Work Text:
Code Name: Depth Spiral
Steve Rogers is exiting the love of his life, Ms. Peggy Carter’s funeral, the tears streaming down his cheeks, the super soldier serum is expiring from his body, he is no longer a man who is worthy of the mountain of muscles on his body, and he's a triple threat under those clothes.
An alert goes off in his ears as Tony’s newest improvement to the ear pods comes in with an advanced projection forming a visor over his eyes, and he is left aghast at what he is being shown. Bucky, looking crazed, is on the run again, shooting at the crowds of people as he leaps onto a building.
Steve’s heart is about to leap from his chest while his feet move automatically back to the base, his mind racing away paranoid. At what’s unfolding now with his best friend, who he cares so much for and who he might have lost forever at this moment in time, how can he come back from this mess?
Erstwhile… Bucky manages to return back to his new home unseen and unscathed, and with no scruples to keep him at bay, he awaits the sound of feet descending upon him and a strong familiar draw, and he knows the man who had found him was saving him from his own total downfall.
It’s been well over five hours now. Steve is on his way to confront him, thinking he will bring him in. Steve thinks he is the same Bucky he was a few hours ago before his master helped him to see the truth, and he is indebted to that man for life, as he wishes to never be separated from him.
Bucky’s eyes dart upward, matching each of his footsteps till he comes to a spot, spinning about, sitting on his throne. Bucky had stolen from a king, and it was a victorious memory of which he was eternally proud of the idea. of starting a new world order where his master could do as he likes.
Bucky feels a spark connecting with his eyeline as he looks up to see Steve peering down at him from on high. Steve takes a literal leap of faith off a rope, smashing into the glass, spraying it all over the floor of the building’s basement, and swiftly cases the room.
Bucky, surrounded by darkness, takes one overdone step at a time, making his pale existence and persona appearance known to Steve, who grimaces at the confusing sight of the man he once cherished with all his heart and soul; like the fire lighting everything and everyone in its pathway, he stood tall and still.
Preparing for a battle, Steve jumps into his fighting stance, but Bucky puts his hand in line, clapping resoundingly and uproariously. the walls and bouncing in an echo chasm of repeated offensives to Steve’s brain, and the real all-out brawl begins when Steven’s legs give out to the floor, and he covers his ears from the sheer level of incalculable pain.
Bucky with an insane smile on his face creeps Steve out; it almost felt like the old days with his best friend Bucky always at his side through Being beat up and brought down, nothing could stop him. That was a lie, of course because of that weak body Steve has since long past, and his heroic friend Bucky is no longer here.
“Is that what you believe, Steve? Yes! I can hear every little useless and indulgent voice and thought in that sexy pretty little head of yours.” Bucky adds pressing the sole button on a remote, pointing it towards the sky as a light radiates down, shining a projection onto the floor.
“What is this nonsense? The old world iis gone. Stop it! Why, Bucky? Why…” Steve is fretting. “Welcome Back! You were in a coma for so long, Stevie boi was scared out of your mind, and we worried so deeply for you, babe!” Bucky adds, pressing his lips on Steve’s forehead.
“Who are you really? Bucky is not here?” Steve demands.
“I am Bucky; I am him,” Bucky replies.
“You cannot trick or manipulate me.” Steve stammers.
“Why would I? I am saved.“ Bucky stays.
“Who offered you salvation?” Steve asks.
“My master, our master,” Bucky states confidently.
“I have no master, you bastard.“ Steve is in a state of panic.
“Yet! Here you are at his mercy.” Bucky chides.
“Asshole!” Ire in Steve’s eyes, growing red with rage, is such a rare sight.
“Show yourself,“ Steve demands, holding on to a wall.
“You sure know how to ruin an entrance.” He adds.
“So speak or face my wrath.” Slamming his fist on the wall.
“Oh, Steve!” The man appears next to Bucky.
“Meet my shadow,” he says, clapping Bucky’s back.
“Get off of him and Buck?” Bucky stays still like a barren doll to the world.
“Buck says hi,” the man instructs him.
“Hi Steve.” Bucky sprints up.
“He is so giddy! That dyed him.” Steve is saying so compellingly the pain is resonating.
“What’s the death spiral?” Steve asks.
“You want to know?” The man pushes.
“Yes,” Steve states, crossing his arms.
“Activate it,” the man says.
“Beg me,” the man says again.
“I am not begging you for anything, you fiend.“ Steve is at a loss for words.
“You will beg me, Captain, or Bucky gets gutted.” The man cups Bucky’s chin with his hand.
“Wait, no! Please.“ Steve collapses to the ground.
“Please save him, and please tell me the code name.” The great hero has fallen.
“The code name is a reference to you.” He says
“You are speaking gibberish,“ Cap says stunned.
“Am I Cap? Code name “ the man persists.
“Code name “ the man responds.
“That is enough of this bullshit.” Cap yells.
“Oh, I am appalled… Tsk…tsk, Cap… Remember what you said about the language,” the man shook his finger.
“I am not a child… you cannot…” He comes to moments of emptiness in consuming his mind and body.
“I have all the right and ability to chastise you for all eternity.” The man smirks, smacking him.
“Depth Spiral,” the man gives his final order, causing the Great American hero to drop in utter surrender.
The end