Better Love || A Bucky Barnes Fanfiction

- Infinity War -

They were no longer safe in the lab.

Hearing the noise outside Elena set her daughter down, leaving their place by the window where they had been watching the fight. Coming to the doorway Elena watched as the stationed warriors attempted to kill the creature that was making its way towards their lab, only to be thawrted each time. With wide eyes Elena spun around. Shuri's expression matched her own.

"Get Corrie!" Shuri quickly yelled. She didn't have to speak twice. Jumping from the ramp Elena went back to her daughter, sweeping the youngster up in her arms.

Shuri's lab had always been a tidy space, however in that moment Elena wished the place had more exits for them to use. She knew that even if there was, though, they couldn't leave Vision. Even now with the noise of attackers right outside Shuri was still working hard, desperately attempting to sever the connection between Vision and the stone as quickly as possible. Looking around Elena found an area beneath the ramp that was dark and hidden out of plain sight. Without a word she ushered her daughter under it, bringing her daughter's hands up to her ears.

"Mama?"

"We're- we're playing a game, love," Elena lied with a hesitant smile. "You keep your eyes closed and ears covered, see? Like this. Good girl, yes. Now, don't come out until mama or aunty Shuri comes and gets you, okay? And be quiet. Can you do that for me, baby?"

The young girl pulled her hands away from her ears for a moment, looking back up at her mother with a frown. Elena so wanted to pick her daughter up and hug her, to give her the proper comfort she needed, but she and Bucky had agreed: It was Corrie they fought for. The future. Their future. And Elena was the last line of defence between their future and the enemy. Still staring up at her Corrie bit her lip but slowly nodded, shuffling even further back into the cabinet.

"Yes, mama," she whispered. Elena let out a deep breath in exclaimation, bending down and kissing her daughter's forehead.

"Good girl," she murmured, brushing her daughter's hair before straightening up. Once more she pretended to close her eyes and cover her ears and Corrie copied, still biting hard on her lip. Swallowing, Elena backed away, hoping that this would not be the last time she would see her daughter or her daughter see her. Not like this, she prayed silently. Please, not now. 

From the doorway their came a loud noise and the shattering of glass, Shuri falling onto the floor before her. Before she could check to see if the young woman was all right the alien creature who had thrown her there was in front of Elena. There was a goal in his eyes, one Elena couldn't let him achieve. She pulled out her knives.

"We only want the stone," the creature growled, looking past her and towards a struggling to sit up Vision. Elena shook her head.

"Not gonna happen," she hissed. He smiled, gripping his weapon.

"Then you will die-"

Once, Bucky had told her that the element of surprise is how she had managed to snatch him up. She used the skill once more. Not waiting for the creature to finish his sentence she threw a knife at him, catching him against the cheek. As he launched himself at her she spun out of the way, attempting to circle around and catch him in the back. However he was prepared, stabbing his weapon at her and catching her in the shoulder. She couldn't help but let out a cry of pain at that, impulsively stabbing at the hand that was wrapped around the weapon. Pulling the weapon out of her shoulder the creature dropped her on the ground with a hiss, clenching his injured hand. As Elena struggled to her feet she raised her head, looking up at the creature. His arms were raised, the weapon high above his head, and in slow motion she watched as he began to bring it down.