Bucky's view
"Don't argue Steve, go." I ordered my boyfriend and continued running towards the girl. I had to dodge things a few times, which I managed to do due to my Improved Reflexes. I continued to make my way towards Wanda, who was sitting on her bed crying. The clothes she was wearing before had been replaced by grey sweatpants and a black T-shirt. I knelt beside her bed at a distance, knowing full well how difficult it could be to have physical contact after a captivity, especially when it was a stranger.
As if she sensed that I was sitting next to her, she lifted her head and looked at me anxiously.
I smiled kindly at her "Don't worry kid, no one is going to hurt you here. My name is Bucky, what's yours?" I introduced myself. Of course I already knew her name, but I thought it would be better if she told me herself.
"Wanda, where am I?" she asked in a broken voice.
Relieved, I noticed that some of the pieces flying around the room were landing on the floor. "You're in Avengers Tower, we found you and brought you here." I explained, always careful not to get too close to her.
Wanda brushed her hair out of her face, "Pietro, is he here?" she looked at me almost pleadingly.
I nodded "Yes he'll be here in a minute."
The bed stopped shaking and the red around her hands disappeared and only then did I notice that she was hooked up to an infusion and her hands were shaking like crazy. I knew the doctors meant well, but they were really stupid.
I looked at her hand where the needle was stuck "Do you want this off?" I asked gently.
Shyly she nodded. As carefully as I could, I held her hand with my human hand and pulled the needle out with my metal arm, hiding the one in my sleeve. As quickly as I could, I made the needle disappear.
All of a sudden I saw a silver lining next to me and a second later Pietro was sitting next to me, reaching for his sister's hand. "Hey I'm here."
I retreated back to the wall next to the door, I wanted to let the two of them have their peace.
Pietro began to speak soothingly in Russian to his sister. I spoke Russian, another gift from Hydra, but I wasn't really listening, for my gaze lingered on the Sokovian's arm, where a thin dried streak of blood was visible. Quietly, I slipped out of the room and closed the door behind me. I stormed into our living room in search of Steve. Living room was actually an understatement for the two-storey floor that contained several couches, a well-stocked bar and an enormous television for our movie nights. Through a glass front, one could see the already setting sun slowly sinking behind the Manhattan skyline. But my attention was on the two men who had just come out of the lift.
"What do you mean he wanted to make a super-serum Tony!" my boyfriend just shouted at the billionaire.
Said man walked over to the bar and poured himself a drink "By that I mean he was researching a super serum, when I found out I immediately banned him from doing it as all attempts to replicate yours ended up with the people who took it going insane."
I walked over to the two of them "Hey honey." I pressed a kiss to Steve's temple in greeting, I was so relieved to finally be able to openly show my feelings for him. "What happened to Pietro?" Steve was the last person who must have seen him before he came scampering into Wanda's room.
Steve sighed "A psychotic doctor happened, Tony took care of it."
At the word taken care of I raised my eyebrows. If he had just been slapped on the wrist that wouldn't be enough if this was the doctor I suspected. "Let me guess his name was Brian?"
"How did you know that?" Tony threw some ice cubes into his drink.
"He was the doctor who examined Pietro, he insisted on taking his blood. It was only when I intervened that he gave up." I ran my fingers through my hair guiltily, if I had told anyone about Brian he might have been stopped sooner.
"I kicked him out, he's not even allowed in the Tower anymore." the inventor drank from his whisky and then grinned at us "I'm going to go and get ready." he cast an amused glance at my still bare feet "You probably should too."
I was confused "For what?"
Tony grinned again, and then I remembered that he was going to throw a party tonight.
"Oh man," I groaned, I had completely forgotten about the party.
Steve started laughing, so I gave him a half-hearted glare, "Steve that's not funny." I didn't feel the least bit like seeing all the strange faces.
"Come on just for a few hours for me." begged Steve looking at me with that puppy dog look I've never been able to resist.
"All fine." I grumbled with a grin.
Laughing, Steve took my hand and pulled me towards the lifts. As we made our way to our room, Loki and Thor approached us. Loki was walking leaning on Thor and contorting his face in pain with every step. "Hey Lokes, shouldn't you still be in bed?" I asked him worriedly. He had been shot through the stomach just a few hours ago, if he was human he would be dead.
Loki just rolled his eyes while Thor laughed out loud "That's exactly what I told the stubborn guy five minutes ago, but he just won't listen."
I had to grin, that's exactly how I knew my best friend stubborn as anything.
"It's almost healed up, I might need another hour's rest and then I'll be as good as new," he grumbled.
"Well, let's take the hero to his room." Thor grinned. "See you later." he called after us.
The corners of my mouth slid down, I already knew the next few hours would be anything but fun, but for Steve's sake I was going. When we got to our room I went to the wardrobe and picked out something to wear.I decided on a pair of blue jeans, a black shirt and a leather jacket. I looked at myself sceptically in the mirror, my hair tied back in a bun with a few strands falling out.
As two arms wrapped around my hips from behind I smiled and leaned slightly against Steve "You look stunning." he murmured.
I grinned slightly, turned my head and kissed him. For a moment I just sank into the kiss, forgetting my fear of going down there.
All too soon he broke away from me again. "Come on we have to go or Tony will give us a headache." He grinned and pulled me out the door.
"Fine by me." I grumbled, trying in vain to pull the sleeve of my leather jacket down enough to cover my metal arm.
Steve looked at me sternly "Buck!"
I knew exactly what he meant, but I just wasn't in the mood for people staring. Nevertheless, under Steve's stern gaze, I stopped tugging at my jacket and took another quick breath. "I want to stop by and see the twins first."
"Admit it you're just trying to shirk." Steve grinned, but pressed the button for the 40th floor anyway. Quietly I opened their door and had to smile. Pietro was lying on Wanda's bed, holding his sister protectively, both sleeping peacefully. As quietly as I could, I closed the door again. I tried not to let my reluctance show as I got back into the lift with Steve and he pressed the button with the 25 on it.
"You don't have to be afraid" Steve grabbed my metal arm "I'll be here the whole time."
I intertwined my fingers with his "I know you are." even before the lift door opened I could hear the music and people talking. I took another quick breath, then the lift door opened and Steve and I plunged into the fray. Small groups of guests were standing or sitting everywhere, eager to attract the attention of the Avengers. It seemed to work for Stark, who stood in the middle of a cluster of people and, together with Rodney, told one story after another.
"Hey Cap, you're here too." grinning, Sam approached us.
"Sam." grinning Steve cut in on him "How'd it go?"
Sam raised his eyebrows "Steve we're at a party, no business." he raised his finger admonishingly.
I had to grin "You're right for once." I let go of Steve's hand and swiped at Sam. I didn't want to think about Hydra at the moment and just wanted to enjoy the next few hours as best I could.
Sam opened his eyes in mock horror, "For once, look man, I'm always right. Anyway, I'm gonna go scout out the bar, see you later." Sam sauntered off in the direction of the well stocked bar and was gone before long.
"Do you want anything?" Steve looked at me questioningly.
I shrugged "Why not, even if it doesn't work." because of the serum running through mine and Steve's blood, neither of us could get drunk. Which really sucked sometimes. Steve and I made our way through the crowd. In between I could make out Thor, who seemed to be arguing with Stark about whose girlfriend was the more successful woman.
Loki was sitting next to him on an armchair and was following the conversation with amusement. I couldn't see Barton anywhere, he was probably still in the infirmary.
When we arrived at the bar, Nat grinned at us "Well, what will it be for my two boys?" she was wearing a white blouse and a black skirt today.
"Hey Nat." Steve leaned on the bar " A beer and a whisky."
Grinning the Black Widow handed us our drinks. As I took my first sip my hackles stood up, I glanced over my shoulder and saw a group of people eyeing me, whispering as they did so. I sighed, I had known it, it had only been a matter of time before people would stare at me like I was an exotic animal in a zoo.
"Just ignore them. They're just some idiots" Steve murmured as Natasha glared at the group with her killer stare.
I rolled my shoulders "You're right." I tried to ignore their stares but it was harder than I thought.

After four interminable hours, all the guests were gone and we Avengers sat spread out on three couches around a glass table. On one couch sat Stark, next to him Rodney, Dr. Cho and Sam. On the second, Thor, Loki, Natasha and Bruce, who in my opinion sat a little too close to Natasha, had settled down. I sat next to Steve, who had an arm around me, next to him sat Barton, who must have been cured with some kind of novel technology and was playing around with two drumsticks. On the table in front of us was Thor's hammer.
"It's just a trick." Barton was fooling around pointing his drumsticks at Thor's hammer.
Thor grinned "Oh believe me it's much more than that."
Barton just rolled his eyes again "Please" he mimicked Thor's voice pretty well "Whoever is worthy may possess the power." he rolled his eyes.
"Please try your luck." Thor pointed to his hammer. While Loki smiled slightly.
Barton walked over to the hammer "I've seen this a thousand times." he walked over next to the hammer and tried to lift it but couldn't "and I have no idea how you do it." he let go of the hammer again and dropped back into his seat next to Steve.
Of course Stark couldn't help his quip "Do you feel the silent judgement Barton?"
"Please Stark, you try it." prompted Barton.
Being the drama queen that he was, he stood up and undid the button to his jacket "I never back down from a real challenge." he went to the gavel, but he too failed to lift it. Not even when he and Rodney tried with their flying gloves. Embarrassed, they sat back down. Next was Banner, who of course couldn't do it either.
Steve was next, trying along with Sam. Grinning, he shook his head "Not a bit."
Steve came back to me and dropped down on the bench next to me "Buck?" he pointed to the hammer.
I shook my head "Nah never mind." I put an arm around Steve as Natasha also declined the hammer.
Stark started to come up with a wild theory "There's an engraving on the hammer, whoever has Thor's fingerprints can lift the hammer, is probably the literal translation."
Loki snorted and Thor smiled slightly "yeah that's a really interesting theory but mine is much simpler" he grabbed the hammer and twirled it once in the air "you guys just aren't worthy."
"Ouch." i muttered as everyone who had tried muttered objections.
That's when Barton interjected "The first time I saw you, you couldn't lift it either and you freaked out like a baby." he mocked, turning to Thor.
The god's gaze darkened and I didn't know what would have happened if there hadn't suddenly been a horrible squeal that stung my ears so much I covered them.
"Worthy" I turned my head to the battered Iron-men robot that was struggling its way from the far end of the room to us. "No how could you be worthy? You are mere threads."
Stark tapped away on a tablet "Jarvis reboot, I think my unit is going crazy."
The robot yanked out some wires "Sorry Jarvis is unavailable, I was created to make the world safer. No weapons, no war." he mumbled confusedly.
I watched as Thor gripped his hammer tighter, Natasha unlocked her pistol. Which was just as well, that thing was out of its mind.
"I have a mission," the robot announced.
"What mission?" Natasha clutched her pistol tightly.
"Peace for our time, the destruction of the Avengers!" with these words four more robots flew through the glass and attacked us. Steve kicked a table into the air just in time or the beam that hit the table would have hit us. Together we were thrown backwards and crashed into a shelf. Immediately I jumped up again and pulled Steve out of the broken wooden boards which had buried him underneath. I saw Loki freeze one of the robots and Thor smash it with his hammer. Stark had clung to one of the robots and was trying to dismantle it with a metal rod. There was no sign of the others, but at the moment I preferred to concentrate on the robot in front of me. I blocked its beam with my metal arm and jumped up to two metres on its back. With all my strength I clung to it and ripped out various parts and cables. The robot flew backwards and crashed into a wall with me. I felt my bones crack, the air was forced out of my lungs, but I still didn't let go.
"Buck!" I heard Steve shout.
"I'm fine!" I yelled back and continued to dismantle the robot. Below me I saw Steve get his shield thrown to him by Clint and cut one of the robots in half. Natasha shot at one of the robots, behind her banner, which she seemed reluctant to watch. Before anyone could do anything about it, one of the robots lunged out of the glass front and flew off at top speed. With all my might I tore off my robot's head. The heap of scrap metal went limp and fell to the ground, I landed wide-legged and went down lightly on my knees.
Thor called his hammer back to him and stared at Stark in annoyance. But the inventor didn't even bother with the god, instead he stared at the hole in the glass wall that gave a view to the private lab "It's got the sceptre." brought out Stark still lying on the floor.
" Great." groaned Loki, holding his side a little out of breath.
Thor just growled and flew after the robot through the hole in the glass.
I walked over to Steve and wiped away a slight trickle of blood running down his temple, originating from a large laceration "Does it hurt?" I muttered.
"It will heal Buck." Steve took my hand from his forehead and looked questioningly at Stark "Tony what the hell was that?"
Because I'd like to know that too. I've never been completely comfortable with all these robots, they were peaceful then, but robots run amok were really bad.
Stark didn't seem the least bit uncomfortable under all the questioning looks "Ultron." he grinned.
Banner just looked at him warningly. So did everyone else. Sam and Rodney, who had been thrown through a glass wall, pulled out some splinters at each other. Loki just dropped exhausted onto the bench next to Steve and me. Barton and Natasha were having a whispered discussion and the one responsible for all the shit that had just happened just stood there grinning at us. The only good news was that the twins had apparently slept through all the commotion.
"Tony that's not funny." Banner talked at him.
The inventor rolled his eyes "Do you always turn tail and lie on your back when someone growls at you?"
"When I've built a killer robot, yes."
Stark ran his hands through his hair "Okay I we made a mistake." he sighed and then continued "Ultron took to the internet. "
"That means he knows more about us than we know about each other." stated Natasha stating the obvious.
I scooted a little closer to Steve, I knew my fear was unfounded, this book had never ended up on the internet and I had burned it myself, but still an incredible fear was building inside me.
"What if he turns to nuclear codes?" Rodey got the last shard of glass pulled out of his back.
Before anyone could answer, Thor came shooting back up grabbing Stark by the neck and holding him three feet off the ground.
"Say it with words. " the inventor croaked.
"I've had more than enough words for you Stark!" growled Thor.
"Thor, come on put him down!" pleaded Loki to his brother.
Reluctantly the god let Stark fall back to the ground "The trail runs out after 100 miles, but it goes north and it has the sceptre." Thor continued to glower at Stark.
"Let's start looking then." rather less motivated Natasha stood up.
"What, we can't use the internet without him knowing?" Stark was still rubbing his neck.
Both I and Steve had to grin at his question, in the old days there was no internet either and people hadn't been at a loss.
Suddenly Tony's mobile beeped and a photo appeared on it. It was Strucker lying dead in a cell, the word peace had been painted on the wall in blood red letters.
Everything tightened inside me when I saw the former agent. But we had our first clue in the search for the killer robot who wanted to wipe out the Avengers.