Avengers: The Hunted (Avengers × Reader)

47- Hold On

The ambulance came and took Tony away, everyone followed in cars but you refused to be anywhere but by Tony's side and Steve stayed with you.

Your tears dry out and Steve looks over at you with deep concern, he had faith in the doctors to help Tony through this but he knew you were going to take this harder than anyone else.

Like you had told him, you were the last to talk to him and he knew about the showdown. Bucky had told him how upset you were and he wanted to cheer you up that night, ignoring the conversation with Clint, he wanted to be there for you.

"Hey" He whispers,intertwining his hands with yours "he's going to get through this"

Part of him regretted not talking to Tony himself, or maybe if he hadn't been so busy trying to get you jealous earlier in the day with the psychiatrist, you wouldn't have followed Tony up on it and none of it would have happened. He regretted not talking to Tony himself, what if he did? Would that have made a difference? What if it were inevitable to come? Either way, he knew the most he could do right now was stay strong for everyone, for you and most of all for Tony.

You're sitting next to Tony as he lay on the ambulance bed. On the outside you now seemed untouched, but on the inside you were dying, more than dying, you were living death.

It's a long endless highway and he's silent beside you, driving a nightmare you couldn't escape from. Helplessly praying the light isn't fading, hiding the shock and the chill in your bones.

You're holding Tony in one hand for his life and Steve is holding your other for yours. None of you wanted to let go.

The ambulance worker was sorting out Tony's oxygen mask and had asked you to step away as they were pulling up near the hospital. You don't want to and ignore her,

"Miss please, we're going to have to take him in as fast as we can"

You remain blank faced

"Miss please-"

"Y/N" Steve says, moving his head around to meet your eyes. His ocean blue eyes were as blue as your heart right now. No. Your heart was maroon, once filled with stars now covered in scars and it was bleeding.

He takes your hand and carefully not to scare you, he pulls it away from Tony. Releasing Tony's hand may have been one of the most difficult things you could have done. Even though he was being taken to the hospital, and even though he was still hanging on to his life, It felt like you were saying goodbye.

The ambulance doors flung open and it was like slow motion, standing there in your party dress in red lipstick, but a heart filled with regret. The team arrive and they're all crying, and asking you about him but the one most hurting was the one you couldn't forgive.

You escape the small crowd and try running in with the trolley bed but the doctors stop you at the doors,

"I'm sorry miss, but you can't go through"

Despite your attempts to barge past them, the doctors run in from beside you and slam the door on your face. You sink to the ground and turn pale.

Steve was summoned into another room to provide further details on the incident.

A nearby nurse helps you up onto a bench and gives you water, you couldn't drink it yourself so she helps you. Staring blankly into the wall, you suffer. The nurse is called urgently to attend to another patient. You're left alone again,  in what seemed to be your death you never felt more alive, like a ghost who lingers around, never truly knowing where it belongs or how to feel.

You begin to pace, slow then fast, then slow again. Punching your fist into the wall, people around saw you. They knew who you were, but they knew better than to talk to you at this point in time. You turn around and slam your back into the wall. Tilting your head upwards, praying to God to save your friend. To take you instead. Anything, just to keep him here with you.

Bucky catches up, hand in hand with Natasha, but when he sees your state he runs over.

Grabbing you into a tight hug, he strokes your hair, assuring you through quiet cries that it'll be alright.

"Do- do you know where Steve is?" He asks

"Th- the rec- the reception, he's- he's gone-" you talk for the first time since back at the tower, unable to get your words through without stuttering.

"Reception? Okay that's fine, I can see him, I can see him look he's over there  just-" he shuffles and places his chin on your head "just don't worry, Okay doll, he's strong remember that man's lived through alot, he can get through this and so can we" he whispers soft and sweetly.

Bucky knew how bad your mental condition could go when something like this would happen. And it's only happened once before, but he vowed to never let you relive that experience, even if it weren't real at the time, you still went through something that troubled you so much that until this day you dream about it. He may not be your boyfriend anymore but he still loved you with all his heart as a friend, as hi family.

Steve returned to join you three and soon after came Bruce, Clint and Laura. They had to take extra time in sorting out your niece and nephews who stayed back with one of the receptionists.

Clint sees Bucky holding you, but doesn't sy anything. He holds Laura and waits quietly for any signs.

Rhodey and Happy roll in not long after, they were caught up in traffic. Rhodey and Happy were Tony's best friends, they had been with him since day 1, before he was Iron Man, when he was that genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist people envied. Seeing them made you feel worse and you sink deeper into Bucky's arms.