For months, it seemed like each lead was another cold one that Steve couldn't seem to find an end to. Sometimes, the Avengers would look into the HYDRA bases. Other times it was just Steve and Sam. And each time, they were just a few steps behind Bucky. Each time, they were too late, the bodies still reeking but the fires gone cold. To anyone else, it would look like some team had taken the base out, some tactical force that had many skills. No way could it be the work of one man?

But Steve knew better.

The boys are separated. Sam is somewhere, Steve's not sure where. In the sky perhaps? They'd lost contact thirty minutes ago, something that Steve regretted. And yet, he thought that this time it was different. This time, there was a trail. The blood trail was small, but it was there. Bucky had to be hurt in some way.

He wasn't the tracker that Bucky was, but he had a few skills still left up his sleeves. He hears the explosions going off around him, trying not to be startled by the noise. He's heard worse. Hell, he'd caused worse. He doesn't expect to see Bucky like this, catching him off guard. His eyebrows raise and he reaches up to tug off his mask. "Buck... It's me? It's Steve."