This August, writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson will continue his bold contributions to the world of ALIEN in an all-new comic series! Featuring the incredible and terrifying artwork of rising star Julius Ohta, “ALIEN #1” will kick off a new saga that will serve as a perfect entrypoint into the legendary horror/science-fiction franchise for newcomers and a must-read for longtime fans. Packed with…
so the reason I’m such a Marvel fanatic is because of my Dad and we watched the trailer together today and HE SPOTTED HOW STRANGE HAS GOTTEN HOLD OF THE DARKHOLD AND IS TRYING TO PRACTICE CHAOS MAGIC AND DREW THE PARALLELS BETWEEN THE LAST SCENE OF WANDAVISION AND THIS SCENE IN THE TRAILER AND I HAD TO SHARE IT WITH YOU GUYS
HOLY FUDGING SHIT
So after having this conversation with my Dad I re-watched the trailer and TV Spot and I noticed this figure over Kamar Taj and I feel like this could be Wanda attacking them because she wants her book back?
I’m creating a new project entitled “Red” the idea is simple, to draw characters from all across media that relate to this particular color. This is just a fan project and all characters belong to their respective companies.
I’m creating a new project entitled “Red” the idea is simple, to draw characters from all across media that relate to this particular color. This is just a fan project and all characters belong to their respective companies.
I’m creating a new project entitled “Red” the idea is simple, to draw characters from all across media that relate to this particular color. This is just a fan project and all characters belong to their respective companies.
I’m creating a new project entitled “Red” the idea is simple, to draw characters from all across media that relate to this particular color. This is just a fan project and all characters belong to their respective companies.
I’m creating a new project entitled “Red” the idea is simple, to draw characters from all across media that relate to this particular color. This is just a fan project and all characters belong to their respective companies.
Headcanon that Natasha’s an amazing singer but GOD help the poor fool who ever comments about it. Everyone knows this. You mention the singing, you die. (No matter what). Fact.
Everyone knows but Bucky. 9ne day Bucky hears her singing Russian lullabies and softly joins in, because he still remembers the language, and Natasha let’s him. And Clint stumbles into this bizarre assisain duet and just backpedals the fuck outta there because nah man, there’s some things he’s just not prepared for, and two scariest people he knows singing childhood’s songs is one of them.
Films in Frame - The Card Counter, Annihilation, The Life Before Her Eyes, Revenge for Jolly, Scenes from a marriage, Robin Hood, Moon Knight, Inside Llewyn Davis
Warning: story contains spanking between two adults. Friendly, mostly. I love them.
Kandahar, 6pm.
“Billy! ”
Frank growling nearly made the tent shake when he stepped in, slapping the flaps away.
Billy Russo was alone there, his eyebrows scrunched up, a toothbrush between his teeth.
“ The fuck you sent to my wife, huh? ” rasped the man, getting closer and closer to the other.
Frank was holding a letter that he’d ripped open moments before, only to read with shock his wife angry words. He slammed it against Russo’s chest, his eyes bulging.
Fucking Billy Russo smiled at him like a motherfucker and lowered down the hand holding the toothbrush.
“ You in trouble, Frankie? ” he crooned, his nose twitching adorably and sending Frank even higher on the mountain or red rage he was clambering just about now.
“ You told… my wife… ” he begun, pushing the letter further into the other man’s chest, “ That we hooked up with a couple of ladies the other night? How the… ”
“ Relax. It was just a game, all right? Wanted to give you the scare of your life. ”
Billy’s smile widened.
“ Man, it looks like it worked. You should really write her back and tell her it was a lie, though. You know, before she divorces you and stuff. ”
Frank’s nostrils dilated right before he staggered back and flopped down on his bed, still staring at the letter in his hand like it was about to explode.
“ I should fucking kill you, Bill. I should fucking kill you. ”
Billy sneered and dragged his feet to Frank’s cot. He propped up on his elbows once he’d settled himself next to him, and tilted an ironic glance in his direction.
“ You know… the way I see it, you should thank me, Frankie boy. Maybe your wife will give you a nice good spanking once we’re back. Followed by hot steamy sex. ”
Frank tried to hold back the smile those words prompted on his face, but to no avail.
“ Yeah, right, Bill? You’re the only one who deserves a spanking, here. ”
“ Are you going to give me one? ” came the unexpected, quiet and unbothered reply.
Frank pulled his eyebrows up, then his brown eyes landed on his friend.
“ Yeah, ” he growled, before getting back to stare pointlessly at his wife’s handwriting, “ Yeah, don’t tempt me. ”
Billy rose to his feet with a soft sigh and, just before reaching the nightstand on the other side of the bed, flicked the toothbrush at the nape of Frank’s neck.
The latter whipped his head around, his eyes as wide as saucers. Billy stepped back, an exuberant laugh bubbling at his lips.
“ Sorry, man. It was just… ”
Before he could say anything else, Frank had sprang back to his feet and closed the distance between them in a few strides.
He grabbed Billy by the elbow and dropped him unceremoniously in the middle of his own bed.
He landed on his ass, still smiling up into his eyes like a motherfucker, his hair wasn’t jelled back anymore.
“ This some fantasy of yours, Frankie? ” he teased, and those words earned him a light slap on his cheek.
“ Ow! ”
It hadn’t been a blow hard enough to hurt him, but sufficient to distract him, and Frank took advantage of the time he was using to rub at his face ( and to laugh, the prick ) to turn him around until he was face down on the duvet.
Frank bent Billy’s arm behind his back, then he stopped, his eyes roaming over his friend’s body.
“ Shit. ”
“ What is it, Frankie? ” mocked Billy’s muffled voice.
“ You’re so fucking skinny. Where the fuck am I supposed to…? ”
Then he saw it, the swell of Billy’s rear inside his deep green slacks. He lifted his hand and brought it down with a sharp pop, making the boy squirm lightly in surprise.
“ Ouch, Frank. ”
He sounded amused. Frank could see the hint of a curl on his lips and it drove him crazy.
“ You still laughing, huh? ”
He held Billy’s wrist tighter and slapped his thinly-clad ass with a couple of hard slaps, making sure he felt it through the fabric of his pants.
This time, Billy hushed a groan into the bedspread.
“ I’m fucking done with you, Bill, ” growled Frank, landing three heavy blows in the middle of Russo’s rapidly reddening backside.
He watched him brush his forehead against the bedsheets, barely moving now or making a sound.
“ Oh, you’re done, huh? Such a pain in the ass. Only seems fair to give yours some. ”
Frank was smiling now. He grabbed Billy’s elbow and pulled him up again. Russo smirked back at him, the thin-paper skin on the corner of his eyes crinkling as though nothing had happened.
“ Geez, ” Frank shoved him away, eyeing that smile only once before sitting back on his bed.
“ Sorry, Frank. ”
Billy approached him with his hands shoved in his pockets, his black eyes gleaming with mirth. He didn’t look fucking “sorry” at all. And his left cheek was still exhibiting a blotch of pink.
“ Yeah, I bet you are, ” mocked Frank, huffing through his nose. He was a lost cause.
“ You gotta admit it though, ” prodded Billy, his voice singsongy as he crawled back into his own cot.
“ Had it been anyone else but you, you would’ve find it funny too, man. ”
This time, the toothbrush flew toward Billy’s forehead.
A Conceptual piece I did of Johnattan Majors as Kang the Conqueror in the upcoming Antman 3 movie. Loved his performance in the Loki, cant wait to see him in the kang the conqueror suit.
Como cualquier persona que disfruta de un buen anime de vez en cuando, me gustan en gran medida las historias con mechas. Aquellos robots gigantes que son protagonistas de muchas historias como Evangelion, Mazinger Z, Ultraman o muchas otras grandes historias de nuestra infancia. Claro que verlos pelear contra kaijus también era un deleite, pero el tema de los robots gigantes era algo que por sí solo era bastante atrayente, sobre todo para los niños -y los no tan niños-.
En fin, en esta ocasión combinaremos a la acción monumental de los mechas, con el universo Marvel. Si eres fan de estas dos cosas, te reto a no emocionarte con ver a ese robot con la forma de Spider-Man, es que de verdad quisiera que los vendieran para poder tener a todo el equipo de los vengadores en forma de robots gigantes, que ahora que lo pienso no creo que sea una idea tan desabellada.
Avengers Mech Strike es un comic escrito por Jed Mackay e ilustrado por Carlos Magno. Publicada por Marvel Comics en un total de 5 ejemplares en este 2021, esta historia corta nos presenta una nueva y extraña forma de combatir al mal por parte del equipo conformado por los héroes más grandes del planeta. Así que en esta ocasión disfrutaremos una de las historias más raras de este año.
La historia nos presenta, a como ya mencioné, a los héroes más poderosos de la Tierra: Los Vengadores. En esta ocasión se enfrentan a una nueva amenaza aparentemente imparable, una que probablemente es impermeable a todas sus fuerzas de ataque en conjunto. Sin embargo, los Vengadores no pueden ser derrotados tan fácilmente y menos cuando se trata de enfrentarse a este tipo de nuevas amenazas.
No obstante, en esta ocasión tendrán que ingeniárselas utilizando nuevas herramientas poderosas, unas que puede que nos recuerden más al país del sol naciente que a lo que nos tienen acostumbrados comúnmente. Pero en esta ocasión tendrán que enfrentarse con un enemigo que pondrá a prueba sus mentes en una mortal partida de ajedrez de tamaño gigante.
Cuando vi por primera vez que esto se trataba de mechas y personajes de Marvel, la verdad es que fui demasiado prejuicioso. Pensé que sería una historia absurda y sin sentido hecha únicamente como excusa para vender. Y no estaba nada equivocado, aunque más que ser absurda, me encantó el hecho de que le echaran un poquito de ganas a la historia por tratar de contar algo coherente con el universo Marvel.
Aunque, tampoco esperes encontrarte con una gran historia de por medio, ya que hay muchas cosas que no tienen mucho sentido. Sobre todo, el hecho mismo de que hayan optado por luchar con mechas gigantes. Ya hemos visto a los vengadores enfrentarse a seres de proporciones cósmicas anteriormente y sin la necesidad de utilizar robots gigantes, esta solo fue una excusa de vendernos un poco de fanservice.
No puedo decir que haya funcionado a la perfección porque por lo menos a mí no me enganchó, aunque tampoco la consideraría una mala historia, simplemente está hecha por hacerse. No nos dan una verdadera razón por la cual emocionarnos, a menos que quieras ver a Spider-Man montado en un robot gigante luchando contra otros seres gigantes al mismo tiempo que se alían con viejos enemigos por un bien común.
Y a partir de ese detalle es que comienzan los problemas, en un momento dado –y perdón por el spoiler-, vemos a los vengadores aliarse con Thanos para enfrentarse a esta amenaza en común con la simple excusa de presentarnos otro mecha con la figura de Thanos. Hablando de este detalle, me parece gracioso que, dadas las prisas por enfrentar a este enemigo, todavía hayan tenido el tiempo de personalizar a cada robot gigante, aunque se explica que tenían preparado un lote en caso de emergencias. Pero, sigue siendo curioso.
A como dije, si vendieran alguna línea de juguetes basados en esta miniserie –que repito, no dudo que pueda llegar a pasar en un futuro cercano-, los compraría casi sin dudarlo. Así que podemos percibir que al igual que todo el mundo, soy muy susceptible al capitalismo, pero eso es otra historia. A lo que voy es que probablemente esta historia cumplió con su propósito por lo menos conmigo.
Ahora, vayamos al grano, si lo que buscas es diversión pura y llana, entonces esta historia es para ti. No vas a encontrarte con la mejor historia creada en este 2021 ni con lo mejor de Marvel en ningún sentido, pero si te vas a topar con algo con lo que podrás desconectar tu cerebro por un par de horas mientras te entretienes leyendo. Es un cómic bastante digerible y que puedes leer en corto tiempo, cargado con un poco de acción y un pequeño drama de por medio.
Eso sí, prepárate para encontrarte con una trama bastante predecible, con un poco de fan service, con la inclusión de Kang el Conquistador y Thanos simplemente porque sí –porque sinceramente no es como que cumplan un gran propósito dentro de esta historia- y finalmente, con una serie que seguramente te va a entretener sino eres demasiado exigente, sabiendo esto de verdad te vas a entretener.
El arte me pareció bueno, cada viñeta está cargada de detalles y es algo que se agradece, aunque me quedo desilusionado en cuanto al diseño de los mechas, sin duda nos quedaron a deber, dándonos un diseño bastante simple de los robots que se supone son la trama central de la historia. De haberse esforzado un poco más en esto último, el arte hubiera sido excelente.
Por lo pronto, los dejo con mi veredicto final, el cual es:
Avengers Mech Strike es un cómic bastante regular con una historia bastante predecible, pero también bastante entretenida y digerible. Si tienes un par de horas libres entonces puede que termines disfrutando mucho esta historia, pero si lo que deseas es una obra con una poco más de desarrollo y con la que puedas engancharte, entonces lo mejor es pasar de largo.
Day by day, Harper got stronger. She and Bucky still spent time together every day, but it was less than before. There was a growing tension between them when they were together, but they did their best to ignore it. Of course, it didn’t help that they always ended up entangled when she sparred with him. Sometimes he would just grab her around the waist and pull her in close; other times, he would let her knock him down so that she would be on top of him.
They both knew they had feelings for each other, but Harper was adamant about not acting on those feelings. She would admit that she owed him her life, but she didn’t want him to know that. That wasn’t to say that she didn’t enjoy his company; she loved spending time with him. He was a fantastic sparring partner, and he made her laugh more often than she thought possible. But it didn’t matter how much she enjoyed his presence; she couldn’t allow herself to get attached to someone.
Harper sat alone on the sniper range. The wind blew softly against her face as she stared at the targets through the scope. Her heart beat rapidly as she took aim at one of the targets, allowing her finger to dance over the trigger. The bullet hit true each time.
“Damn. It’s like you never missed a beat,” a voice behind her said. She turned and saw Bucky approaching. His hair was slightly disheveled, which usually meant that he’d been running. There was a proud grin on his face as he got closer to where Harper stood. She couldn’t help but smile, especially when he looked at her like that. Like he actually cared what she was doing or thinking. She could have gotten used to that look every single day.
“You need something?” she asked. Bucky shook his head. “Then why’re you here?”
Bucky shrugged and moved to sit in the empty chair next to her, crossing his arms over his chest. They were quiet for a moment before he spoke. “I just thought I’d check on you.”
Harper smiled again, her heart skipping a beat. “You see me all the time, Barnes,” she reminded him.
He nodded. “That may be true. But I only see you when we train weapons or spar together.” Bucky paused, looking out toward the targets, “Besides, this is one of my favorite spots,” he chuckled, trying to ease the rising tension. Bucky turned his attention back to Harper, smiling gently.
She glanced up and met his gaze, returning the expression. “You want a shot?” she questioned, gesturing toward the weapon still propped on the ledge. He shook his head no, so she stood and picked the gun up, slinging it over her shoulder so she could head back to the compound.
The two of them continued to talk while they walked back to the building. As Harper and Bucky approached the doors, Clint stepped through to meet them. “Harley! There you are. I’ve been looking for you,” he said, walking toward her.
“Well, you found me,” she replied. “What do you need?”
“I found them,” he said flatly. “I think anyway.”
“Found who?” Bucky questioned, stepping up next to Harper.
“The men that attacked her,” Clint answered.
Harper rolled her eyes. She had figured Clint would find them, but a part of her hoped he would fail. “Are you sure it’s them?”
Clint nodded. “Positive.”
Harper sighed. “Okay, tell me what you found,” she gently demanded, leading them all inside the building.
Clint relayed everything he knew. From where they were living to where they were currently working jobs. All of which matched up perfectly with what Harper had already discovered from digging on her own.
“So, what’s our next move?” Bucky asked.
Harper stopped dead in her tracks, “Our? There is no ‘our next move’ soldier. This is something I need to do.”
“You’re not going alone, Harley,” Clint reminded her.
“The only reason you are allowed to tag along, Hawk, is because they pose a threat to you too. Trust me; I’m still not thrilled over the idea,” she pointed out.
“Harley-” Bucky began.
“No,” she interrupted, “You have done more than enough for me, Barnes. This… This is something Clint and I need to finish alone.” She watched as Bucky’s jaw clenched, obviously not pleased with her response but unwilling to argue further. She appreciated that. Harper turned to Clint, “When are you expecting to leave?” she asked.
“As soon as you feel ready, I guess,” he shrugged.
Harper nodded, “Then let’s get packed.”
The next evening, Clint and Harper arrived at a hotel outside Cedar Falls, Iowa. Harper had to chuckle to herself when she had found out where they were headed. How cliche for them to finally close this chapter in their lives, in the exact same place it all had started.
As the pair worked to unpack things for the task the following day, Harper looked to her brother who seemed just a little on edge. “You sure you’re ready for this?” she asked, propping their quivers and bows next to the dresser.
“It’s just another job, right?” Clint replied. “Taking out the bad guys to keep my family safe?”
Harper chuckled a bit, shaking her head. “These guys may be old, Hawk, but you saw what they can still do.”
Clint shrugged again. “If it was too easy, I’d start to question our own skills.”
Harper nodded, “Fair point.”
Clint closed up his suitcase, having only brought his bow, arrows, and a few articles of clothing. Harper, on the other hand, brought all of her favorite weapons. She pulled out two of her knives and her handgun, along with a few other items, before setting her suitcase on the floor. She took a seat at the small desk in the room and began wiping down her knives first.
Clint sat on the edge of his bed, watching his sister work. He couldn’t help but notice how calm she seemed in her movements. Clint realized that this was the first time, in their adult lives anyway, that he had ever truly seen his sister. They had been on opposing sides for so long that even when they did get along, there always seemed to be tension. But now, even though she was getting ready to kill someone, she wasn’t upset or scared, or even nervous. It was almost like she was going through the motions from pure muscle memory.
“Harley, can I ask you something?” Clint suddenly broke the silence between them.
Harper looked over at him, giving him a curious look. “Sure.”
Clint hesitated. His hands shook slightly from nerves as he spoke. “What… What happened to us? I mean, what really happened? We used to be so close. And then…” he trailed off.
“Is this really a conversation you want to have right now?”
“Yes, actually. I need to know, so I know I can trust you while we’re out there,” he told her. “I mean, it can’t honestly just be that stupid petty jealousy from when we were kids, right?”
“Petty jealousy?” Harper repeated, raising a brow in confusion.
“Yeah, Jacques overlooked you for me?” Clint questioned.
She blinked, “You honestly think that is why we had a fallout? Because some asshole with a sword and gambling issues chose you over me to be his little bitch?” she laughed.
“Then what? What happened between us, Harley? Why are we always fighting now?” Clint asked.
Harper shook her head, looking back down at her weapons as she set the first knife on the desk. “Look, I’ll admit, I was a little jealous when he chose you. I mean, let’s be honest, I’ve always been better than you with weapons. He knew it, you knew it, everyone knew it. So yeah, I was jealous. But I grew up, Hawk. I got my life together, got my G.E.D., even had a couple really good jobs.”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” Clint pressed.
Harper finally looked up and met his gaze. “You know, Clint, there was never a day that passed that I didn’t think about my little brother. The years I was gone, never a day went by that I didn’t wonder if I did the right thing by breaking my promise to mom. Always questioning if you were alive or if you were dead in a ditch somewhere.”
“Wait…” Clint trailed off, “…Mom? What promise?”
“’You know how your father is, Harper Lee. You need to keep him safe… from everything,’” she began to recite. “’I’m trusting you to be his guardian angel. Promise me you’ll always keep him safe, Harley.’”
Clint stared at her in silence as he processed what she said. “Harley…” he trailed off, unsure if he wanted to continue.
“Then, on my first assignment as a rookie agent, not only does the house I’m working at get robbed… but it’s my brother who happens to be the one breaking in. At least I knew you were alive, though, right?” she laughed, trying to lighten the mood. Harper grabbed her other knife and began cleaning it as she continued her story. “After Buck left you behind that night, I got right back into that ‘big sister mode.’ He shot both of us that night… but I was older, stronger, I had to keep you safe. Nothing else mattered. But it was painstakingly clear that we couldn’t work together.”
“But… Why?”
“Hawk, you got hurt because you were more concerned about me than yourself.” She paused, glancing at Clint. He remained silent, waiting for the rest of her story. “So, once we were healed up, I left. I left my job; I left my life because I needed to make sure that my brother stayed alive.”
“That’s why you started using the symbol again. So no one actually saw us together,” Clint realized.
Harper nodded. “Yeah, pretty much,” she agreed. She put away her other knife, moving on to cleaning her gun. “I knew it wasn’t enough, though; staying away from you. So, I did the only logical thing I could think of. I called Fury. I told him I had a prospect for him to check out that would be a great addition to his team. Not to mention a perfect fit when he finally made his little Avengers club,” she chuckled.
“That still doesn’t explain why we fight every time we see each other. If you’ve been protecting me all this time, why is it always a fight?” Clint asked, confused. “You ruined my wedding… You…” he groaned, “I mean, for god’s sake, Harley, you shot me the last time we crossed paths. Why?”
Harper sighed, setting the gun back on the desk. “Because,” she began slowly, choosing her words carefully, “If I hadn’t kept you away, I was afraid something would happen to you. I’ve worked for some really bad people, Hawk. If they thought I cared for you, even a little, they’d use that as leverage.” She laughed a little, adding, “Except the wedding. That was personal. I knew Bird was no good for you.”
Clint rolled his eyes, “Wedding aside…” he started, “You’re saying, all these years, it’s just been an act?”
“Basically,” Harper shrugged. “When you started hating me for it, I was a bit hurt, but it made the act far more believable.”
“So, this whole time, I thought it was me. I thought it was my fault that you hated me. I thought I got the job on my own, and you were jealous again; I thought the reason my family was safe was because of the steps I took. And you just went along with that?”
“What would you have wanted me to do, Hawk? Tell you the truth? Put your kids’ lives in danger? Fuck that! I’d rather you hate me than have to go through the pain of losing a child,” she responded angrily.
“We could have kept them safe, Harley. We could have kept you safe,” Clint argued, his voice rising slightly in frustration.
“Iwas safe, Hawk,” she snapped back. “And you know, you’re right. If I had told you the truth, maybe you would have actually helped me when I came to you. But what’s done is done. So can we just focus on moving forward? Once these two are gone, I won’t need your help ever again, and your family will be safe. You can go back to hating me, and you’ll never have to see me again, I promise.”
Clint shook his head, looking at his feet, unable to respond. He sighed heavily.
“For what it’s worth… I am sorry, Hawk. For everything. But I did what I had to do. I made my choice, so you didn’t have to. I couldn’t live with myself if I caused anything to happen to you, the kids, or even Laura,” she explained.
He glanced up at her, his face softening slightly. “It’s okay, Harls,” he replied. “I’m sure if the roles were reversed, I probably would have done the same thing.” He paused, looking down as he continued, “The choice is yours, Harper Lee, but…” Clint took his time, searching for the right words. “Look, the kids seemed to really enjoy your visit. And…”
“Hawk, stop,” she interrupted him, causing him to lift his eyes from the ground. “I know what you’re trying to get at, and I appreciate it. But, I can’t be the sister I once was to you. I can’t stick around, and I can’t join your little team. I’m alone in this, and that’s how I need to stay. It’s for the best,” she explained, staring him in the eyes.
Clint looked back at her silently for a few moments before nodding, accepting the answer without arguing. “How about we agree to disagree? And we can talk about it after we’re done with this job?” he suggested.
“Sure, Hawk,” she smiled.
Harper left her weapons lying on a cloth on the desk. She bent down, dug out a pair of shorts and a t-shirt from her suitcase, and made her way to the bathroom to change. Maybe working with Clint won’t be so bad. She mused as she pulled on her shorts, turning to look at her reflection in the mirror as she ran her fingers over the scars on her shoulder. Then again, I do my best work alone.
It had been a month since Harper was brought back to the tower. She had been going to physical therapy every morning, despite the fact that she no longer required assistance with anything, and she was finally feeling back to her old self. It would still take some work for her to use her bow, or a gun, at least as she once had, but she was determined to get out of the care of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers as soon as she could.
Fury decided that the best option for her was to move to the compound. She would be able to heal in peace, mostly, and she would be able to work with weapons any time she wanted. Harper begrudgingly agreed, if for no other reason than knowing she owed her life to him. What harm could a few weeks in a guarded vacation home do anyway?
Four weeks at the compound passed quickly. Thanks to the serum, she was healing rapidly, felt stronger than ever before, and was finally able to use her right arm without much issue. She still wasn’t a hundred percent yet, but she was close enough.
Bucky had stuck by her side as much as she allowed, helping her to regain her strength and accuracy both in combat and with weaponry. She trusted him enough to let him take care of her, but it wasn’t always easy. Harper had never been one to allow anyone to get close to her. She was always guarded, cautious, and wary. But Bucky made her feel relaxed in a way that she’d only ever been able to relax around him. Harper now knew what it felt like, to be vulnerable, and it wasn’t a feeling she ever wanted to experience again. Bucky understood this and was very patient with her.
One afternoon, they were in the gym sparring with each other. He was careful with her right side, knowing her shoulder had taken the brunt of the damage and had yet to heal fully, or so he assumed.
“Come on, soldier, I know you can do better than that,” Harper taunted him.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Bucky protested.
“I’ve told you, soldier. I’ll be fine. After everything I went through, you’re nothing,” Harper retorted.
He scoffed, “And I’ve told you, call me Bucky. I’m not the Winter Soldier anymore, okay?”
“Fine… Bucky. Now show me what you got,” Harper challenged.
There was something going on with her. No one should be healing as quickly as Harper was. She was stronger too. Not wanting to press things though, Bucky just sighed as they both jumped into a fight stance, fists raised, ready to strike. They circled each other warily, sizing up their opponent and gauging if they could land any hit on them. Then Bucky threw a punch at Harper, who blocked it easily. She quickly retaliated with a kick to Bucky’s leg, causing him to stumble.
Harper followed that up by tackling him to the ground. She landed squarely on top of him, pinning his arms down underneath her. Bucky growled, trying to buck Harper off of him. She smirked and leaned in close to his ear. He froze instantly, his breathing labored.
She whispered, “Remember what happened last time we were like this? Remember how we nearly killed each other?” Bucky swallowed hard and nodded his head. A faint smile spread across her face, “Don’t worry, soldier… Bucky… This time is different,” she said softly.
Harper shifted her weight, so she was sitting astride Bucky’s hips, straddling his waist and allowing his arms to move freely once again. She saw something familiar in his eyes, something she had seen before when she was with the Winter Soldier. It was the same glimmer in his eye she remembered seeing each time he learned he would be working alongside her.
She knew it was wrong, but something in her heart pulled her forward. Something she had never felt before. That same pull grew stronger with every passing second until their lips met. Hard. Bucky responded by wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer, deepening the kiss.
After several minutes, they pulled apart. Both were panting slightly. Bucky rested his forehead against hers. He gently ran his fingers through her hair before resting his hands on her lower back. They stayed like that for a few moments until Harper finally broke the silence, “I’m sorry…” she muttered.
Bucky shook his head, “For what?”
“I shouldn’t have kissed you…” she trailed off, sitting up on her knees still straddling Bucky’s hips.
Bucky smiled, “It’s alright.”
“No, Bucky,” she started. “I mean… we can’t…” she sighed softly, “It’s too dangerous.”
“What?” Bucky asked, confused.
Harper pushed herself off of him and stood up. “I’ve been walking this world alone for a long time, Bucky. It’s kept me safe all these years; I can’t risk doing something reckless like this.”
Bucky stood up, “I don’t understand, Harley.”
Harper turned to face him, “The last thing I need is someone getting hurt because I let my guard down,” she said firmly.
Bucky frowned, “Why don’t we just talk about this?” he suggested, brushing himself off.
“There’s nothing to talk about, Bucky. It just isn’t possible,” she insisted.
Bucky stepped forward, putting his hands lightly on her waist, “Look, Harley, I understand… I really do. But you’re not alone anymore.”
She backed away from him, pulling out of his grasp. “Listen, soldier. I’m not staying. Once I can use my bow again, I’m gone,” she stated firmly. Harper sighed, shaking her head when she saw the disappointment in his eyes. “It’s safer this way… for everyone,” she finished quietly. With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Bucky in the gym alone.
Standing at the line at the archery range, Harper pulled an arrow from the quiver on her back. Taking aim, she released her hand, nailing the target perfectly in the center. Smiling, she placed another arrow to her string, lining up for another shot. The next arrow was much faster than the first and hit the target dead center again, just to the side of the first.
“Looks like someone’s back to themselves,” a voice said behind her.
Harper sighed and turned to face the man who had spoken. “Still not perfect, but I’ll get there.”
“How are you feeling?”
She shrugged, “Better than before. The shoulder still has some healing to do, but with as much damage as that arrow did, I guess that’s to be expected.”
“You going to tell me yet just how you managed to heal almost completely in just over two months?”
“I told you, Hawk, I don’t know.”
“That’s bullshit, Harley. Why won’t you just tell me the truth? What harm could it do?” he questioned.
Harper glared at him, “Why is it so important that you know?” she spat.
“Because you’re my sister, Harley,” Clint replied simply. “Here I am, trying to reach out to you, giving you a chance, and you just turn it into a fight.”
“You’re only bitching because you feel guilty, Hawk. I’m not stupid,” Harper retorted sharply.
Clint sighed, “Guilt or not; it doesn’t matter. I’m trying, Harley. Why can’t you?”
“Because I don’t need your pity, Clint. I needed my brother. I reached out to my brother. And you brushed me off like I was dust on your bow,” she hissed angrily.
Clint sighed, “I’m sorry, Harls. I should have listened… I shouldn’t have reacted so cold toward you when you first showed up. I’m sorry. Just -”
“Just stop, Hawk. Save your ‘sorry.’ I don’t need it. Not from you. Not from anyone,” Harper snapped harshly.
Clint flinched, “Alright,” he mumbled softly. “Then what do you want?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. I’m healthy enough. I think I’m just going to go,” Harper answered.
“Go where?” Clint questioned.
“Back to work. Back to what I do best,” Harper answered.
Clint looked shocked, “You want to leave? To do what? Find the two people that tried to kill you? That’s suicide, Harley!”
“I have an advantage this time. I’ll be fine,” Harper assured him.
Her brother stared at her intently, studying her facial expression. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully before taking a deep breath. “The serum,” he murmured.
Harper gave him a quizzical look, “Excuse me?”
“The serum you were searching for. Fury told you where to find it, and you took it. Didn’t you?” Clint guessed. “That’s why you survived the attack. The serum was already trying to heal your wounds before Barnes ever found you.”
Harper nodded slowly; there was no sense lying to him. “Yes,” she agreed. “I injected a small dose before they ever found me. When Barnes brought me here, Fury found the vials in my bag and had Banner give me a second dose.”
“That explains it,” Clint nodded. “Listen, Harley. Why don’t we make a deal? One where we can both get what we want?”
“Like what?”
“Before you leave, give me two weeks. I’ll find the men that attacked you, and you have more time to heal and practice; get yourself back where you know you need to be,” Clint negotiated.
“Why?” she questioned. “Why help me now?”
“They are as much a threat to me as they are you. Not to mention, if you go at it alone and fail, they become a threat to my kids. They made us into what we are… so what do you say we end it the same way we started? Together.”
Harper hesitated before saying, “Fine. I guess we’ll see what happens,” she replied. “But only two weeks, Hawk. That’s it.”
Clint nodded, “Good enough for me,” he said with a smirk before heading towards the exit.
Two weeks had passed since Bucky found Harper clinging to life in Atlanta. One of the doctors helping to care for her in the tower felt that she was at the point that they could safely bring her out of the drug-induced coma. They began to lower the dose of the anesthetic she was being given in hopes of easing her awake slowly.
Though he had spent the better part of the last fourteen days by Harper’s side, Bucky was away on a short mission when they began the process of waking her. When he returned early the next morning, he rushed to the clinic and was thankful to see she was still asleep. Bruce was checking her vitals and I.V. medications when Bucky walked in. He froze for a moment when he saw Clint seated in a chair on the other side of Harper’s bed.
“Ah, Barnes, welcome back,” Bruce greeted. “She should be awake soon, so you’re just in time.”
Bucky looked over at Clint, who met his gaze. He could see the sadness in Clint’s eyes as if he was fighting with himself not to show it. Bucky swallowed thickly before walking over and taking a seat in an empty chair next to Harper. “Barton…” he began softly.
“I know,” Clint whispered before placing his hand gently on Harper’s. “She wouldn’t want to see me anyway. I just didn’t want her alone if she woke up before you got back.” He stood from his chair and began walking to the door.
“If you want to stay, then stay, Clint,” Bucky told him. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you when you first came to see her,” he said apologetically. “I know she is the only family you have left besides your kids, and-”
“Maybe by blood, Barnes, but Harley and I haven’t been family for a really long time,” Clint argued softly, opening the door of the room and walking out without another word.
Bruce watched him leave before turning back to Bucky, who was looking down at his hands before running them through his hair nervously. “He’ll come around. They both will,” Banner assured him. Bucky nodded but did not respond. Pulling out a book, he leaned back in his chair and began reading, trying to find some way to keep his mind off of everything that was going on.
Bucky was so lost in his book that he didn’t notice Harper had begun to stir ever so slightly. Her eyelids fluttered open slowly, adjusting to the light and surroundings. She gave a weak smile when she finally noticed who was in the room with her. “Well, hey there, soldier,” she said hoarsely.
Bucky looked up from his book, smiling slightly when he saw her awake. “Hey yourself, Angel,” he responded softly. “How are you feeling?” he asked as he closed his book and set it aside.
“I’ve been worse,” she joked, trying to laugh but instead wincing when pain flared through her body. “Where am I?” she questioned, confused.
“You’re at the Avengers’ Tower in New York,” he answered. “Try not to move too much yet. You’re banged up pretty good, and need to rest.”
“How’d I get here?” she questioned further. “The last thing I remember was being in a hotel room.”
“You were hurt pretty bad, Angel, and-”
“Please, soldier, call me Harley. Keep that Angel shit for work,” she cut him off.
Bucky hesitated slightly before nodding. “Alright… Harley,” he replied. “The short version, I guess, is that I found you in your hotel room in Atlanta. You were… in rough shape. You have a couple of gunshot wounds, some cuts, and scrapes, bruising, a couple of broken ribs, and an arrow wound to your right shoulder,” Bucky explained.
“Damn,” she muttered, trying to remember what happened. “How long have I been here?”
“About two weeks now.”
“Why’d you come looking for me?” Harley asked curiously.
“Honestly? I overheard Fury tell Clint that he was worried. He thought something had happened to you. Clint didn’t seem too concerned and said you could handle yourself. But you saved my life before, so, I don’t know, maybe I felt like I owed you one,” he shrugged.
“If Fury was involved, I can see how you knew what city to look at, but Atlanta isn’t exactly a small town. How’d you know where I was?”
Bucky chuckled a little, “I know you always stay in the most expensive hotel when you’re on a job. I also remembered the alias you used to use and took a shot. With a little white lie, I managed to get into your room. When I walked in, I saw you on the bed…” He hung his head as he finished his explanation.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “For coming for me,” Harley added. “I know I’m not really worth saving, but thank you.”
“Youare worth it,” Bucky said firmly, meeting her gaze.
Harley smiled weakly, “You know that’s not true, soldier. You should know better than anyone.”
Bucky sighed deeply, knowing entirely too well why she felt the way she did. He also knew there was no winning the argument over the matter. “Do you know who did this to you?” he asked, changing the subject.
“I didn’t see their faces if that’s what you’re asking. But I know who sent them, and I have a pretty good idea of who the two men were that attacked me. And believe me, I am going to make them pay for this,” she swore, a fire burning behind her green eyes.
“Harley. We-”
“No, soldier,” she interrupted, causing him to fall silent. “This is my fight, mine, and I’m going to take care of it. They made the mistake of leaving me alive, and that mistake is going to cost them dearly,” she told him, determination burning behind her words.
“Harley, please. You don’t have to fight alone. You’re going to be out of action for a few months, at least. Let us help you,” he pleaded. “We can protect you.”
“No,” she shook her head adamantly. “I won’t allow you, or anyone, to put their life on the line for me. These people would give the Winter Soldier a run for his money alone, let alone as a team. I won’t let any of you risk yourselves for me,” she continued to argue.
The door to the room opened, pulling their attention away from the conversation. “Sorry to interrupt,” Bruce apologized sheepishly. “How are you feeling, Miss Barton?”
Harley offered a smile, “Been better. Been worse,” she joked.
Bruce smirked faintly, glad that she could still joke about all of this despite how badly she must feel. “There’s a couple of people who would like to see you, if you’re up for it, that is?”
She nodded, “Sure, why not.”
“I’ll go,” Bucky said quickly, standing from his chair. “I’ll come to check on you again later if you want?”
Despite the annoyance Harley was feeling at their argument moments ago, she found herself smiling at him as she spoke, “Yeah, alright.” He moved closer to the side of the bed and took her hand in his. Harley squeezed his hand lightly. “Thanks, soldier. For everything.”
“You’re welcome, Harley,” he answered quietly before grabbing his book off of the chair and leaving the room.
Once he was gone, Bruce turned to her. “Are you hungry?”
Harley nodded, “A little, yeah.”
“I’ll see what I can get for you,” Bruce said. “I’ll let Fury and Clint know that you’re awake, but to give you a little bit of time before they come to see you, okay?”
“That’s fine. Thank you,” Harper told Banner as he headed towards the door. As soon as he was gone, Harley laid back against her pillow. Her eyes drifted shut after a while as exhaustion started to weigh on her tired body.
Harley awoke again a few hours later to find her brother sitting next to her bed. “Hey,” she mumbled.
“Hey,” Clint said back softly. He reached out and brushed some of her hair away from her face. “How do you feel?”
“Like a semi-truck ran me over,” Harley replied with a slight chuckle that quickly turned to a groan.
“You look like it too.” Clint laughed.
“Thanks,” Harper said sarcastically. She sighed, trying to sit up but still unable to move much.
Clint watched as his sister struggled. He’d never seen her so helpless before. She was always the one taking care of him, always there to ensure he was safe. Now, when she had needed him most, he wasn’t there for her.
Harper could see in his eyes that he felt responsible. “I’ll be fine, Hawk. Really,” she tried to assure him. “I’ve been hurt before; this isn’t anything new.”
Clint looked at her sternly. “This is different, Harper Lee.”
“First, you know I hate when you use my full name. I’m not some kid in trouble, Hawk,” she scolded. “Second, how is this any different than any other time? I’ve been shot before, I’ve had bones broken before,” Harper tried to reason.
Clint just shook his head. “Not like this. This is different.”
“Why?”
“Because…” Clint paused. He took a deep breath. “Harley, you almost died. You needed blood transfusions and surgeries. You have so much morphine pumping through you that I’m surprised you feel any of the pain at all. For fuck sake, you were in a coma for two damn weeks. And now you’re trying to brush it off because your stupid, selfish ass can’t deal with being vulnerable.”
“You’re right,” she stated simply. “But you know what else? None of that is your fault, Clint. Not one thing that happened to me is anyone’s fault but my own. So why should I take the charity of you and your friends because of my own stupidity?”
“Harley-”
“No,” she cut him off. “I get it, Hawk. You’re my brother. You feel bad because it wasn’t you that jumped to my rescue. You blew me off, and now you feel responsible for what happened. But I am not a damsel in distress. I don’t need you, or your friends, to save me. I can take care of myself.” She glared at him. “I’m stronger than you think I am.”
“I know you’re strong, and I respect that. But damn it, Harley, you don’t have to be. If you had just told me you were in trouble instead of playing your bullshit games, I could have helped you.” He glared at her, willing her to understand what he was saying.
She stared at her brother. “It’s my fight, Hawk, not yours. This isn’t some back alley fight or a bunch of aliens from outer space. This is my life, and if I can’t handle it, then that’s my problem.”
“Do you even hear yourself? This isn’t about you or your bullshit jobs. This is about you getting hurt. This is about you almost dying for fuck sake!”
Harper rolled her eyes. “I’m. Fine. Hawk,” she snapped. Her tone was angry.
Before Clint could say anything, Director Fury walked into the room. “Barton, good to see you awake,” he greeted.
“I can only assume I owe you a thank you for saving my life?” Harper asked sarcastically.
Director Fury smirked slightly. “We’ll call it a personal courtesy,” he answered calmly. “I don’t want to take up too much of your time, Barton. I know you need to rest. But I have to ask…”
“I know what you want, Fury. I didn’t see their faces, but I have a pretty good idea who it was. I’m not as worried about them as I am who sent them. If they found me in Georgia, I can only assume they found Scorpio.”
Director Fury nodded. “Don’t worry about that. They are safe,” he assured her.
Harper nodded. “Thank god.”
“We need to know who attacked you, though, Barton. We need to make sure that they won’t try to come after you here at the tower. It could put all of us at risk,” Fury continued.
“They think I’m dead, Fury. They won’t try to show up here as long as I lay low until I’m healed enough to fight again,” Harper stated.
Clint frowned. “And what if you’re wrong?”
“I’m not,” she glared at her brother.
“We can’t take that risk, Barton,” Fury insisted. “We need to know who targeted you.”
Harper shook her head. “Fury, this is all a personal vendetta. Against me, and you. They aren’t stupid enough to try to hit a S.H.I.E.L.D. location. That would be suicidal.”
Fury raised an eyebrow. “Me?”
“I did my research while I was figuring out their identity. Think about it, Nick. Who else do you think would involve Scorpio?”
He paused for a moment, hoping he was wrong. “Leviathan?” Fury questioned.
Harper glared at him. “Yes, Leviathan.”
“What are you two talking about?” Clint asked curiously.
“It is - well, it was, a Russian-based organization. They were similar to Hydra, but when they failed, the organization’s leader turned his efforts to destroying the other members of the Zodiac. I’m the last surviving member,” Fury explained.
“Then, who’s Scorpio?” Clint questioned.
“My son,” Fury replied simply. “It’s part of the reason I know your sister so well,” he continued.
Clint looked between the two, trying to decipher what they meant. “I don’t understand.”
“Fury and I met while I was enlisted. When I got out, he got me a job with the CIA working under him. But when he joined S.H.I.E.L.D., I left the agency and went rogue,” Harper answered. “He tried to recruit me, but I was making better money on my own. It didn’t seem worth it to give that up. So, instead, he gave me a job. No one knew about his kid, and he wanted to keep it that way, but Fury also wanted to ensure his son was kept safe. I still took on jobs for the highest bidder, but between jobs, I was with Marcus and his mother.”
“So, this Marcus, is Fury’s kid, andScorpio?”
“Yeah. I don’t know what mess Marcus got himself into or why he took up the moniker. I just know, I was contacted by Orion to take out Scorpio. As soon as I learned who it really was, I canceled the contract. Orion didn’t like that, so he sent people after me. The only two people that could actually pose a threat to me when teamed together.” Harper looked to her brother, her eyes pleading with him to understand.
“I thought they quit the game when they couldn’t kill me?” Clint asked, confused.
“They couldn’t kill you because you had help, Hawk. I don’t.” She paused, letting her words sink in. “But, now that they think I’m dead, it needs to stay that way until I can take care of things. If they know they failed, they will do what they can to get me out of hiding. That includes making a little trip to Missouri if they need to.” Harper’s words hit hard, causing Clint to realize exactly what his sister was suggesting.
“You’re not taking care of shit, Harley. This is far beyond anything you can handle alone. Not to mention the risk involved if you fail again. Screw your pride for once. You’re out of commission for a few months at least, so we’re helping whether you like it or not. This is no longer a personal problem for you, Harper Lee. It’s now an Avenger problem,” Clint spoke firmly, not letting her protest.
Harper sighed, knowing that arguing wouldn’t change her brother’s mind, but she hated that he was right. She’d be risking her life if she tried to go on alone. Harper knew this, she understood it, but… she still hated the idea of accepting help. She still wanted to prove to herself that she was stronger than she had ever believed she could be. She just wanted to prove to herself that she could do this, that she could defend herself against those who would attack her.
Clint left the room quickly before Harper could even agree with him. As soon as the door shut behind him, Fury spoke up again. “Are you going to tell them about the serum?”
“Clint is pissed enough. I think it’s best if I wait before I tell him,” she answered honestly. “He’s not ready to hear about it.”
“I think he deserves to know,” Fury responded. “They will all know something once they realize just how quickly you are healing.”
“Banner injected me with a second dose, didn’t he? Or at least a proper dose?”
“Your injuries were -”
“That’s a yes,” she sighed, cutting him off. “I appreciate it, Fury. All of this. I’m sorry it got to this point.”
“You have nothing to apologize for, Barton. We share the blame on this one.”
Harper smiled ruefully at him. “Thanks for everything.”
“Anytime.” He nodded to her before turning and walking out of the room.
Harper leaned back against the pillows, running a hand slowly through her hair. God, she felt exhausted. She closed her eyes briefly, hoping the meds would help calm her thoughts and calm her nerves.
Bucky found himself in Atlanta the next afternoon. He knew enough about Harper that he hoped it wouldn’t take long to locate her. Opening the browser on his phone, he looked up the most expensive hotel in the area. Clicking on the number, he called the front desk.
“Hello, thank you for calling. How can we help you today?” a young female answered.
“I am looking for my wife, and I’m hoping you can tell me if she has checked out yet or not?” Bucky lied confidently.
“I would be happy to look for you, sir. Can I have the last name?”
“It should be under Samael,” he told the girl. It was the alias she had always used when working for Hydra, so it was worth trying now. “I’m not sure which first name she used, but it should be either Lilith or Freya.”
There was a pause, but he could hear the clicking of the keys as the girl typed on the computer. “It looks like she is still checked in and has the room booked for another couple of days, sir,” she informed him.
“Wonderful,” Bucky said, “Can you put me through to her room? She isn’t answering her cell phone, and I just want to make sure she is doing alright.”
“Of course, sir. Just one moment.”
After another brief pause, the phone began to ring. Bucky let the tone play through a few times and then hung up. Harper wasn’t answering, which could mean one of two things. Bucky could only hope that it meant she was out of the room, but he still had a bad feeling in his gut about this entire situation. Plugging the address into his phone’s GPS, Bucky made his way to the hotel.
He approached the front desk, where a young woman stood behind a large counter. “Hi, there,” he said, trying to appear friendly. “My wife is currently checked in here. I tried her cell phone and room phone, but there was no answer. Is there any way you can help me out?”
“Oh yes, you called for her not too long ago,” the clerk said. “Let me try calling her room since we don’t usually give out guest information. If she doesn’t answer, I will make an exception this once for you.”
“Ireally appreciate it,” Bucky smiled at her. He walked over to the seating area in the lobby and waited while she called up to the room.
The young clerk tried to call Harper’s room three times over twenty minutes before giving up and creating another key for the room. Placing it in the small sleeve with the room number, she walked around the counter to the lobby and approached Bucky. “I tried calling a few times, but there was no answer,” she explained, handing him the card. “Here is a key for the room. If you have any trouble, just let me know,” she smiled at him kindly.
“Thank you so much,” he told her.
She left the lobby and went back to work, leaving Bucky alone. He quickly made his way to the room, knocking on the door first, hoping that Harper might answer. When there was no response, he used the key and opened the door, thankful she didn’t lock it with the safety locks. Bucky stepped inside and quickly closed the door behind him, glancing around the room. He could tell immediately something was wrong.
Walking farther in, Bucky saw Harper laid out on the bed with blood staining the sheets. She was unmoving, and her breathing was shallow. Her skin was pale, and her usually bright blonde hair now had hints of a dull copper-red. She had been beaten pretty badly and was bleeding from multiple wounds all over her body.
Bucky’s heart ached. The Dark Angel was untouchable, just as he had been as the Winter Soldier. Seeing her so weak, so helpless, broke something in his heart that had never been touched before. He couldn’t help but kneel down beside the bed, tears pricking his eyes as he gently brushed a few strands of blonde hair away from her face. “Damn it, Angel,” he whispered with a sigh. “You’re going to be okay. I promise,” he murmured.
He stood back up, pulled out his phone, and took a seat in the chair at the small desk. Scrolling through the names in his contact list, he knew there was only one person he could call.
“What is it, Barnes?”
“It’s about the Dark Angel, Fury,” he replied.
“What about her?” the director asked.
“I found her, sir. And it’s not good.”
“Hang on a minute,” Fury responded. Bucky could hear shuffling on the other end for a few moments and then heard a door slam shut. “Where did you find her?” Fury finally spoke again.
“At a hotel in Atlanta,” he replied.
“Was she conscious when you found her?” the director questioned.
“No. She is unconscious, and her injuries are extensive.”
Fury groaned. “Is she breathing?”
“Yes, she’s alive, but barely. She is severely wounded, sir.”
“How serious are her injuries?”
“She was bleeding profusely, though it seems to have stopped for the time being, and has severe lacerations across her chest and abdomen. A wound straight through her shoulder, but I don’t know what from. She has bruises all over her as well. I don’t know what happened to her, but she’s in bad shape.”
Fury sighed. “Send me the location and room number. I’ll have someone come and collect her. Whatever you do, do not give them any information about who she is. Clean her up as best you can, and I’ll have a clean-up crew handle the room.”
“Understood, sir,” Bucky said, hanging up.
Setting his phone down, Bucky ran his hand over his face before standing and walking to the bathroom. He turned on the water at the sink, allowing it to warm up while he grabbed a couple of the small face towels. Wetting each and wringing them out, he shut off the water and walked back to the bed. Bucky gently began to wipe the dried blood off Harper’s exposed skin.
As he cleaned off her face, he heard a quiet groan escape her lips. Bucky froze. His heart was beating faster than usual as he looked at Harper. “Hey, Angel, stay with me, okay?” he whispered softly. Bucky placed his hand in hers, wrapping her fingers around his palm. “I know you’re weak, but if you can hear me, please, try to squeeze my hand. Or twitch your fingers. Something,” he begged her.
Harper tried her best to close her hand around his, only able to curl her fingers a little. Her eyes flitted open briefly, and he felt a pang of hope. “You’re okay, Angel. I need you to keep fighting for me. We’re going to get you out of here and fixed up. I promise, okay?” Harper moaned again in response, squeezing his hand as best she could.
Once Bucky had gotten her as cleaned up as he could, he set about packing up all of her things. He picked up the room and ensured everything was where it needed to be. There was a knock at the door that took his attention. Approaching it carefully, he looked out the peephole to see a pair of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on the other side. Bucky opened the door and ushered them inside.
“We’re going to take her out the back door and directly into our van. She’ll be transported to the hangar, where we will be getting her onto a quinjet to fly her back to New York. Fury said you could fly back with her, if you want,” one of the agents explained to Bucky.
“Yeah, okay. What about clean-up in here?” Bucky asked.
“We have a team coming in. Just give us your room keys, and one of the agents will check her out once the room is clean,” he replied.
Bucky nodded at him and handed the man the two room keys. The agents thanked him, carefully picked up Harper, and walked out of the room. The second they were gone, Bucky grabbed her bag and made his way to the front of the hotel. He avoided the front desk and quickly got into his car to follow the van to the S.H.I.E.L.D. hangar.
Within two hours of Bucky calling Fury, he and Harper were back at the Avenger’s Tower safe. Bruce was hard at work figuring out just how extensive Harper’s injuries were. While he worked on the scans and tests, Bucky stayed by Harper’s side, watching the monitors, waiting for any answers Banner could give him.
Clint walked into the room while a nurse was cleaning up a few more wounds on Harper. “What happened, Barnes?” he asked, concerned.
“Why do you care?” Bucky asked him sharply, looking at him coldly.
“She’s my sister. Why wouldn’t I care about her?” Clint replied simply.
“You didn’t seem overly concerned when Fury told you he was worried something happened,” Bucky snapped. “What if I hadn’t overheard? Huh? What if I hadn’t flown down there to find her? If it had been left to you, she’d be dead, Barton!”
Clint put his hands up defensively. “Okay. Yeah. You’ve got a point. But she’s still my sister. We may not like each other, but I still love her,” Clint admitted quietly. Bucky stared at him for a moment in silence before turning away. “Do you know what happened?” Clint inquired after several minutes.
“No,” Bucky said bluntly, shaking his head slowly. “I took a shot in the dark that she still used the same alias, and I knew she only ever stayed at the most expensive hotels. By the time I got to her, she was unconscious and barely breathing.” Bucky paused for a long moment before continuing. “I called Fury, got her cleaned up as best I could, and we came back here. The doctor has her in a medically induced coma, but there’s no telling how bad things are yet.”
“Shit,” Clint muttered, running a hand through his hair. He glanced at the monitors and frowned. After a few minutes of silence, Barton turned to leave. “If anything changes, let me know,” he called over his shoulder. Clint looked back at Bucky with a somber expression as he stepped through the door. “Thanks, Barnes,” he added, closing the door as he left.
