You never thought you'd die in a fire.
You always assumed you'd be shot out in the field. Killed by an asset gone rogue. Lately, of course, you'd assumed the Company or maybe the Tressis would get to you.
But the heat, the scalding lick of the flames as they crawl closer on the carpet, it's a fear unlike any other. Already you can feel patches of skin beginning to burn as you try desperately to curl into yourself, hiding as much of you away as possible.
Every breath is like a set of broken toothpicks being dragged down the back of your throat. And you're growing dizzy from lack of air.
You close your eyes, clutching the pillow tightly to your chest.
"Y/n?!"
Lifting your chin, you look frantically towards the door. Faintly, you thought you heard your name. But all you can hear now is the roar of the flames and the creak of cracking wood.
"Y/N?!"
Your heart lurches as you hear it again. Far away. Down the hall, further down in the house.
Adrenaline surges through your body as you summon the little remaining strength you have left. You open your mouth to scream but you begin coughing, struggling to make any sound at all. Lowering yourself as flat as possible to the ground, you breathe in between the fibres of the carpet, getting as much air as you can before raising your chin.
"James?!" you shout, barely more than a hoarse whisper.
But it's enough.
"Y/N?!" This time the shout is closer, coming towards you.
"HERE!" you wheeze.
You hear a loud crashing sound, and small flames surge beneath the door.
"I...I can't get to you," the shout comes through the door still too far away.
Your heart sinks.
"Then go!" you shout. "Get out! Come back when it's over," you cough, sputtering as you try to get out your final words. "Look in the pillows!"
You clutch the pillow tighter as you move back, the carpet now fully engulfed in flames as they move faster, coming towards you.
"No...no I'll get you," Barnes shouts from outside the door.
"No! Just get out of here!" you rasp, grateful for his hearing, knowing no normal person would be able to hear your weak voice over the roar of the flames.
You wait, a small part of you hoping he doesn't leave you behind, wondering if he'll find some way to save you. But he doesn't answer. He doesn't yell back. And you realize that it would be foolish to believe he'd sacrifice himself to try and get you out.
He's not your friend.
So you take your last breath and wait for those flames to finally catch you.
When suddenly the door is ripped from its hinges, and a massive figure flies across the room. Draped in layers of fabric, you can barely make out it's a person beneath the layers of what look towels and sheets as suddenly you're being wrapped tight in a wet curtain, and lifted from the ground, coughing as tears stream down your face.
Leaning in as close as you can to the mass it carries you, it breaks into a run, heading straight for the doorway completely engulfed in flames. Taking a flying leap, the flames lick your ears, singing the tips as you make it through to the hall.
"Keep your head down," Barnes grunts as he coughs several times, holding you tight and navigating through fallen beams and crumbling walls. You obey without question, and curl yourself up tight in his arms as he bullies his way through the smoldering house.

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Saving Bucky (Bucky Barnes x Reader)
FanfictionSet immediately after the events of Saving Steve (Book 2), Bucky finds himself locked up in the hands of The Company - a mysterious shadow organization asking too many questions about his Winter Soldier programming. And he'll do anything to hide th...