Bucky's Anchor

Chapter 36 - The Call to Battle

The news of Thanos' impending arrival spread through Wakanda like wildfire. The once serene atmosphere was now filled with an undercurrent of tension. Preparations for war were underway, and I could see the change in Bucky's demeanor. He stood at the window, his gaze fixed on the horizon, his expression unreadable.

I knew what he was thinking even before he turned to me, his eyes filled with a determined resolve. "I have to fight," he said, his voice steady. "If Thanos succeeds... everything we've fought for, everything we've been through, it'll mean nothing."

A chill ran down my spine. I had seen Bucky as the soldier, the protector, but now all I could think of was what it would mean if he went to war again. What if this time he didn't come back? My chest tightened at the thought. "But you've done enough, Bucky. You've given so much already," I said, my voice breaking on the last word. "We have a chance here—together."

He turned to me, his gaze softening. "And that's exactly why I have to fight," he replied gently. "Because we've been given this chance. I can't just stand by and let others fight to protect it."

"But what about us?" I demanded, feeling my fear boiling over into anger. "What if something happens to you? We've just started building a life, Bucky. What if..." I couldn't finish the sentence. The thought of losing him now, after everything we'd been through, was more than I could bear.

He crossed the room to stand in front of me, his eyes holding mine with an intensity that made it impossible to look away. "Emily," he said softly, taking my hands in his. "I know you're scared. Believe me, I am too. But if I don't fight for this world—our world—then what kind of man am I? What kind of life will we have if we just hide and hope someone else saves it for us?"

His words hung in the air between us, a painful truth I couldn't deny. Bucky had spent so long fighting, first for his country, then for his freedom, and now, for the right to live a life of his own choosing. It wasn't just about duty; it was about standing up for the world he believed in. And that was the man I loved.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them back. "I just got you back, Bucky," I whispered. "I can't lose you again."

He pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly. "You won't," he murmured into my hair. "I promise you, I'm coming back. We'll build that future together. But first, I have to do this. For us."

---

The following days were a blur of preparation. Wakanda was transforming into a fortress, and I could see the determination in everyone's eyes. The entire world was at stake, and we all felt the weight of what was coming. Bucky trained relentlessly, familiarizing himself with his new arm's capabilities. I watched him from the sidelines, my heart a battlefield of its own—pride, fear, love, and dread all warring for dominance.

One evening, as Bucky was packing his gear, I finally found the courage to speak up. "Bucky, I need to know something," I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to keep it steady.

He paused, looking up at me with those clear, blue eyes. "Anything," he replied.

"Promise me you won't take unnecessary risks," I pleaded. "Promise me you'll come back to me."

He crossed the room in two quick strides, taking my face in his hands. "Emily, I can't promise that I won't be in danger. But I can promise you this—I will do everything in my power to come back to you. Because our future... it's the reason I'm fighting."

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Okay," I whispered. "Just... be careful."

He kissed me, and I clung to him, trying to memorize the feel of his lips on mine, the warmth of his embrace. We stayed like that for a long moment, holding onto each other as if the world might crumble around us at any second. In many ways, it already had.

---

The day of the battle approached quickly. Wakanda's forces were ready, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Avengers and their allies. Bucky stood beside T'Challa and Steve, his new arm gleaming in the morning light, a stark reminder of the battles he'd fought and the ones yet to come.

I stood among the medical personnel, my hands trembling as I gripped the supplies bag. I was a healer, not a fighter, but the thought of staying back, of waiting to see if Bucky would come back to me in one piece, was almost too much to bear.

Bucky caught my eye from across the encampment. He gave me a small, reassuring smile, and for a moment, the chaos around us faded. It was just him and me, two souls clinging to the hope that we could have more than this endless cycle of war and survival.

He mouthed the words, "I love you."

"I love you too," I mouthed back, my heart aching with the weight of it.

And then, the calm was shattered by the sound of battle cries and the thunderous approach of Thanos' army. The fight for the world had begun, and all I could do was watch as Bucky charged into the fray, praying with every fiber of my being that he would come back to me.

I watched him disappear into the chaos, a mix of pride and fear flooding my senses. He was fighting not just for the world, but for us. And as I stood there, clutching the medical supplies, I knew that whatever happened today, whatever the outcome, we were in this together—until the very end.