A/N
Thank you to everyone who has left me more reviews or followed this story! It's really cool to see so many positive things! I hope you enjoy this next chapter. It will begin to explain what the addition of both Cratyk and Furia will do to the final battle in Infinity War. Enjoy!
REVIEW QUESTIONS ANSWERED
I also want to address two individuals who had two very different opinions regarding my story. They didn't have questions but certainly had concerns:
Jezzyh89: Do not worry! Someone's opinion, negative or positive, will not keep me from writing. You're right I can't please everyone and I share this story online for my own personal enjoyment. If someone doesn't like it, they certainly don't have to. I will finish this. I promise :)
D00rFr4m3
You have a legitimate concern, and one that I completely understand. You also brought up a good point when you said "It feels like I saw the opening scene of a movie and then someone skipped an hour forward." I just want to say the difference between a movie and my story is, you get to finish it from beginning to end right off the bat. I have seen many films skip ahead, then later return to certain plots or pieces of information in the end. I had ALWAYS intended on going back to how they fell in love but wanted to do so when I thought it would be the most emotionally impactful. The problem with stories on this site is you have to wait for chapters like mine to update until the story is complete, unaware of the authors decisions. It's okay if you don't like this and it's also okay if you don't care what I have to say. You may still not like my story. Either way, we'll both survive. I just thought you might like to know Furia and Bucky's story will be told! :)
Scotland
"Another ship's entered the atmosphere." Natasha stated to her team.
Steve, who sat beside her on their jet, faced the now projected alert. A circular ship, just like the one that had come to New York, now covered their screen.
Furia moved to see the image with Bucky beside her. Sam, who had been fixing a shortage in his aerial equipment, looked up from his work.
"Better hurry on that patch job, Sam." Steve admitted. "Looks like they've already found Vis."
Furia closed her eyes, trying to reach out to Wanda. As her mind connected to the Scarlet Witch's, she instantly felt her sudden horror. The image of Vision being stabbed filled Furia's mind. Her eyes snapped open as she gasped, falling forward before Bucky caught her.
"What is it, Furia?" Bucky asked, worriedly.
Furia gripped his shirt as her eyes darted between all of her friends. "Steve we gotta hurry. They found them." Furia's voice sounded desperate before she looked to Bucky. "Vision's been hurt, badly."
Natasha looked to Steve before the two punched the acceleration gears to full. "Hang in there, Wanda." Steve uttered to himself. "We're coming."
Not far away, Wanda held onto Vision who lay pierced from Corvus' glaive. Gasping for hair as he winced from the pain, Vision looked into Wanda's worried eyes.
"The blade. It stopped me from phasing." Vision said, between breaths.
"Is that even possible?" Wanda asked, looking toward his wound.
"It isn't supposed to be." Vision said, his voice sounding distorted electronically.
Placing her hand over the wound, Wanda used her energy to stitch him together. slowly closing the injury. With a deep breath, Vision spoke. "I'm beginning to think- we should have stayed in bed."
Catching Wanda off guard, Corvus knocked her aside lifting Vision into the air before the pair soared overhead.
Corvus slammed Vision into several walls before holding him against one while gripping his throat. "Give up the stone, and she lives." He hissed.
Below, Proxima moved to attack Wanda with her staff but with each blow, Wanda would immediately blocked her strikes with her red energy. In an attempt to get the upper hand, Proxima used her blaster effect from the tip of her staff. The blue force crashed into Wanda, throwing her backward until she slid across the hard floor. With a powerful leap, Proxima landed just beside Wanda, striking her weapon downward. Wanda gasped but managed to stop her blade several inches from her face; her powers glowing strong and she tensed to keep Proxima back.
As Corvus still held Vision, his threat to harm Wanda fueled Vision with enough strength to fight back despite his wound. Throwing him across the roof Vision then fired a beam from his mind stone, which Corvus deflected with his glaive, causing it to split. The new beams sliced into Edinburgh's ancient stone like paper until one was reflected back to Vision. It slammed him into the wall behind him.
As Wanda still fought Proxima, the young woman managed to hold her own despite years of combat experience that Proxima had under the Black Order. Vision's agonized cry from above pulled a new desperation from inside Wanda, who used her powers to throw Proxima toward a burning lorry; the flames having started from one of Vision's split beams. Swiftly flying toward Vision, she landed beside them both, witnessing the horrific act of Corvus using his glaive to remove the stone from Vision's head.
"Hands off." Wanda sneered, throwing Corvus back with a cast of her red powers. As Corvus fell through a wall and down a cavern, Wanda had no time to get them away. For just beside them, Proxima now stood. Recovered from her blow into the lorry, she blasted Wanda and Vision with her weapon, sending them through the air until they crashed through the roof of Edinburgh Waverly Train Station.
Having been separated from the fall, Wanda crawled to Vision's side. She tried to pull him up as she spoke.
"Come on. Come on. Come on, you gotta get up. You gotta get up. Come on. Hey. Hey. We have to go." She said, desperately trying to escape.
"Please. Please leave." Vision pleaded, knowing he no longer had the strength to stand.
"You asked me to stay." Wanda paused, touching Vision's face. "I'm staying."
"Please." He begged her, not wanting to see her get injured.
Wanda shook her head. There was nothing he could say that would make her leave. "Get up." She told him sternly.
Behind them, Proxima and Corvus crashed through the glass of the roof, before landing several yards away. With their weapons in hand, they both advanced toward Wanda, who stood to her feet ready to fight to the death in order to protect Vision. Energy moved over her hands as Wanda stood her ground.
As an express train passed; the tracks just behind Wanda, something caught Proxima's attention. By her strange expression, it was as 8f she suddenly became aware of someone else's presence. Confused, Wanda glanced over her shoulder.
With the last train car finally passed, Wanda caught sight of a silhouette on the far side of the platform. Proxima sneered, throwing her staff at full force toward the shadowed figure, but even with her excellent aim and quick thinking, the staff was deftly caught. With the figure having finally moved forward into view, Wanda and Vision finally looked hopeful. For Steve Rogers had come to help as he always did.
As both Proxima and Corvus were distracted by Steve's sudden appearance, Sam swooped in from behind, kicking Proxima across the platform and into the gated cafe. From above, Sam fired at Corvus, who used his glaive to block the blasts, just as Natasha ran in from another angle; the group attempting to overwhelm them.
Natasha grabbed for Proxima's weapon, slamming into Corvus flesh. He yelled in agony as Bucky leaped from a tall structure with Furia at his side. With Proxima back on her feet, Bucky stepped forward delivering a perfectly executed triple fly kick. Proxima did her best to block his attack but could not deflect both Bucky and Furia, who blasted her with cold, sending Proxima across the ground until she lay beside an injured Corvus.
With the four of them now standing above Corvus and Proxima, she looked to her fellow member in the Black Order in anger. "Get up." She demanded, hoping to still fight them.
"I can't." Corvus spoke, defeated. His wounds were too great and there was no denying it.
Furia's hands became covered in ice while Sam held his submachine pistols toward their faces. Steve and Bucky carried grim and determined expressions, as Bucky wielded am M249 aimed for Proxima's skull.
"We don't want to kill you, but we will." Natasha said cooly. There was an edge to her tone that showed she wasn't to be trifled with and both Corvus and Proxima knew her words weren't simply a threat but fact.
Proxima glanced at each of them, disgusted that a group of Terran's had managed to best them. Her eyes fell to Furia as she recognized her markings at once.
Vibing her, Furia's eyes went large, but before she could speak, Proxima interjected.
"You'll never get the chance again." She sneered, as a sudden beam carried herself and Corvus upward for their circular ship.
As they all watched the two members of the Black Order disappear, the glaive in Steve's hand, which he'd snatched during their encounter, was ripped out of his grip and flew up to them.
Moving to Vision, Sam knelt beside him. "Can you stand?" He asked with concern.
With the help of Sam, Vision stood. He turned to face Steve with a grateful expression. A glimmer of electricity seemed to glaze over Vision's surface and as he spoke, his voice sounded distorted. "Thank you, Captain."
With a slight nod, Steve patted Vision's shoulder. "Let's get you on the jet."
Having made it on the jet, Natasha turned to Wanda. "I thought we had a deal. Stay close, check in. Don't take any chances."
"I'm sorry." Wanda started out, sounding defeated. "We just wanted time."
Furia looked to each of them. "Her name was Proxima. She's a part of Thanos' army. She recognized my markings and knew I was Cratyk's cousin."
Natasha immediately turned to Steve. "Then somehow all of this leads back to Thanos."
"I didn't vibe any further but I can promise you that Thanos won't be far behind." Furia explained, ominously.
"Where to, Cap?" Sam asked, wondering what the plan was with this new information.
Steve looked thoughtful. He knew he could trust Furia's information and for that very reason, Steve needed answers. And the best place to start was somewhere he hadn't been in a long time.
"Home." Steve answered.
Upstate New York,
Avengers Headquarters
Standing amidst some of Tony's finest equipment at the Avenger's HQ, Rhodey sighed. He was growing tired of his conversation with Secretary Ross amd formal General. This wasn't the time to worry about past crimes but he knew a bonehead like Ross would never see reason.
"Still no word from Vision?" Asked Ross, impatiently. His holographic image only made Rhodey's urge to punch the guy stronger.
"Satellites lost him somewhere over Edinburgh." Rhodey answered.
"On a stolen quinjet with six of the world's most wanted criminals." Ross added coldly.
"You know they're only criminals because you've chosen to call them that, right, sir?" Rhodey retorted.
"My God, Rhodes, your talent for horseshit rivals my own." Secretary Ross gave James. snide look, as if not even all Rhodey's service could earn his trust.
Rhodey's expression grew cold, his patience long gone. "If it weren't for those Accords, Vision would've been right here."
Ross borrowed his eyes before he spoke. "I remember your signature on those papers, Colonel."
Rhodey scoffed. His hand gestured towards his mechanical brace as he spoke. "That's right. And I'm pretty sure I've paid for that."
"You have second thoughts?" Ross questioned, suspiciously.
With his arms crossed Rhodey gave Ross and unwavering look. "Not anymore."
Catching Rhodey's attention the six fugitives Ross had mentioned moments before, with Vision being supported by Sam, make their way into the room. Rhodey had been too distracted by see his unwanted conversation with Ross to see the alerts of their entrance but did nothing to hold back his smirk. He needed all the help he could get and now Rhodey looked at some of the most qualified people to do so.
"Mr. Secretary." Steve said confidently. There was an edge to his expression and it was clear he didn't give a rats ass what Ross was going to say or think.
"You got some nerve. I'll give you that." Ross sneered.
"You could use some of that." Natasha fired back.
"The world's on fire. And you think, all is forgiven?" Secretary Ross said, coldly.
Furia could feel her anger toward this idiot rising but knew this wasn't her fight. Not really. And she trusted Cap to say the right thing, along with everybody else standing beside him.
"I'm not looking for forgiveness. And I'm way past asking for permission. Earth just lost her best defender. So we're here to fight." Steve took a step forward with his eyes fixed on Ross. "And if you wanna stand in our way- we'll fight you, too"
Ross turned to Rhodey; his face full of the arrogance he constantly flaunted. "Arrest them."
"All over it." Rhodey said as he swiped Ross' projection aside, ending the call. Looking toward Steve and Natasha, Rhodey smiled. "That's a court-martial." He started off before Steve and Rhodey hugged. "It's great to see you, Cap."
"You too, Rhodey." Steve said with a small but meaningful smile.
Natasha then stepped forward, embracing Rhodey as well.
"Well. You guys really look like crap. Must've been a rough couple of years." Rhodey said, playfully.
"Yeah, well, the hotels weren't exactly five star." Sam chimed.
"Speak for yourself." Bucky started to say with a side grin. "Furia and I didn't mind our view of the Golden City."
Rhodey crossed his arms with a raised brow. "No shit. After King T'Challa's grand reveal, Wakanda's kingdom makes Tony's place look like a Motel 6."
"Uh, I think you look great." Bruce said awkwardly as he entered the room from behind Rhodey. "Uh- yeah- I'm back." He stammered as his eyes seemed to lingere on Natasha a little longer than Steve cared for.
Swallowing, Steve pushed aside his own jealousy, certain that he had nothing to fear. Natasha and him were in love and whatever she had felt for Bruce wouldn't come between them. He trusted that as much as he trusted Nat to have his back in a fight.
"Hi Bruce " Natasha said with a smile. She was glad to see he was okay.
Bruce's shoulders hunched a he looked to the floor before he glanced back to Natasha. "Nat."
Sam leaned toward Furia and Bucky before he spoke under his breath. "This is awkward."
Bucky, who didn't understand Sam's comment looked to Furia. He was certain she could fill him in if she'd already vibed the situation.
Nat used to have feelings for Bruce. He not only shot her down but did so by disappearing for years without a trace. She explained in his mind.
Ouch. Bucky responded.
Having made there way into another room, the group made themselves comfortable as Rhodey and Bruce explained what they'd missed.
"So we gotta assume they're coming back, right?" Rhodey said to each of them.
"And they can clearly find us." Wanda added.
Bruce looked to his friends. A certain fear seemed to linger in his eyes as he spoke. "We need all hands on deck. Where's Clint?"
"After the whole Accords situation, he and Scott took a deal. It was too tough on their families, they're on house arrest." Natasha explained.
"Who's Scott?" Bruce asked, to no one in particular.
"Ant-Man." Bucky answered.
Furia smirked. Scott was a plucky fellow with a good heart and as she looked around the room she knew they could use his disposition right about now.
Bruce looked surprised. "There's an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man?" He shook his head trying to refocus. "Okay-look. Thanos has the biggest army in the universe. And he is not gonna stop until he- he gets- Vision's Stone." His eyes met Vision's. Bruce had faced many trials alongside these people. But something inside him wouldn't settle and he struggled to contain his own trepidation(perhaps it was the fact that Hulk was refusing to make an appearance, he considered to himself, and therefore he felt useless).
"Well, then we have to protect it." Natasha said, matter-of-factly.
"No we have to destroy it." Vision countered. He' rose to his feet, still a little weak from the last fight. "I've been giving a good deal of thought to this entity in my head, about its nature. But also, its composition. I think if it were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source, something, very similar to its own signature, perhaps-" Vision moved toward Wanda. His eyes pleaded with her as her mouth fell open in realization. "Its molecular integrity could fail."
"And you with it." Wanda started out, shaking her head. "We're not having this conversation."
"Eliminating the stone is the only way to be certain that Thanos can't get it." Vision reasoned.
"That's too high a price." Wanda swallowed. She could already tell Vision would do what he could to convince her but her heart wasn't willing.
Vision reached for Wanda's arms, turning her to face him once again. His hands touched her face before he spoke. "Only you have the power to pay it."
Wanda exhaled, walking away from him in distress. "Thanos threatens half the Universe. One life cannot stand in the way of defeating him." Vision said, to each of them this time.
"But it should." Steve started out. "We don't trade lives Vision."
Vision moved toward Steve, surprised by his words. "Captain, seventy years ago, you laid down your life to save how many millions of people. Tell me, why is this any different?"
Steve took a breath, but before he could speak Bruce interjected. "Because you might have a choice. Your mind is made up of a complex construct of overlays. JARVIS., Ultron, Tony, me, the Stone. All of them mixed together. All of them learning from one another."
"You're saying Vision isn't just the stone?" Wanda asked, trying to get a handle on his words and suddenly feeling hopeful.
"I'm saying that if we take out the stone, there's still a whole lot of Vision left. Perhaps the best parts." Bruce explained further.
"Can we do that?" Natasha asked.
Bruce shook his head. "Not me. Not here."
Rhodey shook his head. He didn't want to be the downer in the group but also knew they needed to be realistic. "You better find someone, and somewhere fast. Ross isn't exactly just gonna let you guys have your old rooms back."
Bucky smirked as he looked to Furia. She knew exactly what he was about to say and hadn't even vibed him. To them, it was the best place on earth. To them, it was home.
"I know somewhere." Bucky announced.
Several jumps away from Titan
Still inside his spacecraft, Ebony moved to stand before Dr. Strange, who floated horizontally. He faced the ground both restrained and surrounded by dozens on glass-like needles that slightly resembled icicles.
"All the time I've served Thanos, I've never failed him. If I were to reach our rendezvous on Titan with the Time Stone still attached to your vaguely irritating person, there would be- judgement."
A single needle began to press itself into Strange's flesh, which caused a subcutaneous white glow. Strange began to twitch as the pain caused him to cry out.
"Give me- the stone." Ebony demanded.
Behind Ebony, Tony remained quietly hidden as he cultivated a plan. Catching him by surprise, the Cloak of Levitation tapped Tony on the shoulder unexpectedly, causing him to raise a hand blaster before he realized what it was.
"Wow you're a seriously loyal piece of outerwear, aren't you?"
'Yeah, uh, speaking of loyalty." Peter started out, catching the attention of both Tony and the cloak as he lowered himself down.
Tony's eyes went large in frustration. He began to feel like an irritated father, and his words began to come out that way, as they often did with Peter. "You should not be here."
"I was gonna go home-" Peter began getting cut off.
"I don't wanna hear it." Tony said, sounding more perturbed by the second
"But it was such a long way down and I just thought about you on the way." Peter whined.
Tony faced the ground. "And now I gotta hear it."
The Cloak shook its collar in sympathy and shrugged.
"And I kinda stuck to the side of the ship. And this suit is ridiculously intuitive, by the way. So if anything, it's kinda your fault that I'm here." Peter raised a hand at Tony with his last words.
Tony's eyes grew furious as he took a couple steps toward the young man. 'What did you just say?
Peter cringed, realizing his own words. "I take that back. And now I'm here in space."
"Yeah." Tony stated, looking incredibly annoyed. He moved to stand right next to Peter. "Right where I didn't want you to be. This isn't Coney Island. This isn't a field trip. It's a one-way ticket. You hear me? Don't pretend like you thought this through. You could not have possibly thought this through."
"No I did think this through." Peter was beginning to sound more like a child having a tantrum by the second to Tony and as the idea of facing Thanos filled his mind, Tony wished he had a way to send Peter home.
Tony shook his head. "You could not have possibly thought this through."
"It's just- You can't be a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man when there's no neighborhood." Peter looked to Tony waiting for his response. For a moment, it looked as though Tony might have been changing his tune, before his stern expression returned. "Okay. That didn't really make any sense, but you know what I'm trying to say."
Tony sighed knowing there was nothing he could do and at the moment he needed to save Strange. So for now, he would utilize his help until he could figure something out. Come on. We got a situation." Tony lead Peter toward the edge to oversee Strange being tortured by Ebony. "See him down there? He's in trouble. What's your plan? Go." He had been testing him. Trying to prove that Peter couldn't handle everything he'd gotten himself into.
But Peter had always been clever, and after just a few seconds of observation he was quick to counter. "Um. Okay, ." Standing upright, Peter looked to Tony. "Okay. Did you ever see this really old movie, Aliens?"
Down below, Ebony smirked. He knew the pathetic terran with quaint abilities would not last long. "Painful aren't they?" He started out. They were originally designed for microsurgery. And any one of them-" He paused as the sudden thump from behind him caught his attention.
Iron Man stood his ground, aware the aliens telekinesis could be trouble, but the kid did have a solid plan that had the potential of being a game changer. "Could end your friend's life in an instant." Ebony finished as he stared Tony down.
"I gotta tell you, he's not really my friend. Saving his life is more a professional courtesy." Tony admitted.
As Ebony began to walk slowly toward Tony, he beckoned several large metal objects toward Iron Man before seaking; the object ready for their assault upon Ebony's command. "You've saved nothing. Your powers are inconsequential compared to mine."
With a smirk, Tony spoke. "Yeah, but the kid's seen more movies."
Firing a shoulder arrow toward the side of the ship, the impact created a hole that caused everything in its' wake to be sucked out. Before Maw could even react, he was already outside in the cold silence of space as death followed mere seconds later.
The depressurization also sucked Dr. Strange free of the needles, but as he headed for the hole, the cape attempted to save him, but could not keep its' grip. Peter then shot a web that caught hold of Strange just inches before he lost his life but the object Peter held in his other hand, to keep them safe inside the ship, had broke free as they both headed toward space. Just before Peter was outside his spidey-suit activated long spikes that resembled sider legs. They gripped the ship with such intensity. they managed to keep them inside.
"Yes! Wait what are those?" Peter yelled with enthusiasm. He leaped backward pulling them both back inside while Iron Man began to spray nanites, covering the hole as the area around them began to stabilize.
With a thud, Dr. Strange hit the floor, He shook his head trying to recover and doing a good job of concealing the disarray he'd felt just moments before.
Peter, who had turned to look at Strange's clock smiled. "Hey, we haven't officially met."
The cape ignored Peter's hand and flew toward Strange, who looked at Tony; his helmet now retracted. "We've gotta turn this ship around."
Tony sighed. "Yeah. Now he wants to run. Great plan."
Stephen narrowed his eyes. He would have preferred to deal with the Hulk, who seemed like a much more reasonable man than Tony. "No, I want to protect the stone." He said, impatiently.
Tony moved toward a viewpoint of space, noticing they were now in hyperspeed. He knew then the ship must have been in autopilot. He glanced at Stephen before finally speaking. "And I want you to thank me now. Go ahead, I'm listening."
"For what? Nearly blasting me into space?" Strange replied.
Tony's eyes narrowed. "Who just saved your magical ass?" He paused, pointing toward his chest. "Me."
Dr. Strange sighed. He was getting more annoyed by the second. "I seriously don't know how you fit your head into that helmet."
"Admit it. You should have ducked out when I told you to. I tried to bench you. You refused." Tony had almost enjoyed how easily he'd been able to get under Stephen Strange's skin. He wondered if Stephen was used to being the smartest guy in the room, and hated the challenge.
"Unlike everyone else in your life, I don't work for you." Strange replied, snarkily.
"And due to that fact, we're now in a flying doughnut billions of miles away from Earth with no backup." Tony pointed out.
Peter almost felt offended. "I'm back up." He said, reminding both Stephen and Tony that he was there with them; their egos having distracted themselves for a moment.
Tony shook his head. "No, you're a stowaway." He wiggled his finger between himself and Dr. Strange. "The adults are talking."
"I'm sorry, I'm confused as to the relationship here. Wh-what is he, your ward?" Strange asked sarcastically.
"No. I'm Peter, by the way." Peter answered.
"Dr. Strange." Stephen replied.
"Oh, we're using our made-up names. Um... I'm Spider-Man, then." Peter stated clumsily.
Ignoring Peter's embarrassing himself, Tony spoke. "This ship is self-correcting its course. Thing's on autopilot."
Stephen moved closer to Tony before speaking. "Can we control it? Fly us home?" For a moment, Tony looked distant, and Strange wondered if he'd heard him at all. "Stark?"
"Yeah?" He finally answered.
"Can you get us home?"
"Yeah I heard you. I'm thinking" Tony paused, and by his expression it was clear he had an idea" 'm not so sure we should.
Stephen's eye went large as Tony's apparent idea sunk in. "Under no circumstance can we bring the Time Stone to Thanos. I don't think you quite understand what's at stake here."
Tony stalked over toward Stephen; the frustration in his eyes had started to grow. "No. It's you who doesn't understand, that Thanos has been inside my head for six years since he sent an army to New York and now he's back!" Tony paused. His heart pounded in his chest as the last few years passed over his mind. He couldn't let Thanos win. He'd already taken so much from Earth as it was. Restraining his fear, Tony continued. "And I don't know what to do. So I'm not so sure if it's a better plan to fight him on our turf or his but you saw what they did, what they can do. At least on his turf, he's not expecting it. So I say we take the fight to him. Doctor. Do you concur?"
Dr. Strange paused, contemplating Tony's idea. Taking the fight to Thanos might give them the upperhand, and for once he felt like he agreed with Tony. "Alright, Stark. We go to him. But you have to understand. If it comes to saving you or the kid or the Time Stone- I will not hesitate to let either of you die. I can't, because the fate of the universe depends on it."
Tony blinked, nodding his head with a hint if sarcasm in his eyes. Nice. Good. Moral compass. We're straight." Moving toward Peter, Tony gently tapped Peter's shoulders in a formal manner as if to dub him a knight. "Alright, kid. You're an Avenger now." Tony said, not able to look Peter in the eyes as he did. It hadn't been what he had wanted for Peter but now there was no going back.
Peter's eyes lingered on Tony for a moment, taking in the magnitude of his words. With a deep breath, he looked fiercely determined. Not only to prove himself but to be ready to take down the biggest bad he'd ever faced….
Furia created a small blade of ice in her hand as Bucky gripped his combat blade. He circled her as Bruce smirked watching the two train as they made their way to Wakanda.
"Think you still remember what I taught you?" Bucky side grinned, as he flipped the blade expertly in his hand.
She motioned him toward her with her fingers. "Why don't you find out, James?"
With a quick side step, Bucky was suddenly just inches from her left. He swung the knife toward her side as she used her makeshift blade to block his blow. But Bucky was trying to catch Furia off guard as he launched several attacks with twice the speed of his first. Managing to block the first, Furia fumbled back. Her eyes went wide as she could hardly see his movements, let alone block them. With a gasp, Furia watched as Bucky faked a jab at her chest, which seemed to shield itself with her ice on instinct.
Bucky smirked, grabbing Furia's arm to make sure she stayed on her feet. He knew despite her best effort she would never be as fast as him, but was grateful to see her instincts to survive were always so strong.
Furia smiled, thankful for not only the distraction, but an opportunity to see James' impressively sexy smile. "Okay, so you're still better at hand to hand combat than me." She giggled.
"And I hold that title with pride, doll." Bucky winked.
"Are you two done risking damage to my jet?" Natasha said with a grin as she sat next to Steve in the pilot seat.
Bucky pulled Furia onto his lap as he sat down. "For now." He joked.
"Well if something happens to the jet, maybe T'Challa can hook us up with one of his." Sam said, who was seated just left of Bucky and Furua, as he avoided watching the two kiss.
Wanda, who enjoyed Bucky and Furia's interactions, reached for Vision's hand. She gripped it, smiling at him. "You shouldn't worry, Vis. I know they'll be able to help."
Vision looked distant. His eyes carried the fear of Thanos' attack as he turned to look at Wanda. "I hope you're right." He answered, wishing she would just destroy the stone already.
Rhodey, who had been sitting next to Bruce, suddenly took in the doctor's pained expression. Bruce, who had been looking between Steve and Natasha, sighed. He ran a hand through his hair before leaning forward in his seat.
Careful not to let the others hear, Rhodey leaned toward Bruce. "Did you think she'd be waiting all these years?" He said, honestly.
Bruce looked up suddenly, surprised by Rhodey's words. "Well- I- I mean, no- I guess not." He said awkwardly.
Rhodey nodded his head toward Steve. "Look, if anyone is going to have her, aren't you glad it's him?" He paused, letting his words sink into Bruce's mind. "Who would possibly treat her better than Captain America?" He added.
Bruce sighed. Unable to argue with that. His eyes lingered on Natasha for a moment as he realized just how much he'd given up when he'd left. As he was about to reply, Furia's deep gasp turned his attention to her.
She stood, clenching the side of her head. Bucky was quick to stand beside her as he touched her back. "Furia, what is it?" He asked.
Everyone turned to face her as Furia continued to wince in pain. Natasha glanced toward Steve whose eyes narrowed on the young woman.
Wanda stood, rushing toward her. She touched her arm before reaching out to her mind. An image of Furia's twisted cousin flooded her thoughts as Wanda stumbled back.
"What the hell is going on?" Bruce asked, as Furia continued to struggle with something none of them could see.
"He's trying- he- wants- inside my- my head." Furia struggled to speak.
"You gotta fight it." Bucky said, gripping her arms. "You can do this."
Wanda looked to each of them. "It's Cratyk. He's trying to tear down the block she made. He wants inside her head."
"Who the hell is Cratyk?" Rhodey asked no one in particular. He shook his head in anger. There was always one problem after the other.
"Her cousin." Steve added. He was already on his feet and monitoring Furia very carefully. Over the last couple years he had truly come to care for her. She'd fought so willingly at his side and had now become apart if his family. His eyes fell to Bucky who still gripped her tight, hoping she would fight hard enough to get passed the son of a bitch he still wished to gut like a fish.
Wanda's hand began to move in an odd pattern as the red glow danced around her fingers. She closed her eyes entering Furia's mind, ready to assist her.
Instantly Wanda saw the wall that had been built to keep Cratyk out. The void around her shimmered of gold and white and the air was quite cold.
Looking to her left, Wanda saw Furia who rested on her knees. Her hands were pressed against the cold ground as she seemed to be fighting with all her might. The room began to shake as Wanda could feel Cratyk's desperate push to break passed the wall.
With a sudden turn, Wanda faced the door. Her eyes were filled with rage as her red energy began to surround Furia's wall like a second barrier.
She could feel his rage and insistent to tear through as Wanda got a glimpse of his goal. Cratyk was determined to find them and thought if he could, he might be able to control Furia and use her against them.
"Like hell." Wanda said as her red power flowed all around now.
Bucky, who still gripped Furia touched her face. "Furia, can you hear me?"
His voice echoed around both Wanda and Furia as she tried to stand to her feet. "He feels- more desperate. He- needs to do this. This anger. It's clouding my ability- to stop him." Furia explained.
Wanda reached for her hand. while the other still released her power as she strained at the force or Cratyk. She too began to feel his power. Somehow it was stronger. But she'd been training hard since she encountered him, and it had paid off. "Remember what I taught you." She said, pulling Furia up. "Separate his mind from your own."
Natasha looked over her shoulder; still navigating the jet while Steve stood next to Bucky.
"What the hell is going on?" Rhodey said as he watched the scene in astonishment.
"Cratyk has strong psionic abilities." Vision started out. "This is not the first time he has attempted to infiltrate Furia's mind."
Bruce, who had been quiet but fearful up until this point, looked to Steve. "What can we do?" He asked, feeling so helpless.
Steve now held Natasha's hand; the two of them already familiar with the feeling Bruce was dealing with now. "It's up to Furia and Wanda now. All we can do is hope." Steve answered.
As Furia now stood beside Wanda in the void of her mind, her brrathing began to normalize as she started to gain composure. She could still feel Cratyk's desperate malice trying to break her but the feel of Bucky's arms on her skin and Wanda's words had helped her get passed it. She looked at the wall that still kept him out as she realized despite his sudden new strength he hadn't broken through.
As the two of them returned from Furia's mind, Furia looked to Bucky who kissed her vehemently. Pulling away, his intense blue eyes looked into hers with great concern. "You okay, doll?"
She didn't answer. Her first words were much more important than her own feelings. "I saw a piece of Cratyk's mind as he tried to break into mine. Thanos did something to him with the power stone. It enhanced his ability. He plans on breaking any mind he can to use against us. And he's bringing an army with him."