Let the Ashes Fly
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Let the ashes fly by Bittersweet_in_Boston
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies)
09 Jul 2021
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Summary
Now that they’ve gotten so close to Bucky, Steve’s thoughts and feelings have gone back into overdrive. At the beginning of their search, Steve was coming off the drama and violence of the Battle of the Triskelion and recovering from his injuries, and poured his heart into finding Bucky. The string of disappointments and false leads frustrated him, dimmed his zeal a bit, but this new development has brought everything surging back, all the feelings, all the memories.
They wash over him in a flood as he stands in this field in Bumfuck, New York, looking up at the stars. The life he had with Bucky before the war…becoming Captain America and rescuing Bucky at Kreischberg…losing Bucky from that train in the Alps…bringing the Valkyrie down and all those years of darkness in the ice…adapting to the twenty-first century and finding Bucky again, only to lose him, wondering if he’ll ever find him again…or if he even wants to be found.
The breeze ruffles Steve’s hair as he drops his head and clenches his fists.
Buck.
I miss you.
Where are you?
Series
- Part 1 of Let the Ashes Fly
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Like No Other You Can’t Be Replaced by Bittersweet_in_Boston
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe
24 Aug 2021
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Summary
“Seriously, Steve,” he says, voice emphatic. “My recon indicates dozens of Hydra personnel in this building, we’ll need stealth and surprise before unleashing the brute force. And Steve…” Bucky leans his face closer. “This is a lethal mission, no disabling, disarming, or taking into custody.”
Now Steve is really hesitant. He kind of acknowledged this possibility in the back of his mind when he got Bucky’s text, but hearing it said out loud is tough. The order goes directly against current Avengers protocol and against his position as Captain America.
“Bucky…” he starts, but the other man cuts him off.
“No,” Bucky says flatly. “There’s a squad of Hydra soldiers in there protecting at least six scientists and two handlers, all eight of whom were present at Ideal Federal Savings Bank last April.” He takes a step back before continuing. “You know…when I got wiped on Pierce’s orders before being sent to kill you at the Triskelion.”
Steve stands stock still. He can’t deny that this info is a punch in the gut.
Series
- Part 2 of Let the Ashes Fly
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In Hind of Sight, No Peace of Mind by Bittersweet_in_Boston
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies)
29 Aug 2021
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Summary
Steve is really furious right now. For almost two years, since the Chitauri invasion, he’s been working for SHIELD, thinking he was doing the right thing, taking down bad guys and protecting people. And now it turns out they’re building giant death machines, like the Valkyrie only bigger, with just as many mass casualties only maybe more “targeted,” with SHIELD deciding who’s worthy of judgement.
As Steve rides up the elevator by himself to the above-ground floors in the Triskelion, the conversation with Fury repeats over and over in his mind. There’s one sentence that stands out.
Greatest generation? You guys did some nasty stuff.
Immediately Steve’s eidetic memory surfaces that whole host of images from the war that he put aside to pursue the argument. All of them include Bucky.
Bucky.
Series
- Part 3 of Let the Ashes Fly
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You Honor What You Love to No End by Bittersweet_in_Boston
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe
21 Oct 2021
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Summary
“What happened,” Steve says after a few minutes.
“Scratched it on the fence while I was doing some recon,” replies Bucky shortly, kicking his boots into the soft earth under the leaves. “It’ll be fine. But I need your help with this one.”
“Who or what is in there,” asks Steve, resisting the urge to run his hand down Bucky’s uninjured thigh.
“It’s Rumlow and one of my old handlers,” says Bucky softly, and Steve says “motherfucker” under his breath. “They arrived last night by helicopter. It’s still there, on a pad behind the warehouse, northwest corner. And we need to take this depot out too. There are no trucks at the bays but there are thirty or forty semis inside, full of weapons and other materials to restart Hydra cells in the Northeast.”
Steve says “motherfucker” again, this time a little louder.
“This is pretty big, bigger than the Berkshires,” he says after a moment of silence. “Should we get the Avengers involved? They’ve got the extra firepower, and Tony…”
“No,” says Bucky sharply, cutting Steve off. He can’t see it, but Steve knows his love is frowning under his mask. “I need to take care of this now.“
Series
- Part 4 of Let the Ashes Fly
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Welcome the Darkness by Bittersweet_in_Boston
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies)
29 Oct 2021
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Summary
Steve and Bucky stop on the road to Azzano with the other POWs. Steve can tell something’s wrong. Bucky doesn’t want to talk about it.
Series
- Part 5 of Let the Ashes Fly
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No Home Like the One I Found in You by Bittersweet_in_Boston
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe
31 Oct 2021
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Summary
The Asset stands motionless on the roof next to the apartment where his target is hiding. His gun is at the ready and his eyes are focused on the windows, looking for any sign of life from the living room. He’s already completed his assessment of the environs and he’ll wait as long as necessary to complete his mission, which is Level 6.
Kill Nick Fury.
Series
- Part 6 of Let the Ashes Fly
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The Shadows Stay by Your Side by Bittersweet_in_Boston
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe
18 Dec 2021
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Summary
Steve and Bucky are lying in the hayloft of a barn on an abandoned farm somewhere outside of Vittel. They’re trying to keep quiet because the odds are about even that there are Hydra soldiers in the immediate vicinity. Even though it’s doubtful that the Hydra goons have Steve’s enhanced superserum hearing, the late October night outside is still and cold, and any noise they make could travel a decent distance across the barren fields.
Earlier this afternoon, the Howlies pulled a successful raid on a known Hydra base just outside Nancy, some miles north of here. They killed the CO and his staff and made off with a nice-size cache of Hydra weapons, a box of gold bullion and uncut diamonds, and a small, mysterious trunk with strange designs on it.
They were in the process of blowing up the base (merci fuckin beaucoup, Dernier!) when the mission started to go to shit.
Series
- Part 7 of Let the Ashes Fly
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They rise and needs will have by Bittersweet_in_Boston
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies)
17 Apr 2022
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The love of his life is standing five feet in front of him, dressed in his familiar blue jacket and brown pants, the last thing he saw Bucky wearing. He holds himself oddly, his left arm behind him and out of sight as if he’s hiding something, but otherwise it’s entirely the same man he’s missed all these months.
Chest full, breathing fast and shallow, he stands as if rooted to the earth. He wants to run forward and pitch himself at Bucky’s feet, kneel and beg for forgiveness, tell him how sorry he is that he couldn’t reach him as he dangled from that train. How sorry he is that he was persuaded not to look for him in those alpine ravines until he found him. How sorry he is that he never told him quite enough how much he loved him, how much he needed him.
How Bucky was a part of him that was lost and he knew right away that he’d never be complete again.
Series
- Part 8 of Let the Ashes Fly
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Canyon Calling by Bittersweet_in_Boston
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies)
09 Nov 2022
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Summary
But now Bucky is smiling at him. The sun is setting to their left in a riot of bright orange, soaking the pink and brown of the huge ancient rocks standing guard over the canyon. Steve’s not sure he’s ever seen anything so beautiful in all his life.
Besides his husband, of course.
Series
- Part 9 of Let the Ashes Fly
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What’s left you make something of it by Bittersweet_in_Boston
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies)
01 Jan 2023
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Summary
Steve groans again and licks his lips. As much as Bucky’s tempted to give him some of the eye-popping motherload he found in the basement, he holds off and sticks with strong, sweet tea from the stove. He doesn’t see any head wound, but best not to risk it.
The fire is burning down a bit, so he grabs a few logs and stokes it up, keeps the room nice and warm against the December chill. The smell of woodsmoke is everywhere. Before the war, he’d always thought all of France was warm and tropical, like those ads in the movies for Saint Tropez, but it’s colder here outside Reims in late December than it ever was at home in Red Hook.
Series
- Part 10 of Let the Ashes Fly
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The Moment When a Memory Aches by Bittersweet_in_Boston
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies)
24 Mar 2023
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Summary
Bucky’s voice is low and sincere, none of his usual relentless irony, and as he looks at Steve, his eyes are urgent and pleading. “Got it?” he repeats.
Steve looks back at him. “Valentine’s Day, Paris, twenty-four hundred hours,” he recites.
Series
- Part 11 of Let the Ashes Fly
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Amid the cold of winter by Bittersweet_in_Boston
Fandoms: Captain America (Movies), Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers (Marvel Movies)
25 Dec 2023
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Summary
It’s almost pitch dark in the church — there’s a moon tonight, but it’s a waning crescent and provides almost no light — but they can still make out three dark shapes advancing up the aisle toward the altar.
The Hydra agents are attempting stealth, but their tread is heavy on the threadbare aisle runner spread over the old wood floor. Beyond that, they’re muttering to each other, and they’re using a small bluish light to check the pews.
Fucking amateurs. Even Steve can be quieter than that, and he’s a goddamn supersoldier.
And Bucky…well. Nobody’s stealthier than Sergeant Barnes when he wants to be.
Series
- Part 12 of Let the Ashes Fly
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Secrets to Uncover by Bittersweet_in_Boston
Fandoms: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America (Movies), The Avengers (Marvel Movies)
30 Jan 2024
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Summary
Steve stops sketching and looks up at her, blue eyes piercing. “Why’d you agree to come with me on this…trip?” he asks. “You’re deputy director of SHIELD, you could’ve told me to go pound sand and ordered me to work with Romanova instead.”
Smiling, Maria finishes her cheese pastry, which is delicious. “Sometimes I miss field work,” she replies. “And…honestly? I’ve wanted to work with you since the Battle of New York, and especially since that Christmas party.”
A little pink flits across Steve’s cheeks at the mention of the party. But before he can respond, the door jingles and a thirty-something man ambles in. “Target acquired,” he says softly and unnecessarily. And just like that, they slide into their cover personas.
Series
- Part 13 of Let the Ashes Fly