Hey all!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters or anything from the Marvel universe. I'm just a fan who fancied writing up what I'd like to happen with Bucky after Captain America : The Winter Soldier, which is where my Fic starts. Right from the end of Movie 2. So I hope you enjoy what you read. #MatureContent.
Bucky hadn't exactly been thrilled when he'd arrived back and been told he had someone to see him, he'd been even more annoyed when Sam had walked out of the back room. Toni hadn't seen him react like he'd done before, before she could blink he'd gotten a hold of a knife from the counter and had it pressed against Sam's throat. It'd taken a little more convincing that she'd thought it would have to get him to let Sam go and to trust he wasn't a threat to them but eventually they'd managed to sit down and talk like adults and not assassins.
After around about two hours of talking they'd finally managed to persuade Bucky to go and see Steve at Stark Tower. Sam arranged a car to pick them up and in no time at all Bucky was sitting impatiently and nervously in the waiting room of Stark Tower. His eyes glancing around every so often, marking the exits, the guards, the people, and above all else making sure Toni was within eyesight.
"Hey look at this..." Toni's voice echoed out in the foyer. Glancing over at her from the seating area he saw her standing looking over a large stone memorial wall. Pushing himself up he made his way over to her. His eyes falling on the memorial.
Wall of Valor.
In honor of the members of S.H.I.E.L.D who gave their lives in the service of humanity.
Bucky frowned slightly at the list of names, but one in particular caught his eye. "No..." He whispered, his hand reaching up to lightly brush against the name on the wall.
James "Bucky" Barnes.
He could feel the anger beginning to well up inside him, the memories of what he'd done in the service of liars and killers who had corrupted and twisted him. Twisted him into someone who wasn't worthy to even be in this room with these people let alone on that wall. The guilt, the pain, the betrayal he felt to his own country. To Steve. His friends. It all hit him in that one moment and it took everything he had to push that emotion deep down, to stop the watering of his eyes and harden himself to it. His fists and jaw clenched tightly as he finally spoke.
"That's a lie. I was never a member of S.H.I.E.L.D...and I don't deserve to be on this wall with these people, some of them I probably put on there." His voice was cold and hard as he raised his hand, the one Hydra had given him, the weapon they'd forced on him, and he pushed his metal digit against the concrete of his name and scrubbed it out, leaving nothing but a messy line where his name used to be.
"Bucky don't!" Toni cried out and grabbed his arm, attempting futilely to stop him. "Why would you do that? Bucky you were a hero, you fought and died for your country-"
"No, I fought for Steve. I fought because it was the right thing to do, because I wanted people safe. And then I killed people Toni, then I slaughtered my own people, my own -friends-." As he spoke the last part his eyes fell back to the wall, the name Howard Stark bolder than all the other names on the wall. "Stop telling me it wasn't me...because..."
"Everything alright here you two? Ah I see you found the Wall of Valor, Stark had the last one that wasn't damaged brought here to show his support for S.H.I.E.L.D and all they've done...well...it wasn't damaged..." Sam's voice came from behind them both, halting them mid conversation. "Anyway everyone's ready if you want to follow me downstairs? Starks decided to join us, and Pepper. Hope that's okay, just as a safety precaution but I think Stark just wants to get a look at the mechanics on your arm."
"Tony Stark." Bucky spoke his name but it wasn't really a question, he was just saying it to himself. How was he going to face him? The man who's parents deaths he was responsible for. Glancing to Toni, Bucky took a deep breath and nodded as she clasped his hand in hers, she was his rock. His one support in all this, and he was so thankful for her.
They headed down the staircase and to a small elevator shaft, Sam scanning a card against the side before they entered. The classical elevator music beginning to play as they made their way down to wherever it was they were going. The bell rings and the doors opening.
"Welcome to the new S.H.I. " Sam spoke as they stepped out of the elevator and into a large room, with corridors sprouting off in all directions. Armed guards at each wall. Bucky stepped a little closer to Toni, still not 100% trusting these people.
"Follow me" Sam said before leading them down one of the corridors to the left, and then right, and then another left and another. They hadn't seen anyone down here at all when suddenly a woman stepped out, footering with an iPad she accentually bumped into Sam.
"Oh! Jeeze I'm sorry" she laughed a little and glanced up from her iPad, "Oh hey Sam. How's things?" She smiled brightly and stepped back.
"Can't really talk right now Skye, in the middle of something..."
"Aren't you going to introduce me?" Skye grinned and stepped around him, holding her hand out to Toni. "Hi, I'm Skye."
Toni glanced at Sam before she took Skye's hand and shook it, "I'm Toni." Skye turned to Bucky and smiled, her hand out. Bucky looking down at it for a moment before deciding it would be rude not to shake. Taking her hand in his robotic one and shaking lightly. Skye's eyes suddenly zoning in on his hand.
"You're..." Her eyes shot back up and Bucky wasn't sure what it was but he thought it was fear in her eyes.
"You're James Barnes!" She spoke excitedly, shaking his hand with enthusiasm. "It's an honor to meet you. I have read everything about you I could find on the internet and Steve talks about you non stop. Seriously, we can't get him to shut up about you. I even know about that time when you were both twelve and you-"
"Kinda busy here right now Skye, we're just headed to see Steve" Sam interjected before she could finish the embarrassing story. Rolling her eyes at Sam she stepped back and smiled to Toni and Bucky.
"Okay I better go anyway, May and I are taking the jet to Cairo to deal with Sharmen. I'll brief you later Sam." She began to head off and then turned back, "Hope I see you guys again soon!" She called back.
Sam just shook his head and they moved on. Stopping outside door #7254.
"Okay, you ready?" He asked, his hand on the handle. Bucky took Toni's hand and nodded his head. Sam opening the door slowly and they stepped inside.
There he stood. Steve Rodgers. Captain America. Punk kid from Brooklyn. His eyes met Bucky's and they both stood staring at one another in silence. The entire room watching them both. Tony and Pepper sitting at the table behind Steve. Toni and Sam beside Bucky.
The conflict inside Bucky's mind was intense, on the one hand it felt as if he was seeing Steve for the first time since his fall, on the other he knew the truth. The knew what Steve's face had looked like, beaten and battered from his own hands. How he'd refused to fight him. How he'd then shot Steve.
Bucky's voice caught slightly as he spoke first, breaking the silence.
"Hey, Punk..."
Steve's face which had been carefully calm and non-expectant morphed instantly into a half smile before he replied.
"Jerk."
And that was it, they both stepped forwards together instinctively and embraced tightly, so tightly that if they'd been hugging anyone but the other they'd probably have crushed them.
"I'm sorry Steve. I'm so sorry." Bucky whispered to his friend as they pulled back, Steve's hand on Bucky's shoulder.
"No, I'm sorry. I should have done something, gone back and searched for you after..."
"You had a war to end. People where counting on you, we were so close to finishing it. None of this was your fault Steve and don't ever think it was."
Steve looked back at Bucky, the old Bucky. He could see him there, in his best friends eyes. He was there. "So what's with the poodle hair? You trying to win a prize for best in show?" Steve smiled playfully and eyed Bucky's quiff, joking like old times.
"You're one to talk, you've let yourself go the past 70 years..." Bucky smirked and patted Steve's stomach with the back of his hand, smiling to his friend and he really felt that for the first time everything would be okay.
"Well if you two gramps are finished" Tony got up and Pepper followed, padding over to Bucky. Bucky was suddenly struck for a moment as the man approached. His face...he knew it couldn't possibly be but the name left his lips before he could stop himself.
"Howard?" his eyes widening slightly.
"Tony actually," he spoke and his eyes ran over Bucky. Not in a sexual manner but in a very methodical way. Like an engineer working on a piece of machinery
"Tony" Pepper spoke in annoyance, catching his attention. "You're being rude. How about we give Steve and James some time to catch up and if he feels like it later and you ask nicely maybe he will let you take a look at him arm."
Tony sighed dramatically and shrugged, "Alright, I'll hive the golden oldies some privacy." Pepper smiled to them and took Tonys arm leading him out of the door.
"And how about we go get a cup of coffee?" Sam turned asking Antonia.
"Sure" She stepped over and took Bucky's arm. "You going to be okay if I go get some coffee with Sam?"
Bucky turned his head and smiled softly, "I'll be fine" he smiled and kissed her forehead. Mumbling a thank you before she and Sam left he and Steve alone.
Well hope you're enjoying it so far. Please leave a comment and tell me what you think. Good or bad I don't mind either really. {Winks} Catch you on the next chapter.