CHAPTER THIRTY
❝ alone again ❞
"IS THIS THE wrong time to say that I think your plan may get us killed?"
Lucy sat on the back of Steve's motorcycle as they rode through the forest, securing his shield to her back in hopes that it would protect them from any bullets coming from behind.
Steve had come up with a plan for the two of them to get themselves "captured" instead of trying to storm the base. That way, HYDRA would let their guard down and not expect the surprise attack that the SSR was going to conduct.
"Just... Just trust the process!" Steve hastily replied, yelling over the wind.
When she heard the sound of motorcycles approaching, Lucy twisted her body and tilted her head at the number of HYDRA agents trailing them. "Bingo."
"You ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
Steve sped up when they began shooting, the bullets easily reflecting off of the shield on Lucy's back. "Man, I love this thing," she murmured, sticking her middle finger up to the agents to mock their failed attempts.
She hooked a machine to the back of the bike, pressing the red button that would activate it. Grappling hooks shot out and attached to the trees on either side of them, making a tripwire for the motorcycles behind them.
The first two agents ducked under the wire, but the rest drove straight into it, flying off of their bikes as they crashed.
"Go ahead," Lucy told Steve. He nodded and pressed another button on his handlebar. Flames erupted from the backside of the bike, catching the two bikes behind them on fire.
Steve leaned to the side, swerving out of the way of more agents. "Use this!" He handed Lucy a grenade. She wasted no time in pulling the pin out and whipping it right at them.
Their bikes exploded just as Steve and Lucy approached the entrance to the HYDRA base. As the gates opened, a huge tank rolled out with its aim locked right on their approaching motorcycle.
Bullets from the tank were flying around them, getting dangerously close to knocking the two of them out until Steve sent a small missile forward and obliterated the machine.
"Hang on!"
Lucy followed Steve's command, clinging to his torso as he redirected the motorcycle. They used the side of the gate as a ramp, soaring over the wall and into the base. More agents began firing at them as their motorcycle harshly landed on the ground.
Steve dove off of the bike first, flying right into an agent as they both toppled to the ground. He stood and hurled his shield at another man, delivering a swift punch to everyone who charged at him.
Lucy stayed on the bike for a bit longer, jerking it to the side and sliding into a group of agents, knocking them all down at once.
She pulled a knife from her belt, pressing the trigger on the side to extend it into a baton. The electricity at either end crackled to life as Lucy swung it around, jabbing it into each agent while simultaneously dodging their bullets.
She and Steve fought side by side for a bit longer until two men with flamethrowers cornered them, leaving them with no way to escape. Their backs touched as they were surrounded by dozens of agents, their guns all pointed at the two.
Maybe their short-lived careers of performing onstage really did stick because the faux terrified faces they plastered on were nothing short of convincing.
Everything was going according to plan.
───
Lucy and Steve were led into the HYDRA facility with their arms locked behind their backs. Lucy had two guards on her, cringing when she felt their hands stray from the hold on her arms to her lower back.
"Arrogance may not be a uniquely American trait, but I must say, you do it better than anyone else."
Johann Schmidt strode into the room, his eyes locked on the two intruders as he clicked his tongue. Lucy and Steve both stiffened at his words, sneaking a glance at each other.
"But, there are limits," the Red Skull continued. "To what even you can do, Captain. Or did Erskine tell you otherwise?"
Lucy knew what Schmidt was trying to do. He was trying to hit all of Steve's weaknesses. All they had to do was rile him up. Get him flustered.
"He told me you were insane," Steve retorted.
"Ah," Schmidt let out. He paused for a moment, deep in thought as he formulated his response. "He resented my genius and tried to deny me what was rightfully mine."
Lucy couldn't help but breathe out a small laugh. Schmidt whipped his head over to the woman and raked his eyes over her body, remembering that she was one of his test subjects.
"Do you have something to say to me?" Schmidt asked Lucy, taking a few steps forward until he was face to face with her.
Lucy pursed her lips together and shrugged. "Genius is a bit of an overstatement for describing you. I think you're just plain cocky."
She should have expected the punch. The muscles in Schmidt's jaw worked as he digested her words, wasting no time in balling his hand up into a fist before cracking it into her cheek.
Lucy's head whipped to the side from the force of his punch, silently hissing at the pain that radiated in her nose. She craned her head up and laughed in his face. "Has anyone ever told you that you have anger issues?"
Schmidt backhanded her that time and Lucy felt her nose break. Steve had a hard time staying compliant, knowing that he could practically rip off the arms of the agents that were restraining him and give Schmidt a taste of his own medicine.
Lucy's nose began to bleed profusely and she crumpled to the ground, she locked eyes with Steve and gave him a nod, signifying that she was okay.
Schmidt was too busy fuming to see Steve reluctantly nod back to Lucy. "Erskine gave you everything. Tell me, what is so special about you," he growled at the Captain.
Steve simply shrugged, attempting to be as unbothered as possible. "Nothin'. I'm just a kid from Brooklyn."
Schmidt was far past his breaking point, immediately cracking his fist into Steve's face this time. He backhanded the blonde once more before kneeing him in the gut and sending him to the ground.
Hearing Steve's coughing made Lucy cringe, sending her back to a time before the war, when he would often get beat up in alleys and left an asthmatic mess
"That's right! Brooklyn!" He switched his gaze to Lucy, pointing at her knowingly. "But there used to be three of you, yes?"
Lucy pulled against the agents holding her arms, glaring at Schmidt with a mix of disgust and anger. He knew how to irritate her and Steve, hitting their ultimate weaknesses by bringing up Bucky.
Schmidt arrogantly gestured to himself. "You are no match for me, Captain. I thought you would learn that by now."
Panting, Steve lifted his head and shrugged with a sly smirk on his face. "I can do this all day."
Lucy couldn't help but smile at the familiar words. The blood that dripped down from her nose glided over her lips as she released a breathy chuckle.
"Oh, of course you can, of course," Schmidt feigned sympathy as he pulled a gun from his belt. "But unfortunately, I am on a tight schedule."
As the German pointed the barrel of his gun at Steve's head, he motioned for the agents holding Lucy to do the same. She felt the cool metal of a gun press up against her temple and closed her eyes when she heard the click of the safety being released.
Lucy didn't feel any fear. She told herself that if the gun fired and that bullet killed her, it would be okay. All because Bucky would be waiting for her. She would get to see her sweetheart again.
If only she knew that he was closer than she ever thought, barely alive and being transported out of the very facility she was in.
Before the agents could shoot, three grappling hooks attached to the mountainside that the facility sat on, securing ziplines to the rocks. Steve looked at Schmidt and tilted his head.
"So am I."
Three Howling Commandos shattered the grand glass windows as they ziplined through them, immediately beginning to shoot at the HYDRA agents in the room.
Lucy spun out of the men's grasp and kneed the first one in the groin. Before she could take the next down, a bullet whizzed past her shoulder and he collapsed right in from of her. She turned around and smiled when she saw Dugan standing there, thankfully saluting him before continuing the mission.
Lucy scooped Steve's shield and her batons off of the ground, waving the former in the air. "Steve!" He turned to her, catching the vibranium as she threw it.
"Thanks!" Steve yelled as he motioned for her to follow him. The two sprinted down the hallway, helping each other fend off agents as they searched for the man in charge.
When Schmidt finally became visible at the end of the hallway, the man turned and fired a few shots toward the two. Steve held his shield out and pulled Lucy behind himself, not moving from that position until the bullets stopped.
He then hurled his shield forward, propping open the doors that were about to close after Schmidt ran through them. As they were about to run after him, a giant HYDRA robot with flamethrowers stepped into their path, shooting streams of fire right at the two.
"Steve!" Lucy grabbed the back of his uniform, pulling both of them behind a pillar and out of the line of fire.
The machine didn't cease, continuing to spray his flames while getting closer and closer to where Lucy and Steve hid. Steve had Lucy against his chest, trying to shield her from the heat as they huddled against the wall.
"What do we do?" Lucy yelled.
Steve gripped his shield, trying to formulate a plan. "I don't know—"
The sound of gunfire cut him off. Both Lucy and Steve peered around the pillar to see where it was coming from. The flame-throwing machine collapsed to the ground.
They left their hiding spot, pleasantly surprised to see Peggy standing there with a rifle in her hands.
"You're late," Steve pointed out, stepping closer to her with an admiring smile on his face.
Peggy's chest was heaving up and down with labored breaths. "Weren't you about to..."
"Oh!" Steve's expression lit up as Lucy tiredly ran a hand over her forehead. "Right." He ran past her to retrieve his shield.
Peggy's eyes flickered over to Lucy and she cringed. "Oh my... Your nose."
Lucy had been trying to ignore the sharp pain in the center of her face. "Right, one sec."
She placed both hands on either side of her nose, taking a deep breath before cracking it back in place with a small groan. Peggy watched with a disgusted expression as she did so. "Your nursing knowledge is quite handy."
"Yeah," Lucy breathed. Her plan of following Steve changed when she realized that the plane was already beginning its journey down the tarmac. "Come with me," Lucy quickly told Peggy, motioning for her to follow as she ran.
Peggy was confused but followed Lucy regardless. "Where are we going?"
Lucy didn't answer, simply leading Peggy out of the facility and to the tarmac. She spotted Schmidt's stray car laying discarded on the side, laughing when she ran over and saw the keys were still in the ignition. "That idiot."
Peggy hopped into the passenger's side as Lucy started the engine, wasting no time in speeding forward toward Steve. She skidded to a stop right next to the Captain, smiling at the dumbfounded look on his face. "Need a ride?"
Peggy shuffled to the backseat as Steve got in and sat in the passenger's seat and looked at Lucy incredulously. "Where the hell did you get this?"
Instead of giving him a serious answer, Lucy pressed the pedal to the floor and smirked. "Language."
He shook his head with a chuckle as Lucy sped up, trying to catch up with the plane. The end of the tarmac was coming up far too fast with the distance they still had to go.
Lucy went out on a limb and pushed a red button next to the steering wheel that released a jet engine, launching them forward until they were right next to the plane.
Steve stood and climbed on top of the car, preparing to jump as Lucy turned back to Peggy. "Peg, can you take the wheel, I'll—"
Steve stopped her with a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head. "No, you stay here, I've got this."
"What?!" Lucy shouted. "No, I'm coming with you—"
"Lucy," he pleaded. Steve had a bad feeling about this next part and needed to be prepared. "I'm going to finish this. For the two of us and for Bucky."
Lucy's eyes flickered between him and the road before she finally agreed. "Okay." He sadly smiled at her and extended his arm out to her. Lucy grasped his hand and squeezed it before letting go.
"Keep it steady—"
"Wait!"
Peggy placed her hand on Steve's arm, stopping him from jumping as she made her next move. She grabbed the front of his suit, pulling him down to kiss him with every emotion that she felt.
"Finally! "
Lucy's voice broke the two out of their trance. Steve and Peggy turned to the blonde, who had a sheepish smile on her face. "Sorry," she whispered. "Continue."
Peggy chuckled and looked at Steve with the utmost admiration. "Go get him"
Steve nodded as he secured his shield to his back, climbing up the front of the car and staying low to steady himself. When he finally made the leap to the plane, Lucy swerved to the side, slamming the brake pedal with her foot in hopes that the car would stop before they plummeted over the edge.
The car stopped just in time, leaving the front two wheels hanging off of the mountainside. The two women inside were breathing heavily as they watched the plane take off with Steve gripping onto it.
"That was close," Peggy breathed, looking at how far the drop would have been.
"Uh-huh," Lucy agreed, closing her eyes as she rested the back of her head against the seat.
───
Lucy was pacing the length of the command center, staring at the radio where Steve was supposed to signal in. She bit her lip as a bad feeling settled into her gut.
Colonel Phillips and Peggy stood next to her, both just as antsy as she was. They were just better at hiding it.
"Come in, this is Captain Rogers. Do you read me?" Steve's crackly voice came through the radio.
"Captain Rogers, what is your—"
Morita, who sat at the controls, was interrupted by Peggy as the woman leaned over and demanded, "Steve? Is that you? Are you alright?"
Lucy was right beside her, rubbing her chest while listening with careful ears.
"Peggy, Schmidt's dead!"
Peggy turned back to Lucy and the women shared a relieved look before she asked her next question. "What about the plane?"
There was a pause over the radio that made Lucy's heart sink. "That's a little bit tougher to explain."
"Can you give me your coordinates? I'll find you a safe landing site." Peggy paused as she waited for his response
A shaky exhale came before Steve said, "There's not gonna be a safe landing. But I can try and force it down."
Lucy blanched when she heard those words spill out of his mouth. Peggy faltered, taking a step back to collect her thoughts. Lucy stepped up instead, holding her hand over the microphone. "Steve?"
"Luce?"
She paused, trying to clear the lump in her throat. "I'm right here. I can get Howard on the line. He'll know what to do—"
"Lucy, I'm sorry."
She knew what those words meant. Unlike when she lost Bucky, denial wasn't clouding her mind. This was it. This was Steve saying goodbye.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she pursed her lips into a tight line. "It's okay."
"No, it's not. I'm... I'm so, so sorry, Lucy. I'm leaving you alone."
"I understand," Lucy insisted as she shook her head. "I know that this is what you have to do."
She had known ever since she was eighteen that Steve was a hero; one to never give up a fight. It was in his blood. It was what made Steve Rogers... Well, Steve Rogers.
"Thank you for helping me believe in myself, Luce. You were the first person to tell me that I was worthy."
"You are," Lucy whispered. Her voice would shatter if she spoke any louder.
"I love you, Lucy. Till the end of the line."
Lucy had to choke back a sob when she heard those words. "I love you too. Till the end of the line," she repeated.
Even though she wanted to talk to Steve until his very last second, Lucy stood from the chair and guided Peggy to sit in her place. The two potential lovers still had to say goodbye, still had to feel the effects of what could have been.
And besides, Steve would have done the same for her if it were Bucky on the other end.
A hand on her back made Lucy flinch. Peggy and Steve's conversation was drowned out as she turned and saw Howard's sorrowful face.
"Come on," he whispered, walking her out of the room. "Let's go somewhere else."
Lucy turned back one more time, staring longingly at the radio as if it were Steve standing right in front of her.
"This is my choice." The final words she heard Steve tell Peggy were ones that struck her heart. It was his choice to sacrifice himself, his decision.
Howard took her out of the room and led her into the lab, sitting her down in a chair as he kneeled in front of her. He hated how fragile she looked and hated how he couldn't do anything about it.
"I'm not going to say I'm sorry because I know that will do nothing for you. All I'm going to say is that I will be here to help you get through this. You are not alone."
Lucy stared at him for a moment before breaking down, defeated cries leaving her lips as Howard engulfed her in a soothing hug.
Despite his words, she felt even more alone than she did before she moved to Brooklyn. All she had then was a father who never loved her then, and yet she still felt better.
Back then, she had nothing to lose. This time, she had just lost everything.
AUTHOR'S NOTE!
not me obliterating lucy's mental health in the course of three chapters.
you guys aren't prepared for what i have planned.
also, happy halloween!
i'm in bed instead of out partying because i have the worst head cold right now lol.
<3 mal