It was a close escape, but we made it out mostly unscathed. After maybe half an hour of marching, we'd finally caught up with the front runners. Two of which had carried Will out on a makeshift stretcher.
He was still mostly unconscious, but his fever had started to go down. I stayed close to him as we walked back to base. We'd left Hydra's in such disarray and destruction, there was little chance they'd follow us.
I became interested in staring down at my hands as we walked. Once in a while I'd catch a glimpse of a small blue current running down, and I couldn't believe it was there until it happened again.
Something from that cube was still inside me. I could feel it, hell, I could hear it. The buzzing hadn't stopped. Not for a second, it felt like it was getting louder the more I couldn't stand it.
"Look who it is!" A man shouted up ahead.
It wasn't from us, it was from the camp up ahead. We made it. I sighed, and glanced at the soldier holding the front part of Will's stretcher.
"Take him straight to the medic." I ordered.
He nodded and I jogged to the front where Bucky and Steve had been leading. Countless soldiers surrounded us as we walked into camp, cheering as we entered.
We made it halfway to the Generals tent when more and more soldiers ran out to greet us. Up ahead I spotted Cornel Phillips and Agent Carter making their way to us.
We stopped as they reached us, and Steve gave him a salute. "Some of these men need medical attention."
"I'd like to surrender myself for disciplinary action." He added.
He hadn't explained the circumstances he'd gotten to us, but I imagine it wasn't good. I watched Phillips for his reaction, and he took another look at the survivors around us.
"That won't be necessary." He swallowed. A faint smile even crawled on his face.
"Yes, sir." Steve nodded.
He turns to leave, and acknowledged Peggy. "Faith, huh?"
Faith indeed. I turned to Steve, but his eyes were solely focused on Peggy. I looked away, and carefully slipped through the still growing crowd of soldiers. I should make sure Will is getting treated properly.
I kept aware of everyone I passed, maintaining as much distance as I could spare.
"Anna." Bucky's voice caught me off guard but I kept walking. Maybe he'd think I didn't hear. "Anna, wait up!"
So much for that. He caught up with me, and I couldn't pretend he wasn't there once he was at my side.
"Hey." I said almost mutely. "I need to check up on will."
I tried to keep walking, but he only followed with me. "I'll come with you."
"It's fine, really." I declined. "Go celebrate with them."
"I'll celebrate when we win the war." he chuckled.
He sighed, "Look," his hand held my elbow lightly. I finally stopped, but I quickly pulled my arm back. "I wanna make sure you're okay."
"I will be." I attempted to say convincingly. "Are you? Okay, I mean."
He paused before answering. "I think so... Yeah."
"I'm sorry about what I said before." he said suddenly, shaking his head. "It wasn't fair, I know that. To Steve, or to you."
"Just, forget I ever said anything. I won't tell Steve-"
"Buck." I interrupted. I hadn't been as worried about this as he clearly was. I might've said something sooner if I'd known he was so anxious.
"I'm not upset, and I wasn't meaning to avoid you." I promised. This was so hard to explain, and so much harder fighting the temptation to embrace him. For his sake, and mine. "In fact.. I'd probably kiss you if I was sure I wouldn't accidentally kill you."
A small laugh escaped him, and his face relaxed and softened. I liked this expression best. Calm mixed with bliss. It made me feel wanted.
".... so would I." he smiled sadly, his voice barely a whisper.
His eyes flicked down to my hand, and I noticed his held out hesitantly towards mine. I reached back, curving my fingers underneath his, but not touching his skin. I could practically feel the heat coming from his palm. We'd held hands before, I knew how it felt, every callus, every curve of his fingers. I almost felt it now.
A small blue current came from my fingers and he pulled his hand back sharply.
"Shit-" he cursed.
"Sorry..." I tightened my face together.
"It's okay." he shook it off. But it wasn't, this was an entirely new pain. We couldn't even touch.
"We'll figure it out..." he assured. I had doubts, but I couldn't fight against his hope. It gave me determination to overpower this curse living inside me.
I had to.
Even if it killed me.
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