Marvel Short Stories

Chapter Six

"What's gonna happen to your friends?" James asks after a long, and silent flight. Steve takes a deep breath, clearly not wanting to think about it.

"Whatever it is," he starts, not happy. "I'll deal with it."

Clearly, it's not an answer James likes. "I don't know if I'm worth all this, Steve."

"What you did all those years," Steve starts, turning his head slightly. "It wasn't you. You didn't have a choice."

"I know," James says, not believing a word of it. "But I did it." I sigh, giving him a small glare. The man turns to me, looking me close, his eyes darting down to my neck for only a half second before closing his eyes, pulling me close and kissing my forehead. "I still did it," he whispers, so quiet I could barely hear him. He's hurting over everything. Even though none of it is his fault. He's blaming himself.

The ride is silent again, and I wish I could tell him, right here and now, about Azraelle, but the fight isn't over yet. "So, why is this guy in Siberia?" I sign, ready to get updated.

"I'm not the only Winter Soldier," James signs back. "I was kept in Siberia, along with HYDRA's most fearsome death squad, even before the addition of the serum. We're headed there to stop him from waking them up." I nod, knowing how far behind we are from the man who's probably already there waking them up. I'm really wishing we had the others, now.

James reads the worry on my face, and brushes his hand over my face. Smiling, I force my worries away and return the gesture before I take his hand. Then, I face the windshield in front of us as we slowly fly into a blizzard. "We're here," Steve says, landing the aircraft. Grabbing weapons for a fight, we end up standing in a row at the exit, and Steve speaks first. "You remember that time we had to ride back from Rockaway Beach in the back of that freezer truck?" Steve asks, looking at James.

James smiles, clearly remembering. "Was that the time we used our train money, to buy hot dogs?" he asks, and Steve laughs.

"You blew three bucks trying to win that stuffed bear for a redhead." The two have similar smirks, reminiscing.

"What was her name again?" James asks, and Steve answers.

"Dolores. You called her Dot." James sighs, shaking his head.

"She's gotta be a hundred years old right now."

Steve chuckles. "So are we, pal." After patting James's shoulder, Steve heads out, and James stays behind, looking at me.

"Are we going?" I ask, my voice getting easier to use. Bucky sighs, and I know what's going through his mind. "You want me to stay."

"I can't lose you," he tells me, but I'm not having it.

"I lost you for two years, James. You have no idea what I went through in those two years or what I had to deal with trying to find you. I'm coming. I can take care of myself."

"Emris, I know you can take care of yourself," he sighs, and I glare at him. "You have well proven that."

"Then you know I can be of help out there."

He sighs, placing his hands on my shoulders. "Yes, and you'll see a side of me I don't ever want you to have to see. Especially since it's not me."

Folding my arms, I raise an eyebrow at him. "I've already seen the Winter Soldier."

James shakes his head, and I shift my weight, uncomfortable. "You've seen the Winter Soldier who failed. What you would see in there, is a monster who succeeded. Time and time again. Please." He's begging me with his eyes, which means if I were truly to go with them, he wouldn't stop me. I don't think he could let himself try. Not after...

Sighing, I run a hand through my hair. "I guess you could use a lookout." I've had enough action for one day anyway.

I've had enough action for a year. "Thank you," he sighs, relieved.

"Just come back to me." He nods, pulling me in for a kiss, and I feel like it's a kiss I haven't felt in a long time. Wrapping my arms around him, butterflies explode in my chest, and when I pull away, I know it wasn't a kiss goodbye.

"Hello, again," the kiss told me, as James walks away, following Steve to the Base.

After two years, I'm still in love with that man. Even after everything, I'm still over the moon to know he's mine, and I'm his. And after this, Azraelle will finally meet her father.

It's a while before I see something in the distance. A red glint, just nearing us through the blizzard, and when it lands, I see one of the metal men from the airport. "Guys, we have activity," I say over comms, but there's no response. "Damn!" Running to the weapons, I grab the first gun I can find and aim, firing.

It's a head shot, but it doesn't do anything as the metal man turns towards me. "Well hello there," he says, and I cock the gun again, aiming.

"I'm not letting you anywhere near them!" I yell, walking into the storm. It's freezing, but I don't let it affect me.

The man takes his helmet off, raising his hands. Brown hair, glasses, looks rich just by the face. "I'm not here to fight, okay? I'm here to help Steve."

I eye him, trying to figure out his motive. "You're not here to put James behind bars?" I ask, still wary.

"Nope. I know he was being mind controlled. You can put the gun down, now." Slowly, I set the gun down. Comms are down. I can't ask if he's in the clear. I have to go by my own judgement. Walking up to the man, he's quickly uncomfortable with how close I now am as I read his eyes, trying to get the honesty behind them.

Satisfied, I shrug. "They could use all the help they can get. Have fun." I wave him goodbye, going back onto the ship to warm up.

"Why aren't you with them, then?" Metal Man asks, and I pause. Two years ago, I was a normal person. But since that two years, I have changed. I've used the fighting skills Mom taught me more than I've ever wanted to have to use them, and though my family hunts, and I know how to use a gun, I never thought I'd be using it on a person. And I never thought I'd fall in love with one of Earth's most dangerous weapons.

But here I am. "Why did you not trust your friends?" I retort before entering the ship, closing it so I can warm up, and end the conversation.

I didn't realize I had fallen asleep until the sound of a gunshot startles me awake, and I see two people on the ledge outside the windshield. Kitty, and another man. Kitty is holding the other man, throwing the gun away and he stands up, bringing the man, thankfully living, with him. "Oh my god," I mutter, standing up. Kitty pulls the man to his ship, and he comes back out alone, waiting. Opening the ship door, I see Steve and James come out, the both of them beat up pretty good. "James! Steve!" I yell, despite my hoarse voice. I run out, getting to them as fast as possible. "What happened!?" Panicked, I look over the two of them, neither of them looking good.

Then, Kitty joins us. "They need medical attention," he starts, looking them over.

"I'm fine," Steve tries to deny, but I'm not having it.

"Can you fly the ship?" Kitty asks, and I shake my head.

"N-no, I'm not taught."

"Then you're coming with me," he says, guiding us to his ship.

"How do I know we can trust you?" I ask, but do I really have a choice? Looking these men over, I couldn't trust either one to fly. "Never mind." Kitty grabs Steve, though he's standing, and I grab James, the one who can't stand on his own and we make our way to Kitty's ship.

"On the bright side," James murmurs under his breath. "I came back to you." I chuckle, setting him in one of the seats before sitting myself down. Please, let this man be trustworthy.