The Kind You Save

Chapter 4

The Stark Tower Complex was an incredible work of art. I couldn't help but wonder as it came into view, how many architects worked on it? How long did it take to design, to finalise the design, to gather the building supplies, to put it up? You could see it from every part of the city, and I was sure that it was built so high in order to be able to look over the entire city, to watch for any harm.

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With anxiety pumping through me a million miles per second, my hand still tightly wrapped around the bullet that grew slippery with sweat the longer I held it, the Avengers couldn't convince me to trust them enough to get in the van with them. As a result, Steve and Bucky walked me there instead. It was a nice walk. Since the day was hot, with a lovely cool breeze, I felt perfectly comfortable wandering around the city in my shorts and vest, though I do wish that I'd have picked up my combat boots. The gravel pavements scratched the underside of my feet, so I did walk in the grass next to the pavement quite a bit. The feeling of the grass, slightly damp, cooled my body down nicely.

New York was far different from anywhere I'd ever been, very different from London. The roads here were all wide ones, practically motorways lined with high-end shops, not a country road or 2 lane road in sight. With skyscrapers kissing the clouds and business men pushing past, it was an oddly unwelcoming place that hugs you in.

"Mykie, watch out, there's glass all along here," Steve said to me, taking a hold of my wrist to tug me out the way. I was really too far engulphed in my head, in my own fascination of the new place to be looking where I'm going and nearly stood on several pieces of glass. The buildings were just fascinating.

With a small chuckle, Bucky told me to jump up on his back. "Your feet are bleeding, you are not walking any further." I felt a blush grow on my cheeks, I hate being vulnerable, I'm so used to being independent and looking after myself, this was new to me. Though I had a feeling that I'd end up staying here for a little longer than just a night.

I gave him a small smile and jumped onto his back as he crouched down for me. He wrapped his arms around my legs and I lay mine gently around his shoulders. One of which was nice and cool, though the metal was scorching hot.

"Can't you feel that?" I asked as I lay my hand on his shoulder again.

"Yes I can, and it tickles you know, watch it or I'll drop you," Bucky teased, shaking me as he laughed.

"No, not my hand, the heat?"

"Oh, no I don't think I can."

I nodded and quietened up for the rest of the journey, which could only have been 5 minutes or so. I listened to Steve talking about everything they'd done in New York. He showed me the restaurant they go to after a mission, Natasha's favourite seat outside of the coffee shop, where they found Bucky. Listening to the two of them tease one another was definitely reassuring, perhaps I fit in with them better than I thought I would.

"You know, it's quite nice to have another Super Soldier around. I mean I know that I beame an SS before HYDRA got a hold of the serum, but it's reassuring, you know?" Steve spoke quietly so that no passers by would hear.

"No, I don't," I said. "I don't see how it could be reassuring considering what the serum does."

"Well, yeah obviously, it isn't good that they decided you fit the criteria or anything, but I can't help but think the only way that Bucky and I don't rip each other heads off is because we have this in common, neither of us gets along as well with the others as we do with each other. We fight the best together and everything. It's just good to know that now you know where we are and who we are, you won't be fighting alone. It's reassuring in the sense that we're our own team within a team."

"Oh right, yeah, that makes sense." My lips curled up in a smile, it was nice to know that he wanted me to belong with them.

"Look, just up there, between those two towers, can you see it?" Bucky said, pointing up between the two skyscrapers with his flesh hand. Risin up higher than the two was the tower with its signature "A" embellished on the side.

I couldn't find any words other than a small "wow". It was incredible, different from anything I've ever seen. I didn't register how intricate the architecture must have been, with it twisting around itself, with the balconies and floors made out of completely glass walls. It was truly exquisite.

"Bucky, I think I can walk now," I said, tapping his shoulder.

"Nope, Tony will kill you if you get blood on the floors, you're staying p here. Plus, this means I don't have to do any training today."

I giggled and nodded as Steve opened the door. Inside, the halls were a dark, glossy blue, but lit beautifully with spotlights and large windows. They stepped into a lift and asked "JARVIS" to take them to the medical suite.

Watching the city grow smaller beneath us as we ascended felt like a blessing that I didn't deserve. To be the giant looking over the dollhouse of New York in an expensive building, it felt as though I was putting myself on a higher pedestal. I didn't think that was fair if anything I'mbelow the average person. Despite how quickly these thoughts circulated y mind, I couldn't speak any of them, though I knew Bucky knew something was going on with me, the gip on my legs tightened as his flesh hand drew circles on my skin like he did at the river. He just, knew, somehow.

The hall for the medical suite was identical to that of the ground floor, were they all the same? There was no chance I wouldn't get lost in here. It was a maze for sure.

They got Tony to check me over in the medical suite, deciding a couple of bandages should be fine as well as some new shoes, and showed me to my room.

"We're running a little low on rooms at the moment, being used for various inventions that will help in battle. But there's a spare bed in Bucky's room, everyone shares a room at the moment, but if you're not comfortable sharing with him then I can arrange for some switches to be made if you'd rather be with Nat?" Tony explained to me, I just smiled and shook my head at first.

"Really, it isn't a problem. I'm only here for the night, after all, I'm sure Bucky makes a good roommate. Thank you." I smiled warmly at him. I was nervous, to say the least, sharing a room was one thing, but sharing a room with someone who's good at making you smile every time is another thing.

"Great! Right, this way." Bucky grinned at me as he led me down the hall, telling me who's room was whose, where the kitchen was and explaining how the ensuite showers could be rather fiddly to work out at first. I nodded alone, in awe of how he spoke about the tower. Anyone could see how much he loved this place, this was his home.