Wow, two in one day! I just wanted to get this part out, maybe the next one depending on how much energy I have.
yasmina1: Thank you so much!
Bucky and Rory keep on the move for a few months. They try to put as much distance between D.C. and themselves as possible. Bucky considers leaving the country to be safe but finding passage without having to reveal their identities was the major cause for delay. Rory adjusts to life on the run, part of her wishing she could go back to her old life, but she knows it would only put her and her family in danger. She doesn't want to do that, so she sticks with Bucky. He would be her family now.
He still hadn't talked to her about Captain America. It seemed like he didn't want to, but she could see him all the time, writing as much as he could in his notebooks. She never pried, but part of her wanted to know. She was curious, and no doubt it was going to cause her some trouble if she couldn't get a handle on it. Same story with her powers.
Bucky was getting closer to her despite his hesitancy to discuss anything. More than once they found themselves in close quarters, forced to stay close to each other not only for warmth but for safety as well. There had been no sign of HYDRA following them, but that doesn't calm either of their nerves. It should have been a good sign, but it also made them both nervous. There was a chance they had gotten back on their feet faster than expected and they were being followed without realizing it. The need to look over their shoulders would be something that they never got over.
Currently, they were stuck in a warehouse, huddled together in a corner. It was spring, but it was freezing out at night. The walls around them offered no relief from the cold outside, and Bucky was like a walking heater. It seemed ironic that she was the one with fire powers and he was the one warmer than she was. She just didn't trust herself enough not to lose control and kill them both in a fiery blaze.
They were in a sleeping bag, Rory cuddled up against Bucky's chest. He had his arms around her, his chin resting on top of her head. She was nearly asleep, comforted by the steady beat of his heart and his warmth. The part of her that had been in turmoil since the first time they'd touched seemed to be calmest when she was touching him. It liked her being close to him and she wasn't going to disagree. Neither of them had showered in a few days, but that didn't matter.
Rory is alerted when Bucky's heart rate picks up. His arm had tightened around her, his breathing slowing so he can listen. He could hear better than she could thanks to his enhancements and obviously something was happening. She stays still, letting him listen, subconsciously holding her own breath. She feels his metal arm move under her makeshift pillow, gripping the gun underneath. She closes her eyes, willing herself to be calm and not scorch them both.
It happens so fast Rory barely knows what happens. There's a loud bang as the warehouse doors are forced open, Bucky shoving her down and behind him as he begins firing the gun. There's response fire, a few bullets hitting above where they're laying in the corner. There's a second door off to their left and Rory can feel the vibrations as someone tries to break through.
Rory loses all control as her fear takes over, and she sheds the heavy jacket she had been wearing, moving to stand. Bucky ducks down as he grabs a different gun, but he doesn't need it. A feral scream leaves Rory's lips as fire erupts from her hands, shooting towards the figures in the doorway. She can hear their screams over her own, the people coming in the other door quickly finding a fiery inferno. She can feel Bucky moving behind her, her own strength starting to wane. She hadn't used her powers at such full force since the first time HYDRA had seen them. They had forced her to show them everything, and she had, nearly burning the base to the ground.
She falls to her knees as the fire dies, those who had been smart enough not to run into the warehouse taking a moment for the fire to go out. It's all Bucky needs, his arm wrapping around her waist and hauling her to her feet. He breaks a window, sending her through first before crawling out after her. He stays low, racing towards the car they had stolen. Bullets hit the car before they can get to it, pain erupting in Rory's shoulder but she keeps moving, pulled forward half by Bucky and half by the waning adrenaline coursing through her. Bucky ducks down behind the car, bullets still hitting it. Rory can feel something wet dripping down her face, her body starting to go numb with exhaustion.
"Bucky...you have to go."
Bucky ducks down close to her. "I'm not leaving you."
"They want you. You know what they will do if they get you again. They won't stop until they get you. I'll slow them down. You get out of here. Leave me behind. They can't get us both."
Bucky looks like he wants to argue but he knows she's right. He had a better chance of getting away if she stayed behind. She could distract them and give him a head start. She cups his cheek, leaving bloody smears on his face. She doesn't say anything but they both understand.
Bucky waits for the reload before he takes off, running into the trees, leaving his soulmate behind.
Rory has lost all sense of time. She remembers when HYDRA found them, she remembers using her powers to fry half of the agents. She remembers telling Bucky to leave, the pain in his face as he'd left her there at HYDRA's mercy. Had that been days ago? Weeks? Months? They had tried using her to get to him, tried getting her to tell them where he was going, but she didn't know. He had left her, but he couldn't let himself fall into HYDRA's hands again. Part of her hopes he went to Captain America, and maybe he could convince the Avengers to help.
Rory is exhausted and weak, her shoulder stiff from the bullet she'd taken. The skin is puckered red and she'll know she'll sport a scar for the rest of her life. She keeps herself sane thinking about Bucky. Him being safe, remembering things about his past. Finding somewhere he could be happy. Or maybe he would be trying to find her. Save her for a second time. She hopes it's the former.
She had been planning her escape for a while. It was a small base in a busy city. She could hear the noise of the city outside. A small base meant a small number of guards. She just had to find the right moment, and she could get herself out.
That moment came sooner than she thought.
A guard slipped up when he brought her dinner. At least, she thought it was dinner. He had left the door open as he brought the tray into her room. All it takes is a wave of fire and quick movements and she's out the door before it slams closed. An alarm is blaring, making it harder for her to hear, and she knows it's only a matter of time before the whole base is on her, but she has to try.
She musters up as much strength as she can, running in the direction she assumes is the way out. She tries to use her powers as little as possible, sticking to brute force to take out the guards she encounters on the way. She steals a gun from the first one she takes down, using it until the clip is empty. There were more guards than she thought, and she quickly finds herself boxed in. She has to be close to the door out since most of them would think she was making a run for it and gather near the door to stop her. She closes her eyes for a moment, concentrating. She can feel her body warming, her fingers starting to burn as her fire courses through her. She holds her hands out, blasting flames at the guards, spinning in a circle to hit as many of them as she can. She can hear them, smell their skin burning but she doesn't stop. She can't stop. She feels more powerful than she ever has before. The flames whir around her, burning everything in their path but she doesn't care. She doesn't stop. Not until long after the hall has gone silent.
As soon as she stops she can feel her energy plummet. She nearly loses her footing, her legs wobbling weakly. Something wet is dripping down her cheeks and into her mouth but she doesn't stop to wipe it away. One more turn around a corner and she can see the way out. Her vision is in and out, going blurry as she presses on towards the door. Her ears are ringing, the alarm not helping, and she doesn't hear the guard behind her. She's almost to the door when pain rips through her side. The force of it shoves her against the door, her hands leaving bloody marks but she can't feel anything but the pain in her side. She doesn't stop, doesn't turn around, instead throwing the door open, racing into the cold night air.
It's snowing, big wet flakes falling to the ground. She comes out in an alleyway, and she makes her way to the street. It's nighttime, the city quiet which she's thankful for. She looks up, looking for any kind of landmark of where she is. Then she sees it. Standing tall a few blocks away is Avengers Tower. She had seen it once in passing back when she was with HYDRA. They were monitoring it after the attack on New York. They wanted to make sure the Avengers weren't going to be a problem for them.
Rory can hardly stand but she forces one last burst of energy, creating a portal in front of her. She doesn't stop to look around, throwing herself through it, catching herself on the other side a few feet from the front doors of Avengers Tower. She nearly blacks out as the portal closes behind her, clinging to a street lamp as her legs give out under her. She's exhausted and bleeding and she'd used more power in one night than she ever had before. Just a few more feet and she would be inside. She would tell them everything and maybe they could help her. If Bucky hadn't gone to Captain America, then she would.
Rory drags herself back to her feet, unable to stand up straight as pain rips through her side. The right side of her shirt is soaked in blood, leaving a trail in the newly fallen snow. She drags her feet, nearly slipping as she makes her way to the glass doors. She prays they'll be open, nearly crying in relief as the door swings inward.
The lobby inside is quiet, her wet boots squeaking on the floor. The man at the front desk looks up as she makes her way in. She must have looked like the walking dead because he's on his feet immediately, phone in hand.
"I need...to see...Avengers...HYDRA…" She can't force any more words out, her legs giving out under her. She hits the tile floor, her vision tunneling before going completely black, delivering her into blissful nothingness.