✔𝚨 𝚸𝛐𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞 ➳ 𝚩𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝚩𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬

Chapter 9

Barely half an hour went by before the 107th unit returned with Bucky and Dugan in the lead. Melora hardly noticed them as she was sitting close to the medical tent, listening to the people inside discussing the state of Private Allen.

She did not know the man personally, of course, but she did not need to. She was in charge of him, and she had gotten to know most of the men within the unit throughout the last months. In truth, she considered all of them her friends, or at least people she would hate to see get hurt.

Her mind was lost in thought, fingers grazing back and forth against her lips as she continued to focus on Allen's breath. Had it not been for her powers, she would have been unable to hear him and what his condition was like.

Earlier, as she had torn his clothes off, she had seen the cross on his chest, his religious symbol, and she hoped to every god out there they would give the man peace. She knew how bad it was looking for him, she could hear the strained breath, the pain of simply living.

Melora knew how honourable the sacrifice of the self for something greater was, but the thought that she should have seen it coming or been able to save him in another way was still running through her mind.

Sacrifice without need is nothing but pain and harm. But was she even able to judge this while fighting a war that was not hers to fight?

"How's he doing?" Bucky asked as he slumped down on the box next to her, she listened close before letting out a shaky breath.

"Horrible," she muttered, and she could see Bucky slowly nodding, looking out towards the number of soldiers moving before them, all having a goal and seeming like ants in a colony. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, not caring if others looked.

"Did- Did Kirkland check up on Stevens?" She asked, trying to occupy her mind, and he nodded again while slowly caressing her arm. "Good."

Neither of them said anything for a while, but the silence was even more annoying to her, it gave her mind too much time to think.

"Do you mind telling the unit I'll debrief them after dinner?" She asked and he nodded again, leaning down closer so she was the only one able to hear his words.

"Of course. Anything for you, Doll," he tried with a smile and one washed over her lips, but the smiles quickly disappeared from both of their faces. The severity hitting them.

Melora stayed by the medical tent for most of the morning, but as noon came around, she stood up and tended to her duties. Everything that her unit had brought back had to be checked and made sure it was safe. It was something she was in charge of.

The work also needed you to use your mind, so it served well as a way to keep herself occupied. A few of the men from her unit walked by every now again, some helping while others just stared at her.

What she was supposed to say was still running through her mind, and it would heavily depend on the state of Allen after dinner. One thing she was sure of was her honesty about what she was able to do. For once, she was going to be completely honest and answer their questions...

She just had to tell Bucky first, having left him out of something this big about her was not fair, and he deserved to know before everyone else. Even though she had settled on what to do, she did not seek out the man until later in the afternoon.

He was sitting inside of his squad's tent, lying on the usual bed and reading whatever book he had been able to trade his way to throughout the camp.

"Hey, Buck?" She asked, and he looked up from the pages, a slight smile appearing on his face.

"Yes, Doll?" He asked, smile widening and he put the book down, sliding it underneath his pillow.