Vormir
Five years ago he had watched as Steve dusted away, the shields that T'Challa had given him clattering to the ground. He was followed by so many others. Half to be exact. Friends and family members gone in the blink of an eye. But Steve hurt the most. Loosing him after finally coming back and beginning to figure out his life had stung.
Tony hadn't trusted him, rightfully so. Clint wasn't sure but once Natalia said she did he was on board. Thor had run off after their failed attempt to get the infinity stones. By the time they had arrived Thanos had already destroyed them. Leaving them all to believe those that they had lost were gone for good. With out the stones they couldn't bring back those who had been blipped. After that experience Thor seemed to give up all claim on being and Avenger and a God. Bruce had changed himself, angry that the Hulk had shied away during their time of need, he had found a way to combine the best of both. His brains with Hulk's body. It was interesting to say the least. Clint had gone off grid once he learned his family had been 'blipped' as well. Tony and Pepper got married after her returned from his outer space trip. Bringing with him Nebula. They'd had a kid too, Morgan. She was a sweet little girl, growing up in the middle of a rather stressful time. And then there was Nat...
She had done far more than the rest, she headed up the task force to check not only on Earth but planets across the universe who has also lost half their population. And as if she wasn't busy enough with that she had started an orphanage after learning that over a quarter of the children on earth had lost both parents. After her experience in an 'orphanage' she was determined to keep the kids in a safe environment. She spent hours everyday talking with Carol, and the others, making plans. Trying to return things to normal. If normal was even possible after the blip. But she was good at it, and it kept her mind occupied.
Bucky had stepped in to fill Steve's roll. Not by choice. But the others had felt it right, had encouraged him and he was surprised how comfortable the position was for him. He still stayed far from the spot light, but he enjoyed the missions. Enjoyed knowing he was a part of something good. Hopefully making up for the red in his ledger.
But despite the time commitments they had somehow found their way back to each other. They had trained together years ago, he had taught her much of what she knew now. And against the rules and all odds, had fallen in love then. Now when the odds has stacked against them again they had come back together. At least he could thank the blip for that. Life may not have been normal, but there was still good in it.
And then Scott returned. For five years he had been assumed to be a part of the blip, come to find out he, Hank Pym, Janet Van Dyne, and their daughter Hope had been running experiments in the quantum realm. He had gone in while the others stayed, and then dusted away. Leaving Scott trapped for five years until a rat hit the right button and brought him back. The explanation had contained a lot of science, that at point a younger Bucky would have loved to learn about. But after so many years of dealing with his own troubles from advancing technologies he had long since lost that love.
But according to Tony, Scott held the answers. The missing pieces that they needed to bring back the infinity stones. To bring back everyone.
And so there they stood, what was left of the original Avengers, Rhodey, a racoon, a half computer alien from across the universe, and Bucky. Ready to bring back those they had lost.
Each team and an objective, a stone to retrieve. Four would return to the battle of New York, two to Asgard, two to a deserted planet that nebula told them of. He and Natalia to Vormir. What exactly they would do was unsure. The other five stones history gave information on. But this one all was unknown.
Natalia reached her hand out to take his. He gave a reassuring squeeze and offered a quick smile. In the other hand he held what had once been a life size space ship. Now the size of a match box car. He had been given clear instructions on how to bring it back to full size.
The raccoon looked at him, raising what James assumed was his eyebrow. "You promise to bring that back right?"
"I promise." He nodded and closed his fist around it.
Before he could do anything else the machine was whirling to life, throwing them through time and space. It felt like falling really, or being pulled much faster than was comfortable.
Once they had stopped moving, they'd landed on a planet named Xandar. He followed the guidelines given by Scott. The matchbox spaceship was placed on the ground and tossed the Pym particle on it. Within seconds it grew tenfold, reaching its normal size. Nebula, and Rhodey would be left on a planet called Morag where they would retrieve the space stone. James and Natalia would continue on to Vormir to retrieve the soul stone.
Landing the ship in the soft sand dunes of the planet he looked to her a smiled. "Under different circumstances this would be amazing."
"If I had to guess, it's that way." He pointed up to the rocky shadows and she rolled her eyes.
"Thank you for your great insight James."
He pulled her into to his arms and brushed away a loose strand of hair. She'd dyed it blonde while in hiding years ago, and the ends still showed that reminder, but he much preferred the red. It was how he always pictured her.
"Whatever happens up there, we will get through it. We will bring everyone home."
She reached up to place her hand on his and nodded. "I know. But it's still a lot of unknowns."
Moving out on his arms, she slid her fingers back into his. Her bites knocked against his wrist but he didn't mind. He was used to it.
Their suits had changed from the quantum suits to their normal gear upon arrival. Natalia's black suit hadn't changed much over the years. Unlike her, his own suit had changed dramatically. Going from leathers to Kevlar. The team had pushed for a blue suit with the classic red and white stripes.
He had instead opted for a darker version. Kept the star and stripes, but used a dark navy with black pants. He didn't want civilians to think he was Steve. He could never be Steve. He was as from him as possible. James had convince himself that by switching the costume would be enough to convince the world that he wasn't Steve.
Together they walked, climbing up the rocky hill. Quiet conversation between the two as they moved. Stumbling on the snow covered rocks and catching each other. It felt normal. Like any other mission. But there was so much more to this one. Everything was riding on it.
"Really starting to regret my choice here." He muttered quietly, more a joke than anything.
"The raccoon didn't mention the hike up a snowy mountain."
"Technically he's not a raccoon." James shrugged turning back to face Natalia.
"He eats garbage." She shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Getting close to him are you?"
"He's asked to buy my arm a time or two."
As the approached a large archway they slowed in unison. A large black mist appeared and from it a figure, floating about the ground.
"Welcome Natalia daughter of Ivan, James son of George."
James stopped staring at the figure in front of him. "Son of a b-"
"Who are you?" Natalia stepped foreword cutting him off. James shook his head, he would recognize that face from any where. Only one man had been foolish enough to ruin himself like that. To turn himself into a monster. The Red Skull had been the leader of the very organization that destroyed James' life. That turned him into a monster.
"Joanne Schmidt." James spat at the ground where the skull's feet should have been.
But the man ignored him and continued on. "Consider me a guide. To you, and to all who seek the soul stone."
He slowly moved forward Natalia following behind him. James reached forward grabbing her hand. He shook his head, trying to convey his mistrust of the man. But she didn't care. Instead she followed.
"Oh, good. Tell us where it is, then we'll be on our way."
"Nat, we can't trust him. This man... He led Hydra. Nat he is the reason for the Winter Soldier."
The soft German voice spoke again, waiting near the edge of the cliff. He looked over the edge, paying James' words no mind. "Ah, lieschen. If only it were that easy. What you seek lies in front of you. As does that which you fear."
"It's down there? Easy enough. We can do that." She looked back at James with a smile. But something felt wrong. It couldn't be that easy. Why would the Skull be here? What could they fear most?
"For one of you. For the other, in order to take the stone, you must lose that which you love. An everlasting exchange. A soul for a soul."
James saw the moment it clicked in her mind. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. She looked up into his eyes and he knew what she was thinking.
"He's full of it Nat, He's insane. I've dealt with him before. We can't trust him."
"I don't think so..." She sat down and shook her head, looking down at her hands.
"Why because he knew your Daddy's name?"
She looked up at him, her face was filled with sorrow. "I didn't..."
Quietly she stood, arms wrapped around herself. "Thanos left here with the stone, and without his daughter. You really think that's a coincidence?"
She put and emphasis on the word without. James stepped closer to her, grabbing her arms.
"Whatever it takes James."
"Whatever it takes..." He muttered under his breath. He hated this. Why had they been sent here. Why couldn't they have been given the assignment of New York? Or gone with Thor to Asgard. He would have even take Morag over this. But she was right. Whatever it took.
"If we don't get that stone billions of people stay dead James."
He nodded, refusing to let go of her hand. "I guess we both know who it has to be then."
She gave him a sad smile and kissed his cheek. "I guess we do."
"I'm starting to think we mean different people here, Natalia."
The sad look on her face remained and she brushed away a stray piece of his hair with her free hand. "For the last five years I've been trying to do one thing, get to right here. That's all it's been about. Bringing everybody back."
"You don't get to go decent on me now Nat." He tightened his grip pulling her closer to him. He know who had to go. It wasn't him. She had cleared her ledger. He was far from it. The world still needed her, they wouldn't miss him.
"What, you think I want to do it? I'm trying to save *your* life, you idiot."
"Yeah, well, I don't want you to, how's that? Natalia, you know what I've done. You know what I've done, what I did."
"Well, I don't judge people on their worst mistakes."
"Maybe you should." Tears streamed down her face and her brushed them away with the pad of his thumb. He leaned foreword to press a soft kiss to her forehead, taking the moment for the last time.
"You didn't" She smiled, placing her free hand against his cheek. He leaned his head on his hers and took a deep breath.
"Okay Nat, you win." She relaxed under his grip and he used that moment to his advantage. He kicked her leg and sent her to the ground, pinning her with his arm. "Tell Steve I love him."
She struggled against him, but managed to flip him off, standing quickly she aimed and fired a Widow's bite. The electric shock running through his body as she turned to run. He grabbed her ankle with his left arm and used his right to dislodge the bite. She tumbled to the ground and he leapt up, racing towards the edge of the cliff. He took the finale steps, jumping off but her fingers grabbed his wrist, slamming him against the edge of the cliff. He looked up at her pleading with her.
"Let me go."
"No. No! I love you James Buchanan."
"I love you too." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He grabbed the knife from his thigh and reached it up, driving it into his left shoulder. Twisting it he felt the metal begin to separate, his body troubling just a bit.
"NO!" Her green eyes shot wide and pain echoed around him as she cried out. "Stop! James stop please stop... I can't loose you too."
"It's the end of the line for me Nat." He gave one last smile and then twisted the knife a finale time. He felt the wind rushing past him, not for the first time, but the feeling this time was much calmer. Less fear as he watched Natalia grow smaller and smaller. Falling from the train he had feared death, now he welcomed it knowing what it would mean. They would win. She would make sure of that. They were in the end game. They had one finale move to make.