In the Dark

Sofia

Slow-motion.

Everything began to happen in slow-motion from the second he heard the pop. But he didn't feel anything. There wasn't a rush that surged through his body or heat where the bullet would have gone through.

Bucky felt absolutely nothing at all. 

Until he looked to his left and spotted Sofia with a hand on her chest. He watched her eyes widen and her mouth open slightly, a choked whimper coming out. His eyes trailed down to her hand again, the sudden flash of lights from the photographers illuminating the crimson color that was soaking through her pretty pale pink dress.

Sofia had been shot.

"Baby," Bucky whispered loud enough so that only she could hear him. His blood began to pump harder and faster through his veins. His mind was racing a hundred miles per hour. "Oh my, God. Sofia, please just hold on, okay? We're gonna get you to the hospital." 

Sofia locked eyes with him as he quickly took his phone out of his jacket pocket and fumbled with the screen a bit before giving all the information to whom she assumed was a dispatcher. She had seen the shooter before Bucky did. She saw him point the gun, not caring who he hit but Sofia knew it would've struck Bucky so she took the step and the bullet.

Bucky removed Sofia's hand from her chest as soon as he hung up with the first responders and watched as more blood seeped out from the wound. Bucky quickly shook off his suit jacket and balled it up as much as he could before pressing against her chest eliciting a painful groan out of her.

"They're on their way," he said. "Stay with me."


Bucky's index and middle finger came behind Sofia's ear, pressing against the skin, taking her heartbeat. It was starting to slow. "Why'd you do that, Sof?"

"You were looking away," she took in a big breath, "This would've been you." Another breath, "I couldn't let that happen."


Sofia coughed and Bucky watched her eyes flutter shut, her head lolling back. He looked down at his suit jacket and realized that it was soaked in her blood. He mumbled to himself, mostly to try and stay calm in the current situation. Bucky looked out to the street and spotted the red and white flashing lights making its way towards them. Bucky brushed Sofia's hair away from her face, accidentally getting blood on her cheekbone while doing so. He could cry if he wanted to but he had to hold it together. 

"Hey," he tapped her cheek gently. Her eyes opened slightly and she hummed in response. "The ambulance is almost here. Can you hear them?"


Sofia didn't answer. Bucky looked up at the ambulance and hoped that it was for them and no one else. They parked right behind their waiting car, EMT's jumping out ready to start helping in every way they could.

Bucky felt his heart rip in half when they took her out of his arms and placed her on the stretcher. They cut open her dress and if it wasn't for Sofia being so close to death, Bucky would have laughed just thinking about her throwing a fit over them cutting open her borrowed gown. But if things worked out, he'd laugh about it later. Right now, all he could think of was Sofia and her well-being.

"Will you be riding with her?" One of the EMT's asked obviously in a hurry. 


"Y-Yes!" Bucky stuttered, getting up from the ground and jogging over to the ambulance and hopping inside. 

As soon as they closed the vehicle doors it sped off to the nearest hospital. Bucky's eyes never tore away from Sofia's body, hoping that his best girl would get through this; she had to get through it. 

"Slow heart rate and losing lots of blood," one of them said as they placed an oxygen mask over Sofia's mouth and nose. "If we don't get her to the hospital soon, we're gonna lose her."

"Come on, Sofia." One of the other EMT's murmured, "Stay with us for a couple of more minutes, kid."

The ambulance came to a sudden halt, the doors opening at the same time it stopped. Sofia was carried out of the vehicle in a matter of seconds straight into the hospital. Bucky ran out after them only to come to his own stop once she disappeared through a set of doors he wasn't allowed to go through. 

He watched through the small window on the doors as nurses and doctors rushed by her side taking her into another room. He was alone, staring at nothing now. He was frozen.

"Bucky!" Peggy's English accent rang through the busy hospital as she ran in through the sliding doors with Natasha trailing behind her.

His whole body felt heavy. Turning his head was harder than usual. He knew what was coming.

"Bucky!" A hand landed on his shoulder, spinning him around. Both women let out a horrified gasp at the sight of all the blood on Bucky. He hadn't even noticed it.

Peggy's eyes trailed up and down his body once more before asking the important question of the night. "How did you let this happen?"

"I don't know..."

"What do you mean you don't know? What the hell? You were supposed to be looking out for her! Why is she in their right now instead of you?"

Bucky felt the same pain in his chest again. Yes, it should've been him. Peggy was right. But Sofia wanted to play the superhero tonight. He couldn't change that fact.

"Carter, you know damn well I do my job down to a T! Sofia said she spotted him when she turned around. She saw him! I was by her side when I heard it." He paused as the gunshot played in his head all over again. "I didn't... I didn't know, okay! And if this is where you want to tell me I'm fired—fine. I'll fucking leave." His nostrils flared, eyes challenging Peggy's own hard ones while Natasha watched in shock.

"But don't you ever forget that I told you I would give my life for her. I would've done it then, I would've done it now, and even down the line. I love her so much. Don't you think I'd rather be in her shoes right now?"

Peggy stared at him, her own nostrils flaring from how hard she was breathing. Emotions were at an all-time high. No one knew what to do or how to react. Was there a way to properly react to something like this? She knew how much Bucky loved Sofia. Bucky's love for Sofia was so genuine, she was sure he would've taken the bullet for her if he had seen the shooter first.

"I'm not gonna fire you, Barnes. Jesus—" she pinched the bridge of her nose, "—I know how much she means to you. I'm trying to wrap my head around this, is all. I'm sorry for coming at you like that."

That's when Bucky felt it. He finally let his guard down. The tears spilled out of his eyes, reminiscent of the day when he found out about his family being killed. His body shook as he sobbed loudly, the girls walking up to him and wrapping their arms around him tight. 

"I'm so scared," he admitted to them mid-sob.


"We are, too," Natasha whispered, her hand rubbing his back.


"She's going to get through this," Peggy stated, always the positive member of the group. "I know she will."