We wait a while, hearing the rumor of confrontation in the distance. I keep my mind busy by chatting with Sarah and Laura Barton. Sam and Clint have returned to the battlefront, communicating remotely with Pepper through their earpieces.

"It's okay, they've got them under control." She finally tells us. "They've arrested most of them, now they're making sure the others don't escape. We're going to secure the compound and prepare rooms for you for the night."

"Was anyone hurt?" I dare to ask.

"I don't know yet."

"Don't worry." Sarah reassures me. "We both know our guys are tough."

Sure they are. But I still vividly remember Sam's face when he came back from their last mission.

When things seem to have calmed down, I escape from the wing of rooms we've been assigned and set off in search of my boyfriend. Somewhere in a corridor, I finally bump into Scott who gives me some news.

"They're currently interrogating them. There were a lot of them, but they weren't as strong and coordinated as we were. Seems like ideals don't always make up for amateurism. We'll soon be able to dismantle their tiny group and check that their ideas haven't spread too far."

"Thank you. Who would have thought this place would witness yet another battle?" I say thoughtfully. "Looks like the Avengers are never done assembling."

"Well, bad guys are never done causing trouble." He flashes a slight smile and shrugs. "Nothing we can't handle, though."

"You know if anyone was hurt?"

"On our side, I don't think so. But how are you? Not too shaken up?" He adds, placing a thoughtful hand on my shoulder.

"I'm fine, thanks. It was pretty impressive, but we couldn't have been in better company for such circumstances. Did you see-"

Someone clears their throat behind us. We turn our heads towards Bucky, who has just appeared in the corridor. I hardly restrain myself from running to his neck, but I'm pretty sure my joy is written all over my face. His features are more closed, and his eyes are focused on the hand still resting on my shoulder. Scott seems to notice, as he quickly removes it.

"Well, I'm going to find Hope and go home. See you around!"

I wave goodbye and wait for him to leave before finally taking Bucky in my arms. We hold each other tight without needing words.

"Please tell me you didn't get hurt." I say, looking at his tattered suit. "Wait, is that blood?"

"Not mine." He shakes his head and tries to hide the stain. "Guess I'm kind of unbreakable. But what about you?" He cups my face and studies it, running his thumb along my cheek. "I'm so sorry, I should never have brought you here today. I should have seen this coming. I should-"

"Bucky." I cut him off, seeing the guilt in his eyes. It's not the first time that I read this too familiar feeling on his face. "It's okay, I'm happy to be here with you. The ceremony was beautiful. And tell me how on earth could you have guessed the Thanos worshippers would show up?"

He lets out an airy chuckle. He knows I'm right, but he won't admit it.

His gaze shifts to the corridor. "What did the ant want with you?"

"I ran into him while looking for you, he was updating me on what I missed." I answer, playing with his fingers. "Are you done with your superhero duties for the day?"

"Unfortunately I still need to check a few things with the others before I can fulfill my super-boyfriend mission. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"And will I get to see him tonight, my super-boyfriend?"

"It's a bit risky, here." He replies, glancing left and right.

"Say the one who kissed me in front of everyone earlier."

"Nobody seems to have noticed." He shrugs. "They had bigger things to focus on."

"Anyway, I share a room with Sarah, but maybe you've got one all to yourself?"

"Don't you think she'll suspect something?"

"I promise I'll be very discreet. Besides, it's Sarah. It's only a matter of time before she figures it out. She's already convinced I've got a crush on you."

"No way, you have a crush on me?" He lifts his brows in mock surprise, making me giggle. "See you tonight, then, doll."

"See you tonight, Sergeant."

After one more kiss, I reluctantly pull away from him and begin a tour of the compound to kill time. Although 'getting lost' might be a more appropriate term, as I soon have no idea where I am. Abandoned paint cans, tarpaulins, ladders, and toolboxes are the only clues that the wing I've just entered is still under construction.

I'm relieved when I hear voices coming from one of the rooms. I'm about to ask for directions, but immediately change my mind when I spot two women in purple suits.

I quickly hide behind a wall before they notice me. I don't know whether they escaped the vigilance of the Avengers during the fight or just got away, but they seem to be plotting some evil plan. As I discreetly take out my phone to send a message to Sam and Bucky, I keep an ear to the ground and listen to their lively conversation.

"Look, let's just release them and get out of here. We'll take care of the rest later."

"No, we have to finish the job." Her partner contests. "Whatever it takes."

"Absolutely not, that's far too stupid. Do I really need to remind you we're outnumbered?"

With all the discretion I'm capable of, I record their conspiracies where they develop their plans while arguing. I then activate my location and share it all with my superhero friends, hoping that one of them will read his messages soon.

I still haven't received any replies when they start moving. Before my brain can give its consent, my legs have already decided to follow them. I comply cautiously, trying to ignore my fear and put aside my common sense to focus on my tailing. On the way, I pick up an isolated metal bar that probably once belonged to a scaffold. Clutching it in my hands gives me a bit of composure. Although I doubt it will save me if they catch me.

The two women suddenly stop in the middle of a corridor. I crane my neck to figure out what has caught their attention and my blood runs cold. They're looking through the glass partition of what appears to be a meeting room. Inside, we can see the Avengers and Company in deep discussion. Bucky and Sam are there too, and neither of them seems to have checked their phones.

One of the fanatics points her rifle at the room and prepares to fire, while the other unhooks from her belt what looks like a grenade.

My grip on the bar tightens. Gathering my courage, I emerge from my hiding place and hit the shooter with all my strength. The metal strikes her skull with a loud thud. Her shot is deflected and the bullet explodes the glass of the meeting room.

All heads turn toward us and my eyes meet Bucky's. I answer his appalled look with an apologetic smile, but he soon disappears from my sight when the one I didn't incapacitate pulls the pin and throws her projectile. Thick smoke fills the air, invading the whole space.

Turning her attention back to me, she grabs her partner's weapon and tries to hit me with it. By some miracle, I parry the blow and the rifle bounces off the metal bar, only a few inches from my face. Her second attempt hits my ribs with pain. I stop breathing and bend under the blow. The substitute weapon in my hands follows my movement, striking my adversary's nose in the process.

She doesn't seem to like that, as she gets even angrier and pushes me violently to the ground before she grips my neck. I struggle unsuccessfully and seriously begin to suffocate.

I leave my fate in the hands of the heroes who have finally emerged from the cloud of smoke, counting on them to take care of her. Someone pulls her away from me while someone else lifts me and slams me against a wall.

A sort of knife gleams under my still sore throat. Petrified, I stare helplessly at the woman holding it, not daring to say a word.

"Come on, Shuri, let her go! She's not with them." I recognize Bucky's voice.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Sam exclaims, a mixture of concern and irritation in his voice.

I cough for a while before finding enough air to speak.

"Don't you ever look at your phone?" I say in a hoarse voice. "They almost killed you all!"

I try to regain my composure, which is no easy task when all eyes are on me.

Sam sighs before talking to his colleagues. "We need to check there aren't more of them elsewhere in the building."

"You come with me." Bucky firmly states as he grabs my arm and leads me away.

"Did she do that all by herself?" The woman named Shuri comments admiringly, pushing the body of the knocked-out extremist with the tip of her foot.