Chapter 2
“Steve for once in your life, please don’t be stubborn,” Nat was looking at him with such defeat. She looked so tired.
“I’m not being stubborn. We need to find him. We have to fix this,” Steve said, his voice on the verge of breaking.
“Even if we did find Thanos, how the hell are we supposed to stop him? He has all the infinity stones? He just killed half the fucking universe!” Rhodey looked more upset than Steve had ever seen him. Well, given the current circumstances Steve couldn’t blame him. All their friends had just turned into ashes.
He had watched Bucky’s face as he crumbled into pieces. It’s like he was there just to watch. Steve knew he could’ve stopped Thanos if he had been better. He wished he was better.
“Half the universe is dead, and we’re the ones who are going to bring them back,” Steve knew he had to motivate his friends even if he himself felt equally as hopeless, “We’ll find Thanos, kill him, and use the stones to turn back time-”
“Steve you’re being ridiculous,” Nat interrupted him. He whipped around to face her.
“I will not fucking sit on my ass while Bucky is gone and there’s a chance I can save him,” Steve growled. He knew he shouldn’t take this out on Nat, but she was used to his bullshit by now.
“Steve, aren’t there more pressing concerns rather than just Bucky?” Nat said back to him equally as harshly.
No, Steve wanted to say, but he knew he had to be The Captain again and put Steve Rogers on the back burner for now. The Captain saves the world. Steve Rogers just wants Bucky.
“Thor,” Steve said ignoring Natahsa’s question, “how did you get here? Heimdall?”
“Heimdall is dead,” Thor’s voice broke, “Asgard is gone.”
Steve knew what it was like to have friends die. He knew that so well.
“I’m sorry,” Steve said. As he walked up to him, Steve saw Thor’s eyes were filled with tears. Steve had never seen Thor cry, so he pulled him into a hug. The way Thor latched onto him, it was clear he was grieving hard. Steve tried to comfort Thor as best as he could, but he felt guilty. All he could think about is how he would rather have Bucky in his arms. “Thor, I promise we can and will kill Thanos. We will fix this, but we need your help,” Steve pulled away to look Thor in the eyes. He was crying now, so Steve reached up and wiped his tears away. “Thor, you’re the strongest of us. You can do this. Is there anyone you know that can help us,” Steve whispered, holding Thor’s face in his hands.
“My friend, Brünnhilde,” Thor said in a broken voice, “she escaped Thanos and went to find a friend of her’s who could help us, but I haven’t heard from her yet.”
“Do you know where she went?”
“No, but she said we should rendezvous here on Earth.”
“Good, that’s great, Thor,” Steve gave Thor a quick embrace and then turned back to the rest. “Let’s group up back where we met Shuri and see if she is still...” Steve trailed off. Shuri, Bucky, and him had grown close. Steve came to visit Bucky on the weekends, and Shuri was always nearby. The three of them had bonded over Bucky’s recovery and pop culture references that she taught them. Steve could tell Bucky thought of her like he did of his little sisters. The thought of her disappearing...it just filled Steve will more anger and vengeance.
“Let’s go,” Steve said already stalking away. He felt the others fall in behind him. Time to be The Captain again. Steve took all emotions he had about Bucky and shoved them down as best he could. He could still feel them like a knife in his stomach, but he was used to it. He always felt pain when he thought of Bucky. The guilt was too overwhelming to fully acknowledge, so Steve pushed the feelings away like he always did. He had to save the world again.
Save his Bucky again.