CHAPTER 2
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except my own. The characters belong to MARVEL.
CHAPTER 2 Longing
Soft light encompassed the meeting room they entered. Bucky took the time to look around. Several people mingled together in small groups. Their voices were hushed, unsure, even scared.
Without pausing once or acknowledging the men behind her, Hel strode into the middle of the gathering. She wore a charming smile, her hair suddenly shining with something akin to diamonds. Death clapped her hands twice and all conversation died down. Unsteady, fearful gazes turned towards her.
"I am assuming, you are all puzzled, as to the happenings leading up to your presence here." She looked around the room. Her lips curled in a pleased smirk. All attention was focused on her. Bucky looked at Hel. She holds all the strings. Revealing the truth would be the highlight of her day. Hel would relish in it. Chaos, fear and power. Everything Death craves.
"Thanos accomplished his goal," a middle-aged man in a red cape and weird costume said. "He collected all infinity stones and used them to erase half the universe."
Hel turned her head. Bucky shifted his stance, balancing his weight on his toes. Death's expression was visibly miffed at not being the one to tell the tale. "Why yes. Thank you for summing that up, Doctor." She turned back towards the larger crowd, spreading her arms in an imitation of a hug. "You are all dead now."
Her green eyes swept over the assembled, taking in the shocked expressions with visible ignorance. "My, it seems, we are still missing someone to complete this illustrious gathering." Hel snapped her fingers. The luminescent figure of a female ghost appeared at her side. Sam startled and cursed under his breath. No one took notice.
"Be so kind and escort the king to us." Hel didn't wait for the ghost to bow and scurry – could ghosts do that? – scurry off. Bucky watched her trail through the crowd. His eyes landed on the spider-boy, who had blocked his metal arm with such ease. He kept close to the strangely dressed man, whom Hel had referred to as 'Doctor' and a bunch of even weirder dressed and looking beings. Not all of them were human.More aliens. How strange can this age possibly get?
One of the weirdly dressed people, the only human in that group besides the spider-boy and Doctor, stepped forward, searchingly seizing Hel. "Where is Gamora?"
Dark hair flew as Death whipped her head around. The corners of her mouth twitched with amusement about whatever memory or association this sentence triggered. In the sweetest voice imaginable, Hel intoned: "Who is Gamora?"
The giant male with the greyish skin with red markings puffed out his chest, opened his mouth to speak –
"Not now, Drax."
Drax looked ready to say something else, but the slim female with the antennas growing out of her forehead whispered something to him and he kept quiet. Bucky noticed his eyes darting around, searching for escape routes, threats open and hidden. He forced himself to relax his muscles. Now is not the time for that. Hel has everything under control. She can manage this. There's no need for me to intervene in any way.
"I am Groot," a soft voice next to Bucky murmured. As he looked down, he found a tree blinking up at him with huge eyes, branches tentatively curling around his metal arm. "Um, Bucky." What else was he to say to a talking tree?
That seemed to make the tree happy, he trotted back to the rest of his alien group without anyone commenting on his meandering around the otherwise motionless room.
Hel nodded her head, still fixing the human-alien with a falsely charming smile. "I apologize for the inconvenience," she said. "It was too good an opportunity to pass up. Unfortunately," Death gave a cheery smile, "Gamora is no longer. She died in a battle of the minds for the soul stone, which strove to imprison you all. The warrior woman gave her life to make all this possible. As such, she is bound to the stone forevermore or shall perish in the act of escaping."
"There must be something we can do," the human-alien replied, despair audible in his voice.
Hel frowned. "Did you not listen, mortal? She died in a battle of the minds. In the unlikely event she were able to escape her prison unharmed mentally, she would go straight on to Valhalla. Your Gamora is a warrior, if ever I saw one. Odin would be mad if he let her slip through his hungry clutches twice." Hel's eyes took on a deadly glint. "He killed for less."
"You know her, right?" Sam said, coming up to them. "Can't you do something about it?" Bucky looked towards Hel. She seemed so different. Much more like her father, than the Hel he had gotten to know.
"It had to happen that way, Quill," the doctor said gravely. "As hard as it might be –"
"You know nothing about hardship," the other male hissed at him. His face was drawn in an ugly mask of rage, teeth bared.
Bucky noticed spider-boy looking between the men with unease, as if undecided on whose side he would fight should it come to it. His own muscles clenched and unclenched. But Bucky chose to remain quietly in his spot. Better not draw attention until I am sure what's wrong with Hel. I could never forgive myself, if it has something to do with the trouble she mentioned before I left… I should have stayed longer, just to make sure. She did so much for me and yet…
"As a matter of fact, I do," the doctor replied calmly. "I saw the future. It all needed to happen the way it did. Only this," he threw Hel a sharp look, "is not how it should go."
A thin smile tilted Hel's lips. "Are you a man or a mouse, Doctor? For Life and Death rarely follow the plan you mortals make."
The doctor didn't reply and Hel simply smiled as she floated into the middle of her newly assembled collection of heroes.
"Ah!" With purpose and an open smile, she approached a group of three. A family,Bucky realised. The huddled figures could be nothing else than two elderly parents and their adult daughter. In the background, another young woman stepped closer towards them. Something red shimmered on her fingertips.
"Team Van Dyne – Pym." Hel opened her arms as if going to embrace them but stopped short in her tracks before them. "Hope van Dyne," her emerald eyes landed on the younger of the two women, "I have heard so much good – about your hunt against an innocent."
Her back was turned to Bucky then, but if he had to guess, she had a cruel smirk on her lips. Just a second later, Hel was throwing her head back in fits of laughter, which echoed in the deathly silent room. It sounded malicious. "Forgive my being forward. I desired to say that for myself for so long, for I only ever hear it said."
Both parents drew closer to their daughter, the woman visibly defiant. "Where are we?"
Two newcomers blinked into existence. One was a woman, her dark brown hair kept in a strict bun, the other materialised in the midst of a word.
"-ucker," he growled.
Hel laughed lightly. "Ever full of eloquence, director. Well, ex-director."
Nick Fury, ex-director of SHIELD, lifted his head to stare at Death with a dark glare. "Bring us back."
"Oh, but I cannot."
"We are needed."
Before Hel could either respond or react, the door on the other end of the room was pushed open and a deeply disturbed looking T'Challa was led in. Immediately, he had Death's full attention. "Ah, King T'Challa of Wakanda. The twice arisen," she purred, eyes narrowed in cat-like satisfaction. "This is no place to die, your Highness."
To his great credit, T'Challa stood his ground against the goddess, a mask of stoic calm falling over his features. "Where am I? And who are you?" he demanded to know in an authoritative voice.
Hel's eyes widened in mock realisation. "Did I forget to introduce myself?" She looked around the room.
No one responded. Everyone just stared at their strange host. "My what a grave mistake. I shall correct it immediately," she sounded honestly concerned. "I am Hel. Princess of Asgard. Rightful Heiress of Jøtunheim. Queen of Helheim. Goddess of Death, Lokisdottir," she paused to allow the crowd to take in her words, grinning at the first fearful gasps, "And I am your saviour."
Silence.
In that silence following her words, even the sound of a pinprick falling would have sounded like a scream.
Bucky swept his eyes across the room. The human alien barely contained his rage. Nick Fury looked darker than the clouds of a hurricane as he helped his companion up. Aliens and humans alike kept a weary gaze on Hel, eyes full of doubt and fear.
The spider-boy's eyes flitted about in both wonder and fear, while the doctor looked on with furrowed brows, as if something was decidedly not going as planned. Whatever plan he had, I hope, he gets it together soon enough and can tell us about it. Something is not right.
Slowly, a younger woman with red-brown hair stepped forward. Bucky knew her from the airport fight, knew she had been on the run with Steve and Sam. What was her name? Steve spoke highly of her. I have to know it.
Her face was drawn. "What do you mean 'saviour'?" Her accent was strong, almost hindering understanding her. "Are we not dead?"
Hel cocked her head in curiosity. "I struck a deal in your name," she said calmly. "I stole you before the soul stone could swallow you. You still have a chance to escape. Come back to life, if you will. And fight Thanos." Hel's eyes narrowed slightly as her smile turned as sharp as her knives. "Albeit, I fear, without your beloved. For he is gone beyond even my reach."
The woman, Wanda, Bucky now remembered, stared at Hel in shock. Her lips quivered. And just like that, she fell over like a house of cards. An agonized sob tore itself from her throat.
"Oh my. What tragedy," Hel commented dryly. She looked absolutely detached from the situation.
And then, it happened.
At hearing her words, Wanda's head snapped up, hands aglow with red energy. Her lips trembled. Her eyes overflowed with tears. An angry roar tore from her as the energy exploded around her. Bucky fell backwards, into Sam, both toppling to the ground in a heap. The air was pressed from his lungs. His muscles tensed, a sudden panic flooded his senses. Air. Breathe!He forced his lungs to work again, gulping down gasps of air.
Eventually, Bucky peered up and saw the others scattered similarly, trying to get to their feet or check they didn't hurt whoever they fell upon.
"Ow, man can you get off me?" Sam grumbled. "You're heavy." Bucky curled away from him more out of instinct and ingrained training to obey orders than any real recognition of the words. His eyes were fixed on Wanda.
She stood in the circle created by her powers, red crackling up to her wrists. A steady wall of red separated her from the rest of the assembled. The energy flickered like flames, curling towards anyone getting close to them. From what Bucky could see, Wanda was sobbing.
The mother tried to step towards her. Her daughter and husband held her back. As if on cue, Wanda hunched forward and screamed her pain at Hel. The red rose like a crackling fire out of control until it encompassed her whole body.
"Won't anybody help the poor soul?" Hel's eyes swept over the assembled crowd. She sounded bored. What are you doing, Hel?
Wanda's face was a mask of agony as she turned her gaze on Hel. Teeth bared in a grief-struck snarl. Vicious. With a single, flowing motion of her hand, tendrils of red punched right into Hel's head. The goddess stumbled backwards, her eyes tinting red. She froze in place. A gasp on her lips.
"Serves her right," Sam mumbled next to Bucky.
Bucky's eyes strayed to him sharply. "Really? Hel doesn't deserve this."
"Doesn't deserve?" Sam stared at him incredulously. "You do realise she's kind of the villain here?"
"She isn't in the best place right now. But she did say she saved us," Bucky tried to argue. "Hel isn't a bad person. She just doesn't always know how to," he paused. How to what? Express her feelings? No, she can do that very well. Even, if Death prefers to hide behind a wall. Then what is she failing to do?
Wanda gave another groan, pushing her power relentlessly against Hel. The other woman slowly sank to her knees, eyes welling with tears, her mouth moving in inaudible pleas. Neither of them seemed present.
"We need to separate them," Bucky called out to no one in particular. Fear reared its head in his chest. Wanda didn't hold back and Hel might claim to be invulnerable but she got hurt before. I can't let Hel die. She's part of the reason, why I survived this long. "Hel is the only one, who can set us free from here without our physical bodies." He whipped around to stare at Wanda, whose face looked almost serene with the tears streaking her cheeks and the two red bands connecting her to Hel. Please don't kill her.
None of the others looked too thrilled about the prospect of essentially helping their captor. Bucky felt a long-forgotten growl rise.
Hel's knees hit the ground; her back bowed back, a hoarse scream ripped from her throat. Full of agony. Of pain. Desperation. A constant stream of 'no's followed. Bucky didn't know, which was worse. Wanda's pained cry over losing the love of her life. Or the never-ending stream of broken 'no's torn from Hel.I have to do something!
There was a small shuffle, then the spider-teenager spoke up. "What, if we pull a sleeping beauty on her?" He looked between the adults around him, hands working nervously. "I mean, kind of like a de-hulk or how we did in space." The doctor gave a non-descript hum, before he hurled the female with the antennas on her forehead into the air.
Bucky was sure his eyes were as big as saucers when she twirled in mid-air and used the platforms appearing in the air as her stepping-stones. The red energy rose as if to meet her, but somehow didn't touch her. A differently coloured light led her right through Wanda's barrier.
She lunged at Wanda, closing her hands around her forehead and mumbled something to the other woman. The antennas glowed.
"What the hell?" Bucky murmured to himself.
"I don't know, man," Sam replied. "Everyone's got a gimmick now."
The other people in the room dew back even further. They clearly didn't trust either Wanda or the antennae-woman to get them out of this situation without making it worse – until an audible gasp echoed around the room when Wanda simply collapsed. The red energy fell without a sound, which was another level of disconcerting altogether. Bucky didn't have time to care for that. "Take care of Wanda. Make sure, she is okay."
Sam brushed past Bucky. Falcon's face was drawn, as if he felt part of the pain Wanda did. Or as if her pain overrides his determination to stay safe,Bucky didn't know which was more likely. His muscles were locked, eyes forced to trail his comrade.
Sam walked, stiffly at first, then quicker to Wanda's side. Without looking at anyone, he gently collected her into his arms in an embrace. Even, if she didn't react at all.
"I put her to sleep," the antennae-woman murmured in explanation. "She'll wake up shortly. Calm and refreshed." Her black eyes raked over Wanda's face. "So much pain. Poor thing."
Sam curled his friend more against him, as if to shield her from the prying stares of the others. With the danger of her magic out of the way, the family came closer. The mother crouched down to touch Wanda's shoulder and add her own soothing words.
Bucky's eyes didn't linger on his teammate any longer. He fixed Hel with a determined look. The goddess of death sat unmoving. She stared at nothing, tears streaking her face, lips trembling. It's a vision of pain or something. Wanda forced Hel to go through what she felt… I think.Bucky set his jaw. Either way. There's no way I'll leave her like that.
Slowly, he crouched down in front of the goddess. Her eyes remained unseeing. "Hel," Bucky murmured. "Hel, can you hear me?"
No reaction.
With utmost care, this was a woman more powerful than almost anything he had ever seen; Bucky touched Hel's face. He pushed strands of hair behind her ears, brushed away the tears. The red glow in her eyes was unsettling and unnatural compared to the sunset of her true appearance.
"Hel," Bucky said more firmly. "Come back. It's just a dream."
"I say, we use the time to kill her," a voice behind him demanded. "One less monster to worry about."
Bucky spun on his heels, staring up at the human-alien with narrowed eyes. His muscles tensed, ready to spring into action to protect his friend. No one will touch her. Not on my watch.
Something in his face or posture seemed to deter the human-alien at least slightly. Still, he stared darkly at Bucky. "Dude, she imprisoned us here."
"And she is the only one, who can get us safely out of here." The mother rose calmly from where she had watched over Wanda. She brushed the white braid over her shoulder and fixated both men with a stare. "If she does speak the truth, she is the only one, who can set us free and bring us back into battle." Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the human-alien. "And that's why we need her alive."
As if on cue, the spider-teenager came over to Bucky. The soldier tensed in preparation of whatever fights may come – but the teenager merely turned to stand beside him. Shielding Hel from view. "You have a metal arm. That's awesome." He shrugged. Bucky frowned. "Mr. Stark said, you're Cap's best friend from the war. So… You're good."
Bucky gave an acknowledging grunt. Sound logic. Somehow reminds me of Stevie.
"You too?" The human-alien threw his hands in the air in frustration. Doctor merely watched with mild interest before turning back to the group around Wanda and Sam, where Drax had joined the frame. T'Challa and Fury hung back and observed the situation. Hill crouched next to Sam and felt for Wanda's pulse.
Bucky turned to Hel. She sat stock-still. Only the red in her eyes seemed to lessen. Hopefully, that's a good sign… God, I hope she isn't hurt.
"Hel," he quietly called her once more. "Come back. We need you here."
"All gone," she breathed. "All gone."
"Sounds like she has a nightmare," spider-teenager observed helpfully. Bucky ignored him. He cradled Hel's face in his hands, staring into her eyes. Shuri's techniques and aids floated through his head. "You're not alone. I'm here. You're safe in your castle. You're home, Hel." Death shivered beneath his hands. Her eyes fluttered slightly, still unseeing. At least she reacts to something.
"You're safe. I'd never let anything happen to you. I should have been here sooner, it's my fault." Bucky felt his eyes prickle with unshed tears. Please. Don't leave me alone. You're my friend. I lost too many, killed too many. You're the only one who understands. Actually understands.Somewhere between protecting her and trying to pull Hel out of the vision, his words had turned into senseless pleas. Little words, too quiet to be heard by human ears.
Hel drew a shuddering breath. She blinked. Bucky stared at her, relishing the fact that his friend slowly came to.
"All alone," Death mumbled, to which Bucky immediately shook his head. "No. Not alone." Not, if I can help it.
As if in trance, Hel looked up at him with heavy eyes. "Bucky." Her head dropped to her chest. "I'm here," he whispered back at her. His hands followed a subconscious pattern of pulling her hair away from her face and turning it up to meet his gaze. As if making sure there were no visible wounds. As if he expected Hel to behave the same as the skinny Steve he half remembered.
Spider-boy glided closer to them, helped Hel to her feet without being prompted to. Between them, Hel stood up. She leaned more against Bucky, as if her body knew exactly, whose body was whose. Death groaned. She's pushing her muscles too much to keep her upright. This shouldn't be that bad. What exactly did that vision do to her?Bucky's eyes strayed to where Wanda was also slowly coming to between Sam, the aliens and the mother. Spider-boy backed off slightly, when he was sure Hel would not double over any second.
"Thank you." Hel didn't look at them. Her hair fell into her face, obscured her expression. Her voice sounded raw. With a look back at Bucky, Spider-boy slowly retreated a few steps. "So, she dared using her powers on me," Hel mumbled. "She actually dared."
A crackling noise arose around her. Spider-boy stumbled another step back in surprise, alerting the others. Hel raised her head, eyes wide. Her lips were stretched into an insane grin. Magic rippled like fire over her body, turning her skin blue, her eyes red. Armour wrapped around her body. Swords materialised in her hands. "Well let's see, just who is in charge."
Sam, Doctor and Antennae rose to shield Wanda from the apparent threat. A look into Hel's eyes made Bucky re-evaluate the situation. She is going to attack Wanda. There's something off, her eyes…Bucky's throat went dry in such close proximity to a deranged Hel. The young woman definitely wasn't the same charming, witty creature as before.
A curl of her lips. That was all the warning Bucky got to make his decision. As soon as Hel did the first step, he followed her, planting himself in her way.
Death narrowed her eyes at him. "Get out of my way, solider. You have nothing to do with this."
Bucky stared right back.
"Move. Now," she growled.
Did her teeth just turn sharp?
Bucky shook his head. "I can't let you do that," he told her. "Wanda doesn't deserve this. She is in pain."
A gust of wind shoved him backwards. "And I am not?" Hel's voice rose at least an octave to a shriek. "Am I not suffering?" She pressed closer. Bucky stood his ground. Right between her and Wanda. Where I belong. For both their sakes.
"Move." Hel stood toe to toe with him, head tilted to stare him into the eyes. Bucky shook his head. "You won't touch her, Hel. Not, if I can help it."
For a second, Hel stood before him. Stock still. Not a single muscle moved. Bucky's senses shifted. He heard Spider-boy discretely making his escape towards the group around Wanda. He heard the others breathing, tense, waiting for whatever would happen next. He even heard Wanda shift, as she slowly woke up.
He saw the flicker in Hel's eyes before her magic transformed her back into her humanoid form, taking the swords with it. Swords that could reappear any time. Bucky almost stepped back himself. The gleam in Hel's eyes was off. As if she had something planned – something he would never approve of. Her smile stretched so wide her face was splitting in two.
Hel leaned in closer. "I wonder," she whispered. "Did the mortal princess free your mind of its traps and strings? Are you truly a free man?"
Bucky's eyes widened. No. Hel would never. She has always protected me. She was the one to fight Winter in my head. Helped me overcome the brainwashing and conditioning. She would never –
His feet wouldn't budge as Hel came even closer to him. Her hair tickled his cheek, as the goddess leaned up to his ear.
"Zhelaniye. Rzhavyy. Semnadtsat'."
His whole body quivered in the face of his most feared words. "No," his voice was breathless. Nothing more than a whisper.Hel would never do this. She protected me from death. She wouldn't go back on her promise.Bucky closed his eyes. His breathing quickened. His hands trembled. Muscles coiling and uncoiling. He was locked in place. Unable to do anything. To defend himself.
Far away he heard someone calling his name. It was too late. Far too late. Always too late.
"Rassvet. Pech'. Devyat'."
A whimper tore itself from his throat.
His knees gave out. He tumbled to the ground. As if kept by magic, he didn't scramble away from the madwoman above him. Could neither flee nor attack. No, no, no!
He ducked his head, covered his ears with his hands. Screwed his eyes shut. "Hel! Stop! Please," his voice was rough, panic evident in every note."I can't do that anymore. Please, don't do this to me. Please don't make me do this."
"You promised," the scream didn't sound quite human. He didn't recognize his own voice.
Hel's laugh was hollow and dark. Cruel. She took joy in his fear, his pain. The bounds on his limbs loosened. Burning anger filled his body. Never again. Never again an animal. A dog on a leash. No more. Not even for her!
With a desperate snarl, Bucky launched himself to attack her.
Green tendrils wrapped around his body, tied him down. Like an animal. Never more than an animal.
Not even to her. Especially not to her.
Death.