The quinjet's engines hummed softly as it flew through the night sky, cutting through thick clouds and leaving the cold Siberian landscape far behind. Inside, the team sat in a reflective silence. The air was heavy with the weight of their latest mission—another narrow escape from Hydra's clutches, another day where the world teetered on the edge of disaster. They had won a battle, but the war was far from over.
Melissa sat in the corner, staring at the dark sky through the window, her reflection barely visible in the glass. Her mind was racing, replaying the events of the mission. The data she'd uncovered at the Hydra base was still fresh in her mind—those flashing screens, the schematics for the alien weapon. Hydra had been closer to success than any of them had realized. A few more hours, and that weapon would have gone online, potentially changing the course of history.
A shiver ran down her spine, but it wasn't just from the cold. It was the realization that no matter how hard they fought, no matter how many times they dismantled Hydra's plans, the enemy always came back stronger. And now they were playing with forces beyond comprehension, using alien technology to fuel their ambitions. It was terrifying.
"Hey," Bucky's voice broke through her thoughts.
She blinked and turned her head to see him sitting beside her, concern etched on his face. "You okay?"
Melissa nodded, though the gesture felt hollow. "Yeah, just... thinking."
Bucky gave her a long, searching look, as if he could see right through her words. He leaned closer, lowering his voice so the others wouldn't overhear. "You've been quiet since we left. What's going on?"
Melissa sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's just... it never ends, does it? No matter how many times we take down Hydra, no matter how many bases we destroy, they always find a way to come back. And now they've got alien tech. What if next time we're not so lucky? What if we're too late?"
Bucky's eyes softened. He reached out, resting a hand on her knee. "We'll handle it, Melissa. We always do. And you're not alone in this. We're a team, remember?"
She looked at him, her heart swelling at the sight of his steady gaze, the warmth of his touch. Bucky had a way of grounding her, of reminding her that she didn't have to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. But even with him by her side, the pressure was mounting. She was an Avenger now, and with that came a responsibility that felt impossibly large at times.
"I know," she said softly. "But it just feels like... every time we win, it's only temporary. Like we're holding back a flood with our bare hands, and eventually, the dam's going to break."
Bucky frowned, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on her knee. "We've been through worse, you and me. Hell, I've been on the losing side of a lot of fights in my time, but you know what? We keep going. Because that's what we do. That's what you do."
Melissa looked away, her eyes flicking back to the window. The darkness outside felt like a reflection of the storm brewing inside her. "I just don't know if I'm ready for what's coming. Hydra's not just some terrorist group anymore—they're evolving. And the stuff they're messing with now... it's way bigger than any of us."
Bucky's hand squeezed hers gently, his voice firm but reassuring. "You're stronger than you think, Mel. You've survived things that would've broken anyone else. And you're not fighting alone. You've got me, you've got Clint, Jessica... all of us. We'll face whatever comes next together."
She looked back at him, her heart catching in her throat. He was right, of course. She wasn't alone. But that didn't make the weight of it all any easier to bear.
YOU ARE READING
MEMORIES ~ A BUCKY BARNES STORY
Science Fictiona girl who has never met her father now has to meet him due to the death of her mother and grows fond of every person she meets throughout her time there, and so does her sister Jessica. her father learns that she has wonderful fighting skills and w...
