Chapter Three
It was hours later and The Winter Soldier was still up in the medical bay in Stark towers, Steve had taken off the rest of his cuffs and left him to think. Something that would have gone quicker if he wasn't currently being pestered by the voice in his head that just won't leave.
"You should stay with him, you can trust him. I always could"
"Shut up!"
"You know you can trust him, he just wants to help you"
"No he just wants you back and you just want to come back. Not happening"
"I am back, why do you think you can suddenly hear me after so many years. We've merged, I'm just as in control as you."
"They why are trying to convince me to stay here, why not just stay here"
"Because you need to understand that Steve and the Avengers are just trying to help, Hydra's gone and without their cruel experiments we're going to die. Steve just wants to help us, he knows we're not the same Bucky he grew up with and don't tell me you've not noticed he isn't the same scrawny kid we used to save from an ass kicking"
"He wants to save James Buchanan Barnes, not The Winter Soldier"
"We're one in the same and yes I could make you stay, but I want you to make the choice. This could be the best thing for both of us, you just have to believe in it as much as I do. I know you're scared"
"I'm not scared-"
"- but if you can't trust Steve, trust me."
Unbeknown to both of them Jarvis had been told to watch The Winter Soldier and alert the others to this, in the common room, Iron Man, Black Widow, Hawkeye and Captain America where all watching the security footage on the monitor in confusion.
"So he's not just a trained, unaged assassin he's also crazy"
"Stark!"
"I'm sorry I am the only one who's noticed he's having a full conversation with himself"
"Stark, seriously shut up. Everyone is this room is either an ex-assassin, ex-crazy or ex-unaged, so stop" Hawkeye interrupts.
"He's the winter soldier, talking to Bucky Barnes about whether they should both stay or go. How do we fix that?"
Steve couldn't possible comprehend any of this.
"Maybe he has a split personality that would make sense after everything he's been through." Natasha suggests as she watches the screen with interest. "He did say they've merged, maybe when he got separated from Hydra Bucky came back through but the winter solider had already began to define himself as someone else."
"What does any of that even mean? Can we fix this? How are we meant to fix something I don't even understand?"
"Steve calm down"
Hawkeyes did his best to calm him down, while Stark remained seated and quite, this wasn't his type of conversation. He didn't want to upset the Icicle anymore right now, he understood the pain of a best friend hurt.
"I think we should just leave him alone about this" Natasha suggest "they've merged and are both aware of each other and the winter soldier did say Bucky had control. I think with some more time they'll just become one."
"You think? She thinks" with a scoff Steve runs his fingers through his blond hair and tugs hard.
"We need him to be comfortable with us first Steve, we'll get an expert in when he's ready. Until then don't push it"
Meanwhile back in the med bay
"I'm not cutting my hair"
"Yes you are!"
"No I'm not, if you want to stay I'll stay for now, but I'm not cutting the hair, I like it long"
"We look like a Dame!"
"I like it!"
"Compromise, you cut it and get rid of the beard"
"How is that a compromise and what's wrong with the beard?"
"We look scruffy, we're a handsome gent or at least we used to be."
"Alright but I'm keeping the hair"
"No, the hair is terrible"
"No it isn't, its nice"
"Please don't make me have girl hair"
"How about I put it up"
"Put it up?"
"Yeah in one of those hair bands they have"
"Or you could just cut it"
"I'm getting rid of the beard and I'm staying here for you, so I get to keep the hair"
"Ah, Fine. You win for now"
"Thank you"
"Whatever, Jerk"