It's been a while hasn't it? Sorry this is so late. My muse has been kinda meh lately so I type when I feel the urge but it's usually only for quick bursts at a time. And I also get distracted easily. Not to mention that I had to wait to post this because I hadn't finished the second chapter of Ascension yet. But I finished so here we are. As always gotta give thanks to bankai777 for favoriting and following and kaia the guest. **WARNING: thoughts and mention of suicide.**


Steve had been completely serious with Natasha back on the ship. He needed this to work. He needed to bring these people back.

Steve had seen the haunted look in Tony's eyes when he'd spoke of losing the kid and he'd felt a quick lance of pain at the thought. He hadn't been idle during his run from the Accords; sure they'd helped people but Steve had also been keeping as much of an eye on Tony as he could.

He'd meant what he said about worrying over his friend being by himself, so he'd been happy to see the headline that Tony and Pepper had gotten back together. But because of it being the news he'd asked Natasha to send out feelers to verify the media's claim. He'd been over the moon when the rekindled relationship had been authenticated.

Steve had also kept an eye on Spider-man. The red and blue clad hero wasn't as well known as the others so most of Steve's information hadn't come from any large media outlets or official reports. No, his intelligence had come from posts of first hand accounts of people just going about their lives.

Someone posting a photo of Spider-man catching someone stealing a bike. Another photo of him collecting a wayward balloon for a child. A photo of him at a park, lightly scolding someone for not having their dog on a leash. Someone's post about overhearing Spider-man give directions in Spanish to a seemingly lost elderly woman.

Steve was happy to see someone taking care of those that were usually forgotten under heavier threats. Spider-man actually reminded the super soldier of Doctor Erskine.

"There are already so many big men fighting this war, maybe what we need now is the little guy."

And Queens was a little guy. It hadn't taken long for Steve to figure out a pattern. Spider-man was always active after three in the afternoon and seen out as late as midnight or a bit later. Weekends saw an increase in activity, anywhere from roughly nine in the morning to nearly one or two in the morning. All that plus the team's interactions with him in Germany and it didn't take much to see that Queens was actually just a kid. Nothing middle school, but definitely high school.

He was young, definitely too young for Tony to have brought him to Germany. Steve had managed to let go of the flash of disappointment whenever he would think about it. But he'd also noticed the timeline when he'd researched Spider-man. The hero had been active for months before the whole deal with the Accords. Dressed in what had looked like sweatpants, a sweater, and some goggles, the young man had been caught on film swinging about New York. The webbing seemed to be a match before Germany and after so he was sure that Tony had had no hand in that. Steve had wondered if Queens made his own webs, organically or otherwise.

But using such a flimsy outfit for their line of work was dangerous and Steve had been worried about the arachnid-themed hero swinging around New York in his colored cotton. However, his worries were put to rest with the release of a new video after their fight in Germany that showed Queens helping an woman carry her many bags of groceries from the bus stop to the steps of her apartment complex, all the while wearing the new suit. Steve had smiled at that. Tony would look out for the kid.

A shuffling from the man next to Steve brought back his awareness to one of the other reasons for doing this.

He hadn't been sure what kind of reaction he'd get from Sully and Pietro when he searched the pair out to tell them about the team's plan to bring back all those lost. Pietro had been all for it, nearly blurring away in determination. He'd only been halted by the vibranium arm that had snapped out to snatch him before he took off. Predictably Sully hadn't wanted to let Bucky know of the plan, in case it failed. In fact the alter had told Steve and Pietro he wasn't even going to tell him but apparently Bucky had been simmering just under the surface and had managed to catch little whispers of what the other three were talking about.

It had been one of the quickest, most startling transitions Steve had witnessed from his friend.

One second Sully had been shaking his head, rejecting the invitation to go along with the crew to where Thanos had settled; the other second had Steve being seized by the arms in a vice grip and Bucky, with wide wet eyes and a trembling voice, asking if it was true, if it was possible to bring the others back. The speed and explosiveness had froze Steve for a second before he'd relented and told his heartbroken friend all they were planning.

Bucky had changed and armed himself in less then eight minutes, stalking through the building to get to the ship outside. It had been the most expressive he'd seen his friend since that afternoon.

Sully had surfaced for a second, enough to let Steve know how against he was of this plan before Bucky had taken over again, eager to leave already. Pietro had been all for the trip but he'd been talked down by the other super soldier. If they were bringing everyone back, someone needed to be there to welcome back and reassure the children.

The Sokovian had not been happy about that.

The pair had argued, loudly on the front lawn of the compound but the others weren't sure what was said as it had all been in the twins' native language. In the end Bucky had won, Pietro throwing his hands in the air and stalking away. A quinjet had lifted off not too long later, heading East.

Now they were here, Natasha, Bucky, Nebula, Rocket, and himself stalking forward as the others took their cues in subduing Thanos.

The home he had for himself seemed like something of a tropical design, of which Steve had seen pictures of the Pacific Islanders of Earth use for their structures. The scene they were met with upon entering the wooden hut showed that the plan had worked, with Danvers and Rhodey holding down the tyrant, severed arm lying a few feet way.

Rocket bounded forward, flipping the discarded arm over to display the stones. Except there were no stones. Just empty niches. Steve exchanged a glance with Natasha, aware of Bucky twitching next to him.

"Where are they?"

Steve's question went unanswered for a few nanoseconds too long, enough to unhinge Bucky. The other Brooklynite lashed out, a knife near materializing in hand, and sinking the serrated blade into the bloodied stump.

"Where are the stones!?" Bucky growled, teeth bared as he slowly turned the instrument. Thanos let out a painful shout and Steve moved forward to pull his upset friend back.

Danvers tightened her arm, glowing ominously. "Answer the question."

Thanos grunted at her handling. "The universe required correction. After that, the stones served no other purpose. Only temptation."

Bucky let out a roar, Steve having to exert more strength to keep him at his side. Bruce had no such prevention.

"You murdered trillions!" The shove delivered by the scientist sent Thanos out of Rhodey and Danvers' hold, sailing several feet and landing with a slam.

The tyrant glared up at them. "You should be grateful."

"You son of a bitch!"

Steve clenched his teeth, locking his hands together around Bucky's frame as his friend thrashed in his arms, roaring in pain and obscenities while Bruce lashed out again, striking Thanos across the face.

On the other side of him Natasha stepped forward. "Where are the stones?"

The disfigured alien spat at them. "Gone. Reduced to atoms."

"You used them two days."

"I used the stones to destroy the stones. It nearly killed me. But the work is done, it always will be." Thanos sat up, sneering at the team. "I am inevitable."

Bucky had quieted down to growling, but Steve knew the anger was simmering just under the surface. From across the room Rhodey shifted restlessly.

"We have to tear this place apart. He-he has-he has to be lying."

"My father is many things." This came from Nebula, finally speaking as she slowly stepped forward. "A liar is not one of them."

"Ah, thank you daughter," spoke Thanos, eyes on the blue-skinned woman.

In his arms Bucky's growls grew louder at the words exchanged between the pair. His friend was a real father, not the homicidal alien before them. And Steve knew it burned at Bucky, angered him that Thanos considered himself the one title his friend cherished the most.

"Perhaps I treated you too harshly."

As soon as the words were out of his mouth Thor let out an angry shout, his axe arching through the air.

The room froze, even Bucky had fallen silent as the corpse and head settled. Only Rocket spoke, his voice in slight disbelief. "What? What did you do?"

Thor stared at his work, voice hoarse. "I went for the head." The Asgardian royalty turned and stumbled off, leaving the room to its horrific realization.

This had been it, their second chance. And now they had nothing. Their loved ones lost for good.

In Steve's arms Bucky slumped, the slight tremors shuddering through his frame growing into full shakes. The dead weight of his friend prompted him to gently ease the other man to the floor. "Bucky?"

The sudden roar of anguish had the team jolting, watching Bucky grab at his hair as he continued screaming his heartache. Steve had been witness to this sorrow before, on that afternoon, and he realized the others were witnessing this for the first time.

"Steve?"

The blonde held out an arm, halting Rhodey in his steps. The whirling mechanics from the suit had let Steve know that the retired airman had eased forward, no doubt wanting to help. But he knew that if anyone other than himself intervened, they could get seriously hurt. Especially seeing how Bucky had reacted last time Steve had tried to comfort him in that clearing weeks ago. Unfortunately, as sad as it was, this was Bucky's outlet for pain. They would need to wait him out. He also knew if it got bad, Sully would take over.

The structure under their feet gave a great shudder as Bucky launched himself forward, metal fist destroying the hut's wall as his vibranium arm sank elbow-deep. More pain-filled shouts echoed in the small home as the dark-haired soldier reared back repeatedly, each cry out emphasized with a blow to the crumbling wood.

It seemed like his anger drained quickly and Steve watched as the punches weakened, then completely stopped, Bucky's metal fingers scraping wood as he used the obliterated wall to slide to the floor.

There was no more rage-filled screaming. No, it had been replaced with heart-wrenching sobs that Bucky didn't attempt to muffle.

Rhodey left first, his hand gentle around Danvers' elbow as he led the misty eyed pilot out the hut, giving Steve a small subdued nod as the pair passed. Rocket was next, prodding the bulky armor to get Bruce's attention, prompting the scientist into following him out the door, Nebula not far behind.

Steve remained, glancing over his shoulder at Natasha who answered his silent question with a straightened back and tight jaw. She was gonna stay.

"Bucky?" The blonde soldier eased forward, trying not to startle his friend. The other man had quieted down, his breathing a little heavy and eyes fixated on Thanos' corpse, but he didn't react to Steve's words.

Natasha's hand gripped his shoulder suddenly, causing him to look away from his dark haired friend and up to the blonde woman behind him. Something was wrong. Natasha was tense, and she was looking from Bucky to Thanos' corpse, her grip tightening as he tried to understand what was wrong.

He turned to study his friend, the other man's breathing a bit deep but he seemed unresponsive, his gaze locked on the tyrant Thor had beheaded. What were they looking…oh.

Steve had shifted the tiniest bit, trying to follow Bucky's line of sight and he discovered what Bucky was really staring so intently at.

The vibranium knife he had stabbed Thanos' stump with lay a few feet from the dead tyrant, covered in purple blood. And with a sharp intake of breath, Steve remembered what Sully had said that day.

"I had to stop him…when his thoughts changed…when they started to turn…I had to step in."

"Sully!" yelled Steve, just as Bucky made his move.

The thunderous crash that shuddered the wooden hut was in thanks to the force of Steve's tackle, sending the flailing pair flying across the floor. Steve wrapped his friend in a bear hug, trying to ignore his pleas of release tinged in agony and slight hysteria.

"Sully, help!" His cries remained unanswered and Steve wondered if Bucky was blocking the alter on purpose. Or was his pain just so great the personality was buried underneath it all.

"Steve!"

The blonde soldier managed a glance around amidst restraining his friend, catching sight of Rhodey and a glowing Danvers, both seeming a bit confused. The rest of the group arrived and he could see Natasha scurry behind them, watching warily with the knife clutched in her hands. She must have launched herself at it to keep it away from Bucky in case Steve hadn't been able to stop him.

"Steve?"

He could hear Rhodey ask again, uncertain about what was happening but Steve ignored him, intent on restraining his friend who had stopped demanding to be released and was now limp, whimpering in his arms.

It hurt him to see Bucky this way. Wanda and Jamie had been his second chance. The twins were almost a testament to his long but progressing recovery. They had grounded him, tethered him away from the dark thoughts that surely plagued his friend. They were proof that he was more than just a killing machine, an assassin, the "Fist of Hydra."

Bucky was a man who loved and was devoted to only one woman, who was also devoted to and loved by in return. He was the father of three innocent, pure souls who thought the world of him. They were his life, the center of his universe.

And that universe was gone. Extinguished in a literal snapping of fingers.

"Bucky?" Asked Steve, loosening his grip slightly with the dead weight in his arms. But that proved to be a mistake.

The brunette super soldier exploded into action, shoving Steve with such force he sailed across the length of the cabin, Danvers' glowing form the only thing able to stop his flight.

"Barnes!"

"Steve!"

The chorus of panicked yells had Steve scrambling to his feet. His stomach ached and dropped in horror at the sight before him. Bucky standing firm in the middle of the cabin, face crumpled in pain and eyes wet with falling tears. And his left arm up, pressing a pistol against his temple.

"No!" Steve screamed just as a vibranium finger pulled the trigger.


So there you go. Stay tuned, this is gonna pick up some speed (hopefully). Until then, peace out. -Mez