Not That Special

by TheSarcasticKnight

Doctors. Inhumans. A world-shattering identity crisis? It's smooth sailing for Aj Bradshaw as she settles at the Compound with her new found family. Aj is more than content with casual living, but she finds herself at a loss when secrets from her real family's past threaten to destroy her new one. Here's to hoping she can find answers before she becomes an orphan all over again.

14. Chapter 14

A/N: Early update! I'm noticing weekends have been hectic for me so let's shoot for Thursday/Friday updates? This chapter is a long one and there's a chance it's all sorts of wrong lolol. If you notice a mistake in the legal process trust me i probably already know it's wrong hahaha. It's also, despite having to try and figure out how the lawyer-ing works, my favorite chapter to have written in a while. Top 5 for sure. SO PLEASE LEAVE ME SOME THOUGHTS. Even if you don't tend to leave comments on the regular i would LOVE a quick little thumbs up and/or thumbs down lol.

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Chapter #14:

The People vs James Buchanan Barnes

---

"And if I'm being honest? I don't think you realize you love someone until you do.

I think that is what makes it so beautiful. There is no loud, screeching halt inside of your heart, no neon sign that suddenly lights up and lets you know that you have found your favorite thing.

No. I don't think it works like that.

I think it's quieter, calmer. One day you're just sitting across from someone, and you're watching them tell some story you've heard twenty times, and everything inside of you feels safe. Everything is serene, and peaceful, and you almost laugh to yourself, because in the midst of all of that chaos, you realize just how deeply you care about them.

In the midst of the crowd, or the background noise, or the chatter of other people in the restaurant, time slows down for a moment, and there it is.

There it is." –bianca sparacino

---

Matt Murdock spent a lot of time assessing threat levels. It was a habit now. Anytime he walked into a room, he couldn't help but scan the room looking for trouble. Just in case. Today was a unique situation where every single technical stranger around him could be considered huge threats. Matt didn't feel unsafe, he knew no one around him meant him or his friends any harm, but it was still an unusual feeling to have.

Steve Rogers was sitting diagonally to his left. The super soldier's heart was beating at the average rate of a normal human, but yesterday when he had come into the office it had been significantly slower. That told Matt that the man was nervous right now. On edge. Sitting diagonally from him to his right was Natasha Romanoff. The Black Widow. Her heartrate was steady, scarily so, but she sat too still in her chair. People tended to fidget and move around. The tenseness was a sign that she was ready to attack, if need be, at the drop of a hat.

Tony Stark and Aj Bradshaw were standing behind the small crew across from him quietly arguing in hushed tones. Matt focused back on the man directly in front of him though. James Buchanan Barnes. The Winter Soldier. He assumed the man had a similar heartrate to Steve Rogers, as a super soldier, which meant the quick paced one he was hearing was above average. Was he nervous or just frightened?

"Sergeant Barnes, can you tell us, in your own words, a little about your situation?" Foggy asked from his left. Karen was scribbling in her notebook to his right. "We've seen the news and spoke to Ms. Bradshaw briefly, but we'd like to hear it from you."

"Right." James Barnes cleared his throat. "In 1945, I…I fell from a train while on mission with Captain Rogers and the rest of the Howling Commandos…"

Matt listened to the man's voice as he told his tale. This was something that made him and Foggy such a good team. Foggy would listen to the words, get the story of the client, and Matt would listen to their voice. The tone. The shift in tenor. Those details told a story in and of itself. James' voice was rough, hoarse, but not in the way one's would be if they were trying to force out a lie. It sounded more like someone who was telling a story they didn't enjoy hearing from their own mouth. Every so often, he would hear the man's jaw clench, teeth grind together, or he'd hear him swallow or his voice crack.

"Thank you." Foggy cut in a few moments after James stopped talking. Making sure the man was completely finished. "I know all of this has to be incredibly difficult to share and we appreciate you speaking to us about it."

Matt could feel Foggy shift in his seat, looking at him to speak next. Foggy said the call was his own. From the way his old friend's voice sounded though, Matt had a feeling Foggy was already on the same page. Matt folded his hands together on the table before speaking, "Sergeant Barnes, I think I speak for my associate as well as myself when I say that we would be honored to represent you. I told this to Aj yesterday, but I think it would do you good to hear it as well," Matt paused, taking in the details he could from the people across from him. "The law was created to protect the majority, to hold our society to a standard, and for the most part I believe it does so well. However, there are cracks in the system where the law is unable to see an exception for what it is. It was built for black and white cases, and your situation is very much what one would consider gray." Matt nodded when he heard Aj take in a soft breath. "I think it's also important for us to say that we can see you were wronged. We're so sorry a man such as yourself, a man who has served this country—who has given everything for it… has been treated so terribly and we will do everything in our power to make sure the country, the world, sees you as for what you are in this case. A victim. A hero."

James opened his mouth, Matt heard his voice briefly crack again, "Thank you."

"This is just fantastic." Tony Stark clapped his hands a couple times. Excitement and happiness in his voice. "We got Ray Charles on board officially now."

"Jesus Christ, Tony." Aj snapped and Matt bit back a smile.

Not only would this be the biggest case they've ever taken, but it'd definitely be the most interesting as well. Working with the Avengers promised nothing less.

---

Muneeba held the files tight to her chest. The most important thing in her career was confidentiality. She took the responsibility of knowing her client's deepest, most painful moments very seriously. It's why when the defense attorney Tony Stark hired asked her for the information, she didn't just hand it over without thought. Still, gripping the files tightly, she stepped into the small conference room chin raised high. A man with dirty blond hair, combed neatly to the sides, stood from his chair with a welcoming smile. From the smile alone, Muneeba already liked this man more than the legal team she had first met some time ago.

She glanced at where Bucky slowly stood up to greet her as well. The lawyer caught her attention again, "Mrs. Khan thank you so much for meeting me. My name is Franklin Nelson of Nelson and Murdock. My partner couldn't join us today and I apologize for that."

"It's fine, I understand." Muneeba came into the room and chose to sit right beside Bucky. She wanted him to know that she was on his side in this. That she was his ally to use and that he was in control of what occurred next. "How are you today, Bucky?"

"Doing great, Muneeba. How was Kamala's science fair?"

"She won second place." Muneeba replied with a smile. It warmed her heart that he remembered, but it didn't surprise her. Bucky was always very thoughtful with little things of that nature. "How has your arm been treating you?"

Bucky rolled his shoulder, "It's been good."

Muneeba gave him another smile before turning to face the defense attorney, "Mr. Nelson, as I understand, you and your partner would like access to Sergeant Barnes' session files?"

"Yes ma'am." He nodded professionally. "We will be representing Sergeant Barnes in court—"

"Seriously." Bucky cut in. "You guys can just refer to me as Bucky. You know that Muneeba and I've already told you and Matt this half a dozen times, Foggy."

Foggy chuckled, "Sorry, force of habit!" Muneeba watched the interaction, and it made her shoulders relax. Seeing Bucky speak casually to the man was a good sign in her eyes. "Anyways, our plan is to build our defense completely and then once we know where we stand we will turn Bucky in to the authorities on good faith." Bucky nodded in agreement. "Using your session files, we'd like to show the jury that Bucky was not acting on his own free will. We'd also like to show them that he willingly engaged in therapy, of his own volition, before any of this even came to light. Whoever's idea it was to get him started on that, with you, was a genius. This is an incredible start."

Bucky snorted, "Nobody tell Wilson that. It'll go straight to his head."

"Bucky," Muneeba grabbed his attention, "I want you to make this decision. I am willing to hand over whatever you'd like me to hand over, discuss whatever you're willing for me to discuss with your lawyers, or hold anything back. You are in control of this narrative."

"Thank you." Bucky replied softly with a kind smile. "I've talked about it. With Steve, Aj, and the others. I'm willing to share everything. You can give Foggy and Matt all my files."

Foggy threw up a thumbs up sign, "You will not regret this, and I promise that we will share only what we deem necessary. If we don't think it will help our case, then we won't ever bring it up. We'll bury it."

"Thanks." Bucky nodded.

Muneeba slid the files across the desk top to him, "I'm old fashioned in the sense that I like to write out my notes and keep them on paper rather than electronically. I'm sorry." Foggy took the files, opening the first, and brushed off her apologies nonchalantly. "I'd also like the time to sit and talk through each file with you. I don't want anything to be misunderstood about this case."

Foggy's eyes widened, "Oh, wow, yes please. I would appreciate that so much, Mrs. Khan."

"You don't have to spend your time on this, Muneeba." Bucky whispered.

"I want to." She replied simply. "You're more than welcome to stay, but since you've given me your express permission you don't have to if you don't want to."

Bucky gave her a firm smile. She knew he didn't like to hear his own story over and over again. The man gave them both a quick word of gratitude and brief goodbye before leaving the room. Muneeba turned back to Foggy who had dug through his bag and pulled out a recorder, "Is it alright with you if I record this? Just so I get my facts straight and my partner is blind so having a voice recording of all this would be super helpful."

"I don't mind at all." Muneeba nodded. She cleared her throat and shifted in her seat, "James Buchanan Barnes. How much of his story do you know? Facts wise?"

"We know his story from his point of view. What we'd like to know now is your opinion on his mental state then and now."

Muneeba nodded, "James was held captive for a total of 70 years. He spent 70 years under that organization's thumb. For the first twenty years, he was tortured and broken. James doesn't remember many details of these years and I believe that's for the best. It seems those were the years that HYDRA spent trying to destroy everything that James was." She paused with a soft sigh. "Twenty years. Can you imagine that? For twenty years they tried to break him down and he resisted."

"I…I can't." Foggy shook his head with a frown, "I can't imagine. The strength it must have taken…"

"James feels guilty that he was never able to fight back better, to break control, but he doesn't seem to realize the amount of fight it took to hold himself together for twenty full years." Muneeba said. "The next fifty though… When they did break him, they had complete control of him, Mr. Nelson. James compared it to being stuck in the passenger seat of a car. Someone else was behind the wheel, driving his body committing those crimes, but no matter what he did he could never pull himself out of that seat. He was just forced to watch his hands do all those terrible things. Do anything and everything they commanded of his body. Under their command he was used as a weapon and called an asset, but they didn't treat him like one. They treated him like an animal. Brought out to attack and then caged and muffled and beaten when not being used."

Foggy wrote something down, making a note, and Muneeba could see the pain of a man with empathy flash in his eyes.

She continued, "Have you heard of Dissociative Identity Disorder?"

Foggy's hand froze mid word, and he slowly lifted his gaze to her, "That's the…fancy doctor word for Multiple Personality Disorder, isn't it?"

"It is, and since I am not a doctor I have no ability to diagnose anyone." Muneeba clarified. "Even if I were, I don't think James classifies as a DID patient entirely. He does have a few similar traits though. He has an alternate. In his mind, there is a… personality that refers to himself as Yakov."

Foggy pointed at her with the pencil, "You've…You've met Yakov?"

"No." Muneeba replied. "That's what differs. Yakov doesn't reveal himself like many alternates would. From what we've gathered, Yakov was created to protect James but he isn't the Winter Soldier."

Foggy nodded, "Oh. Okay. Can you explain this Winter Soldier thing better then? Is it just the name HYDRA called him while they controlled him?"

"Yes and no." Muneeba leaned onto the table. "It seems like there are three separate faces to view. There is James. Who we speak to every day, who is trying to heal. There is Yakov. Who has only one goal and that is to protect James. Regardless of what the price is. Finally, there is the Winter Soldier. There is programming in James' head, words that we are working on removing, but they would activate this Soldier mindset. The Soldier is less a personality and person and more a…mode, for lack of a better word. A cold and calculating mindset. This Soldier mode is what ties his hands and steals control. It makes him pliable to take orders and follow through. He is nothing but his mission. No personality, no motive. Just action." Muneeba spoke with her hands. "Yakov was the personality that was born to fill the Soldier's shoes. It was James' mind's way of protecting itself. A barrier to put between himself and the Soldier."

Foggy hummed in thought, "Wow. But you haven't spoken to this Yakov? Has…Has Bucky talked to him before…in his head or… I don't know how to ask this question?"

"I understand it's an odd scenario." Muneeba chuckled in agreement. "It's hard for him to recall. James thinks in his darkest moments, when his nightmares blend with reality, that he's spoken to Yakov before but never enough to recall it. Wanda, a young woman here, has spoken to Yakov. She was able to enter James' mind and found him there."

The man blinked in surprise, "Enter his…what?"

"Avengers, Mr. Nelson." Muneeba chuckled. "You get used to it."

"Right." He chuckled with a nod. "Can you tell us a little more about his nightmares?"

Muneeba was willing to talk as long as it took for these men to get a clear understanding of what James Buchanan Barnes had to deal with on a day-to-day basis. She should perhaps be concerned that the line between patient and friend had blurred so heavily, but Muneeba cared about the young man and wanted to do everything in her power to ensure he had a second chance at life.

Bucky deserved it.

---

Sometimes when Foggy was shoving as many marshmallows as he could into his mouth or when Matt was stumbling into the office in the morning with a busted nose, Karen forgot that her boys were real lawyers. More than just real lawyers, they were damn good at what they did. She was infinitely proud of them and watching them bury themselves away at Avengers Compound the last three days was proof of that. They had basically lived here, worked non-stop around the clock to build a case and now they were at the precipice.

It was nearly time to come forward and show their hand to the world.

On her way back to the conference room, she noticed Aj leaning against the railing zoned out while wringing her hands together. It was an unusual look. Matt and Foggy had described her as bold. Seeing her around here the last few days had been proof of that. Aj always looked so confident in her motions. Right now, she looked… scared.

"Aj?"

The woman's head snapped to the side to meet her gaze, "Oh, Karen, hey."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah." Aj nodded and Karen stepped closer to the shorter woman. She leaned against the railing, hands wrapped around the coffee she had left to get, "You get that from Sal's stand?"

Karen chuckled, "I did. I'm still trying to convince him to open up shop in Hell's Kitchen. I don't know what I'm gonna do without his coffee once we leave." There was an awkward beat of silence and Karen cleared her throat. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Aj forced out a chuckle, "I'm fine. Just…nervous, I guess."

"That's completely normal, you know."

"I know." Aj replied. "I just hate feeling useless and—and that's what I am here." Karen opened her mouth to argue, but the woman shook her head. "Bucky had surgery to fix his arm, his shoulder, and I was involved with that. Every step. It was something I understood and could grasp, but this is a whole new world." She let out a sad chuckle. "I don't have time to learn how to be a lawyer."

Karen reached out with the most reassuring smile she could wear and set a hand on her shoulder, "I don't know. From what I hear you're pretty determined. If you suddenly decided to learn how to be a lawyer I'm not sure much could stop you." Aj let out a soft laugh with a mild shake of her head. Karen squeezed her shoulder, "Look, Matt and Foggy are confident about this." She shook her own head. "…and I've seen them win cases they thought could be lost causes."

"I trust them. Believe me, I do." Aj nodded. "If anyone is gonna win this case for Bucky it's them. I just…"

Karen moved her hand to rub her back, "It doesn't chase away the nerves." She felt her phone buzz in her back pocket and pulled her hand away to see who it was. The name 'Frank Castle' flashed on the screen and her eyes widened. "Um…"

"Take it." Aj shrugged, her eyes glued to her clasped hands the entire time, "Even if you had the greatest pep talk of all time—" She glanced up with a small smirk. "—I'd still stay nervous. It's my nature."

"Are you sure?" Karen pressed.

"Positive." Aj pushed off the railing. "I told Steve I'd be meeting up with him soon anyways."

Karen gave her one last smile before answering the phone and holding it up to her ear. Aj walked past her, and she didn't speak up until the young woman was out of earshot, "Frank?"

His gruff voice responded, "I need a favor."

---

"I'll see you in court." Aj mumbled into his neck. Bucky let his right arm tighten around her as he closed his eyes and took in the moment. It had been agreed that he'd go through this trial without his prosthetic. Matt and Foggy thought it made him look less threatening to not have a metal appendage, and the lack of one arm could help a jury sympathize with him better. However, this meant that what could potentially be his last hug with Aj didn't feel complete. He didn't have both arms to squeeze her good-bye. Bucky didn't like thinking that way, but it couldn't be helped.

He forced himself to pull away because he knew if he didn't now he never would. His eyes drifted over the people in the room with him. People who cared. Family. A word Bucky didn't think he'd ever have the right to use, but no other word felt fitting. Wanda's eyes were rimmed red with unshed tears as her iris flashed the same color. She held on tightly to Star's small hand as the little girl stared up at him in mild confusion. Pietro wore a frown as he draped his arm over his sister's shoulders. Natasha and Clint were giving him reassuring smiles. Vision offered him a comforting nod, and even Tony had clapped his shoulder with a sarcastic quip and reassured him that he'd be paying whatever the bail ended up being.

Aj gave him another bright smile and he felt his breath catch in his throat as he quickly tried to memorize every inch of her features as if he hadn't done this a dozen times before. The sound of her heart washing over him was comforting. Bucky didn't deserve this kind of care, he knew it, yet here they were for him.

Steve was downstairs with Matt and Foggy. He was going with them into the city just in case. No one was really sure what would happen when Bucky turned himself in. Sam walked into the room, wearing his mission gear, and gave him a nod, "You ready, man?"

Bucky nodded once, not trusting his voice.

Sam and him stepped into the elevator and as the doors slid shut he tried to convince himself again that this wouldn't be his last time with them. That he would be back soon enough. Bucky didn't really consider himself an optimistic bastard these days, but he was trying to channel that energy best he could.

"You wanna know something I've been thinking a lot about?" Bucky glanced at Sam curiously. He shook his head, "You let Aj control all of your media intake and now you're watching shit like 'FRIENDS' with her. When this trial is over, we're having a monster movie marathon and I'm educating your dumb ass."

Bucky paused in surprise then a slow smile came to his lips. He nodded his head once, "Fine, Wilson. I'd love to see your shitty taste in movies."

Sam slapped him on the back as the doors opened. His eyes landed on Steve, in full uniform, standing beside his lawyers both in suit and tie. As Bucky stepped out of the elevator a brief moment of peace oddly washed over him. This was happening. Regardless of the outcome, this was justice. Either he'd be found not guilty and maybe then he could fully believe the people around him when they said he was innocent, or the jury would find him guilty and someone would be paying for the crimes.

This was going to be the turning point.

---

As it turns out, no matter how many tv shows and movies one watches about the US legal system it does not translate over as knowledge. Even google had only taken me so far. Like I had expressed to Karen days ago, it was one of the reasons why I found it so hard to reel in my nerves. I didn't understand exactly what was going on and that put me at a detriment. Worse, I was sitting in the galley behind Matt, Foggy, and Bucky with a half wall separating us. My hands might as well have been tied behind my back.

The one thing that did bring me comfort was I wasn't alone on this side of the wall. Everyone was here. Tony had even flown Pepper in to babysit Star at the Compound so the twins could be here with us. Vision had literally created a more human-esque disguise, something I didn't even know he could do, so he could join us without causing a commotion. The entire team, the entire family, was here in support, and Coulson had even sent undercover agents to work with the court's security just in case.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," The prosecution's lawyer, Laurel Briggs, rose to speak. She seemed like a charming woman. Neat brunette hair tied back into a tight bun, a pretty smile, but by her association with the side trying to put Bucky in jail I instinctually hated her. It wasn't personal. "You are here to make history, and I do not say that lightly. For the past 70 years, an organization known as HYDRA has shaped our world, our lives, in the way they saw fit. They wanted a world without freedom, without people willing to stand up and fight, a world that they controlled unwaveringly and…" She paced in front of the jury, "…and they nearly succeeded. The actions over the past 70 years nearly pushed us to a tipping point where they nearly won. They nearly had control, and it was only by the heroic actions of Captain America and friends that they didn't succeed. Now the question you might be asking yourself is how they had come so close and, ladies and gentlemen, I have the answer." The prosecutor spun on her heel and glared at Bucky. Sitting right behind him, I felt the weight of that gaze and I felt my hands ball up in anger. Matt had literally pulled me aside before this began to warn me that I would get angry and that I needed to bite it back for the sake of Bucky and this trial. "The Winter Soldier."

Steve, who sat to my right, reached over to grasp my hand. I laced my fingers with his, squeezing tight, and I wondered if he knew how badly I needed this grip or if he just needed it as well.

"The Winter Soldier is an asset of HYDRA. A weapon of mass destruction used to murder and destroy anyone and everything that stood in their way of the world they wanted." Mrs. Briggs snapped with ferocity. "James Buchanan Barnes is the Winter Soldier, and today I am asking you—pleading you, to help me get justice for all the lives lost. All the lives of people who only wanted to stop HYDRA. People who were deemed a threat to a deadly, nazi organization. The Winter Soldier," She pointed at Bucky, "assassinated these people with deadly precision, heartless meticulousness, and the cold persona of a man with no soul." Bucky's head dipped, his gaze dropping to his lap, and if it weren't for Steve's steel grip on my hand, I would've tried to reach out to him. That or I would've tried to jump up and tackle the bitch to the ground. 50/50 right now. "I am thankful for Captain America and what the Avengers have done to protect us from HYDRA, but the job is not over, and they are too biased to finish it. It is our job as citizens of this fine country to rise up and meet them hallway. To do what they are unable to do. Help me get justice. Help me put this to end. Help me put the Winter Soldier, the defendant, behind bars where we know he can no longer cause harm. Thank you."

The prosecutor moved to sit. Foggy and Matt leaned toward one another, shared a whispered word, then the judge motioned for one of them to give the defense's opening statement. Foggy stood, tucking his chair in, and readjusted his tie.

He cleared his throat and moved to stand by the jury. Rather than pace in front of them like the Mrs. Briggs did, he picked a spot by the end where he could meet every single one of the twelve people's gazes and rested his hands on the wooden stand they sat in.

"The district attorney is right about one thing. History will be made here in this courtroom." Foggy began. "But she misses the point when she ties the identity of my client to HYDRA. James Buchanan Barnes. If you went to high school, I guarantee you that this is a name you heard first in your history class and not on the news these last few weeks. James Buchanan Barnes. The only Howling Commando to give his life during World War II. He took a dangerous mission with his team, knowing the risks in play, but he didn't hesitate. No, he didn't hesitate because he knew the risk the world was at was greater than the risks he faced." Foggy lightly beat his fist against the wood as he spoke. "Because of my client, James 'Bucky' Barnes, the Allies were able to capture a man named Zola, an evil, nazi scientist, and that led to Captain America being able to stop HYDRA from dropping bombs, bombs greater in devastation than atomic bombs, all over the US and Europe, but you know what?" Foggy waved his hand. "I'm not gonna beat on that drum because I know you know this. I know you were tested on this, and I know that you know that Sergeant James 'Bucky' Barnes was awarded the medal of honor upon his death and held as a hero." He paused, meeting every pair of eyes, "What you don't know is that when James 'Bucky' Barnes fell off that train and 'died'… he didn't die. He lost his arm in the fall, laid in a pool of his own blood waiting for death to come for him, but instead of death, HYDRA came."

Foggy pushed off the wood and motioned back to Bucky, "What you don't know is that HYDRA welded a metal arm to his shoulder that caused him constant agony and pain with every movement. That he has literal scars on his body from where he tried to claw that metal horror off of himself. What you don't know—" Foggy's voice rose with power, "—is that for the next twenty years, twenty years ladies and gentlemen, HYDRA tortured this man. They tortured Bucky 'war hero' Barnes to try and get him to break. Take a moment to imagine that." He whispered the next words, "Twenty years." Foggy shook his head. "Bucky refused to betray his country, he let them mentally, emotionally, psychologically, and physically torture him for two decades to protect this country.

"I believe strongly that no other human on this planet then and now could withstand that kind of torture like he did for as long as he did." Foggy said firmly. "But HYDRA is monstrous, we all know that, and the tools they used on him… they brainwashed him, ladies and gentlemen. And I know we hear that word, we think of movies and fiction pieces, but this was his reality for the next fifty years. They wiped away who he was, shoved Bucky Barnes into the deepest corner of his mind, and used his body for whatever they deemed." Foggy pointed to the woman who had spoken before, "Prosecution is going to try and convince you that he was an 'asset' and an 'ally', but it couldn't be further from the truth. They commanded him to do what they pleased, leaving him with absolutely no choice in the matter, and then they beat and locked him away like an animal. Electrocuted him after every mission to try and keep Bucky Barnes at bay because even they knew that the man inside was good to his core. That if the man inside were to ever get free, if they ever stopped torturing him, then he would rise and he would stop all of this and they were right. The moment Bucky broke free of that poison they filled in his mind, he saved Captain America."

Foggy waved his hand, "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you are here to make history, but not in the way prosecution wants. You are here to save a victim of HYDRA. You are here to save a prisoner of war. You are here to give Bucky Barnes a chance at the life he never got to live. Thank you."

Then the trial of James Buchanan Barnes truly began.

---

Tony leaned back in his seat after having just given the oath to not lie to God or whatever. The prosecutor paced in front of him with confidence and Tony made the mental note to maybe hire Mrs. Briggs as a legal consultant. Matt and Foggy were great, but they were more defense than corporate, and this lady screamed corporate.

"Mr. Stark—"

"Yes, dear?" He replied and the jury and the galley chuckled in amusement.

The woman hummed, "Is it true that James Barnes murdered your parents in cold blood?"

Tony leaned forward to speak into the microphone, "No, he did not."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Stark, I know truth telling may come as a shock to you," She replied, and he wiped away the mental note to maybe hire her down the line, "but you just took an oath—"

"I know, but James Barnes didn't kill my parents." Tony shrugged. "The Winter Soldier did. HYDRA did. I'm not sure what website you got your law degree off of but—" The room burst into another round of quiet laughter that the judge banged his gavel a few times to calm. The judge, an elderly man with permanent frown lines, gave him a glare that Tony replied back with a sheepish smile, "Go ahead. Ask the question again. I promise to behave."

The prosecutor clenched her teeth, and Tony made the mental note that she couldn't be the best at this if her best idea was to call him to the stand first. Tony was known for being obstinate according to everyone he's ever met, "Did that man," Mrs. Briggs pointed at Bucky who had that sad kicked puppy look on his face, "kill your family?"

Tony squinted his eyes as if he was having trouble seeing who she was trying to refer to and he could see her mentally lose two years off her life from the lack of patience, "Physically, yes. Mentally, no."

"Oh, come on, let's not nitpick on the specifics here."

Foggy stood, "Objection, your honor, argumentative."

"Sustained." The judge replied and nodded to the woman. "Reach your point."

"Of course. Rather than continue on this line of questioning, I'd like to show the jury exactly what happened that day." She replied and turned to the jury to announce her evidence. Seconds later a very familiar video began to play on the screen. Tony felt his jaw clench at the familiar road. Even if he closed his eyes, his brain had every flicker of light, every second of this video memorized. The car veered off the road, hit a tree, and she pointed to the screen, "That is your parent's car, correct?"

"Yes." Tony replied sharply.

The video went on and despite knowing exactly what was happening, having every move memorized, he had to force himself to look away. Tony's eyes landed on Bucky whose eyes were still glued to the screen. The man's eyes were red rimmed, and his jaw was clenched. It reminded him of that day in the lobby. Holding a gun to Bucky's head and demanding a reason why he shouldn't end his life only for Bucky to tell him to do it.

"Mr. Stark, I won't waste our time asking who is killing your parents in this video because I think the jury can see very clearly who the culprit is." Mrs. Briggs rested her hands on the wood in front of him, and Tony forced his gaze away from Bucky and back to her. "So, I'll ask this. Mr. Stark, how can you be in the same room as the man who brutally slaughtered your parents? Shouldn't you be ashamed of yourself? Wouldn't your parents be disgusted—"

Matt's voice cut in, "Objection. Leading the witness."

"Sustained." The judge nodded. "Madame prosecutor, watch yourself."

"I'll reword." She replied with a smile. "Mr. Stark—"

"I didn't get to hug my mom that day." Tony said suddenly. "When she left with my dad, I had been pissed at him and when she came to hug me good-bye I… I brushed her off. Figured I'd see her in a few days anyways. Whatever, right?" The prosecutor allowed him to continue talking, and he wondered if it was because she thought he was angry. Tony was angry. He'd always be angry. "When he first showed up at the Compound, I nearly killed him. I wanted to kill him."

The prosecutor nodded, "Because you knew deep down he was at fault?"

Tony's eyes locked back to Bucky's. The man's broken blue-gray eyes were filled with so much shame. He looked entirely different from the man Tony had gotten to know. The man who watched him work in the lab in awe, the man who would stand and listen to Peter ramble on and on about nothing for ages, the man who stared at Aj like she personally hung every star in the sky individually. He shook his head, "It wasn't his fault. You're not asking the right question. Ask me why I didn't kill him."

"Mr. Stark—"

"Ask me why I didn't kill him."

"My line of questioning is done." The prosecutor replied sharply. Apparently, she was done with his attitude in general.

Foggy rose, "May we cross examine?" The judge nodded, and Foggy hurried to take her place. He gave him a small nod, "Mr. Stark, why didn't you kill Sergeant Barnes?"

"Because when I asked him to give me a reason not to kill him, just one, he couldn't." Tony shook his head. "Bucky told me I should kill him. And I was angry then, and I'm angry now, but the truth is I had never seen a man as broken as Bucky Barnes before and I gotta look in the mirror every single day." Tony chuckled once and met Bucky's gaze again. He spoke directly to the man, "I don't blame you, you know. Not at all."

The prosecutor stood, calling an objection of some kind, but Tony didn't register the words. Bucky held his gaze, jaw still clenched, and Tony gave him a small nod. Bucky sucked in a sharp breath and his eyes fell to his lap again as the hand resting on the table curled up into a fist. Tony had felt that way for a good while now. Probably that first week the man was staying at the Compound and had stumbled into his lab at 2 in the morning to tearfully choke out an apology. Tony hadn't given him a real response. He'd like to say it was because he was too in shock. Tony knew he had no good real reason though and he deserved one. Bucky Barnes deserved to hear it. Tony missed his parents, he missed what he couldn't share with them, and he knew a part of him would always hold onto a sliver of anger, but he also knew holding that anger against this man would do nothing.

Tony was more than okay with offering the man forgiveness.

It's what his mom would want him to do.

---

They called him a character witness. Matt and Foggy said his testimony would be important in establishing who Bucky was before HYDRA got their hands on him. Steve pulled his hand off the Bible and let his gaze drift to Matt who stood before him.

"Captain Rogers," Matt began, "Can you tell us a about your relationship with Bucky? When did this friendship begin?"

Steve chuckled, "I was 10 and I wasn't quite this size," the room filled with soft laughter, "I ended up in a fight over something. I don't even remember what. I was always in some sort of fight. These kids were wailing on me though, and Bucky showed up and told them to stop. When they didn't, he fought 'em all off." Steve rubbed the back of his neck. "I remember he asked why I didn't run, and I told him… 'Once you start, they won't let you stop'. Bucky just…" Steve laughed to himself. "He pulled off his button up shirt, balled it up, then shoved it in my face to stop my bloody nose, and said, 'You're a punk'." Steve's eyes met Bucky's and he watched his corner of his friend's lips curl into a soft smile at the memory. "Every single fight from then on, and trust me there was a lot, he was there."

"If you could use one word to describe Sergeant Barnes then, what would it be?" Matt asked.

"Protector." Steve replied without hesitation. "Then and now. Everything Bucky has done in his life, everything he chooses to do, is to protect the people around him. When his…" Steve shook his head, "When his dad died… Bucky didn't hesitate to step up. He took care of his mom, his baby sister, me, and it didn't even stop there. Bucky looked out for our entire neighborhood. Everyone knew that if there was trouble, if they needed help, all they had to do was reach out to Bucky had he'd do anything to help."

Matt nodded, "Like when your mother passed?"

"Yeah." Steve replied softly. He remembered his mother's funeral with painful clarity. The overpowering smell of the freshly cut flowers and freshly dug Earth. The way his suit itched uncomfortably at the neckline. The echoing pang of loss in his chest. "Bucky was there. Bucky was always there. He reminded me that I wasn't alone. That I still had family. He said he'd be there for me 'til the end of the line, and it was the truth. He has been."

Matt tilted his head, "Even when the two of you were fighting as Captain America and the Winter Soldier?"

"When the helicarriers were going down, I chose to stay. I wasn't going to leave him there." Steve answered. "Because I knew if the roles were reversed, he'd never leave me. And I was right. At the end of that day, Bucky saved my life. He dove into the water and fished me out of the Potomac."

Matt turned to speak in the direction of the jury, "So do you believe that Bucky's instinctual desire to protect his loved ones, the core of who he is, was the reason he could break through years of brainwashing? Because even with HYDRA pulling on the strings, Bucky could never truly hurt someone he loves?"

"Absolutely." Steve said firmly.

Matt nodded, stating his end, and moved back to his seat as the prosecutor rose from her own seat. Mrs. Briggs laced her fingers together as she slowly approached with a knowing nod, "Captain Rogers, can you tell us if you were physically capable of leaving that helicarrier as it fell from the sky"?

Steve glanced at Foggy and Matt in confusion, "I said I stayed because I didn't want to leave Bucky."

"I know. I expect no less from the Captain America." She gave him a smile he didn't like. "But if he hadn't been there, could you have escaped if you wanted to?" He opened his mouth, paused, but she cut in. "You were injured, weren't you?"

"Yes—"

"Can you share with us a list of your injuries?"

Steve glanced at Matt and Foggy again. Neither looked happy, but Steve knew he had to answer, "I had…a stab wound in my right shoulder. I was shot twice."

"Shot in your thigh and your abdomen. Two terrible places to be shot and you forget to mention the various bruises and swelling and fractures." She breathed. "You were in the hospital for how long?"

Steve locked his jaw for a moment before answering, "A week."

"And how did you obtain all of these injuries?"

"They were caused from me trying to—"

"No, no. Who gave you those injuries?"

Matt called out, "Objection. Leading the witness."

"Overruled." The judge replied. "Captain Rogers, please answer."

Steve shook his head, and when he looked over at Bucky he could see the shame resonating in his friend's squall eyes, "The Winter Soldier, but—"

"So, the Winter Soldier tried to kill you and he nearly succeeded!" The prosecutor looked to the jury, "The defense is trying to mislead you by painting the defendant as some unsung hero, but please do not forget that the reason Captain America needed saving at all was because the defendant shot him two times, and nearly beat him to death with his bare hands." She looked back to him. "Thank you, Captain Rogers. That will be all."

He felt frozen to his seat and he didn't rise until the bailiff literally came over and opened the side door in order for him to climb off the stand. Steve tried to meet Bucky's gaze one more time, but Bucky wouldn't look up from his lap.

---

"How many times have you nearly died, Ms. Bradshaw?"

I twisted my lips with a hum, "That's a tricky question because I think my numbers are off since I can't remember a number of nights I lived in Jersey City."

"How many times in the last 8 months?"

"I guess the answer you're looking for is 2." I replied. Technically speaking, I wasn't supposed to be on the stand. Going into day one of the trial, it was unanimously agreed upon that I should not be talking to the prosecutor lady. It's why the only people who took the stand that day were Tony, Muneeba, Natasha, Steve, and Sam.

We were all perfectly content with my irritable ass sitting in the audience. However, prosecution did some fancy footwork and thanks to a subpoena I was now forced to take the stand otherwise I risk going to jail or something. Matt and Foggy explained it in more detail but I had been too busy doing breathing exercises in order to not lose my cool.

She nodded, "The first was in Russia when you caught pneumonia and the second was in DC where you nearly bled to death?"

"Yes. I've been in septic shock and hemorrhagic shock." I replied. "I figure at this point I should go for the other two types of shock just for the hell of it. Grab the whole set."

The room chuckled and I could feel the glare from literally every Avenger at the joke against my health. My eyes landed on Bucky though who looked mildly exasperated. I winked at him and his lip lightly curled in a chuckle.

The woman slid into my view with a glare, "Ms. Bradshaw, may I remind you that this is a serious issue and that if you continue to treat this as a joke you can be held in contempt of the court."

"Yeah, I got it. The 80's shoulder pads in your blazer tell me its serious enough." I replied while motioning to her gray jacket. Her eyes narrowed and I sucked in a sharp breath. This was serious and I needed to not lose my temper and reign in the snark. This was all for Bucky. "Please proceed with your line of questioning, counselor."

She laced her fingers together, a move I was really growing to hate from her, "Is it fair to say that the reason you nearly died twice was because of your history with Eugene Morgan?"

I felt myself stiffen at the name. It wasn't something I had expected to come out of her mouth. Though I tried to relax, my shoulders stayed firm. God, I hated that. I hated that even knowing he was dead, his name could still send a chill up my spine. Uncomfortably, I shifted in my seat before bobbing my head once, "Yes."

"Right. Now can you describe your relationship to the now deceased Mr. Eugene Morgan?"

My jaw clenched and Matt shoved himself up from his seat, "Objection, your honor! Relevance to the case!"

"Prosecution believes that the testimony of Aimee Jane Bradshaw and her relationship with Eugene Morgan will show the members of the jury that testimonies given by any member of the Avengers should be discredited on the premise that they are obviously misguided and have a penchant for pitying and siding with obvious criminal activity in an injudicious attempt to save someone they feel relative guilt toward." The prosecutor spoke with a clear and steady tone. I could feel my hands beginning to shake against my thighs. "Your honor?"

The judge nodded once, "Overruled. Ms. Bradshaw, please answer the question."

"I…" I opened my mouth, but it felt like there was glue in my throat.

The woman gave me a smile that should be kind, but looked cold instead, "I'll repeat myself for you. Can you describe your relationship with Eugene Morgan?"

I slowly curled my hands into fists, pressing them against my thighs, and I couldn't break my gaze from the prosecutor's. She just stared at me patiently. It was fine. This was for Bucky. Boss was dead and he couldn't hurt me anymore. I was safe.

"I called him Boss." I said slowly. "I worked for him. He ran an illegal underground fighting ring that was centered in Jersey City and branched out. I was in debt to him. I fought to pay it off. He…" For the first time since the question was asked, my eyes drifted away from hers. It was why I suddenly realized how many eyes I had on me. How many people were seeing me. The walls felt like they were beginning to close in, the room was starting a slow spin, and I sucked in a sharp breath. I couldn't have a panic attack. Not now. "He…"

The prosecutor shook her head, "Ms. Bradshaw, you worked for him for five years?"

"Y—Yes."

"Is it true that you'd take any fight he told you to? Do anything for him?"

Why was it so hard to breathe?

"Objection! Compound question!"

"Sustained."

"Sorry. Your honor. Let me rephrase." My eyes flittered across the room again, looking for something to grab onto, solid ground, but the prosecutor slid into my view again blocking everything except her cold, but excited features. She smiled, "Ms. Bradshaw, is it true you were in love with Eugene Morgan?"

My eyes widened, "W—What? No!"

"No?" She replied. "Because I have a signed confession from one Taylor Momsen, known as Cherry to her friends, that states Eugene Morgan and Aimee Jane Bradshaw were in a consensual sexual relationship."

"What!?" I cried. "That's not—"

"Objection, your honor—"

"Cherry, of course, could not be in court today because she feared for her life." The prosecutor snapped while Matt yelled. The room was filled with a buzz of noise and I couldn't tell if it was hushed whispers or if my ears were just ringing. The judge banged his gavel, each heavy sound making me flinch, and suddenly the woman was in my face again. "Were you or were you not in a consensual—"

"I wasn't!" I snapped before she could repeat herself again.

"Then why did Ms. Momsen—"

"Cherry is lying!" I yelled.

The prosecutor shook her head, "Ms. Momsen has no reason to lie, and a relationship makes plausible sense considering you chose to stay with him for five full years—"

"I didn't want to stay…" I mumbled, anxiety clawing up my throat.

"—knowing who he was, and what he did to people! By choosing to stay on his side you were choosing to side with all the harm he did, Ms. Bradshaw—"

"Your honor, this is ridiculous!" Foggy yelled. "Ms. Bradshaw is not the one on trial—"

"Your honor, members of the jury," The prosecutor didn't stop, "If the Avengers are willing to stand behind an immoral character such as Aj 'Small Fry' Bradshaw and the Winter Soldier I believe this shows a pattern of neglect on their part! I move to have all their testimonies thrown out and…"

Sound was gone.

It was just the ringing in my head as my eyes found a blank spot on the wall at the back of the room. My teeth clenched, my nails dug into my palms, and I felt it. I felt that moment where fear and panic melted into anger. I felt it boil under my skin, begging and pleading to be released. I was going to lose it. I was backed into a corner and the only way I knew how to deal with that was shove forward even if it were blind movements born of rage. My eyes snapped to the prosecutor. She was standing in front of the judge with Matt, and they were all yelling. They were all fighting. My hands stung and I knew my nails were breaking skin. People always joked that my anger could burn down the world, but this was the first that it felt absolutely true.

There was a whisper in my ear.

I almost didn't catch it at first.

Then it grew louder.

'Look at me. Doll, look at me. Doll, doll, doll. Aimee Jane.'

Why did it sound so much like…?

'You gotta look at me, baby doll. Look at me.'

It felt like something physically dragged my eyes away from the fight ongoing with the judge. They landed on Bucky and his glowing red eyes. Red? Behind him, Wanda's own eyes glowed. My anger tried to drag me back to where it needed to be, but Bucky's lips moved. He mumbled.

'It's okay. Take a deep breath.' He shook his head. 'You're okay. I'm here. Just look at me, doll.'

The red in his eyes dimmed leaving just the storm. Bruce Banner once told me not to get caught under the tide. Don't fight the current. Keep your eyes on the sky and float above it all. That's what I needed to do. I needed to find my sky. Just watch the stormy sky, Aj. The longer I stared into Bucky's eyes, the more the rest of the room kept back in focus. As more air filled my lungs, I felt the fire in my gut began to diminish. But the lack of anger left room for fear and panic again. I felt my lower lip quiver and I bit down on it hard.

"Recess granted."

My eyes snapped up to see people and standing and moving about. Foggy turned and spoke to the rows of familiar faces right behind him. Matt walked up and held one arm out for me as I stepped off the stand, "Will you get some air with me?"

I nodded and hooked my arm through his. Matt was blind, which meant maybe I should've done more to help lead him through the hectic crowd, but I still felt like I was walking underwater. Surprisingly, Matt weaved us out of the room with ease until we ended up on the quiet rooftop of the courthouse.

The fresh air helped.

"Are you alright?" Matt asked.

"I didn't…expect that."

Matt shook his head, "I'm sorry. We should've known that was coming. It was a cheap move on their part." He rested his hand on my back. "That signed confession wasn't on the evidence list and we have Karen already looking for information to discredit her which shouldn't be hard at all."

"The other testimonies?" I asked nervously, glancing down at the red crescent marks on both palms.

"They're fine. They won't get thrown out." Matt reassured me. "We're still on a good path. I promise." I closed my eyes in relief. My worst fear was this turning on us and Bucky not being able to go free, and if that happened because of me…because of my past… God, I wouldn't survive that. "The jury still likes us."

"How do you know that?" I asked softly.

"It's hard to explain." Matt chuckled then paused, "You almost lost your cool in there." I shot him a tired look until I remembered he couldn't see it and rolled my eyes to myself. He didn't need to state the obvious. "But you didn't."

"I almost exploded."

Matt nodded, "I know." I didn't push on that. "Foggy asked your friends to stay back because I wanted to talk to you about that."

"I promise I won't lose my cool. Or—I'll try, at least."

"I know what it feels like to have the devil in you." Matt said and the words caught me off guard. I studied his features, the way the sunlight hit his red glasses, "To have that moment when everything fades and all that's left is anger. To feel it step outside of your body and act." Matt tilted his head with a small smile. "Which is why I know how hard it is to reign that back in. You did good."

I played with the hem of my dress, "I can do better."

"Aj…"

"When we go back into the room, put me back on the stand…" I took in a shaky breath. "I can discredit everything about Boss." Matt turned to look at me and despite being blind it felt like he was really seeing me. "I can do this. I just need to ask Karen to take a picture for me."

---

When Bucky came back into the courtroom his eyes immediately began searching. He didn't have to look for long because he found Aj sitting in her seat with Steve whispering to her. One arm around her shoulders, tightly, and his other hand holding hers. It was the comfort she needed, and Bucky couldn't even find it in himself to be jealous. Aj looked calm. Her panic attack quelled. He absolutely hated that this trial had somehow managed to hurt her like this.

Bucky sat down in his seat, the bailiff walking away, and Foggy offered him a tight-lipped smile. Matt Murdock rose from his seat, "We'd like to call Aj Bradshaw back to the stand for cross examination."

Watching her walk across the court room to take that seat again made his chest ache. He watched intently as she retook the oath and Matt began. The man nodded once, "Since prosecution didn't give Ms. Bradshaw the chance to actually answer the question of her relationship with Eugene Morgan—"

"Objection. Opinion." Prosecution replied.

"Sustained. Mr. Murdock…"

Matt smiled, "Yes, your honor. Ms. Bradshaw, can you please elaborate on your relationship with Eugene Morgan? Take your time."

"I wasn't in love with Bos—" Aj hesitated, then corrected herself. "I wasn't in love with Eugene Morgan." It was the first time he had ever heard her say that name. To refer to him as anything other than Boss. "In fact, there isn't a word that describes how much I hated him… how much I still do even though he's dead. I didn't choose to stay with him, I chose to stay in the fight." Aj glanced up from her hands to look to the jury. Bucky watched as she took in a slow breath and steel filled her eyes. Pride washed over him. "I've spent most of my life thinking I wasn't worth anything, that I wasn't good at anything, that nobody—" Aj clenched her jaw. "When I'm in a fight, I make myself matter. I force a place in this world for me." She wrung her hands together, glancing down at them with a small smile. "I tried college, but I still felt lost. I got into medical school even, but still… it wasn't until I got into Eugene's ring for that first time that I remembered why I started fighting in the first place.

"I know that Eugene did terrible things, and I know that he was an evil man." Aj scrunched her nose once then let her eyes land on the prosecutor who sat in her chair, legs crossed. The fire in Aj's blue eyes couldn't be mistaken for anything less than a controlled burn. It reminded Bucky of the fact that it was the blue flame that burned hottest. "I stuck around the ring because I needed to fight to feel something, but I never engaged in consensual anything with that man."

Aj turned to the jury, holding her chin up high, "Anytime I did something wrong, lashed out or disobeyed him, which— y'all don't know me super well but you can go ahead and assume I lashed out a lot." She chuckled to herself. "He'd bring me into his office and—" Aj paused, just for a moment, and Bucky recognized the pain in her eyes. He recognized the look of a haunting memory. "…He'd make me take my sports bra off, he'd push me against his desk, hold his knife to my skin, and then he'd lean in real close…put his lips on my ear and whisper, 'If you tell me I own you, if you get on your knees and prove it, then I won't punish you'."

Her voice was level and steady, but there was an undertone of brokenness that didn't escape Bucky's acknowledgement. It made him nauseous.

"I'd tell him to stick his offer where the sun don't shine, with vulgar emphasis, and then he'd carve that knife into my skin while telling me how much I don't deserve to live."

Bucky closed his eyes and felt the wood of his chair's arm rest crunch and splinter under his grip. If he clenched his teeth together any harder, they might crack. Bucky couldn't help but picture it. A shaking Aj bare in front of that monster. That bastard putting his hands on her, against her desire, whispering lies that made her doubt how absolutely fucking amazing she was. It made his blood simmer and burn. Bucky almost wished the guy was still alive so he could rip him apart limb from limb himself. As if all that wasn't so terrible and traumatizing enough, now she was revealing it to the public. This was the first time Aj was voicing these specifics aloud and she was forced to do it in a room filled with strangers because of him.

"Objection." The prosecutor stood up. "Hearsay. There is no evidence of any signs of abuse. This is obviously an attempt to undermine Ms. Momsen's statement."

"Your honor, I have a photo to bring to the stand and enter into evidence at this time. Proof of the abuse Ms. Bradshaw speaks of."

The judge motioned for them to step forward. Bucky's eyebrows furrowed and while they lightly argued, he kept his gaze on Aj. Wanda had projected his thoughts earlier, a trick he hadn't even known she was actually capable of, but this wasn't as emergent. Still he stared, on baited breath, and hoped she'd turn to look at him. As the judge announced that he'd allow the photo into evidence, Matt motioned for it to brought up on the screen. Aj finally glanced at him and she winked at him again. It held a different tone than it did earlier today.

The photo was brought up and when Bucky saw those familiar lines he shut his eyes again. The courtroom gasped, whispers mumbled about, and he tried to wrap his mind around this. Bucky had seen her back in Romania and he knew she had shown Clint, but nobody else had seen it. They knew of it, but this was something else entirely. Bucky opened his again and Aj offered him a soft smile.

"The photo is proof that Ms. Bradshaw is not lying, that she was never in a relationship with Eugene Morgan, other than one of abuse, and that her testimony along with the others should be held valid." Matt announced.

The judge nodded, "The jury will dismiss the confession from Ms. Taylor Momsen."

"Thank you, your honor." Matt replied. "Now if it is okay with prosecution, I would like to get back onto the topic of my client rather than begin a wild witch hunt on someone who isn't even on trial."

Aj had shown the side of her that she was most ashamed of for him.

Bucky didn't know what to say, but when her eyes met his again he was pretty damn sure of how he felt. Matt had asked a question that Bucky had completely blanked on, hadn't heard a single word, but Aj began to speak to answer it.

"I met Bucky in Russia the first time I was dying. That was the septic shock time if anyone is curious. Eugene had sold me to some Russians for kicks and giggles. Bucky stayed by my side for two days while I was unconscious, nursing my wounds. I wouldn't be here today without him." Aj said firmly. "It's funny, I was in a crappy bunker, dying mind you, but I distinctly remember feeling safe. I felt safe for the first time since high school in that bunker with him because I knew…" Her eyes darted back to him. "…he wouldn't ever let anything happen to me, and that's only been proven more true as time has passed."

Matt questioned her more on the topic, bringing up Romania and DC where she nearly died again, it all went by too quick though. Bucky was more than happy to see Aj climb off the stand and rejoin the others. She had been in the spotlight far too long, but that only left one more witness to call to the stand.

Him.

"Your honor, we'd like to call the defendant to the stand." The prosecutor announced. Bucky hesitated, the bailiff walked over to get him, but Matt and Foggy both shot him reassuring looks. Nervously, he rose and let the bailiff take him over to the stand. Bucky set his right hand on the Bible, reciting the oath, then sat down. The prosecutor waltzed across the room to him, smile on her features, and he could only mentally compare the walk to someone stalking their prey. "Sergeant Barnes, I'd like to get straight to the point. I will be showing a series of slides, photos, and I'd like you to either say yes or no in whether or not your hands were the cause of death."

"Objection." Foggy called out. "Leading questions, your honor. The physical presence of our clients hands are not a good measure of whether or not James Barnes is guilty. Intent to harm is—"

"That is this entire trial, isn't it?" The prosecutor argued. "Isn't that why we are here?"

The judge paused in thought before nodding, "Overruled. Prosecution may continue."

The first slide was a man lying in a hallway in a dark puddle of blood. The photo itself was in black and white, but the darkness of the puddle was so distinct compared to the white tiles that it might of well have been a bold red. French Defense Minister Jacques Dupuy.

"Yes."

The next slide was a long black car, a man slumped to the side, and a woman in pink clothes scrambled over the trunk. John F. Kennedy. Whispers filled the room, and Bucky felt nauseous.

"Yes."

A man floating in the pool was the next photo. He was face down, half sinking. Senator Harry Baxtor.

"Yes."

Another picture, more blood. Every single person was recognizable to him. He had their names engraved in his head. Bucky couldn't remember his mother's maiden name on his own anymore, but he remembered every single sin painted in this slideshow.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

With every single affirmative answer, Bucky felt himself questioning everything again. There was such a long list of people making sacrifices for him and considering he couldn't say no to anything in this slideshow he wondered if he deserved that kind of effort. When the pictures finally came to an end, he hung his head down in shame. The slideshow hadn't even covered the half of it. The prosecutor made a humming noise with her mouth, one of content, "Sergeant Barnes… are you the Winter Soldier?"

Bucky's eyes lifted from his lap to meet hers. Foggy was on his feet again, "Objection! Leading the witness! Again!"

"Sustained." The judge nodded, but Bucky still felt like the woman had sucker punched him. "Does prosecution have any more questions?"

She held his gaze a second more, smug, then glanced at the jury with a shrug, "We don't, your honor. I think we've shown what we wanted to be seen."

The prosecutor wasn't even in her chair by time Foggy got to the stand. He crossed his arms, giving Bucky a concerned glance before moving into his own line of questioning, "Just a few general questions first. Is it true that you began therapy with Muneeba Khan, entirely voluntarily, a little over a month before news of your existence was broadcasted to the world?"

"Yes." Bucky nodded.

"Why?" Foggy shrugged.

Bucky swallowed the lump in his throat, "I…I wanted to get better."

"Better from what?"

He knew this was Foggy's job and he knew all these questions were coming, but it still left a bitter taste on his tongue. Every eye in the room was on him and more. The cameras in the corner pointed toward him meant the world was watching. Bucky's hand clenched and unclenched in his lap, "Nightmares. I can remember… I can remember every mission."

"Our expert witness, Muneeba Khan, spoke on this briefly on day one." Foggy glanced around the room before looking back to him, "But in your own words, can you describe what those memories feel like to you? How you remember them?"

"I watched." Bucky replied and his voice wasn't as steady as he wished it could be. "It was like…" He paused. If Aj could strip herself bare to a room of strangers and show her scars she didn't even like showing loved ones, then he could do this. "It was like someone shoved me to the passenger seat of a car. Like this…stranger climbed behind the wheel and took control. No matter how much I kicked or screamed or tried to grab the wheel I—I couldn't—" His voice cracked, and he flinched. Bucky shook his head, "I couldn't stop it. I tried but I…"

Foggy gave him a reassuring nod, "We understand. Can I ask you a few more questions?" Bucky nodded curtly. "The intelligence community, according to Ms. Natasha Romanoff, referred to the Winter Soldier as a 'ghost story'. Is that accurate?"

"Yes."

"They referred to the Soldier as a ghost story because the skillset there made it possible for him to slip away without any signs or evidence?"

"Y—Yes." Bucky replied again. He wasn't sure where this was going. It hadn't been discussed with him beforehand.

Foggy nodded, turning half to face the jury, "When the Winter Soldier attacked Captain America and associates in DC on May 6, 2014, do you remember what the mission was?"

"To…" Bucky hesitated. What was the plan here? In a second, he made the decision to trust the men that had been hired to defend him. "To terminate Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Sam Wilson, and Jasper Sitwell."

Foggy motioned to the jury, "Jasper Sitwell was a high-ranking agent in HYDRA who was hiding in SHIELD. He gave up valuable information to Captain America." His lawyer looked back to him, "Do you know the number of casualties that occurred that day accredited to the Winter Soldier?"

"No. I don't."

"One." Foggy gave him a tight-lipped smile. "During that attack on the freeway, yes there were a number of injuries in the firefight, but only one casualty occurred and that was Jasper Sitwell. This was a heavily populated area too, wasn't it, Sergeant Barnes?"

Bucky nodded, "Yes."

"Objection." The prosecutor rose. "Relevance?"

The judge looked to Foggy who gave him a smile, "I'm going somewhere, I promise."

"Then get there please."

"The Winter Soldier is a deadly, ghost story. Yet, during this attack he not only showed his face to a number of cameras and witnesses, but he left them all alive. He marched past citizens solely focused on the mission. I'd like to bring up exhibit #22." Foggy said. The screen began to play a shaky video from someone's phone camera. Bucky recognized the area. On screen, the Winter Soldier walked right by the camera holder. Bucky vaguely remembered that moment. He had been chasing after Natasha. "The Winter Soldier fired into the air, blew up vehicles, and I think that behavior seems opposite of what a ghost would do. Do you agree?"

Bucky almost missed the question entirely. He nodded once, and Foggy quickly continued in his spiel.

"I'd also like to bring up exhibit #14 and #15." The video of the Stark's death was brought up again, but not played. Beside it was a picture of Maria Stark's bruised neck. Bucky flinched and looked away. "On the mission to kill the Starks, the Winter Soldier, this supposed ghost, managed to complete this mission in front of the only camera on this long stretch of deserted road. That's three miles. Three miles of unsupervised, unseen land, but the crime happens to occur in front of this camera." Foggy pointed to the screen. "And of course, the entire thing was staged as a car accident and yet… Maria Stark was found with bruises on her neck, clear signs of strangulation, that then had to be buried in case files as officers and other law enforcement were paid off to hide this fact."

Foggy pointed to Bucky, "Sergeant Barnes, have you ever heard the phrase malicious compliance?"

"No." Bucky shook his head.

"Can I have you read this definition for me then." Foggy walked back to the desk and pulled out a sheet of paper. He handed it over, "For the jury please."

Bucky glanced down at the sheet in his hand, "Malicious compliance, also known as malicious obedience, is the behavior of intentionally inflicting harm by strictly following the orders of a superior while knowing or intending that compliance with the orders will have an unintended or negative result." Bucky paused. "It is a form of passive-aggressive behavior that is often associated with poor management-labor relationships, micromanagement, a generalized lack of confidence in leadership, and resistance to changes perceived as pointless, duplicative, dangerous, or otherwise undesirable."

"Resistance to changes perceived as pointless, duplicative, dangerous, or otherwise undesirable." Foggy emphasized the last sentence. He took the paper back, folding it up, but continued to speak, "So then, Sergeant Barnes, perhaps the Winter Soldier tried everything in his power to be a ghost story, but there was some malicious thought in the corner of his mind that made it difficult for him to be one."

"Objection—"

"Maybe those moments, when those questionable actions were performed, it was because Bucky Barnes was grabbing hold of whatever control he could—"

"Your honor, speculation—"

"Despite fighting and fighting, kicking and screaming, Bucky Barnes couldn't get the Soldier to stopkilling—" Foggy's voice was strong and powerful, nearly yelling, "—but by God he could try and get the monster seen. He could get the Soldier stopped by outside forces."

"Your honor!"

Foggy held his hands up in surrender, "My line of questioning is done."

Bucky sat in shock. He had never thought about it from that viewpoint before. It was hard to remember specific details of his own thoughts during those missions, he only remembered what his hands had been forced to do, and Bucky had been so caught up in the rising guilt that he never even tried to think on that side of it. The bailiff held the stand's door open, and he quickly rose to go back to his seat. It dawned on him then, that he had been the last. There were no more witnesses to call, no more evidence to bring to light, this was it.

---

The prosecution delivered its final statement, and Matt slowly rose from his seat to present their own. He gripped the cane in his hands and made his way across the room to stand in front of the jury. Foggy was always the opening statement deliverer, and he always closed. Matt stayed silent as he let the sound of the jury's steady heartbeats wash over him.

"When my partner and I were hired for this case, we were asked a single question. Why defense? The world knows money and ease go to prosecution." He joked and there was a mumbled rumbled of laughter through the room. Matt readjusted his grip on the cane he held vertically in front of himself. "I told them that we need law in order to be a society, but the law is black and white. We call it 'justice', but it is a known fact that this system can be equally as unjust. There are cases, exceptions, where the law does not reward those who tell the truth." Matt nodded his head. "Sergeant Bucky Barnes came forward, turned himself into the law, and subjected himself to this system knowing full and well that the 'truth' in this scenario didn't paint him in a good light. The law would want to lump him in with HYDRA and their crimes against nature and humanity. The law doesn't understand or account for a situation like his. A situation where he was brutally tortured, maimed, held against his will, his own mind and freedom bound and gagged. There is no doubt that the lives HYDRA ordered to be taken—that they are victims. However, my client is also a victim. He wasn't put to death, but they put him through a fate that could be argued is worse than death. Death offers a reprieve. Instead, he suffered for 70 years. Many people would fade away during those awful years, but not Sergeant Bucky Barnes. He fought to keep control of his own mind for 20 years, and they when they did manage to break him down and slip in, he still continued to fight in any way that he could. Even if it just meant causing the Solider to make a mistake, to slip up in hopes that someone out there could put a stop to him…" Matt paused and let the weight of his words settle in the air. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have the ability to save a life today. You have the ability to set a prisoner of war free. Don't punish Sergeant James Buchanan Barnes for the sins of HYDRA because it's easy. Step up, here and now, and find the true definition of justice. Thank you."

Matt turned and moved back to his seat.

It was out of their hands now.

---

Forty-seven minutes.

That's how long the jury deliberated. We had plans to go back to the Compound for the night and get a long night of restless, worried, anxious sleep, but the judge called for the court to reconvene before we even left the city. Sitting here waiting for the verdict was absolute torture. Steve sat stiffly to my right and Tony had his arm wrapped around the back of my seat as he sat to my left.

Tony leaned in, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah." I turned to give him a nod. I knew he was asking about my little revelation earlier rather than the trial, and my answer wasn't even a lie. Did I think I'd be okay after telling an entire room, the entire world technically, about what shithead Eugene had done to me? Nope. Not really. However, I felt…relief? That wasn't the right word for it, but my mind wasn't stressing over it right now and I wasn't gonna look a gift horse in the mouth. "Tony…"

Tony squeezed my shoulder, "It's gonna be fine."

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?" The judge asked.

An older man in a sweater vest, sitting at the far end of the jury stand, stood slowly, "Yes, your honor."

"Please hand your verdict to the bailiff."

The uniformed man took the sheet of paper which was then handed to the judge. The wait was agony. It took all of me not to rip across the room and snatch the paper from the man myself. As the judge let his eyes trace over the words, we all waited on bated breath. Hell, the entire world probably did. Bucky's shoulders were stiff, and I clenched my hands to keep from reaching out.

The judge glanced up, eyes on Bucky, before moving to read, "In the matter of the People vs James Buchanan Barnes, the jury finds the defendant, James Buchanan Barnes, not guilty in the charge of…"

There were more words said, but I didn't hear a damn word. Our entire row breathed out in relief, Steve chuckled from beside me, Tony shook my shoulder with a grin, and I lifted my shaking hands to cover my mouth. Not guilty. Not guilty. Bucky slumped forward, his hand on the table holding up, and I watched his shoulders move as he took in a shuddering breath.

"Sergeant Barnes," The judge drew my attention back in and I watched Bucky turn to look directly at the man. It gave me enough view of his face to watch a loose tear streak down his cheek as his jaw clenched. The judge gave him a small nod, a respectful smile, "Thank you for your service. Enjoy your life to the fullest."

Bucky's head fell forward again, his shoulder shaking, but I could see the smile resting on his lips. The courtroom exploded at that point with noise. Steve hopped over the wooden railing to pull his friend into a hug. Bucky wrapped his arm around Steve's shoulders tightly. Tony gave me a quick look, "We gotta get him out of here. I don't think Barnes is quite ready for the media, yet, yeah?"

"Right." I nodded in agreement and shook my head to focus back in. "Let's sneak him out the back."

Foggy spun around to face me and it was only then that I realized Matt was gone, "We did it!" I grinned at his words and reached forward to offer him a tight hug that he returned. When I pulled away, I left my hand on his arm to squeeze it, "This is the second time you've saved my life, Foggy."

"Technically this time we saved Bucky's life." Foggy replied, but I had meant exactly what I said.

"Where's Matt?" I glanced around. The other Avengers surrounded Bucky like a cocoon of well wishes. Foggy pointed out the front, saying something along the lines of the man being quick for a blind guy, but I turned and hurried toward the door. I could celebrate with Bucky at home at the party I knew Tony already had planned, but I needed to thank Matt right now. Without him and Foggy, we couldn't be sitting at a verdict of not guilty.

When I got out of the courtroom, into the hallway, people already began to mob me with questions. It was moments like this that I really missed being a no one. Out of the corner of my eyes I spotted Karen and Matt talking to one another down the hallway. I pushed past a few stray reporters to hurry toward them.

"—it isn't safe, Karen."

"I told you, Matt. Frank Castle is a good man. He wouldn't—"

I reached them, but my quick pace turned to a stumbling one as my brain registered their hushed conversation. Karen offered me a smile of congratulations. I glanced at Matt, "I wanted to thank you." I moved forward to hug him, and as per usual he recognized the motions as if he weren't blind at all. "Thank you so much."

"We just showed the court the truth of the matter." Matt shrugged.

"Um, y'all should come to the Compound tonight." I grinned. "There ain't no party like a Stark party."

Matt chuckled, "I'm sure Foggy won't let us miss it. If you'll excuse me."

He reached out to squeeze Karen's arm once, then disappeared into the crowd. Karen motioned to where he left with a slightly awkward laugh, "It's incredible what he's capable of, huh?"

"Frank Castle." I blurted and her eyes went wide. So much for tact. "Do you…Do you know him?"

Karen crossed her arms, "He's been…in the news recently. It's just a legal thing. A case." Her reply was a lie. Maybe not entirely, but she was holding something back. "So, the party—"

"Please." I cut her off and reached under my dress neckline to pull out the dogtags. "I know him." It wasn't the truth either, but maybe it wasn't entirely a lie. "Do you know where I can find him?"

Karen took the end of the dogtags to read the name, her eyes widened, "He never mentioned you…"

"Please, Karen." I begged.

"He barely trusts me as is, Aj." Karen replied with a shake of her head. "Give me the dogtags." My eyes widened and she offered me a small smile. "I'll give them to him next time I see him and bring up your name. Proof. Then I'll tell him you want to see him?"

"O—Okay." I mumbled and moved to take the necklace off. For some reason, the same reason why I still wore the damn things even now, I couldn't bring myself to let them go. I didn't know what that was about exactly. Why was I emotionally connected to a pair of dogtags I had never seen before that belonged to a man I had never met? Karen gave me a soft look and with a shaky breath, I handed them to her. "Please don't lose them."

She shook her head, tucking them into her purse, "I won't. But Aj, he isn't…" Karen paused. "I told Matt he wouldn't hurt me, and I believe that, I do, but he's…difficult to talk to. I don't know when you knew him, but it might not be the same man anymore."

"Just tell him I need to talk to him. To see him." I said firmly. "Karen, it's so important."

"I understand." She set a hand on my shoulder. "I was going to go out to see him tonight for something he needed, but I'll text you what he says."

"He lives in Hell's Kitchen?" I asked.

"Sometimes." Karen replied. "I'm meeting him out in Jersey City tonight."

She gave me another quick goodbye, a short hug, then turned and left me in a daze. Jersey City. Frank Castle spent time in the same area I used to live in. He was in the same area that my guardian angel used to reside in. A flash of that memory again, being carried in the dark with the streetlights behind the head of whoever was carrying me like a halo, the deep, rough voice. It was moments like this that I really wished I believed in coincidences.

---

Not guilty.

Bucky knew he was grinning like an idiot right now, Sam had said that to him exactly, but it couldn't be helped. The Compound's living space was buzzing with lively, celebratory energy as every ate and joked around. The speed at which Tony could throw together a party was impressive that was for sure.

Wanda was talking to Pepper, Star in her arms, while Clint, Rhodey, and Pietro played darts a few feet away. Tony, Vision, and Steve were talking to Foggy and Matt who had joined in the celebration. Bucky had added them to the list of people he owed everything to a while ago now. He rolled his shoulders, happy to have his left arm reconnected again, and brought the whiskey in his hands to his lips. The alcohol didn't do a damn thing for him anymore, but he couldn't deny that Tony had the really good stuff stocked up here.

His eyes landed on Aj coming out from the elevator. Bucky set his drink down and moved towards her, ignoring the comments Sam and Natasha called out from behind him about leaving mid-conversation. He caught her before she stepped into the main room, so they still stood a bit off to the side. Aj gave him a broad grin, and he didn't hesitate to immediately pull her into another hug.

"I was gone for like five minutes, Buck." Aj joked into his shoulder.

"Thank you." Bucky forced himself to release her.

Aj rolled her eyes with a smirk, "How many times are you gonna say that to me today?" if it were up to him, he'd say it a thousand more times. "You don't have to keep thanking me."

"I disagree, doll." Bucky replied. "Everything you've done for me…"

She waved off his words, "Everyone else did the heavy lifting. Dr. Bass and Emily, Dr. Strange, Matt and Foggy, Tony—"

"But none of it would've happened without you." He said softly. Aj just gave him a small shrug, her hand lifting to play with the necklace he had given her. The dog tags she had chosen to hide under her shirts was missing though. Bucky reached out to take her hand into his. He let his thumb trace over the red marks on her palm where nails had dug in. The marks were obviously there from the court room where she... Bucky hadn't taken the time to address this at the courtroom. It didn't seem right with everyone else around. He glanced over his shoulder before looking back to her, "Aj, the picture—"

Aj shook her head, "Don't start, mister. I chose to do that willingly and… I mean, I had to talk about it eventually. I know that. Why not then when it helps more than just me?"

"You showed your back to a room full of strangers. To the world. And what you said about what he did." Bucky felt a slight pang of guilt and anger rise up in his chest. "I can't—"

Aj surprised him by pulling her hand away and lightly popping her fingers against his lips to stop him from talking. She crossed her arms with a warm grin that filled her eyes with the kind of fire that warmed souls rather than burned down cities, "You were there, Bucky. It wasn't that hard to share because for some reason anytime you're around I... I don't know. Everything and anything seems possible. Probably because… I know… I always know that as long as you're there, I'm safe." Aj shrugged then repeated herself. "You always make me feel safe, James Buchanan Barnes. Always."

Bucky's lips parted in surprise, a softness curling up in his chest.

In another life, another timeline, a different world, Bucky would've leaned forward and taken this moment to kiss her. That realization settled on his skin and left him in awe. If he wasn't so broken, if he wasn't so worried about hurting Steve, if the fear of not being enough for her wasn't so overwhelming, if all of those issues weren't clouding his mind like a suffocating smog, he would've taken her face in his hands, and traced that scar on her cheekbone with his thumb. Bucky would've let his lips ghost over the freckles on her face. Kissing every single one that decorated her features like constellations in the night sky. He would've pulled her in, flush against him, and kissed her right on those perfectly, parted, pink lips because nothing else, no other action or phrase of words, could convey to her what he felt right now.

Bucky could look back at the memories he had of dames and gals that he had flings with in the past. There had even been a couple here and there that he had been convinced was love. However, standing here in front of this brilliant, beautiful, bold, loyal, warm woman he knew, without a single doubt, that this was love. Looking back, he had a feeling that it had been this way for a while, but he wasn't strong enough to look into those hypnotizing eyes and deny it any longer.

James Buchanan Barnes was undeniably, head over heels, absolutely in love with Aimee Jane Bradshaw. The kind of love people wrote songs for. The kind of love that made every ounce of pain and tragedy in life worth it. The kind of love his pops used to tell him to never, ever let slip away.

"Hey," Aj called out with a raised eyebrow and amused smile, "What's on your mind?"

In another life, another timeline, a different world, Bucky would've told her the truth.

Instead, he shook his head with a smile of his own, "Nothing, doll. Nothing."