Chapter Text
Colonel Phillips’s interrogation of Zola proves useful in gathering the last intelligence against Schmidt. While his last base is revealed to be located deep within the Alps, you learn that the general is in the final stages of his plan. The United States is his first target, and there are only twenty-four hours to stop him. You’re sitting next to Steve during the briefing, and you can feel the tension radiating off of his body. Whatever was spoken during his talk with Peggy helped focus his mind, but his heart continues to grieve for his friend’s “death.” You swallow at the thought, forcing your mind back to the task set before you.
“Let’s take the fight to him,” Steve suggests, throwing his stack of papers onto the table before standing. “Let’s end this war before anyone else can get hurt.”
You watch him take his leave, the funneling of voices filling your mind. As the rest of the SSR works to finalize the details, you excuse yourself. You scratch your palm as your body leads you out into the open air. A short walk to the nearest park brings you to your friend sitting on a bench. Steve stares out to the torn landscape around the two of you, the memories of people’s voices and cars honking filling your minds. If a year could turn it into this wasteland, then the hopes of rebuilding could turn it into something beautiful. At least, that’s what you could hope for.
“Whenever I was worried about you, I knew that if I went to the nearest park, you would be there, writing in that small journal you always carry around. After we rescued Bucky, you began to write less. I thought that there was something going on that you weren’t ready to talk to us about. But then I could see you laughing and smiling more with the guys. You weren’t hiding away in your shell; you were becoming more than you were before,” Steve says softly, a small smile on his face. “I always wanted to ask you if we had become your family, but I guess the answer was just right in front of me.”
You take a seat next to him. “You could have still asked me, you know.” His head turns to yours, his light blue eyes meeting your hazel ones. “Because you are family.”
“And now?”
“We’re still family, Steve. It just…feels different without Bucky.”
Steve sighs, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “It just…doesn’t feel real. We got him back only to lose him once more.”
“We tried everything we could to save him, Steve. You know he would’ve tried doing the same for either of us.”
Steve looks up at the sky. “I just wish it would get better, you know?”
You wrap an arm around Steve’s shoulders, pulling him close. “I know.”
That night, sleep doesn’t come easily to you. Nightmares of what could have been and what is coming filter through your mind, but you aren’t able to process it all before you find yourself on a motorcycle racing to Schmidt’s last base. The Hydra soldiers that follow you rain gunfire down, but you easily dodge each shot. Steve takes them out with ease, allowing for you to take the lead. You smile as the front of the base comes into view, a tank approaching the gates in greeting. A flip of a switch, and you fire two small missiles at the tank. The explosion distracts the guards long enough for you to ride up the side of their base, launching yourself over their entrance.
You release your hold on the bike and watch as it crashes into a group of armed Hydra soldiers. Barrel-rolling past a couple soldiers, you begin to punch your way through their reinforcements. Steve speeds past you, diving from his bike and allowing it to crash into the front of the base. Hydra forces begin to swarm the two of you, forcing you to fight back-to-back before a group of flamethrowers block off any attempts at escape. You slowly raise your hands above your head in surrender as additional rifles are aimed towards you. Once they’re given the go-ahead, several troops move to secure the two of you; there’s a soldier on each side of you with a third pointing a rifle into your back. You bite the inside of your cheek to keep from smiling as you’re led deeper inside the base.
Schmidt is all smiles as his guards lead you into what you assumed was his main laboratory. “Arrogance may not be a uniquely American trait, but you two are definitely the embodiments of it.” He walks past Steve to stand in front of you. “Yet, there are limits as to what even you can do, isn’t there?”
“Why don’t you tell your lackeys to let me go? I’m sure it’ll be a grand time finding out my limits,” you say with a smile.
Schmidt gives you his own smile before taking a step back to lean against a nearby desk. “Dr. Erskine resented my genius and tried to deny me what was rightfully mine.” He looks to Steve then back to you. “But he gave you both everything. Makes me wonder what made you so special. Maybe it was that special little trick you do that breaks down every material you touch.”
You huff, lifting your chin. “Poor Schmidt. Still ever so clueless as to what’s going on around you.”
The confusion in Schmidt’s eyes is laughable, even as Steve speaks. “You see, there’s nothing special about either of us. Hell, I’m just a kid from Brooklyn.”
That hits a nerve. He strikes Steve hard, and it takes everything within you not to retaliate. Your burning hatred for Hydra simmers in your chest as Steve looks up at Schmidt, the promise to keep fighting shining bright in his eyes. A pistol of the Red Skull’s design is aimed at Steve’s head, allowing for you to snap your head back. The signal is sent, and the clanks of metal hitting rock sound throughout the room. Schmidt turns towards the window of the laboratory, confusion spinning into surprise before landing on anger as the Howling Commandos begin to break through the glass.
“Right on time, boys!” you shout, slamming your shoulder against the guard that’s holding you on your right. As the one on your left moves to react, you break the handcuffs and grab the guard’s arm. He yells in surprise as you swing him into the third guard, a smile on your face as you watch Steve take out his own guards.
Gunfire erupts inside the room. You grab Steve’s shield and toss it to him before sprinting out into the hallway. Schmidt has a head-start thanks to the Commando’s distraction, but that doesn’t deter you. Explosions sound around you as the rest of your reinforcements start to pour into the base, and you can’t help the shiver that runs up your spine at the thrill of the chase. The thought of finally stopping Schmidt’s reign gets your blood pumping like you were running a marathon. You round a corner in the labyrinth of hallways and find Schmidt running towards you.
He growls with disgust, aiming a rifle in his hand towards you. Steve grabs your shoulder, pulling you back behind his shield just as the blast hits. You give a quick thanks before returning to your pursuit. Another blast forces you back into cover, allowing for Steve to throw his shield. It ricochets off a wall and is caught by the closing of the door. You roll your eyes at the theatrics but pause as a Hydra flame-thrower puts himself between the two of you and the door. You dive forward under the flames, pulling the glove off of your right hand as you barrel roll. You grip the cannisters, causing them to disintegrate before the soldier’s eyes. In the moment of hesitation, you slam your head forward against his, knocking him backwards.
“Carol!” You hear Peggy’s voice from your left. Her pistol is raised towards the Hydra soldier, and you have just enough time to dive out of range before a sudden explosion rings.
You stand to find a black scorch mark where the soldier had just been standing before turning to Peggy. She gives you a small smile before turning her attention to Steve. You find your friend staring back, amazement in his eyes. You shove him towards Peggy before sprinting off down the hallway Schmidt last took.
You’re sliding your glove back onto your hand when you hear Steve’s thunderous footsteps catching up to your own. “What the hell was that about?”
You smile and look at him. “Come on, Steve. It’s not hard to see how much you care about her. I was just trying to help you tell her how you really feel!”
“Easy for you to say!”
You slow to a stop, reaching out to grab his arm. When he turns to face you, you take a deep breath in. “Steve, nothing is ever going to get easier for us. Tell her how you feel; plan those dates. Show her what she means to you. Because when those chances are gone, you’ll wish with everything in your entire being for one more chance.”
Steve looks at you with consideration before signing. “We have to stop Schmidt first.”
You nod and follow him into the hanger. Schmidt’s bomber is beginning it’s takeoff, and there’s no visible way for you to grab on from where you stand. You and Steve begin to sprint for the bomber, but it’s still too fast, even with super-soldier speed. Just as it looks to be just out of reach, Colonel Phillips and Peggy pull up in what looks to be Schmidt’s personal car. With its speed pushed to the max, you know it’s the only chance to catch the landing gear before it lifts up.
You move to the front of the car just as Peggy calls for you to wait. You turn to see her grab the front of Steve’s uniform and pull him in for a kiss. Your smile matches the one that Peggy gives you before she pushes Steve towards you. “Go get him.”
The colonel drives the car as close to the landing gear as possible. You and Steve make the jump for the wheel as it begins to rise, and you breathe a sigh of relief as you watch the car barely stay on the runway. You give Steve a look before you both start to climb into the hanger bay. Your chest tightens at the sight of them all: the bombs set for the major cities of the United States. You run your hand over the one meant for New York City, but the incoming footsteps drag you away from your thoughts. A quick duck behind cover allows you to jump one of the pilots, but the other two quickly pull out knives.
You’re fighting one of them when the sounds of one of the bay doors opening catches your attention. Steve is able to quickly release one of the bombs before its pilot can get inside, and the distraction is enough for you to toss your opponent over the catwalk. His screams echo in your ears as you watch him be sucked out of the hanger bay. You bite your lip at the loss of another life, but the startup of another plane brings you back to reality. You’re unable to stop it and watch in horror as Steve jumps onto the plane as it drops from the hanger. You bang your fist down on the railing, your screams of frustration echoing through the hanger. It lasts for a moment as you try to calm your breathing and focus on the mission; there would be another time to feel helpless, but you had to stop Schmidt.
The frustration builds to anger as you make your way into the cockpit of the bomber, threatening to explode when you see no sign of the general. While there’s no physical sign of him, you can feel his presence lurking in the shadows. “It’s over, SChmidt. You’ve lost.”
“Never!” is the only warning you’re given before the sound of a rifle fires up behind you. You roll to the right and spin to find the Red Skull aiming at you once more. Another shot is fired, forcing you to dive behind a control panel. The glass above you shatters as a third shot rings out. “You never give up, do you?!”
You look above the control panel towards Schmidt, a smile on your face when you see a familiar shine behind the general. “Nope.”
Steve slams his shield into Schmidt’s side, forcing him backwards. You jump to your feet, adding in your own hits with Steve’s, but Schmidt is quick to regain his senses and retaliate. Even with your super-soldier strength, the general is able to hold his own. A missed swing allows for him to grab your arm and slam you into the controls of the bomber, knocking the air out of your chest. The disorientation is only made worse once the bomber begins to dive, forcing you to start floating in the air. Schmidt is able to bring the autopilot online, and you are slammed once more to the ground. With your vision spinning and the air knocked out of your lungs, you’re helpless to Schmidt’s hand wrapping around your neck as he pulls you to your feet. Steve stares at you helplessly as a pistol is aimed at your head.
“You could have the power of the gods!” he shouts before taking a shot at Steve. Your mind can’t focus in the split second the barrel is away from your head, but you can feel it return not a moment later. “Yet, here you are, wearing a flag and thinking that you fight a battle of nations! In my future, there are no flags!”
You struggle, hoping that it throws Schmidt’s aim off but to no avail. You take a deep breath, already regretting your next course of action. “Too bad that’s not the future we’ll see,” you say before you slam your head back.
The stun is enough for you to duck out of Schmidt’s arms just before Steve’s shield slams into his chest. His body impacts against the main reactor of the room, causing the shielding to crumble and reveal a bright blue cube. Your breath catches with recognition; unbeknownst to the others, you are very aware of what that cube is and its power. The stun still has you on your knees, and you’re unable to stop Schmidt from reaching out to grasp the cube. You grab Steve’s arm to hold him back as a portal to space is summoned before your eyes, Schmidt’s screams filling your ears as the portal sucks him out of view. The cube does not follow, melting through the metal floor and falling into the ocean below.
Steve helps you to your feet before rushing to the controls of the bomber. You know the outcome of the beeps that sound to you both, and when your eyes meet Steve’s, you’re positive he knows as well. You bite your lip, thinking about how much time your friend is about to sacrifice when her words ring loud in your mind.
“Sacrifices must be made.”
“Steve,” you say, stopping your friend’s hand from reaching for the radio. “Before you do that, I need to tell you something.”
Steve looks at you. “You’re not really from New York, are you?”
“No, I’m from New York, but it’s a very different New York,” you say with a chuckle. “I’m not from this time, Steve. I’m from a future New York, a future that you’re still very much a part of.”
Your friend looks at you confused. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m not expecting you to.” You grip his shoulder. “Just listen to what I have to say. What you’re about to do is a sacrifice that no one asks you to do, but you do it because you know it’s the only way. You don’t die, but it will take us a long time to find you. When you wake up, it’s going to be even more confusing, but I promise you, I will be right there.”
Steve’s eyes search your own. After a moment’s silence, he nods. “Alright. It’s not the weirdest thing we’ve done or I’ve heard, but I’m putting my trust into you. But how are you going to get back to your own time?”
You pull out your old left glove, showing him a receiver hidden within it. “I’ve only got enough juice for one more jump, but I can’t save you with it.”
He shakes his head. “I understand. I’d rather it be you than me anyways.”
“If I had a choice, it would you, you know. You’d be the one who would get to see everything that’s about to happen.”
Steve turns and looks out the front window. “It’s alright, Danvers. It’s as you said,” he turns to you with the same smile you’ve come to rely on. “We’ll see each other again.”
You hug him one last time, whispering in his ear. “Goodbye, Steve.”
He wraps one arm around you, returning the hug. As you take a step back, committing his sacrifice to memory, he looks to you one last time. “Is your name actually Carol?”
You laugh. “No, it’s not. My name is Y/N Jones, but you know me as Break.”