Destruction ━ Bucky Barnes [2]

DESTRUCTION.
( chapter twenty-four. )

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ANDY WAS ENTIRELY OUT OF HER depth.

A fact that only became more clear as Tony and Bruce progressed further on the Cradle. What little help she could offer came in the form of handing them things or half-heartedly standing guard. Only when it was clear that they were nearing the end, Andy stepped away to make a call.

The line rang twice before he answered.

  "Are you safe?" Was the first thing she asked. Bucky had left the city immediately after her own departure. She hadn't stopped worrying about him since.

  "I'm safe," he assured her. "Are you?"

  "Yeah. We're back in the city for now. Trying to get ahead of Ultron," she explained, hesitating in the silence that followed. She let it linger a moment too long.

"What is it?" Bucky asked, picking up on her unease.

It still shocked her sometimes; how well he knew her. It was strange how time couldn't erase the things so ingrained in them. It might have taken her memories, but not her feelings. Not the ones that belonged to him.

Andy softened, pressing a hand to her forehead. "I need you to keep a low profile until this is all over, is that okay?"

  There was a silence. "I've done what I can for now," he told her, though he didn't sound irritated by her request. Just concerned.

And she knew why he couldn't do more to secure his safety. The only thing preventing him from completely going ghost was her. With Andy's concern hovering over him, she was becoming a threat to both their safety.

The realization made something inside her shift. Sharp. Painful.

  "I'm sorry," she told him, unsure of all the ways in which she meant it. Likely too many to count. "I don't want to complicate things."

  "You're not, but..." he hesitated for just a moment, "If you're worried about someone finding me, it might be safer to cut contact."

  He was right. She knew he was right, even if it stung. Andy couldn't keep trailing him like this. It was too risky.

  "Yeah," she agreed, refusing to let her voice waver, even when the words came out quietly.

This wasn't how she'd imagined the call going. What was supposed to be a simple check-in had turned into goodbye. Though, she felt almost foolish for not expecting it. Goodbye had always been an eventuality.

"Thank you," Bucky said to her, "You've done more than enough for me, Andrea."

The discomfort her name brought was embarrassing. It was formal. Distant. Nothing like the way her name should sound like on his lips.