CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

THE TRUTH

THE HEROES ALL stood around at a table together after Maria had led them away from the HYDRA agents. Natasha and Steve were shocked to find out that Nick Fury was actually alive this whole time. The said man sat across from them at the table, a photo of Pierce in his hand.

"This man declined the Nobel Peace Prize. He said peace wasn't an achievement, it was a responsibility. See, it's stuff like this that gives me trust issues." Fury informs.

"We have to stop the launch." Natasha states.

"I don't think the Council's accepting my calls anymore." Fury replies, opening a briefcase.

"What's that?" Sam asks.

"Once the helicarriers reach three thousand feet," Maria begins, turning the computer screen to the three. "they'll triangulate with Insight satellites, becoming fully weaponized."

"We need to breach those carriers and replace their targeting blades with our own." Fury adds.

"One or two won't cut it. We need to link all three carriers for this to work, because if even one of those ships remains operational, a whole lot of people are gonna die." Maria informs.

"We have to assume everyone aboard those carriers is HYDRA." Fury states. "We have to get past them, insert these server blades. And maybe, just maybe we can salvage what's left-"

"We're not salvaging anything." Steve interrupts, cutting him off. "We're not just taking down the carriers, Nick. We're taking down S.H.I.E.L.D."

"S.H.I.E.L.D. had nothing to do with this." Fury denies.

"You gave me this mission. This is how it ends. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s been compromised. You said so yourself." Steve reminds. "HYDRA grew right under your nose and nobody noticed."

"Why do you think we're meeting in this cave? I noticed." Fury replies.

"How many paid the price before you did?" Steve questions.

Fury sighs. "Look, I didn't know about Barnes and Rogers."

"Even if you had, would you have told me?" Steve asks. "Or would you have compartmentalized that, too? S.H.I.E.L.D., HYDRA, it all goes."

"He's right." Maria agrees.

Fury glances at her, then at Natasha, who leans back in her chair, then at Sam.

Sam shrugs. "Don't look at me. I do what he does, just slower."

"Well..." Fury nods a little, looking back at Steve. "It looks like you're giving the orders now, Captain."

~

Steve stood on a bridge by himself, hands in his pockets as he looked out into the distance. Ever since he found out who the Winter Soldiers were, that's all that had been on his mind. His little sister and his best friend.

They didn't even remember him! They looked at him as if he was a stranger. As if he was nothing. As he stood on the bridge, many memories from many years ago played through his brain.

Steve, Bucky, and Y/n all walked up a small staircase together after the Rogers' siblings mother's funeral. The brother and sister had left after, which Bucky had went to go and find them, where he eventually did, seeing them walking towards their shared apartment.

"We looked for you two, after. My folks wanted to give you two a ride to the cemetery." Bucky informs.

"I know, we're sorry. We just kind of wanted to be alone." Steve replies.

"How was it?" Bucky asks.

"It was okay. She's next to dad." Y/n replies.

"I was gonna ask..." Bucky begins, trailing off.

"We know what you're gonna ask, Bucky. We just..." Steve trails off as he searches for his keys.

"We can put the couch cushions on the floor like when we were kids." Bucky recalls, glancing between his best friends. "It'll be fun. All you guys got to do is shine my shoes, maybe take out the trash."

Bucky watches as Steve looks for his keys for their shared apartment. Sighing under his breath, he kicks a small brick over slightly, picking up a key from the ground and handing it to the blonde. As he takes it, Steve shares a small glance with his sister before they both shake their heads.

"Thank you, Buck, but we can get by on our own." Y/n states.

"The thing is, you guys don't have to." Bucky objects.

Softly, Bucky grabs her hand, placing it in his bigger one, their palms touching as he holds her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. His other hand rests on Steve's shoulder, softly shaking the blonde.

"I'm with you guys till the end of the line." Bucky states.

"They're gonna be there, you know." Sam reminds, walking up the Steve.

"I know." Steve replies.

"Look, whoever they used to be and the people they are now, I don't think they're the kind you save. They're the kind you stop." Sam states.

"I don't know if I can do that." Steve informs.

"Well, they might not give you a choice. They don't know you." Sam reminds softly.

"They will." Steve states. "Gear up. It's time."

With that, the blonde starts walking off, down the bridge as Sam sighs quietly to himself.

"You gonna wear that?" Sam asks.

"No. If you're gonna fight a war, you got to wear a uniform." Steve replies.

~

A security guard walked through the museum as he was on duty. The man found himself walking through the Captain America and Lady America exhibit, his gaze suddenly stopping on the Captain America, Lady America and the Howling Commandos costumes.

However, Captain America's costume was missing.

"Oh, man. I am so fired." The security guard comments, shaking his head.

~

Steve, Sam, and Maria all walked together in silence through the forest, making their way to the S.H.I.E.L.D. building. The super soldier had his shield in hand, wearing a replica of his old suit.

The one that he had stolen from the museum, specifically.

The blonde took a deep breath before continuing to walk with Sam and Maria, prepared to face his best friend and little sister. The three had been able to get into S.H.I.E.L.D., taking over the control room.

Maria and Sam stood around, making sure no one was to come in as Steve walked towards the mic, taking a deep breath before pressing the button.

"Attention all S.H.I.E.L.D agents, this is Steve Rogers. You've heard a lot about me over the last few days. Some of you were even ordered to hunt me down. But I think it's time you know the truth. S.H.I.E.L.D. is not what we thought it was. It's been taken over by HYDRA. Alexander Pierce is their leader. The S.T.R.I.K.E. and Insight crew are HYDRA as well. I don't know how many more, but I know they're in the building. They could be standing right next to you. They almost have what they want. Absolute control. They shot Nick Fury. And it won't end there. If you launch those helicarriers today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way. Unless we stop them. I know I'm asking a lot. But the price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay. And if I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not." Steve explains before turning back to the others.

"Did you write that down first, or was it off the top of your head?" Sam questions with a little smile.

~

Side by side, Sam and Steve run out of the S.H.I.E.L.D. building together, the blonde holding his shield tightly in his grip.

"They're initiating launch." They hear Maria inform.

"Hey, Cap, how do we know the good guys from the bad guys?" Sam asks.

"If they're shooting at you, they're bad." Steve replies.

Sam proceeds to open his wing suit, flying off as Steve jumps down. Once the blonde lands, he runs forward, then dodging the bullets headed his way with his shield. Running into some of the HYDRA agents, Steve proceeded to punch and kick at them, using his shield in-between.

As he did that, Sam took many twists and turns as he flew in the air. Just as he flew upwards, he was suddenly being shot at. However, he was able to dodge easily, flying many ways to avoid the bullets.

"Hey, Cap, I found those bad guys you were talking about." Sam informs.

"You okay?" Steve questions from his end.

"I'm not dead yet." Sam replies, flying upwards, dodging the bullets heading in his direction.