Chapter Text
"I think that should do it, now we just have to wait." Tony said stretching and waking the sleeping soldier.
"You said that last time you thought you cracked it." Bucky grumbled
"Yea, well last time I wasn't-"
"Don't go into the technicalities, I'm tired and honestly it would only piss me off." Bucky stood "Can we get to bed now?" Tony looked at him for a moment, before standing as well.
"I suppose, I'm sure Jarvis can finish up." He hesitated before walking over to Bucky.
"I will alert you when it's done." Jarvis confirmed. "Get some rest sir." Jarvis said in fond manner as the two left the lab.
Jarvis had spouted off information before the two even got up from bed, but as soon as Jarvis was done Tony was on his feet running through the compound to his workshop Bucky was close behind him. "Jarvis pull up everything and get Rogers in here." Tony read through the documents as the were flashing in front of him, he read them all twice and again to make sure he had the correct information. "Shit, she could be feeding them information."
"What is it?" Steve walked into the lab looking like he had just rolled out of bed, his hair was sticking up in places.
"Shield." Tony flung up a few documents and some communication logs.
"What about Shield?" Steve was more awake when Tony was waving through his holograms.
"That's where Hydra has been hiding, and Natasha could possibly be one of them." Bucky said as Toby focused on the task.
"No wonder it was so fucking hard to crack, I was hacking Shield and they have so many precautions it's amazing that they can even access their files." Tony was flicking through information.
"Shield isn't Hydra and neither is Natasha, she's loyal." Steve said defensively
"She's a spy Cap, unless you forgot." Tony said in a mocking tone, "She could be playing you and you'd never know."
"Clint would tell me if he suspected that he loyalty has has changed." Steve stood straighter, all trace of sleep gone from his face.
"Clint would die for Natasha, well be maimed for her at least."
"Do not make light of this. You are accusing one of my friends."
"Maybe you shouldn't have friends that are spies and known for being great double agents." Tony was rolling his eyes.
"Enough!" Bucky said loudly and glared at both of them "We have better things to worry about then Natasha, we will be questioning her Steve. But you," he gestured at Tony "Cannot just assume she's working for Hydra." Tony opened his mouth, but a hard look from Bucky made him close it.
"Fine, I'm going to-"
"We should work on a way to deal with this." Steve said cutting Tony off.
"And how would you suggest we do that? Send Natasha as our own spy? Maybe Clint as well?" Tony rolled his eyes, before he saw the look on the others faces "No. I was kidding do not take that seriously."
"It's not a bad idea, Natasha is already a part of Shield and Clint can probably work with her." Bucky looked at Steve "Is that something they'd be willing to do?"
Steve nodded "It would, especially if Hydra is hiding with Shield."
"You're not seriously," Tony looked at Bucky "This is a stupid plan, I'm reserving the right to say I told you so when it blows up." Tony crossed his arms, a hand playing with the dog tags that were hanging in front of his shirt.
"We've made plans work with a lot less." Bucky said gently
"They are complete different scenarios, don't give me that look, they were and we didn't have six other people's lives to deal with. When it's us it's different, we can cover each other. They," he waved a hand at Steve, who was watching them both "are unknown variables."
"Doll, it won't be any different," Tony gave him an unimpressed look he saved for when he thought Bucky was being spectacularly oblivious or just a plain idiot, before turning back to his computer.
"Fine, whatever there's no point in arguing. Go do whatever you guys do when I'm not around." Tony waved his hand in the air as a dismissal.
"He's not to happy about this, you'll need to have a solid plan. Tony doesn't like to put anyone in danger unless it's himself." Bucky looked at Steve when they were out of the lab "Don't come to him with nothing or he won't let you leave with your men."
"They're my men he can't keep us here." Steve didn't look offended just confused
"And Tony is a genius, he would find a way. Telling you the wrong location, hacking your vehicle or phone. He would keep you from going at least. So just speak with your group and plan extensively." Bucky placed a hand on Steve's shoulder "I don't like the plan either but it's probably the best we got."
Steve nodded and wandered back towards the main rooms, probably to wake up the rest of his team. Bucky walked back into the lab and took up the couch.
"It's a stupid plan, we could eventually hack into Shield and flush them out that way. We don't need to send in Natasha and Clint, if Natasha isn't already Hydra." Tony said as Bucky sat down, he didn't take his eyes off the screen in front of him, fingers flying across his holographic keyboard as well.
"And how long would that take? A month maybe more, you're good doll but you had difficulty getting through that file. And while you try that Hydra could harm more people and you could accidentally set something off then they would know about us." Bucky crossed his arms and leaned further into the couch.
Tony sighed but said nothing in return, he was probably trying to see how both plans would fail spectacularly.
"I'll do it, if Shield is in danger I want to help." Natasha spoke as if she was choosing a pair of shoes, but she thinned her mouth showing that she was truly worried.
"I'm with Tasha, even if I don't have the strongest ties with them." Clint shrugged and nodded to Steve.
"How will we communicate?" Sam looked at Tony, which had the genius sighing.
"I have a few ways that they can stay in touch and it will not be pigeons. The comms can work about two hundred feet underground and they will work a couple states away. I also will be able to put a secure line into Shield's program that you can use."
"How did you manage that?" Natasha looked at him warily as if she was reevaluating him.
"When I hacked Shield, Steve actually said that plan was a good one and I figured I should put some groundwork in case you two actually agree to said stupid plan." Tony was looking at her as if it was the obvious answer.
"Shield is hard to hack, even harder to program the way you want it to." She started to carefully wipe emotion from her face as she spoke.
"Yea, hi genius." Natasha rolled her eyes "Hard to hack isn't impossible and nothing is impossible. I was already through firewalls so I just set up a few commands that would allow you to call us."
"And yet you still don't want to go through with the plan?" Loki spoke up from his end of the table.
"No, I don't but all other plans I've formulated have a sixty percent or higher chance of failing while this one is about thirty seven." That made Bucky's eyes snap to Tony's head, when was he doing that? How many did he toss that he went with a plan he openly spoke out about? "I still estimate that even with what I have in place that each week you do not gather the Intel we need, that thirty seven raises at least ten percent." And there were the lost looks he was expecting.
"I'm a-"
"You're good spies, I'm sure, but this is an organization of spies and traitors so the longer you stay the more likely you are to be caught." Tony pushed a pair bags to both Natasha and Clint. "Those are your comms and the number and authorization codes for the secure line. Clint I have that bow finished as well and a new gun for Natasha, they are in your rooms. You need anything else let Jarvis know." Tony stood up "Oh and Clint be careful which arrow you shoot, each has a different function there is a list for you to memorize and same for you Natasha." He nodded to Steve before leaving, hearing Clint excitedly talk about the new bow and how it better be sighted right and Natasha say softly that she was thankful for the new weapons as Tony passed.
"How many?" Bucky said as they walked to their kitchen.
"How many what?" Tony said exasperated
"How many plans did you go through?"
"I don't know, a few hundred. Don't look at me like that most weren't even finished and barely passed through the first stages."
Tony grabbed a few coffee mugs as Bucky started the coffee machine. The soldier let the subject drop as the two moved around each other to cook a meal, they handed spices to one another. Tony bumped his hip against Bucky's as he reached near him, Bucky kissed his cheek as he did to use to the movement to be displaced by it. They had finished their meal with minimal amount of food on themselves.
"This is good, after this whole Hydra thing is done we are taking a very long vacation." Tony grumbles around a mouthful.
"Wouldn't Pepper skin you for leaving?" Bucky asks as he steals a bite from Tony's plate, he almost gets a fork in his hand but it's worth it.
"I'm thinking of making her CEO, before you freak out, hear me out. I've been thinking about this for a long while. Even before Afghanistan she has good business sense and I would be better suited to building what is being sold and focusing on not dying instead of meetings." Tony shrugged.
Bucky stayed silent considering his words "It is ultimately your choice, but would you be willing to give up almost all say you have about how Stark industry is ran?"
"I'd still have say, but as it is Pep is running most of the company already. I just sign and let her do what she thinks is best, I trust her." It was a lot for Tony to say he trusted someone but Pepper has proven herself as an asset to the company. But those weren't his only reasons to let go, he wanted more time to focus on his building and to have more time with Bucky. He wouldn't say it out loud probably wouldn't let himself dwell on what that meant but it was there.
"If you think it's the right choice then go ahead." Bucky grabbed his hand, Tony linked their fingers together.
"I'm still thinking, nothing is cemented yet." The conversation dropped off and they moved on to lighter things, like how Tony was starting to think Clint was crawling in the vents or Thor was really quiet for a man of his size. Bruce wandered in a one point and quietly took food from their kitchen, Tony smiled widely at him and Bruce returned it sheepishly.
"We've made plenty, and your tea is in one of the cabinets if you want it."
"Thank you." Bruce looked up to the ceiling for Jarvis to tell him where, after he got the confirmation of which cabinet it was in he went around for it.
"I'm glad you've stayed, I almost expected you to run off after dealing with Natasha."
"So did I, but I figured if that's what happens between two working groups then just imagine what's going to happen when you face actual enemies. Figured you might need a doctor on hand.” Bruce gave them a smile as he sat on the opposite side of them.
“Speaking of how is our resident spy? Didn’t ask when i saw her this morning.” Bucky almost flinched, Natasha might have deserved the treatment he gave her but he didn’t like hurting needlessly. Tony gave his hand a reassuring squeeze “Also need to know if she is actually cleared for field work.”
“The was no broken bones, I know that it would be possible for Barnes’ metal arm to tighten to the point of where there could have been hairline fractures, luckily i saw none. At the most she will have bruising for the next couple of weeks.”
“Well I’m sure she knows better now.” Tony looked at Bucky for a moment before looking back to Bruce “Anyway Brucie-bear when are you deciding to come down to the workshop, the bots miss you and I’m sure there are a few things that we can blow up.”
Bruce gave the Mechanic a frown that said that he disapproved of what Tony was saying, but all the occupants knew that Bruce was as likely to join Tony in blowing stuff up as anyone. “I’ll probably be down there sometime today.” Tony smile widely, not so wide that it was the fake smile he gave to the press but wide enough to actually be genuine.
Tony and Steve stuck together after Bruce’s visit planning a way to get both agents into shield, Tony showed him a bit about how he could get ahold of both the agents if they really needed to. Steve in turn showed him a few ways the team had learned to speak wordlessly with only small gestures. It was ‘Team bonding’ or so they both claimed, it was more of ‘We really don’t want this to fail so let's try to get along before something blows up’
Natasha and Clint had actually managed to get into Shield with relative ease, since both already had ties with the organization, they were questioned about what they had learned about The Soldier and Mechanic since that was the last thing Romanov sent in before she went off the grid. Tony listened in on the conversation that they had with steve, because he still didn’t trust them to not lie to them about a few details that they have shared.
“The plan is going fairly well, which is unexpected because usually our plans have to be scrapped when we do these things.” Tony said into Bucky’s chest. “I feel like i should be running some numbers or something.”
Bucky chuckled “We usually don’t do covert missions, ours is more shoot and stab. Besides they aren’t geniuses, that don’t make split second decisions when on a mission.” Tony snorted at that with a “good thing to’ “Hush, Stevie is a tactical genius.”
“Sure, sure.” Tony rolled his eyes, though he knew Steve was a genius in his own right. “Anyway, im thinking of having the wonder twins steal a key card so that i can bypass a lot of the security measures.”
“It would have to be from a higher up like Hill or Fury.”
“Most likely Hill, you can’t steal from Fury and not expect to get caught really quickly.” Tony sighed “ I'll only have a short window to get everything I need before Hill realizes that she doesn't have her ID.”
“I'm sure you'll have enough to do whatever you need to do and mess with their servers.” Bucky tightened his arm around the genius.
“You have way too much faith in my abilities.” Bucky could practically hear the eye roll from Tony.
“How many people can make an AI, that has its own personality? Or create three other robots with learning systems?” Tony looked at him for few seconds before shaking his head and laying back down.
“Just go to sleep RoboCop.” Bucky smiled and tightened his arm around the genius before dozing off.
Tony had told Steve what he would like for the spies to grab for him, they sat in the living room Bucky and Tony claimed a couch while Steve sat in an armchair.
“Wouldn't that put them in more danger?” Steve looked worried as soon as Tony talked about getting an ID from an higher up.
“Of course it will, but as I said the longer they are there the more danger they are in. This is important, I can get into the system faster than they can.”
“They might not be geniuses-”
“Tony is right, it would take him an hour maybe less to break in Shield’s systems while it might take longer for Romanov and Barton longer to get through.” Bucky cut in, he usually wouldn't talk when Tony was trying to get something, but Steve probably still needed convincing that Bucky was his own man. Tony shot him a look, that meant ‘Don't over sell my abilities.’ Bucky shrugged a shoulder at him.
Steve sighed and looked between the two of them “I'll tell them what you need.” Steve stood “I’ll let you know if they can pull it off.”
“I actually only need them to log in and allow me to time to attach to the user, then they can return the ID.” Tony looked at the blond for a few moments “If they ask why, just tell them that this will allow me to bypass almost every firewall and then ill be able to dig as far as i want to find out who is heading this Hydra operation.”
Steve nodded “I’m sure they’ll appreciate that, but why won’t you just let them just talk to Fury, I highly doubt that the guy is Hydra.”
“Always doubt dear Captain, it's how i’ve managed to stay alive all these years. Fury probably isn’t a agent of Hydra sure but on the possibility that he is I want to keep Hydra from finding out that someone is sniffing them out if they haven’t already.” Tony shrugged “I don’t like it either, actually i may just like it less than you actually do, but I don’t like having Natasha and Clint in potential danger. May not like the assassin twins but doesn't mean i want them hurt or killed.”
“Didn’t know you had that kind of heart Stark.” Tony gave him a grin
“I don’t, imagine the implications from Shield when they find out I’ve been hosting the Commandos in my compound or that I planned it. Don’t mistake my worry for you or your own, it's strictly for myself and James.” Bucky knew that was lie, if he ever heard one. Tony didn’t like people getting hurt on his account no matter who it was, but he was so use to people using his heart against him that he makes himself look like he’s only watching out for his own. The Soldier looked at Steve, he believed Tony’s bluff and seemed a little offended at this.
Steve turned and walked out of the room without another word to the other occupants in the room. A few hours later Steve informed Tony that Natasha was working on it and would probably be able to get access in about a day or two.
“Stark.” Natasha’s voice filtered through the screen that Jarvis had up.
“Romanov. Did you get it?”
“Wouldn’t be calling if i didn’t, now would i?” Natasha bit out drily.
“Man, should’ve had Clint steal the ID at least he is fun.” Tony gave the screen a half-hearted glare, even though the redhead couldn’t see him. “Which station are you at?”
“I’ll be logging into the resources computer,” Tony looked mildly impressed for a moment “Figured it would take them longer to figure out why someone is digging around if the computer is already used for digging around.”
“Good, give me a moment before you go logging in.” Tony type a few commands into his computer “Alright go ahead. I’ll scramble the feed of you both getting the keycard and you in the resource room once i’m in, but you better have something to throw them off your scent.” Tony warned before the screen flashed with the Shield logo.
“I’m not a complete idiot.” The Mechanic could hear the eye roll in her voice before the line went dead.
“J, go through the security systems and delete any footage of miss Romanov stealing the ID and logging into the computer.”
“Of course sir.”
“Also give me a heads up if someone starts to try to hack me back” Jarvis agreed and both went to work, Bucky watched as Tony read information and discarded most of the files just as quickly it was mostly to fast for the Soldier to catch clearly, but Tony seemed to be able to keep up with the information flow easily.
“Sir, they have discovered your presence, shall I lead them to another location of information.” Tony gave his affirmation to the AI and pulled more files up, flicking through them.
After ten minutes, Jarvis informed the genius that he was unable to mislead Shield any longer.
“That’s alright J, I got what I need. Wipe my presence from the main frame.”
“If you got what you need then why didn’t you tell Jarvis to wipe it?” Bucky looked at the other, wondering what he was up to.
“Figured i’d see what else they had while I was searching for a name.” Tony shrugged and shut down the program.
“And did you find out who is Hydra?”
“I found a few things that seemed Hydra-y, but a name seemed to always appear as i did.” Tony looked at the Soldier for a moment. “You know a lot of Hydra’s higher up correct? Did any of them mention an Alexander Pierce?”
“Pierce? I was assigned to him for a year or so, before my programing broke. Is he Shield?”
“He’s the Secretary of Defense and a part of Shield. J, let Steve know what I found.” Tony looked at the ceiling before turning attention on Bucky again “If we can kill him it might make Hydra flounder for a while giving us time to get rid of them.”
“Or send them into hiding.”
“Or that.” Tony thought for a moment “Let's throw out everything that seems like the obvious thing to do. What if we-”
“Only as a last resort, if it comes to that then we fall on that plan not before.” Bucky crossed his arms, Tony nodded knowing Bucky wouldn't budge on his stance.
“Its starting to look like we might have to take our last resorts plan into account.” The genius sighed “I'm going to make sure the proper precautions are in place just in case it comes to that.”
“Of course I wouldn't expect anything less, but I don't want to use it unless it's necessary. Which means our only way out or the only way to keep each other alive.” Tony walked over to the Soldier, he sat in his lap pressing his forehead on his shoulder. Bucky wrapped his arms around the other.
“We’ll win this one way or another and we'll find our way back to each other.” If Tony held him tighter than usual neither of them said anything about it.
“Always.” The Soldier whispered.
Peirce, he was their first real lead they both knew they would follow this wherever it would lead them. They both hoped that Pierce would either be the head of the snake that would send the body floundering or would lead them to who was truly holding the strings.
“We could lure Peirce out.” Thor offered as the sat around the front room, finally feeling comfortable enough to not need the conference room to plan.
Clint shook his head, the spy twins had returned the day before with no one the wiser of why they were there. “Peirce would sniff us out before we got to, I’d recommend a genuine meeting with all of us. He's looking for Bucky so say that we have information on him we want to sell.”
“That would put us in either the middle of Shield agents or the government. “ Steve looked at Tony, who shrugged. The two hated to admit but the longer they stuck around the more Steve looked to him for input as if he was a part of his crew. “Even if, and that a big if, we could fight our way out we’d be wanted criminals.”
“So we make Peirce the bad guy and have the world forget about us.” Natasha spoke up from her spot on the floor, all eyes turned toward her. “Tony is one of the best hackers, we can do a massive dump onto the internet. It would expose Shield for what it really is and it would send Peirce into a frenzy where we could lure him where we wanted.”
Tony looked thoughtful, “In theory it could work, but there things that could go wrong. Besides wouldn't exposing Shield expose you as well?”
Natasha shrugged and studied her nails pretending to be frowning at the state of them. “I like being Natasha, perhaps it's time I stop hiding.” She shrugged again.
“What if Peirce goes into hiding?” Bucky moved the conversation away from the obviously uncomfortable spy. “We would have no way to track him if he does that. No more leads.”
“Then we make sure he doesn't.” People looked at Tony but the genius was looking at Bucky behind him. Tony rose an eyebrow, ‘Would you be willing to play that part?’
“If it means getting Peirce then yes. We need more to go then just guessing who's Hydra.” Bucky dipped his chin in a barely there nod.
‘If he uses those code words?’ Tony looked seldom for a moment.
‘You know how to break me out of that mindset, Antoska.’ Bucky nearly lifted his hand to touch but kept his hand at his side.
Tony gave him a wicked grin ‘Mental recalibration or sweet talking?’
Bucky’s mouth twitched at him ‘Whichever works for you, rough or gentle I'm always game.’
‘Tease.’ Tony turned back to the others “Hydra likes their toys, especially their well trained ones. The Asset is well sought after, we use him,” Tony waved a hand to Bucky “to our advantage.”
Steve didn't outright reject the plan so that was plus, but Natasha did. “You can't just use-”
“I'm not, you do well to remember how quickly I can decide I no longer like you.” Tony narrowed his eyes at her, he knew she meant well and wanted better for Bucky but Tony didn't have the time or wanted to deal with that at the moment. “The Soldier knows full well he has the option to say no to anything that we plan.”
“Natasha now is not the time to deal with this, we have more pressing matters at hand.” Natasha’s mouth thinned but she nodded and listened to Steve.
“Now, we’ll do what Natasha suggested and I'll work on leaving a bread trail for Peirce to follow.” There was a dismissive note in his voice that most of the Commandos noticed and left the room, Tony looked at Steve “You know,” The Captain looked at him a bit suspiciously “We actually work well together, perhaps after this Hydra mess is dealt with you wouldn't be averse to doing a few jobs together. “
Bucky looked at Steve then Tony, the Soldier knew that Tony was being genuine about his offer. They did work well together even if sometimes they were at each other's throats.
Steve gave Tony a smile “I think that would he a good idea, you're good at you do both of you.” Steve looked at Bucky for a moment “It could work, and maybe Natasha wouldn't actively plan your death every day.”
Tony laughed “Oh, my dear Captain I highly doubt that. There's plenty reason to want me dead and Natasha doesn't seem the type to just give up planning.”
“You're a good man Stark, even if you deny it. Natasha just doesn't see beyond The Mechanic and Soldier. Or she chooses not to see past that.” Steve smiled and walked out, surely to find his team.
“He's right you know.” Tony jumped a little at how close Bucky was, he bent his head to be right by the genius’s ear. “You are a good man, you don't hear that enough I think.”
“Uh-huh I'm called the Merchant of Death; I actively murder people for gold coins; I’m also known as an arrogant man who has little to no regard for anybody's life.” Tony leaned his head back to look at his Soldier.
Bucky leaned up and kissed Tony “You also actively donate to charities; build prosthetics; stopped productions of all weapons after you found out they were in the wrong hands. As for people's lives, I've seen you make sure all your assassinating happened where there was no chance of causalities, you planning those murders accordingly. You are a great man,” Bucky kissed him again to cut off any protest that was about to fall from the genius’s lips “I've known you for years, so I've ample data that says your a good man.”
Tony rolled his eyes at the other man before standing “Come on, I have hacking and you have planning to do.” Tony reached for Bucky’s hand.
Chaos that was the only word that came to mind when Tony looked at absolute shitstorm that happened after the massive information dump that Tony did. Shield scattered and Fury disappeared, Tony tried doing collateral by keeping as much personal information off the web. But the authorities were more then happy to track down Shield agents who were part of a hidden crime underground. Arrest were being made, but most of the agents were smart and went even deeper underground they wouldn't be seen until the world forgot. Tony led a trail about The Asset for Peirce to find, Bucky would take the blame if Peirce found the trail which was another if. Tony closely monitored Peirce as well as he could, which he didn't go into hiding which was a plus Peirce searched for who did this, how they exposed him and other Hydra agents.
“Are you sure?” Steve asked looking over the information.
Tony rolled his eyes, “Of course Im sure, that trail will lead Peirce right to that dock. Plenty of room for us to deal with him and any others he brings with him. Look Rogers it's a shot in the dark, but it's the best we got.”
Steve nodded “I trust your judgment.”
Tony gave the other a smile “Finally coming around?” Tony joked “Thanks though, we don't make a bad team.” Tony shrugged and Bucky nearly laughed at how awkward Tony was when someone have him genuine compliments.
The two made a decent plan, Bucky put his own input into the talks every once in awhile, but otherwise just watched the two work. The Soldier felt warmth in his chest as he watched the two, he was glad the two were getting along and that Steve stopped looking at Tony like he was interested, it was still there but now Steve knew better which Bucky was glad for. Steve wandered off after he felt the plan was solid enough to give to his team.
The plan did not go accordingly, at all. It had at the start but someone must have seen Tony as he was picking off the guards and yelled through the walkie-talkie before Tony could could stop him.
Bucky three up his arm to stop the onset of bullets that came toward him, blocking any vital organs from getting hurt, Clint was there picking people off to give some relief to Bucky. The soldier nodded his thanks and ran to a crate, he scanned for Tony but saw him nowhere which worried the Soldier more than he wanted to admit. Bucky joined Steve in his fight, covering each other's six.He watched for any signs of brown hair or the suit that Tony wore, it was making him sloppy but there was radio silence from Tony’s end.
“Sam! Cover Loki!” Steve yelled, Bucky whirled around to see Loki cover his limping brother, they were nearly cornered.
“Steve, Sam’s to far away…” Bucky trailed off, he nearly sighed as a small body curled around one of the men cornering the brothers, Tony lifted his arm as he fell, shooting another goon before shooting the one underneath him. A knife slipped from his sheath and found its way into the next goons chest. Tony was covered in blood, the black of his suit stained as was his shirt. He was talking to the brothers as he picked himself up, Loki was nodding while Thor argued. Tony snapped at the blond, the two slunk off to fix their wounds, The Mechanic turned and caught sight of Bucky he looked relieved but then he looked worried. Tony watched as a knife slipped into Bucky’s shoulder making the Soldier yelp in pain, then a gun slammed into his temple. Bucky crumbled to the ground and Tony was running to him.
Steve was dealing the goons who started to surround them, Tony shot the man who hurt Bucky in the chest three times, before he came to a stop near his Soldier.
“Mr. Stark.” Tony growled and whipped around, face nearly in a snarl. Steve was standing, but he looked ready to fall himself the sounds of fighting still happening around them as the Commandos fought toward their leader. “I must I'm surprised, you're not what I expected when people whisper of The Mechanic who shadows The Soldier. I'm actually disappointed really, I mean you've managed to ruin our Asset.” Peirce seemed to want to walk closer, but Steve was there a living shield for Tony and Bucky.
Tony spared a glance to the Soldier, there were shallow breaths but he was breathing which made Tony calm a bit. “I'm a little disappointed as well, I mean really? You managed to lose someone who was suppose to be under your control then take the next four years to even locate him? Pathetic really, I've managed to not only take your Asset but keep him staying with me.” Tony drawled he smirked at Peirce, knowing it could piss off the best of men.
“Give us The Asset and you and your crew can go.” Tony laughed, actually laughed.
“Why? So you can fuck up again, Hydra is obviously not capable of keeping a leash on their toys.”
“We made him who he is.” Peirce ground out, looking more upset by the moment.
“And I made home better, he's more efficient than ever.” Tony flashed Peirce a smile, this was a dance that Tony knew the steps to well Peirce obviously did not. Tony would spin circles around the man, but he didn't expect Peirce to do what he did next.
“Then we will build off what you left.” Bucky was stirring next to him, not one to be down for long. Bucky eyes fluttered open as a gun shot that seemed louder than the rest rung out.
Tony didn't see the gun, neither did Steve apparently. Tony barely felt the bullet rip through his skin and muscle, people always say that the world will end in a whimper but Tony’s was a bang then a whimper. The whimper was from his own mouth as he lurched back, Tony saw Steve shoot Peirce as he fell. The ground was hard against Tony’s back, his head thumped uncomfortably into the cement.
“Tony!” Bucky sat up as he saw the genius fall, the world spinned but Bucky only had eyes for Tony. The Soldier was next to him in a heartbeat pressing his hands against his chest, the place that was already a weak spot. Blood flowed freely from the wound, covering Bucky’s hands.
“Hey, knew you’d get up eventually.” Tony went for a smile but winced at the pain that started to bloom in his chest.
“Don't make jokes while you're bleeding out.” Bucky growled at the man. “You're going to stay awake, you're going to not he put down by a single fucking bullet you understand me? I won't allow it.”
“Did you know your eyes go really blue when you're angry? They are the prettiest blue I've ever seen, they look,” Tony stopped to stave of the pain that was building and the sleep that tugged at him “they look like a storm on the sea most of the time, which is my favorite.”
“Stop, you don't get to say shit like that.” Bucky knew tears were welling in his eyes, but he didn't care he was watching Tony joke and compliment him while his blood was flowing out between Bucky’s fingers.
“Don't cry, I love you. Y’know that? I do. You're the best damn thing that's happened to me.” Tony tried smiling again, and blinked his eyes almost staying closed.
Bucky didn't stop the tears from slipping down his cheeks, “You don't get to tell me you love me when you're dying you bastard.” Tony just looked at him, before closing his eyes. “Tony? No don't sleep, please Antoska please.” Bucky pleaded with the genius, there were new sounds around him, but Bucky paid no mind. “Doll, open your eyes please.” Bucky prayed to any god that would listen to not let the light that was Tony go out, he deserved so much more he also vowed to destroy Hydra who had killed- no tried to kill Tony. Tony wasn't dead yet.
“Buck,” A hand was placed on Bucky’s shoulder, the Soldier fought against them but he was pulled away. Tony was wheeled off into ambulance, when he disappeared from his sight did Bucky stop. His emotions stopped as if they were with Tony and Bucky had no more need for them when the genius wasn't there.
Bucky wouldn't sit in a waiting room, while Hydra disappeared. No, he would destroy each and every one of them, if they wanted The Asset then that's who they would get. Bucky was going to rip them apart for harming Tony, and he would do as the weapon they made him into.