words fall flat. After a moment of silence, he releases me and turns on his heel. "Shit," I whisper, as I follow him back down the hall. He opens the door and all three in the room fall silent as he stares at them, more specifically at Steve. I mouth sorry at him as I join him in the doorway.
"Bucky, don't do this," I mutter trying to pull on his arm, trying to pull him out of the room. He just shakes my hands off and takes a step toward Steve. I feel a pain in my chest as he ignores me and pretends I'm not even there. "Steve. What is wrong with you?" Bucky asks, coldly. It takes all of 3 seconds for Steve and Maria to explain everything we'd discussed only minutes prior. I fiddle with the necklace as I stand there awkwardly. I don't like any of this. I can take care of myself.
After a few minutes of bickering, Natasha speaks up for the first time. "Barnes, shut it," this must catch him by surprise because he listens as he turns his attention to her. "Look at your girl, she's more than capable of this and more. And you're acting like she's some helpless damsel in distress. Not only is she the best at what she does, but she literally built this thing, if there is anyone in the world who can accomplish this mission it's her, and you're acting like she can't. Get your head out of your ass and give her some credit."
Her defense is met by shocked silence. I didn't know Natasha even paid me any attention, let alone to this degree. She shoots me a confident smile and crosses her arms, now staring down Bucky with a confidence that many don't possess. I watch as he processes this information and looks down at me for the first time since bursting into the room. He looks remorseful before he looks back up at Steve. "I'm going too."
With that, Bucky turns around, leading me out of the room and letting the door shut without another word. Once we're alone again, he releases a sigh and pulls me into his arms once again. "I'm sorry babe, I know you're capable. I just can't stand the thought of something happening to you." I relax into the embrace and wrap my arms around him in return.
"That's how I feel every time you leave for a mission," he stiffens at this," But I don't ever try to stop you because I know why you do it. I know you're trying to make up for your past. Well, I need to fix this. If my program is being used at this base it could be in use at others and I can't let that happen. I could write a fix that will tunnel through the firewalls once I get a look at how hydra's using it. Please tell me you understand why I have to go?" I plead, burying my head into the crook of his neck.
"Of course, I understand. That doesn't mean I have to like it," he grumbles, tightening his grip. I let out a laugh and pull back to press a kiss to the edge of his mouth. "Come on Barnes, we have 4 hours until lift off, and you promised me lunch," I suggest, pulling away from him completely and taking his hand in mine, pulling him toward the elevator once again.
*4 HOURS LATER*
“Okay we are stable and shields are up. Let’s go over the mission,” Steve says, turning away from the cockpit where a shield agent is flying the jet and joining the team in the back. I sit up slightly and wait for him to start. A glance at Bucky reveals him glaring at Steve, so I elbow him and lean a little closer.
“Stop looking at him like that, this isn’t his fault,” I whisper though I know both super soldiers can hear me. “It’s not yours either, doll,” he mumbles back.
“You’re right, it’s hydras now hush I’m trying to pay attention.” I quickly turn my attention back to Steve, who has thankfully not mentioned my role yet.
“Okay Agent Y/L/N, you’re going to be teamed up with Barnes, Jacobs, and Smith,” he indicates two other agents, one man and one woman, who both give me a smile before continuing. He points to a map of the base as he says, “Your job is to find this server room and do your thing. This appears to be mainly unguarded, and with the rest of us causing chaos elsewhere, you shouldn’t have any problems getting there or getting out.”
I nod in response and spend a few minutes looking over the blueprint, considering escape routes if anything goes sideways. The server room is on a below ground level. We just have to worry about getting there before they think to lock it down amidst the attack and try not to run into any one on our way down.
Bucky squeezes my hand slightly, pulling my attention to him. “Relax doll, I’ll make sure you get in and out.” His words release the tension I hadn’t been realizing I’d been holding. My shoulders drop slightly and I let out a long breath. I release the necklace I’d been fidgeting with. “I guess it’s been a while since I’ve been in the field. I’m nervous,” I admit, looking away.
His thumb rubs soothing circles on the back of my hand as the whole group separates out and starts discussing their roles. Smith and Jacobs come to us. They quickly introduce themselves, and I respond in kind. “I’m Y/N and this is Bucky. I am actually in tech development usually,” I give them a nervous smile and Smith responds with a soothing smile of her own.
“You’ve got nothing to worry about. We’re assigned to protect you from anything within those walls. Just tell us what you need,” she offered, taking the seat next to me. I relax further and reach into one of many pockets. I’d been given a set of the shield field ops uniform and they love their cargo pants.
“Well, I need everyone to take one of these. It’s kind of like a worm, they’re exactly the same. I just want to make sure I can get a functioning one in case something happens to my drive. If push comes to shove, I’ll talk you through how to use it. But that won’t be easy so I just need to get to that server room, have 5 minutes alone with the system and we can get out.” Both agents take the drives from me and I watch them put them in a pocket on their tactical vests.
I turn to hand one to Bucky and find him glaring at the device. “It’s just in case mine gets smashed or broken, Bucky,” I mumble, putting it in his hand. “It’s always good to have back ups.”
He grumbles but pockets the drive without fighting it. I fall into conversation with Smith and Jacobs talking about their jobs and they’re families. Bucky is mostly quiet, but I don’t think they seem to mind. When Steve gives a 5 minute warning, they give me one last reassuring smile and return to their seats.
Once we’re alone, Bucky wraps an arm around my shoulders and presses a kiss to the side of my head. “You’re too good for me,” he mumbles against my hair. I immediately pull away and give him an incredulous look. “Don’t you dare suggest that, Barnes,” I warn. He laughs quietly at the serious look on my face and pulls me back in.
“I mean you’re too good at that, meeting people and talking to people. I scare everyone off,” his voice is light and complimentary as he says this. “Well, if you didn’t glare at people so much maybe they'd come up and talk to you more often,” I suggest.
“Nah I’m okay letting you be the social butterfly.” I smile at his words and we fall into a comfortable silence as the minutes tick by. With only 2 minutes until touch down, we separate and begin getting ready.
I have two weapons and extra ammunition that I check for functionality while Bucky has probably a dozen blades and guns strapped to his person somewhere. I’m watching him check the fit of a holster when he looks up and meets my gaze with a smirk. “See something you like,” he flirts, gesturing up and down his body.
“Oh definitely, but that will have to wait for tonight. Let’s get through this first,” I responded, not looking away. Steve chooses that moment to appear at Bucky’s side. “Are you two ready to go?” he asks, ignoring the exchange he no doubt heard. We both nod and Steve hands us communication devices. “This will keep you in contact with the whole team. Press and hold this little button to speak to the whole team and press twice then hold to speak only to your team. Got it?” he explains as I fit the comm into my ear, nodding.
“You know I helped design these right?” I snark, smiling when his cheeks turn pink. “Yeah Steve, my girl knows what she’s doing,” Bucky adds, elbowing Steve good heartedly. Steve just rolls his eyes and moves on to the next group.
The next several minutes move by in a blur. The jet sets down just outside of the many layers of defenses surrounding the base. My team is in a second wave after the first gets the perimeter secure. When it's our turn to disembark, we move through the heavily wooded area quickly, mostly sticking together.
*****
That's when everything went sideways. Whatever efforts Steve's team had put into clearing the way hadn't quite done the job. As soon as we breached the entrance, Bucky in the lead with Smith and Jacobs falling behind me to provide cover, we were under heavy fire.
I'd prepared for this for years, taking the field courses periodically to stay ready. But the surge of adrenaline when an enemy is firing at you and your team is something you can't be prepared for. The fear for myself and my team floods my system as we take cover, returning fire as much as we can. After a few moments, the hydra agents seem to thin, and Bucky's voice sounds in my ear.
We had ended up on opposite sides, and I looked up to meet his gaze as he began giving direction. "We have to move now before they can call for reinforcements. Jacobs with Y/N, Smith with me. We split here, you two take the north stairwell down three levels then the east back up one, server room is on the second underground. We'll take the south stairs and meet you there. Keep your eyes open."
His jaw is set and there's a determination in his eye, but I can also see the conflict. He doesn't want to leave me and I feel the same. Regardless, I nod and we all begin moving at once, still returning fire. By some miracle, Jacobs and I manage to slip past the agents guarding our intended entrance and find a side door with only one guard. Jacobs gives me a signal to wait and he takes out the guard, glancing around for any more combatants before waving me forward as well.
As we make our way into the building, moving down the hallway silently, everything is quiet and still. Only five feet until the stairwell, the lights go out, casting the hallway in shadow for a moment. With a brief glance around, Jacobs spots a supply closet and pulls me into it with him as emergency lights turn on, bathing the area in red.
As soon as he eases the door closed, the hall is filled with the echoing of boots. My breath hitches as a dozen agents march down the hallway, weapons at the ready and faces covered with gas masks. Jacobs voice rings in my ear, "We have agents moving down the east corridor, armed and wearing gas masks. Everyone be advised."
He gives me a look and I can see the tension in his expression. I try to look reassuring with a small smile and nod. "Let's go, it's clear," I say softly after a moment of silence. He leads the way once again, moving swiftly and silently down the hall still colored red. We make our way down the stairs quickly, reaching the third level down before exiting. This hallway is a mirror of the last, and we move quickly, taking a left at the end. I let Jacobs lead, glancing into the windows on a few doors as we pass. Most of the rooms are dark and empty, and the ones with lights on are bathed in the same red light as all of the hallways, making it difficult to take in details.
We reach the next stairwell quickly, without any more hydra agents, and make it up the last flight to the floor we need. This level is the opposite of the one below. Where the third level had been empty and quiet, this level is littered with things. Office furniture has been scattered and line the hall on both sides. I can hear a siren going off in the distance, echoing through the apparently empty rooms lining the hall. Unlike below, these rooms all have open doors, and we move slowly, looking into each before moving past. Most rooms are offices of some type and look a lot like the hallway, littered with trash and furniture that had been thrown around in a hurry.
One of the rooms is littered with broken glass along with paper files that had evidently been thrown out of the filing cabinet that’s now on its side beside the door. Both drawers of the cabinet were thrown open and almost pulled out completely, and now lay empty. I take a step into the room, crouching down to examine one of the files on the top of a pile near me. "They were conducting experiments on people here," I mumble more to myself than to Jacobs, as I sift through the data sheets. I hear him take a sharp breath at my statement and I look up. His face is set as he looks at the contents of the room. "Let's get to the server rooms, you're collecting all the data when you get through, right?"
I nod as I stand up letting the file fall from my hand and follow him out of the room. We move with more determination and as we near the server room, my stomach twists. It's as if my instincts feel something is off before I can tell what. I take a hold of Jacobs arm as he nears our destination. "Wait, something doesn't feel right about this," I whisper, biting my lip. He just takes in my expression for a moment before turning toward the door and raising his weapon as he slowly pushes it open.
I let out a sigh when we find the room empty as well, but the sinking feeling in my gut doesn't let up as we move in, closing the door behind us. Immediately, I move to the computer desk, taking a seat and inserting the drive in my pocket. I glance up as the drive begins loading into the system. He looks almost sick as he paces in front of the door. "Hey, are you good?" I ask after watching him for a moment. My question must break him out of his thoughts because it takes him a moment to recognize that I'm talking to him.
"Yeah," he responds when his mind processes the question, stilling his feet and turning to face me. His expression softens slightly when he takes me in. "You play with that necklace a lot," he remarks, nodding toward my neck and the hand fidgeting there. I drop it as my cheeks heat. I hadn't realized I'd been messing with it. "I got it from my mom," I admit, biting my lip. "She died when I was a teenager, and she got it from my dad. They were so in love, and she wanted me to have a token of their love. Something to remind me why we're here. We're here to give love and get it in return."
The memory of my mom is a little bittersweet, she was my best friend until she died and I was lost without her for a long time. Then I found Bucky, and he reminded me what it was to have love in my heart. "That's really sweet," Jacobs says, the gentle smile still on his face. I return the smile and nod, looking back down at the computer.
I begin working through the program, looking through the firewalls for weak spots. I work in silence for a few minutes, with Jacobs standing guard at the door. The silence is broken by a shrill siren going off down the hallway. I freeze and look up at Jacobs. He moves across the room to join me. "Get down and stay hidden," he whispered, nodding toward a corner of the room mostly hidden by the large servers on one side and a large filing cabinet on the other.
I squeeze into the corner and crouch down, trying to stay out of eye sight. I’ve never been so glad that Shield is in love with all black uniforms. Jacobs takes my seat at the computer, preparing for whatever that siren means. I take in a sharp breath as I hear the sound of people marching down the hallway again. A part of me hopes they’ll pass by without stopping like last time but the feeling in the pit of my stomach won’t let me believe that.
That feeling is proven right when the footsteps get closer and stop outside the door. I hold my breath as someone steps forward, casting a shadow on the frosted glass of the window in the door. Once again Jacobs’ voice sounds in my ear and I look from the door to him. He’s sitting stock still with one finger pressing to the device in his ear. “Smith, Barnes, what is your eta?”
I can hear the slight tremor in his voice as he releases the device and waits for either a response or for the figure at the door to make his next move. After a moment, Bucky’s voice crackles over the comms. “Smith is down-” he’s interrupted by an explosion of gun fire nearby. “-I’m almost there. What is your status?”
He’s breathing hard and clearly returning fire with some hydra agents. “We made it to the server room, but we have company. I count 7. I don’t know if they know we’re in here or if they’re standing guard,” Jacobs replies, still in a whisper.
“Y/N?” Bucky’s voice sounds almost desperate and I think he’s running now.
“Yeah, I’m here,” I respond, hitting the device twice with shaky hands.
“God doll, please stay safe. I’ll be there as soon as I can, but I can’t lead them to you.” I release the breath I’d been holding. Bucky’s coming. He’ll be here soon. His voice sounds in my ear, speaking to the whole team now, “I need any available back up on sublevel one and two. Smith is down, I’m facing 4 and Jacobs and Y/N are surrounded.”
I listen as Steve and Natasha both reply with a promise to get down here as soon as possible. I want it to be enough to help me relax but a movement in that window catches my eye and my stomach flips again. “Stay hidden,” Jacobs warns, as another figure steps up to the one standing outside the door.
I don’t have to reply as the sound of keys hitting the door knob echoes through my skull. The siren is still echoing through the empty hallways, but I block it out as the door knob twists and the door swings open slowly. I have to cover my mouth to keep in the gasp I instinctively take when the person with the keys steps forward.
The only other person who had the ability to adapt my program. My college roommate stands in the doorway, sneering at Jacobs, as she takes in the sight of him at the computer. “You’re not who I expected,” Mackenzie Thomas mocks, as she steps into the room.
We’d both been computer science majors in college and had a friendly rivalry until graduation. At least I thought it had been a friendly rivalry. I don’t know what led her to work for hydra, but the cold look in her eyes makes me flinch as it sweeps past my hiding spot.
“I don’t know what Hydra has told you, but they are lying. Whatever rhetoric they’re filling your head with is wrong,” Jacobs responds, still sitting utterly still. I finally look away from Mackenzie and glance at the Hydra agents flanking her, all weapons trained on Jacobs.
“I’d say the same about the bullshit that Shield is spewing,” she retorts, returning her eyes to him. “Stand up and step away from the computer.” He follows the order, moving slowly to the middle of the room.
I can only watch as she steps up to him, circling him slowly and looking him up and down. Jacobs doesn’t say anything as she stops just behind his right shoulder and whispers something in his ear. He stiffens and starts to speak when a gunshot goes off and he chokes on the words. I have to stifle a cry as he falls to his knees, clutching his chest where I can see blood staining his shirt. It almost blends into the dark fabric. None of the Hydra guards moves as Jacobs falls forward, no longer moving.
“Well that was anticlimactic,” Mackenzie says dryly, stepping over Jacobs. Rage fills me at her words, and it takes all of my self control not to launch myself at her. “Okay boys, the room’s secure. Head up a level, I hear they’re having some problems with a particular pair of super soldiers.”
With the order, the agents start filing out of the room, leaving Mackenzie here with Jacobs’ body. I cringe as she uses her toe to turn his head slightly. With a disgusted sound, she follows after the agents, closing the door behind her.
I release the breath I’d been holding and crawl out of the corner slowly. I move over to Jacobs, turning him over onto his back. Tears I hadn’t realized were falling slip down my cheeks, splashing onto his face. Hands shaking, I bring a finger up to my ear, and speak to the full team, “Jacobs is down, you have 7 or 8 on their way to sublevel one.”
I know my voice is rough and shaking, but I barely manage to keep it at a whisper as I look up at the door briefly before moving back to the computer. With renewed focus, I work my way through the program, breaking through the final firewall and beginning to collect the data before I begin destroying it. The sound of a gun being cocked breaks my focus and I freeze on instinct, slowly moving my eyes from the screen to the figure standing in the doorway.
Mackenzie is standing there, smirk pulling at her lips, and weapon pointed at me. I want to curse my lack of caution, but I don’t dare move as she once again steps into the room. “You don't think I’m that stupid do you?” The question is sarcastic and I have to stop myself from replying in kind.
“Mac, don’t do this,” I plead, but this only seems to piss her off.
“Don’t call me that. You don’t have any right to call me that,” she fumes, eyes filling with rage. “You lost that right in college.”
“What did I do?” As far as I remember, we were good friends until senior year. Then she changed. It was like a switch was flipped when I got the Shield internship. She never acted the same after that, but she hadn’t even applied for the internship so I don’t understand what caused the shift. “Why are you doing this? Why are you working with Hydra?”
She gives me a cold laugh before replying. “Of course you don’t know. Perfect little Y/N could never do anything wrong, perfect little you could never ruin my life.” I flinch as she spits the sentence at me.
“You took everything from me. I thought we were friends and you took my internship, you took my opportunity to do something that mattered. After you left for Shield, everything changed. No one saw me or my work, everything was compared to you. Nothing was good enough if it wasn’t your work. So I joined Hydra. They recognized my talent and now I’m developing tech that will change the world.”
I shake my head, trying to make sense of her assertions. “Mackenzie you didn’t even apply for the internship, I didn’t know you were trying for it. I don’t know what you wanted me to do. Please don’t do this, come back to Shield with me. We can work together for the good of the world. Please,” I plead, looking for any way to placate her.
The cold laugh I get in response is not quite what I had hoped for. “Get up, and stand next to your buddy.”
I swallow the panic as I follow her direction, just like Jacobs had. She gives me a sick smile and steps up to me. “Any last words?” she offers. “What did you tell him before you…” My voice trails off as I glance down at Jacobs before meeting Mac’s eyes again.
Her smile widens as she follows my eye line as well. “I told him I was going to make it hurt when I killed you.” She punctuates the sentence with a gunshot. I gasp as I feel the bullet tearing through me. I stand in shock for a moment before I finally force my eyes down to my stomach. Listing a hand up to the blossoming red stain, I wince as my fingers come away coated in my blood, warm and sticky.
I look up just in time to see Mac leaving the room, laughter echoing behind her as she leaves. Taking in a deep breath, I try to think straight as the pain radiates from the entry wound throughout my body. For a moment, I can only stand there watching the blood seeping out. Then I make up my mind, taking a step toward the computer once again.
My steps are slow as I fight back a wave of nausea, but I make it back to the computer and I begin working on the program once again. I’d already collected and destroyed all of the data on the system, so I start writing out a virus for the program.
It only takes a moment for me to write the virus and when I’m done, I press a finger to the device in my ear. “Is any one coming?” My voice is softer than I’d hoped for, and I can hear the panic in Bucky’s voice when he responds. “Almost there, what is your status?”
A part of me is glad I’ll get to see Bucky. but another part doesn’t want him to see me die. I pull the drive from the computer as I answer him. “Mission complete, but it doesn’t look so good.” I can hear him curse as Bucky’s footsteps echo through the hallway. I give a painful smile as he bursts into the room, looking around wildly until his eyes fall to me.
He looks relieved until his eyes trail down my body to the hand pressed to my stomach, trying and failing to put pressure on the wound. “Buck,” I whisper, as he takes a single step toward me. He looks back up at my eyes and my heart breaks at the tears threatening to fall.
Ignoring the pain, I pull myself to my feet, desperate to touch him again before the end. My movement snaps him out of the shock and he’s at my side in an instant, wrapping one arm around my shoulder and replacing my hand with his. I fail to hold back a whimper of pain as he applies pressure to the wound.
“I know, I’m sorry,” he soothes, easing me to the floor. I’m grateful as dark spots begin to cloud my vision. “Fuck,” a new voice sounds from the door frame. I look up to see Steve standing in the same position Bucky had been in only a moment ago.
“Hey Cap, I did it,” I say with a small smile. He shakes his head as he moves to my other side, taking a moment to look over Jacobs before turning his attention to me. “I got through.” I hold up the drive for them to see with my bloody hand, wincing at the sight.
Bucky shakes his head and says, “You can tell us all about it back at the compound. Steve, we have to get her out.” My smile drops and I look up at the blonde. He meets my eyes and doesn’t respond for a moment. “Y/N, can you move?”
“I’ll carry her, we have to go,” Bucky inserts as I open my mouth to speak. He won’t look at me, so I place a hand on his cheek, turning his face to meet my eyes.
“Bucky, please look at me,” I plead. He leans into the touch. Taking a shuddering breath, he places a hand over mine, holding it to his cheek, before he finally opens his eyes and looks at me. “I can’t lose you,” he whispers, voice breaking as he begs me with his eyes to hold on.
“I’m sorry Buck,” I pause to collect myself, trying not to cry. “I’m so sorry. It wasn’t supposed to go like this. We were supposed to have a happily ever after. I’m sorry I can’t give you that.” I swipe my thumb across his cheek, wiping away an escaping tear before I take in a breath.
“I’m not making it out of here, baby. I can’t- I can’t feel it anymore. It doesn’t even hurt anymore,” my voice shakes as the tears I’d been fighting break through and streak down my face. “Just take this, please?” I offer him the drive, pressing it into his hand before pulling my hand from his face and reaching behind my head, I unclasp the necklace and drop it into his hand as well.
“I love you James Buchanan Barnes, and I need you to know that.” He opens his mouth to respond when a voice comes over the comms, making us all pause. “All agents evacuate now. The base is rigged to blow. We have one minute before the place is rubble,” Natasha warns, and Steve and Bucky look at each other, seemingly having a silent conversation.
I close Bucky’s hand over the drive and my necklace and push it toward him. “Go, both of you. Get out of here,” I look between them as they look down at me with conflict warring in their eyes. I give them a reassuring smile.
“I can’t just leave you here,” Bucky protests, but Steve responds before I can. “Bucky we have to go now.”
“Go, Bucky,” I urge. “I need you to go. Don’t stay for me, okay? Live for me.”
My voice fades and I push at his hands once again. He sits there for another moment before releasing a shaky sigh and leaning forward, pressing a kiss to my lips. “I love you, Y/N and I always will,” he mutters, wiping away the tears lingering on my cheeks before shifting back. He lays me back so he can stand. Steve hesitates for a moment before pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“Take care of him for me, Steve, please.” He nods as he responds, “I’m glad we had the chance to know and love you Y/N. I’m sure we’ll see you again.”
With that, Steve stands and steps away, leading Bucky out of the room. I release a sigh when the boys run out of the room, presumably toward safety. I bring my hand up to my ear, pressing once and saying, “Let me know when you guys are safe.”
No one responds for a moment. Suddenly an explosion reverberates through the compound. I feel the floor shaking beneath me. As another explosion booms through the base, two voices sound in my ear, “We’re out.”
I release a sigh as a third burst goes off, closer this time, and I allow my eyes to finally slip closed, darkness taking over.