Soul Stealer ~ (A Bucky Barnes Love Story)

I Want To Know What Love Is

"Anything?"

I bit my lip, giving Bucky a hard shake of my head while I continued pacing around the living room.  "No one's answering."

We were back at Tony's cabin desperately trying to find out what was happening in Sokovia.  Right now our only source of information was the TV, even Jarvis was offline which filled me with so much dread my stomach churned.  Tony's AI wasn't easily accessible, and he would never shut him down unless the situation was dire.  The last time it happened a robot Army broke into the tower to arrest us.  Based on the images flashing across the TV the situation passed dire a few hours ago.

Sinking onto the couch I blinked away the tears building in my eyes as I watched a gigantic piece of land in the small Eastern European country getting higher and higher in the clear, blue sky.  I knew they were on it despite no confirmation from the news.  In my heart I knew the Avengers, my friends, my family, were in danger with no way out.

Bucky sat down beside me, his metal hand clasping mine.  "They're gonna be alright."  He didn't know that.  He couldn't.  "Evie, look at me."  My lips trembled as I tore my eyes away from the news coverage.  "They will make it."  His hands cupped my face as he touched his forehead against mine, eyes closed.  "Do you trust me?"

"Yes, always."

His lips thinned and he hauled me against him.  "I got you.  I'm here.  We will get through this."

Just like we'd gotten through everything else.

I squeezed him hard, soaking in every bit of comfort he was offering both physically and through our bond.  He was my rock, literally holding me together with both hands even though this had to be hard for him too.  His best friend, his only friend, was on that piece of land that was dangerously high in the sky with no way out. 

There's been an explosion, oh my god, ladies and gentleman, please bear with us as we sort through the information coming in real time.  There's been an explosion.  The piece of Sokovia suspended thousands of feet in the air has exploded.  We have no word on possible survivors, including the Avengers...

We broke apart though our hands stayed interwoven, both of us staring blankly at the screen that was showing the moment the piece of land detonated in a brilliant flash of light and what appeared to be bolts of lightning.  It was there one minute, and simply gone the next. 

My stomach turned painfully as I covered my mouth with my other hand.  This couldn't be happening.  It wasn't fair.  We'd finally escaped HYDRA, found Steve, found the Avengers, only to have them ripped away from us.  So many thoughts and emotions were warring inside me, mostly regret.  Against all odds I'd found my father, and I'd callously wasted the opportunity to get to know him, to let him in, to tell him I loved him.  All because I was scared though right now I couldn't think of a single reason why.  There was no reason good enough to explain how I'd wasted my second chance. 

Somewhere in the house a cell phone rang shrilly.  Bucky's pressed a chaste kiss to the back of my hand before releasing me, striding towards the kitchen and the phone.  I barely noticed, could hardly breathe much less process what was happening around me.  I wasn't ready to live in a world without Steve. 

"Evie."  My father was gone, so was my godson, so were Nat, Clint, Sam, Bruce.  My mind spiraled into despair at the thought of never seeing any of them again.   "Evelyn."  My eyes snapped to Bucky, surprised to find him kneeling in front of me with a concerned look on his handsome face.  "Take the phone."

With shaking hands I took the cell phone, my mouth so dry I couldn't swallow.  I raised it to my ear, dreading the words I knew I would hear on the other end.