Title: Forgiveness
Rating: PG-13/T
Originally posted: 22nd July 2023
Originally written for: nununununu
Characters/Pairings: Bucky & Tony
Notes: for Seasons of Drabbles, Summer 2023 on Dreamwidth and AO3.
The Winter Soldier feared nothing. James 'Bucky' Barnes was not so lucky.
It should be simple. All he had to do was push the button in his hand, just watch and listen to the message left behind.
"Easier said than done," he muttered, before taking a breath and pressing down with his thumb, startling a little when Tony Starks's hologram appeared.
"Hey, Barnes. Bet you weren't expecting this, huh? Well, let's just say I like the idea of keeping people on their toes, even after I'm gone. Look, this isn't going to be a long speech, just the necessary facts. Number one, in spite of what you probably think, I don't hate you. I did, for a while, but not anymore. Number two, I hope you have all the gratitude in the world for your buddy Rogers, not to mention everybody else that went to bat for you when it counted. And finally, big number three... you're forgiven."
Bucky heard himself gasp, almost asking, 'How?' and, 'Why?' despite the man before him being no more than a recording. Thankfully, Tony explained.
"Fact is, I get it now. What was done to you, how the whole programming thing worked. Turns out my dad was looking into your whole situation for quite a while, and the way I see it, he probably understood, so I guess I should too."
"The end is coming, and by the time you see this, it will have been and gone, so here it is; you're free, Barnes. It's a brave new world and you're a brand new you, so go out there and live for those of us who can't. Don't let me down, Manchurian Candidate."
With a smirk, he was gone, but Bucky continued to stare, even as tears poured from his eyes. "Thank you."