A Shield from the Spectrum

Ch. 14

B U C K Y
Bucky heard her collapse on the ground. His heart stopped. Who was that?

It had come from Kitty's room. Bucky sat up and sprinted to the room. The door was slightly ajar. He peeked through the crack.

And saw nothing.

Almost.

There was Wanda, lying out cold on the floor, her wrists and ankles restrained to it by something gold and translucent. They looked kinda like bubbles.

Bucky let out a small gasp and threw the door open.

The dresser was upturned and all the things spilled out. A giant beach bag was upside down, the belongings scattered.

Bucky picked up a photo album and flipped through it. He recognised Kitty and her brother. Turning more pages, he came across pictures of Kitty and Steve. No matter how much he wanted to deny it, a smile found its way to his lips. They were cute!

But his thoughts were then turned to Wanda again. What the hell had happened in here!?

"Steve!" Bucky finally found his voice and called out, kneeling down next to Wanda. Steve came rushing in immediately. Bucky's horrified eyes met Steve's.

"Oh my..." Steve gawked at the scene. Bucky listened for Wanda's heartbeat and checked her pulse. Alive. That's good.

Then, Bucky saw Wanda's eyes flutter open. She struggled against the restraints. Bucky placed his hands on the restraints and tried to pull them off. Or break them.

But nothing happened.

Wanda started sobbing softly and looked towards the shield Steve clutched in his hand.

Steve then slammed his shield on to one of the restraints. It flickered, then went out. He did this to the rest of them and looked at Wanda worriedly.

Bucky almost swooned. Steve was just an amazing guy. So caring and helpful. With nothing in return. Bucky caught himself staring at Steve with a small smile.

Steve gave him an embarrassed look. "Uh, Buck?"

Bucky shook his head. "Sorry, it's just watching you do this reminded me of the same Steve I loved like a brother back 70 years ago."

"Well, I'm glad you're here, Buck," Steve said and smiled.

The moment ended when Wanda suddenly sucked in a breath. "KITTY!" she screamed out. Her eyes were widened in... Bucky couldn't tell. He could never read Wanda.

Steve looked up and craned around his shoulder. "Vision! You're needed!"

Bucky watched relieved as Vision ran in. But, his heart dropped as his eyes widened in worry. Vision swept her off the floor and sat with her on the bed, using his trigger phrases to calm her down.

It was almost mesmerising to watch. They were the definition of perfect, in Bucky's eyes. He felt a light jump of happiness when Wanda's eyes shifted and she smiled at the Vision. He smiled back and laughed his perfect angelic laughter.

Bucky opened his mouth to speak.

"Now, dear, what happened in here?" Vision said as he silenced Bucky with a raised hand.

Wanda still didn't seem stable, however, as she only pointed in the direction of Kitty's closet.

Steve was the first to reach there. He threw the door open and looked around. His eyes then settled on a box with tiny rhinestones embellishing it.

Steve picked it up. "Her memory box," he said matter of factly. He looked to where it had once sat and noticed a paper lying there next to it.

Bucky's heart pained for him as Steve shakily picked it up, already anticipating the worst.

S T E V E
His heart dropped when he read the note. He felt nauseous when he read it aloud again, not being able to continue to the end of the note. How could he finish it? She was gone.

How?

The note, so far, said that she had run away. But Wanda's unstable self told otherwise...

Steve felt his eyes tear up. Kitty was lost, and it was probably his fault. And now, they would be even farther apart. She supported the Fifth States Initiative. He wouldn't have abandoned her over it, but it would've made things hard. That must've been why she left.

He heard a faint clearing of throat from in front of him. He looked up only to notice he had dropped the note in his saddened stupor. Vision was holding the note now, asking Wanda questions.

Vision then looked up at Steve. "She didn't run off. She was taken."

This sent Steve's mind flying. Most of his thoughts were unclear.

"Taken!? By who!? Wanda, by who!?" Steve pushed Wanda for answers desperately. He stopped when he noticed her blank face turn slightly hostile. "Oh. I'm sorry."

Her fists clenched until Vision placed his hands on hers. She seemed to relax and said quietly, "Thanos..."

Steve felt his heart skip a beat and his breath catch. Thanos. He took Kitty.

Steve felt his blood boil and his fuse running short. Thanos took something dear to him.

And he was gonna pay for it