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“How are they doing, Buck?” Steve asked, approaching the glass.
“You know they can understand you, right? Why not just ask them?” Bucky replied, not moving his eyes from watching the winged person on the other side of the glass.
“I… didn’t think they’d respond. You read the file, Bucky. They can’t talk. They can’t remember how.”
“Doesn’t mean they don’t understand.” Bucky replied, side eyeing his old friend. Raising his voice a bit he locked eyes with the captive person, who quickly glanced away. “Hey there M. How you feeling?” The person, M, shrugged and waved their hand slightly, before giving a thumbs down. Bucky and Steve could hear a tongue click twice as well in response.
“I’ll hazard a guess, Steve, that that means they’re not okay. I think they’re kinda scared right now. I mean, I would be too.” Bucky was right. M was scared. Their brainwashing had worn off, their handlers were who knows where, they were in an unfamiliar place…
The list goes on.
Project M6 Codename: Infinity, a HYDRA asset, had been captured by what was left of SHIELD. This wasn’t the first time they were captured, but so far it’s definitely been the longest. Last time they were, HYDRA agents inside of SHIELD managed to sabotage the efforts of SHIELD to help M6, and to break their asset out of containment. So far, it’s been a month. Maybe more, maybe less. There’s no clock in the cell, so M6 has no idea. The person called Bucky, he visited them in their cell.
Often.
It started about a week ago, and he had come in every day, just standing there. For whatever reason, he felt familiar. But did that mean he was HYDRA? M6 didn’t know. It made sense, didn’t it? After all the only people they knew before were all HYDRA. Who was he?
Whoever he was, M6 found his presence comforting. They liked being called M. They liked him being around. Or they would, if they understood what comfort was.
Bucky gently placed his hand on the glass, fingers spread. M6 cautiously approached the glass separating them, blue eyes flicking between the two men on the other side.
“Buck, are you sure that’s safe?"
"They need to know we’re friends, Steve. That we won’t hurt them.” He replied. ‘Besides, I think I know what they’re going through…’
M6 hesitantly touched the glass, and upon finding it safe to do so, placed their hand against Bucky’s. An alarm blared, red lights flashing. M6 jumped back, their wings spreading slightly. Eyes darting around, they searched for a way out.
"Buck, Bucky we have to go. That’s an attack on the compound. We have to go.“
"Someone should stay here. To make sure it’s not you-know-who coming for them."
"Buck! The room is going into lockdown, we have to go!” Steve said, jogging towards the door. He was right - the shutters over the door were closing.
"We’ll be back. Don’t worry M. You’re safe here.“ Bucky called out, running to the door. M6 didn’t know if that was true.
What they did know, without realizing it, was that if HYDRA wanted them back, there’s no stopping them. They already lost one super soldier.
They weren’t about to loose another.
M6 punched the glass wall in front of them, before returning to pacing back and forth. Their wings flexed behind them, as they itched to get in the air and away from the SHIELD compound. Away from the loud alarms and flashing lights. Suddenly, as they paced, the door to their cell slide open, and remained open. Cautiously, M6 approached, staring at the open door before quickly darting out.
And faced yet another locked door.
Crouching in front of it, ready to run, M6 waited and didn't wait long. Sure enough, a familiar face opened the door and smiled upon seeing their asset crouched in front of them. M6's muscles relaxed a touch upon seeing their handler, with two soldiers behind him. They tensed back up when the sounds of gunfire and metal on flesh reached their ears.
"Привет, солдат" Hello, Solider. M6's head lowered, preparing for what was to come.
"Одинокий" Lonely.
"Пурпурный" Purple.
"Двенадцать" Twelve.
"смеркаться" Dusk.
"Камин" Fireplace.
"Агрессия" Aggression.
"Потерял" Lost.
"Двадцать" Twenty.
"животное" Animal.
"Главная" Home.
"Готовы соблюдать" Ready to comply. Infinity's head raised up, empty eyes looking directly at the handler as it spoke. Its handler stepped to the side as it stood up, muscles tensing up for the impending fight. Its wings shrunk away, the flesh and feathers melding into Infinity's flesh. Striding forwards, it accepted a combat knife and a pistol from another soldier who offered them to Infinity.
Down the hall was Captain America, his back to Infinity as he fought a Hydra soldier. A single gun shot rang out, making the Captain duck to the ground, as the Hydra soldier turned tail upon realizing that their asset was out of containment and under control.
"M6! Get out of here!" The Captain yelled, not seeing the gun in its hand. Not seeing the lifeless eyes staring him down. Another gunshot rang out, the bullet striking the wall right next to his head.
"Buck, I don't think-" Captain America started to say, before bracing for impact. Infinity charged at him, jumping at the last second to land a flying kick on his shoulder. This sent the Captain reeling sideways, as Infinity landed and whipped around to face the other man, the one addressed as Buck.
Who promptly tackled Infinity to the ground, pinning its arms to the ground by the wrists. Laying his full weight on top of Infinity, he screamed at it.
"M!" Wake up, snap out of it! This isn't you-" For this, he received a sharp head-butt in the nose. His hold on its wrists relaxed slightly, and Infinity snaked one arm free, about to hit Bucky in the face again.
Infinity didn't get a chance. Bucky's left hand, now free, landed a wicked left hook on the side of Infinity's head. Its head rolled to one side, eyes closed and mouth slightly open. Bucky cautiously released his hold on the other wrist, before sitting and then standing up. Looking Steve in the eyes, he asked;
"Did I do the right thing?"
"I... I don't know, Buck. I think so- OH GOD!" Steve exclaimed, as M6 sat up, looking around. Upon seeing Bucky, their eyes quickly filled with tears. Grabbing the pistol off the floor where it had fallen, they stood up quickly, before either man could make their way towards them. Firing the rest of the clip into the window near by, the broke through, landing on the roof a story below. Wings quickly gained form from their back, M6 jumped off the building, soaring off into the distance.
"Do you... Have any idea where they're going?"
"Not a clue Steve. Not a clue."
M6 flew, fast as they reasonably could, before spotting a tower that the world knew well. Stark Tower. Dropping in altitude, they dove towards the landing pad. The wind tore past them as they flew in. They landed hard on the tower's landing pad, chest heaving as they rolled onto their back.
"Mr. Stark, you have a guest on the landing pad."
"Who the hell-" Tony started to say, before going to check a monitor. "Its probably Thor dropping in, or maybe Rhodes... No, that is for sure neither of them." He said, switching the heads up display monitor off. With quick strides, he made his way to the landing pad, and to a panting M6.
"Hey, hey what are you doing here? Do you want some water?" M6 nodded, and gestured to their left eye and made a punching motion.
"You got punched in the face? What happened?" M6 gestured vaguely. "I'm calling Cap, you're supposed to be at the compound." He stated, helping M6 to their feet and into the building. After opening and handing them a bottle of water, Tony turned to another display screen and clicked a couple icons.
"Hey, star spangled banner. You missing a captive?"
"Yeah, M6 is gone. Wait, how did you know-"
"They're here. Here, Steve. Come get them."
"Hydra attacked the compound, they're after M6."
"Yeah I kinda figured that given ya know, they're here and not in containment."
"What?!" A new voice, Bucky, yelled at Tony. "M is with you?! Why would they go there?"
"Why don't you come ask them yourself, ice princess?"
"Dammit, I will!" Bucky could be heard stomping off, presumably to find his way towards the Stark Tower. Cap shrugged and told Tony they'd be there soon with a containment team, before hanging up and running after his old friend.
Back on the couch, M6 had finished the water, and was now rocking back and forth, crying silently. Tears rolled down their cheeks, they glanced up at Tony before looking away quickly.
"Hey, look, I don't know what happened back there, but Steve and Bucky are on their way here. You'll be okay." M6 shuddered, wrapping their arms around their torso, and shook their head.
"What, you don't think you'll be okay? Hell, we ended up helping Bucky. You'll be fine. We just gotta break that brainwashing." M6 flinched, and leaned away from the comforting hand Tony had placed on their shoulder. He retracted his hand and sat on the other end of the couch, waiting with them for the quinjet to arrive. After a while, they both heard and saw the jet landing, a couple large feathers left by M6 being blown away by the engines. Bucky tore out of the quinjet, racing towards M6.
"Hey, don't cry... Don't cry..." He whispered, seeing them tear up again upon seeing him. "You're alive and that's what matters. C'mon lets get you some food. Gotta be hungry after a flight that long!" He exclaimed, gently helping M6 up and leading them to the kitchens of Stark Tower.
"Is this allowed? Is this allowed?" Tony asked Steve, pointing violently at the two super soldiers who were walking away.
"I think Bucky has the right idea. M6 needs a friend."