"I swear on all that is good and holy -- waffles -- that I will bite your frickin' arm, Barnes!" I snap as I'm dragged through a series of corridors, twists, turns, and flights of stairs in a headlock. Wherever we're moving it seems to be away from the civilians and armed guards. I mean, that's at least something. Despite my plan, I am concerned about where I'm being taken. The Winter Soldier doesn't just do something for the giggles. No, he's got a plan. I just don't know what that plan is.

A soft grunt of annoyance escapes the brunette as he uses his metal hand to fling a door open. My eyes squint as my nose wrinkles at the sudden change of lighting. It appears he's taken me to the roof of this place. A sinking feeling develops deep within my gut as many different scenarios play through my mind. The worst being getting thrown off this building. Barnes releases me from the headlock before grabbing my left bicep. His grip is vice-like. It's unrelenting, painful, and sure to leave a nasty looking bruise later. He drags me up a short flight of metal stairs as a helicopter comes into view. The pieces of this new puzzle begin to start making sense in my mind. The good thing is I'm not about to get thrown off a building. The bad thing is I'm about to be trapped in a flying death capsule with an erratic and unstable soldier. I'm not really sure which option I'd prefer at this point.

"This is a baaaaaad idea, buddy." I comment with wide eyes as we approach the flying machine. I'm not one for flying period. The Soldier glares at me, rips the cable connecting the helicopter to the roof off, and opens the door. His empty eyes regard me suddenly, before shifting back to the helicopter. It's obvious he wants me to get in. I'm incredibly tempted to make a wisecrack or try to fight back. However, the self-preservation side of my brain wins out. I still don't have access to the enhanced side of me. I obey and carefully climb into the helicopter and into the co-pilot's seat. Barnes climbs in behind me, slamming the door shut behind him as he locks the door. I shuffle to find a seat belt considering that's probably the only guaranteed safety in this situation. Once the doors have been locked, Barnes turns to the control panel between the two seats. He obviously knows how to fly one of these things because after a few pushed buttons and flipped switches the helicopter is roaring to life. I take a deep breath in and release a long exhale. I'm not very good with heights. In fact, I've been terrified by them ever since the fall. Flying in a Quin is slightly better since there are no windows except up front, so I've never been forced to deal with my anxiety. Now I have to deal with my anxiety and the fact I'm a 'prisoner' to The Winter Soldier. Not exactly the best combination.

In the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of one Steve Rogers. My eyes widen and I almost want to shout to him. Words die in my throat though when I realize he wouldn't be able to hear me. That and it's quite obvious he can probably see me. My eyes sharply shift from Steve to Barnes. I don't know what Cap's plan is, but I hope it's good. But I mean, any plan that involves me getting out of here is a good plan. 

The helicopter is a good ten feet off the landing pad by the time Steve's climbed the stairs. I watch as he runs forward before hopping into the air, just managing to grab one of the landing skids. The moment he does, the entire machine tilts to the side, causing me to grab one of the handles on my door to keep me from falling inward. Barnes glares out the window as he continues to try and keep control of the copter. He begins to move to the right, towards the edge of the landing pad. It doesn't seem to matter to Steve as he's still holding on. He's dragging us back down towards the landing pad as he slowly slides towards the edge of the landing pad. As we draw nearer to the edge, my throat feels like it's beginning to constrict. Steve lowers himself to the ground and grabs the yellow rail that wraps around the entire landing pad. His feet land on the chain link safety net as he refuses to let go of the helicopter.

"Told you this was a bad idea!" I shout over the noise as my eyes lock onto Steve. I can see the muscles in his arms strain as he fights to keep us from departing. His jaw is clenched, his teeth are bared, and he looks constipated. Poor Steve. Never gets a bathroom break in these movies.

Barnes' jaw clenches tightly as he watches Cap. I'm half wondering if he's checking him out or if he's just coming up with a new plan. I mean, if I were him I'd hella be checking out Captain Grandpa too. Suddenly, the Soldier changes course. He moves the control stick completely to the left, causing the helicopter to nose dive directly into the landing pad as the blades viciously collide with the concrete. I let out a frightened shout and grip onto the door and edge of my seat just that much tighter. I'm hoping against all hope that Steve doesn't get caught in the blades as our ride spins out of control, the windshield now shattered. The helicopter falls to its side and I'm incredibly glad I decided to put on my seatbelt otherwise I'd have fallen onto Barnes. And I mean that would've been hella awkward. My hands are shaking and the rough material of the seat belt digs into my skin at it attempts to keep me in my seat. It's an odd situation and I have no idea what Barnes' plans are now that he's just destroyed our ride. My breathing turns into that of short panicked gasps as my wide eyes search for a way to escape. That's when the Soldier's metal hand crashes through the windshield of the helicopter, prompting a shocked shout from me.

I don't like this. I don't like this. I don't like this.

I should have stayed at the compound with Pietro.

We're about to die, probably. The helicopter is slowly beginning to fall off the edge of the landing pad. I don't know what's below us. I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know if I'm about to perish in a fiery death. I just don't know and that makes me scared.

I wish I was back home, curled up on the couch with a book in hand.

I can hear the creaking of the helicopter as we begin to fall. I can hear the grunting of Steve from where he is in Bucky's hold. I can hear the air entering the cabin as we free fall towards the earth. I can hear the blood pumping in my ears.

Then everything is in slow motion.

I clench my jaw, bare my teeth, let out a determined shout, and lift one of my legs as I shift in my seat so I can kick Barnes' shoulder. Right before we hit the water, everything begins to move at a normal speed as I see Barnes' forehead smash into the side window. Water floods the cabin instantly and a sense of needing to escape overwhelms me as we sink to the riverbed. Through the blur of the water, I can see an unconscious Bucky in his seat, and the blurry figure of Steve above as he swims towards us. I turn my attention to my seat belt and unlatch it as Cap practically rips off the door. I grab the fabric of Bucky's shirt with my hands, place one foot on the control panel, and then push off with my foot so we float out of the cabin through the opening Steve created. I drag the heavy and unconscious being out of the cabin, where Steve then wraps his arm under his best friend's arm and across his chest, relieving me of the heavy weight. The both of us then begin to swim to the surface. My lungs are screaming for air and I accidentally inhale a burst of water through my nose. I can feel the muscles in my chest begin to spasm in an attempt to cough. We manage to break the surface just in time for coughs to rack my body in an attempt to dispel the river water from my lungs. Steve looks at me worriedly, but I wave my hand at him before nodding to the river bank to our right. He nods and we both swim towards it, with him lugging an unconscious Barnes. When we reach the shore, it takes both Steve and me to get Barnes out of the water and onto dry land.

"He was unconscious before we hit the water." I state as I drop to my knees next to Bucky. Steve lifts a brow at me as his chest heaves up and down. "He's probably got water in his lungs." I elaborate as I move the brunette onto his side. I'm exhausted, my limbs feel weak, and I just want to curl up and take a nap right here in the sun. I don't though. Instead, I use my hand to give a few rough smacks to the back of Barnes. I watch as a small stream of water bubbles past his lips before looking up at Steve. Rogers gives a shaky breath before smiling at me.

"Thanks, Iris." He says breathlessly. I nod. "Are you alright?" He asks right after. I look up at him.

"I'm alive." I comment, before turning my tired eyes back down to the limp form of James "Bucky" Barnes. "We're alive."