Chapter Five
The Morning After
No one had bothered to shut the shutters, especially not them after their heavy, very formidable, snogging. Hermione and Bucky fell asleep in each other's arms, waiting for Harry to return. But the chosen one had decided not to resume his shift that night.
So when the first rays of light entered their room, Hermione woke up to a wonderful smell and carefully opened her eyes. She was cuddling him, her face resting on the crook of his neck with her nose touching his asperous cheek, her hand under his shirt hugging his torso, and her right leg possessively curled over his right one.
Her heart started beating faster when she noticed his human hand on her hip, under her clothes, and his bionic hand on the arm holding him.
One morning when she dated Oliver, Hermione felt like running away after waking in his arms. It was her last clue to finishing the relationship. With Viktor, it had never occurred but neither had she woken feeling in the right place. Today, was different. Enjoying the peaceful moment, Hermione's only thought was that she liked waking by his side, with the warmth of his body enveloping her.
Hermione didn't want to wake Bucky as they both normally slept poorly. But his jaw was there and, before she could stop herself, her lips were giving him tender small kisses following the line of his jaw until her lips arrived at the corner of his mouth. Bucky stirred, then stretched, his human hand never leaving her skin.
"Morning, baby doll," Bucky murmured in a husky voice before his bright blue eyes rested on hers.
"Morning," she whispered back as her back rested on the bed. Bucky, almost on top of her, dotted her neck with admiring kisses -not caring about her scars, not even flinching like Viktor did the first time-, slowly, then her jaw, her nose, her eyes, then her ears and neck again. His mouth started going down her chest where his left hand was already rhythmically caressing her under her bra.
It was such a wonderful moment, so perfect, that Hermione wished to have this every morning for the rest of her life. It felt right. That thought startled her before a sharp, stabbing ache obfuscated her heart. She felt like crying but held her tears by focusing on whom she had still in her arms.
It wouldn't do. From that first morning when he showed her Wakanda, when she saw how the kids loved him and the elders respected him, how he moved through the crowd in the market, so sure of himself, stealthily like a hunting wolf, she knew it was dangerous to think anything else other than she was leaving soon.
The violent portal worked one way; the portkeys were not easy, or legal, to make. Her logical mind tried to protect her. What would convince Kingsley to let her return? And if she did return, what would she say to Bucky? Maybe a relationship wasn't something he was looking for. And even if he did want to pursue something with her, it would be a long-distance relationship.
Yes, the previous night, she had been weak. Greedy. Her heart asked for just one moment, one memory.
So she decided to focus on that perfect morning where she had woken up with the perfect man. A man whose body urgently pressed her down and ardently kissed her. Her legs hugged him, craving his weight, his pressure, his rhythm. Her hands frantically roamed under his clothes as he was doing under hers.
Hermione was about to ask him if they should take the next step when a loud beeping was heard. Bucky immediately left her and rushed towards the computer. His fierce and sad eyes told her everything. Their time was up: Sentry and the Void had reappeared again.
Time was of essence. Hermione pressed her lips tightly, her fists tight, and forced herself to get up from bed, then she ran to the bathroom just to make herself more presentable before opening the door. Not looking back.
"Their battle is in Poland, near the old Russian border." A newly changed and showered Bucky explained to them. Hermione had also cleaned herself up in the other room with the help of her magic. Dressed in her black dragon gear, she wondered how Bucky had done it so quickly without magic. "It started 8 minutes ago."
"How long will it take us to get there?" Harry asked, also dressed in their black dragon-skin gear designed for universe travelling.
"Around 20 minutes. I already contacted Kiya. He'll meet us at the Place in minus 4." Replied Bucky, already packing the few things scattered around after giving them their magical-protected earbuds.
"Ok. You have the antidote ready?" Wilson asked her.
"Yes." Her hand travelled to a smaller pocket compartment in the front of her black dragon-skin jacket.
Wilson nodded. "If there's nothing …"
"Wait." Hermione opened another compartment from which she magically extracted two WWW's black vest shields. "We agreed that you should wear these. They are magically enhanced vests that will protect you from Sentry and the Void's newly acquired powers. We added some extra protection… just in case…." She said in a matter-of-factly as she handed them the fine textiles, Ron and Harry agreeing beside her.
"They'll protect you, so last time won't happen again," Harry said.
Wilson and Bucky took them, thanking them with a nod. Sam promptly continued towards the door. "Thanks. Now, let's go kick some ass."
Hermione was the first one to enter the very small, very uncomfortable elevator, Bucky last. The silence bothered none except Ron, who stood in the middle of their squeezed group behind Bucky, bouncing on his heels as the elevator travelled down.
"Sooo," Ron elongated the vocal long enough for Harry and Hermione to know he was going to say something funny -or stupid-, "hope you guys aren't knackered after last night."
Sam tried to hide his chuckle by looking down to his feet. Harry slapped his forehead, and murmured "He's crackers." While Bucky and Hermione didn't take their eyes off the changing numbers. Silence. Nothingness that only miffed Ron more. He started bouncing again.
"After all, you had a bit of a knees-up last night… ha! Quite literally!"
"Oh, man!" Sam animatedly started, "I would be careful if I were you."
"What d'you mean?" Ron looked back to Sam who only pointed forward. When Ron saw Bucky's neck vein angrily pulsing and his shoulders tense, Ron loudly gulped. Expecting a painful jinx, he didn't attempt to look Hermione in the eyes.
The elevator doors opened at that moment, and a sigh of relief was heard.
Twenty-five minutes later, after a swift and practically silent flight, the five of them fought for one objective only: to secure Sentry and give him the potion.
But as the minutes passed, one thing was obvious for Hermione. Something was wrong with Anthony.
Hermione frowned after Harry bombarded the Void and Sentry contorted in pain, nearly collapsing to the ground. She hadn't noticed the correlation having only magically subdued the Void up until now, but it made sense. If her hypothesis was true, then the Void would be easier to control.
"Yo! Now you've made me angry!" Cap exclaimed after the Void repelled the last attack, his shield rebounding. "Ok man, let's see what Shuri made for you!" Cap glanced back at his friend. Bucky didn't hesitate to take his Colts from their holsters and shot the Void with special Wakandan ammo that did reach its objective. Startled, the Void yelled in anger, dark pus pouring of its wounds. Hermione shared a confirming look with Bucky and took this opportunity to send a squirming Sentry her spell.
"Incarcerous Tria!"
Huffing, Sentry struggled as tight magical ropes enveloped his body, golden energy waves flowing from him. His neurotic eyes looked for hers. Where was her rational colleague? Was he lost? "Hermione!" He grumbled, "I can destroy him! Let me free!"
After so many years of working together, of sharing setbacks and accomplishments, Hermione wished she could save him. Bring him back.
In that moment, Ron sent him his own Incarcerous. "Mate, you're bloody annoying. You've been saying the same thing over and over again. And, have you succeeded? No! Then, shut the fuck up!" Harry joined them, the three of them pointing their wands towards the laying wizard as Cap and Bucky weakened the Void with further attacks.
Sentry, however, continued battling against the Incarcerous. Hermione had to try. "Anthony! Please listen to me! Can't you see? You share a connection with the Void," Hermione approached him carefully as she continued casting her spell, ready to summon the potion, "if we kill it, you'll probably die!"
"Then I shall die for my stupidity!"
Ron rolled his eyes. "Blimey mate, you've clearly lost it!"
Sentry forcefully shut his eyes and howled, the golden waves getting brighter and brighter.
"Be care...!" Hermione tried to warn her friends before a small explosion blinded them.
As Hermione cast her protective shield, strong arms turned her and surrounded her. Bucky was by her side, acting as her shield.
"I know you have magic but I won't take any chances." Bucky quickly murmured to her ear before inspecting their surroundings as the explosion waned. Sentry had freed himself, flying and tackling the Void. The clashing bodies scrambled for victory, smashing the nearby trees and electric towers. Sparks flew causing a few fires to dramatically flare in the nearby forest.
"Harry." The wizard was by her side and nodded without taking his eyes from the scene. This was getting out of control. Without much explanation, Harry enlarged his broom and took flight as they had briefly discussed on the jet. A desperate measure if nothing else worked. When Harry was close enough to Sentry, he took out his wand and pointed it at the golden wizard with a stern look that reflected his focus and concentration.
Hermione impatiently waited. She knew Harry didn't want to cast that last desperate measure, but he had insisted, arguing that no one in their universe would have knowledge of it and that if they did, he would have a better chance to defend himself against charges. They can't send me to Azkaban, he had said. Hermione saw when Harry whispered, "Imperio."
It only took a second to shut Sentry down and control his mind. And confirming her hypothesis, the Void lost its consciousness as well, its changing mass morphing and floating in waiting, an easy target for Ron who immediately summoned the dark cloud into a high-security small wooden box he held in his left hand.
Determined, Hermione took the few steps that separated her from an unconscious Sentry that now spread on the ground. She accioed the potion as she crouched by his side and opened his mouth. With precise movements, she poured the amber liquid and gently rubbed his throat. They only had to wait.
The golden glow disappeared little by little, un-rushed until nothing was left but an unconscious Anthony Goldstein.
Without much preamble, Harry accioed a pair of magic-dampening cuffs from one of his secret jacket compartments, securing them around Anthony's wrists and feet. They wouldn't take any chances.
"Bloody hell! It's over!" Ron slumped down on a nearby rock, his face towards the sun, relishing its warmth. "Finally, we'll go home!"
Hermione felt her shoulders relax. Yes, Anthony could finally go back to normal but... She searched for Bucky. He was looking down his feet, his lips pursed.
"Someone waiting for you, man?" Sam asked Ron, curious about their personal lives for the first time since this adventure started.
Ron grinned beside Harry who had seated near him. "Yeah," Ron lively said, "I got married three months ago."
Sam smiled and then turned to Harry who looked pleased to share about his own family. "I'm happily married and have three-year-old twins."
"Aren't you a bit young? You're not even thirty," replied Sam, amazed.
Ron shrugged. "Our community is small, and when you know, you know." He glanced over at Bucky and then Hermione. He couldn't hide a sad frown towards her. Was it pity? Empathy?
With hesitation, Bucky ignored everyone but her. He held her hand before he summoned the courage to hold her. It was a goodbye, bittersweet embrace that could only live until she parted to her universe, a few minutes later.
"I… I'll.." Hermione didn't want to sob, but her throat had closed and neither air nor words could pass. Her eyes fought the tears as she focused on his face, resolved to not waste the last seconds of losing themselves in his.
"I'll always think of you," Bucky whispered to her, holding her face, touching her curls, as he tried to carve every detail in his mind.
As Harry, Ron and Sam started their goodbyes, giving Hermione and Bucky some time alone, loud motor sounds reached their ears, alarming them.
An unknown military patrol rapidly approached their location, three armed vehicles in total.
Hermione disillusioned Anthony, blending his lying body to its surroundings, while Sam and Bucky walked towards the newly arrived soldiers, attempting to block the wizards and the witch from their view.
After the patrol parked, four soldiers in full military gear and armed drew near them.
"James Buchanan Barnes?" Said one of them in a clear Russian accent.
Even if she wanted to frown, Hermione willed her face to remain impassive. Why were they looking for Bucky?
"Yes," Bucky truthfully answered.
"You are guilty of the crimes against our state previously committed as the Winter Soldier," the leader informed as he restrained a confused Bucky.
"Wait! James Barnes is under protection from the United States of America and the Kingdom of Wakanda!" Sam tried to negotiate. The other three soldiers pointed their guns toward their group as their leader continued apprehending Bucky who seemed lost. Sam took his shield from his back. Harry, Ron and Hermione then raised their wands.
"Sam…" Bucky murmured after his eyes quickly travelled from the raised pistols and machine guns to Hermione.
"Captain America, you have no authority here. If you continue, our government will make sure to take various measures against your government."
Sam Wilson didn't know what to do. He clenched his fists.
"Are we gonna let them take him?" Ron murmured, perplexed at the situation.
Hermione took a step forward, her brownish curls flowing from an unexpected gust of wind. Had she charmed the wind? Probably, but she couldn't think of anything else but Bucky.
Another step. She surveyed the vehicles, how many soldiers they had, their electric machines -unprotected from magic-. Bucky and Sam had their vests as well.
Her hair started to crackle, her lips were pressed hard; Hermione raised her arm, the vine wand pointing directly to the first vehicle.
Ron and Harry changed their posture to one of attack without hesitation. They wouldn't leave her alone.
Like a wave, Sam felt the strong rush of magic around him, his systems notifying him the energy levels were increasing. Some electrical devices from the foreign soldiers cracked, causing some surprised yelps.
"Sam…" Bucky's voice was gruff. An order and unflinching eyes as he struggled to get more time before they took him and forced him into the vehicle.
Sam grunted but finally raised his right arm, elbow height. "Harry, Ron… Hermione, we'll find another way. I promise." He turned towards Harry, a non-verbal request. Sam probably didn't trust her cold and menacing eyes. If it weren't for Harry who grabbed her wrist, gently pulling down her wand, she would have attacked those soldiers.
Not a minute later, Bucky had disappeared, unjustly arrested.
A/N: mmmm nothing much to add except in the Marvel Comic Universe Bucky is taken prisoner and, if my memory doesn't betray me, he decides to stop being Captain America after being rescued. So, this is my take on that. How do you think this will end? Any theories?
The knees-up phrase means a lively dance party in many parts of Britain.
Guest: Let's see! :)
kirosyamcha: yeah, agree. I wasn't gonna use the Avengers option for the crossover for this same reason, but couldn't find the TFAWS or similar.
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