Chapter 5
Peter felt like he was flying more than falling like the first time. Then all of a sudden the bright colors around him turned into dull city colors. He, along with Bruce, Harley, and Scott, were dropped into a back alley of New York back during the fight of 2012. Peter took a moment of awe before turning back to the people he was with.
"Everyone knows what they're doing?" He asked to which he got nods all around no confusion whatsoever which was beyond just a good thing.
Bruce separated from them after that, smashing things along the way of course. He wouldn't find Doctor Strange but he did find the ancient one. While Bruce was successful in completing his task of getting the time stone, with a little resistance, the others all had their troubles. Everyone knew it wouldn't be easy but they had to do it.
Asgard 2013, Rocket and Loki were sneaking through past, past Loki who was in his cell. They got to the right floor with Loki's help and they saw Jane talking to a guard before going back into her room. Real question was, how were they going to get her distracted while Rocket was able to poke her with that weird device not ever Sam had time to give a funny name.
"I could enchant her, or I could turn into Thor." Loki demonstrated by actually turning into Thor himself. Rocket gave him an eyebrow raise but wasn't all that affected, he'd seen some weird shit so some dude transforming into another dude, not a big deal.
"That's good, yeah you distract her, flirt with her, I don't give a shit, but make sure she doesn't see me poke her with this thing." Rocket held up the device and Loki nodded seeming a little nervous.
Before they could go anywhere near the door though there was a loud sound of another door opening and closing. The two of them got down and hid before checking to see who or what it was that made that sound. Then voices filled the air and Loki, Thor's face, went into one of sorrow remembering what today was.
"Who's the fancy chick?"
"That's my mother... I kill her today." Loki said sadly his form changing from Thor's to his own, face still one of sadness.
Rocket then pulled him out of his depressive episode by saying they needed to save those they could. That he lost his family as well, that they could still get Thor back now. No one had ever told him that he could be a hero. That he was.
Morag 2014, Sam and Bucky dropped Rhodey, Nebula, and Lila off before taking the ship and going off to Vormir. A long way from Rhodey, Nebula, and Lila was the other Nebula, Thanos, and Gamora. Little did they know things would go very wrong very soon.
Back in New York Peter snuck around with Scott on his shoulder while Harley was nearby, all waiting for their cues. Harley flew around outside in one of Tony's old suits to make sure no one was suspicious. If someone saw a new Iron Man flying around things would go wrong quite fast.
Peter took a deep breath before pulling at that place in his body closing his eyes. When he opened them the elevator opened and he was met with S.H.I.E.L.D. who was actually HYDRA. Feeling it and holding on, Peter was also thankful for the little bit of magic that Loki had taught him. Only a slight bit to change his form of course. Only took four goddamn years to master one stupid ability, but he and everyone else was thankful for it now.
Peter stepped into the elevator feeling his spider senses raising the hair on the back of his neck. He saw the one man grab his gun and knew now was the time. Of course, they argued when he said he was running point on the scepter but then he leaned in and whispered those god-awful words to the man.
"Hail HYDRA."
He was off on the floor he'd hit the button to, smirking thinking about how much Cap would love this if he were here. He'd have to tell him when they got him back, when they got everyone back.
In the lobby, Harley was dressed in tactical gear matching most of the agents. No one would recognize him here but he still had to be stealthy.
"Thumbelina do you copy I've got eyes on the prize it's go time." Harley tried to conceal his smile but it just came through in his voice.
"You seem to be enjoying this too much. Now, are you sure this will all be okay?" Scott asked as he got into Tony's chest. Harley knew all about Tony's arc reactor almost as much as Tony. The things he didn't know Shuri taught him. It's why he was down here and not Peter, also the small fact of Loki teaching more magic to Peter and not Harley. He wasn't butthurt, not one bit, not even the tiniest smallest little bit, nope, never, shut up about it.
"You're only giving him a mild cardiac dysrhythmia he'll be fine."
"Doesn't sound mild."
Everything happened so quickly. Tony went down Loki seemed to see everything. Scott kicked the case over, Harley grabbed it, and then was hit with a door opened by Hulk. The Tesseract flew across the room and Loki grabbed it disappearing.
Shit.
Peter kept trying to contact Harley and Scott but they wouldn't respond. Of course then more shit went down. He found himself face to face with Steve and he cursed himself. As they fought Peter thanked the lord above that he had enhanced abilities or he'd have gotten real dead by now.
He got the upper hand once they fell, what was that five floors? Then he didn't get the upper hand. That stupid picture that he always carried with him fell out of his pocket cause Cap's suit was stupid and of course, 2012 Cap just had to pick it up. It was just a picture that was taken last year of everyone, 2012 Cap was probably focused on Bucky in the photo though.
"What is this?"
Peter didn't respond just went to continue the fight, hopefully, win. But one slip and 2012 Cap had had him in a headlock. Peter couldn't try to get out and hold onto the magic so he shifted back to himself. That caught him off guard and he loosened his grip. Not much but enough for Peter to get out and punch him in the face.
Cap went to continue the fight but Peter got the scepter and knocked him out. Peter got up grabbing his photo and panted looking down at Cap.
"Sorry, Mr. Rogers."
On Asgard, Loki might have run from Rocket to see his mother. Maybe, just for a second, then got caught by her.
She was still as beautiful as ever. He missed her so much and when she smiled at him he gave a small smile back. She put her hand on the side of his face and he leaned into the touch.
"Loki," His face fell and he changed back to the way he had looked before turning into Thor. He knew it would look bad but he also knew his mother could see through it anyways.
He was wearing black pants and tall boots. A green long coat that Peter and Shuri just loved to touch the hood of it because it was so fluffy. Under that, he had the stupid "Low Key" t-shirt that Harley had given him. Then of course his nails were painted black, golden rings and bracelets scattered across his fingers and both his wrists, and of course he had a small version of his golden horns.
"not now Loki." She muttered and he shook his head about to argue. "I was raised by witches boy don't try to deceive me." He closed his mouth at that.
The two of them talked while Rocket got the ether. Loki told her everything that happened between Hela and now. How Thor was gone, how he almost got strangled, how he killed Thanos himself for doing that to Thor, for hurting his spiderling and his friends. She just said she was proud of him for becoming who he was now.
Loki tried to tell her about what was going to happen today but she didn't listen just brushing it off before he could even say the words. He just muttered a small 'I love you' before saying 'i'm sorry' then they were gone. They were successful even without it going exactly as planned.
"He's a dumbass?"
"So he's an idiot?"
Rhodey and Lila looked at each other while Nebula hung her head agreeing with them.
After that they went up behind Quill and Rhodey knocked him out with a fine fist to the temple. After that Nebula grabbed the one tool they needed before going after the power stone. They were successful Lila staying out of their little handicapped moment. That wasn't nice she's sorry for thinking it.
They went to sink up and go home, Lila and Rhodey did it, Nebula glitched out. She saw Thanos and god oh shit, he knows. She tried to warn Barnes and Wilson but got kidnapped instead.
"We got a problem." From there on Peter, Harley, and Scott argued how the hell they were going to get the Tesseract cause it was long gone now.
They tried to think of anything else but then Peter went wide-eyed as Scott and Harley argued. He got out of the wrecked car and moved toward Harley hoping he either knew about this or that he'd jump on board with it.
"How about this, I go get the Pym particles and you go get the Tesseract? Or I get the Tesseract and you get the particles either-or." Peter offered to which both Scott and Harley went wide-eyed. It was a minute before anyone said anything.
"You go get the Tesseract from Asgard you have Loki's magic, I'll get the particles and meet you. Got the date?" Harley said and Peter nodded taking a deep breath.
"0-4,"
"0-4,"
"0-7,"
"0-7,"
"1-9-7-0,"
Scott didn't try to talk them out of it but he did say they weren't coming back if they messed up so they had to do this.
"Wait the Tesseract is in the Military installation," Harley said and Peter thought before nodding and set his own to the same time.
Then of course they gave each other another look. Peter then grabbed Harley by the back of the neck and pulled him into a kiss. Harley smiled into the kiss before pressing back and they both kissed each other like it was the last thing they'd ever do. Scott just kinda stood there a bit confused.
"oh..."
"I love you," Peter said and Harley smiled giving him one last peck.
"And I love you, Peter," Harley said and they pulled away nodding to each other. They looked at Scott before he was handed the scepter. If something went wrong Peter was glad he got to kiss his boyfriend and say that before they tapped their wristwatches.
They were off after that.
Peter went for the particles while Harley went for the Tesseract. Of course, he just had to run into Howard Stark. Harley actually had an interesting time talking with him. He wished Tony was the one here and got to talk to his father one last time. It could have been some good closure for him.
But he wasn't and they needed to get him back. So Harley said goodbye to Howard before making his way toward Peter as fast as he could without drawing attention. They got it, they did it. He just hoped that everyone else did alright too.
—
"This place is fucking awesome," Sam said as he and Bucky exited the ship onto Vormir.
The place was strange yet very beautiful. Sam complained all the way up the mountain. Bucky questioned dating this man through every god damn second. Then,
"Welcome."
They both whipped around pointing their respective weapons at the hooded floating thing that had spoken. Creepy as fuck. It was a man, yet also not. It looked like he'd been skinned and his face left only the bone. Yet his skull was red. Still creepy as hell.
"James son of Winnifred. Samuel son of Darlene." He knew their names and their parents apparently.
"Who the hell are you?" Bucky asked ready to shoot this mother fucker if he moved or even breathed the wrong way.
"Why are you asking? This is where we turn and run because this guy knows our fucking parents and his face tells me he's probably going to kill us." Sam said taking a step back but Bucky looked over and glared.
"I am not here to harm. Consider me a guide. To you, and to all who seek the soul stone." Great, he seems like someone who would talk in riddles as well.
"How about you tell us where it is and we'll be on our way." Bucky was too calm and the way he looked at this guy made Sam flashback to getting his steering wheel pulled out of his car through his windshield. Not that he was scared, well not of Bucky at least, he was never scared of Bucky.
"If only it were that easy."
They were guided up to the very top of the mountain. At the top was a very high cliff and markings in the ground and on the two huge pillars just before the edge. Some sacrificial shit is what this place looked like. Sam was getting a weird feeling and god he did not want to be here anymore. Bucky gave him a look that said he felt the exact same way.
"What you week lies in front of you..." Bucky looked over the side like he was testing. "as does what you fear." Riddles. Sam knew it.
"The stone is down there," Bucky said as Sam kept his distance from the stranger yet kept close to Bucky.
"For one of you." This guy talked incredibly slow. "For the other... In order to take the stone, you must lose that which you love." Sam was up next to Bucky now. "An everlasting exchange." Both their faces fell as they processed what the stranger was saying. "A soul, for a soul." They both looked at each other in horror.
—
"He's got to be lying," Sam said as he paced but Bucky shook his head eyes following Sam.
"Thanos came here with his daughter and left here with the stone, but without his daughter," Bucky said and Sam nodded wincing at the thoughts running through his mind.
"You're right it’s not a coincidence." Sam took a breath and looked out at the cliff as did Bucky.
"The kid said whatever it takes," Bucky said looking up at Sam who caught his eye as well.
"Billions of people are going to stay dead if we don't do this," Sam said they both continued to switch between looking out at the edge of the cliff and looking at each other. There was this overwhelming pain in each of their gut knowing they were never going to see each other ever again after this.
"Guess we know who it's gotta be," Bucky said to which Sam nodded this time not looking back at the cliff just staring at Bucky's side profile. It was a very nice side profile. Not the time to think about it though.
"Yeah, I guess so," Sam said then Bucky turned back reaching out to grab his hand. Their fingers intertwined and the warmth felt so good up here in the cold.
They stared at each other for a moment. Both began to realize that they were talking about different people. They were both talking about themselves. Sam winced tilting his head ever so slightly as if to say 'please don't say it'. Bucky just gave him a weak smile.
"We're talking about different people aren't we?" Bucky asked and Sam let his free hand move to catch Bucky's waist as they both stepped closer.
"It's been five years. We might have let go but god we didn't let go." Sam said and Bucky nodded understanding exactly what he was saying.
Remembering all the nights alone with each other while AJ and Cass slept. Alone crying, waking up with nightmares, waking up to good dreams of having everyone back only to have it ripped away. They held each other up even if they had both been breaking at the same time.
"You know what I've done," Bucky said to which Sam scoffed shaking his head at how stupid this man in front of him could be.
"That's not who you are, Buck," Sam said and Bucky let out a small laugh because that's what he always said. Sam always said it and it always made him crack. Only ever when Sam said it though.
"You're a pain in my ass," Bucky responded with both of them smiling through the blurry vision.
"Really? I thought it was the other way around?" Sam said and of course, he'd make a joke right now. Of course, Bucky walked right into it. Like he always did.
The tears finally broke as their lips met. Last kiss, last time they'd ever feel the other's lips. Last time they'd ever feel each other's hands. The two of them made the most of it, fuck the red dude in the corner creeping on them.
Bucky's flesh hand cupped Sam's face while the other circled his waist pulling him chest to chest because it was the last time they'd feel that too. One of Sam's went around his waist while the other went and intertwined in his short hair. Yeah, he'd cut it a few years ago. Sam loved that he was getting rid of the Winter Soldier even in small ways like his stupid long hair.
"I love you." Tears were mixed in, they barely even pulled away. They were still wrapped out in each other foreheads together eyes closed just, being.
"I love you." Stupid Bucky always saying it that way instead of just saying 'too' at the end like a normal person. Stupid Bucky who he loved so fucking much.
"I got nothing, that means it’s got to be me," Bucky said taking Sam to the ground but he'd gotten the wind knocked out of him too many times to care at this very moment. Not when the love of his life was going to throw himself off a cliff.
"Hell no!" Sam tripped him throwing him back. "You got everyone. Peter! AJ! Cass! Shuri! Lila! Harley! Steve!" Sam was at the edge and flew backward giving his one and only one last smile. The expression on Bucky's face was something he'd never seen before. He didn't want to die but if it was him or the man he loved go it was so going to be him.
He closed his eyes as the wind rushed past him but then something grabbed him and it all happened to fast to comprehend. All of a sudden he was hanging by his belt, a line attached to the top of the cliff, holding onto Bucky's wrist like it was the only thing keeping them both alive. And it was.
"Buck, Buck, James please. Don't, don't, let me. Please baby." Sam pleaded, begged, cried out and Bucky just hung there by Sam's grip on his wrist.
"It's okay. Tell everyone I love them. And I love you." Bucky just had to say it one last time and then he used his feet to push off and Sam tried to hold on but he couldn't.
Sam cried out feeling as though his vocal cords would be ripped from his throat. Tears rushed from his eyes as he stared down at Bucky's lifeless form. He wouldn't even be able to close the man's eyes, would he?
His heart was being ripped from his chest it felt like his very soul along with his heart had just died with Bucky. It felt like the best thing in the entire universe had just been ripped from his arms. Because god Bucky was the best thing that had ever happened to him everyone else be damned.
It was bright after that and Sam woke up with a gasp in a pool of the stars. He got to his knees confused looking around tears still staining his cheeks. Then he felt something in his palm and pulled it out of the water to find it was the soul stone. No, no, no he couldn't. This was all just a fever dream. It wasn't real. He would wake up in Bucky's arms in his bed at home and this would all be a dream.
But instead, he found himself on the platform inside the Avengers compound. His throat had been ripped from his body from the crying and screaming it felt like he was disappearing himself. He wished he would.
Everyone had a happy face on for just a second before they heard Sam fall to his knees in complete and utter defeat and pain. So much pain in a way he honestly couldn't comprehend. Everyone turned and their faces fell at the state Sam was in and the fact that Bucky wasn't with him.
"Sam where's Bucky?" Harley asked feeling like he definitely didn't want the answer to the question. Peter's hand slipped into his at the very thought of what they all knew but didn't want to say.
Sam let out a small cry tears rushing down from his face. They all knew, Bucky was gone. Peter fell to his knees Harley following him arms wrapping around his boyfriend. Peter cried into his chest as everyone else felt the hurt through their very bones. Harley just stared at Sam eyes welling with tears shocked unbelieving expression on his face.
Maybe they would bring everyone back but they’d lost Bucky. He was gone.
—