All you could do was listen. Your hate for the man you'd fought so hard to save growing with every life he took. You were losing, and Pietro was revelling in the chaos.
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(M in parts)
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"We rest here then we go again."
The harsh cold of the floor hits Eleana's face first as he throws her down, grit and dirt scraping against her skin. She drags herself up, leaning back against the nearest wall. Pietro's carried her so far so long, she's lost track of time, her body shaking from the unrelenting cold.
Where even was here? Shadows obscured most of the worn room, wallpaper peeling and floor covered in dust. Eleana watches Pietro search the cupboards before slumping onto the rotten couch. He turns on the old tv and flicks through channels, stopping on the news channel.
The sombre reporter stood immaculate, a harsh contrast to the chaos behind her. Shaky recordings from phones start to play, echoing off the bare walls. So many panicked voices, so much smoke and blood.
"Tragedy struck New York once again, today. An enormous explosion has destroyed Stark Tower and damaged surrounding buildings..."
Eleana twists the plastic wire he used to tie her wrists, anything to distract herself. Dried and fresh blood mixes in stinging pain, cutting deeper into her wrists, still it's not enough.
"...Casualties are estimated to be in the hundreds, and there's thought to be no survivors inside the tower. The cause is still unknown...''
Pietro chuckled at that, almost carefree as he watched the screen with fascination. Proud of the destruction, the death he'd caused.
If only she could take him with her, she'd die right there.
Even now, hours later Eleana can still feel the heat of the explosion on her skin, smell the putrid smoke. She can't close her eyes without seeing Bucky engulfed by flames, slowly taken away from her.
God, and Steve. What would she tell him if she ever saw him again? He'd never forgive her. Bucky was everything to him. Was. Eleana's breath hitched, tortured at the notion of using past tense about Bucky. He can't be gone, he promised.
"I told you doll, you don't have to worry about me."
Eleana can hardly contain her tears seeing him lying in bed, bandaged up and in pain because he had to save her. She'd never been so scared, struggling to carry him as red bloomed across his shoulder. There was so much blood she thought she'd never get him back to Steve in time.
"Buck, you almost died."
"It'll take more than some punk to kill me." He gives Eleana a kind smile and squeezes her hand. How was he smiling? Reassuring her even now when he should be blaming her?
"Eleana. I promise. You and Steve, you're stuck with me."
Sharp pain draws Eleana from her memory, so painful it makes her gasp, roughly Pietro grabs her face, forcing her to look at him
