𝚄𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝙾𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 - 𝓑𝓾𝓬𝓴𝔂 𝓑𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼 [1]

18. {Suffocating}

With adrenaline coursing through your veins, you and Natasha sprang into action the moment you arrived at the scene. Still clad in your evening attire, you kicked off your heels without a second thought, tossing them aside as you rushed toward the burning building. There was no time to waste, no luxury of hesitation — lives were at stake, and you were determined to do everything in your power to save as many as possible.

Together, you and Natasha navigated the chaos of the inferno, your senses heightened by the urgency of the situation. Smoke filled your lungs, stinging and suffocating, but you pushed through, driven by a fierce determination to aid those in need. Your lungs burned, your eyes watered, but you pressed on, each step bringing you closer to the heart of the devastation.

As you both raced through the corridors, your focus was singular — get in, get out, save as many lives as possible. But as you neared the exit, a realization struck you like a bolt of lightning. The director's floor was close to the epicenter of the fire. He had been a mentor, a friend, someone who had always looked out for you, even when others doubted you.

Conflicted, you hesitated at the exit door, torn between your duty to escape and your instinct to help someone who had done so much for you. The taste of soot lingered in your mouth, a bitter reminder of the chaos unfolding around you. But then, with a heavy heart, you made your decision.

Ignoring the protests echoing in your mind, you slipped away from Natasha's side, leaving her to reach the exit without you. The director had done enough for you — it was your turn to return the favor. With a newfound resolve, you turned back toward the heart of the blaze, steeling yourself for the dangerous task ahead.

The flames raged around you, casting flickering shadows against the charred walls. But you pushed forward, driven by a determination that burned brighter than any fire. The director was up there, somewhere amidst the smoke and chaos, and you refused to leave him behind.

"FURY!" You shout urgently as you reach the floor. The heat is overwhelming, and thick clouds of smoke force you to crouch low as you hurriedly navigate through the area. The fire rages above you, just a couple of floors away, and you know you have only a couple of minutes before the flames engulf this section completely, and even less time before the smoke becomes so unbearable that breathing will be impossible. Thinking quickly, you tear the hem of your dress and fashion it into a makeshift mask to filter out as much of the deadly smoke as possible before calling out for Fury again.

The floor appears deserted, which brings a sigh of relief, but also a sense of unease. You turn to leave, hoping that Fury has escaped, yet a lingering feeling of dread gnaws at you.

As you're about to turn away, a door behind you is pushed open with urgency. You spin around, the silhouette of a figure emerging from the billowing smoke. It's Fury. He looks unhurt, but his usual jacket and eyepatch are conspicuously absent. He strides toward you, his expression a mix of surprise and frustration.

"What the fuck are you doing up here?" he demands, his voice sharp with urgency.

You don't hesitate. "Trying to get you to safety," you reply, your voice muffled by the makeshift mask you've fashioned from your torn dress.

For a moment, a glimmer of respect passes through Fury's features before he grabs you by the arm, his grip firm. "We need to get out of here, now," he insists, his tone leaving no room for argument.

With Fury leading the way, you follow, your heart pounding in your chest as you navigate through the smoke-filled corridors. The flames lick at the walls, casting eerie shadows that dance across the charred surfaces. But you push forward, fueled by adrenaline and determination, knowing that escape is the only option if you hope to survive the inferno engulfing SHIELD HQ.

You both head for the fire exit stairs, your feet pounding against the concrete steps with urgency. The smoke grows thicker with each passing moment, making it harder to see and breathe. Fury leads the way, his pace brisk and determined as he navigates the labyrinthine corridors of the burning building.

"Why the hell are you dressed like that?" Fury demands between breaths, his voice echoing off the walls.

"It's been a long fucking morning," you reply tersely. The adrenaline coursing through your veins dulls the pain in your feet, but you know you'll feel it later. "Why the hell are you still up here?" you demand as you descend the stairs, the urgency in your voice matching the intensity of the situation.

Fury pauses for a moment, his gaze fixed ahead as he navigates the steps with practiced ease. "Usually, the captain goes down with his ship," he replies stoically, "but in this case, I was operating the fail-safe on the server. This is an attack on SHIELD."

His words send a chill down your spine, the gravity of the situation sinking in. This isn't just a fire; it's a deliberate act of sabotage aimed at crippling SHIELD from within.

Now halfway down the staircase, the deafening roar of the fire above grows louder, echoing through the stairwell like a harbinger of doom. Without warning, the floors above give way with a sickening crash, sending a cascade of debris tumbling down toward you.

Instinct takes over as you and Fury dive to the side, seeking whatever shelter you can find amidst the chaos. But the avalanche of rubble is relentless, swallowing you both in a torrent of smoke and ash.

For a moment, all is darkness and chaos, the weight of the collapsed floors pressing down on you like a suffocating blanket. The air grows thick and heavy, making it difficult to breathe as you struggle to free yourself from the debris pinning you down.

Amidst the confusion and panic, you try to move, but your body feels heavy and unresponsive. The adrenaline pumping through your veins numbs the pain, making you unaware of the severity of your injuries. It's only when you attempt to shift that you realize your leg is pinned beneath a large piece of steel. The weight presses down with an unrelenting force, trapping you in place and rendering you immobile.

Desperately, you turn your head to the side, searching for Fury. Your eyes widen in alarm as you see him lying motionless under a pile of rubble, blood trickling from a wound on his head. The sight sends a fresh wave of panic through you, and you shout his name, your voice hoarse and strained. But there is no response; he remains unconscious, the flames drawing ever closer.

You struggle to reach Fury, desperation clawing at your chest as you try to rouse him from unconsciousness. "Fury, wake up!" you plead, your voice strained with fear. But he remains unresponsive, his form limp.

More rubble comes crashing down from above, showering you both in a cascade of debris. You scream and instinctively cover your head, the sound of your own heartbeat drowning out everything else. The flames edge closer, their searing heat licking at your skin as they consume everything in their path.

With each passing moment, the reality of your situation sinks in. There's no way out. No hope of rescue. You're trapped, pinned beneath tons of rubble with no escape in sight. Tears blur your vision as you come to terms with the inevitable. You're going to fucking die here, in this suffocating tomb of smoke and fire.

Your mind drifts to Bucky, the man with whom you've shared countless arguments and heated exchanges. It's ironic, you think, that your last moments will be yet another heated exchange, albeit one with no chance for resolution.

Regret weighs heavily on your heart as you reflect on your tumultuous relationship with Barnes. You've spent so much time pushing him away, defying him at every turn, convinced that you knew better. But now, faced with the prospect of your own mortality, you realize how foolish your pride has been.

If only you had set aside your differences, swallowed your pride, and embraced the truth of your feelings for him. Perhaps then, you wouldn't be trapped in this suffocating tomb of smoke and fire, waiting for the inevitable end.

Tears sting your eyes as you lament the wasted opportunities, the words left unsaid, and the love left unspoken. How could you have been so blind, so stubborn, so foolish? If only you could turn back time and make things right. But it's too late for regrets now.

And with that heavy heart, you resign yourself to your fate, knowing that your final moments will be spent longing for the chance to tell Bucky how you truly feel. In the end, all you can do is hope that he knows, somehow, someway, that despite everything, you love him.