Chapter 9

It was morning and James had slept on the floor in the boy's room. Sure there was a bunk bed but if anything happened his reaction time would have been slowed. Also where he had been seated offered a good view of the door and any intruder. Natasha hadn't stayed for long after their conversation and James had drifted off not long after. His head lolled to the side, hitting a dresser knob, which woke him up.

Bleary eyes focussed quickly. The boy was awake and sitting on the bed watching him while he clutched the bear. James stretched slightly and then indicated that they best get ready for the day. He was again met with silence and wondered if the boy refusing to talk was psychosomatic. It seemed highly likely as the rapid healing would have dealt with any complications.

James opened the wardrobe and took out new clothes for the kid. Blatantly he knew he had to give the boy a name since he couldn't keep calling him kid but he also realized that the kid had an actual father out there that didn't know he existed. He figured Tony might want to give his son a name and wouldn't exactly take kindly to James deciding that part. 'Maybe a nickname would suffice.' James thought.

"Cиний," he tested out as he stared at the kid. The boy looked back at him and cocked his head to the side in a confused manner. "Siniy. It's Russian for blue." he explained and gestured to the bear the kid was holding. It wasn't the most creative nickname, and James had no doubt in his mind that he probably sucked at naming things, but it would have to do. He didn't expect the child to smile at him though. He gave the kid the clothes and the towel before instructing him to go downstairs and wait.

James then proceeded to his own room next door to get his stuff. As he stepped into the room he put his gun back under the pillow and then quickly checked his phone. He was surprised to find a text from an unlisted number and once opening it he saw a text containing the contact information of a Miss Potts. From the Hydra files he had memorized he knew of only one Potts that was high profile enough for Hydra to take notice.

'Virginia Potts, threat level Gamma,' His mind supplied as he clicked the call button. The phone rang twice before a woman's voice answered. The voice sounded stilted though.

"Miss Potts?" James asked.

"Sergeant Barnes I presume," The woman uttered as she kept her voice steady. "I didn't think we'd be hearing from you so soon."

"The sooner the better really." James said. "I've heard from a reliable source that Dr. Stark has a way of neutralizing Extremis." He wasn't going to beat around the bush with this matter. Miss Potts actually made a startled sound at this and then asked in a rather clipped tone asked "Why would you want that?"

"We found two kids being experimented on in an active Hydra facility in Brazil. One of them we know has Extremis, an unstable version of it, the other is still inconclusive. I have a copy of the files with me. These children need help and Stevie is being an ass about it. He wants to send them to the new SHIELD Fury is setting up."

"They'd be lab rats!" Miss Potts hissed as she seemed to be thinking the same thing James had been. "No, No, I won't allow it. I may not like you Barnes but you earned my respect here. You get these kids to the Avengers compound and I'll get Tony on board."

"Dr. Stark is more involved with these kids than you know," James added quickly. "It's not something I can discuss over the phone though. I'm not gonna lie to him about it but this matter is rather delicate."

"I'm not letting you hurt him again," Miss Potts stated. "When you get to the compound you can tell me first."

"That sounds fine. As long as he knows in the end," James stated.

"I'll have SI lawyers look into your case Barnes," Potts said as more of an afterthought. "By the time you get here they will have a viable defense ready for you given that you rejected the first pardon. Consider this a quid pro quo."

"I honestly wasn't expecting anything in return," James muttered and then frowned. "And what did you mean about the first pardon?"

The line went silent on Miss Potts' end for a bit before James could make out several curses. "Can I get back to you on that? Friday will send you the compound coordinates." The line went dead afterwards and James slowly realized that he might have opened a new can of worms.

A new text came in with coordinates as James headed downstairs with his toiletries. The kid stood awkwardly at the foot of the stairs, not walking further into the open space where Steve and the others were making breakfast.

"Bucky can we talk?" Steve asked when he spotted them.

"Later Steve, let me and the kid freshen up and eat first." James told him and Steve nodded. The guys were using the downstairs bathroom and the ladies had the one upstairs. When James entered the somewhat spacious bathroom he was met with an odd sight. There was Clint cooing at the baby girl while trying to change her diaper.

"Ah damnit, I remember that this used to be easier!" Clint muttered as baby powder nearly sprayed in his face.

"Need some help?" James asked as he watched the baby girl giggle. Clint though startled at the question and shot James a glare for being the silent type. Hey, he was an assassin. Some habits are hard to unlearn.

Clint finished up and James and the child got to finally use the bathroom. It didn't take them long to get ready for the day and soon they joined the others at the table where there was scrambled eggs and bacon available. Given how much super soldiers ate both Steve and James' plates were packed. The boy looked wide-eyed at this however.

"So what did you want to talk about?" James asked as he sat across from Steve.

"I think we should go to Wakanda. You know, take up T'Challa's offer." Steve suggested as the others listened in while eating.

"You want to take the kids to Wakanda?" James frowned. He didn't know much about the country but according to Steve who got a look at the Wakandan jet it seemed they were very technologically advanced.

"No. No, not the kids, just you," Steve confessed as he looked James straight in the eye while seeming to sound somewhat guilty. "You've been acting weird Bucky. I'm sure if they take a look at you you'd be back to your old self."

The table fell silent as James sputtered. His eyes narrowed at Steve and he set his fork down lest he stab someone. The most likely candidate being someone star spangled. "Did you just suggest I need fixing?!" The question was asked in a normal voice but there was a deadly edge to it.

"It's just… you're not you," Steve muttered. "The Bucky I know wouldn't speak Russian or be this anti-social."

"Steve when are you going to get it through your thick skull that I'm not the Bucky you knew?!" James hissed. "I don't even like you calling me Bucky. He died when he fell from the train."

"Bucky….."

"Damnit Steve, seventy years of torture changes a man!" James' fist slammed on the table shaking the silverware. "I may have memories of before Hydra but that's not me anymore. You're in complete denial," He scoffed. "You need to get it through your head that I can never be the Bucky you want. Even you changed Steve and not for the better. I remember a short spitfire of a friend that shoved newspapers in his shoes and stood up for what was right. Now, now.. You're a muscled blockhead who lost those values and is stuck in the past. All you see in me is the memorialized version of a friend you used to have and you are too stubborn to accept the friend you could have had,"

"James," Sam started to reach out but the Soldier jerked away.

"I'm done," James hissed. "I can't stay here anymore. I'm gonna take the kids and do what is right."

"The kids aren't going anywhere!" Steve shouted.

"Try and stop me Steve. I dare you," James shot back as he told the boy to go upstairs and pack.

"I'll get you the car seat," Natasha said as she too stood up much to Steve's surprise.

"You're agreeing with him?!" Steve asked with a bewildered expression.

"If it will save these kids' lives then yes," Natasha said as she walked away from the table and upstairs as well.

Once again there was an awkward silence around the kitchen table. Sam looked at Steve like he had grown a second head. Clint was staring into his drink and Lang was purposely avoiding Steve's gaze. Only Wanda wasn't quiet. Instead she leaned over to Steve and whispered something in his ear. Moments later Steve stood up and went upstairs too.

"What did you say to him?" Sam questioned the Witch who just raised a brow and replied. "I just said he has to make it right," Sam thought that meant that Steve was going to apologize to James. Oh how wrong he was.