The quinjet echoed with the sound of hail pelting the metal and glass roof.
Thor had been called to Asgard for business, and Clint and Natasha were away on SHIELD business.
Tony sat behind the control of the jet. Bucky and I sat next to each other on one side, and Steve and Sharon sat on the other. Sam busied himself with weapons while Bruce fiddled with first aid kits and equipment.
The tension was palpable. I looked everywhere except at Sharon. Bucky's dog tags were burning against my skin.
She had split us up.
Claiming it was because we were missing three team members.
Stella will run ground support. Tony and Sam will run aerial support. Bruce will stay in the quinjet, and Steve, Bucky, and I will infiltrate the facility. She had said it with a smile on her face.
I wanted to kill her.
Anger boiled inside me yet again. I stood, needing to occupy myself with something else. I moved to look in the weapons storage units with Sam.
He was checking guns and ammunition. I rifled through them, not really looking or caring about what I had in front of me. "You alright, starlight?" His voice was loud.
I nodded, not really answering him.
"I like the new fit," he winked. "Looks good on you." I knew he wanted to get a rise from Bucky. His eyes glanced behind me to where he was sitting. I couldn't see his face, but I saw Sharon's eyes dart to Bucky as well.
"Thanks, Sam," I muttered and continued picking up random objects.
Tony swiveled from the controls, "We're approaching, get ready to rock and roll." He stood, stretching and noticing the tension that had grown behind him.
Awkwardly, he moved to stand behind me. He leaned into my ear, "Is it just me, or is it hot in here?"
I huffed a laugh, "Shut up, Tony." I threw my cape over my shoulders.
The quinjet whirred lower to the ground. We were here, just outside of a Hydra facility. Sharon stood, beckoning us closer. I wanted to break her fingers.
"As stated before, my boys and I will infiltrate the compound. Everyone else will watch our backs. Any questions?" Her voice infuriated me.
Bucky leaned forward, "Explain to me again why it's acceptable for Stella to be alone on the ground while three of us enter the facility?"
"James, I've already explained it," she chided. "Stella received top marks on her evaluation, so if she's as powerful as she claims to be, it should be a walk in the park for her."
Bucky's knuckles turned white as he gripped the center console. His eyes bore into Sharon's head. Steve cleared his throat, "Stel, if you need anything, just call."
I nodded, not ready to let Sharon win, "I'll be fine."
We landed, carefully departing the quinjet. My boots crunched in the hard snowfall that caked the earth. The evening sun kissed my skin as it began dipping below the horizon. The air was sharp as it hit my lungs, ice cold and dry
Bucky's hand gripped my wrist, and he tore out his comms device so nobody else could hear him whisper, "I love you," against my temple. He disappeared before I could reply, weaving between pine trees to stalk through the woods with Steve and Sharon.
My heart skipped a beat, and I slapped the button for my helmet. I watched as their three green heat signatures disappeared further off into the woods. Dozens more emerged from the compound.
"I'm getting a lot of activity; they know we're here." I heard Sam and Tony ascend through the branches above my head. The whirring clicks of Tony's suit and the dropping of heat signatures from my map told me fighting had begun.
But I was alone. I was sure this was Sharon's way of sending a message. Or attempt to kill me. Or both.
Begrudgingly, I trekked through the woods. I met the occasional band of soldiers, knocking them back, slamming them into trees, tossing them aside like rag dolls. It was not so bad, but I was not near the main fight yet.
"Stella," Sharon was yelling through my comms. I nearly ripped it out of my ears, "Where the hell are you?"
"Alone," I replied simply. My magic separated another group of soldiers and crushed the tank they had brought with them.
"You're meant to be here. My boys and I can't get to the entrance because you haven't done your job yet." I thought about Sharon as I flung a soldier against a tree and heard the crack of bones.
I huffed, "I'm a bit fucking busy right now, Carter."
"I'll come help," Bucky's voice was quick in my ear followed by Sharon's screaming protests.
"Don't," I warned. Last thing I needed was my eardrums blown out from Sharon yelling or Bucky getting hurt trying to find me.
I pushed through another wave of soldiers and ran through a small clearing. "Stel," Sam was frantic over the comms, "you got incoming."
My ears rang when the earth exploded beside me. I was staring up at the blackening sky, watching the stars twinkle to life as the world screeched around me. I don't know how long I laid there in shock. Lights swirled in my vision, but I felt no pain.
There was much yelling through my comms device. Slowly, it faded into comprehension. Bucky was nearly hysteric, asking repeatedly for me to reply. Sharon was yelling and telling him to forget about me. Steve was also asking for me to respond, hints of panic flooding through his voice, but he was always better at masking his emotions. Bruce was yelling too, asking if it was code green or if I needed medical attention. Sam and Tony were yelling that they couldn't get to me, enemy fire was too strong.
I rolled over and stood on wobbling legs. Coughing into the comms device, my voice croaked, "I'm fine." Relief was apparent in their voices as they muttered their thank gods.
Bruce was still talking to me directly, "Stella, I need you to make your way back towards the quinjet. Your vitals are worrying." Thanks, Bruce, that's exactly what I wanted to hear.
The panic was back in Bucky's voice, "Stel, I'll come get you and take you."
"I've got her," Sam landed next to me and wrapped his arms around me. He carried me to the quinjet, setting me down on the examination table. Sam was gone a moment later, disappearing back to the fight.
Bruce got to work looking me over, removing layers of bloodied clothes. I gasped when I saw the sticky red liquid staining my skin and the metallic smell that flooded my senses. I felt sick.
There was commotion over the comms. Bruce glanced to the console, "They're coming back," he said absentmindedly. I nodded, glad to be leaving.
My chest heaved as I grew more and more nauseous as Bruce cleaned my skin. Footsteps bounded towards us, and the whole team stumbled through the doors. Tony quickly moved to the controls, speeding us home.
"Holy shit," Sam mumbled when he saw me.
Bucky was by my side in an instant. His hands ghosted hesitantly around me, and concern was deep in the lines of his face. My fingers reached to hold his arm.
He swallowed, and for a moment, the bob of his Adam's apple made me forget what was happening. He gave me a forced smile, "Hey, doll."
"Hey, ducky," my voice was hoarse.
Steve joined Bucky's side. His face was unreadable, likely not wanting to invoke Sharon's wrath even further. He stared between Bucky and I before clearing his throat, "Are you alright?"
I laughed. It made my chest hurt. I winced and continued to smile, "Doin' just fine, Cap."
He smiled at that and moved some hair from my face. It was sticky with blood. Bucky brushed through my locks, and I felt small with both super soldiers standing over me, concern in their eyes.
Sharon groaned behind them, "Can you both come sit down? She's fine."
"She's not fine," Bruce spat out.
I saw the flashes of anger in Steve and Bucky's eyes. Bucky turned to speak to her, but Steve held his arm firm, a warning to not escalate the situation. My vision grew foggy as Bruce began pulling shrapnel from my arms.
A sob choked my throat when the searing pain shot through my nerves. Sharon said something I didn't hear, and in a flash Bucky was yelling at her.
I forced myself to sit up and listen. He was in her face, crowding her against the seats. His frame was large, and I couldn't see her anymore. "Shut up, Sharon. Your plan nearly got her killed, and if that had happened," he went silent. It sent chills up my spine. His voice was dark, a low rumble when he spoke again, "you'd never see the light of day again."
He was back by my side again, brushing his fingers through the blood that cakes my scalp. Steve was leaning on the exam table, watching Sharon intently. I heard soft sobs echoing from her. There was no sympathy from the team.
My vision clouded again, and I drifted to sleep.
The compound was cold when I woke again. Monitors beeped around me. I was in the infirmary.
My fingers gripped the IV that pierced my skin and pulled it out, not fond of the dull pain that followed. I slipped from the bed and padded down the hall. Someone had changed my clothes. I wore a loose white cotton smock. Pink blood stains pooled like watercolors in some areas.
People were yelling in a conference room nearby. I snuck to a corner and hid.
It was Bucky and Sharon. He was yelling at her. His face was twisted in a fury I had never seen on his features. She was crying, screaming and hysterical.
He didn't seem to care. His words cut like knives, "I don't fucking love you, Sharon. I never even fucking liked you. You were a distraction. I need you to get that through your thick fucking skull. You mean nothing to me." He towered over her, menacing and angry.
She was sobbing loudly, trembling and stumbling over her words. A part of me felt sad for her. I wished Bucky wasn't being so mean to her. The other parts of me didn't care. She had brought this upon herself.
A hand fell on my shoulder. I looked up, startled. Steve stood behind me, also watching the scene unfold. He nodded his head in the other direction, wanting me to follow him.
His arm steadied me as we walked up the stairs. Yelling still echoed from downstairs. Steve turned to me as we walked, "How are you feeling?"
My throat was dry, "Fine. A little dizzy and sore, but fine."
Steve opened the door to my room, "You're still bleeding." He moved to my closet, finding one of Bucky's large t-shirts and tossing it to me.
He turned around so I could change in privacy. I sighed, wincing as my arms lifted the smock over my head and sliding the new shirt on. Steve shifted his weight around, "I'm sorry for what Sharon did."
"There's nothing for you to be sorry about, Steve." He had no say in what Sharon and SHIELD did. I didn't blame him or anyone but her.
He nodded, turning back around when he heard me sit on the mattress, "I should have done a better job to protect you." He knelt to the floor in front of me, holding my eyes with his, "Bucky really loves you. So I feel like I," he paused, "I have a responsibility to protect the both of you."
I studied his features. He meant it. "Thank you, Steve." He smiled.
Heavy footsteps echoed up the staircase, and my door swung open, slamming with a loud shudder that rocked the doorframe. Bucky glowered as he came to sit beside me on the bed. His head fell into his hands, "I fucking hate her."
Steve laughed, "Relax, Buck."
My hand rubbed Bucky's shoulder blades. He sighed, lifting his head to look at us. His eyes softened when they landed on me, "I'm glad you're alright, darling." He placed a soft kiss on my forehead. His hand buried in my hair.
His hand pulled away, stained red with the blood that still clung to my scalp. I was repulsed, turning my head and swallowing past the thick nausea that rose in me.
Steve stood, "You should shower, Stel. I'll order us some dinner."
My legs were still wobbly, and as I stood on shaky legs, I nearly fell. Steve and Bucky both caught me, careful to avoid the bandages and bruises that littered my skin.
"Let me help you," Bucky's voice was fragile as he led me to the bathroom.
Steve lingered, finding new clothes for me as I had already begun bleeding through the new shirt.
I hissed as Bucky picked me up to sit me on the countertop. Steve walked behind him and turned on the shower water. He tested the temperature with his palm, satisfied with it.
Bucky was unwrapping my bandages. They stuck to my skin and burned as he unraveled them. Steve rummaged through my drawers and pulled out antiseptics and cooling gels.
As Bucky moved to other bandages, Steve gently applied the medicine to my wounds. I breathed, grateful for their help and care.
They finished, and I slid off the counter. Steve left again to let me undress. I heard him on the phone, ordering food for us.
Bucky placed a gentle kiss to my forehead, "Do you want help?"
"I don't think I can stand on my own." I gave him a smile and looked at my hands as they steadied my weight on his forearms.
He smiled and guided me into the lukewarm water. It fell in a gentle current, mixing with the gel that had been carefully applied to my wounds and spreading them all across my skin. My body cooled and felt relaxed.
Bucky's hands held me in the only places that were untouched by bruises and red marks. I felt his eyes studying me. I turned, they were intensely blue.
"Angel," his voice was low, "I will never let anything happen to you again." There was anger in his face, "I swear it." He moved to cup my face, "Not SHIELD, Hydra, Sharon, whoever will hurt you again." His fingers ghosted down my neck and stroked the chain of his dog tags.
I breathed, watching his lips move as he spoke his oath. All I could do was nod, knowing I would have to be hurt again in order to save him.
The water ran red as Bucky leaned my head back. His fingers gently massaged away the debris and dirt hidden between my locks of hair. My eyes closed, relaxed.
Steve knocked on the bathroom door, "Food is here. Do you want to eat downstairs or in your room?"
I looked at Bucky. I didn't know if Sharon was still here. There was a flash in his eyes. He didn't want to chance seeing her. I called back to Steve, "Let's eat in my room."
The door shut, and Steve left to get the food. Bucky shut the water off and helped me out of the shower. He dried my skin delicately and applied more gels to my skin, smoothing them across my wounds. His lips trailed soft kisses along my unbattered skin.
I smiled, moving my head to kiss in his hair when it drew close to my lips. He hummed, "I love you, angel."
My heart skipped a beat, "I love you too, Bucky."
His eyes were baby blue, twinkling in the bright bathroom light. He slipped a loose shirt over my head and helped my arms through the sleeves.
The door opened again, and Steve walked through with a loud huff passing his lips. We stepped out of the bathroom. He looked angry.
"Are you okay, Steve?" My voice was soft.
He was scowling at the food as he set it down on the coffee table, "Sharon is still here."
Bucky shook his head and guided me to sit on the floor by my table. He clicked the TV on and background noise flooded into my periphery. They settled down on either side of me, passing food around and opening containers.
There was a comfortable lull of silence as we ate. I thought about the day I met Bucky and the diner the three of us shared breakfast at. I smiled at the memory, watching the two super soldiers next to me destroy plates of wontons and bowls of noodles.
I leaned my head back, happy to have them around me. My heart swelled. One day, this will be every day.