You safe me

Chapter 11 - Fear

Her ears are filled with rushing. It's her own blood rushing through her ears as her sluggish mind confirms. She feels cold and weak, her whole body hurts. A twig breaks close by and sends a flood of alarm through her. Through the rushing she hears boots on the forest ground, faint shouts. Her instinct tells her to get up, to run, to flee. Get as much room as possible between herself and the boots. But she can't. she has no power. She tries halfheartedly but collapses right back down. She howls at the pain shooting through her. Her eyes won't stay open for long and fall close every few seconds. She tries to listen closely and see what's going on around her. But it's dark. Was it dark when she started running? There are stars, blurry, little spots on the dark sky.

The voice she hears moment ago sounds closer now. She thinks she hears her name, so she forces her eyes open again. When had she closed them?

She sees a light blob. At first, she thinks it's a very bright star, but then it doesn't stand still. It moves, comes closer. She shifts her head a little and whines as the movement shoots straight to her wound. She hears a new shot. The light is faster now. And then it's lower, on the ground. "Y/N!" She whines again as the man falls down beside her. "Steve! Stark! I found her. Hurry!"

She thinks she knows the voice. Sam? He runs a careful hand over her side and Y/N almost doesn't notice it until he curses and runs it very close to her wound. She howls in pain and tries to back off but it hurts. The pain blinds her senses once again. Sam talks to her but she can't concentrate on it. Her breath picks up on speed. Panic floods through her again. then she sees more light coming closer. She can hear boots on the ground. They're running. "Sam! Oh fuck!"

That's Tony. She knows his voice well by now. "So much blood..." Steve is there, too? She closes her eyes and tries to listen to the voices in favor of distracting herself from the blinging pain. "That's too much blood. Her fur is soaked." Sam turns and looks back at Tony and Steve. "What are we going to do? She needs a doctor as fast as possible." Steve frowns and kneels down at her head, running his hand over it. She presses it weakly against Steve's touch, seeking the last comfort she can get. "We'll get her to the jet. Bruce will look and do what he can. Meanwhile we try to find someone who can look at her." Sam's voice is firm but Y/N catches on to the slight fear in it. "I take her. I'm faster." Gentle but cold hands shove under her head and butt. Tony lifts her softly from the ground but the pains shoots through her like new bullets. She whines painfully and tries to fight. She's too weak to really do anything. She only manages to get her paw against the glowing light in Tony's chest. "I know, I know. I'm sorry, Y/N. It will be over soon." Tony takes a few steps back and each step shakes her in his arms, increasing the pain until she blacks out for a moment.

When she comes to her again, Tony's already in the sky and descending again. If she concentrates and ignores the blurriness of her vision, she can see Bruce standing down on the ground. Right at the jet with Nat beside her. The moment Tony lands she is shaken so much that she blacks out again. The second time she opens her eyes she's on a much softer ground than before. She feels warm. At least warmer than before. She can't keep her eyes open for long, the light is blinding her and she has to close them. She hears shuffling around her. And she smells this scent. Her favorite scent. She shoves her head a little in the direction and fins her nose pressing into something soft. It smells so good, but there's a mix of blood and something else on it. The soft thing hisses a bit as she nudges it and a hand finds her head. "Y/N?" The voice is shaky. Y/N opens her eyes a little and is met with a blurry version of Bucky. For a second she fears that he looks angry and mad but his expression is soft and worried. He seems little relived, though. He looks at her for a few moments but then he gently lifts her head and places it on his thigh, which she had nudges her nose against. He strokes her head slowly and leans down to kiss her. "I was worried. Don't run away again. You promised you stay with me." Her eyes look up at Bucky. He's crying. Why is he crying?