The Blue Siren and the Winter Soldier | Bucky Barnes x OC

Part 14

"I guess Sam found the Reactor," Bucky sighed in relief.

I kissed him quickly. Under that tough exterior, I saw him blush. Bucky was a lot of things, but at his core, he was kind, gentle, and above all else, loyal. I loved that about him.  I was grateful for him and everything he did for me.  While the last few months have felt like a lifetime, I was glad to have him by my side.  I glanced out of the large glass windows, watching as the buildings below us grew smaller and smaller. I closed my eyes for a moment, taking a moment to catch my breath.

Unfortunately, that didn't last long. The elevator dinged and the door opened. I spun around to see more armed men storm the small elevator chamber. Bucky grabbed the gun from the first guy and twisted it out of his hand, shooting him and his companions in one swift move.

"Stay...right there," Bucky said to the three bodies at our feet.

"We're on the 51st floor," I said, "We should take the stairs the rest of the way up."

Bucky nodded and we ran out of the elevator. This floor was just a normal looking office space.  We past cubicles and office chairs that were placed sporadically around.  No one was on this floor, thankfully, so we breezed through without too much trouble.  We found the door to the stairs and once again began running. I had never run this much in my life, and under any other circumstances I would have already passed out from exhaustion. I was quite literally running for my life, so the adrenaline was working overtime. I prayed that we were safe from Auster's men, at least for a little while.  It seemed that someone answered my prayers, because the stairwell was empty as well. 

After what felt like an eternity, we finally reached the top level. The thick metal door was soldered shut. Auster's men had already been here.  They wanted to make sure no one could get back onto the roof.  Which meant the bomb must be up there.  Bucky slammed his shoulder into it, trying to get it to budge.  His brow scrunched in concentration as he tried with all of his strength to open the door.

"Move," I demanded. He took a step back, eyeing me intently. I waved my hands at the door and it flew open, the metal solder flying in different directions at it expanded and broke free from the door. We ran out onto the patio-like area along the roof. The space was clearly a hang out spot for office workers on break; there were cigarette butts along the concrete floor, a chip bag was stuck between two metal grates on one of the vents, and wooden benches laid sporadically along the edge of the rooftop. I looked around, searching for anything that resembled an explosive. "There it is!" I said. In the center of the roof was a silver device, still secured to a utility cart. It was shaped like a large metal pill, with wires exploding from within. It ticked as we grew closer. Bucky and I looked at each other.

"Do you think you can disarm it with your powers?" He asked me.

I paused, unsure of how to answer. I'd never performed magic on something so delicate before. My powers worked as an extension of myself. There was a chance that it would work, but there was also a chance that the bomb would go off if I made a wrong move. "I...I don't know. Something could go wrong. I wouldn't even know where to start..." I wracked my brain, trying to think of a solution.

Bucky was quiet. He stared at the bomb, his brows scrunched in concentration and his fingers curled into fists. After a few moments of slow breathing, he finally said, "Then we're going to set it off." Those words were the most confident I'd ever heard escape his lips.

"Wait, what?" I cried, taking a few steps towards him. My hair blew in front of my face as I spoke, the wind of the high New York air loud around my ears. The wind was so loud, in fact, that for a moment I thought I'd misheard him.

He moved closer to the device, his eyes trained on the blinking metal tube, "I'm going to set it off. You'll use your magic to contain the blast."

I furrowed my brow, "Bucky, that will kill you!" I shouted, "We'll find another way. Just let me think for a second--"

"If I pull the trigger, that'll give you enough time to contain the explosion so it doesn't blow up the city," He explained, almost a little too calmly, "You can save New York, Elliana."

I shook my head, "Don't do that. Don't put this on me..." My chest grew heavy and my throat burned as I spoke.

He smiled, but this time there was sadness in his gray eyes. He walked back to me and took both of my hands in his, "We can do this, Elle. You can do this."

My chest grew tighter and my eyes stung with tears, though I refused to let them fall. He wasn't serious, was he? "Bucky, this is ridiculous. What are you trying to prove?" My voice cracked as the words left my lips, "Do you think that sacrificing your life in some blaze of glory will redeem you from your past? You of all people should know that's--"

"We don't have time to argue!"  Bucky cut me off.  "You know this will work." He brushed my cheek with his hand.  His eyes searched mine. I stared up at him, hoping, praying, that he'd say he was joking. I wasn't going to let him sacrifice himself. For a moment I felt nothing but anger. But then my anger turned to despair. My soul ached, and my heart raced so much I felt like it was going to explode from my chest. "Hey," His voice was soft, comforting, as he sensed my stress, "Hey, Elliana, listen to me. It's going to be okay."

I shook my head, "Please, James.  Don't do this."

"You taught me how to feel," He smiled at me and for a moment hope flickered in his eye. I closed my eyes, taking in his touch, his voice, his presence. "You taught me to love," He continued his farewell, though the word "goodbye" never escaped his lips.

I didn't say anything. I couldn't. Was he going to give up everything just like that? Everything we had been through-everything he had been through. I couldn't lose him.  Taking a chance on Bucky was the best thing I ever did.  I'd already lost everyone else in my life, whether it be by death or my own selfish neglect.  He showed me that I could be happy again.  For the first time in years, I could open my heart.  

"It's going to be okay," Bucky said again, this time as a whisper.

I kissed him. I kissed him harder than I ever had before. Knowing this would be our last, I wrapped my arms around his neck, drawing him close to me. I took in his scent, the feeling of his 5 o'clock shadow on my skin, the pressure of his hands grazing my back. Bucky was not one to shed tears, but I felt one mingle with my own along my cheek. I felt his love for me. It was an unspoken euphoria within a moment of sorrow. He broke free and took a few steps back towards the bomb. There were 3 minutes left on the clock. It was now or never.

"I love you," I said between sobs. He nodded at me, silently returning my sentiment. That was the last time his eyes met mine.

Just as Bucky was fidgeting with the bomb, I heard banging coming from the door to the stairs. Without a second thought I threw one hand out, using all of my energy to keep the door closed. Rage boiled inside me. I didn't know if I was angry at Bucky, or myself, or at the world. I channeled that anger at the door, feeling my hand heat up under the waves of raw magic escaping my fingertips. I turned my head to the center of the roof where the bomb stood, which was just about to activate. I thrusted my other hand out with a gasp, this time towards the device. I screamed in agony. I kept my eyes closed, fearing that if I opened them they'd see the unimaginable. I felt like my body was splitting apart, torn between enemies. Two worlds.

Funny how life can be poetic like that.

I wasn't sure if it was my sheer power or my raging emotions that helped me withstand the magnitude of power I was emitting. It didn't last long, however, because the world began to spin, and I fell to the ground, unconscious.

I didn't even notice that Sam had flown in and grabbed Bucky right as the blast went off.