In A Moment
Summary: The reader and Bucky make their final stand against Thanos.
Warning(s): Infinity War spoilers! Also angst. Maybe. I mean, I cried writing this but that's because my emotions run too deep. How angsty this actually is depends entirely upon how well I was able to convert feels into an experience in this story.
A/N: Hi, so I, until today, have never recieved an ask before in my life. So I ended up reading only half of the ask submitted to me by the lovely @numwoon44 and created this. Turns out the inbox gives a preview of an ask and not the full thing. I know this now 😂 Not to worry, I will definitely write the fic you actually requested. Until then, I hope you enjoy this.
It was the calm before the storm.
All around them, the sounds of battle raged on. And yet the moment her eyes met his, there was peace. A hurricane of emotion swam in those beautiful blues, her breath stolen away. This was it.
This was where it all ends. For better or worse, it would all end. And that terrified her like nothing else ever had before. Time froze in that instant. It was painful and beautiful all at once, the bittersweet reality of what they faced together. She was greatful to have Bucky by her side in the end. Win or lose they would do so together. They fought, and bled, and gave their all. And it all came down to this.
She saw everything in his eyes. The past, the present, the dreams they had for a future that hung by a thread. In that moment she rejoiced for the time that they had had together, and despaired at the thought that it could be over.
She discovered that the moment where her life flashed before her eyes was not as she took her dying breaths, it was when she looked the love of her life in the eyes knowing it may very well be the last time she would ever see him. The life that flashed before her eyes was the life she had with him. Memories they shared, both happy and sad, bubbled up to the surface.
Their first encounter. The first and last words they had said to one another. The first time she made him laugh. Their first kiss. Their first fight. The exchange of bedside vigils that accompanied being an Avenger. The ups and downs, the highs and lows, all of it. The taste of his lips against hers, the touch and feel of his skin. The warmth and comfort of his embrace. The way his eyes crinkled when he laughed. The way his eyes would twinkle when he was up to no good. Details she could never forget yet was all of a sudden desperate to remember.
The reality that this may be all they had left together, this stolen glance amidst a battle field, came crashing down hard on her, ripping a sob from her chest as tears pooled in her eyes. She saw all the love, pain, joy, and sorrow she felt in that moment reflected in his eyes.
That moment lasted an eternity and passed all too soon. Back to back, they fended off Thanos' army, making their way to Vision, to their last hope for survival. Battered and bruised, they fought on, marching hand in hand to a fate they could not see.
Her heart froze the moment she saw the mad titan step through the thick smokey portal he had created. Their final stand against Thanos was before them. Looking around her, she saw her friends, her family, banding together for one last charge. With every fallen member, her heart sank deeper, watching as Thanos cast the strongest warriors she had ever known aside with terrifying ease.
Bruce in Stark's hulk armor, embedded in stone. Next, Steve, sent flying with T'Challa knocked down soon after. Sam's wingsuit, crippled. Rhodey's war marchine armor crumpled and discarded along with him like mere paper.
Wishing she could squeeze Bucky's hand to reassure both herself and him, they stepped forward together. Next in line to stand between Thanos and Vision. A burst of energy from the power stone knocked Bucky to the ground, sweeping forward to send her flying into a tree. Her head cracked against the rough bark, sending her into oblivion.
When she woke, her ears were ringing, and for a few moments everything sounded like it was underwater. With blurry vision and waves of nausea overtaking her any time she turned her head too sharply, she slowly pushed herself to her hands and knees.
"Bucky?" She called out, blinking hard several times before she was able to see clearly. Footsteps to her right were fast approaching, and she turned to see Bucky drop to his knees in front of her, one hand dropping to her shoulder while the other reached up to examine the still bleeding head injury. He was saying something, but she was too focused on the way his eyebrows knit together in concern.
"What?" She asked softly, drawing his gaze down to her own. Once again a sense of peace washed over her at the sight of those beautiful blues. Just as Bucky parted his lips to repeat himself, lightning struck, washing the area in white light, an explosion and burst of energy following shortly after as just a few hundred yards away beyond their line of sight, Thanos failed to stop Thor's axe from embedding in his chest.
Instinctively, Bucky had drawn her to his chest, hoping to shield her from any harm. Thanos' scream of agony was enough to make her blood run cold. Just as she thought it was over, another explosion rocked the forest, this one much stronger. With Bucky's help, she stood, leaning on him for support as they rounded the corner just in time to see Thanos disappear, the axe coated in his blood dropping to the ground with a heavy thud.
Confusion washed over her as she tried to make sense of what she saw. She felt Bucky's grip on her waist tighten, his breath catching in his throat. She looked to him, to Thor, and then to Steve, desperately searching for an explaination and horrified by the various expressions she was met with.
"Where'd he go?" Steve asked, limping forward, one hand pressed to his side. When the god of thunder did not answer, he looked around in a mix of confusion and denial. "Thor? Where'd he go?"
Her heart stopped, no. No, it wasn't supposed to be like this. They were supposed to face fate together. Live or die, they’d do it together. Not this. Not like this. This wasn’t how it was supposed to end. This can’t be happening.
Unable to support their weight, she dropped to her knees with Bucky, desperately clutching at his shoulders. Willing with all her might for this to be some horrible dream.
"(Y/N), I'm sorry." Bucky breathed, reaching to hold her face, his hand disintegrating to dust halfway there. She lifted one hand away from his shoulder to caress his cheek, the pad of her thumb gliding over his cheek bone and wiping away a tear. (E/C) stared deep into beautiful blues.
"It's okay." She sniffed, memorizing every detail of his face while she still could. "I'll fix this. I'll find you Bucky, I swear. I'll bring you back. I'll bring you back. I promise, Bucky. I’ll bring you back. I love you.”
Throwing her arms around what little was left of Bucky, she let out a heart wrenching sob. She could feel the ghost of his kiss on her cheek.
"I love y-" his final words vanished along with the rest of him. (Y/N) fell forward, hands passing right through the space Bucky one occupied and slamming to the ground. On hands and knees, she poured every ounce of pain and sorrow into a scream that shook her whole body. Her hands curled into fists, grasping at the dust covered blades of grass that were all that was left of the love of her life.
She stayed there, not even registering Steve's hand on her back as she hoped, prayed, that the snap would claim her too, so she could join Bucky wherever he had gone.
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