Chapter 8 - Boat Ride


Back in his room, Bucky sat on the bed, remembering the wonderful night he had just had. He had been dancing, with Steve. He had never thought that he would be given a chance to pursue something he actually wanted, or ever be given the freedom to enjoy the things he wanted to enjoy. It felt a little bit like heaven. Just then, there was a knock at his door. Bucky opened it to once again see the face of Steve.

"Hey, Buck." he greeted. "Just wanted to say I had a really great time with you tonight." Bucky quickly got out his notepad and wrote,

'Me too'

Cap smiled. "You're actually a pretty wonderful dancer." he said, and Bucky playfully rolled his eyes. "No, I mean it." Steve said with a smile. "Anyway, I was wondering, would you like to spend some time with me tomorrow? Nat's gonna be at… work… all day, so, I won't be busy." Bucky nodded enthusiastically. "Great! I'll see you tomorrow, bud." he said and left Bucky in peace. Bucky closed the door and leaned against it, letting out a sigh as he slid down it. I love you, Steve… He wanted to cry out loud. But for now, it was nice to keep his innermost feelings to himself.

Later that night, Steve tossed and turned in his bed, thoughts keeping him awake. It was Bucky, he couldn't stop thinking about him. What was it about him that was so captivating? It was his eyes; they were so beautiful, like they were made of glass. Where had he seen those eyes before? No. His heart belonged to whoever had saved him from the sea that night, the saviour with the beautiful voice, no one else. Still, Steve couldn't stop thinking about the strange, silent… amazing man in the next room, and Steve allowed himself to think about the night they had shared until his mind became clouded by sleep.

The next morning, Nat headed back to the SHIELD base and Cap and Bucky made for town. The two had spent the entire morning together, walking around the outskirts of town and through the woods. Cap would ask questions about Bucky and he would write his answers, and Bucky would write questions for Steve to which he'd reply. It seemed that the two just couldn't get enough of each other's company. Steve had bought two plums and Bucky finally got to taste one; it was delicious. Even though he couldn't talk, Steve never felt bored in Bucky's presence, his smile alone told him so many things. The two had played several games of chess on one of the public park tables, all of which Bucky won. Steve had asked if they could stop and sit on a bench for a while so he could draw a picture of the woods, however when he turned his sketchbook around to show Bucky, Bucky saw that Cap had actually drew him instead.

Zemo had been keeping an eye on the duo the entire day, with Bucky giving him a thumbs up behind Cap's back whenever the two caught eyes, and Zemo pumped his fist in response, mouthing a 'Yes!' As he did so.

The two were so lost in each other's presence, they hadn't noticed that the sun was beginning to set, until Bucky did. The second day… he thought to himself. Pick up the pace, Buck! He suddenly remembered Zemo's advice from the day before about the boat-rides. But how was he going to get there without sounding like a lovesick, imposing, pesky nuisance? Luckily he didn't have to, as Steve suggested it before he could.

"Hey, do you wanna go down to the boats? Pretty sure they're free to use tonight." said Steve, and Bucky nodded, though when Cap turned his head Bucky folded his hands in prayer and mouthed a 'Thank you!' To the sky.


Down at the docks, Bucky saw Zemo get into his own boat nearby, and Zemo gave him a look that said 'I got your back'. The early evening had grown cold, and Steve offered Bucky his hoodie jacket, of which he politely refused, but gave in when Steve insisted. Steve and Bucky hopped into their own little boat. As they rowed along the water, someone from another boat connected their music player to a portable speaker for everyone on the water to listen to. The song that sang out from the speaker was Kiss The Girl from The Little Mermaid, and Bucky looked over to Zemo who smirked and gave him a thumbs up, and Bucky's suspicions were confirmed as he saw that Zemo was the one holding the speaker. Bucky didn't know what the song was, or even where it was from, but it sounded adorably romantic.

Bucky and Steve stared into each other's eyes as the rhythm of the water beneath them floated them both along.

"Appropriate music selection." Cap said "Considering we're in a boat and all." the two fell back into silence again, until Steve once again broke it. "You know, yesterday, I would have given anything to find the person who saved me. But now, I'm more comfortable being with you." Bucky's eyes lit up, and he nodded enthusiastically. For such a usually stone-faced guy, Bucky had smiled more in the last few days than in the last few years. It felt good. "So… what's your favourite colour?" Cap asked, and Bucky wrote,

'Blue. What's yours?'

Cap thought and finally said "Yellow. Favourite music?"

'Frank Sinatra',

Bucky wrote, remembering his time as a normal citizen before the war, his memories fuzzy but somewhat there. "Marvin Gaye." Steve replied, and Bucky wrote,

'This changes everything…' and Cap laughed.

The water's current began to float the duo to a seperate part of the lake, where a canopy of trees and hanging plants formed a natural, private canopy and lagoon, and Bucky could tell that Zemo was rowing somewhere nearby with the speaker. The mini lagoon was home to dozens of tiny fireflies that lit up the air around them, and all the two could do was listen to the music and get lost in each other's eyes. Their boat began to float in circles as the water's current seemed to be on their side. The fireflies danced around them, and eventually, Steve and Bucky began to lean forwards and their hands fell into each other's, and their lips grew closer. As the song nearly reached its end, Cap and Bucky began to lean closer and closer together, their eyes slowly closing. Their lips were inches apart, then centimetres, then millimetres, then… SPLASH.

Bucky and Steve were taken aback as their boat suddenly overturned out of nowhere, breaking from their trance as the cold water practically slapped them in the face.

WHAT THE HELL?! Bucky screamed inside his own head. They had been so close! The water had been so still, how had the boat just flipped over like that? Although, Bucky had an idea how, which was confirmed as his head appeared above the water and he saw a wisp of purple fire disappear into thin air. The Witch had cheated him. The water at this part of the lake was shallow enough to stand in, and Steve helped Bucky to his feet.

"You ok, Buck?" Steve asked, and Bucky nodded, but his eyes were fixed on the spot where the Witch's magic had disappeared.


Meanwhile, the Scarlett Witch observed Bucky through a ball of fire that she balanced between her hands.

"That was too close, Wanda." she said to herself. Only she knew her real name. Well, Pietro had, and her parents, oh so long ago… "Looks like our little soldier is off to quite a start. Hmm… this is going to be harder than I thought. Well, it's time that poor little orphan Wanda took matters into her own hands!" she exclaimed in ferocity. "I will have his soul. The soul of a broken heart possesses the most powerful magical amplifier of all, greater than any Norn stone. Once his little kiss goes amiss, then I'll have him, and the power from his pathetic, lifeless body with enhance my magic so much, even Thanos himself cannot stop me!" her laugh echoed off of the jagged walls of her cave, the ceiling covered with stalactites. The bodies of her past victims lay dead and impaled on the stalagmites protruding from the ground, their blood spilling from their insides and staining the rocky floor a permanent shade of red, their eyes wide and forever open.

"Don't worry, my friends." she said to her graveyard of bodies. "Soon you'll have a new friend to play with." she cackled horribly into the night, clutching her fist around the locket that held Bucky's voice, and it began to glow brighter.


Back at the inn, Bucky sat on the end of his bed, his face in his hands. He had been so close. So close to reaching something good happen in his life. He was so close to getting his voice back, to being with Steve, to finally being happy. He should have known that Witch wouldn't play fair. Why did he even accept this bargain? He could've told Steve that he was the one who had saved him and just kept his arm covered… but that would have lead to some explaining to do when the arm would inevitably be revealed. Bucky had been so sure that Steve wouldn't trust him if he knew his was the Winter Soldier, the man he had fought and tried to kill, but now he wasn't even certain of that any more.

If only you could just know… He thought to himself as he pressed his head further into his knuckles. It was me, I saved you. I saved you. I saved you… Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and he went to answer it, expecting Steve, but instead it was Zemo.

"James." He began. "May I come in?" he asked, and Bucky nodded, closing the door behind him. "James, I'm sorry about what happened earlier today. I was so certain you and Steve had made it, and then when you didn't, I… I don't know what to say." Zemo said with a sigh. "If only I could, I'd waved my hand and make everything alright. I just wanted you to know that, and I'm still going to try and help you." Bucky nodded and tried his hardest to crack a smile, despite his pain. "I wish you the best of luck, James, and if I may, I'd like to say the the key to happiness is not to wish for impossible things." Zemo said, and left the room, leaving Bucky to his own emotions. Swarms of tears threatened to fall, but Bucky wouldn't let them. He was strong. He had to be strong, for Steve...


Steve walked along the beach, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man who had saved him. He had come to the beach again the previous night after he had visited Bucky, and he was desperate to know that his saviour was near him. Natasha had come down with him to search, as she needed to clear her head after the long day of work she had done. Her day had been stressful and hadn't made any progress on locating the Witch.

"I just don't get it, Nat." said Steve "Where could he be?" Natasha sighed.

"I wish I knew, Cap. But all I can say is that, better than any dream person, there's one of flesh and blood right up the hill. He's sweet, caring, and quite real, I can assure you. I need to get some sleep." she almost snapped, the stress from the day getting to her, and she headed back up the trail.

Cap looked back at the spot where Nat had left, and considered her words. It had only been two days, but Bucky had made Steve feel more happy and comfortable than he had been in ages. Every time he thought about Bucky, his heart began to beat faster. Nat was right. Steve was grateful to whoever had saved his life, but his heart belonged to Bucky, and he started to head back up the mountain trail to tell him so, when his mind went fuzzy. The Scarlet Witch clawed her hands in the air around Steve's head, the fiery magic from her fingertips travelling to his eyes and making them glow orange. Once the spell was done, Steve dreamily turned around, and saw a cute woman standing behind him. She had long, wavy red hair, a figure-hugging white t-shirt and flared jeans, and an adorable smile.

"Oh my gosh…" he started. "It's you! The one who saved me! I can't believe I found you!" Wanda greeted him with a beautiful smile, without Steve knowing that it was really a malicious grin deep down.

"Yes, Steve, It's me. I can't believe I found you either!" she said, and the two held hands, Steve's orange eyes glowing even brighter as she pulled him closer…