Ghost Soldiers || Bucky Barnes

Chapter 45: To The Stars

Bucky was a few miles away from the base when he heard the bomb. He then stopped abruptly for a second, not believing what was happening, and then started running once more, as fast as he could.

His legs were sore, and he felt like he was about to collapse from exhaustion. But none of that seemed to matter, because he had to get to the base and protect Clementine. He knew the bomb had fallen at the base, but he had hope that she had all made it out to the woods when they saw the aircraft.

A few minutes later, he heard the gunshots. And then he felt fear. It was something he had never felt so intensely before, and it was taking control over him. So he started running even faster, and he could feel his legs shaking, and his entire body was aching.

It took him a couple of minutes to get to the base. But he noticed it wasn't a base anymore. Instead, everything was on fire and it was destroyed, with smoke everywhere and screams from the people who had been hurt. He then saw the aircraft passing by, and he feared it would start shooting again, but it didn't. Instead, it started getting away from the base, and it disappeared in the horizon.

Bucky then took a deep breath and started looking around him, not sure what to do. All he wanted was to scream, but he couldn't. Instead, he just stood there, petrified, without moving a muscle. He then closed his eyes and tried to calm his mind, thinking of Clementine, and how she could be anywhere.

He then clenched his fists, opened his eyes and started heading towards the base. And he saw the few tents destroyed, and the soldiers who were inside dead. He took a deep breath and tried to look for her in the tent serving as an infirmary, where he had seen here for the last time, but she wasn't there. And he let out a breath of relief, since at least she had made it out of there.

He then kept looking around, trying to find her, but he didn't see her anywhere. He passed by wounded soldiers asking for help, but he only had Clementine on his mind, and nothing else mattered. And after a few minutes, he felt so desperate that he fell on his knees, not knowing what else to do. And then he started screaming her name on the top of his lungs, and he felt like he was losing his mind.

"Bucky?" Said a voice behind him.

Bucky then turned his head quickly, and saw Maria standing there. The girl's uniform was all dirty, as well as her face. Bucky noticed she had blood all over her uniform, but it didn't seem to be hers. He then stood up, approached her, and she started sobbing uncontrollably, so he hugged her tightly and tried to calm her down.

"They came out of nowhere..." she whispered. "They blew everything up-"

"Maria, where is she?" He said, looking at her with his desperate eyes.

She then sighed and shook her head. "She's hurt, Bucky. I was looking for something to stop the bleeding-"

"Where is she?" He repeated, and his voice broke.

She then took a deep breath and started running towards the woods. Bucky followed her, scared, and then he saw her. Clementine was next to a fallen tree, her head resting on a blanket, and her white uniform was now stained red.

Bucky then approached her, and fell to his knees once more, before taking her in his arms. She had her eyes closed, and she opened them as soon as he took her, and smiled.

"You're here." She whispered.

"I'm here, sweetheart, you are going to be alright." He said, as he tucked her bloodied hair away from her face.

Maria then knelt next to them, sobbing. "I'm sorry Clem, I couldn't find anything... everything's gone."

Clementine then shook her head slowly. "It's okay, I need you to go and help the others, alright? They need your help."

Maria then nodded and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll be back to check on you in a few minutes, alright?"

Clementine nodded and smiled at her, and Maria stood up and left.

Bucky was shaking uncontrollably, as he looked at her. She had blood all over her abdomen, and he saw two gunshot wounds near her chest, but somehow Maria had managed to control part of the bleeding.

"I am glad you got here on time." She said, breathing slowly.

"I'm so sorry, Clemmie." He said. "I tried to be here sooner, but the Nazis-"

"It's okay, you're here now." She said, smiling at him.

"Yes, but you're hurt." He said. "We need to take you to a hospital now-"

"No... I can't move-"

"I'll carry you, okay?" He said, and his voice broke. "Steve will be here soon, and we will take you to London and they will heal you. You'll be okay, Princess."

"Love, you're not listening to me." She said, and a tear rolled down on her cheek. "I can't move... they shot me from behind, and I can't feel my legs anymore. I can't feel anything."

He then stared at her, speechless. And for the first time in years, he felt his eyes filling up with tears, and he started shaking again.

Clementine then started crying, and she smiled at him and put her hand on his cheek. "Hey, it's okay... it's okay, love."

Bucky then shook his head. "No it's not... why are you saying that?"

"Because it doesn't hurt." She said, still smiling. "I'm not feeling any pain... and I'm happy right now."

"How can you say that?" He whispered, holding her closer to his chest.

"Because it's perfect." She said. "I'm in the arms of my first love... the first person I always loved. The person I'll always love. And I love you. James... James Buchanan Barnes."

"Don't, please don't." He said, feeling the tears streaming down his cheeks. "Clemmie, please... you promised me this was forever, remember?"

She then gave him a sad smile. "Oh, Buck... forever is a long, long time, and time has a way of changing things."

He then closed his eyes, still crying, and pressed his forehead against hers, feeling the  most intense emotional pain he had ever felt in his life.

"Buck, you have to promise me something." She whispered.

He then looked at her once more. "Anything."

"Promise me you'll never blame yourself for this..." she said, breathing faster. "I made this choice, okay? I made the choice to come here, so I could be with you again."

"But none of this would be happening if I hadn't joined-"

She shook her head. "You don't know that... but we are here now, and that's what matters. And you made me so happy, Buck. You made me feel alive when no one else could... and I thank you for that. I love you so much... in a way I never thought it would be possible."

"I love you too." He said. "With all my heart."

She then smiled at him, and raised her head to kiss him. And it was the most painful but beautiful kiss Bucky had ever had, and it was something he would never forget as long as he was breathing.

She then rested her head on his arms once more, and stared at the sky. It was already dark, and the sky was clear, full of stars. And she smiled, feeling so sad yet so happy at the same time.

"Oh, it's beautiful... just like you said on your letters." She whispered. "I've never seen so many stars before in my life..."

She then closed her eyes, resting her head against his chest. Bucky looked down at her, and then her hand fell to the ground. He closed his eyes, kissed her one last time on the forehead, and Bucky Barnes was sure that he felt her last heartbeat before Clementine died on his arms.

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