Warning: Intense make-out scene with angst.

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( twenty two. depth of regrets  )

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Steve sighed in peace as he stood silently under the night sky. The stars were shining bright above him while the moon was breathtakingly mesmerizing.

He felt like he was one of the paintings he bothered to imitate by drawing in his sketchpad.

It had been a while since he felt this relieved. With everything that's happening, it's a shock that he could still find the time to feel like this.

"Not tired?"

He craned his neck to see her. The sound of her voice would forever be recognizable to him. A smile appearing on his lips the moment he saw her walking towards him. "Something's keeping me up."

"What?" she asked.

He didn't even miss a beat when he answered. "You."

Her heart began picking up a pace faster. "M-Me?" He noticed that a faint blush was appearing on her cheeks.

It gave him the confidence he needed to keep going. He needed to say this. He needed her to know right here and right now. "Yeah." He turned around so that his body was now facing her. "I need..." he sighed. "I need to tell you something."

"Alright."

"But before I tell you, I need to ask you something first."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Is it something good or something bad?"

Both? "Depends on how you take it as." He said, quietly. "I just need to know something."

"Okay, what is it?"

He took a deep breath. There was no backing down. This was it. Just ask her. Ask her to finally get the answer you've been waiting for so long. "Do you like someone?"

Clearly, she wasn't expecting that kind of question. "Excuse me?" She asked in fairly high tone. "I fail to see how that's any of your business."

Bingo. He got her. A coy smile appeared on his face. "So you do like someone?"

"I didn't say that." She defended, suddenly feeling her face heat up.

"But you didn't deny it either."

She stared at him hotly. "What's this about, Steve?"

"I just want to know."

"For what?"

"Nuh-uh. It's not your turn to ask." He teased, smirking. "Answer my question and I'll answer yours."

She scoffed, shaking her head in frustration. "I can't believe this."

"It's just a simple question, Anne. Do you like someone or not?"

"And what if I do?" she challenged, cocking an eyebrow. "What happens then?"

He started taking a step towards her. "Then I'm really keen on finding out who this guy is now." He didn't know why but all of a sudden a wave of confidence washed past him. He was feeling more daunting than ever. And had no problems to tease her right now. "He's a lucky guy."

She started stepping back. "Steve..." the words died down in her throat. Her face was becoming redder and her eyes were slightly widened. "What... what is this about?"

"I just want to know, Anne." He said, stopping as soon her back hit the surface of a tree.

"Why? And I answered your question already so it's only fair that you answer mine." She demanded, crossing her arms in front of her.

A soft chuckle escaped Steve's lips. "Fair enough." He grinned. "I want to know who my competition is."

She stared at him like she couldn't believe he said that. "What competition?"

He leaned closer. So close that she was leaning as far away as she could and digging her back against the tree behind her. Stupid tree.

"Not your turn to ask." He reminded again, grinning widely at the way she was flustered up in front of him. She looked like she was trying hard not to punch him in the neck. "Who's the guy?"

"As if I'll tell you." She retorted.

Steve leaned dangerously closer, taking a step forward so that their faces were only inches apart. "You won't?" he asked lowly, his breath fanning against her face that she was suddenly feeling very hot about this. Hot for him.

"N-no." she stammered, flushing a shade redder. Where the hell was his confidence suddenly coming from?

"Too bad then." He rested a hand on the tree behind her and just beside her face. A devious smirk tugging on the ends of his lips as he leaned closer that their noses were touching. "I guess I'm just gonna have to get it out of you."

That was it.

She was really feeling very hot.

Steve was just so seductively and downright flirting that it had taken her off by surprise. She resorted to being the blushing mess this time. With his handsome face just inches apart from her own, she really had this overwhelming desire to devour him. To kiss him like there was no tomorrow.

"Steve, are you feeling okay?"

"Never better."

"Well, get off me then." She ordered but made no move to push him away.

He teased her more when he didn't move a goddamn inch from where he was. He was smirking at her. "Why? Am I making you uncomfortable?"

Jesus. This doesn't sound anything like him at all.

But he liked it.

He liked making her all weak under his stare and all flustered this time around.

"No." Her voice failed her when it faltered slightly. She was breathing heavily, sucking in a breath as she tried very hard to restrain herself from touching him right there.

She licked her lips.

Immediately, his eyes darted down to follow the teasing action. Steve's smirk grew wider and his own eyes filled with hunger and passion. "Doesn't look like it." He said.

"Get. off." She repeated.

He arched an eyebrow, challenging her. Letting his lips hover over her own. "Make me."

And that was it.

He wasn't prepared when she pulled his face down to capture his lips in an intoxicating kiss. His hands darted out to place themselves on both sides of her face so he wouldn't crush her with his weight. She kissed him breathless. Her hands moving up to tug and tousle his sandy-blonde hair.

Steve wasn't going to let her dominate him. No. Not this time. He kissed her back harder. Hot. Deep. Teasing. Demanding. He pried her lips open, tongue driving inside the warm cavern of her mouth to tangle with hers. She let out a moan and could feel the smile on his face becoming wider at the thought of bringing her to the edge. He pulled away slightly to take in her flushed face.

Where the hell did he learn how to kiss like this?

"Still want me to get off?" he grinned.

She rolled her eyes in amusement, grabbing the sides of his face to pull him down once more. "Just kiss me, Rogers."

And he did.

Only this time she took control. She slipped her fingers underneath his shirt and trailed it up and down his chest. Her mouth got lower and lower until she was kissing his jaw, then his throat. The warm heat of her tongue had been sucking on the pulse point of his neck.

He was the one who groaned this time. Low and rough that made her knees weak.

"That's sexy." She murmured in his throat.

He blushed, rolling his eyes. "Jesus, Anne."

She laughed softly, pulling away to look at him in the eyes. His arm was wrapped around her waist now while the other one reached to cup her cheek.

He kissed her again. Softer and sweeter this time.

The words were out before he could stop it. "I love you," he whispered against her lips. He wasn't expecting to hear anything else. He wasn't expecting for her to say it back. He just simply wanted her to know.

But when he looked up to glance at her face, it wasn't anything he was expecting. She looked pale. Scared. Horrified. "Anne?" he asked, worried.

Then he realized she wasn't looking at him. She wasn't seeing him at all.

"Anne?" His eyes now wide alarmed.

Something was happening.

She was... fading. 

No. No. No. She was slowly fading right before his own eyes.

"No!" he cried, reaching out to hold her but was mortified to find out that he couldn't. He couldn't touch reach for her. Couldn't even touch her.

She was as light as air.

"Don't." He said, eyes stinging with tears. "Don't leave. Don't leave me. You asked me not to leave you and I didn't so don't do this to me now. Please."

Her barely visible hand reached out to wipe the tears staining on his cheeks. She held his cheek gently. Soothingly. Lovingly.

A sad smile lingered on her lips as she mouthed one word.

I'm sorry.

"Anne!"

"Steve!"

The captain woke up with wide eyes, shooting up so fast that he felt a throbbing pain went past his skull. He squeezed his eyes shut and held his head, groaning in pain. There was light coming from everywhere and he could faintly smell the mist of rain and fresh trees. It took him a few minutes but he eventually moved his hands away to let his vision clear out.

Once it did, he found himself staring into a set of bright green eyes.

Anne.

She stared at him with a frown, worry plastered all over her beautiful face. "Are you alright?"

He rubbed a hand over his face, trying to sit up straight. "Yeah, I'm fi—" That was when he noticed the presence of trees and mountains around them. "Where are we?"

Her frown got deeper as she knitted her eyebrows. "I don't know exactly where but we're probably just a few miles behind the lines of the next HYDRA base. I thought you're the one keeping in check?"

His mind wasn't processing anything she was saying. "What?"

"Are you sure you're really okay?" She let the back of her hand touched his forehead. "You don't have a fever."

"I don't get fevers, Anne. The serum took care of that."

"Well, you're acting like you have one." She chastised. "We're leaving in ten minutes. I wanted to wake you up earlier but I thought you needed the rest. I'm sorry."

Wait.

This time, it was Steve's turn to frown.

Had it all been just a dream? You mean, him kissing her. Her kissing him. Him mustering up the courage to finally tell her that he loves her. Her disappearing and leaving him behind.

All of it wasn't real?

A feeling of disappointment, hate and embarrassment settled inside him. He was foolish to think that she would even make a move on him like that. After everything she went through because of him? He doesn't deserve her.

That would explain why it looked like he knew he was doing in that dream. He couldn't see himself being able to do that to her for real without looking like a moron.

Steve waved her off, making a move to stand up. "It's fine. Don't worry about it." He said curtly.

Natasha took notice of his dismissive tone but said nothing. She stood up as well. "Bucky just went to take a time off. I'll be waiting at the truck with the others. If you're hungry I saved you some soup to eat. It's in the pot."

He nodded curtly and mumbled a simple "Thanks," in response.

The memories of his 'dream' were still as vivid and clear as the bright sky. He could still feel her soft lips pressing against his throat. The way she kissed him with so much life and passion. Her soft voice humming against his ear.

Emerald green eyes were all he saw yet he didn't mind at all.

Whether it was because of the dream or the fact that she had practically poured her heart out open to him while she was drunk the other night—he knew that he meant every word he told her.

Real or not real, everything he said to her, every word spoken—were the truth.

She turned away from him and headed over to the truck. Though he didn't miss the way she stared at him like she wanted to say something. Somehow, he wondered what those unspoken words were.

And if he would ever get to hear those words someday.

   ————————————————————————————     

Steve was acting strangely.

Really strange.

She thought they were doing well. Not really okay, but at least they were back to speaking terms again since the incident of him getting mad at her when she did that heroic stunt the other day.

But now? He did a complete one-eighty on her.

He wasn't speaking to her as much as he did. Though he wasn't mad, she could feel it but he seemed tense. Strained. Bothered. Like something was pulling him back to make him uncomfortable around her.

Did she do something stupid again? This time, she really had no clue at all.

"What's going on with Steve?" She asked Bucky, walking up to his side.

He could only shrug. "You tell me. He's been acting weird since this morning. I thought something had happened between the two of you. Again."

She shook her head. "Nothing, and I mean it this time. I really have no clue."

"Why don't you ask him then?"

She stiffened. "I can't. Don't know how."

"I guess now you know what he feels when you're giving him the cold shoulder without so much as an explanation." He remarked, giving her a smirk.

She narrowed her eyes at him but didn't say anything. Knowing he was right. She let out a sigh and sauntered over to Steve's side.

"Steve?"

He turned around and saw her. "Anne. Is there a problem?"

"I could ask you the same thing." She asserted. "And spare me all the 'No, I'm fine' bullshit obviously something's bothering you."

He averted his gaze, looking sheepish that she could read him so easily. "I..."

She studied him. Noticing the struggle and hesitance on his face. "What?"

"Remember... the night you got drunk?" He blurted out.

A puzzled look filled her features. "What about it?"

"Do you remember anything that night?"

"Other than the fact you told me that you tucked me in bed and waited until I fall asleep? No, not much. I had way too much alcohol." She chuckled.

Instead of laughing back, his cheeks suddenly flared. "Yeah, you had a lot that night."

He wasn't looking at her. She knew the reason why. It was because he didn't know how to lie whenever he looked at someone dead in the eye. She eyed him suspiciously. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

That did it.

His cool manner suddenly broke down like a pile of brick walls. "Wh—what? I told you everything you need to know."

"Yeah, everything I need to know. Not everything that happened."

She could see the frustration mustered up in him when he cursed himself for letting that one slip in his mouth. He sighed. "I tucked you to bed and helped clean your face. Since you were complaining that it's too hot. But—"

"But?" Anxiety started welling up in her chest. Natasha knew she could do or say stupid things when she's drunk. Much less, heartbroken.

"But when I turned to leave you stopped me and—and," He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "You asked me to stay and I did. I waited until you fell asleep."

Steve knew he was doing a big mistake by leaving out the most important details of what really happened that night.

"That's it?" she asked.

He hesitated. "That's it." He lied.

Too late. Natasha saw straight through him. "No, that's not it. Something else obviously happened."

Crap.

Steve really wanted to talk to her about this but now isn't a good time. He sighed in defeat, "Fine. Yes, there's a lot more to it but that can wait till—"

She couldn't wait. Not when she would be leaving right after the mission. There is no time to wait. "Just tell me. I can't fight out there knowing I did something that bothered you."

"You didn't bother me—"

"Bullshit." She snapped.

He looked dumbstruck at her outburst. His shocked look then turned into a hard gaze. Anger radiated from him as he stopped in his tracks. Natasha did too and soon the rest of the men glanced at them with confusion.

"You really wanna know?" Steve taunted.

Both were staring at each other like they were burning a hole through their skulls.

"Uh... guys?" Bucky said, looking between the two of them. "We need to go—"

"Go."

"What?"

"Go," Steve repeated. "We'll be right behind you."

A wave of bewilderment passed his best friend's face. Nevertheless, he didn't question their captain's command and followed at once, nodding to the other men to follow him as they went up front.

"What the hell are they doing?" Falsworth hissed.

Bucky shrugged. "Beats me. Probably another one of their 'discussions'."

When neither one still uttered a word to start their discussion, Natasha sighed in annoyance and moved to walk past him.

Steve grabbed her arm. "And now you're walking away? Again?"

She stared at him hotly. "Maybe if you would start talking and tell me what the hell happened that night I wouldn't need to."

"You told me you hated me." He blurted. Her composure fell off with a snap and she kept quiet. Steve took this as a sign to continue on. "But you didn't want me to leave because you aren't ready to lose me."

No. No. No.

She didn't.

Natasha tried to search for any trace of amusement in Steve's face that would tell he was making this up or teasing her.

But there was none.

Damn it. She really did need to get a grip on drunk Natasha.

"You're..." She visibly turned white. "That can't... I couldn't have said that."

He loosened the grip on her arm and let his hand fell to his side. "You asked me about Peggy." He said quietly, "Asked me if I—"

She already knew what he was going to say, and the bitter truth is, she wasn't ready to hear it come straight out of his mouth. "Don't." She ignored the twisting feeling in her stomach. "I know. You don't need to say it."

Steve looked terribly confused. "Say what?"

She sighed, exasperatedly. Turning on her heel to start walking again because she wasn't in the mood to deal with him playing dumb.

He ran to stop in front of her. "Wait."

"Move." She ordered.

"Let me explain—"

She didn't want to listen. Not when she already had an idea of what kind of embarrassing things came out of her mouth that night. It wasn't a surprise for her if Steve already knew she likes him.

That she loves him.

Shame and sheer humiliation dawned on her. "I get it. I get it now. You don't have to tell me the whole thing over again just to embarrass me—"

"Embarrass you? Why the hell would I want to do that?" He asked, disbelievingly.

"Because I was pathetic, vulnerable and desperate that night. I can't even imagine myself saying all those things. It's too humiliating to even think about."

Steve shook his head. "No, you don't—I'm not trying to embarrass you, Anne. I would never! Look, could you just let me explain?"

"What's there to explain? I know you and Peggy are a thing so you don't need to flaunt it in my face like I'm a clueless bitch." She spatted. It was a low blow really. It was very unprofessional of her to say that but she couldn't stop herself. All the jealousy and hurt was overcoming her.

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Don't say that. You're not that." She scoffed. That made him lose all his control. He burst out like a hot kettle. "See that's the problem with you! You always like to assume things rather than asking the person themselves!"

She wasn't going to wither under her fury. Her voice just as venomous as his. "I assume because it's what's obvious. Nothing's worse than someone telling you something that's already right there in front of you and making you look stupid."

"You think everyone's like that? You think I'm one of those people? God, Anne, don't you even know me at all?" He exclaimed. "All I want is for you to talk to me. But I guess there's not a chance that's happening unless you're drunk."

Ouch.

She felt like she had been slapped in the face.

Her eyes started to sting and he must probably notice that because his face turned softer. Regret filled his face. "Anne, I—I'm sorry I didn't—"

She raised a hand. "Don't, Steve." She swallowed thickly, refusing to let the tears fall. "You're right. I could never talk to you the way I need to."

Now it felt like he had been the one slapped. "You know I'm here for you, Anne. You don't have to push me away."

Natasha laughed dryly. "I'm certain Peggy wouldn't like that." God, she sounded like a child.

"Nothing's going on between me and Peggy!" He finally said. She stared at him, shocked. His eyes gazed into hers with a desire to make her believe. Make her understand. "You may not remember what I said that night but I told you that I don't see her that way. Not anymore. I thought it was, but I was wrong."

Silence fell over them.

"I saw you two wrapped around in each other's arms the other day, Rogers. Looks more than just a friendly hug." She bit out.

"It was an answer."

"To what?"

"To the kiss we shared before I left on our last mission." He swallowed thickly. "I promised to give her an answer once we're back and I did."

Her face fell even more. If that was possible. "And of course you said..."

"I said," He cut her off before she could jump to any conclusions. "That I like her. I'm attracted to her. But that I don't want to lead her on because I'm not in love with her."

Now all jealous turned into disbelief. "What?"

"In simpler words, I practically said no." he said.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Steve rejected her? He rejected his first love? His best girl? Because he wasn't in love with her? With Peggy Carter?

Suddenly, she felt the hope searing back into her heart as she observed him staring into her eyes. Gazing into them warmly that just made her weak at the knees.

"Now you know?" He said, his voice hinting an edge of sharpness to it. "Now you know why it's important to talk to someone rather than assume things?"

And suddenly, the anger was flowing past her again. Was he throwing his words at her to bait her? "So you said all of this just to prove your point?"

"What? No. No, it's not that. I said it because I wanted you to know that I don't think of Peggy that way." He sighed, "Because there's someone else."

"That night when we were out in the roof, you also said that. Are you talking about the same person here?" she asked.

He hummed in approval.

She remembered his exact words that night. "Are you still interested in her?"

"I think I managed to get a little farther than that." He looked straight at her. "Right now I think I'm in love with her."

Her eyes widened. Her face heated up when she realized what he was hinting on. She wasn't going to be oblivious and dumb like other women try to pretend they are. She wasn't assuming but she was smart enough to read people.

And now? She definitely knew who he was talking about.

Oh, God.

"You can't." She suddenly said. Shocking not only Steve but herself as well.

Steve raised an eyebrow. "And why not?"

Because you'll get hurt. "You just can't." She turned away and started walking the other way. Not stopping to give him a chance to say anything else.

She could feel something wet slipped down her cheek.

Steve was chasing after her, not caring if he was having a hard time to catch up to her quick pace and talk at the same time. "Why? Because I lied when I told her I just wanted to be her friend?"

Her eyes were becoming glassy. "You don't know the first thing about being someone's friend."

What he said next almost made her stop in her tracks. "I don't want to just be your friend." Steve declared.

She couldn't meet his gaze. For she knew the moment she did, everything will come breaking down. Steve would always be enough of a reason that makes her think with her heart rather than her mind. And it's getting damn harder to control every time it happens.

Like now.

"You don't know what you want, Steve." You don't know what you're asking. You'll only get hurt because of me.

"Neither do you. Maybe you're just too scared that someone might actually want to be with you!"

That lit the fire inside her. She whirled around, letting him see the tears staining her face. "And why would that scare me?" she asked, her voice betraying her own anger.

"Because then you wouldn't be able to hide behind your guns, or your knives, or this damn mask you're always putting up." He said.

That set her off the edge. She kept her hard glare on him as she turned to leave again.

This time, Steve was already in front of her and grabbing her shoulders to force her to look at him in the eyes. "No, no, you know the real reason why you're scared?" 

Blue eyes staring straight into her green eyes. His was filled with love and understanding.

"Because you want to be with me too."

Her mouth parted slightly at his accusation.

All moral senses were knocked out of her system when she found herself unable to think. Unable to move. Unable to do anything at all as she could only stare at the man in front of her.

Her words were nothing but sincere. Genuine. Truth. Honest.

Another tear slipped down her cheek because she knew, and she had always known, that he was right. She wanted to be happy. She wanted to jump in joy and pull him closer to her to kiss him until they were out of breath.

But she couldn't do that. This was all just a mistake. No matter how much it sounded and looked real to her, real enough to live a life where someone as good and pure as Steve Rogers had learned to love her—it wasn't.

Besides, Steve hadn't fallen in love with Natasha Romanoff.

He had fallen in love with Anne Klein.

That was the bittersweet truth.

"I..." Her voice sounded hoarse and dry from crying. "I can't, Steve."

The heartbroken look on his face would possibly haunt her forever. His face fell into despair. "Why? I know I'm not the only one walking on thin ice here." He wouldn't let her go. He wouldn't. "I know you feel something for me too. I know."

Yes, she does feel something.

But her feelings alone aren't enough to be worthy of someone like him.

She could've said it back. Anything or something to convince him that he was right, but Natasha couldn't hurt him more than he already is.

So she shot down all remaining hope left inside him. "I'm sorry." She whispered, pulling away from his hold to walk past him.

This time, he didn't stop her.

———————————————————————————— 

They finally reached the mountain.

Much to Bucky's relief and joy.

"It's about time you got here!"

Obviously, it may be the wrong thing to say the second he saw their faces. An awkward cough escaped his lips.

Steve shot him a look.

"I mean uh... sorry." He said sheepishly.

The snow was heavily falling over their heads. They stood on the edge of an icy cliff, as they hovered over a deep trench and far across they could make out a speedily moving train that was transporting Zola to his leader, Johann Schmidt.

Apparently, they received news that he was taking his super soldier serum to a secret HYDRA base location.

Bucky stared at the cable lines above them. He gulped in nervousness. "Remember when I made you ride the Cyclone at Coney Island?"

Steve glanced at him. "Yeah, and I threw up?"

"This isn't payback is it?"

He smirked. "Now, why would I do that?"

"You were right, Dr. Zola's on the train," Jones said, gathering their attention. He was hacking into HYDRA's radio. "HYDRA dispatched. Wherever he's going they must need him bad."

"Is he the only one on the train?" Natasha asked.

Morita looked through his binoculars. "Can't tell. The fog is covering the windows."

She nodded, prepping up her pistols one more and placing them in her combat belt. She stared at the sight in front of her and took a deep breath.

"You alright?" Bucky asked, noticing her looking at the abyss below.

"Yeah. Though it wouldn't be so much fun as riding a zip line, it's going to be fun. I guess."

He chuckled. "Somehow, I had a feeling you'd say something like that."

"How about you huh? Is the great Sergeant James Barnes not afraid of anything?"

"You kidding me? I almost tore my lungs out when Steve and I went to a Halloween gig at Coney Island last year. Everything looked nasty enough to be real. It scared the shit out of me."

Somehow, that made her laugh. "How brave of you." She teased.

Bucky rolled his eyes. "Shut up." He started to adjust the weapons on his belt. Without looking at her, he asked, "I'm not going to ask what happened this time but can I ask just how bad it is?"

Natasha stiffened. This guy really notices everything. "Worse." She muttered.

"Well, I'm getting pretty tired of playing matchmaker for the both of you. I swear you guys are nothing farther when children fight."

"It's a lot more complicated than that." She deduced.

"Yeah, I figured. But since you and Steve are both stubborn idiots, I figured this fight would take maybe... about another two or three days? Give or take?" There was amusement laced in his tone.

She couldn't help but smile though. "You're such an ass."

Bucky chuckled. "I'm serious, though. You both need each other more than you know. About time one of you swallows your goddamn pride."

"It's not that easy, James."

He glanced at her. "Of course it's not. Nothing is. But you love him, don't you?"

Her heart skipped a beat. From the corner of her eye, she could see Steve adjusting the straps on his suit while putting on his helmet. She sighed, feeling her breath hitched in her throat. "Yeah."

"Then that's all you need to know. You have nothing to worry about. Whatever it is, whatever you're dealing with, it will be easier when you have him to go through with it." He gave her a smile. "Of course if that punk ever breaks your heart just let me know and I'll beat his ass for it."

She laughed softly, smiling. "I'll keep that in mind."

Bucky rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It's going to be fine. Okay?"

Natasha nodded. "Okay."

Their moment was cut short when Steve's voice boomed through the wind. The moment she looked back at him, she couldn't see any trace of Steve Rogers left. No, this was Captain America speaking to them.

And she needed to do the same.

Ignore her personal feelings and focused on getting the mission done. Work before your own self.

"Let's get moving." He said.

They prepared everything they needed and scrambled to get into position. She settled a spot behind Bucky. "We've only got a ten-second window. You miss that window and we're bugs on a windshield." Steve said.

Ouch. That sounded terrible.

The train sped up like a devil. Coming up close to near to where they were.

"Mind the gap!"

"Better get moving bugs!"

They waited for a few short seconds before Morita finally lowered his arm down as a signal. "Let's move!"

The captain jumped off the cliff and zipped down the line towards the train. Bucky took a deep breath before following him as well. Natasha did the same, as well as the other soldiers.

The ride was only about 15 seconds tops but she felt it was much longer than that. A sigh of relief escaped her lips once she made contact with the cold metal roof of the train. She crouched down, trying hard to keep her balance.

"Come on!" Steve called to them.

They all followed him along the roof of the train. They stopped when Steve opened up a circular door. One by one, they slipped inside. The others were left for the lookout on top of the train. Once they were inside, it turned dead silent.

Natasha readied her pistols while Bucky pulled out his rifle from behind. Steve raised his shield while cautiously inspecting the room.

The three quietly made their way through the first compartment. It was full of cargo and boxes. She assumed it must be weapons. At the end of the compartment, there was an open door leading to another room. It was smaller and more compact than before, also leading to another compartment.

The captain didn't hesitate to walk through the small room and enter towards the other compartment.

As soon as he got to the other compartment though, the door from the first and second compartments suddenly shut tight. It separated Bucky and Natasha on the first compartment and Steve all alone on the other one.

Natasha banged on the door, as did Steve. Her eyes widened as soon she saw a HYDRA, masked and armed, about to shoot Steve from behind. Even though she knew he wouldn't hear him, he could sense the panic on her face.

"Cap, behind you!" She shouted.

He turned around just in time to block the fire aimed at him. She, on the other hand, turned around to find about two HYDRA soldiers at the far end of the compartment. Bucky took cover at the corner, shooting with his rifle, while she on the other one with her pistols.

Because of the lack of light, Natasha was having difficulty in shooting the soldiers. She was also trying to take cover because they were advancing towards them. She and Bucky couldn't find the right time to shoot all at once.

Every trigger she pulled would just fire a bullet aiming for the walls. It was a lousy aim. Once her first pistol was out of ammo, she tossed it as hard as she could towards the soldier. Of course, it did nothing.

"Nice going, Anne." Bucky deadpanned.

"I fail to see you suggest any better idea than this?" She argued.

Natasha saw that a blast of blue had hit the door behind them. She glanced up to meet the eyes of their Steve. He sensed that they needed help and took out a pistol from his pocket and chucked it at her. She caught it and tossed it at Bucky who was also out of ammo.

She prepped up her last pistol. Steve nodded at the both of them. They caught onto what he was thinking.

Steve darted out the small compartment and used his shield to push a cargo straight towards the HYDRA men. As expected, they both avoided it and was shoved into both ends. Bucky fired a shot at the one on the left while she simultaneously fired the one on the right.

They all let out a breath.

"I had him on the ropes." Bucky defended.

"I know," Steve said.

"Are you hurt?" Natasha couldn't keep the worry surfacing in her tone.

He brushed her off. "I'm fine—hey get down!"

It all happened so fast.

Out of nowhere, an armed HYDRA came at them again. And before they knew it, the blast was fired straight at them. Steve raised his shield just in time but the impact was too strong that it sent all of them flying over the place. A part of the train was blown to pieces, leaving a hole towards the depths below.

Steve took most of the hit though. He laid down on the ground, clutching his side.

Natasha had been slammed into the metal wall and she felt her back ached in pain. She groaned, trying hard to find the strength to stand up. She looked up just in time to see Bucky take Steve's shield. He used it while firing at the HYDRA soldier.

Her heart began to speed up. This wasn't looking good. She knew that Bucky didn't have the upper strength to support Steve's shield. She needed to stop him now.

"James, stop! Just run!" she cried.

"Fire again!" A German voice rang out in the air.

"Don't!"

But she was too late.

The masked HYDRA had already blasted his gun towards her friend. She watched in horror as Bucky was blasted out of the train. She clumsily stood up and took her pistol and tried to fire at the HYDRA man.

Steve was already on his feet. He took his shield and swung it towards the masked HYDRA. He didn't hesitate to rush over the edge of the train. He inched out to reach Bucky and extended his hand. "Bucky! Hang on!"

Natasha watched as the HYDRA man slowly stood up. She aimed for his head, but her bullets were no use to his armor.

"Seize the girl!" The German spoke again.

What?

She was alarmed when the HYDRA started running towards her. She tried to slow him down by aiming for his feet this time but it didn't even make a dent. She blocked his swing and jumped just in time when he aimed for her feet as well.

She was faced towards the hole in the train.

The scene made her stop.

She watched as Steve tried hard to reach for Bucky, going far as to hang over the broken side of the train too and extended his hand. "Grab my hand!"

Bucky tried to reach for it. He let go of his one hand.

When the sound of the metal creaked. The bar slowly slid down. "No!" Steve yelled.

The bar fell completely loose.

Natasha felt her heart fall into a pit as she saw Bucky fell down over the edge. Steve desperately grabbed onto mid-air as he failed to reach and catch him.

While she was distracted, the HYDRA man took this as an opportunity to swung his fist right at her. For the second time, her back hit the metal wall and some of the cargo. She felt her vision circled.

Before she knew it, the HYDRA man had picked her up with his one arm and raised the other at the same time Steve managed to climb back up.

Natasha tried to break free but the grip was too strong. "Steve look out!" she warned.

Steve dodged just in time just as the blast went past him. His eyes burned with so much fury and pain. This was the first time she saw him like this. "Let her go!" he demanded.

A voice rang in mid-air.

"I'm sorry captain." Steve turned around, trying to find the source of the voice. "But she's ours now."

The masked HYDRA suddenly threw Natasha towards the other compartment.

"Anne!" Steve threw his shield to try and stop the doors from closing but failed to reach it in time.

Like before, the door slid shut before she could get out, trapping her on the other room while Steve was on the other side. The HYDRA threw a punch at Steve. It hit him straight in the chest.

Natasha cried out, "Steve!"

But the captain was also becoming too light-headed at the constant impacts. He didn't have the strength to stand up anymore.

He gave one final glance at Natasha. She was screaming and yelling at him to keep going. He took this as his strength to try standing up. He wouldn't let them have her.

No way in hell.

But the HYDRA man seemed to think otherwise and slammed his foot against the captain's face.

The last thing Steve saw was Natasha banging furiously on the door. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.

Then everything went black.

  »»————- ★ ————-««  

Can you hear that? 

It's the sound of my heart breaking.

p.s. you guys caught onto the 'a walk to remember' reference? xD