The Night We Met | Steve / Bucky

sixty-seven - you know the way

Katherine felt and heard silence. She stirred herself awake, fluttering her eyes open. The ships above her turning to dust, the screeching of alien creatures ceased. A calmness rested over her, she no longer felt the need to fight. She brought her fingers to her face, feeling the fresh blood come from her eyes and nose - she wasn't worried. She felt at ease. 

Katherine rolled to her side, glancing around and then to her stomach. She grunted as now she began to feel the damage that had been inflicted upon her. Katherine dragged herself to her knees, looking around at the near-empty battlefield. Now, a wasteland that once was a happy place for her. 

Katherine looked ahead, panting heavily. Her eyes became fixated on a figure ahead of her, sitting down against a mound of rocks and dirt. They were hurt, severely hurt. Rhodey approached the figure, placing a gentle hand on the side of their head. Katherine narrowed her eyes, a sudden burst of fear being thrust within her. "Tony?" Katherine questioned, not knowing if anyone heard her - not caring. Katherine felt a rush of panic set in. She quickly scrambled to her feet the adrenaline numbing her pain, "Tony!" She screamed, her piercing scream almost awakening the dead. 

Katherine felt as though her body had gained an extra hundred pounds as she sprinted across the clearing to Tony. She dragged her feet, her eyes producing already so many tears. Eyes fell upon Katherine, her screams and shouting catching the attention of anyone in the perimeter - not because of the noise level but because of the pain in her voice. She ran to his side, rushing past Rhodey, "Kat." He said softly, stepping aside to let Katherine next to Tony. 

Katherine fell to her knees at her her brothers side. She placed a hand on his left shoulder. He was pale but sported a faint smile on his face. He let out soft breaths. The whole right side of his body was singed, much like Bruce after he used the stones. "No." Katherine breathed, a sob escaping. Tony turned to his sister, smiling to her, "Why -" She breathed, "It should have been me." She sobbed, "Tony, why didn't you let me do it!?" She screamed painfully. 

Tony stared at his sister, taking her all in. He noted the blood surrounding her nose and eyes, mixing with her flooding tears. But he wasn't worried about that. He knew she was in good hands, he knew she would be okay. "You -" Tony breathed, barely able to get the words out, " - You go do great things."

Katherine breathed heavily, not inhaling as much as she was exhaling - almost hyperventilating. "F.R.I.D.A.Y.?" Katherine asked.

"Life functions critical."

Katherine lowered her head, placing her hand in Tonys. "Please -" Katherine breathed, not being able to see through her tears, "It should have been me." 

Pepper landed next to Katherine, removing her mask. Her face went pale looking at her husband. Pepper placed a comforting hand on Katherine's back, kneeling beside Tony, smiling to him. She brushed his hair to the side, a tear escaping. "Hey, Pep." Tony said to her. Pepper took a moment to look at her husband, life still dancing in his eyes, but slowly fading.

"We're gonna be okay." Pepper spoke softly to him, placing her hand on the arc reactor illuminating from his chest. Tony looked between his wife and his sister, his eyes welling up with tears. He knew they would be okay. He didn't have proof - he just knew. Tony began wheezing, struggling to catch his breath. Katherine raised her head, looking to her brother, trying to find strength to fill his lungs with air but it would have been no use. Pepper smiled to her husband, "You can rest now." 

Tony moved his head to the side, toward Katherine. The wheezing coming to a stop. Katherine's lip quivered as did Pepper's. Katherine lowered her head letting out a pain-staking sob. Tony's hand went limp in Katherines. Katherine made sure she held on tightly to his hand, squeezing it. The light from the arc reactor dimmed, eventually going out. Pepper placed a gentle kiss on her husbands cheek. She pressed her forehead against his chest, crying softly - she wanted to be strong. 

Katherine hunched over, squeezing her brothers hand. She couldn't catch her breath through her cries. He was her anchor. He kept her grounded and showed her a life worth living. And now, he was gone. 

The Avengers, alerted by Katherine's sobs, soon gathered around the clearing. No one said a word or made a sound. Everyone dropped a knee, showing their respect to their fallen hero. Most cried for him, Katherine's painful sobs making it hard not to feel her pain. 

Pepper continued to rub a hand along Katherine's back as they both began to mourn. Katherine was still a kid in Pepper's eyes. Katherine needed her, needed her support. Pepper remained strong, not only for herself but for Tony and Morgan. Pepper didn't want to think about returning home alone, breaking the news to their daughter. 

After a moment to themselves, Pepper knew it was time to go. She slowly climbed to her feet, wiping her tear stained cheeks. Rhodey approached, wrapping an arm around Pepper, his cheeks too stained with tears. Katherine remained. Katherine couldn't find the strength to let go of his hand. 

Katherine's sobs had ceased but instead she breathed heavily, rocking back and forth on her knees. Her head hung low, her eyes closed. A pair of gentle hands touched her shoulders. Katherine jumped with fright, glancing behind her. "Kat," Steve spoke softly, sniffling. "Let's go." He spoke softly. Katherine turned back around, continuing to rock back and forth. Steve bent down beside her, noticing her hold of Tony's hand. Steve hung his head. Katherine's pain and heartache radiated from her, Steve easily sensing her pain. Steve made another attempt and placed a hand on her arm, "He can rest now." 

"No one else is dying today." Katherine mumbled to herself, ignoring Steve. "No one else is dying today." She repeated, slightly louder almost trying to convince herself that the words she spoke were true, "No one else is dying today." 

Steve exhaled heavily, holding out his hand and taking hold of Katherine's free hand. "Kat." He sighed. 

Katherine knew she had to say goodbye but she wasn't ready. She couldn't let go, not yet. She wasn't ready to live a life without Tony. Katherine's senses shifted to the warmth of Steve's hand. She opened her eyes, looking down at his hand in hers. She inhaled deeply, slowly letting go of Tony's hand. Steve slowly and ever so gently pulled Katherine to her feet. But she had no strength to stand. 

Katherine faced Steve. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot. She looked as though she fought a million wars. Her face was stained with tears mixed with blood. Katherine looked to Steve, noticing how visibly upset he was. Steve brought her several feet away from Tony, as far as her feet would take her without support. She let out a shaky breath, "It should have been me, Steve. It should have been me!" She spoke, her voice quivering. 

Steve nodded watching as her face scrunched with the pain. He bit on the inside of his cheek to prevent his voice from breaking, "It's okay." He pulled Katherine into his chest. He placed one hand on her back, the other on the back of her head. Katherine wrapped her arms around Steve's back. She inhaled deeply and let out another pain-staking sob. Steve could almost feel her pain in his bones. Her shrill voice echoed in his ears. He rested his head on hers, sniffling as tears escaped his eyes. "He's at peace."