Connections

7: Us, Forever

I walked around the room in a panic. Bucky sat in front of my on the couch. His arms kneeling on his knees, fingers curled together, covering his mouth. I explained everything. Well everything I could. His eyes followed me as I moved, but his silence was deadly. I paused after my million words per minute monologue. Noticing the intense gaze.

"You think I'm crazy." I said quietly.

Bucky scoffed and shook his head. He shifted his position and leaned back into the chair. Arms now crossed over his chest.

"My best friends went from a 90 pound weakling, to a super solider, and I was experimented on a man you hid his red face with a mask...nothing really surprises me anymore." He said.

I nodded as the room became silent again. I didn't know what to say after all this. Bucky would barely look at me. He sighed again before looking at me. His eyes glared.

"And what was the mission?" he asked.

"I, uh...can't really say." I mumbled. "The whole multiple timelines, mass destruction." I quickly shook my hands in front of me, "Look point is I'm already risking a lot being here, and even more telling you about everything."

"Was I part of the mission?" His question brought my heart to my stomach. I quickly kneeled in front of him and grabbed his tightly. I could feel the tears begin to well up in my eyes.

"No no. The exact opposite actually." I looked away. How do I even explain this, "There was a photo of us that suddenly popped up in my time. So, I was told." Don't say fall in love. Don't say fall in love. Not the right time, "To...avoid you."

Bucky looked at now not only angry also added a bit of confusion. He quickly got up, pulling away from me.

"So what was the plan, Layla?" He yelled. I stepped back a bit.

"I didn't know!" I yelled back but he didn't stop.

"You come here, we sleep together, then what?"

"I didn't-"

I could feel it all coming out of me. The tears, the anger, the fear. Everything.

"You just leave? Never to be heard from again. Just disappear and-"

"I didn't plan on falling in love with you!" It slipped. I said it, and not the smoothest way possible. We stood there in silence for a second. I felt my breathing become heavy because of the situation, but mostly because I just said what I said.

"You-" He tried to speak as he walked closer to me.

"It was supposed to be an easy mission. I come here, I do what I needed to do and leave." The tears we're falling even faster now, "But then you stopped me in that crowd with your beautiful eyes, and that damn smile of yours and I-I fell hard, and I couldn't get myself back up."

I stood there as Bucky just stared at me. His mouth was slightly open however a small smirk could be seen growing onto his face. He began to walk closer to me

"Say it again." He said simply.

I furrowed my brows as I looked at him confused, "You want me to repeat all that again?"

He chuckled, finally giving me a smile. "No, tell me you love me again."

I took a sharp breath and paused. I wasn't sure if I should say it again. His demeanor changed as he stood right in front of me. He had a small smile on his face however, I after this blowout I still couldn't tell if he was still mad or not. I let out the breath I was holding in.

"I love you, James Buchanan Barnes." I said proudly. Before I could continue his lips crashed into mine. He held my face in-between his hands. I was trapped here. Stuck in the past, but in this moment it didn't matter. I wanted to be with him. Here, now, in the future. Whatever it took. He pulled away from as he rested his forehead onto mine. A smile across his face.

"I love you, Ace." He said quietly. I couldn't help but cry as he wiped away the tears. I didn't deserve this, I didn't deserve him.

"You can't..." I cried. "I have to find a way back eventually."

He let out a deep sigh. The realization setting into both of us. A beautiful as this moment was. I couldn't stay here. I had to find a way back to my time. He quickly wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into him. I clutched tightly onto the back of his shirt. The tears now flowing out faster then ever.

"I know." He said quietly as he held onto me, "I can't...I can't promise we'll figure it out but.." He voice trailed off. There was nothing to be said at that point. This was going to have to end eventually. As much as it hurt me. I felt his chest move slowly as he breathed. He quickly pulled away. I watched as he fumbled his hands around the back of his neck. Slowly he took off the dog tags that rested around his neck.

His hands wrapped around my neck lightly as he clipped the chain together. I looked down as he pulled away. I rested my hand against the cold metal before looking back at him surprised.

"Here, I'll have to take them back unfortunately when we go back into the battle..." He said before placing his hand back onto my cheek, "Keep them with you when you can. To keep you calm until we figure out what to do."

I nodded as he leaned back down. He places a soft feathery kiss onto my lips and pulled away. Another smile on his face.

"Its you and me. Us...forever. No matter the year, time, past...future." He finished. I sniffed a bit. He quickly places his lips back onto mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck. Not wanting to ever let go. I felt as our bodies moved backwards and our kisses becoming more and more intense. The back on my knees buckled against the bed frame and we both fell onto the bed.

✪✪✪

"What do you mean its been twenty-four hours?" Fury yelled at the doctor behind the glass. His gazed shifted down towards Layla as she laid silently on the bed in the other room. The doctor shifted nervously.

"I don't know sir, she left yesterday morning and she has yet to wake up." The man stuttered.

"Then wake her up!" Fury yelled back.

"We tried. We've used everything we could to try and wake her but nothing has worked."

Fury shook his head as he bit the inside of his cheek. The anger boiled in his blood. Clint stood behind Fury as the panic began to set in. She had never been gone this long. Fury turned his body as he tried to think of something. Why would she suddenly not come back. He quickly turned to the doctor. His eye glowing with anger.

"You better figure out a way to bring her back, or its going to be you laying on that table." Fury yelled before turning out. He quickly walked out slamming the door behind him. Clint stood behind the glass as he stared at Layla sleeping soundly.

"Layla, what did you do...?" Clint mumbled under his breath.