THE FADING FALLEN ● Bucky Barnes X OC ● 18+ ● ENGLISH [COMPLETE]

Chapter 44

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Bucky had lost sight of her. His attacker kept him so distracted that he didn't notice her being hurled through the glass panel.

Through the broken window he saw the same man whom he knocked down moments before. As he approached the doorway, a queasy feeling spread through him. For a brief moment, Bucky's heart stopped.

It took only a few steps and he grabbed the man, yanked him up and threw him across the aisle in a rage. He slammed full force into an old stone pillar and lay unconscious in front of it.

"Mia! Are you ok..."

Bucky turned around. At the sight of her and the desperate sounds, everything inside him tensed.

Still lying on the floor, Emilia clutched her hands in front of her face. Her body trembled under each of her single sobs.

He would have preferred to just pick her up in his arms and take her far away. To a safe place where no one could harm her. Somewhere where she wouldn't lie like a little heap of misery, vulnerable and crying in front of him.

It was hard for Bucky to get over himself, but he knew there was no other way. Kneeling down to her, he gently grasped one of her forearms.

"Hey, little dimple... Come on, we have to get this done."

Emilia heard his soft voice. Slowly, she raised her hands, revealing the slightly flushed face underneath. The clear blue glow of his eyes settled over her like a velvet blanket. 

After a few seconds, the sobs subsided. 

He was right. She had no time to sink into self-pity about things she couldn't change. Later there would be plenty of time to face the agonizing realization over and over again.

Right now, Sam needed her help.

Nodding, she wiped the tears from her cheeks and reached for Bucky's hand. Back on his feet, he held her a moment longer and looked worriedly over her. With his right thumb, he stroked her cheek, which still felt slightly damp.

Emilia placed hers on his hand and squeezed it for a second. The forced smile on her lips was meant to signal that she was okay. But he knew that wasn't the case. If there was an end to all this, he just wanted to be beside her and hold her close. Whatever this man had said or done struck her deepest soul. What exactly it triggered, though, Bucky couldn't guess at that moment.

Less than half a minute later, they found themselves in the middle of the battle.

Walker was being held down by one of the Flag Smashers, while Karli launched a direct attack on him. Lemar beat her to the punch, but after a brief duel, he was thrown through the air and landed roughly against one of the stone pillars.

The impact of his body froze everyone. There was a dead silence. Each of them thought they guessed what the cracking sound echoing in their ears meant.

Stunned, Walker broke free of the Flag Smasher's now loose grip and walked toward the lifeless Lemar. Karli took off her mask, not wanting to believe what she had done.After a few seconds, she realized that he was dead. The stupor of shock fell from her.

"Rapha!"

The man who overpowered Emilia came running into the hall toward Karli. As quickly as he had appeared, he vanished with her and the rest of the Flag Smashers. Full of anger and sadness for the loss of his friend, Walker followed them. But instead of taking the stairs, he jumped out of one of the windows.