When he got back it was dark out and he saw everyone else still there.
"I knew you'd be there still." he said and they jumped.
"Bucky!" Steve said.
"What? You didn't think I couldn't do it did you?" Bucky asked with an eyebrow up.
"No."
"What are you hiding?"
"We're not-"
"You're playing with your hands, not smiling I'm back and not looking me in the eye. What are you hiding?"
"Damnit." Steve muttered and looked at Sam so Bucky looked at Sam and realized what he did.
"Oh my god. What the hell Sam?!"
"I'm sorry! I was just worried!" Sam said.
"What did you tell them?!"
"Just that HYDRA did a few a little training to you and that's it. They taught you how to use knives better and how to get away quietly." Sam said and Bucky nodded getting the message.
"Those are some good skills you got from them." Falsworth said.
"Thanks." Bucky said.
"So the other three haven't been taking great care of Becca huh?" Steve said and Bucky sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"No. Part of me wanted to just bring her here so I could have her with me but I know she'd be in worse protection here." Bucky said and sat down.
"You sounded more like a dad than a brother." Dum Dum said and Bucky looked at him.
"Well when you have four sisters to raise after losing both your parents by fifteen you kinda have to switch from brother to parent. Especially when the youngest is barely three years old."
"He worked his ass off on making sure they were OK." Steve said.
"It was exhausting but had to be done." Bucky said and sighed. "One of the reasons I left for the war is because I knew they'd be getting a decent amount of money so after I got approved Izzie had just gotten her first job as a nurse so I thought giving them half the money and Izzie working at a hospital would be able to pull it off and if they needed more I'd give them more. I'd give some to Steve since he's been having trouble with getting a job because of his health problems to."
"So that's how you paid off your rent and stuff with no job!" Jones said.
"Yes." Steve muttered. "Health problems to."
They all looked at Bucky who shrugged.
"Hey, I was getting what I needed for free and paid for saving lives. Might as well help pay for my house and what my family and best friend need." Bucky said and they shrugged and nodded.
Sam just stood there looking at him wondering how Bucky lived through this.
"How did you do it?" Sam asked and Bucky looked at him.
"You just have to deal with it. Get up, make breakfast, wake them up for school, get the youngest dressed while the other three eat and get ready for school, have your neighbor watch the youngest while you walk the other three to school and then go to school yourself, wait at the elementary school and walk them home, pickup the youngest, get her put down for a nap while helping the others with homework, make dinner, feed them and the youngest, give the youngest a bath, put her to bed while you let the other's listen to the radio, go clean up after their dinner, put them to bed, have dinner yourself, get your own homework done and then go to bed get up and do the same thing the next day." Bucky said and looked at Steve who nodded.
"I have no idea how he did it." Steve said and looked at Bucky. "How didyou do it?"
"About two months after we started running out of money so I decided to leave school and start working. I started out as doing what I did any morning but instead of my neighbor watching Becca I was able to bring her with me because his wife was willing to babysit for free when they heard what happened to our parents so they dropped a ton of stress off me. It was easier to get more sleep, have time to calm down and get a lunch break so I could take a walk." Bucky said and looked at Steve. "That's when I met this punk getting beat up as usual."
"Hey!"
"You were laying on your back with a bloody nose, two black eyes, bruises all over you and I could tell you had health problems because of how short you were." Bucky said and Steve turned red.
"OK, fine. He met me when I was being beat by about five guys in an alleyway." Steve said pointing his thumb at Bucky.
"I told him I went to a different school when I was really working. Always told him my parents just weren't home and I was just babysitting them until he figured it out himself."
"When did he figure it out?" Morita asked.
"I figured it out when I saw him working on a boat a few years later on a day we should be in school. I thought he was just helping his dad with something but on my way home I saw him still there lifting some heavy looking bags and sweating looking tired as if he'd been doing that for hours. Then I heard a guy telling him to go home because Bucky had been working since six in the morning and only taking one day off. Bucky declined saying he still had four sisters to feed and now all four of them were in school so he had to work as much as he could so they could afford all the books and school supplies they needed. The other guy said to tell one of the older girls to get a job since they're old enough and he said he's tried but they won't listen. Only Becca actually listens to him. When Bucky was done he saw me and I forced him to tell me what was going on. So we went to get a snack and he told me everything. I told my mom and she started sending him meals for the girls to heat up so Bucky could get some sleep." Steve said.
"A goddamn blessing." Bucky muttered. "Becca was to young to learn how to cook and the others were to damn lazy leaving me to do all the work. Once I left for the training Becca wrote to me telling me they finally realized what I had been doing for them for so long."
"Took them long enough." Steve said with his arms crossed.
"No kidding." Bucky said and sighed. "Hand me the map so I can see how many we've got left." he said and Sam handed him the maps.
While he looked at it everyone thought about what Bucky had done while Sam thought about what he had hid from him.
Then Bucky looked at them all and they looked at him back.
"What's next Barnes?" Phillips asked.
"China. And this one is the last one. When we get this, HYDRA is gone for good." Bucky said and they looked at him in shock and hope.
"Then let's go." Steve said.
A few days later they were in position and waiting for HYDRA to get them.
Then the door opened and it started.
Bucky, Steve and Sam went inside while the rest took care of outside.
While they took down more and more agents the agents started to realize that it was two Super Soldiers and a very skilled soldier versus normal soldiers.
Zola's serum worked.
While they were out of it Bucky took out a knife while Sam took out a gun and Steve his shield and used them hitting and killing them.
The more they took down the more Winter Soldier Bucky felt come out.
When they were done with all the agents they were in the room they were looking for and Steve and Bucky kicked it down together to see Zola standing there.
"Captain Rogers, Sergeant Barnes." Zola said and saw Sam. "And a new recruit."
"That's Lieutenant Colonel Barnes now." Bucky snapped.
"And Sergeant Wilson to you jackass." Sam said.
"Ahhh." Zola said.
"Why did you want Bucky?" Steve asked.
"I wanted him to be a part of a program called the Winter Soldier. The opposite of you." Zola said and Bucky glared at him.
'Well, you got what you wanted in my world.' Bucky thought.
"The what?" Steve asked confused.
"It is a program where he is able to kill people instead of saving them, will do what we want with nothing but a few words, be an unstoppable soldier, the-" Zola started but was cut off.
"The fist of HYDRA." someone said and he and Steve turned to see Bucky standing there with his arms crossed. "Kill hundreds of thousands, recreate the serum to get more of them, find people that can get a job in SSR to become your spy so you can take of? All that crap?" he asked and Zola blinked in shock. "I know what you do. When you gave me this serum, you gave everything Steve has except small bits like how strong I am." he said, grabbed Zola by the neck and slammed him to the wall. "Do you see how strong I really am now?" he asked and Zola nodded.
Sam watched him concerned and had a quick flashback of the that town they were in with Zemo a few months ago.
"I don't look strong unlike Steve but I am as strong as him physically. Everything he got from his serum, I got from mine. Only difference is I have more experience with combat and such. And you can still get whatever you're allergic to but that's it. So in a way, yours was a success. But the only Super Soldiers you're going to create in this world are me and Steve." Bucky said, dropped Zola to the ground and looked at Steve and Sam and nodded.
Then all three of them took out their guns and shot at him.
Sam got the head, Steve got the stomach and Bucky got the chest.
When Zola hit the floor Bucky bent down, punched him hard in the face and then felt for a pulse but got nothing and looked at Steve and Sam.
"Nothing. We got him." Bucky said smirking.
"Oh thank God!" Steve said. "I got Red Skull and you got Zola. We always have made a good team." he said smiling and Bucky smiled back.
"Yup. Til the end of the line."
"Til the end of the line."
"Now let's go tell everyone we just killed the last HYDRA group."
"Hell yeah!" Sam said and they left.
When they met up with the rest of the Commandos they looked fine.
"You guys OK?" Bucky asked.
"Yeah. You?" Morita asked.
"Yeah." Sam said.
"So?" Dum Dum said and they smirked.
"You did it?!" Falsworth said in shock.
"Hell yeah we did!" Bucky said and they gave each other a high five.
While they headed back to Peggy and Phillips they were all smiling happy to finally be able to get back home soon.
When they got back to SSR Peggy and Phillips looked at them.
"It's done sir. They were able to get rid of the base and we were able to take care of Zola and the agents. Which also means the closest person to recreating the serum. And in my opinion, me and Steve are enough to deal with." Bucky said and they nodded.
"Good work Colonel Barnes. Are you sure that's the last one?" Phillips said.
"Yes sir."
"Well then," Phillips said and raised his hand to salute them all in respect followed by Peggy. "Well done all of you."
Bucky stood there in shock at what he just got while the others smiled.
"You can all go get some rest now." Peggy said and they nodded and left while Bucky and Sam stayed.
"You OK?" Sam asked.
"Yeah." Bucky said. "Now we just need to get home. And, I don't know if I want to go home."
"Why wouldn't you want to go home?" Peggy asked.
"Don't you remember Pegs? I'm hated by just about everyone there. Even after saving their lives. Multiple times at this point. I never wanted to be in the 21st century, when Steve told me he was going back to be with you I thought he was going to offer me to come so I could get the life I wanted to. He would get the girl he wanted and his best friend. Who wouldn't want that? But instead, he didn't, he chose you over me and made me stay in 2023 where I knew I was going to be treated like shit. I get treated with a little respect by police, military and Air Force officers because of my title of Sergeant Barnes but that's just about it. Sam's family and neighbors are great and treat me fine but I don't belong there, I'm a Brooklyn New York guy. I can't even get a damn job and live off the money I earned from my service and the government gives me so I don't risk snapping back into him." he said and took a deep breath. "My life has been down hill since Steve got what he wanted and even more since I left Wakanda. Maybe if I stayed there life would have worked but they forced me to move to New York. When they found out I was from Brooklyn they got me an apartment there to try and help me and that's pretty much it."
Peggy and Phillips looked at him while Sam put his hand on his shoulder to comfort him.
"I've been trying to help him but he's still pretty quiet. He's better than before but still has some work to do. But as soon as we got here, he became a whole different Bucky. I've never met this Bucky." Sam said. "I used to be a veteran counselor so I saw so much stress get off his shoulders, depression got out of his eyes, every emotion he had was replaced by something different. Fun, excitement, happiness, worried, relief, relaxation, everything I only saw once in a very great while and for a few minutes. Hours tops. I think it was seeing Steve, even if it's a different Steve that's really helping him the most." he said and looked at Bucky. "Did I get all that right?"
"He's right. But like he said, he was a counselor so he can sense mental illnesses somehow. Maybe it's a power he possessed over the years. He's the current Captain America so Steve probably made me stay because where there's Captain America there's Bucky Barnes." Bucky said with his arms crossed. "I work with him and saved him plenty of times but it's still not the same. So many people still see me as this, this, this monster I was for seventy years!"
"Hey, you are not a monster. You are not him anymore. You kept the name to redeem it remember?" Sam said gently and Bucky nodded. "They will learn in time. Some people still call me Captain Falcon for peats sake!"
"Yeah well at least you were already a hero and not a villain." Bucky said and left.
Then Sam sighed.
"Steve really left him for me?" Peggy said and he looked at her.
"Like we said when we first came here. He left us for you and Bucky finally admitted why he was with me and not Steve. Steve didn't even offer Bucky a chance." he said.
"After everything Barnes has done for him, Rogers just, left him." Phillips said shaking his head.
"I think Bucky might be right." Sam said and they looked at him. "I'm not a Super Soldier and god only knows what could happen with Captain America. I have a work partner who took over as the new Falcon but he still has some work to do. He's getting good but still has a bit of work to do. But Bucky, he can do anything. He's fast, can fly a helicopter, is a great sniper, you've seen it all at this point. I think Steve knew that I needed Bucky because just a shield wasn't going to be enough. Even though I have more experience after actual training. I was a sergeant and was just about to become a lieutenant when I lost my wingman. That's when I dropped into depression and went to being a VA. After I met Steve, I knew it was time to snap back into action and start helping people again, do what I did all that training for." he said and they nodded.
"According to where he was trained, Bucky was the best one there. He went to Private to Sergeant faster than anyone there. He was the only one that could climb to the flag every time, didn't miss a single shot, dodged every grenade and everything. When they found out what he did for a living before, they didn't know if he'd be able to do what he could but he proved them wrong." Peggy said.
"He doesn't get enough credit in our time. He tries so hard but I get all the credit when really, it's Bucky who should be getting it. If it weren't for him, I'd probably be dead."
Later Sam had gone to the Ancient One and she said she could help them get back where they belong.
Now he, Bucky, Peggy, Phillips and Howard were with her.
Sam was looking at Bucky and knew what he had to do.
"Thank you for all the help Lieutenant Colonel Barnes, Sergeant Wilson." Peggy said.
"It was our pleasure Agent Carter." Sam said and they shook hands while Bucky stood there quietly.
"Colonel Barnes," Phillips said and Bucky turned to him standing in attention. "I'm proud to call you one of my soldiers." he said and saluted him and Bucky smiled saluting him back.
"Thank you sir." Bucky said and Sam watched him.
"It was nice seeing you and knowing you survived that fall Barnes." Howard said patting Bucky on the back and Bucky smiled.
"Wasn't the best life but oh well." Bucky said and looked at Peggy. "I want you to look after him for me. Figure something out because I don't know what to tell him and the crew. Or Becca."
"I will." Peggy said and gave him a hug and he hugged her back. "I know you love him." she whispered and he froze.
"How?"
"Sam. Don't get mad at him, I forced him when I noticed the way you were acting when you brought Steve back." she whispered and he looked at her.
"I've loved him for years. Just don't tell him, please. He wants you, not me. I'm just his best friend and the guy always saving his ass." he said and they chuckled.
"I won't." she said and he nodded.
Then he walked backwards and stood next to Sam still looking at his true time.
"You can stay." someone said and he turned to see Sam looking at him.
"What?" Bucky asked confused.
"You can stay here." Sam repeated.
"But, what about you? Where there's Captain America there's Bucky Barnes and you need a Super Soldier to help you." Bucky said and Sam put his hands on Bucky's shoulders.
"You were so happy here and I saw you so relaxed compared to the time you were before. I want you to be happy. Steve got what he wanted, why not you?" Sam said and Bucky looked at him. "You get treated the exact opposite here and the way you deserve. Instead of hated you get respected, you have the family and friends you wanted back, destroyed HYDRA so can have the life you never had before, can find someone for you, get married and have a family of your own even though you're gay. You'll figure something out. Just stay here and be happy."
Bucky looked at Peggy, Phillips and Howard then back at Sam, then back at them and then back at Sam.
"Are you sure you'll be OK?" Bucky asked and Sam nodded smiling so Bucky gave him a hug. "Thank you." he said and Sam hugged him back.
"You're welcome. Thanks for all the help for the last few years." Sam said and they let go.
"There's no Captain America without Bucky Barnes." Bucky said smiling and backed up to go back with Peggy, Phillips and Howard.
Then Sam waved, Bucky waved back and Sam was gone.
Bucky sighed but couldn't help but smile knowing he was where he was meant to be.
"Well, should we head back to base?" Phillips said and Bucky and Peggy nodded.
While they walked Peggy had Bucky slow down so they could talk.
"You can have him." Peggy said and Bucky looked at her. "After everything you've been through for the last eighty years or so, you deserve more than just a restart. After all the things you've done for him since you became friends and lived through since that fall you deserve happiness too."
"Thank you." Bucky said and she nodded smiling.
When they got back to SSR Bucky saw the rest of the Commandos talking and laughing and couldn't help but feel his heart racing while hearing Steve laugh.
Peggy watched him and the more she watched the more she wondered how she missed this before with the other Bucky. Not to mention that Bucky wasn't a former HYDRA agent.
Then Steve saw Bucky and smiled.
"Hey Bucky!" Steve said. "Where's Sam?"
"His sister needed him to come home and help her with her kids and the family company. He wanted me to tell you guys he's sorry and wishes he could stay longer but family comes first." Bucky said and they nodded.
Then Peggy nodded at him to get him to tell Steve so he nodded.
"Can you come with me for a minute?" Bucky asked and Steve nodded and they went to a different room.
When they got there Steve closed the door, turned around and opened his mouth to say something only to find lips on his and was shocked for a second but closed his eyes and kissed back.
He felt himself slammed onto the door and then after a few minutes it stopped and they looked at each other panting.
"I love you." Bucky said and shook his head. "I've loved you since the day I saved your scrawny ass in that alleyway and we became friends. I'm gay and I've known that since I was at least ten. I just never told anyone except you today. I only asked girls out because I can't ask guys out."
"Buck." Steve said.
"I know you love Peggy, I just wanted you to know and kiss you at least once. Please don't tell anyone. If it was us we could pull it off with everyone knowing us and our friendship but me and another guy?" Bucky said and shook his head. "I couldn't do it without people getting suspicious. And I don't-" he said and was cut off by lips himself and then let go.
"I love you too Buck. I love Pegs, but I've loved you more for years. I was just trying to get myself to love Peggy more than you so I didn't have to risk anyone finding out. When we work together I'd look at you when you aren't looking, when you're sleeping I go to your room and watch you sometimes and more. When you fell off that train I had a mental breakdown and tried to get myself drunk but thanks to that serum I couldn't. I blamed myself for it." Steve said.
"Hey," Bucky said and put a hand on Steve's cheek gently. "It wasn't your fault. It was cold and slippery. My hand slipped and I fell. That's it. HYDRA Nazis found me but I was able to break out, Sam helped me and now here I am back in Brooklyn with you and the rest of the team. Together till the end of the line." he said and gave Steve a kiss.
"Right. Till the end of the line." Steve said smiling. "So, does this mean we're a couple?" he asked and Bucky chuckled.
"Yes punk. And you're not losing me anytime soon."
"Sounds good to me." Steve whispered and they kissed.
In 2025 Sam walked through the portal and found himself in the Compound with the rest of the team.
"Sam!" everyone said in relief while he stood there in silence.
"Where's Barnes?" Rocket asked.
"I need a conference interview now. Everyone in the world. Can you do that for me Pepper?" Sam asked.
"Uh, sure?" Pepper said confused and went to take care of that.
An hour later Sam was standing there taking a deep breath and getting.
"I asked Pepper to do this because, I'm resigning from Captain America and reclaiming my position as Falcon." Sam said and everyone stood or sat there in shock while reporters started asking questions but he raised his hand asking them to stop. Me and Bucky were on a mission together and ended up in the year 1946. I had no idea what to do, where we were or anything but Bucky did because he was born in 1917. While we were there we were seen by Agent Peggy Carter and taken to SSR base, told them what happened and prevented everything. We were able to get Steve early, with Bucky being the Winter Soldier for so long and knowing where every HYDRA base was we were able to destroy them all preventing the SHIELD accident of 2014, Bucky worked his ass off on stopping the snap from happening to prevent that himself so I didn't have to risk myself from getting hurt, his sister got captured and he saved her himself so nobody would get hurt, before Steve was found he took over as leader and even when they found him and he was awake he stayed the leader. By the time we were on the last one he was Lieutenant Colonel." he said and heard soldiers gasping. "To hide what we were he came up with the idea of breaking himself out from the serum he got in 43, met me, I was in unit 58 because I was a 58 perarescue before a VA. His idea was I found him and helped him medically and decided to follow him just to make sure he got home safely. They were all shocked when they saw him and bought it. I obviously joined the Commandos and the more I saw him with them, the more relaxed I saw him. Eventually I realized, he doesn't belong in my time, he belongs here. Where he has Steve, his family, friends, is actually respected after risking his life saving the world every day and not hated by just about everyone on earth." he said and took a deep breath. "When we found a way to get back here an hour ago I asked Pepper to get this so I could tell you that I was resigning from Captain America and reclaiming Falcon but also to tell you why. I'm resigning because you've been treating Bucky awful since he was cleared. The only people actually cared about him were me, Louisiana people because they welcome anyone and as a thank you Bucky will help us with your boats because it turns out, he had four sisters to raise at fourteen. He ditched school, got a job and later started working on ships so people from my home, that's why he knows so much about boats, he did it for a living. Anyway, he risked his life helping me and saved me to many times to count. About 99.9% of the time you give me the credit, you should be giving Bucky. He has been through so much over the years from WWII, HYDRA, that Civil War between the Avengers, Thanos, twice, the Super Soldier fight and all the fights he's helped me with. Before I became Falcon again and joined the Avengers I was also a counselor for veterans and Bucky has Complex PTSD and yet he still helped me every time. When Steve died he was in extremely deep depression and with his enhanced metabolism no medication works for him so he had to deal with it himself. I saw him lighten up so much when we were in his time and he had Steve back. So, I decided to give him what he deserved for once. I let him stay in 1946 where he can be with his friends, family, people that actually care and respect him." he said and they looked at him in shock.
"But, who will be the next Captain America if you reclaim the name Falcon?" someone asked.
"No one. That will be at a museum and if it's a repeat of last time I'll return it to Wakanda where the Vibranium came from." he said. "We don't need to live off a Captain America. You still have Falcon, Hulk, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man, Wasp, Spider-Man, Thor, the Guardians, Black Panther and so many more Avengers all over the world. The only people that are gone are Hawkeye after retiring but according to Clint he found a new one and is training her as we speak, Black Widow from sacrificing her life to stop Thanos and Tony doing the same thing. But according to Pepper, his intern has the brain to match both Tony and Bruce so if we ever need help with our equipment, he can help us with it even though he's only in high school. When you need us again, we'll be ready. I don't know who's going to be the next leader but we'll figure that out when we get there. The only things missing are two Super Soldiers, a Black Widow, a master archer and tech genius. But we can replace three of them. And if we have to, I'm sure Dr. Strange could find a way to get Bucky to get back here, right?" he said and looked at Strange who nodded.
"Yes. If we ever needed him I could get him and hopefully he'll come help us. And after that I can put him back to whatever year he was in." Strange said.
"Good. See? No matter what happens over the years, you'll always have us. As we get older we'll find younger people to take our position and you'll be safe. The only person that can't be replaced is Captain America." Sam said and stepped down.
Three years later.
Bucky was with the Commandos, Peggy and Phillips when a yellow and orange light Bucky recognized appeared and he stood up.
"What the hell is that?" Dum Dum asked when a portal opened and Strange walked through.
Everyone but Bucky got a gun ready and Steve got his shield ready while Bucky just stood there.
"What are you doing Barnes? Why aren't you holding your gun?!" Phillips asked but instead of taking out his gun he stared at him.
"What is it this time?" he asked shocking and confusing them all while the man looked at him.
"It's Sam." Strange said and Bucky froze.
"What happened?"
"He needs your help."
"What did he do?"
"Ross turned into a different Hulk and is trying to kill him even though Sam resigned from the role of Captain America and reclaimed his Falcon when he came back."
"Ross? Not-" Bucky started but Strange nodded. "Son of a bitch." he said, grabbed a gun, his Winter Soldier uniform he kept in his backpack and turned to Strange. "Let's get this done."
"Bucky?" Steve said and Bucky turned to look at him. "What's going on?"
"I just have to go do something. Then I'll be back." Bucky gently and put a hand on Steve's cheek.
"Be careful OK?"
"I'll be fine. You know what I can do." Bucky said smiling and Steve nodded and they kissed.
Then they stopped and Bucky turned around, went through the portal and found himself in his old apartment.
"They actually kept this empty for me?" he said.
"Sam did incase we needed you for something in the future." Strange said and Bucky nodded.
Then he went to his room, got changed into his Winter Soldier uniform and when he was done Strange made him a portal to where Ross was.
When he got there he saw Sam in Falcon being punched.
'No one hurts Sam you asshole.' Winter Soldier thought, took out his strongest gun and hit Ross in the back getting him to yell in pain and drop Sam to the ground.
He turned to see what hit him but saw nothing and then felt another.
It went on a few more times and Falcon was confused until it hit him.
'Only one person can get away from something that quickly. He can be seen for one minute and then be gone a second later.' he thought and couldn't help but smile in relief and happiness to see his best friend back even if it's only for a few minutes.
While Ross kept looking Winter Soldier stood behind him and used every strength he had to punch him in the back getting him to fall on the face.
"You really need to pay more attention Ross. Oh wait, I'm a Ghost Story. A soldier, a spy, HYDRA's best Winter Soldier for seventy years and a Super Soldier." Winter Soldier said and Ross looked at him. "How much like Bruce's Hulk are you anyway?"
Then Ross got up and tried to punch Winter Soldier who dodged by picturing it as a grenade.
While they fought Falcon watched and couldn't help but be shocked at how much Bucky improved even after all those years of experience he already had.
Then he saw Ross punch him a few times but Winter Soldier acted like he didn't care.
Then Falcon looked up after hearing something and saw a news reporter.
'Good. Maybe they'll see what Bucky does for me.' he thought.
"You're nothing but a monster Barnes." Ross said and punched Winter Soldier hard getting him to flip over and land on his side holding his hip.
"You're the monster Ross." Winter Soldier said looking at him and got up. "You're the reason Tony and Steve's friendship crashed not me! You're the reason the Avengers crashed and half of them were on the run for two years!" he yelled and threw a knife at Ross who punched him getting him to wince but get up fighting the pain and unleash all the anger. "If you hadn't created that Accords, caused that Civil War and made them go on the run then that snap wouldn't have happened! Thanos would've been beaten the first time!" he snapped and Ross grabbed his neck choking him.
"BUCKY!" Falcon yelled.
"Fine, I admit it. I forced all those countries to sign them to destroy that team. I didn't have anything to do with Zemo trying to get you though. But I did want the team gone so I could get all the attention back from being a military guy once." Ross said while Winter Soldier tried to get himself free. "You know how that feels after WWII, being a Howling Commando." he said and Winter Soldier turned pale from running out of air.
Ross started to laugh so Winter Soldier kicked off a shoe, took out a knife, used his foot and sliced Ross' knee hard getting him to yell in pain and drop Winter Soldier.
Winter Soldier fell to his knees coughing, holding his neck and taking deep breaths while Ross looked at his knee.
Winter Soldier winced but put his shoe back on, slowly got up and he and Ross looked at each other.
"You're more skilled than I remember." Ross said.
"I'm no longer Sergeant Barnes." Winter Soldier said a little higher after his neck being held so tight for so long and winced from the pain.
"Then what are you?"
"I'm General James Buchanan Barnes." Winter Solder and, aimed a shot at Ross' eye and hit it getting it.
Then Ross growled and hit Winter Solder in the head getting him to land on his back and hit his head.
He groaned and sat up rubbing it.
Then he saw Russ come flying from the air and got up diving to the side before Ross hit him.
While the fight continued Falcon got more and more concerned while the reporters kept watching.
At the Avengers Compound they were all watching in horror at what Bucky was doing for Sam.
Back with Sam, Bucky and Ross.
Winter Soldier was laying on his stomach not moving right now from being tired and in pain.
Then he remembered why he was there and slowly got up to feel his body shaking a little but got back up.
Then he shut his eyes knowing what he had to do.
Ross looked at him and Winter Soldier looked back, took out a different gun and shot him in the head, chest and stomach to watch him fall paralyzed.
Then he walked over to him.
"I wasn't sure if this was going to work with you or not like it did me and Steve. But then I remembered that this is different from Bruce so why not give it a shot." Winter Soldier said and rubbed his neck still sore from the chocking earlier.
Then he took out his knife and looked at Ross.
"You've messed up enough people's lives. Now it's time to end yours before you destroy anyone else's." he said, sliced Ross' chest far enough to get his heart and watched all the blood go down.
Then he got him in the neck, shoulder, stomach and ribs.
After that he stopped, stood there smiling relieved Ross was gone, gave in, passed out and landed on his back.
"BUCKY!" Falcon yelled and ran to check on him.
When he got there he knelt down and felt for a pulse and sighed in relief to feel one.
Suddenly he saw a light and Strange came.
"Let's get him in the Compound and have Cho take care of him. I'll help because I wanna see if he has any neurological problems after that choking and all that head trauma." Strange said and Sam nodded.
Then Strange used his magic to pick Winter Soldier up and they went through the portal to find themselves in MedBay.
For the next few hours Cho and Strange took care of Bucky.
When they were done Sam was sitting next to him reading while he slept.
Then he heard someone groan and looked up to see Bucky's eyes open.
"What the hell? Did I get another brainwash or something?" Bucky said and rubbed his head while Sam chuckled.
"No. No brainwashing this time. Just saving my ass again." Sam said smiling and Bucky looked at him and smiled.
"So, back to being Falcon huh?"
"Yeah. I felt that since you finally got what you wanted it was time for Captain America to retire fully. Time for the Falcon and the new comers to show the world what we can do. I told them what they had been doing to you, what you had lived through, what had happened and what you had done while we were there. Now the suit and shield are at the museum. I said if they do what they did last time I'll call Wakanda and have them come get the shield back." Sam said and smirked while Bucky chuckled.
"Nice."
"So what have you been up to?"
"Uh, the usual. Working with the team, hanging out at the bar to celebrate or just hang out, checking on the girls, got up to General last month, all that stuff."
"Whoa, whoa, who, you got up to General?!" Sam said and Bucky smirked.
"Hell yeah."
"Damn! I just got to lieutenant last year!"
"Ouch."
"Shut up." Sam said and looked at him. "You're hiding somethin' from me. What is it?"
"OK, Peggy told me what happened after we got Steve. And when I stayed she let me have him. She said after everything I've been through and done for them I deserve happiness more than anyone. So when we got back to SSR I pulled Steve aside and told him I love him. It took him a few minutes to process it but then he admitted that he loved me more than Peggy and had been trying to force himself to love her more than me. But it was hard because we worked together everyday. Only the Commandos and SSR, including Howard know. Howard said if we were to get married in the future we could do it his place and he'd do whatever it takes to have the staff to keep it quiet. If people see the rings they'll just imagine it's just friendship rings because everyone knows how close we've been."
"Damn!"
"Yeah."
"Gonna have any kids?"
"We don't know if either of us can. We don't exactly have what you have for gay couples yet."
"You can ask since you're here." Sam said and Bucky thought.
'Maybe I should. Me and Stevie having a family of our own one day?'Bucky thought.
"OK." Bucky thought and Sam nodded and went to get Cho.
Half an hour later Bucky was told that with the serum he was given he is able to have kids.
He didn't know if that was good or bad but he'll find out when he gets home.
Then Strange came in.
"When can I get back? The guys are probably worried sick about me right now." Bucky said.
"You're head is fine so all that's really left is the bruises, cracked ribs and the simple things." Strange said and Cho nodded.
"Does that mean I can get home now?"
"Yes, you can-" Cho started but was cut off by the news.
"Turns out Sam Wilson AKA Falcon was right, we were wrong about Sergeant Barnes. He had just fought Secretary Ross himself and saved Mr. Wilson. No word on how he is doing now." a reporter said and Bucky snorted.
"Oh, so now they say something good about me?" Bucky said with his arms crossed. "Anyway, can I go home now?"
"Yes, you can go." Cho said and he nodded.
Then Sam helped him up and gave him a hug.
"Thanks for saving me again." Sam said.
"Try not to get into to much trouble again. But if you need help just have Strange come get me and I'll be there." Bucky said smiling and Sam nodded and handed him the suit.
Then Bucky put it on his back and winced for a second but ignored it and went through the portal to see a worried Steve and the others trying to keep him calm.
"You worry too much punk." Bucky said smiling and everyone turned to see him.
"Bucky!" they said and Steve held him close and gave him a close to see a wince.
"You OK?" Steve asked.
"Yeah. Just a little sore still. Got pretty beat up. If it weren't for the enhanced healing I'd probably be in the MedBay still or maybe dead." Bucky said.
"What is it?" Peggy asked.
"Uh, few bruises here and there, sore throat after a pretty good strong chocking, few cracked ribs and I think that's it. Concussion is gone, sprained ankle is healed, fractured shoulder is back in place and healed and black eye is all set."
"Jesus Christ Barnes!" Falsworth said.
"What?"
"How do you do it?"
"You get used to it when you're captured by HYDRA for a year."
"Fair enough."
"Where's Sam anyway?" Morita asked.
"He had to go home. His sister had two kids and her husband had just died so she needed help raising them."
"Ahh. That stinks."
"Yeah." Bucky said and looked at Steve. "Can uh, we go talk about something for a second?" he asked and Steve nodded.
"Sure." Steve said and they went to a different room.
When they got there Steve shut the door.
"So what's up Buck?" Steve asked.
"Have you ever wanted to have kids? Like a family of your own?" Bucky blurted out.
"Uh, maybe? Why do you ask?"
"While I was in MedBay I started to think about the difference between our serums and was just getting curious if maybe, just maybe, it could make me pregnant."
"And?" Steve asked a mixture of curiosity, a little excitement and hope so Bucky smiled.
"I certainly can." Bucky said smiling and Steve gave him a kiss.
"If you ever want to have one just let me know when and we can start trying."
"Considering that we're both Super Soldiers, I'm gonna guess it'll be easier than we think." Bucky said and chuckled. "But I'll let you know." he said and winked. "Now let's go get back to everyone else and we're not doing anything tonight because my ribs are still sore." he said and Steve nodded.
A few minutes later they were with the others waiting and Steve helped Bucky sit down from the ribs.
Bucky winced for a second and put a hand on his side.
"Damnit Ross. You just had to make a version of the Hulk and not something smaller like Black Widow? Or Hawkeye?" he said rubbing his side.
"Who?" everyone asked and looked at Peggy and Phillips.
"I think it's time they knew General Barnes." Phillips said.
"Knew what?" Steve asked.
"He's right James. You've hid this long enough." Peggy said gently and Bucky sighed but nodded.
"You might wanna sit down." Bucky said and rubbed his throat for a second while they did as told. "I'm not the Bucky from this time. Neither was Sam. We're both from the year 2025." he said and they gasped.
"H-how?" Steve said confused.
"What I told you about that serum and HYDRA was true. At the 107th capture I was given my own serum which I've obviously shown. But after that fall, I wasn't captured and broke out a week later. I was captured, put in cyro freeze, brainwashed, taught how to be an assassin, speak Russian, German, and a few other languages, train Black Widows in the Red Room, cyro freeze on and off, I even killed Howard and his wife! But, in 1991 he used Steve's blood sample to create a new version of the serum and HYDRA wanted it to add more Winter Soldiers. The other six had a higher list of kills than me. But only one of them could actually beat me. They lost control of them when they realized the power they had with that serum so, they put them in cyro freeze and never let them out. Leaving me with all their dirty work. After that fall, Steve goes missing after a fight with Red Skull on a plane he crashes. In 2011, Steve is found still alive, looking as old as he did when he went missing because of the serum. In 2012, he made a team called the Avengers, Clint Barton, Bruce Banner, Thor, Natasha Romanoff, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. They work together beating Thor's brother Loki who has the Tesseract in hand. In 2014, I'm woken up and told to kill Nick Fury, the director of what SSR will become in the future called SHIELD. He's always been hard but I never miss. He just seems to be goddamn immortal or something." Bucky said shaking his head. "Anyway, later, I ended up fighting Natasha, now she was pretty hard because she was one of the Widows I trained. But even so, I never miss. Got her in the hip a few years before that and then this time I got her in the chest. Just not the heart. When I had to fight Steve, that was a challenge, Super Soldier versus Super Soldier. We kept flipping over each other, he used his shield, I used my knives and gun, I automatically caught the shield even though I didn't remember it and then he was able to get the mask off and while I got up after flipping over, when you saw my face, even with the long hair, you recognized me in a heartbeat. You said my name and I asked who that was. Then there was a gunshot and I was gone in seconds."
They all sat there in shock and horror of what happened and they hadn't even been done yet.
"I started to remember small things like Steve yelling my name as I fell off the train, a few Nazis finding me and taking me to Zola, amputating my arm and Zola talking to me. I asked about Steve, ended up being brainwashed and forgetting everything again. The next time I saw Steve we were on a helicarrier and while we fought he tried to help me remember who I was. I kept punching him while he didn't do anything in the end after his mission was accomplished. While I held his suit he said those words that got me to pause for the very first time."
Which were?" Peggy asked.
"Then finish it." he said. "And those last words to get me to stop immediately and I recognized. I stopped what I was doing, he slipped out of my hand and fell in the ocean."
"What were they?" Steve asked with an idea of what they were.
"Cause I'm with you till the end of the line." Bucky said looking at Steve. "After that, I jumped into the water, saved you like any other time back then and when you were on land I left to go figure out who and what I was."
"Did you?"
"Bits and pieces. That year you met Sam, the guy that was with me and Sam helped you try and find me, I apologized for trying to kill him." Bucky said. "Then in 2016 the Secretary of State Ross came up with a way to break the Avengers friendship. It was called The Sekodian Accords. Everyone that is enhanced or a hero was expected to sign it and expose who they are. Plenty didn't and got away with it. Steve didn't approve of it along with half the other team and he had found out I killed Howard and his wife but never told Tony. When he and Sam came to find me after me being framed they tried to help me getting themselves arrested and called criminals. Tony was able to get them cleared and talked. Slowly their friendship was getting tested and breaking. I was being talked to by a therapist that wasn't really a therapist. It was a guy called Zemo who learned my trigger words and got me to unleash the true Winter Soldier. Told me the day I killed Howard and while I was out of it I started attacking Steve, Sam, Natasha, Tony, Sharon, you name it. Natasha even said I should at least recognize her." he said and chuckled. "You would think after all those fights we've done huh?" he said and shook his head. "After that I disappeared and the next time they found me I was on a helicopter trying to get away. Thanks to Steve's enhanced strength he was able to stop it. I fell off landing in the water unconscious so he jumped in, brought me to shore and when I woke up, we were in a warehouse and I was back to Bucky Barnes."
"At least I was able to return the favor." Steve said and Bucky smiled.
"Oh you still owe me plenty more after saving you from all those fights before the serum, all the fights right after the serum, after saving you from being frozen for a year, after that-"
"OK, OK, I get!" Steve said and they chuckled.
"Anyway, after I woke up I said your name, you asked me which Bucky you were talking to and I said a few things only this Bucky would know but won't tell you with the team in front of you." Bucky said smirking and Steve turned red while looking at him in horror as the others snickered. "After that I told you I wasn't the only Winter Soldier, they're the people I told you about earlier. We thought Zemo was going to wake them up. Sam and Steve were trying to figure out what to do but eventually decided to do it on their own and called a few people. After a while we met up with half the team and then started fighting. Sam and I lost to a damn kid with enhanced spider powers and enhanced strength stronger than both mine and Steve's, maybe combined, while it went on friendship was destroyed, people were injured, Sam even caused Colonel Rhodes to be paralyzed by accident but Tony was able to create a way for him to walk thanks to him being as smart as Howard. Natasha turned her back on the team she was on letting me and Steve go after Zemo. I felt like I didn't deserve any of this but Steve said none of this was my fault. When we got to where we were needed we bumped into Tony and he became civil with us for the time being. When we got to the room we had to be we found the other Winter Soldiers dead instead of awake." he said and had a flashback for a second.
Steve was wearing his helmet while they're walked up to the entrance set in rock and the door was still open.
Steve Rogers: He can't have been here more than a few hours." Steve said.
"Long enough to wake them up." he said and Steve lead them into the cast bunker.
They traveled down into the depths inside a caged elevator stopping in the bowls of the bunker and doors slid open. Steve nodded to him and heaved up the cage door. He readied his heavy duty machine gun and they walked along a corridor, keeping close to a wall. He looked into an alcove full of junk then they moved on up some stairs. At the sound of a loud thud they spun around, aiming down the corridor.
"You ready?" Steve asked.
"Yeah." he said and the double doors part, forced open by Iron Man.
Steve stared in surprise as Tony walked towards them and retracted the suit's helmet.
"You seem a little defensive." Tony said while he kept his gun up and Steve walked to meet Tony with his shield covering his body.
"It's been a long day." Steve said.
"At ease, Soldier. I'm not currently after you."
"Then why are you here?"
"Could be your story's not so crazy. Maybe. Ross has no idea I'm here. I'd like to keep it that way. Otherwise, I gotta arrest myself."
"Well, that sounds like a lot of paperwork." Steve said and lowered his shield. "It's good to see you, Tony."
"You too, Cap." Tony said. "Hey, Manchurian Candidate, you're killing me. There's a truce here. You can drop..." he said to him and Steve signed him to lower his weapon and he did.
Then they cautiously walked along a corridor.
With his helmet and face plate reengaged Iron Man lead them towards the enormous chamber with the capsules standing in it.
"I got heat signatures." Tony said.
"How many?" Steve asked.
"Uh, one."
As they enter the vast chamber the lights came on. Hazy, yellow mist descends within the capsules, each one containing an enhanced soldier from the 1991 experiment. Steve and the others looked around, bewildered.
"If it's any comfort, they died in their sleep." Zemo said as all of the enhanced soldiers sat there after being shot in the head. "Did you really think I wanted more of you?" Zemo said said while he stared at Josef's corpse.
"What the hell?" he said.
I'm grateful to them, though. They brought you here." Zemo said, appeared in a control room and Steve hurled his shield but it flew back. "Please, Captain. The Soviets built this chamber to withstand the launch blast of UR-100 rockets."
"I'm betting I could beat that." Tony said.
"Oh, I'm sure you could, Mr. Stark. Given time. But then you'd never know why you came."
"You killed innocent people in Vienna just to bring us here?" Steve said and looked at Zemo through a window.
"I thought about nothing else for over a year. I studied you. I followed you. But now that you're standing here, I just realized... there's a bit of green in the blue of your eyes. How nice to find a flaw."
"You're Sokovian. Is that what this is about?"
"Sokovia was a failed state long before you blew it to hell. No. I'm here because I made a promise." Zemo said and Steve studied him.
"You lost someone?" Steve asked and Zemo looked grave and clicked his tongue.
"I lost everyone. And so will you." Zemo said, played surveillance footage from December 16th 1991 and Steve stepped over to the screen. "An empire toppled by its enemies can rise again. But one which crumples from within? That's dead... forever." he said while Tony looked at the freeze frame of a secluded road and the date, December 16 1991.
His eyes rove, anxiously.
"I know that road. What is this?" Tony asked wearing his helmet and Steve walked with him up to the entrance set in rock and the door was still open.
"Ucky? Bucky?" someone said and he snapped back.
"Huh?" Bucky said and saw them all looking at him. "Oh, right. After that Zemo had killed them and said they died in their sleep. After that he showed Tony that I was the one that killed his parents. Me, Steve and Tony got into a fight after that. Tony made me lose my arm but, I'm thankful for that. That thing was heavy and reminded me of HYDRA too much. While I watched Steve and Tony talked. Then the last thing Tony said was that Steve's shield was from Howard and really belongs to him. Steve turned around, dropped the shield to the ground, helped me up and left. Then we broke his friends out of a jail for enhanced people called the Raft and then went to Wakanda where they put me on Cyro freeze to help find a way to get the Winter Soldier program out of me."
They all looked at him in horror and some with tears wondering how this man had lived through all this and still helped them with everything and act so cheerful now?
"Oh that's not all." he said.
"THERE'S MORE?!" they all said in horror and shock.
"Yup. In 2018 I had officially been cleared of my trigger words and was free from being the Winter Soldier. But a few months later, a new problem happened and the Avengers were needed. They needed all the help they could get. They called the Wakandans because they have extremely high technology and they needed help with something called an Infinity Stone. There's a few here as we speak. While Steve, Bruce, Sam, Vision, Rhodey, Natasha and Wanda flew there they called a few more groups and came to me with a new vibranium arm." Bucky said and showed them his arm. "The minute I saw the arm I knew my break was up and it was time to get back in action. I asked them where the fight was and they told me it was on its way. I went to get changed and then soon the gang was there. While Shuri figured out what to do with Vision, me and Sam waited outside to keep watch. Eventually aliens started coming down and as soon as they came, it all went to hell. T'Challa had them give Steve a new shield, we started fighting and eventually the main villain came. His name was Thanos and he was so hard. Even Steve couldn't get him with his enhanced strength. Maybe if it was the two of us, maybe the two of us and the kid but not alone. Steve lost consciousness for a few minutes and eventually Thor came to help and got him in the neck. After that he was able to snap. Before he got to earth he was able to get all the Infinity Stones and with all of them together, who knows what could happen. After that snap half the world turned to ashes and disappeared, including me and Sam."
"NO!" Steve yelled and held Bucky close but not to hard.
"I'm right here aren't I?" Bucky said gently and Steve nodded. "Then let me finish and you'll find out what happened in the end." he said and Steve nodded.
Then Steve let go and sat down.
"Five years later the people that were gone came back and we ended up right outside the Avengers Compound at another fight with Thanos. Sam called Steve's name, finishing off with on your left. I asked him what that was all about later and after we became friends he told me they met on a run and Steve kept running past him and kept saying on your left. So he did it as revenge." Bucky said and chucked. " While Sam did that I stood with the Wakandans. When we got in position we waited for the calling. And when Steve did, we all ran and did everything we could. Captain Marvel came and has the ability to take in your power so the plan was to have her do the snap and get Thanos to disappear but he was able to get her instead. The Spider kid was an inch away from getting it off his hand with using every bit of strength he had in him and his sticky powers but Thanos was able to get him off. Eventually Tony was able to get the stones off and use one of the arms in his suit to use the snap and get Thanos and his crew gone. After that Tony died and we had a funeral. We all went our separate ways until the next time we had to meet up for something important and me, Sam, Steve and Bruce went to return the stones. Steve had a plan that only I knew about though."
"What was it?" Falsworth asked and Bucky looked like them.
"Steve, was going back to 1945 so he could get that dance he promised Peggy." Bucky said and they gasped. "Leaving Sam with the shield as the next Captain America. He said where there's Captain America there's Bucky Barnes and hoped we'd get along and I'd help Sam like I helped him all those times. When he left I was pardoned, given an apartment in Brooklyn, money for my service, new dog tags, a very crappy therapist that the government made me see every week so I didn't become him again, made amends to who I could and a friend. A few months later me and Sam worked together stopping someone from creating the serum again and Sam accepted the role of Captain America. His parents had a company as fishermen so I helped them fix the boat but never told him that I did that for a living. As time went on the people there actually cared about me and respected me after helping them and saving them both the war and Thanos. Other than them, only military people actually respect me because of all the skill I have and how fast I became a sergeant. Every mission we went on together I'd save him just like I save you and Sam would get all the credit. I didn't care because I was used to it but it still hurt. I saved people as a veteran with complex PTSD and yet they still treat me like crap. Then we ended up here and I'm the one that came up with all the ideas. Peggy found us and the rest is history."
They all sat there in silence while Bucky sat there quietly thinking about what he just said.
"How did you stay here and why?" Steve asked.
"Sam let me. We got close after the serum problem. He was really a sergeant but a pararescue for unit 58 which means he flew with wings, not a pilot. After losing his partner he switched to being a VA and became a counselor for veterans. He knew how strong my depression was, he knew how high my PTSD was, knew how to get me to snap out of a panic attack and everything. He was the only person other than Steve to know I'm a gay man. When we found a way to get back to our time and were about to leave he let me stay so I could get the life I wanted and deserve. Get the care, respect, everything I didn't get there but here. It took a while because I knew he needed me but I also knew if I went back I'd be mentally exhausted, close to committing suicide and more so decided to stay here and get the life I wanted like Steve did. When Strange came earlier he came telling me Sam needed my help. I learned Sam put away the Captain America position for good and reclaimed his Falcon position. I told him if they ever needed me Strange could come get me and I'd be there. With Steve to old and no other Super Soldier, they needed someone like me for big things."
"Have you ever considered going back?"
"Hell no! I'm not going back to being treated like crap again. I'll go back if they need my help but that's it." Bucky said and smiled. "Besides, I've got a punk to look after."
"And I've got a jerk to scare." Steve said smirking.
"More like give a heart attack one of these days. Biologically I'm 108 years old but physically I'm 31." Bucky said and they looked at him in shock. "When you're in Cyro freeze for so long, you can't age. I don't know if I can at all unlike the other Steve to be perfectly honest. I still look 28!"
"Well, let's keep an eye on that and just pretend you're still in your 30's like you should be." Peggy said and took a note on that for both Bucky and Steve.
"Well I might be able to cheer us all up after all this." Steve said and they looked at him while he reached into his pocket and knelt down in front of Bucky with a box in hand. "We've been friends for years and loved each other since we've met but hid it. I know you've been through so much so I want to help you heal through it. Make a family with you, and everything. We're Super Soldiers and don't know how long we'll live so we'll do that together. We said we'd be together until the end of the line and I want to stay that way. Will you marry me?" he asked and took out a ring Bucky recognized.
"My mom's ring?" Bucky said and looked at him.
"I uh, told Becca about us and asked for her approval. She quickly accepted saying you deserved it after everything you've done for them." Steve said a little red. "So?"
Bucky smiled and gave him a kiss.
"Yes." Bucky said and Steve smiled.
Then everyone started clapping while Steve put the ring on Bucky's finger and kissed.