PART 2 – THE END OF SHIELD
The Question
(In which they argue)
"Are you going to go see him? Cap misses you, you know. He thought he was the only one left, that his best friend was dead-"
"His best friend is dead," Bucky cut her off, his voice hard and cold and brittle like ice threatening to crack. Skye wasn't sure what would happen if she pushed too far- whether there was more risk of him breaking or him breaking her. He gestured toward the memorial display. "That- that isn't me. Not anymore. That man died and they built me in his place. I'm not his friend, I'm not a person; I'm a soldier, a weapon. There isn't anything of that man left in me."
"Bull," Skye said, undeterred. "I saw the look on your face when Steve jogged your memory. You saved him in the end. You saved me. And here you are, seeking out your past. You wouldn't have done any of that if you were just a weapon. You wouldn't have cared. I can't imagine Steve holding anything that's happened against you. None of it was your fault." Bucky didn't respond beyond an increase in tension and Skye sighed. "You know he's never going to stop looking for you, right? It'd save everyone a lot of time and trouble if you just gave in and talked to him." Still no response. She waited as his stubbornness slipped slowly into uncertainty and then seemed to get stuck.
"Come on," Skye urged. We'll go together. Captain America can't be that hard to find." At least not for someone with Coulson on speed dial. Bucky stared at her outstretched hand long enough to make her feel fidgety, then he ever so carefully wrapped his metal hand around hers. Skye wasn't sure why he hadn't used his good hand- maybe he was testing her- but it wasn't as though she minded. He wasn't going to hurt her. She tightened her grip on the cool, smooth metal and flashed him a grin. He let her tug him towards the door, only glancing back once at the memorial that marked the man he used to be.
