Chapter 29: Stars

November 1, 1943

There was a time, when they were about sixteen years old, where Bucky took Steve to Coney Island and made him ride all the rollercoasters. The Cyclone had been the one to finally make Steve sick, but before that, there was the Dead Drop, which pulled them up high above the boardwalk and then just...let them go. The brief moment where they felt the slack of the rope before the drop happened was Bucky's favorite, because that was the moment Steve realized that he'd truly fucked up.

Now, as Steve sailed through the air towards them, Bucky figured he was getting a taste of his own medicine.

Steve slammed into the railing, and despite the fact that he clearly had a pretty good hold on it, Bucky and Lu both grabbed whatever part of him they could and heaved him over onto solid ground. Behind him, the fire surged for a moment, sending a wave of heat and smoke into their eyes. Lu dropped to one knee coughing, and if Bucky wasn't running on adrenaline and chutzpah, he might have done the same. But he needed to get his best friend and his best girl safe.

"C'mon, Doc." he said, his voice dry and gravelly from excess smoke inhalation. She continued coughing but took his hand, her grip strong as he hauled her to her feet. Steve grabbed both of them by the backs of their uniforms and pulled them all the way up before stepping in front of them, kicking the door in front of them down. Exactly how strong was he?

Bucky didn't have time to ask, because at that moment he had to use all his oxygen to run after Steve through the base. They could hear the sounds of it collapsing around them, screams echoing from deep in the basements. Were those screams his men, or the fucking Nazis who worked here? How many strikes were going on his record tonight? He pushed the thought away, knowing that there was nothing he could do right now except get the hell out of dodge. Lu struggled to keep up, the past weeks taking their toll on her stamina and strength, and her breath wheezing as she tried to catch it. He forwent propriety, putting her arm around his shoulders and his own around her waist, roughly grabbing the waistband of her uniform pants so that he could help her. She shot him a brief look that was a funny mix of disdain and gratefulness, and he would have laughed if he could spare the air.

"Come on!" Steve said, turning around and realizing the space between them. Bucky wondered how long it would take him to realize they weren't right behind him. He also wondered what the hell happened that Steve could outrun him now. He ran back to them, his voice clear as day and his breathing almost easy. What the fuck. "Come on, we're almost there. Promise." he added, going to Lu's other side to take more of her weight. Low booms shook the ground as they ran, giving them the idea that the floor was about to fall out from underneath them. They could see the door now, blown open by the men that came before them. A cold breeze shot some life back into them, and for the last few yards Lu pulled herself free and ran on her own.

Steve jumped in front of them as they exited, his shield held high as he took stock of the situation. There was still a firefight going on, though it didn't seem as dramatic as the actual fire going on inside. Most of the Nazis were facing away from them, their sights trained on the 107th as they rained hell on them. One man turned and noticed them, and Bucky let go of Lu so that he could take two quick steps and clock the man across the jaw. He fell like a ton of bricks, and Bucky reached down to take his rifle from him, seeing as he wouldn't need it anymore.

"Thank you for your donation to the United States Army, asshole." he muttered. He was going to kick the guy for good measure, but a startled scream distracted him.

"Barnes!" Lu's voice, so markedly higher than the others, brought him back to reality. She was huddled behind a dead tank, her face barely visible behind Steve's shield. Clearly he'd pulled her there, saving her when Bucky had been too inattentive to protect her himself. A deep anger burned in him at his own insufficiencies, a heat that had nothing to do with the fire in the bunker building up the back of his neck.

But Steve had no weapon. And he did.

It didn't take Howard Stark to figure out how the rifle worked, and Bucky knelt to the ground and turned his attention to the enemies in front of him. Steve would guard Lu, and he would make an exit for them. Suddenly it was like the past few weeks hadn't happened; his muscles were calm, his heart rate slowed, and there was nothing in his mind except his target and his trigger. Bullets were coming from every direction, and his back was to a wall, but somehow he felt he was at the perfect vantage point.

He didn't have time to count to seven and take a breath and say a Hail Mary and all that. He felt like a machine. Target, sight, adjust, shoot. Move on to the next. Target, sight, adjust, shoot. Boom. Boom. Boom. Down, down, down went enemy after enemy as his shots found homes in the bits of flesh visible in the night. The fire almost seemed to brighten them, their white skin turning a glowing orange and giving him something easy to lock onto. Boom. Hit. He kept going until there were no more glowing targets, all of them now just dark masses fading into the shadows as their lives drained from them.

The sirens kept screaming even when all of the enemies were down, interrupting what was usually the humble silence of victory. "We gotta move." Steve said, gesturing towards the open gates with his head. Now that the bullets had stopped, Lu tumbled out from behind him and collapsed into Bucky's waiting arms. Steve was right, they did need to get a move on, but he wanted this moment. For the space of a breath, it was just the two of them, soaking in the fresh air and starlight.

"Told you I'd get you out." he murmured against her unwashed hair. Neither one of them smelled pleasant, but he couldn't care less. Right now all he could smell was freedom.

"Technically it was your friend there." she said, her voice muffled by his chest. He could feel her straining to breathe against his embrace, but didn't want to let go for fear that she'd float away.

"We just spent a hundred years in a bunker and you still won't give me an inch, huh?" he said, a weak laugh escaping him. She looked up at him then, her eyes shining in the fire and her lips parted. He didn't know if he should say something or just kiss her, but either way, he was interrupted.

"'Ey! Lovebirds! Let's go!" Morita called from the gates, gesturing with his arm. Steve was next to him, sporting a shit eating grin and that stupid shield.

"I tried to tell 'em." he said to Morita, and Bucky was surprised that he could hear it. But that wasn't something he needed to dwell on. In fact, it wasn't even in the top five questions he had at that moment. He turned back to Lu.

"Fine. Consider this me saving your ass." he said, biting his tongue from saying anything more bawdy. She gave him an unamused look but grabbed his hand, letting him take the lead into the forest beyond the gates.

It was hard to run at first, especially since the adrenaline was leaving them and the malnourishment was sinking back in. Steve led the charge, and Bucky took up a position at the back, telling himself that it was just to make sure he could keep an eye on everyone. For sure it wasn't because Lu kept silently threatening to lag behind the group. He could still see the serum's affect on her, and he almost felt the need to apologize - he could still feel it, yes, but it wasn't eating him alive like it was previously, and he certainly wasn't still fighting it like she was. So he kept one hand on his rifle and his other in hers, making sure she kept going. A few of the men tried to take jabs at them between rough breaths, but the insults washed over him. A few years ago, those would be fighting words, but now Bucky saw it for what it was - jealousy. That alone added a little fuel to his fire.

It was well into the night before Steve deemed them far enough away to make camp. They could no longer hear the sounds of the fire, and the sirens were just distant enough that they didn't have to shout over them to speak. Most of the men deflated as soon as they stopped, all the wind leaving their sails at once. Bucky could see on his face that Steve wanted to keep going - could keep going - but realized that they were going to have to take a break sooner or later. Men settled against trees and laid down on the leaf-covered floor, the ground seeming like the best feather bed at the Waldorf-Astoria compared to the cages they'd been in. Bucky and Lu picked their way through them until they reached Steve, who stayed standing as if they hadn't all just run through hell.

"You keepin' watch?" Bucky asked. Lu barely pulled away from him so she could lean against a tree. She was pale and clearly hurting, but she kept on her brave face while her lungs tried to catch up. Steve nodded. "I'll help you."

"Nah, you look like you're about to keel over. I got it." Steve said. In his defense, Bucky felt like he was about to keel over, but he'd never admit it, especially to his best friend. Steve's eyes slid over to Lu. "So are you going to introduce me or…?"

"Not positive yet that you're actually Steve." he said with a little more honesty than he intended. Steve grinned and laughed, the expression and sound so perfectly familiar that there was no denying his identity.

"Feels like I know you already." Lu said, her voice a little weaker than she wanted. "Barnes would not shut up about you."

"Aw, about how much you miss me?" Steve asked, looking entirely too pleased at the situation.

"About how much of an asshole you are." Bucky snapped back, making Steve laugh again. Normally this was where Bucky would sling an arm around his neck and rub his knuckles into Steve's scalp, but he had the feeling that move wouldn't work anymore. "This is Lucille." The way he said her name definitely betrayed his affection for her, but they all pretended to not hear it. "Doc, this is the lamentable Steve Rogers."

"Nice to meet you." Steve said, holding out one hand that nearly swallowed Lu's in a shake. He looked even bigger now that the injection had worn off some; since when was he taller than Bucky? And had more muscle? Asshole.

"Likewise." she said with a gentle smile. A green monster, deep in his chest, opened one eye to spot the way they looked at each other, and when Steve finally let go of Lu's hand Bucky couldn't help but grab it again. Steve's smirk grew, and he took a step backwards.

"I'm gonna go check the perimeter, see if I can find some water. You two get comfy." he said, giving them one last grin before turning on his heel and wandering off into the night. Bucky let out a long breath, and next to him Lu's shoulders sagged.

"Help me down, Barnes. I'm spent." she said. Her forehead had the barest sheen of sweat despite the cool temperatures, but her hands were clammy as he held them. He told himself it was just shock, and half lowered her, half fell with her onto the forest floor. They leaned against each other and the tree, trying to find the position that required the least amount of energy. Finally, it felt like they could breathe.

"So that's Steve." Lu said after a while, breaking the silence. He nearly startled; he'd thought she'd fallen asleep. "He's different than you described."

"Yea, well, he's different than I remember." he said, letting out a huff of a laugh. He thought of her statement earlier. "Don't go leaving me for him, now."

She burrowed a little deeper into his side, her fingers finding his dog tags and lightly running over the stamped letters. "You have nothing to worry about." she said quietly, looking down at the metal in her hand instead of at him. It was the closest to vulnerable that he was going to get, and he was okay with that. He felt the shift between them; despite finally being out in the open, somewhere where they could stretch out, they were only trying to get closer to each other. She wasn't the most verbal with her feelings, but actions always did speak louder than words. "Thank you," she continued, still fidgeting with the dog tags. "for getting me through all this."

Feelings that he'd been holding onto burned so hot behind his sternum that he wondered if she could feel it. "I wouldn't have made it without you." he replied. He rested his lips against her head; as long as he didn't move, it didn't count as a kiss. He recalled the beginning of their captivity, when she asked why he took her place. What he'd felt then had only gotten stronger, even as their bodies got weaker. He hadn't wanted to tell her then, hadn't wanted to spoil his confession by making it with bars between them. But now it was just them, with no cages and no Nazis. "Doc? Can I tell you something?" he said, barely above a whisper.

"Yea." she said, as if she knew where he was going. She grew unusually still, her grip tightening on the dog tags. He wondered if she was nervous, or excited, or both. He put his hand on her cheek, bringing her face up so she would look at him. Despite her nerves she held his gaze, some emotion in her eyes that he couldn't quite name. He ran his thumb over her cheek, gently brushing away some of the grime.

"I love you." he finally said, his heart in his throat. Her breath hitched, and the dog tags squeaked as she squeezed them tightly together. For a moment she said nothing, and he had the crushing realization that there was a chance she didn't feel the same way.

"How would you feel," she whispered, still holding his gaze. She swallowed thickly, and he realized that she was trying very, very hard to actually say what was on her mind. "if I chose this moment to collect on our wager?"

It seemed like a lifetime ago that they'd sat on those buckets playing cards, hazarding a kiss to the victor. He had kissed his fair share of women, and knew that many of them wanted him to initiate, but Lu wasn't like that. He'd let her win because he wanted her to be ready, to decide when to take that step - if she ever deemed him worthy enough. "I'd like that very much." he finally said, his hand sliding from her cheek into the tangled mess of blonde hair. She pushed herself up straight and shifted towards him, her face so close that he could see the faded pink freckles across the bridge of her nose. She leaned her forehead against his and licked her lips, and he couldn't help but close his eyes in anticipation. Then, she finally kissed him.

Their lips were chapped and dry. They were sweaty from their escape. Their skin was covered in weeks worth of filth. Any hope of fresh breath was gone before they even had the thought. Their clothes as they leaned together were rough on their skin.

And it was all fucking perfect.

Bucky had kissed his fair share of women. But it had never been like this.

It wasn't about fireworks, or an electric shock, or the universe exploding behind his eyes. Her kiss felt like a sunrise, like a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day, like falling into his bed after a long shift. It felt like coming home. He could, and would, kiss her forever - if she'd let him.

She finally pulled back and he half expected her to move away, but instead she nuzzled her face into his neck, unknowingly letting him feel the heat on her cheeks. He leaned his head against hers, taking in the way she was breathing, how her heart was beating against him, how her hands were holding him. They were finally free, and finally together.

"So does this mean...I mean, do you…" he said it in a teasing manner, but he couldn't deny he was completely serious. She laughed, shaking her head against him.

"Dammit, Barnes. Yes, I love you too." she said to his skin, holding him tighter. He returned the embrace, relishing in the closeness and in the moment. If he forgot everything from the rest of his life, he wanted to remember this. They sat like that for a long time, their grips eventually loosening. He could feel her alternate between holding herself up and nearly putting all her weight against him, trying to stay awake, trying to make this last just a few minutes longer. He was tired, yes, but he was going to stay awake until Steve got back. He gently ran his fingers through her hair, at least what he could without pulling on the tangles, the movement helping to keep him alert.

"Go to sleep, Doc." he finally said, making her sigh. "I've got you."

She didn't say anything, just giving him the barest nod before sliding down to lay on the ground, her head resting on his thigh. He moved his arm to her waist, once again feeling the warmth of affection as she tangled her fingers in his and went to sleep.

The moon was well past its peak by the time Steve came back, his steps quiet despite his new size. He slowly settled down next to them so as to not wake Lu, resting his elbows on his knees. Despite the relaxed position, Bucky could practically feel how he was ready to spring into action if he needed. In comparison, Bucky felt like his limbs were made of lead. It was entirely possible that his leg was numb from where Lu was laying on it, but it didn't seem significantly different from the rest of his body.

"So," Bucky started, pausing to see if Lu was still sleeping. Her breathing was still slow and even, her body completely limp with exhaustion. "You gonna tell me what happened?"

"Are you?" Steve countered with a meaningful look in Lu's direction. Bucky couldn't help but grin like a fool in love.

"Eventually." he agreed. "But I asked you first."

Steve rolled his eyes, letting out a sigh. "It's a long story." he said, and despite his exhaustion Bucky replied with,

"We got time." He didn't know if he could make it through a long story, but he wanted to try anyway. Steve gave him a look that said he saw right through the bullshit, and just patted Bucky's free leg.

"Rest up, Buck. We got a long walk ahead of us." he said. Bucky furrowed his brows, giving him the surliest expression he could muster.

"You don't have an extraction plan for us besides walking?" he asked. The question had absolutely none of the attitude that he was hoping to convey. Steve reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out a small radio-like box. Well, it used to be a box. Now it was a chunk of metal and plastic with an antenna and a giant bullet hole.

"Can't exactly call my ride." he joked. Bucky took in a breath, shaking his head.

"Figures." he muttered. The silence that settled over them thickened, charged with the remaining energy from their flight.

"They told me you died." Steve said finally. Bucky hmphed, not finding the energy to laugh.

"Felt like it sometimes, if I'm honest." he said, the weight of the statement settling on him. The Army thought they were all dead, or at least on their way to it. They were going to continue on with the war without coming for them. If it weren't for Steve...Bucky didn't want to think about it. "Thank you. For coming to get us."

"Til the end of the line, pal." Steve said, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "I knew this wasn't your last stop."

"Better believe it." he said, once again the bravado falling flat. Lu said it right earlier - they were spent.

"Rest, Buck. I'll wake you first thing." Steve said again, a little more insistent. This time Bucky listened, shifting so that he could be a little more comfortable. Lu stirred with the movement but didn't wake, and the last thing Bucky saw before falling asleep was Steve's stupid, smiling face.

I seriously can't thank y'all enough for the overwhelming love and support after last chapter. Thank you for your kind words, and your patience, and your positivity. Y'all seriously make this worth it, and I love you all.

I've been looking forward to this chapter for a while, and wasn't sure I'd ever be able to get through it. I really hope y'all enjoyed it.

-XM