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"Just like the old days, huh? Always saving your reckless ass. Only, you ain't so little anymore, Stevie," Bucky weezes, ragged, pained breaths escaping with every determined step. Yeah, several of his ribs are broken for sure. He's trying to keep light of the grim situation. He can't let dread occupy his thoughts right now. He just can't. Has to get them outta there. Has to get Steve outta there. No matter what.
Steve rasps a brief laugh that sounds more like a cough, a weak wobbly smile on his face where it's safely tucked into the crook of Bucky's neck and shoulder, eyes closed. A little blood trickles out of the corner of his mouth, his legs, where they are wrapped around Bucky's waist, lightly sagging and giving way.
Bucky feels Steve loosing his remaining strength and hefts him up higher on the side of his waist, gritting his teeth. Not now. Please not now.
They are so close to getting out of there.
There's an echo of a gunshot.
Bucky hacks, body lurching forward, blood spraying out of his mouth as the bullet wedges itself into the middle of his back. He's lost count of how many gunshot wounds he currently has. But this seems to be the final blow. He may have the serum, but he is only human after all.
His knees give out, landing heavily with a grunt, but still careful not to completely lose Steve from his hold.
Steve’s body slowly rolls out of his arm and onto the ground before him. Bucky watches in shock at the lifeless movement of his partner.
He's completely still. Pale and bloody. He looks dead.
Gradually, with time hanging in the air, grief and sorrow trickle into Bucky's veins like ice. His eyes widened with horror, mouth parted with disbelief, his body shakes. He can't tell if it's from the physical or emotional pain, most likely both, but he trembles.
Tossing his head back, he roars in anguish, the emotion ripped out of his core. He chokes and heaves, hanging his head heavily over Steve’s body, tears falling.
Boots stomp and gather, encircling where the two super soldiers are defeated on the cold ground. Their guns are drawn, not taking any chances no matter how weak they appear.
Bucky lets out what sounds like a growl, still wanting to protect Steve till his dying breath.
He’s eerily still, like a ghost hovering over a loved one, as orders are spoken into comms and radios. The assailants begin to let their guard down, just slightly.
Bucky, of course, can pick up on this without lifting his head to observe. Just their subtleties are enough, his senses heightened.
Suddenly, he unleashes. He explodes in a flurry of rage and fury with the last bit of fight left in him.
Leaping up, quickly dismantling the closest enemy, snatching their gun and, in quick succession, firing multiple rounds. All of them headshots. There's no light in his eyes as he does it. He watches like a predator as they fall one by one. Not even a blink of empathy shows on his face. Void of emotion.
Then, adrenaline drained, exhaustion takes him. He collapses.
He lands gracelessly, a heavy weight next to his lifelong partner, who's still laying there lifeless.
Bucky can feel his own body giving out as his eyes never leave Steve's face. He maps every inch, every detail, everything he already knows and loves from a lifetime ago covered in blood and dirt.
Tears well in his eyes as he weakly reaches his hand out, words caught in his throat. I love you. He can't speak. He can hardly move, arm only going so far before falling limp and numb.
Bucky lays there, in a growing puddle of blood, as the darkness surrounds him. It's warm. Inviting. Beckoning.
He smiles. Happy he won't have to be in this world alone. He'll be seeing Steve shortly.
He closes his eyes peacefully, the last sight being the love of his life right next to him.
They reached the end of the line… together.
As it was always meant to be.