"Once a Soldier"
By darthelwig
*** I own nothing. I'm just having fun. ***
SPOILERS FOR BLACK PANTHER, so if you haven't seen it, you might wanna skip this.
Also, thank you to redromanova for telling me I could actually write this story!
He woke to sunlight streaming through a doorway and eyes staring down at him. His heart skipped a beat before registering the faces of children, not men, not people who wanted to hurt him. Not people who wanted to use him and break him and take away everything he was.
Who was he?
Sergeant James Barnes, 107th Infantry.
No. Not James.
Bucky.
"Who the hell is Bucky?"
My name is Bucky.
It felt good to have a name again, to be a man instead of a soldier. Instead of an assassin.
"Ready to comply."
I will never comply again.
Words ran through his head. Words he knew he should be afraid of, but which held no power over him anymore. Words he'd been cleansed of, a choke hold finally broken.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. The air felt good in his lungs, filling him with life, with calm.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Who am I?
My name is Bucky Barnes.
He could identify the noises outside now, the sounds of children playing and people going about their lives. No harshness, no punishments waiting for him, only peace.
He stepped outside into the sun, let its warmth penetrate. He hated the cold, didn't want to feel the biting touch of ice anymore. This was a good place, warm and wholesome. He wasn't wholesome, but he could enjoy being around it all the same.
Shuri waited for him, greeted him as a soldier. He didn't want to be a soldier anymore.
Who am I?
"Bucky," he said quietly, correcting her. He wanted to be Bucky. He got to have a choice now, and that's what he chose.
My name is Bucky Barnes.
I used to be a soldier. I don't know what I am anymore.
I think that's okay. I think I can be whatever, whoever, I want.
What do I want?
I'm not sure. But I'm free now to find out.
He couldn't help but smile a little as he allowed Shuri to lead him away.