the wings that you burn turn to ashes, my dear

The Ferris wheel jerked. Darcy looked down to see the attendant flailing, talking into his radio. “Looks like it’s stuck,” she said, the other riders noticing it, too. “At least we’re at the top.”

“We might be here a while, though.” His brow furrowed, jaw straightening. Steve studied the machinery keeping them in the air. For half a second, she worried he’d jump from the gondola to fix things himself.

But not on Darcy’s watch. She smoothed a hand over his arm. “Relax, Steve. I’m sure they can handle it.”

“I might be able to—”

“The only thing you should be concerned with is me.”

His eyebrow went up and her hand slid down, skating over his chest and along his abs. “Why is that?”

Darcy grinned. “Who knows how long repairs will take.” Without breaking his gaze, she unbuttoned his jeans. “We might as well make the best of it.”

marvel_bang

runicmagitek

Delicate steps crossed from one side of the studio to the other. Bare feet floated as if she were walking over the finest carpet instead of polished wood floors.

Her skirt swirled around her legs with each step. Sweat dripped down her neck and soaked through her sports bra. Her hips kept time with the music.

She balanced on one foot and brought her other leg up into the air. She twirled and spun, flipping over the bar built into the wall. Blonde hair fell into her eyes, but it did nothing to deter her concentration.

Steve Rogers had never seen a woman more beautiful in his entire life.

“Steven,” she whispered, “James? I need you.”

“Where?” Bucky asked.

“Lay your hands on me.”

Bucky squeezed her shoulder. Steve held her arm, his fingers brushing against Bucky’s.

And then the power began to flow.

Her stomach rumbled. “I would love a sweet.” Pastries always reminded her of the bakery case at Archer’s, full of the freshest desserts from the bakery down the street. “You’re sure no one will miss us?”

“Nah.” Sam slashed a hand over his throat. “Steve and Tony are arguing. Nat and Bucky are egging them on. We have time.”

She giggled. “Sounds like my boys.”

With a gentle hand on her shoulder, Sam directed her down the hallway. “Your boys, huh?” He whistled under his breath. “They must be mighty important to you.”

“Of course. They’re my chosen.” The door to the break room was open. Inside was another, smaller conference table with a handful of chairs. The back counter had a Keurig, cups, lids, and a giant silver tray with danishes and coffee cakes. “Oh, coffee, that sounds good too,” Rosalie murmured. “Can I make you a cup, Sam?” She paused. “Sam?”

Steve snorted. “I’m fine.”

“Then why are you hiding in our apartment?”

“I’m not hiding.”

“Bullshit.” Bucky pressed a kiss to Steve’s mouth. “I know you.”

“Bucky,” Peggy breathed. Her eyes lit up. “Barnes is alive?”

Sharon winced, looking away from her aunt. Even though Peggy was one of the founders of SHIELD, she didn’t know everything that happened anymore. “Bucky’s alive,” Steve confirmed. “He went with me to find Rosalie.”

“But how could...” Peggy glanced over at Sharon. “You knew.”

“Barnes’ mind was unstable for some time,” Sharon said. “Until recently, we weren’t sure who we’d rescued from HYDRA: James Barnes or the Winter Soldier.”

“Captain America: The Living Legend & Symbol of Courage,” the sign out front proclaimed. Steve snorted. The only thing legendary about him was the fact that he lived, long after he should have died.

He walked past signs showing his height, before and after the serum, followed by a replica of a motorcycle he’d ridden. The walls were decorated with stories of his victories throughout the war. Steve didn’t read them. He didn’t have to. He already knew what happened.

And then he saw the uniforms.

“Do you know another way out, Rose?” Steve asked. He’d never been able to lift her before. Now he held onto her as if she didn’t weigh a thing. “We didn’t walk in the front door.”

She shook her head. “I was attacked in a warehouse,” she said. “And I woke up in that hellhole of a cell.”

“We can backtrack,” Bucky said. He leaned his head around the corner, looking down the next hallway. “But they’ll be expecting it.”

“There has to be another way.” Steve nodded to Bucky. “We clear?”

Bucky held up one hand. Then he flicked his fingers towards the opposite direction. “Not willing to risk it.” He met Steve’s eyes. “They’re coming for us.”

“You should relax,” Natasha reminded him. “Pepper won’t be happy if you give yourself a heart attack.”

“Shut it.” Tony sipped at his coffee - his fifth one of the day. He barely noticed the caffeine in his system anymore. “FRIDAY? What is the last known location of our boys?”

“Albany, New York.”

“So they didn’t go far.” Tony glanced down at his watch. His newest and latest suit hid beneath the watch face. With a touch of a button, he’d become Iron Man. “We could just, you know, go for a drive. See what’s going on.”

Natasha crossed her arms. “You’re worse than a father waiting for his daughter to come home from a date.”

Steve backtracked, clearing out the rest of the crates to find where the marks ended. There, barely visible among the cracks in the concrete, was a square outline in the flooring.

“Trap door?” Steve asked, already knowing the answer.

Bucky balled his metal hand into a fist and punched the floor. The concrete splintered along those perfect square lines. Shaking off the impact, he wiggled his fingers beneath a chunk and lifted it up.

Inside, a ladder led into the dark below. “Trap door,” Bucky confirmed. “Think Dr. Sterling was onto something.” He glanced up at Steve. “Do you want to check it out?”