Intertwine

93 - Rogers I Will Slap You Back Into 1940

I just want to take a moment to say thank you. I know there aren't many of you who read every chapter and stay up to date with my story, but I owe you so much. I've had a rough couple of months, as I'm sure we all have, and the amount of positivity and support you've all shown me has helped so much. You're honestly the best. You're the real heroes of this story. I just think you should know that.

ALINA

"Alina, come on!" Steve was standing behind my shoulder, looking in a panicky way between the bomb and Wheel's body. He was only unconscious, but at least he was out cold, for now. He'd managed to burn a hole through my jacket and shirt. My right shoulder, only just above my bandages, was beginning to blister. Steve had been hit in the leg, volts of electricity had gone through him. I thought he was going to die. Luckily the super soldier serum was handier than I'd thought.

"I'm trying." I hissed, my tongue between my teeth. The bomb was open in front of me as I worked through the wires and circuit boards. "They really wanted to make sure this bomb wasn't going to be diffused easily."

"Alina we have 30 seconds." Steve reminded me.

"Do you want to do this?" I shot back, sweat from my concentration dripping down my cheeks. Though it wasn't surprising given the day I'd had, even I had to admit I had sweat a lot that day. I swore that if I got out of this alive I'd take the hottest, longest bath possible. 

Steve sighed. "You're better than me." He admitted.

"Damn right I am, one wrong move and this whole thing blows, you're lucky I have steady hands."

"You were shaking like a leaf earlier."

"Steven Rogers I will bitch slap you back into the 1940s if you don't shut the hell up." I responded, wiping the sweat off my face before trying to get back to my work. "I don't have the right gear for bomb diffusion, this is nearly impossible." I carefully snapped another wire.

"I'm lucky you're a Stark." 

I paused. "If you get out this, and I don't, tell him I'm sorry." I didn't turn around. I didn't want him to see the look on my face. "And tell him I love him."

"You'll be able to tell him yourself." Steve placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't touch me when I'm working." I shook him off, still working, my hands moving as fast as I could push them without accidentally blowing myself up, and Steve along with me. "I don't have that super soldier blood that you do. I don't heal like you do, and I can't heal myself. I've done the calculations in my head. Even you must realise that out of the both of us you're more likely to live if I'm unable to stop this. Just... promise me Steve. Please. Promise me you'll tell him."

Steve crouched down beside me. "Ali-"

I stopped working and put my hands on the sides of the device in front of me to steady myself. I turned to look at him finally, silent tears tracking their way down my face. 

"Promise me Steve." I whispered. He realised in that second that I wouldn't be able to do it, something I'd worked out just before him but hadn't truly accepted until then. He realised in that moment that I was doomed, that I'd been holding out for him, trying to save him from the horrible truth. 

His beautiful golden retriever smile was wiped from his face, his expression as broken as I felt. "Alina..."

"Please." I took in a shaky breath. "Promise me?"

BOOM!

The room exploded into unbearable heat and bright red light. The floor disappeared and I was thrown sideways, falling down and down and down.