115     

You cut off the feed to your comms and tell Steve, “Do it.” If this is what it takes to get Natasha back, you’re in.

Steve starts to shake his head slowly, and you’re not having any of it. “I’m a goddamn adult, Steve,” you say. “I make my own decisions. Either you agree to this, or I’m going on my own.” You know you shouldn’t be talking to him this way - not to Captain America, your team leader, or to Steve, your friend. But you need him to understand that this is not an issue that is up for discussion.

            You swallow and say softly, “What if it were Tony or Bucky out there right now?”

            That settles it. Steve’s face crumples, he clicks the comms back on, and he says, “We accept your trade.”