Somber Reminiscence

CH. 26

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Song Rec. - I love you by Billie Eilish

A.N. - Okay so this chapter is dear to my heart as it's the scene I wrote like 6 months ago to start the book off. It was a total in-the-middle story scene so it took development to get it here and I'm so happy to finally be publishing it.

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I insisted that Sam put his suit on, worried that if for any reason a fight broke out, that he'd be able to protect himself.

I portalled him to his suit, Bucky and I waiting as he changed.

My fingers moved up to my mouth as I chewed on my nail, thinking about Karli and what could possibly bring her down from the tyranny.

"You okay?"

I look up, eyes blank as I register Bucky's question, stopping the chewing and pulling my hand down to my side.

"Yeah, I'm just trying to figure all this out," I say, waving my hand up in frustration.

Because that's what it all was, frustrating.

Everything seemed to turn for the worst when all of it could be so easy. John and Lemar's constant interruptions, Zemo's escape, Karli's loopholes.

Not to mention that for some reason, I thought getting into a relationship would somehow make these things any easier.

"Well Elena-" I look up at Bucky as he sighs, "-you don't have to do things on your own. Sam and I can figure it out with you."

I knew that.

It was my stubborn nature that refused to accept the constant support that everyone was offering.

Seeing Bucky right here for me though, and then Sam as he walked out of the portal in his suit, I really wanted to try and allow them to help me.

"Alright let's go deal with Karli," Sam says in a hostile tone.

I mean I would be mad too if someone threatened my family.

Still, it was rare to see Sam as angry as he was, even if he managed to look the most composed as he did.

We used the map Karli sent to navigate our way to her.

We went up some stairs and around corners, the occasional citizens giving us a scolding expression as we passed.

We finally reached the spot she was supposedly at, a square building with an opening in the middle, the floor levels open-faced as we walked in.

"Karli!" Sam yells as he walks ahead of us, looking up I see the red hair pop out from the grimy white walls of the building.

"Up there," I say.

Sam looks up and notices her, storming to the left towards the stairs as we make our way to the 2nd floor.

"You called my sister? That's how we're gonna play this." Sam walked straight up to her as Bucky and I turned the corner to stand on the other side of the 4-way building.

"Sam I would never hurt her. I just wanted to understand you better." Her eyes move over to us, focusing on Bucky at my side. "I see you two, um, didn't come alone."

"You have to end this now." Sam cuts in, ignoring her comment.

"I don't want to hurt you. You're just a tool in the regimes I want to destroy. None of you are hiding behind a shield." She looks over at me, "I understand your job though, and your deaths would be meaningless if I killed you."