Entry tags:

-complete, -gamewide plot, bucky barnes, peggy carter, steve rogers

Who: Steve, Peggy, & Bucky
What: 🎶 Dust in the Wind 🎶 or alternatively 🎶Another One Bites the Dust 🎶
When: Sunday, 8/19
Rating/Warnings: Yellow? Orange? They're both kinda dying again. Slightly traumatic.

To say Peggy was nervous was an understatement. She’d spent nearly every day since she’d arrived in this universe trying to learn what she could about what she’d missed. The internet, while helpful, was also quite distracting. While she naturally had spent plenty of time with Steve, she had yet to meet up with any of his friends But tonight was going to be different. Jane Foster was having her birthday party and had graciously let Steve bring Peggy as his date. She’d nearly fainted with excitement when he asked. A chance to finally meet and hang out with all of his friends? A chance to be with Steve as a couple around other people… a chance they’d never gotten before.

“I swear, I’m almost ready.” She called out, walking back to her bedroom after letting both Steve and Bucky into her apartment. “I know, I realize, I said I’d be prepared ten minutes ago but-” She paused mid-stride. A tingly feeling traipsing down her body. “Odd.” She said softly, before plucking her other earring off her nightstand. It might be a bit old fashioned to default to a knee length red dress, but who would she be if she wasn’t a bit classic? Especially with the nice little fossil club they were turning out to be.

“How do I look?” She asked, placing a smile back over her features as she walked back out to them, clicking her earring into place and holding her arms out to the sides, twirling where she stood. Her eyes fell to Steve on default, as they always had. But she looked over at Bucky as well, his approval wanted too.

Fossil Club was certainly a statement they could get behind. Though Bucky was really trying not to be a third wheel, he had to support Steve and Peggy as best he could. He wanted their happiness. They deserved it more than anyone.

He wouldn’t be going to the party. He was just seeing them off, and making sure she got his present. Tony would be at the party and the last thing Buck wanted was for there to be any awkwardness at the poor thing’s birthday. It just wasn't the time or place. But she deserved at least a hug in person and a ‘happy birthday’. Besides, he had to pack and meet up with Natasha and Wanda before they’d set off for Wakanda. He was more vibrant than normal about it. As much as he loved the city and being back with his friend, Wakanda was just...safe. A sanctuary, and peaceful.

He owed T’challa and Shuri everything. So he would help them protect it, and make sure Wanda and Natasha were fine as well. Not that they needed him.

Bucky felt something odd within the vibranium arm and curled his fingers. He shouldn’t have been feeling anything. He had no nerves linked to the technology. Maybe it was just doing..sciencey things. “You look great, Peg. Steve would have to hold onto you tight if everyone else there didn’t already have a lady.” He gave her the best smile he could, which wasn’t bad, because it was genuine.

Steve had been silent primarily because he couldn’t stop staring. God she was beautiful. He had always thought that, but he had never thought he’d get to see it in person again. He was pretty sure there was a stunned stupid look on his face that Buck would give him a hard time later about, but he didn’t care.

“Maybe I’ll hold her tight just because I can,” he managed to say in an undertone without stumbling over his words.

Steve himself was wearing a neatly pressed button down and slacks. It was about as dressed up as he got. He took a deep breath in that threatened to strain those buttons a bit then let it out with a smile. “Shall we?” he held his arm out to Peggy as he looked to Buck.

“Wish you were coming, but I understand. These guys can get overwhelming.” There was a very good reason he skipped out on his own birthday party, but Pepper had told him later that getting everyone in one place was her present to him so he could have a night of peace and quiet.

Peggy felt her cheeks blush at Bucky’s approval. But it was hard to tear her eyes away from Steve. Some things and some feelings never changed. “Thank you, Bucky. And you,” She moved towards Steve. “You can hold me however and whenever you’d like.” A large smile fell over her features but was quickly replaced with frowning again. Was she ill? She’d never felt this way before.

“Something’s wrong-” She said softly, eyes flitting to Bucky momentarily before finding Steve’s again. Her arm moved to slip through his elbow as she almost lost her balance. “Something-” She looked down, unable to process what she was seeing. Her own hand falling away to dust. “No no no,” She whispered, looking at the other hand curled around his arm as it began to do the same. “Darling-” but she was gone.

These two were certainly something else. It made Bucky feel warm that his friend was happy with a great gal. He smiled sheepishly and stared off in different directions between their flirting to give them some space. Now he knew how Steve felt when he’d been trying to get him to go out on dates with him. Only, this was just for support.

He glanced back over to them when Peggy said something was the matter, their eyes meeting momentarily with worry as he moved closer behind Steve to see what he could do. “Peggy..”

Buck had tried to move on her other side to help steady her as best as he could, eyes moving from hers to Steve’s. Feeling utterly worthless to help her and..very sick inside. He couldn’t even respond to watching her fade to dust before them as his own hand began to disintegrate, just as it had in his dream. Damn.

He looked back up to his friend, hoping to give him some reassurance. “Steve, it’s alright..it’ll be..” but the fade of dust collapsed entirely in what used to be his body. And he was gone too.

“Peggy!” Steve reached for her and caught nothing. He began to breathe heavily as he felt as if his heart was crumbling into that same dust. He lost her! Again! And he’d had her back just long enough for this to hurt as much as when Bucky had fallen from the train.

His best friend’s voice made Steve look at Bucky with panic and turmoil in his eyes. At least he still had someone he cared about to turn to...and then.

“NO!”

Steve thrust a hand out for Bucky as he watched his best friend turn to dust right in front of him. Just like he had just watched the only woman he had ever loved. Again, Steve watched his best friend die. Again, he couldn’t stop it.

Bucky and Peggy.

Something inside Steve snapped.

”NO!!!!”