marvel o-o

Part 2

You weren't sure where they took everyone else at first. It made sense, you were the most expendable of them all. You weren't an astronaut, or a scientist. Just a glorified bodyguard. They claimed you should say on the ship in orbit while the others were transported on their own vessel, and there may be some things they needed you to do for them from the ship. You were skeptical but agreed. Perhaps your human coworkers would have defended you, if they hadn't developed some type of grudge. You couldn't stay upset for long, not after Bucky said he would stay with you.

You both watched the two vessels connected and preparing to enter the atmosphere from this one. The planet looked surreal, and so similar to earth. The continents swam and swirled with an ocean kissing every side. As you watched in wonder, you couldn't help but become a little disappointed. You were SO close, and to have to wait would be unbearable. You just knew it. On the ground in front of a large window with your knees drawn close, yourself and Bucky sat in your bittersweet silence. If he was anywhere near as homesick as you, he had to be glad to be returning home. While you were excited, you missed home. Your exact stay wasn't outlined on your contract. It could be a couple months to a couple years. Something like this wasn't planned in haste. Leaning on to the nearby metal wall, you let out an exasperated sigh.

Catching Bucky's attention, he looked over to you in a somber manner, and tentatively reached out to my back, resting it there. 

"Don't worry doll, you'll love it." He reassured me, lightly bushing circles on my back.

I froze at the contact. I can easily say no one has made physical contact with me in months. Sure some of the scientists 5 months into our solo trip before we met the Aven did shoot their shot, but I turned them all down respectfully. Besides that, I think someone accidently brushed their arm past my back several months ago as I reached for a dry packet of nutrients. This was out of the question though. Steve, Bruce, Clint, and Bucky as well made a big effort to keep their distance from others. Whether it was walking respectfully far apart in the hallway, or keeping to themselves in public rooms. His entire hand covered my upper back, and I'm sure more if he spread it out. I didn't want to be rude, and jerk away, but I didn't know what to do. It felt so foreign to me. I never really noticed how touch starved from physical contact I was until this moment. I was so at war with my emotions. I would be lying if I didn't grow fond of Bucky, and this moment only fueled that fondness. He was so handsome and caring, and to see him open up was so gratifying. But it could never work. All in all, it just emotional attraction. I'm sure after this we will part ways. I didn't even know if he had a spouse or not. Not that I was trying to get into relations with him.

I finally relax next to him. He didn't cease him movements, and appeared to slide closer as the the first shuttle with the 13 other humans got ready to depart. Coming from behind, Steve walked up to Bucky's sitting figure and patted a firm hand to his shoulder. They shared a look and curtly nodded. As the remaining Aven's boarded their own shuttle, Bruce and Steve smile, while Clint gave me a look for a moment, from Bucky and back before sharing the same nod to me. I just forced a smile in return. I was glad they got to return home, but I was so nervous. They could probably tell. Bucky certainly did.

We watch them both seal shut, shortly ejecting themselves not long one after another. It probably wouldn't be safe for them both to land at the same time, so what had me confused was how I watched the Aven shuttle linger behind. Wouldn't they want to be the ones  arriving first? It made me slightly anxious as I watched it fly closer to the planet. By I'd long forgot about Bucky next to me, and his hand resting weightily on my back, although it somehow supported the skeptical emotions whirling inside of me.

It only excelled in speed with each second. It didn't appear to be built for the work it was putting in and I was actually fearing for them. I started to get scared, and doubt all my recent faith in my Aven friends. What if it was all deceit? Surely they wouldn't have waited this long... Not taking my eyes off of it, I gasp. It was catching flames too early, they hadn't even left outer orbit of the planet. Something was wrong, and I could only think of the worst and hope for the best. Heart rate rising, I don't notice Bucky comfortably next to me, just as silent as I was. I was sickeningly captivated as the flames only grow in the nearing oxygen rich environment. I couldn't dare bring myself to speak a word. Maybe this was normal? It's not like you had ever seen one of Earths ships landing again...

No, it wasn't normal.

My eyes widen and my mouth gapes as I watch their vessel explode right in front of me. My hands shoot up to my mouth and I scream in disbelief. Beside me, before I can further react, I can feel Bucky's hand almost restrict me from my upper back and shoulders. In his hold I convluse instinctively, and try to stumble up but fail. As if deliberately prepared, Bucky hooks his other arm around my middle, restraining me from getting up.

"No, stop! I- we need to do- I- why?!" I quickly cry, heaving.

My hands find his on my abdomen, shakily trying to find a way out of his hold. I had to do something!

"Bucky stop! We need to do something, They're dying!" I sob, thrashing uselessly.

"Shhh, It's too late. There's nothing we can do." He sighs, moving the hand from my back up to caress a large sum of my head softly.

"No!" I cry, " Please! Help! We can't! we have to!" I ramble, tears streaming down my face unceremoniously. 

At the absence of any answer, I look behind myself heaving, back and up to Bucky. My breathing only quickens at the notice of our proximity. He was huge, and I was so overstimulated, looking up at him with fear, worry, sadness and more. In return he only looked to me sadly, tilting his head and rubbing my cheek to temple with his thumb. I could only manage to hyper ventilate, a sobbing mess of confusion and denial after what I had just witnessed.  How was he so composed?! Was it because they were human? Sure he didn't know them as much as me, but was he not even shocked?! What about Steve, Bruce, and Clint?

I spin my head back around to see their vessel not far away from our own, seemingly still and unharmed. I choke and weep at the side of indistinct charcoal black body's hundreds of miles away floating aimlessly. Without deliberation my hands find and grasp onto Bucky's for dear life, crying hard with no end in sight. I was a weak ball of tremors in his hold.

It hurt him so badly to see you like this. Having  you already in his hold, he couldn't help but gather you closer and embrace you. You wanted to help them so badly, but you couldn't. They were gone the second it combusted. Bucky could only imagine how much it pained you to see this, knowing how loving and caring you were. All you had to do was see it. It needed to be done in a way that looked like an accident. Now with you finally in his arms, after weeks of anticipation, he could shield your eyes from the horrific scene in front of the both of you.

"Don't worry darlin, everything's gonna be alright."