The car ride is long. The Winter Soldier isn’t sure where Steve’s apartment is and it’s dark and Natalia’s fading in and out of consciousness now. He’s taken her check and put it in his pants pocket for safe keeping and the bullet wound in his shoulder is really starting to slow him down. But he’s starting to recognize landmarks and he thinks they’ll get there in time.
“I’m so sorry,” Natalia slurs quietly and he looks over. “I’m happy you’re alive, James. I want you to know that. I’m glad you survived.”
The Winter Soldier looks ahead at the cars.
“I just,” Natalia shifts and lets out a breath and looks at him with tired blue eyes. “I was just so heartbroken to hear what happened to you, I wanted to believe death would be kinder. Death would have involved less pain, for both of us. I was still grieving you.”
The Soldier swallows and his hands tighten on the steering wheel.
“I understand,” he says.
“I think I always knew it was you,” she whispers to him. “I just couldn’t let myself believe it.”
They arrive at Steve’s apartment as the sun is coming up and the Winter Soldier stumbles out. With the bullet in his arm, he doesn’t think he can carry Natalia again, but they can lean on each other and they go as far as they can. Natalia’s blacking out again and the Winter Soldier is squeezing her and patting her face and trying to keep her awake and that’s when he hears his name called, he looks up hopefully.
Steve bursts out of the building and races for the Soldier and Natalia. Ambulances are called and they’re encouraged to lie down and people buzz around them with gurneys and face masks. They’re loaded into the ambulance and the Winter Soldier squeezes Natalia’s hand before his vision fades into black.
YOU ARE READING
Haunted By Him
FanficAn Anastasia Winter Widow AU "If you want to pass yourself off as Bucky, you gotta be a little more friendly," she accuses. "Oh no," the Soldier grumbles. "Don't tell me this Barnes guy is some sort of cheerful do-gooder." Natalia shrugs, shifting h...
