Blue || Bucky Barnes

30. Longing, Rusted...

Three hard knocks echo through the door and into the pairs small temporary bedroom. They both jump to their feet already terrified knowing what's to come. They open the door and come face to face with Okoye and Ayo, vibranium spears by their sides.
No words are spoken but they both turn around and the pair is silently expected to follow them. The late evening sun is slowly sinking from the sky as they set about their trek to the mountains. They had declared that to be the best place to perform the tests, far enough away from the city to be stopped in time if anything went wrong.
But nothing's going to go wrong... right?

Their long journey gives Leia time to think over what's in her near future, which for someone with her level of anxiety isn't such a good thing. They're being forced to do this alone, sure at the same time but alone nonetheless. As the sun dips from the sky her mind is nothing but a whir, Bucky experiencing much the same. He can't do this without her, he needs her with him. The thought of not having her by his side through this makes him sick to his stomach.

Leia looks ahead at the two strong women walking in front. She catches a string of worry laced through Okoye's brow but it is short lived.
"We are almost there." She announces.

Leia feels a hand wrap around hers and hold tight. She looks to her left and sees Bucky with worried eyes and no doubt hers match. The sound of someone clearing their throat captures their attention and they stop in their tracks. Ayo and Okoye stand facing them in the dull light.
"This is where we part." Okoye says and the wind is instantly knocked out of them both.
"No." Bucky turns to Leia breathing heavily. "No I can't do this, not without you."
"It's okay, we're going to be okay." Leia reassures him trying to be strong and the two women turn away respectfully.
"No, Leia, I can't do this without you. I can't." Bucky clings to her with his one arm.
"You have to, you have to let me go." Leia tries to pull out of his iron grip. The sooner they do this the sooner they'll know.
He looks at her with pure terror in his eyes just like hers but she knows they must do this alone. Bucky's eyes are wide with fearful tears brewing. "I can't... I can't do this without you... I need you, I can't."
"You have to do this by yourself. I have to do this by myself too." She feels terrible grabbing his cheeks and leaning her forehead against his. Her hands are shaking against his trembling person, her eyes welling too with terrified tears.
She gives him a minute to calm his breathing staying completely still, his head trapped between her hands. "I love you." She sniffs bringing her trembling hands down and walking quickly to Okoye. The woman's face holds an understanding expression as they quickly walk off. Leia wipes a tear from her cheek when her back is to him, not wanting him to catch a glance.
Bucky's breathing is beyond heavy as he watches them walk in the opposite direction, before he too follows Ayo to their final destination.

-

"Leia..." Okoye's voice penetrates her restless brain.
"Mmm." She looks up at the warrior. Okoye holds out two shackles with an almost sympathetic look on her face.
"It's just a precaution Ms Callahan." She says gently and Leia willingly holds her hands out. Okoye closes the all encompassing shackles around Leia's fists hoping their vibranium structure can withstand her powers if the incident arose. The warriors set about lighting fires around the pair at their respective locations, each a significant distance away from the other.
Leia and Bucky both sit by the blazing flames with tearful eyes, both trying to keep their minds off the impending situation.

"It is time." Both Okoye and Ayo say.
"You sure about this?" "Are you sure?" Bucky and Leia both ask not taking their eyes away from the fire.
"I won't let you hurt anyone."

"Желание. (Longing)" The women begin to cite those treacherous words. Leia instantly begins to shake twice as much with worry.
"Ржавый. (Rusted)" Bucky lowers his head slightly closing his mouth into a tight line.
"Семнадцать. (Seventeen)" Both Ayo and Okoye say the words as they stalk around their subject slowly.