𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐑𝐀: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄. marvel²

chapter fifteen

⊱ ━━━━.⋅ εïз ⋅.━━━━ ⊰

❝ my only plan is to wait for you ❞

⊱ ━━━━.⋅ εïз ⋅.━━━━ ⊰

STEVE ROGERS was clad in the time travel suit, prepared to send the stones back where they belong after Nova help put them together separately.

They were out in the woods with Bruce behind the control panel, Bucky and Nova side by side as they waited for Steve.

"Now, remember," Bruce started, gaining everyone's attention. "You have to return the stones to the exact moment you got them. Or you're gonna open up a bunch of nasty alternative realities."

"And that would most likely mean problems for me," Nova piped up with a small laugh and they smiled at her. "Don't worry, Bruce, Nova. Clip all the branches," Steve said to them.

"You know, if you want, I can come with you," Sam said to him as the man approached him. Steve smiled and shook his head.

"You're a good man, Sam. This one's on me, though," he responded before moving on to Bucky.

"Don't do anything stupid 'till I get back," he joked and the man chuckled.

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you," Nova smiled at the men's banter as they shared a hug.

Steve turned to the girl who smiled up at him. "Can I get a hug or are we not there yet?" he raised an eyebrow with a teasing smile and the girl threw her head back slightly with a laugh.

She stepped forward as Steve looked to Bucky who nodded before he took her smaller body into a hug. "You've done great, Captain. It's been a honour," she whispered and he nodded as they pulled away.

"Gonna miss you, Buddy," Bucky said, his eyes giving away his true feelings.

"It's gonna be okay, Buck," Steve reassured him. "You both be good to each other. Don't be idiots," he said as he looked between the couple in front of him.

The pair laughed and shared a look as they shook their heads. With one last smile, Steve walked to the Quantum portal and activated the suit.

"How long is this gonna take?" Sam asked Bruce.

"For him? As long as he needs. For us? Five seconds," he responded.

Steve picked up Mjolnir and stood in the middle of the platform as everyone stepped away.

"Ready, Cap? Alright. We'll meet you back here, okay?" Bruce confirmed and he nodded.

"You bet."

"Going quantum. Three, two, one–"

Steve disappeared into the portal and Bruce began a new countdown for his return. But he didn't. Steve didn't reappear on the platform and he frantically looked around on the control panel.

"Where is he?" Sam asked, panic rising in his voice.

"I don't know. He blew right by his time stamp. He should be here," Bruce responded as he began pushing buttons.

Bucky turned around and took Nova with him a few feet away, his eyes glued to the ground as he held onto her hand. Sam was desperately urging Bruce to get Steve back, but both Bucky and Nova knew it wouldn't work.

"You alright?" Nova whispered, her two hands clasping onto his vibranium one. He nodded subtly, looking at her with a sad smile.

He turned to the lake, and stopped his movement when he noticed a figure on the bench.

"Sam..." he called out, making the man come over to their position.

They all saw him sitting on the bench under a shady tree as he looked out towards the lake. But it was different. He was different. He was older.

"Go ahead," Bucky urged Sam as a smile formed on his face while looking over to the man beside him.

With that, Sam made his way over to the now elderly Steve. Nova stuffed her free hand into the pocket of her jacket, while the other was still holding firmly onto Bucky's vibranium arm.

There wasn't a specific reason, but she always found herself holding that one. Bucky's first concern when she first held that hand was what she might have thought, maybe she was scared of it in any way. But she wasn't. In fact, she preferred it over the other.

Maybe it was the difference of a metal arm to a flesh one, or maybe it was the comfort of the rather cool surface on her skin. Either way, it brought her some sort of comfort that she would never want to let go.

As they watched Sam and Steve's conversation, Nova's mind wandered to how she would be leaving that same day. She turned her head to look at Bucky, meeting his blue eyes that were already on her.

"So, what are your plans now?" she asked him. He hummed, glancing at his best friend who had now grown old.

"I don't know," he shrugged. "My only plan is to wait for you," he turned to her with a fond smile.

She smiled at that, nodding slowly. "Just a few months for you," she told him.

"And barely a second for you," he added.

It's true. The second she stepped through the portal she would be back in her time and in Ivazar, but with new memories for the entire world. For instance, some people were still alive.

Pietro was back. Tony and Natasha made it thanks to Nova. Vision, unfortunately, couldn't be brought back. They tried, but the way he had been broken just to reach the Mind Stone, he wasn't repairable.

And that's as far as she could interfere. There's nothing more she could do.

"You'll see me again before you know it," she assured him with a nod and smile. "I'll see you soon J," she said and turned her body to face him as he mirrored her actions.

She reached up to hold the back of his neck and pulled him gently to lean down, connecting their lips for a sweet kiss. His arm went to wrap around her waist, pulling her small body into him. He rested his forehead onto hers after pulling away, taking in the last few seconds.

"Take care of yourself while I'm gone," she whispered and a small smile flashed across his face. "I will. Just for you," he pushed a few strands of her hair away.

There was a small gush of wind behind her, catching the couple's attention. Nova looked over her shoulder to see the portal open for her. Bucky squeezed her hand three times, making her look over with a gentle smile.

With one last meaningful look, she turned and stepped through the portal.