Adaptoid

“I can make you like me, James Barnes,” Adaptoid says, apparently not done selling Bucky on how great he is. “Together we will be unstoppable. You will no longer have this soft flesh holding you back. Agree; I will ensure the transition is painless.”

Adaptoid reaches for Bucky’s face and he jerks back, not willing to be touched by the monster. For all his pretty words, Adaptoid responds like any bully denied a new toy. He throws a punch at Bucky’s sternum.

[---]

Bucky swallows. “This joining, thing. Is it going to hurt?”

“Yes,” Adaptoid says, “We are not at the lab. I cannot make it painless.”

Bucky swallows again.

“You are afraid.”

“Kind of not a fan of pain.”

Where the hell is everyone?! Bucky thinks desperately.

“Then I am sorry.”

Adaptoid’s fingertips press into his temple, jaw, and cheek. Squeezing his eyes shut, Bucky calls to mind the last time he saw Steve’s face. It was just before they fell asleep, the only light filtering through the tent’s canvas. He was sleeping, so, so beautiful, and somehow his. Somehow, Steve is still his seven decades later. As Adaptoid’s fingers start to burn, he holds onto that. Holds on to it and tries not to scream.

Just like with Zola, he doesn’t succeed.

“We are out of time!” he thinks he hears Steve shout.

Sergeant Barnes, James B. 32557- How does it go? 3255-

“Almost there.”

Wanda’s voice sounds right in his ear, close enough he looks, but she’s not there. She’s not letting that stop her from talking to him.

“A few more seconds, Bucky.”

The seconds feel like hours. The burning spreads outward while the places Adaptoid touches become almost frigid. He doesn’t remember grabbing Adaptoid’s wrist, but he’s squeezing hard enough the motors in his arm are screaming right along with him.

The creature is no longer looking at him, it’s looking to the side, and Bucky follows the gaze to find Steve wide-eyed with fear. There’s a woosh and a crash and a huge, green man - with a face, thank God - bursts into view behind him. Wanda is tucked into the crook of his arm, so he’s apparently on their side. That’s good, because he’s as green as Adaptoid, and Bucky has decided he hates that color.

The monster in question swings his head to the other side and Bucky doesn't choose to look, something makes him, and isn’t that terrifying? Tony and War Machine land with Sam through a break in the trees. Heavy feet land on the ground behind Adaptoid and Bucky’s eyes move to see Vision land, carrying Natasha, and Thor with Clint.

“Steve,” Bucky whimpers and hates himself for it, but he knows Adaptoid can see what he sees and this is so much worse than Azzano.

“On three,” the black suit with Howard’s son inside says.

“If you attack me,” Adaptoid says, “You will kill him.”

The other’s hesitate, but Steve says firmly, “One.”

Yes, Steve, good call.

“Two.”

Please, please let this work.

“Three!”

The world feels like it explodes. Lightning surges from Thor’s hammer, lasers shoot from both flying suits and the forehead of the Vision - who Bucky finally recognizes because Adaptoid knows him - and Clint fires at least four arrows a second at Adaptoid’s back. Red light wraps around them both and hovers between Wanda’s hands, pressing the green monster - and Bucky - into the earth.

Screaming curses, but not releasing his hold on Bucky, Adaptoid struggles to break past the force holding him down. Then Natasha, Hulk, and Steve are there, kicking, punching, and smashing every part of the thing they can reach. Adaptoid screams again, but not out of rage. Bucky can feel it, feel the fear as heat starts to build somewhere behind Adaptoid’s temples. There’s too much data, too much to absorb. They can’t control it, can’t process fast enough. It’s too much; the circuits are over heating. They have to get away, have to let them cool.

Bucky screams again and punches Adaptoid in the face with the arm that is a weapon.

Betrayal surges through the connection Adaptoid has forged between them just as it snaps closed. Scrambling back and away as fast as his legs will carry him, Bucky collapses when he hits the tree trunk.

“Thirty-two, fifty-five, seventy, thirty-eight,” he gasps.

A hand slides over his neck and Steve's worried face swims into view, hovering over him.

“Bucky?”

“Why,” he licks cracked and swollen lips, “do you always think I'm willing to leave you behind?”

Steve let's out a little sob of relief and it's so alarming that Bucky lets him wrap him in a tight hug and even returns the embrace.

“You are so goddamn stupid,” Steve says tightly.

“Says the guy fighting with his stomach torn open,” Bucky retorts.

The black suit leans over them and startles the shit out of Bucky with how similar it looks to Adaptoid. Tony must realize this as he pushes the face plate up, leaving absolutely no doubt that he's Howard’s son. It's pretty weird because he's sure he saw Howard just the day before. And wouldn't the nut be pleased by this?

“We need to get you on the jet and make sure that isn't going to keep spreading.”

Steve scrambles back up, eyeing the places Adaptoid’s fingers were pressed. Bucky rolls his eyes. They don’t hurt any longer, actually feel a bit numb, but Steve’s eyes are trying to pop out of his head.

Steve scrambles back up, eyeing the places Adaptoid’s fingers were pressed. Bucky rolls his eyes. They don’t hurt any longer, actually feel a bit numb, but Steve’s eyes are trying to pop out of his head.

“Is that possible?” Steve asks, anxious again.

“Nice bedside manner, Stark,” Bucky gripes.

Red light surrounds him and Wanda carefully lifts him to his feet. It's a nice thought, except for the whole part where Bucky can't really feel his legs. She sets him on his feet and he promptly falls over. Steve grabs at him to hold him upright.

“Probably residual effect from the lightning and mind control,” Tony tells Steve. “Nothing to worry about.”

“Better,” Bucky mouths and the billionaire - is that even a thing? How does he know that? - winks at him.