Chapter Text
It was a scary world to be a hero in.
It was scary, but you persevered. You went to work always ready to do the most. You were a *hard* worker, and always had been. You graduated with your Doctorate at the top of your class at twenty. A year later you had an Avengers Internship.
It had been a grueling couple years. Captain America and Iron Man, some of your biggest inspirations, were gone. It was so lonely now with half of the original six left in the world. It wasn’t fair. But you pulled on your suit and did the work anyway.
Which is how you ended up beneath a collapsed building.
The details from earlier are distant. There was a fight, obviously. But with what? Androids? Aliens? Wizards? You’d ask Sam later which of the three it was. For now, you really needed help.
“Hello?” Your voice crackled into the comm. “I… I’m down. I need help.”
Bucky’s voice, though slightly strained, crackled back. “What’s your location?”
That was a good question.
You look around, e/c eyes searching for some kind of identifying marker. Anything. But it was hard to see through the blood dripping in your face. “Um…” Thinking was hard. really hard. “You know the building that just collapsed…?” There was silence for a moment before Bucky replied again. “The one that went down like ten minutes ago?” So it’s been a little while, then. “I think so. I’m under it.” The reply was immediate this time. “What do you mean?” There was something inflected in his voice that was akin to fear. “I got caught in the rubble. I’m stuck, James. And I’m bleeding pretty good.” “I’m coming. Stay awake.”
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James wasn’t a family man. Never really had been. Even in the forties, he’d only ever been interested in having a good time.
He was a different man now, because he’d met Y/N.
They had changed his life. Before her, he’d been cold and *scared.* All the time. But she was full of warmth, and had melted James in the process of getting to know him. They made things so clear. He understood every love song because of her. She was his reason to keep going, even if he’d never clarified it. She made him laugh, and dance, and they made his heart sing. Finally, finally he felt like he was allowed to be happy.
He couldn’t lose them. Not now, not ever.
James got to their location as soon as he possibly could. He skidded to her side, eyes widening and heart stopping. It was a horrific sight to see.
Her skin was torn against the cement that crushed her lower half. She was on her back, and panting for air.
No. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t lose everything again. He wouldn’t make it this time if he lost his family again.
“What…” He started, getting the attention of his injured teammate. “Hey,” They exhaled, voice quiet as they gave a weak smile. How long had they been stuck like this?
James steeled his nerves. “I’m going to get you out.” He said resolutely. He had already convinced himself that he would save her because there wasn’t any other option here. There was no way that everything would end here.
He gripped the sharp edge of one of the concrete pieces and pulled for all he was worth. The screams that Y/N produced made him hesitate; he lowered the load back down.
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“Please… Please don’t do that again.” You said weakly, grabbing James’ bicep. Your vision began to tunnel. The shift in weight must have caused you to bleed more. The sunlight caught in your blood, making it glimmer in the midday shine. You got distracted by it for a moment before James brought you back. “Hey. Listen to me.” His voice sounded shaky. That was obvious enough for you to catch, even now. “You’re… I’m going to get you out. We just need to come up with a plan to shift the weight off of you before--”
“You’ll be okay.” You said, interrupting him for the first time since you met.
“What?”
“You’re going to be okay.” You said again. “This is… going to be hard. I know. But you’re going to survive, because that’s what you do.”
Bucky’s lips trembled.
“I don’t want to just survive anymore.” He admitted. “I’m tired of having to push through it.” He inhaled shakily. “Just… hang on. You’re going to be fine.” You shook your head. “I don’t think we’re gonna get that lucky this time.”
That’s when Bucky’s eyes started to water. “No, you’re going to be okay, you just--”
“Hey.” You pressed your palm to his scruffy cheek and beamed at him. The pain was beginning to fade, and you knew what was coming. “You’re going to make it. You’re going to find something beautiful, something full of light, that’s just for you.”
He placed his hand on yours, looking you in the eyes.
“I already have.”
Tears welled in your e/c eyes. “Come on,” You said, smiling humorlessly. “You… you can’t--” “I can. And I have.” The tears were flowing freely now on both ends. “Y/N, you changed… everything." His voice was raw with pain. “The world was dark and cold before you came.” He let out a sob full of heartache. “You make me so happy… I’m not ready to be scared again.”
You inhaled, blood gurgling in your lungs. “Bucky…” You ran his fingers through his hair, and he leaned into the touch, eyes closing. It was obvious he was trying to memorize the feeling of being held by you.
He’d been so touch starved when you started dating.
It seems that nothing has changed.
“I know you’ve suffered. You’ve known so much pain.” You let out a soft cry of your own. “I’m sorry the world has been so unkind. It isn’t fair.” You smoothed your thumb over his forehead. “But all good things must come to an end. And I am *so* grateful for the time we had, and for the time we have left.”
“It’s not fair.” He echoed, sounding so much younger than he really was.
You smiled, blood dribbling from between your lips. You’d add to his light, even though yours was fading. “It’s not.” You agreed, leaning up on your elbow to press your foreheads together. “But you made it worth it.” Your strength was fading. You were the most tired you’d ever been. “I was so lucky to be yours.” Bucky shook his head, clinging to you now. “No, no. Please, I can’t.”
“I love you.”
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His world stopped turning. “...What?”
They loved him? In the way he’d only ever heard about, but never felt?
Not until now, at least.
But she was wilting in his arms. He didn’t have much time. “I love you.” In his own hysteria, Bucky decided he’d make up for never saying it in these couple minutes. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”
Y/N’s heartbeat became thready. Her life seeped back into the ground, where it had come from.
And James was alone again.