Kidnapped
This is one of the stories I currently have going on AO3 (over there I’m beautiful_aravis I try to keep names consistent!). Your feedback is super helpful – I’d love to hear what you think, comments, questions, anything constructive to writing better! Much love <3
“I cannot believe I let you drag me out of bed before 10am on a Saturday,” (Y/n) griped in the passenger seat of her brother’s car. Brett looked over at the theatrical pout on his sister’s face and laughed.
“I see your alter ego ‘college girl’ has resurfaced,” he laughed, returning his eyes to the road. “You’re seriously complaining that I want to take you to breakfast?” Brett affected a hurt voice. (Y/n) swatted his shoulder two, three, four times. “Ow! Hey, I’m driving! Jeez!” he protested, cringing his shoulder away from (Y/n) before she finally stopped. She looked proud of herself.
“Yeah, big bad Brett, beat by his little sister. What would the others say?” (Y/n)’s eyes lit up. “There’s just so much they don’t know about you-“ she started before Brett leveled a glare in her direction.
“You wouldn’t dare,” he interrupted. “How many times have you threatened me with that? But will you ever meet them when I offer? No!” He stopped the car at the red light. “Why are you so against meeting them?” Brett asked, watching his sister out of the corner of his eye.
(Y/n) shifted uncomfortably. She wasn’t sure why she declined invitation after invitation to meet a number of the famous Avengers when they were in town. At the time it was always easy enough to justify. Studying was a safe go to, papers to write, research to do. The pattern was easy enough to pick up after she had declined Brett’s invitations too many times.
“I don’t know, it just never feels like a good idea,” she said lamely. Brett sighed but (Y/n) continued. “Believe it or not, master level classes are in fact time consuming. I use what free time I have to make sure the house is clean and you have food ready,” she added with a smirk. Their arrangement was a convenient one. The two shared a house just outside of Washington D.C. It was close enough for (Y/n) to easily drive to classes and for Brett to get to and from work. Brett was gone for long stretches of time when SHIELD sent him on missions but with (Y/n) there he didn’t need to worry about his home. The quiet time allowed (Y/n) a productive place to write, do research, and study.
The past few months saw a drastic change in their routine. After the destruction of the Triskelion and the chaos the Winter Soldier let loose on the city, Brett was home more, awaiting instructions from his superiors. He was taking the collapse of SHIELD hard and (Y/n) was doing what she could to be there for her brother.
“Oh, I’m aware. I’ve seen you work on a paper for 12 hours straight before, (Y/n),” he said, his tone more gentle. “What I’ve not seen is you have any kind of a social life. You need to meet people outside of class and academia. You’re almost 30-“
“I’m 27 thank you very much,”
“You say that like being 30 is equivalent to being ancient,” Brett objected.
“It is, Mr. 33!” (Y/n) jibbed.
“Yea, well don’t let Steve hear you say that, he might object,” Brett grumbled. (Y/n) tilted her head in confusion.
“Steve? As in Steve Rogers? When would I ever-“ her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You didn’t, you’re not…” she trailed off.
“What? Neither of you ever get out and meet people. Having friends is kinda important, (Y/n),” his voice was gentle but firm with his younger sister. “I worry, you’re alone so much. What’s the worst that can happen? We’re all just going to have breakfast.”
(Y/n) took a deep breath forcing herself to calm down, pushing back the biting remark that came to mind. Brett meant well, she reminded herself.
“Did you warn him, or is he walking into an ambush as well?” (Y/n) did her best to keep the anger out of her voice.
“He’s almost as difficult to get to go out as you are hence, why I think you’d be good for one another,” Brett relaxed when (Y/n) didn’t immediately lash out at him. “I’m not trying to set you two up if that’s what you’re concerned about. Though, if I were to set my sister up, he’d probably be the one guy I’d trust not-“
“Finish that sentence and you’ll regret it, Brett,” (Y/n) warned from the seat next to him. Brett held his hands up in surrender.
“Fine, fine. Just, don’t take your irritation with me out on him. Please?” (Y/n) grunted her assent. “Thank you,” Brett let his head fall back against the headrest. Traffic was the usual stop and go standard within the city. “What is going on?” he lifted a hand from the steering wheel in frustration.
“I have no idea, probably an accident,” (Y/n) said offhandedly. Brett took his cell out and handed it to (Y/n).
“Find Steve’s number in there for me? I should let him know that we, err I am going to be late,” he said when (Y/n) raised her eyebrows. “No, I didn’t tell him you were coming,” (Y/n) rolled her eyes and scrolled through his phone for the correct number and initiated the call. Switching on speaker phone, she held the phone out so Brett could be heard when Steve answered. The phone continued to ring until it kicked over to Steve’s voice mail. “He’s probably stuck in the same traffic,” Brett said as (Y/n) ended the call.
“Probably,” (Y/n) said shifting in her seat.
A loud explosion had the two ducking reflexively within the car. The large fireball billowed into the street not a block in front of them and the building was soon engulfed in flames.
“What the hell?” (Y/n) said leaning forward trying to see what was happening. The traffic in front of them began to clear, the cars making U turns in the street as the explosion ahead had blocked all oncoming traffic. Brett pressed the gas pedal to the floor racing towards the chaos.
“Press contact 7,” Brett said to (Y/n), “tell them where we are and that I’m on the scene, there’s been an explosion-“ (Y/n) shook her head and started to interrupt. “(Y/n)! It’s okay, we just need to get emergency crews here, it’s probably from a gas leak, but people need help,” Brett’s voice was collected. Of course he thinks there’s nothing to worry about, he deals with worse things for a living (Y/n) thought, watching the phone shake in her hands.
After several tries, (Y/n) managed to force her fingers to cooperate and relayed the information her brother gave her over the phone while Brett accelerated, hands griping the steering wheel.
The sound of screeching tires and another loud bang was all the warning Brett and (Y/n) got. There wasn’t even time to scream before their car was hit and started rolling. The sound of crunching glass and screeching metal filled (Y/n)’s ears as she was struggled to find something to hold on to. The car finally stopped driver side up on its side. Brett groaned as he turned, kicking the door until it fell off and he could climb out. He staggered over to where the other car, an SUV, had come to a stop mostly onto the sidewalk. The driver was unresponsive, his neck at a sickening angle.
“What the hell,” Brett stammered when gunfire suddenly filled the air before grabbing his gun from its place at his side. He scanned the area, waving people off as they came over to assist in what they had assumed was merely a tragic accident. He ducked behind the SUV, gun out. For the love of all that’s good, stay in the car (Y/n) he thought to himself. At the thought of his sister he looked over to his upturned car-there was no way to get over to her without getting caught in the crossfire.
Looking up and down the street, Brett saw a dark haired man running, a blond man chasing him. He must have hit his head in the crash, it looked like Steve. The shield that was hurtled after the man confirmed it. Confusion passed over Brett’s face before he gave chase, attempting to aid Steve. (Y/n) had to wait, he felt sick leaving her.
(Y/n) was dazed as she lay on her side still seat belted into the car. She muttered a curse and brought her hand to her head. Blood trickled down her forehead into her eye. Everything hurt. Unbuckling her seat belt she pulled herself up using the driver’s seat and console as a ladder until her head and shoulders were free of the car. With a grunt and a cry she pushed herself out of the car, falling straight to the ground from the top of the driver’s side door. Her head hit the ground with a crack and (Y/n) immediately thought she would vomit then and there. She lay there, slowly pushing herself onto her back, taking swift shallow breaths.
“Brett!” she croaked, turning and looking for her brother. She saw him not far, behind another crashed car for cover, shooting at a dark haired man who returned fire, keeping Brett pinned behind the car. The man’s back was to her but she saw Steve not far in front of him, shouting at Brett to stop. The man walked backwards and was almost upon (Y/n). She pushed with her feet to get up against the car and out of his way but the man looked to her immediately at the sound of crunching glass.
With a swiftness that shocked (Y/n), the man was at her side and she found herself on her feet. A cold arm held her tightly to his side and she felt the sharp bite of a knife at her neck. She struggled but the man clamped down harder on her.
“Brett!” (Y/n) screamed before the knife was pressed harder to her throat. Brett and Steve sprinted towards her. She knew they would rescue her, she thought that over and over again, They’ll talk him down, they’ll get me. Even so, panic began to set in.
“Shut up,” the man growled and she froze. Brett and Steve had stopped running and were approaching slowly now. (Y/n) squeezed her eyes shut as tears began to stream down her face. “Come any closer and she dies,” he had leverage and he wasn’t about to waste it. Backing away slowly he dragged (Y/n) with him to Brett and Steve’s dismay.
“She’s innocent, let her go, Bucky,” Steve said calmly.
“Don’t call me that!” the man shouted causing (Y/n) to flinch. The knife nicked her throat and she felt a drop of blood rolling down her neck.
“If you follow me, she dies,” he said calmly. Steve locked eyes with (Y/n). Her breath caught at that look, his eyes were filled with dismay. Brett’s face was one of barely contained rage.
“You let her go or I swear-“ he started but Bucky took another step back with (Y/n).
“Don’t. Follow. Me.” (Y/n)’s abductor reiterated. There was another loud crash. Steve and Brett looked behind them at the second explosion as more smoke billowed into the air and filled the street. They were distracted only for a split second but when the two looked back to where Bucky had been standing with (Y/n), the street was now empty. Brett swore loudly and kicked the upturned car. Steve ran a hand over his face and through his hair, looking at the ground.
“We’ll get her back, Brett,” he said. Brett looked at the ground and nodded, taking deep breaths. Even if he had to kill this lunatic he would get his sister back, he promised himself.
