366 Days Of Something

by QuickSilverFox3

A 366 words long Stucky ficlet for every day in the year: 27/01 (I'm using Microsoft Word Count for this) Just to clarify there will be a series of AUs for each which may or may not be continued so just ask if anything's confusing

25. That Night (Mountain)

Fallen Angel AU
Continuation of 01/01

It was an old legend in their town that the Gods would watch over them in exchange for a sacrifice of one of those dedicated to them every year. Steve and Bucky knew this as well as everyone, but that that meant they were alive and together. And that was what mattered. They were safe, unclaimed by any, they picked out a harsh living, fighting for survival against all around them, yet they were safe from retribution from the mountain.

The raiders came in the night, slipping over the wall like a plague with drawn blades, as predicted in the fires and smoke, seen in the herb induced visions. So the people fought, those dedicated for War with howls as their minds were lost to the bloodshed; those to Knowledge crept through the streets, chosen weapons close with every strike careful and calculated; those to the Crafts turned their gift to blood, hammers striking against skulls, hooks turned to barbs in skin, buildings reduced to rubble to crush the invading army; and those dedicated to Death strode calmly amongst the battle, their blades invisible and deadly as the one they served.

Those undedicated fled, too weak to hold a weapon and defend their homes, too sick to make a difference, too afraid and untrained.

It was a night that Steve remembered well. The sensation of Bucky's arms under him as the other scooped his fragile form up, blankets and all, his panicked breaths in Steve's ear as he ran through the streets, fights erupting all around them like wildfires. Almost in slow motion in the fever bright clarity of his memory it happened: a man strode round the corner, his garb foreign and a longsword stained red held heavy in his hand, face twisting into a cruel smile.

Steve knew Death, had faced them every time he continued to draw breath even as it burned his lungs, as did Bucky, fighting through the illnesses that ravaged them in summer in order to keep Steve safe. And Steve knew it now as Bucky moved, putting himself in between the blade and Steve, hot blood showering his face as darkness claimed him once more, an old friend's embrace.