𝚄𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝙾𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 - 𝓑𝓾𝓬𝓴𝔂 𝓑𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼 [1]

19. {You Before Anyone}

As Bucky Barnes bursts through the doors of SHIELD HQ, his heart races with adrenaline and fear. The sight before him is a nightmare brought to life: flames licking at the walls, smoke billowing into the air, and the deafening roar of the fire echoing through the corridors.

He pushes forward, his senses on high alert as he navigates through the chaos. Each step brings him closer to the heart of the inferno, closer to the possibility of finding you amidst the flames. Fear gnaws at his insides, threatening to consume him, but he pushes it aside, focusing on the task at hand.

With each moment, the heat grows more intense, searing his skin and singeing his clothes. But he doesn't falter, doesn't hesitate. He knows that time is of the essence, that every second wasted could mean the difference between finding you and death.

As he races through the burning building, memories flash before his eyes: the arguments, the tension, the moments of connection. Despite everything, he can't shake the feeling that he needs to find you, needs to make things right between you.

"Y/N!" he yells, his voice echoing off the charred walls as he searches desperately for any sign of you. The heat grows more intense with each passing moment, threatening to overwhelm him, but he presses on, driven by that fierce determination to reach you.

Amidst the chaos, he sees no other survivors, but he doesn't stop to search for them. His thoughts are consumed by you, by the need to find you and bring you to safety. His heroics are forgotten in this moment of selfish desperation; he couldn't care less about anyone else right now.

Suddenly, he hears the sound of rubble crashing down from one side of the building. Without hesitation, he heads in that direction, his senses on high alert as he investigates the source of the disturbance.

As he kicks open the fire exit door to the stairs, he looks up to see the chaos unfolding before him. "Shit," he mutters under his breath, but he doesn't let it deter him. He knows he needs to keep moving, to keep searching for you no matter what and with grim determination, he begins to ascend the stairs, each step bringing him closer to the next floor where he hopes to find you. The flames rage around him, the heat nearly unbearable, but he pushes through, driven by a single-minded focus on reaching you.

He ascends the stairs, the sound of crashing rubble echoes through the stairwell once again. This time, he takes cover instinctively, pressing himself against the wall as the debris rains down around him. With his ears ringing, he just about hears something else—a muffled scream, barely audible above the roar of the flames.

His heart skips a beat as he recognizes the sound—it's your voice. Without a moment's hesitation, he pushes himself to his feet, his determination renewed. He knows he's getting closer, knows he's on the right track. His heart continues pounds in his chest as he runs up the remnants of the stairs, his boots clanging against the metal steps that remain intact. Smoke swirls around him, obscuring his vision and burning his lungs with each breath.

"Y/N!" he calls out again, his voice raw with emotion. "Y/N, where are you?"

There's no response except for the crackle of flames and the groaning of the structure around him. The chaos of the fire engulfs him, disorienting him as he races through the smoke-filled corridors. He doesn't know what floor you're on, doesn't know if you're even still alive, but he refuses to give up hope.

He continues to scan the area frantically, searching for any sign of movement or sound that might lead him to you. That's when he hears another sound of you screaming in frustration, much closer this time. Again, his heart leaps in his chest as he follows the sound, his steps quickening with renewed urgency. He rounds a corner and sees a figure sat amidst the rubble, partially obscured by smoke and debris.