"um, steve?" bucky spoke, a tear surfacing in his eye. "sorry.."

the male collapsed to the ground, his eyes dazed as he stared to the sky. his hands cradled his abdomen, a dark red stain appearing on his outfit. a slow trickle of blood care from the side of his mouth.

"bucky?!" steve exclaimed. "help! somebody!"

the blond male dropped his shields, rushing to where bucky lay. bucky's breathing was ragged, it's pace fast and light, not slowing down any.

steve quickly removed his shirt, wrapping around the core of the injured male, pressing tightly on what appeared to be a gunshot wound.

"hey, you'll be okay. you'll be okay. it'll be okay," steve whispered quickly and quietly, his voice hoarse as his face dripped with tears. "you'll be fine. you're okay, buck."

"n-no, steve-" his words were interrupted by coughing, blood sputtering upon steve's face. "steve, i-i love you."

"bucky, i'll always love you," steve whispered, keeping his hands pressed to the wound, "now stop talking. you'll be okay."

"steve- i-i'm with you till-" coughs, ransacking his quickly weakening body, his eyes glistened with tears. "til the end of the line..."

"bucky- no! stop. now. you will survive. i am not losing you again. never again, buck." steve assured, his eyes a glare.

"steve, you need anything?" natasha whispered, touching her hand to his shoulder, "i'm here."

"get a medic, now," the blond ordered, nodding curtly as she rushed away. "c'mon, buck. you got this."

"st-steve-" bucky tried to speak, but was quickly interrupted by steve's lips on his.

"don't say anything. stop. you'll be okay," he inhaled, licking his lips, his stringy hair falling in front of his eyes.

"the beard is a nice touch," bucky smiled, "feels nice."

steve offered him a smile, still pressuring the wound with the quickly reddening cloth. he took deep breaths, tears springing to his eyes. he subconsciously bit the inside of his cheek, shaking his head.

"it's not the end of the line, buck. it's not. you can do it. live, damnit! bucky, come on," steve shouted, anger erupting in his words. "you won't die! i won't let you. i won't-i won't let you die."

"steve?"

"yeah?"

"i love you."

"i love you too."

the light faded from his eyes, blood pooling beneath the brunet. his mouth hung open, blood splattering his face, a faint trickle of the reddened liquid coming from his mouth.

"bucky? buck? no, no, no. god. no," steve whispered. "come on, bucky! come on. don't die on me! i believe in you."

the male was dead, his hand held limply against mother nature's face. a single year slipped from the eye of sergeant james buchanan barnes, and for once, he seemed peaceful. only in death.

"damnit, bucky. now you're at peace," steve whispered. "i love you."

and for once, no response came.