•{Condemned}• 2

{24}•Touch•

[24] •Touch•

———————————————————————

AFTER AWKWARDLY rushing out of her encounter with Tariq followed by a quick apology and fake excuse, she brushes past Shuri, murmuring a goodnight and a thank you. She doesn't wait for a response, certain if she did, the princess might end up with a broken nose.

Although it wasn't her fault. She knows that. She couldn't have known.

El rushes up the steps and into the compound, attempting to keep her thoughts at bay until she reaches the safety of her own room. She unbelievably tired. She wants to sleep. She wants to forget this ever happened.

But she still feels hands on her, a mouth against her but it isn't gentle like Tariq's.

The elevator doors ping open and she briskly strides down the hallway, swaying slightly. She grimaces, reaching a hand to her forehead, pausing until the dizziness stops.

"You OK?"

She glances up, Bucky ambling down the hallway towards her.

Why couldn't he have been asleep?

"Yeah, just tired."

He hesitates, unsure. "Are you sure, doll?"

She nods, flashing him a brief smile before bursting into her room, shutting the door firmly behind her.

Immediately, a sharp, shaky exhale escapes her, her expression contorting. She runs her hands through her hair desperately. Her stomach is twisted in a knot as she struggles to zip down her dress and almost falls over while she wriggles out of it.

She takes a moment to steady herself, her head beginning to throb unbearably. She grits her teeth, frustrated with herself.

Maybe she would never get over it.

She hastily slips into pyjamas, still concentrating on the task at hand, afraid to take her mind off it. With swaying vision, she crawls beneath her duvet, clutching clutching the ends like a child.

That was years ago.

It doesn't matter anymore.

She chews absently at her bottom lip attempting to calm herself. It was a long time ago. And she is over it. She has to be.

Her nerves settling slightly, she instinctively turns to face the door, keeping her eyes open for a few minutes, staring into the darkness. She rubs her feet together absently, trying to calm herself. She curses mentally at herself, only growing more frustrated at her unwarranted reaction. Why couldn't she have just waited until the party ended? Biting back her self-loathing, she allows her eyes to fall shut and can only hope the night will bring her peace.

                              >>^^<<^>>

Bucky sits on the edge of his bed, silently gazing out the window. He can't help but wonder about Elena. He can't help but think maybe he should have asked her more, or made her tell him.

But maybe that would be selfish.

Maybe that would be to feel needed. Like he isn't a burden to everyone.

El never made him feel like a burden. She was the only person, even if she was a teenager, that didn't look at him with pity or sympathy, like he would break if you said his name too loud.

He misses her.

He glances to his black metal arm, it's hand clasping his flesh one. He likes that one. But he still chose to take it off at night, it didn't hurt like the last one, but he enjoyed being safe enough to sleep without it.

Moving to remove it, he pauses and cocks his head at footsteps in the hall, followed by a shout. He makes his way over to the door, pushing it open. He glances left, Shuri and another doctor standing outside Elena's room, both their solemn expressions staring at the closed door.

"What's wrong?" He asks, his voice gruff this late at night.

Shuri knocks on the door again. "Her heart rate is dangerously high and she's talking to herself. I'm afraid it could lead to a seizure, or her passing out."

The princess' joking manner had disappeared and Bucky steps over to the door, turning the knob. Locked. He blinks, his eyes darting around before he takes a step back, shouldering in the door.

His gaze snaps up and lands on a figure twisted between her blankets, contracting every few seconds. For a moment he thinks she has fallen into the seizure, but her murmurings tell him otherwise.

"Elena," Shuri begins coming in behind him.

He whips his hand in front of her, both halting and silencing her. "I'll handle it. I'll call you if she needs."

The princess' eyes widen. "You're kidding right?"

But she isn't one to argue with the ex Winter Soldier. Reluctantly, she and the other doctor make their way away from the room. Bucky turns back to the teen writhing in sweat.

Carefully, he makes his way towards her, making out her expression twisted in pain, her lips moving only to mutter, "Please," or "Stop."

Then he spots her hands. Her glowing hands.

He curses under his breath, knowing he needs to wake her up.

"Ellie," he tries not too loudly.

He sighs when she doesn't respond. Raising his metal arm slightly as defence, he moves closer to her. "You need to wake up kid," he calls. Again, nothing. He curses, her hands becoming even more enveloped in blue. He reaches down with his flesh hand, touching her shoulder gently. He readies his other one above her hands, ready to predict her attack.

She flinches, her eyes snapping open widened with fear. She brings up her hands, but he clutches them in his metal, desperate to keep her from releasing the energy.

She scrambles backwards and he lets her go. Her eyes dart over him, studying him, her chest heaving up and down rapidly.

Suddenly he feels awkward, maybe he should have left Shuri deal with it. El didn't know him. He was a stranger waking her up during the night. He shifts his weight onto his other foot idly. His shoulders round slightly, in an attempt to appear unthreatening.

El's lips part slightly as she stares at him, her face a ghostly white.

"Bucky?"