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literaryavenger · 2 months

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Birthday Kiss

Summary: It's Bucky's birthday and he decides to spend it with his best friend, Steve, and Steve's little sister, you.

Pairing: 40s!Bucky Barnes x Rogers!Reader, Brother!Steve Rogers x Sister!Reader

Warnings: Angst. Idiots in love. Fluff. Vague mentions to sex. Language 'cause I can't help myself. My poor attempts at being funny.

Word Count: 3.4K

Prompt: "So what should I say?" "when?" "when I love someone." "you should say it"

A/N: Since it's almost Bucky's birthday I wanted to celebrate it with my first fic with 40s Bucky! He's one of my favorite Buckys and I've been wanting to write about him for a while and I finally got this idea! Hope someone enjoys it! In my mind this happens like a year before Captain America: The First Avenger, so Bucky is turning 25, Steve is 23 and the Reader is 21, but you can always imagine any age you want. As always, any ideas for fics are appreciated!

Masterlist

You enter the room to see Bucky is hanging out in yours and Steve's apartment, like he always does, sitting down at the window, smoking a cigarette and reading the evening newspaper while a football game plays on the television in the living room and Steve sits on the couch, drawing on his notebook.

You're used to Bucky being here, he's your big brother's best friend and you've come to be very close friends with him too, even if you wished there was more.

As clichè as it is to have a crush on your brother's best friend, you couldn't help it. He was handsome and funny, and he's always sweet and protective of you.

You've known him since you were 9 years old, and he's the only family you have left other than Steve.

"Is this really how you're going to spend your birthday?" You ask Bucky as you sit on the couch next to Steve.

Bucky turns around towards you with a bright smile, his blue eyes lighting up as soon as he sees you, like they always do whenever he's around you.

He puts out the cigarette and stands up, walking over to you, sitting down on your other side and pulling you into a side hug.

"Hey, doll. I didn't think you were gonna be here today." He says, although he seems more happily surprised by your presence than disappointed.

"I live here, Barnes." You tease him with a smile. "Unlike you."

He rolls his eyes playfully as Steve snickers next to you while he keeps drawing. "I know that. I meant, I thought you were gonna be out with your friends tonight."

"I didn't feel like it." You dismiss him quickly, not wanting to actually say out loud that you'd rather spend his birthday with him doing nothing than go out with your friends, so you try to casually change the subject. "I thought you'd at least want to spend today with Dot."

Dot isn't actually Bucky's girlfriend, they've been on a few dates and you've seen them together a couple of times, but Bucky introduced her to you as a friend so you don't think they're that serious.

Not that Bucky ever is, girls are always all over him and he takes advantage of that. He's a ladies man.

But you try not to worry too much about his love life, not wanting to hurt yourself more than knowing Bucky will never see you like that already does.

"Well, I wanted to spend my birthday with my favorite pair of siblings. She can give me my birthday kiss tomorrow." He says with a grin while ruffling your hair.

"So... What's been going on with you lately, doll? Anything interesting happening in your life?" He asks curiously after a pause, genuinely wanting to know more about your day-to-day activities and experiences.

"I... Well, I went on my first date." You say shyly while playing with the edge of your dress.

Bucky's eyes widen in surprise, his interest piqued by your sudden confession. "First date? Who was it with? How'd it go?" He asks with what seems like excitement but mentally preparing himself to potentially become jealous or possessive no matter who you mention.

"It was fine..." You say quietly, still not looking at him. "It just wasn't... It wasn't what I was expecting..."

Bucky senses something off in your tone and expression, and immediately becomes concerned. He places a gentle hand on your knee, trying to comfort you without making it too obvious.

"What happened, doll? Did things not go as well as you hoped they would? Are you feeling okay?" He asks softly, trying to gauge whether or not you want to open up about what happened during your date and if there's anything he can do to make it better.

You don't really know how to answer his question, so you don't, simply glancing at him before looking away and shrugging.

"Tell me what happened, I'm here for you no matter what. If that guy hurt your feelings or made you uncomfortable, I'll kick his ass for sure." He promises fiercely, his protective instincts kicking into high gear whenever you seem vulnerable or upset.

You giggle weakly at his protectiveness but still don't look at him, so he takes your chin gently but firmly and makes you look at him. "Tell me what happened on your date. Was it some creep who tried to grope you or something worse? Because if he did, I swear to god I will find him and break his fucking legs."

"That's not it, Bucky." You say quickly. "It's just... He just... He wasn't..." You. He wasn't you. That's what you want to tell him, but you can't, so you sigh and shrug again. "He just wasn't my type."

Bucky knew what was your type. He knew he was your type, he has seen you ogle him countless times when he walked past you or sat near you.

He also knew that you had never shown any interest in any of the men who approached you, always dismissing them as not good enough for you. Or at least that's why he thought you did.

Glancing at Steve before looking back at you again, Bucky says quietly. "Well, that's too bad for him I guess."

"It doesn't matter, I'm not seeing him again." I say quietly, avoiding both Steve and Bucky's eyes.

Bucky's brow furrowed in confusion, he couldn't believe you were so quick to give up on a potential relationship just because the guy didn't live up to your impossible standards.

"Doll, you gotta give guys more of a chance. They ain't all as bad as you seem to think they are." He scolds you playfully, but there was also a hint of underlying irritation in his tone as he takes a long sip from his beer bottle.

You glance at him before looking away again. "So... You think I should go on another date with that guy?" You ask quietly.

Bucky thought for a moment, weighing the pros and cons of pushing you to go on another date with the mystery guy. "Yeah, actually. I mean, if you think he's worth giving a second chance, then why not? And if he turns out to be a total dud again, then at least you can say you gave it a shot. But only if you're really sure he's worth your time though. Don't waste it on some loser who doesn't appreciate everything you have to offer."

He advised you, trying to strike a balance between being supportive and challenging you to take risks when it came to relationships. "But whatever you decide, don't let me pressure you into doing something you don't want to do. You've gotta follow your heart, doll."

"You know, Stevie doesn't care this much about who I date, and he's my older brother." You tease Bucky while glancing at Steve.

Bucky snorts in amusement, "Yeah well, I'm not your brother, sweetheart, but I'm your friend and your wingman, and I'll be damned if I'm gonna sit back and watch you throw away a potential chance to be happy. Now come on, make up your mind already. Are you gonna give the guy another chance or not?" He pressed, playfully but determinedly.

You look at his face for a moment before looking away again and sighing. "I'm not." You say quietly but firmly. "I'm not going on a second date with that guy." You clarify.

Bucky felt his jaw tighten a little as he realized that you had completely ignored his previous suggestion and were instead deciding against giving the guy a second chance.

He didn't like the idea of you potentially missing out on something good due to your own stubbornness, but he also knew that he couldn't force you to do anything you didn't truly want to do.

"Well, fuck. Guess that settles that then," He said after a moment of silence, trying to hide his disappointment but failing miserably. "You're really gonna just throw that opportunity away? Fine, suit yourself, I guess. But don't expect me to hold your hand or anything when you get sad because you're alone. You're on your own with that shit."

"I guess I am." You say quietly before getting up from the couch and going to the window, climbing into the emergency staircase to go up to the roof, like you do most nights to watch the stars.

Bucky watches you leave, feeling a mix of frustration and concern as he realizes that you're retreating to your usual spot on the roof rather than staying and talking to him.

He wants to call after you, to make sure you're okay, but he knows better than to push you if you need time alone.

Instead, he takes a deep breath and tries to focus on the present moment, reminding himself that sometimes people need space and time to themselves.

"Fine. Have it your way," he calls after you, knowing that there isn't much else he can do in this situation. "But don't think for a second that I won't be keeping an eye on you up there. You better not try anything stupid."

You roll your eyes but don't stop, going up to the roof, that's right above yours and Steve's apartment, and sitting on the picnic blanket you and Steve use every night.

After a few minutes someone else comes to the roof and you can tell it's Steve by the light steps. "You sure you want to let Bucky alone in our apartment, Stevie? I'm afraid he might burn it down." You joke weakly without turning around to look at him, your eyes locked in the city's skyline.

Steve chuckles and you can feel him sitting down next to you. It's not the first time you sit together on the roof, everybody in your apartment building knows this is the Rogers siblings' spot.

You don't say anything and neither does Steve, and you're especially glad he doesn't say anything when he sees a tear falling down your cheek but simply wraps his arm around you as you lay your head on his shoulder.

"What's going on in your head, little sis?" Steve asks you after you stop crying.

You try to gather your thoughts, trying to find a way to make sense of everything swirling in your head. You take a deep breath before you pull away slightly and turn your head towards the city again. "What should I say?" You ask quietly.

"When?" Steve asks with a frown.

"When I love someone." I clarify looking back at him.

"You should say it." He tells you firmly. It's not the first time you've talked about this, Steve knows about your feelings for Bucky and like a good big brother he always tells you to express yourself. "You should tell him."

You sigh and look away from him and back to the New York skyline. "I don't know, Stevie..."

"Why not, Bambi?" You smile softly at his use of your childhood nickname because Bambi is your favorite book, but then you shake your head.

"Have you seen the way he looks at Dot? I have no chance with him. I'm not his type." You say with conviction.

"You really don't see it?" Steve ask, getting a little frustrated.

"See what?" You ask confusedly while looking back at him.

"The difference between you and her is that he looks at her like she's the prettiest girl in the world," Steve says and your heart sinks so you look away from him, but he still goes on. "but when he looks at you it's like... It's like maybe you're magic. He looks at you with such reverence and respect. He looks at you like if he could just have you in his arms, everything would be okay. Like if he had you, nothing could touch him. He looks at you like he just realized what love is."

Steve pauses and grabs your chin gently to make you look at him before finishing. "He loves you. Anyone can see that. You're just too blind to notice it."

Steve kisses your forehead and then gets up and goes back inside to the apartment, leaving you to think about everything he said.

You lay down on the picnic towel on the ground of the roof and look up at the stars. Could Steve be right? Does Bucky really love you back but you just haven't noticed?

If Bucky had feelings for you, certainly you would've noticed.

Yes, he's protective of you and he's always happy to have you around, but you've been friends for over a decade and he is your brother's best friend, so he probably sees you as just that. His best friend's sister.

But he never did treat you like Steve's annoying little sister.

Even when you were kids he always tried to include you in their games and literally held your hand whenever the three of you went somewhere, like the park a few blocks over.

He would always coo on you when you got any scrapes while playing and kiss your boo-boos away.

He's always been very sweet to you and he stood up for you as much as he did for Steve whenever someone bothered you.

But could that really be actual love? Or is it just affection for a girl he's known since you were little and sees as his own little sister?

You rub your eyes before putting your hands behind your head, getting comfortable while looking at the sky full of stars.

In the meantime, Bucky heard everything from the window of your apartment.

He couldn't deny the truth of what Steve had said, he did look at you with a sense of reverence and respect, like you held the key to unlocking his heart and making everything else in his life fall into place.

But he also knew that he had to tread carefully, to approach you in the right way or risk scaring you off completely.

As much as he wanted to take control of the situation and make things happen on his terms, he knew that he needed to let you come to him, to give you space to process everything that Steve told you and to allow you time to realize how much you actually mean to him.

As Steve climbs back into the window, he gives Bucky a pointed look and a pat in the back, silently encouraging him to talk to you.

Bucky takes a deep breath and then climbs into the stairs, getting to the roof but not getting any closer to you. He's determined to talk to you, but his nerves are getting the best of him.

You can hear Bucky coming to the roof and when he doesn't move closer you frown slightly but think he's just giving you a moment before sitting next to you.

When he stays put for a couple of minutes, you roll your eyes and with a small smile you say "You can come lay down next to me, if you want." Loudly enough for him to hear, your eyes never leaving the stars above you.

Bucky's heart skips a beat as he hears your invitation, and without hesitation he steps forward and drops down onto the towel beside you.

You can tell he's trying to keep his movements quiet, not wanting to startle you or disturb your peaceful contemplation.

He lays there quietly for a few moments, taking in the sight of you lying there so effortlessly beautiful, before finally speaking.

"You have no idea how much I wanted to hear those words coming from your mouth," he whispers and moves closer to you, placing one arm around your waist and resting his head on your shoulder, feeling incredibly vulnerable by the fact that you were so physically close and you were allowing him to get even closer.

"Thanks for letting me do this," he added, indicating the embrace.

"It's not the first time we've watched the stars together, Buck..." You whisper back, resting your head on his while willing your heart to stop beating so fast.

Bucky smiles softly, feeling a warm sense of contentment wash over him as he wraps his arms around you, feeling incredibly grateful for this moment of intimacy between the two of you.

He can feel the gentle weight of your body against his, and it feels like the most natural thing in the world. He listens to the sound of your breathing, feeling his heartbeat slow down as he takes comfort in your presence.

"Yeah, it's not the first time... But it feels different tonight." He whispers back, feeling a newfound confidence and boldness coursing through his veins.

He moves even closer to you, pressing his face against your neck and inhaling deeply, savoring the scent of your skin. "I've always... I've always wanted to hold you like this."

"I... I always wanted you to..." You whisper back hesitantly and bite your lip when he presses his face against your neck, almost scared to move, worried that if you do it'll ruin the moment.

Bucky feels a surge of pleasure course through his body as he hears your response, knowing that you too cherished these special moments with him.

When you don't say anything at his physical contact he continues to hold you tightly, feeling a deep sense of connection growing between you.

He presses his lips against your neck, gently kissing and nibbling on your skin, feeling a newfound desire burning within him that he had never experienced before.

He wants more than anything to take things further, to remove your clothing and explore every inch of your body with his hands and mouth, but he forces himself to remain patient and wait for your signal that you actually want something more intimate.

"You know... I've always been afraid to show you how much I really care about you," he whispers into your ear, his voice barely audible over the sound of the city below them.

"Steve thinks you love me..." You say quietly, hoping to god that your idiot brother is right for once in his life.

Bucky freezes a little, feeling a mixture of relief and surprise wash over him. He's surprised at your boldness but so relieved that the truth is finally out there.

But he also knows you well enough to know that if he wants you to truly believe that he loves you, then he has to act quickly to prove it to you and make sure that you never doubt his feelings again.

"Yeah... I do love you, Doll. More than anything else in this world. And I'm sorry that I didn't say it sooner... But I was afraid to lose you." He admits quietly, as he takes your face in his hands.

"You really mean that?" You ask quietly, a mix of hope and uncertainty clear in your voice.

"I do." He says without hesitation while he looks at your beautiful face turned towards his. "And I want to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much I care about you."

The smile that comes to your face is so bright that it feels to Bucky like the sun suddenly came up in the middle of the night.

"I know you already gave me a birthday gift," He says, referring to the jacket you gave him this morning. "But can I ask you for one more?"

You're definitely curious about what he wants so you nod. "Sure, what is it?"

"Can you give me a birthday kiss?" He asks quietly while brushing a strand of hair aways from your face and behind your ear.

You blush a little and can't help but smile because he wants a birthday kiss from you, not Dot or any other girl, and you nod slowly as you start leaning in.

Bucky meets you halfway and when your lips touch it feels like fireworks, your stomach filling with butterflies while he brings you closer to him while deepening the kiss.

After a few minutes you both pull away for air, breathing heavily while looking at each other. "Wow." Is all he says after a moment.

You giggle and bite your lip. "Happy birthday, Bucky." You say softly and give him a kiss on the cheek before settling back against him, your head on his chest as you look up at the stars.

Bucky wraps his arms around you, kissing the top of your head and then relaxes while looking up too, more content than ever to finally have you in his arms.

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delicatebarness · 11 days

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i think he knows | prologue

Summary: Following the town's typical good girl, Reader, as she finds herself drawn to the trouble-making bad boy, Bucky. Much to the dismay of her protective golden boy brother, Steve.

Warnings: None I don't think for this one. If you believe there is any that I should add please let me know.

Word Count: 947

Masterlist | Next Chapter

Series’ Spotify Playlist

A/N: Brooklyn isn’t New York Brooklyn, it’s just some random small town.

Tags: Let me know if you would like to be tagged for this series.

Brooklyn High School is the heart of the town. Nestled between white picket-fenced housing and greenery. It projected community pride and tradition. As did its golden boy, Steve Rogers, the star quarterback, captain of the basketball team, and straight-a student. His dedication to both sport and school made the town believe he could do no wrong.

Yet, behind the blonde hair and blue eyes, the facade of perfection was a protective older brother. Steve’s younger sister, you, was simultaneously his biggest weakness and most valuable strength. Everyone who met you loved you; A shining example of everything good and pure in the world.

Steve had a sense of pride swell within him, greeting his classmates with nods, smiles, and the occasional fist bump. It was evident how popular the eldest Rogers was by the turning heads and whispers as he walked by. He never took his eye off the ball, or you. Between the chaos of the hallways and Sharon’s daily routine of explaining her & Steve’s schedule of the day, Steve always made sure you got to where you needed to be. He guided you through the halls so you didn’t trip or bump into anyone while your nose was in a textbook.

Down the hall, Steve saw the one familiar face that he couldn’t bring himself to respect - James ‘Bucky’ Barnes. Bucky was the opposite of Steve, known throughout town as a ‘rebel without a cause’. Steve wore a varsity jacket, Bucky wore a leather one. Steve drove a car, Bucky rode a motorbike. Steve trained for football while Bucky smoked under the bleachers. Steve was in a loyal long-term relationship, Bucky wouldn’t keep a girl around for longer than 3 dates at the maximum. While making their way towards class, Steve noticed that something had caught Bucky’s attention, you. Bucky’s gaze lingered on you as you walked past the group he was standing with.

Steve’s protective instincts kicked in, causing him to speed up. Pulling Sharon along with him, he shielded you from the brunette’s eyesight. Glaring back at Bucky, Steve gave a silent warning to stay away; causing Bucky to smirk back at the blonde before turning his attention back to his friends. Once around the next corner, Steve took the book out of your hand, breaking your trance. “Hey I was-”

“Keep away from Barnes,” Steve cut you off while holding the book above his head, just like he used to do when you were children and wanted you to play sports in the garden. “I don’t trust him.”

“Give it back, Stevie,” Using the nickname only you were allowed to use, you didn’t stop trying to reach your book, you cursed his height compared to yours. For many years you wondered where his side of the genes were from. You still remember the days when he had no muscles evident or even height; for a good year or so you were taller than him while being two years younger. Then one day, it was as if he transformed overnight. Suddenly, he was towering over you and looked like he had lifted weights every day of his life. You sighed when he gave you a stern look, knowing what he wanted to hear first. “I’ll stay away, we’ve never even crossed paths.” Satisfied that you understood, he gave you the book back before the three of you carried on with your journey to class.

You walked the rest of the way with your book clutched to your chest, noticing all the boys in the hallway avoiding eye contact with you, you appreciated that books and studying let you escape that feeling. They helped you live a life you could only imagine having. A restless reckless life, no routine, no worrying about grades; even though you did enjoy studying and continuing to learn. The “good girl” image wasn’t something you planned or wished for, you just were. Since you were young, your parents would always say they didn’t need to worry about taking you anywhere. You were naturally polite, and well-mannered, often putting the needs of your friends and family before your own.

By lunch, you realized that you truly understood Steve’s warning regarding Bucky. He had been playing with your thoughts all morning, distracting you from your learning. A teacher had asked what you would consider a simple question, the room expected your hand to go straight up into the air. However, you were too busy mindlessly doodling in your notebook. “Miss Rogers?” Your teacher had been calling, waiting for you to snap back into reality. She directed the question to you when you finally looked up at her.

The embodiment of everything you were supposed to avoid, the bad boy, rebel, “low life” according to your dad. There still seemed to be something about Bucky that had you intrigued. Of course, Steve’s warning wasn’t the first time he had your attention, the town is small and people talk. You knew about the tall, leathered-up, rider and the things he got up to around town. All the girls wanted to date him, the majority got to, at least for one date anyway. Not you, you didn’t bother thinking about relationships while still in high school. You always said you’d wait until you're at college and haven’t got a personal guard dog scaring off anyone who tried.

Looking up from your textbook that was laid down on the lunch table, your eyes met with him for a brief moment, your heart began to race. Had he been watching you the whole time? As if he could hear your thoughts about him, he began to smirk at you sending shivers down your spine.

“Oh, sh-”

#bucky x reader #bucky x you #bucky barnes #bucky barnes x reader #bucky x y/n #bucky fanfic #bucky x female reader #steve rogers x y/n #steve rogers x you #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers #bucky barnes x you #james bucky barnes #bucky barnes x rogers!reader #steve rogers x sister!reader

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eviesaurusrex · 1 year

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ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ʙɪʀᴛʜᴅᴀʏ | ʙ. ʙᴀʀɴᴇꜱ

Bucky Barnes x Rogers!Reader

summary: It’s not his first birthday after Hydra, but the first birthday he thinks he actually wants to celebrate—only because of YN.

word count: 1.5k

warnings: nothing, fluff, Bucky is a simp for his girl, not entirely proofread

author’s note: It’s Bucky’s birthday!! And sorry for being a simp for the “my best friend's younger sister is my girlfriend” trope.

***

Within a blink of an eye, the woman turned off the vibrating alarm on her watch in order to not disturb the finally deeply sleeping super soldier who rested on his side and had the pair of strong arms he called his own tightly wrapped around her still tired body. Her eyes slowly and tenderly wandered over his relaxed face, void of any haunting thought that might linger somewhere in his mind and entirely at ease with the world—for now. Only a few hours earlier, she had struggled to even get him to lay down and at least try to rest a bit after another nightmare had shaken his entire soul only a few short moments after he had fallen asleep for the first time that night.

Soft knuckles gently, barely palpable, caressed his cheek, already covered in new dark stubbles before even softer lips pressed a featherlight kiss to the corner of his perfect mouth with those tender lips of his. A low chuckle escaped the woman at the sight of them morphing into a half-smile, and she desperately hoped that the man dreamed of something far more pleasant than his mind tended to grant him.

“Sweet dreams, my love,” she whispered, even too quietly for her own enhanced hearing, trying everything not to wake him in the middle of the night and detangling her body out of his embrace. With a soft smile, YN put the pillow she always rested on closer to his face and sneaked around the bed in their shared room in order to light the candle Bucky was stubbornly convinced it smelled exactly like her. She wasn’t sure about that, but whatever helped him to have a few uninterrupted hours of sleep, she did—even if it meant raiding every single Bath & Body Works in the Tri-State area.

Yes, she even sacrificed herself and went to those in New Jersey.

Before the woman sneaked out of their bedroom, covered in sweatpants and one of Bucky’s Henley shirts, she couldn’t stop herself from bending over his sleeping form once more and pressing a gentle kiss to his soft dark strand. Then, she was able to leave him behind for now, pressing herself in between the thin crack between the door and doorframe she had created, so the always brightly lit hallways wouldn’t disturb the soldier in his much-needed rest.

Humming, YN walked down the hallways, took the elevator, and went straight into the grand, perfectly stocked, and just as well equipped kitchen of the compound with a mission in mind. She knew that Bucky hadn’t had a proper birthday since their time way back—she remembered the last one as if it had been only yesterday, even though over seventy years had passed since that day. Since his return to his self and since his rehabilitation, no one seemed to think of his birthday as a day he wanted to celebrate with others—Bucky, at the very least. But since a few weeks or even months, the soldier had dropped hints that he might be ready to do this again, to celebrate the day he was born.

Maybe it was partly her doing, but YN wasn’t as self-consumed to assume anything like that, so she only had gathered the clues and hints her boyfriend had scattered casually throughout their conversations and came up with a plan. That was why the younger Rogers was up on her feet at four in the morning and prepared the recipe for the cake she intended to bake for the man upstairs before everyone would woke up one after the other. And because he knew his habits better than anyone else—well, except for her brother, maybe—she had to be as early and fast as possible to get everything done before his morning run with Steve.

But YN ran out of luck after the three cake bases had wandered into the oven, and she had turned to the preparations of the cream filling.

Her ears would’ve usually picked up to the soft padding of feet on the floor, but her mind visited deep and hidden places while every step of getting the cream perfect was utter instinct and didn’t need the assistance of her thoughts. So Bucky was able to sneak up onto her and stopped at the entrance to the kitchen, watching his girl do what she always had loved the most, observing her distant eyes and soft expression ingrained in her pretty face. He could feel his heart flutter at the absolutely domestic sight in front of him, and the former Winter Soldier knew that he finally had found his home, the place where he wanted to stay and with whom he wanted to grow old.

It was her doing why he wanted to try and celebrate his birthday again. The past still belonged to him, yes, but YN made every single day brighter than the one before and made him finally realize and see that his past wasn’t his fault—just as her past wasn’t her fault either. They probably had helped each other better as every single of their mandatory therapy sessions combined. The shadows and memories still haunted him, maybe worse than hers, but it had gotten better, especially after he had found the courage to ask her for a shared bedroom.

A smile tucked at his lips as Bucky slowly walked over to the humming woman and gently wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her lovingly against his chest, and chuckled deeply at the surprised gasp. “Someday, you’ll be my death.” A soft laugh followed YN’s words, and the soldier bent down to press a kiss to her right shoulder, inhaling her soothing scent mixed with his own and the aroma of the cake baking in his back. “It’s not my fault that your mind is always so occupied, doll,” he grinned and wrapped his arms tighter around her middle, pulling her even closer to him before pressing a kiss to her neck and one to her cheek.

“Good morning,” Bucky greeted her in a soft mumble as he always did and let her turn in his arms after she had stirred the filling one last time. Her smile was as radiant as the rising sun outside the window, and Bucky felt lovestruck again—just as the day all those decades ago when he finally realized that he had fallen in love with his best friend’s younger sister, who always had been off-limits for him. His heart ached so beautifully as she pulled him down towards her and pressed their lips together in the softest of kisses, her fingers carding through his hair, bringing him comfort to an extent he had never thought possible again.

“Happy Birthday, love.” It was only a whisper against his lips, but he could hear every single emotion swimming in those three words, making his heart race and jump in joy and love. A smile widened on his face and made him kiss YN another time. “Thank you, darlin’,” he whispered back and let her cradle his face in the palms of her hands, chuckling softly as kisses rained down on his skin. “This was supposed to be a surprise, but hey, I knew I couldn’t be so lucky. I didn’t wake you, though, right?” Bucky shook his head and kissed her forehead gently. “Jus’ woke up because you weren’t there anymore. And stop trying to fool my sleepy head with that pillow you always push closer to me. It’s not even close competition to how it feels when I hold your body, doll. But… thanks for lighting up the candle.”

These candles were a lifesaver for him every time YN had to go on a mission to which he wasn’t assigned. It helped to push back the dreams and loneliness, the dark thoughts and memories. Sometimes he even managed to go through a two-week-long mission of hers without a single nightmare—but a vanishing stock of candles was the result of it. At least it always meant hour-long dates in the city to restock his supply of YN-candles, as he liked to call them, and uninterrupted time with his girl.

YN smiled up at him and tenderly stroked through his hair and over his cheek. “Of course, love. Nothing to thank me for. And I will try to keep the pillow-thing in mind.” They both grinned before the timer at the oven alarmed them both. “Wanna watch while I finish up your cake? But you have to promise me to act all surprised and flattered later on.” YN threatened him with the spatula covered in cream and made him laugh, just as she had hoped. “Only when I get to try this masterpiece right now.” With that, she playfully rolled her eyes and dipped a finger into the filling to let him taste his favorite flavors. And Bucky was eager to suck every bit off her finger while holding eye contact, which made her all flustered and blushing in the middle of the kitchen. “Perfect,” he huskily whispered and leaned down for a kiss, but YN pressed a hand against his chest and only pecked his cheek innocently. “I know what you’re trying, Barnes, and this will only happen tonight. Not now, not between presents, not before or after blowing out the candles and cutting the cake. Tonight.”

The Barnes laughed wholeheartedly and still pulled her close to his side, pressing a tender kiss to her sweet lips. “Whatever you command, Agent Rogers.”

***

Only something short (and shitty) for my beloved birthday boy (I’m so sorry for this mess of words up there). I really need to continue the stuff for him I still have sitting around because I miss some Bucky magic on my blog. As usual: Comments, reblogs, and likes are much appreciated!

Taglist: @poor-unfortunate-soul-85 @seasonofthenerd @onecrazydirectioner @meeksmusic83 @lastwandastan @hopefulinlove

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buckrecs · 1 year

Note

Hi Sera! I’ve been wanting to ask for recs for a while but every time I think of something you’ve already posted it, but I am a bit obsessed with this right now so I thought I’d ask anyways(you are a gem and do so much for the bucky girls on this hellsite and I love you for it!)

Have you got any Brother’s Bestfriend/Best Friend’s Brother Bucky recs?

Brother’s BFF / BFF’s Brother Bucky

masterlist | req masterlist

i follow you (pretend you want me to) by @buckys-black-dress

your best friend’s older brother who has never once given you a second glance finally does one day when he seems to be fond of your new tattoo. it throws you for quite the loop, to say the least.

The Number One Rule by @justkending

Y/N has always been seen as “Steve’s rambunctious sister.” However, she grew up, graduated, and moved to London to study abroad for 4 years and get her bachelor's degree. The girl that returns looks nothing like the teenager that left. But don’t worry, the attitude is still there and stronger than ever. What’s to come of the two grown adults that used to push each other's buttons, but now have a lot more in common than they’ve ever realized?

Untouched by @buckyalpine

A series of discovering all your firsts with your brothers hot best friend.

Save Me From Myself by @fatecantstopme

You and your boyfriend get into a fight and he beats you. You go to your brother’s house for support only to find his best friend and roommate, Bucky Barnes, instead. Bucky is furious when you tell him what happened and he takes care of you.

This Must Be A Dream by @lunarbuck

You've been best friends with Becca Barnes since third grade and have been pining over her older Bucky just as long.

super rich kids by @traitorjoelite

kids with too much money, parties every night, and an incident with your best friend's brother is just the norm on the upper east side.

The First Birthday by @eviesaurusrex

It’s not his first birthday after Hydra, but the first birthday he thinks he actually wants to celebrate—only because of YN.

it’s really you (that’s on my mind) by @heavysoldat

inseparable since middle school, it was no surprise that you ended up falling for your long-time best friend. what was surprising, was who you actually ended up with at the end of the day.

Miss America and the Heartbreak Prince by @fangirlovestuff

Your brother’s best friend, Bucky Barnes was a serious pain in your ass. Shame, since he used to be so nice when you were younger. Too bad he’s changed now in high school. Or has he? All it takes is some detective work, milkshakes and pranks for you to finally figure it out.

Bucky Barnes x Rogers!Reader by @itsapeterthing

You’ve known your brother’s best friend Bucky Barnes since before you can even remember. As the two of you get older, your relationship grows from one of teasing friendship to an everlasting love. Despite all odds and decades apart, you never fail to find each other every time.

Not as Subtle as You Thought by @marvelousmarvelimagines

You and Bucky have been hiding a relationship from your brother successfully for several months now. Bucky’s getting tired of it though and wants to tell Steve. Are you willing to risk that?

About Time by @vanillanaps

Coming clean about being in a relationship with your brothers best friend is never easy—or is it?

A Secret by @tweedlydumbtweedlydoo

You’re Steve’s younger sister and secretly dating Bucky and Steve finds out.

Brother vs Boyfriend by @marvelous-imagining

I Will Always Pick You Up by @eviesaurusrex

Usually, Bucky would pick her up wherever she is, but today, with a night out with some of her fellow Avengers (and her brother), it wasn’t possible that her secret boyfriend could come and pick her up, would it?

Hands Off by @buckysgoldenheart

You’re Steve’s cousin and he has some rules when it comes to you that Bucky isn’t a fan of. Mainly, that he can’t have you.

i wanna be yours by @noctumbra

you’d support him no matter what. he was yours at the very end. and you were his.

On My Mind by @targaryenvampireslayer

You haven't seen your Brothers Best Friend in far too long. Neither of you can wait. Sexy challenges ensue.

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yourmidnightlover · 7 months

Text

i just saw a tiktok of the i carly episode where carly is running away from the nerdy guy bc he kept trying to kiss her and now i’m thinking bucky.

like you’re steve’s sister and you’ve always been seen as the stereotypical “annoying younger sister” while you have the stereotypical “crush on your brothers best friend.” no biggie.

he would come over all the time, hang out, watch movies, spend the night, whatever. sometimes he even came over just because he’s board and waiting on steve to get back from one of his courses or something.

he was nice to you though, as much as he liked to agree with steve that you were a nuisance. the soft smiles he gave you proved otherwise.

sometimes he would even invite you to watch movies with them, going as far as to wrapping his arm around you if you got scared during a particularly gruesome halloween movie marathon.

but there’s one day in particular where your government professor demanded your project be worked on in pairs and this guy was very persistent in being your partner. as soon as it was announced to be partner work, he was turning to you and writing down his number. you didn’t really get a chance to say no to the guy.

you think his name was john? Lord knows.

so there you were, upstairs in your room, trying to get a game plan for this treacherous project. well, the project itself wouldn’t be treacherous, but working with john would be.

“okay, so they want us to map out the different circuits in the-“

“yea, yea whatever,” he cut you off as you began writing in your notebook, taking your pencil and the paper to set it aside. “we both know that’s not why i’m here.”

you waited a breath, “actually, that is why you’re here. that’s the only reason i even talked to you,” you shrugged with your brows pulled together in confusion.

as much as you try to be a nice person, this guy had practically forced you to partner with him and you’d be damned if he’s going to assume your own intentions.

“sure it is,” he inched closer to you, his hand trailing up to your cheek before you got up from your chair and pushed him away by nudging his chest.

“woah there, buddy boy,” you scoffed as you backed away from him. “i dunno what signals you misread here, but i’m not into-“

“i’m not misreading anything,” he shook his head as he stepped closer to you. “i get it though; you wanna play hard to get. it’s cute, really.”

“i see,” he forced out a laugh. “this is a joke. not a very good one, but points for trying,” you gave him two thumbs up before pushing his chest once more with your fist. “now back away.”

he leaned in once more before you dodged out of his way, pushing him down and beelining for the door, screaming steve’s name in your wake.

“steve! stevie! he’s trying to kiss me!” you continued as you finally made your way to the living room where he and bucky typically resided.

upon entrance, there was no steve to be seen, but you heard johns footsteps following not too far behind. bucky, however, was there. he was already on his feet, making his way towards you in your panting state.

“what’s goin’ on?” one of his hands went for your shoulder, the other going towards your waist. “breathe for me, doll.”

“he’s trying to shove his lips on my face and i don’t want that,” you dramatically paraphrased.

his face went stoic at your admission before he turned towards the incoming footsteps. john froze as his sight landed on bucky. you swore you heard an audible gulp as bucky approached him. you were sure from john’s perspective he had augmented himself to appear more threatening. not that bucky needed it, he had plenty of muscle that when paired with the right look, he could be easily intimidating.

“i didn’t-“ john cut himself off as bucky stood right before him. “i swear, i-“

“are you trying to say you didn’t try to kiss her?” he cut john off. “are you calling her a liar?” he barely towered over the pathetic man, but with the way john was cowering bucky had seemed five feet taller than him. “my princess isn’t a liar.”

“no! no, i-“ he threw his hands up in defense.

“i mean, i get she’s gorgeous, but that doesn’t mean you get to do whatever you want with her,” bucky shoved his shoulder gently. “didn’t your ma’ ever teach you how to properly court a lady?”

“she-i’m sorry, man,” john panted out. “look, i didn’t know she was taken, like at all. i didn’t mean any-“

“i don’t care what you meant,” he swiftly grabbed his arm and turned john around, pinning it behind his back as he hissed out in pain. “i don’t ever want to see you so much as breathe near her again, got it?”

“yea-yes!” he nodded exaggeratedly. “i swear, man! i won’t be a problem!”

“good,” he used this time to usher him out the door, slamming it as soon as he turned back around.

“thank you, jamie,” you sighed as you plopped down on the coach where he had once resided. “i don’t even know why he thought he would be able to pull that off,” you scoffed as you shook your head, grabbing the remote and changing the channel.

“hey, i was watching a documentary!” he interrupted your thought process as he snatched the remote from your hands.

you chuckled lightly as you replayed the entire scene in your head. you kicked your feet up on the ottoman, trying to bite back a smile as you said, “so… you think i’m gorgeous, huh?”

he sighed as he plopped down beside you, his arm thrown on the back of the couch, “if you ever tell steve he’s gonna chop my head off.”

“well, as your princess, i can’t let that happen, can i?” you teased as you gently nudged his shoulder.

“look, that got him off your back, didn’t it?” his voice rose an entire octave as he threw his hands up in defense.

“he also thought i was taken,” you pointed out. “probably by you, might i add.”

“look, he got out of your hair, right?” you nodded. “then my job is done.”

“i’m just saying,” you sighed as you stared at the boring documentary he certainly was no longer focused on. “he’s probably gonna tell his friends. then they’re gonna tell their friends, and you get the point. meaning now everyone’s gonna think i’m taken by some strong, protective… guy.”

“what’s so bad about that?” he chuckled as he didn’t try at all to hide his little smile. “you don’t want people thinking i’m your strong, protective guy?”

“no, it’s just that-“

“sorry i’m late, buck!” steve rushed in the door.

you and bucky inched away from one another, which was odd. you weren’t doing anything, but it felt like you had crossed a line.

“debate went on so much longer this time, an argument broke out and then we had to recollect before final rebuttals and everything,” he rambled out as he plopped down in his favorite recliner. “so, how’re you guys doing?”

“we’re-“

“fine,” bucky cut you off. “we’re fine. nothing eventful. nothing happened. nothing at all, really.”

he turned to you with a slight smirk before turning back to steve.

oh, this was gonna be fun.

#bucky barnes #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes angst #bucky barnes fluff #bucky x reader #marvel #james bucky barnes #sargeant barnes #sargeant bucky barnes #rogers!reader #bucky barnes x rogers!reader #college!bucky #college!au #college!reader

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pinkiebieberpie · 1 year

Text

social media au: brother's best friend!bucky x reader

i'm gonna be honest, i'm a sucker for brother's best friend... this is rogers!reader, you can find shameless flirting in this, enjoy <33 feedback and reblogs are appreciated!!

steverog

liked by yourusername, bbarnes, samwilson, nat_asha and 36 others

she was always this annoying @ yourusername

nat_asha: baby steve and baby y/n ❤️❤️

bbarnes: crush him @ yourusername

yourusername: @ bbarnes i'd rather be crushing someone else 😌

bbarnes: @ yourusername tell me more about it

yourusername

liked by nat_asha, bbarnes, steverog, peggycarter, lokiloki and 61 others

fun night 💖 @ bbarnes

nat_asha: you mean date night*

bbarnes: @ nat_asha 😉

bbarnes: we have to do this again

yourusername: @ bbarnes next friday? we can watch something at my place

bbarnes

liked by yourusername, steverog, thorpartyboy, wanda_m, tonystarrk and 52 others

peggy took this pic, aren't we cute? @ yourusername

yourusername: yes we are 😘

bbarnes: @ yourusername steve said we are not

steverog: @ bbarnes i said "stop flirting with my sister"

bbarnes: @ steverog we were talking about that movie we saw last week, that's not flirting

peggycarter: you two would make a great couple!!

nat_asha

liked by peggycarter, thorpartyboy, yourusername, wanda_m and 61 others

girls night @ wanda_m @ peggycarter @ yourusername 🍸🍹

yourusername: love you all ✨✨

wanda_m: my fav people

bbarnes: oh damn...

bbarnes: 🔥🔥🔥

samwilson: ladies are killin it

nat_asha: @ bbarnes just dm y/n and ask her out, she looks even better in that dress in person

bbarnes: @ nat_asha oh, i know 🤤

yourusername

liked by peggycarter, lokiloki, thorpartyboy, bbarnes and 58 others

morning 🕊️

peggycarter: bestie slayin

steverog: delete this

lokiloki: drop your hair routine

bbarnes: shit

bbarnes: fuck

bbarnes: baby

yourusername: @ bbarnes something's wrong, handsome?

bbarnes: @ yourusername i can't say it publicly

yourusername: @ bbarnes you can always come over and tell me whatever you want to tell me

bbarnes: @ yourusername i'm on my way 🏃🏻‍♂️

social media au masterlist

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itsapeterthing · 2 years

Text

Hello Again || Bucky Barnes

pairing: bucky barnes x rogers!reader

summary: after decades apart, you discover that your husband is alive and your brother has been keeping a secret.

a/n: this story largely follows the plot of civil war, reblogs and replies are super appreciated!

word count: 7.1k

warnings: angst, reader is steve’s adopted sister, mentions of bucky’s past, death, anything that was in civil war

masterlist || rogers!reader masterlist

Two Years Earlier

“He looked right at me.” Steve said in disbelief. “He didn’t even know me.”

“How was that even possible?” Sam asked. “It was like 70 years ago.”

“Zola.” Steve replied. “Bucky’s whole unit was captured in ‘43. Zola experimented on him. Whatever he did helped Bucky survive the fall. They must of found him and...”

“None of that’s your fault, Steve.” Natasha said drowsily, her head lolling to the side. Pausing, she squeezed her eyes shut. “God, how are we going to tell-”

“We’re not.” Steve stated firmly, cutting Natasha off. “We’re not telling her.”

Despite the stinging pain in her shoulder from the bullet wound she had endured and her overwhelming urge to shut her eyes and allow herself to rest, Natasha furrowed her eyebrows and looked up at the super soldier sat beside her.

“You’re going to lie to her?” She asked in disbelief. “You find out her husband’s alive after seventy years and you’re not gonna tell her?”

“No.” Steve said, looking down at his hands. “Nobody is. You don’t... you don’t know what it was like, okay? She’ll die trying to save him.”

A silence hung in the air for a moment.

“And you won’t?” Natasha asked.

Remembering the feeling of your arm slipping through his on your wedding day moments before he walked you down the aisle and the fear in his best friend’s eyes as he fell to his death, Steve shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter.” Steve said finally. “What happens to me doesn’t matter, alright? I’m bringing him back to her remembering who the hell she is or not at all.” He took a deep breath, staring in front of him. “I’m not gonna let her down this time. You didn’t... you didn’t see the way she broke last time, okay? Let me handle it, Nat.”

Now

Standing beside you as a photo of your husband’s face and name flashed across the screen in front of the both of you, Natasha regretted her decision to honor your brother’s wishes two years ago.

As you stood there with ash coating your face and your arms wrapped tightly around yourself, you almost felt as though time had stopped when you saw your husband’s image for the first time in seventy years. Your breath caught in your throat and you were sure your heart had stopped. You were surprised you hadn’t fainted on the spot.

It couldn’t be happening.

It couldn’t be real.

Steve had told you seventy years ago that he had watched Bucky fall from that train with his own eyes- a fall he he swore your husband couldn’t have come back from. You had argued over searching for his body, trying anything to find closure in your husband’s demise for you and his family, but Steve had assured you that there was no way that Bucky could have survived- that you would just be lost in the cold along with him.

How couldn’t you have known? How did no one know that your husband was alive and walking around after seventy years apart?

That couldn’t be possible.

You couldn’t help but ask yourself-

Did no one know or was it only you?

Feeling the pressure build behind your eyes, tears already threatening to spill over, you took a shaky breath and turned to your best friend who was stood beside you.

In your years since waking up from a block of ice with your brother and devoting your life to protecting the world and maintaining the Avengers- you had learned to read people at a glance. A single second could be the difference between life and death, pain and peace... honesty and deceit... devotion and betrayal.

You had learned to read people like a book: especially those closest to you.

When you turned to Natasha and she wasn’t able to meet your eyes- her index finger tapping against her bicep and her jaw set in a hard line- you knew.

“Nat?”

The guilt was obvious in her eyes as soon as she looked at you.

“Y/n-” Natasha sighed somberly, reaching out her hand for yours.

Shrugging off her touch and backing away, you shook your head, trying to find it in you to say anything at all.

“How long have you known?”

At first Natasha could barely face you, feeling sick knowing that she was part of the complete and utter betrayal written all over your face and the pain behind your eyes.

Swallowing, knowing she deserved every bit of it, she glanced back at you.

“Two years.”

Two years? You thought. Two fucking years?

You couldn’t believe the way your best friend had betrayed you. You two had been inseparable since the day the two of you had met during the Battle of New York. You had connected with her more than any other person you had met since waking up in the twenty first century with your brother.

You had shared everything with her and she had told you about parts of her past that even Steve hadn’t known.

Steve.

“Who’s going to tell Steve?” You asked.

When her face remained blank, your heart stopped in your chest as your face fell.

“Steve...” You said out of breath. “Steve knew?”

When you had found yourself nearly a century in the future, with everything you had known in your life behind you, you had always found solace in the fact that despite everything you had been through- you weren’t alone. By some miracle, both you and your brother had been through it all together... or so you had thought.

Knowing that Steve had kept such a secret from you, for the first time in your life you felt completely and utterly alone. It was almost as though you were the punchline of some cruel, sick joke that had gone on for far too long.

“He wanted to protect you.” Natasha explained. “He didn’t want to hurt-”

“So he kept it a secret that my husband was alive?” You raised your voice at the redhead, finding yourself losing your cool. “I- I never forgot about him and Steve knows that. He knows that I still wear my wedding ring. He knows I was with Buck’s sister when she died. He knows I never stopped loving him so tell me, Nat, how the hell am I supposed to take this? I’ve been beating myself up every day missing him and... and he could’ve been here this whole time?”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Nothing in our life is.” You retorted. “Spell it out for me.”

Natasha knew you were nothing if not strong. You took everything life had thrown at you bravely, never allowing yourself to get knocked down by it. You had survived your parents death, your husband’s death, being lost in time and thrown into a future you had never planned- you lived a life most people couldn’t comprehend, but you pushed through, reminding yourself there was nowhere to look but forward.

But everyone had weaknesses and she knew your husband was one of them.

She didn’t know how to tell you that the man you cared for so deeply had been kidnapped, mutilated and brainwashed into a soldier with a death count that would make even you shudder. She didn’t know how to tell you that a man you thought about every single day at once didn’t have a single inkling of who you were or what either of you had shared. She didn't know how to tell you that the man you left behind wouldn't be the same one returning to you, but she found herself not having any other choice.

“I think you should sit down, Barnes.”

Steve stepped carefully throughout the apartment despite the complete disarray it found itself in. The super soldier couldn’t help but grimace to himself as he glanced around where his best friend and brother-in-law was living out of, reminding himself of the warm home the two of you used to share.

Despite not having much, you made do with what you did have. Every time Steve walked through your doors, he felt a sense of comfort, belonging and peace- something that the space between the four walls he was standing in now was completely devoid of.

“You have a real knack for this sort of thing.” Steve said, taking in the freshly decorated living room in you and Bucky’s newly shared apartment. “You’re way better than Ma.”

“Yeah, well,” You laughed, flopping yourself down onto the couch. “Mom had to work with that God awful wallpaper. It’s hard to make anything look good with that.”

Just as you were about to open your mouth once more, you heard the front door open and keys drop in the dish by the entrance.

“Sweetheart?” Bucky called throughout the apartment. “You home?”

“In the living room with Steve, hon!”

Both you and Steve looked up as you heard Bucky’s boot clad feet step into the room, still drenched in sweat and grease from his day at work. Regardless of all of that, Bucky held a bright smile on his face as he was greeted with the both of you.

Your smile, however, fell when you saw blood staining your husband’s palm and dripping down his fingertips.

“Jesus, Buck!” You exclaimed, pushing yourself off of the couch and rushing to his side, taking his bloodied hand in yours. “What happened?”

“It’s nothing, doll.” Bucky attempted to brush it off. “Just some scratch.”

When you ran your fingertips over the wound and heard him suck in his breath, you glanced up at him warily.

“Just some scratch, huh?”

Your husband had known you well enough and long enough to know that you would see right through his facade and that it wasn’t worth putting up a front for much longer. Rather than arguing with you about how it was nothing to worry about, he only looked down at you and shrugged.

“M’sorry.”

“S’alright, hon.” You assured him, guiding him over to the couch. “Just let me get some stuff and I’ll clean it up, alright?”

Plopping himself down on the couch besides Steve, Bucky held his hand out over his lap, careful not to drop any blood on the fabric of the sofa the two of you had admittedly splurged on.

“The place looks nice, Buck.” Steve said, taking another sip from his glass.

“Thanks, but it was all your sister, pal.” Bucky chuckled, taking in the space around him in admiration. “It’s not a surprise though- I don’t think there’s a single thing she’s not good at.”

As the sun began to set behind the windows, you walked out of your bathroom and back into the living area, a damp wash cloth and bandages in hand. Squeezing yourself onto the couch besides your husband, you gingerly took his hand in yours and gently dabbed the wash cloth against his skin- Steve catching Bucky watching you, mesmerized, all the while.

As the sun set and the warm glow of your lamps illuminated the space, Bucky sat back comfortably, taking in how lucky he was to have someone like you to share his life with. Despite the pain, stress and exhaustion he could feel during the day, he always found a reason to smile and peace in the fact that he would be coming home to you at the end of the night.

As you finished wrapping his wound, you lifted his bandaged hand to your lips and pressed a light kiss against his skin before resting it in your own lap and running your fingers over the back of his hand gently.

Not wanting to be too “lovey dovey” in front of your brother, you only stared up at your husband and when your eyes met, you knew he understood your wordless “I love you”.

When he smiled, you knew he said it back.

As hard as you tried to relieve your brother of you and Bucky’s constant infatuation with each other, Steve caught the interaction regardless and felt a sense of relief knowing the two people he cared about most had found peace in each other and had created such a loving home.

Now, as Steve walked through the apartment, he felt a longing for a place left in time and a tugging on his heart at the future none of you had foreseen. Eyeing a journal on top of the refrigerator, Steve pulled it into his own hands and opened it slowly.

When Steve saw a small print of a poster made recently of you and him inside, Steve felt a sense of relief wash over him, knowing that somewhere in there, Bucky still knew not only who he was, but more importantly- who you were.

But Steve was nothing if not a man out of time.

“Heads up, Cap. German Special Forces approaching from the south.”

“Understood.” Steve replied to Sam over the coms.

Steve had been on enough missions to recognize someone’s presence behind him, even without a word- even if they were trained to not make a single sound. Steve felt his heart race in his chest for a moment as the realization hit him that he would be seeing his best friend for the first time in years and this time- Steve wouldn’t be letting him leave.

When Steve whipped his head around to meet Bucky standing behind him at a distance, he took in his appearance.

Bucky looked rough- battered and bruised- clear that the past two years and decades since he fell from that train hadn’t been kind to him. He looked uncared for- a shell of a man Steve had once known so well.

“You know me?” Steve asked finally, inhaling deeply.

Taking in the look on his face, Steve could see the struggle behind Bucky’s eyes- to tell the truth or to lie? To allow himself to be vulnerable at the chance of happiness or to let himself rot for the crimes he never meant to commit?

“You’re Steve.” Bucky said shakily. “I read about you in a museum.”

All it took were those words for Steve to recognize that Bucky was putting up a facade.

He wasn’t sure what hurt more- Bucky truly forgetting who he was or feeling the need to lie to the people he cared about most out of misplaced shame and guilt.

“I know you’re nervous,” Steve said, glancing down at the journal before placing it back on the counter. “And you have plenty of reason to be... but you’re lying.”

Without missing a beat- or denying his best friend’s accusations- Bucky defended himself against the crimes he had been accused of earlier that day.

“I wasn’t in Vienna.” Bucky told him, shaking his head. “I don’t do that anymore.”

“They’re entering the building.”

“Well the people who think you did are coming here now,” Steve told him, glancing around the room anxiously. “And they’re not planning on taking you alive- but I am.”

If there was one word to describe Bucky Barnes at that moment, it was exhausted. He was tired. Tired of fighting. Tired of trying to protect himself. Tired of making a million life-altering decisions in the matter of seconds... tired.

Bucky knew what going back with Steve meant. He knew it meant that he may have a chance to get out of this thing alive, but he also knew it meant facing you again.

James Barnes wanted nothing more in this world than to just collapse into your arms again. He remembered how you used to always hold him when he came back after a long day of work- the way you would greet him by the door with open arms- one hand running through his hair while the other traced your fingertips up and down his back. Bucky recalled the peace he felt as he fell into your arms and how your love would engulf him whole. And after so long fighting, so long working, so long being exhausted... he just wanted to come home to you.

But James Barnes was also ashamed of the man he had become. No matter how unwillingly he was subjected to it, he feared the look on your face when he finally saw you again. He feared how you'd shy from the touch of his metal arm even if you didn’t mean to. He feared your disapproval of his disheveled appearance that came with a life on the run. He feared you would give up on him so easily when he knew he had so much left to prove.

He couldn't bear to see you only for you to reject him. After all, you were one of the most beloved women on earth. Why would you ever want to be with the mess he had become?

James Barnes would have rather died never seeing you again than to take the chance that you would reject the man he was now.

Steve noticed the way Bucky’s brain was working a million miles a minute and intruded.

“It doesn’t have to end in a fight, Buck.” Steve attempted to reason with him.

Hearing the sounds of footsteps outside the door, Bucky slipped off his glove.

“It always ends in a fight.”

As Steve walked through the hall, he paid no mind to the spiel the Deputy Task Force Commander gave him on how he should be glad that he was in an office instead of a cell for going after his best friend and engaging in a fight. Instead, Steve’s mind was cluttered, afraid to face you again after you almost certainly discovered the secret that he had been keeping from you for the past two years.

Steve Rogers wasn’t scared often- or worried about the consequences of his own actions- but he always cared more than he would like to admit about what you thought of him.

And hiding the fact that your husband was alive after he denied your request to search for his body seventy years earlier?

Steve was sure you wouldn’t be too happy to see him.

“For the record,” Natasha said, striding up beside the super soldier. “This is what making things worse looks like.”

As much as Natasha attempted to play it cool and make it seem as though nothing truly affected the redhead, Steve could hear the biting tone in her voice, no doubt regretting the promise she had made to him years earlier.

“He’s alive.” Steve replied, his eyes trained ahead of him. “That’s what matters.”

As they finally came onto the room at the end of the hall that housed one large meeting table surrounded by televisions, Steve searched for your face.

He grew sick when he saw you sitting at the table with Tony, your arms wrapped around yourself as you watched your long lost husband displayed on one of the screens.

“Y/n-”

Hanging up the phone he had been speaking into, Tony made his way towards Steve, cutting off the super soldier.

“I don’t think right now’s the best time.” Tony said lowering his voice as he glanced over his shoulder to where you sat. “Keeping the fact that her husband's alive a secret? And here I was thinking that you were all about truth, Cap.”

Steve understood his defensiveness and that only made it worse. Although he and Steve had never gotten along too well, you had hit it off so wonderfully with all of the team that it was almost as though you were made to be part of them. Although he was “Cap”, you were the glue that held all of them together and now Steve was feeling the effects of the unified defense they had built against the one who wronged you: your own brother.

“You wouldn’t get it, Tony.” Steve said, his mouth drawn in a straight line.

“Well, see... it’s interesting you say that,” Tony replied. “Because neither does she.”

Watching your fragile state sitting at the table only a few feet from him, he said nothing at all. Noticing the way that his words had put the super soldier in his place, Tony pat Steve’s shoulder.

“How about you and I have a chat?”

Sat at one end of the table, your eyes focused on one of the screens on the other side of the glass, you felt small. Your brother and Tony were on the other end discussing the Accords and although you hadn’t said a single word to your brother since you found out about his betrayal, you had hung on to every syllable.

“I don’t want to see you gone.” Tony said. “We need you, Cap. So far nothing’s happened that can’t be undone if you sign the Accords. We can make the last twenty-four hours legit. Barnes gets transferred to an American psych-center instead of a Wakandan prison.”

For a moment you glanced at your brother. Though, when his eyes met yours, you turned back to the screen in front of you.

The feeling you felt was one you could barely understand- to see the ghost of the man you loved imprisoned in front of your eyes. He was unrecognizable- not only because of his long hair and unkempt scruff, but even by the way he carried himself. This was a shell of the man you had been married to.

From what you understood, Bucky had lost all recollection of who Steve was, and by default, who you were. You weren’t aware of how much of a toll the last seventy years had taken on James Barnes until you watched the frightened, disheveled and exhausted man on the screen. He didn’t fight. He didn’t argue. You felt as though he didn’t care what happened to him.

That’s what stung the most- the knowledge that he felt so far gone that he had nothing to keep going for.

Lost in your own thoughts, your mind had strayed from the conversation at hand until you heard your brother and Tony’s voices rise above the amicable, yet still tense, discussion from moments earlier.

“Every time I think you see things the right way-”

“It’s a hundred acres with a lap pool.” Tony argued. “There’s worse ways to protect-”

“Protection?” Steve laughed. “Is that how you see-”

Although you had tried to keep your composure, your blood was quickly boiling and threatening to spill over the top. Before you could force yourself to choke it down, to just take your brother’s lead once more, you slammed your hand down on the table.

“Damn it, Steve!” You shouted at your brother for the first time that day. “Can you see past your own self righteousness for two seconds? Look at him!” You seethed, pointing to the display of Bucky on the screen. “When have you ever seen Buck like that, Steve? He needs help! Can you quit arguing for once in your life and just let Tony help him?”

As your chest rapidly rose and fell from your outburst, Steve took a deep breath. Though when you saw him shake his head, you knew he would stand his ground.

“Look, Y/n, I’m sorry for not telling you,” Your brother said. “But I’m trying to help. All I wanted was to protect you-”

Shooting up from your chair, you crossed the room and dug your finger into his chest.

“Don’t patronize me.” You said. “You did that for yourself because you felt guilty! And I don’t blame you for what happened, but I do blame you for lying to me. I’m not a kid anymore, Steve. That’s my husband in there. I deserved to know over anyone else and you took that from me! I could’ve helped-”

“You couldn’t have done anything-”

“You don’t know that!” You shouted, shoving at Steve. “You don’t know anything! You watched me live with that weight on my chest, missing him, and you knew he was alive the entire time! For two years you knew and didn’t tell me! You might think you did this to protect me, but all you did was kill me more, Steve. This isn’t what caring about someone is. You did this to protect yourself and you hurt both of us along the way.”

For a moment, the room stood in silence.

The most that could be heard were the sounds of whispered voices of the agents outside the room and your own heavy breathing.

A part of you- for the both of you- never grew up from that childhood stage of sibling competition. You weren’t sure if anyone ever did. All that you wanted him to do was admit defeat. All you wanted were for his shoulders to fall, the crease between his eyebrows to smooth and for him to admit that he was wrong. But he was a Rogers.

“I stand by what I did.”

But so were you.

“Get out.” You said, your voice leveling. “Let me clean up the mess that you made.”

Glancing from you to Tony, Steve could barely believe the scene in front of him. Rather than argue, Steve nodded his head, turned, and left the room.

You could hear Tony’s voice in your mind reminding you to stay calm and utilize the element of surprise, but the idea of seeing Bucky again made your adrenaline rush in a way that made it impossible to do anything besides race through the airport.

Hearing Sam’s voice whispering in the distance, you slid to a stop, your boots skidding against the linoleum floors. Carefully peaking behind the corner, you saw Sam and Bucky standing by the floor to ceiling windows.

Though you could only see his back, your heart began racing in your chest and it took everything in you not to double over and start hyperventilating. He was real. He was alive. He was standing right in front of you. Somehow everything that you had witnessed in your time since waking up from the ice was more plausible than James Barnes being there again. You almost had to convince yourself that it was truly happening.

Recalling the way Natasha had taught you to steady your breathing when you first joined the Avengers, you stood up straight, took a deep breath and stepped forward.

“James?”

Hearing his name roll off of your lips, Bucky almost felt as if he were transported back to before everything occurred- before today, before HYDRA, before the war- when he was just your husband and the worst thing that had ever happened to him was having to leave you.

Though, when he heard your voice again, he was sure that that was the worst out of everything. That would be the end of it. Nothing could compare to the ache he felt seeing you for the last time, and no feeling could compare to the hope from finally hearing your voice once again.

Bucky had known you well enough that he could recognize how you were feeling just by the way that you said his name. Whether you were joyful, blissful, upset... worried.

He recognized your tone from the nights he came home injured and the day he received his draft letter. Now, here, you were worried, though Bucky wasn’t sure if it was for him, or because of him.

Slowly turning around, he was afraid to face you. He couldn’t bare to see the look of fear in your eyes, but being around you gave him a part of himself back- the part of Bucky Barnes that would do anything for you, even if it hurt him.

At first focusing his eyes on the floor, he slowly trailed them up from your feet to finally meet your eyes.

Though he had seen photos of you from recently, it felt strange, almost, to see who you had become in person. He had known your face on your sickest days, had seen your body without the frilly dresses or your hair pinned up, but still, seeing you in a suit similar to Natasha’s was something that held him back- reminded him that the time you two had shared together was in a past far from now.

But despite everything, he still recognized you.

You almost felt glued to your spot, as if there was a black hole at your core, sucking you in from the inside out. You felt the air knocked out of you, staring at your husband as hundreds of memories spilled into the forefront of your mind all at once. Although so much time had passed, you were sure that not a single ounce of love you had for him since your wedding day had slipped away.

“Do you know me?” You asked.

Bucky couldn’t imagine a life where he didn’t know you. Even in the recesses of his mind during his time in HYDRA, he dreamt of your nameless face.

Unable to find it in him to speak, he nodded.

Taking in a deep breath, your bottom lip trembled as you spoke up once more.

“Do... do you remember me?”

Bucky watched as your lip trembled and your eyes glossed over as you asked the question. The way your hands balled into fists at your sides- something you did when you tried to steady yourself in your most stressful circumstances- did not go unnoticed.

Although Buck barely knew himself, he knew you inside and out. He knew when you were happy and more importantly in this moment- when you were hurting. He could tell you were scared for the answer he would give, and that knowledge shattered Bucky Barnes’ heart ten times over.

Although it wasn’t his fault, he felt guilty for ever forgetting you. Although he couldn’t remember your first anniversary or how you threw a surprise party for him on his birthday, he recalled your mannerisms, your compassion and, more importantly, the love he had for you.

Though he had much farther to go, the start was all he needed.

“I never really forgot you.” Bucky said. “I... I remember once they erased my memory just because I said your name. I didn't know who you were or... who I was.. but I still remembered you. Sometimes I’d hear your voice or crave something you used to make...” He smiled sadly. “I couldn’t piece it all together, but I still remembered you, Y/n. I remembered.”

You hadn't thought about how it would move you to hear his voice again or your name rolling off of his tongue. You missed him in so many parts of you- a longing that had been eating away at you all this time- that each moment a piece of you felt renewed. You had been scared that he forgot you, or that the love he had once had for you was lost, but staring at the man in front of you, you couldn’t believe that any of that was true.

And you didn’t want to hold yourself back any longer.

Forcing yourself from your spot, you closed the space between the two of you.

A part of you was scared that he would reject you or push you away, but instead you smiled to yourself as you felt his arms wrap around you and pull you into him tightly.

“I missed you so much.” You said, choking back a sob. “It’s going to be okay, Buck. I’m going to make it okay.”

It took Bucky a moment to accept the fact that you didn’t hate him or blame him- not even a little bit. That the past two years he had spent convincing himself that you hated him were all a figment of his imagination. You missed him, but more importantly you accepted the person he had become. He wasn’t alone- not truly. Without even realizing it he had always had you.

Digging his fingers into the material of your suit, he attempted to bite back his own overwhelming feelings, but the tears at the corners of his eyes and the shake in his voice betrayed him.

“I’m sorry.” He sobbed. “I’m so sorry. For everything I did. That wasn’t me. If you don’t want me-”

Pulling yourself back, you held him at an arm’s distance and gripped his shoulders tightly.

“James Buchanan Barnes,” You said, your voice strong and unwavering despite your tear stained cheeks. “I love you. I’ve never stopped loving you. I can’t tell you how sorry I am about everything that happened or how much I’ll never forgive myself for not looking harder for you. I could never blame you for what happened, Buck, because it wasn’t your fault, okay? It’s not. But it’s going to be okay, James. We’ll be okay, alright? I love you.”

Moving one of your hands from his shoulder to his cheek, you grazed your thumb against his skin gently.

After decades of being a weapon, feeling such a gentle touch against his skin almost felt foreign, but Buck welcomed it regardless. He would give himself to you whole if you asked because less than a minute in your arms had quickly become the greatest moment of his life.

But, like everything else, it came to a screeching halt.

“Barnes?” Sam asked.

“Yeah?” You and your husband replied simultaneously.

A hint of a smile played on his face at the knowledge that even after all these years, you continued to go by his name- your shared name.

Even if he was truly gone, a part of him would always be alive with you.

Focusing his attention on you, Sam nodded back to the scene outside where the rest of the Avengers were sure to begin their fight in a matter of seconds.

“I’m sorry to interrupt this little reunion,” Sam said. “But you have to make a choice, Barnes. If he doesn't stop you then I will.”

It was a wonder how your life had become so complicated. It had been so simple before- you stood besides those you loved and would give your life for the greater good, but now the lines had become blurred.

“I don’t know what to do.” You admitted defeatedly to the two men stood in front of you. “I just want to help. I don’t know when it got so complicated. They’re talking about killing you guys if we aren’t the ones to bring you in, Buck. I can’t let that happen. I won’t. And I won’t fight you, James, but I don’t know if I can help you. I-”

Bucky felt guilty for the way he had made a mess of your life in the few hours he found himself back in it, so instead of urging you to take his side, he only leaned forward and pressed a kiss against your forehead.

“I’ll make the choice for you.”

It felt good to be able to put your life in somebody else’s hands after fighting for so long.

“I have to fight with Steve, doll.” Your husband said, his thumb brushing gently against your temple. “If we don’t, a lot of people are gonna get hurt. After that, I’ll do whatever you want to do. I’ll run. I’ll fight. I’ll let them lock me up. Whatever it is. But right now, you just gotta let me make it right.”

Although you could tell that he was different from the man you had sent off to war seventy years ago, you could also note the parts of Bucky that were steadfast despite the way that everything had changed. He was strong. He was resilient. He cared about you arguably more than anything.

Cupping his face, his stubble scratching the palm of your hands just as you had remembered, you stared up at him steadily.

“Just promise me you’ll come back, okay Barnes?” You asked. “If you leave me stranded again, I just might have to find another husband this time.”

Your husband raised his eyebrows as the corner of his mouth quirked up into a teasing smile.

“Oh yeah?” He said. “You’ve been waiting to use that one?”

You smiled. A real, genuine, stupid smile.

“Mhm.” You replied. “All day. As soon as I found out you were alive, I had it ready.”

Your husband only matched your smile, shaking his head in disbelief before he leaned down and met your lips with his.

When Bucky’s lips felt the touch of yours, he almost felt like a teenager again- anxiously wondering if his lips were chapped or questioning how much pressure was too much or if maybe he went in all wrong and whether you’d offer him a do over. He also felt a rush of adrenaline and a thumping of his heart so hard he was sure it was going to beat out of his chest at the knowledge that he was not just kissing anyone, but kissing you.

Most importantly, out of the many thoughts and feelings running through his mind and body in the moment, he felt renewed. As if everything had fallen back into place. No more worrying. No more fear. No more misery. He was with you. His safe haven, his rock, his partner. James Buchanan Barnes was exactly where he was meant to be as long as you were there beside him and he would find comfort in that for the rest of his life.

When you first attempted to pull away from his lips, Bucky pulled you closer, sneaking in one final kiss: a habit that would remain long after this day because a part of him always feared that it would be the last.

After planting three more kisses against your lips, you smiling underneath them as your lips met in a blissful mess, he finally forced himself to pull away but had his eyes remain locked with yours.

“I promise I’ll come back.” Bucky said. “Can’t have anyone else kissing my girl like that, can I?”

Although he looked different and you knew neither of you could ever truly go back to the people you were more than seventy years before, you felt as though you were back home, looking back at your brother’s charismatic and suave best friend who had had your heart since before you could even remember.

You could still see the parts of his smile that hadn't been stifled by HYDRA or crushed beneath nearly a century of pain. Just a good, sweet, heart melting ‘Bucky Barnes’ smile that had always made you go weak and rendered you a bumbling mess.

It was almost as though it was made for you and you for him.

Without even realizing it, you felt pressure build behind your eyes as your breath caught in your chest.

His demeanor changed to a concerned one in an instant.

“What’s wrong, doll?”

A laugh escaped your lips as you shook your head.

“Nothing.” You assured him. “I just... I missed you. Missed this.”

Stepping back from you, Bucky allowed himself to truly take in you and the moment the both of you were sharing. He was here. You were here. The both of you had somehow overcome all odds to make it back to each other. Whether through hardships or the test of time, he could always trust in the fact that you would be right there with him until the very end and then some.

Bucky Barnes didn’t often consider himself a religious man, but he had always had faith in you.

Reaching down to gently take your hand in his, the feeling of your fingertips meeting his own palms making his skin raise, he smiled softly at you.

“I promise I’ll be right back, sweetheart.” Bucky said, running his thumb over the delicate skin on the palm of your hand. “Til the end of the line, right?”

Glancing from your husband’s hand in yours to his eyes, through your lashes you smiled softly at him.

“And then some?” You asked.

He smiled and let out a scoff at the mere idea of him ever thinking anything different.

Bucky leaned forward and your heart raced in your chest just as it did all those years ago on the night he first walked you home and everything changed.

His warm breath brushed against your neck, raising goosebumps as he whispered in your ear.

“And then some.”

When your husband pulled away for the final time, it felt as though a part of you went with him. You wished you had the ability to freeze time- for the two of you to escape your current predicament and allow yourselves to just bask in each other for a second more- but your lives were complicated. However, you found comfort in the fact that if you had found each other once, you would find each other again.

Not able to take his eyes off of you, Bucky faced you as he jogged backwards, Sam’s hand gripping his arm to keep him close by.

“I love you.” You said.

A wide grin painted his face for the first time in seventy years.

“I love you more!”

“I love you most!” You called after him.

“Not possible!” Your husband shouted, his voice echoing throughout the walls of the airport as he got farther and farther away from you. “I love you!”

A smile completely coating your face, you shook your head in admiration of your husband’s love for you. You had been worried that he would be a completely different man than the one you had left back in the forties, but hints of the boy you loved still shone through his rough exterior. You had always brought out the best in each other and if there was ever a time that showed it, it was here and now.

You couldn’t bare to turn your back on him as he jogged away, joining in the fight as always, so you stood there gazing back at him until he left your line of sight. When you could no longer see him- the joy you were feeling may have left your body, but it was only replaced with a different one- the excitement in knowing you would see him again.

#Bucky Barnes #bucky barnes one shot #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes x rogers!reader #40s!bucky #bucky barnes blurb #bucky barnes drabble #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky barnes x reader

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val-writesstuff · 11 months

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Not Going Back

Summary: Your past seems to catch up to you but it's not who you expected to see

Wc: 1k+

Pairing: Bucky Barnes X Reader

Main Masterlist | Series Masterlist | Taglist Form

Bucky paced the hallway outside of Steve’s office as he waited. He knew he shouldn't have kept what he knew a secret, knew Steve had a right to know the truth. He just hadn't found a good time to bring it up; it's not exactly breakfast conversation.

When he heard Steve hang up his call in his office, he walked in, dropping the file he had put together on the desk with a thump.

Steve raised his eyebrows as he pulled the folder closer, flipping it open to a grainy black-and-white side-view shot of a woman. A voice in Steve's head said he knew her, but he couldn't place her. “What am I looking at here, Buck? Is this some Hydra scientist we need to take care of?”

Bucky sighed and paced for another moment before lowering himself into the chair opposite Steve’s desk. “We worked closely together when I was the winter soldier. She got out a few months after I did. When I got back, I started looking for her.”

“I’m glad you want me to help you, but who is she? Why is she so important that you've been looking for her since you returned? That’s a long time to look for one person, Buck.”

Bucky didn't get nervous often, but this might be the hardest thing he had done in a while. He steeled his nerves and took a deep breath before answering. “It’s your sister Steve. She's out there."

==========

*three months later*

I chew my lip nervously as I glance over my shoulder. There's no reason for anybody here to follow me, but I can't shake the feeling I'm being watched. I duck down an empty side street and lean against the brick wall of a nearby building. I reach into the pocket of my leather jacket and thumb at the switchblade.

With what I do for a living, it was stupid to think I could stay in one place for so long. I should've left months ago, but the people were so friendly I could almost pretend I wasn't in hiding, running from a past I could barely remember.

After a while, with nothing suspicious happening, I decide it’s safe enough to head back to the apartment I had just started calling “home.” Guess that was a mistake.

I rush into my apartment and start shoving things into my bags. One bag for clothes, one for weapons, kept it easy to pack. There were certain things ingrained in my head; one of them was ‘don't own things that you can not replace’ Sure, I could leave with nothing and be fine, but it was a pain in the ass, and I liked my stuff.

I leave and head off toward where I know I can steal a helicopter. I take side streets and back alleys, trying to hurry when I get that feeling again. That itch in the back of my brain tells me somebody is watching me, but when I look over my shoulder, there’s still nobody there.

Another twenty minutes of walking pass, and I can see the airport when I hear a crunch behind me. I spin around and see a blond man staring at me. He looks vaguely familiar, but I can't place him.

Grabbing a weapon from my bag would take too long, so I'm left with only my switchblade and ability. He doesn't look like he wants to fight me, so my best bet is to run.

I turn and take off at a sprint. No regular person can keep up with me, so I should be in the clear. I'm only a few feet away from my escape when something heavy slams into my side and grabs onto me.

I look to see what it is and see a face I could never forget; he haunts my dreams. They sent my own damn partner after me. I recognize the expression on his face; it's the same one he makes on missions just before the end. Angry, determined.

With a grunt, I raise my knee and kick his chest as hard as possible. I know I'll never be able to beat him, mainly because there's this tiny voice in the back of my mind screaming not to hurt him.

"I'm not going back!" I scramble away from him and leap to my feet. I snatch the switchblade from my pocket and flip it open. My other hand flexes, and I prepare to use the ability I had spent months shoving down. "I'd die before I ever go back with you!" I spit out and glance between them. The blond still looks hesitant about this, so he should be easy to deal with. The soldier is challenging, but I can get out of here if I can just get past him.

I run towards him, and just before he reaches out to grab me, I hit the ground and slide between his open legs. Yet again, I run for my salvation, not pausing for my dropped bags.

Stupidly I think I'm in the clear when the other one grips my wrist and yanks me towards him. He wraps his arms around me tightly; my arms are trapped at my sides, and I try to slash out with my knife.

The soldier huffs as he snatches it away from me, closes it, and shoves it into his pocket.

"I'm not going back with you!" I jerk my head back and slam it into the chin of Mr. Hesitant. Winter immediately grabs me and tosses me like a sack of potatoes. I land with a grunt. I try to strike out at him, but he grabs my wrists in one hand, pinning them to the ground above my head.

"Doll, I didn't wanna hurt you, but you're not making this easy." his other hand is pinning my hips to the ground, and he's sitting on my legs, so I can't kick him off me. I look around, trying to find the other guy, when the unmistakable feeling of a needle pierces my neck. Found him.

“Fuck you!” I do my best to thrash and fight even as black spots begin to invade my vision.

Remember, likes are nice but reblogs/feedback are golden!

Tags: @charmedbysarge @cjand10

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sarahsmi13s · 1 year

Text

Lieutenant Rogers Universe

I DO NOT CONSENT TO ANY OF MY WORK BEING COPIED OR TRANSLATED

This is the masterlist for the ‘Lt. Rogers’ Unvierse! Here should be able to find everything about Star and her found families!

pairings: romantic!neil ‘omaha’ vikander x rogers!reader, platonic!dagger squad x rogers!reader, plantonic!sam wilson x rogers!reader, platonic!bucky barnes x rogers!reader

series summary: 13 pilots were called back to Top Gun in 2023. at the same time, Lieutenant Rogers learns that her father’s shield was passed down to John Walker.

sources: Top Gun: Maverick (2022) , The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)

Story

Call Sign: ‘Star’

13 pilots were called back to Top Gun in 2023. at the same time, Lieutenant Rogers learns that her father’s shield was passed down to John Walker.

Push Your Limits

after learning of the shield’s new owner, star must press on with her duties as a naval aviator and start her training with her new team.

Holding Onto the Past; Letting Go of the Future

after a pretty rough start, maverick takes the aviators to the beach for a team building exercise. star and omaha invite the squad over for the night. after a quick heart-to-heart with rooster, star has to watch the world forget her father.

Earn It

sam and bucky finally meet john in person. so does star. neither interactions were in john’s favor.

Birds and Promises

while we all know what happens in the air, we don’t know what happens with the aviators on the ground when three nearly die during a training exercise. how do hangman, rooster, and star react to their best friends nearly dying? will it change things between star and omaha?

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen. This is Your Lover Savior Speaking

the mission is here. and once again while we know what happens in the sky and in the control room, what’s going through star’s mind as her friends fight for their lives and might not come home?

Shield of Injustice

while star and her friends fly the mission of a lifetime, sam and bucky are on a mission to find karli before john does. but they all get way more than the barganed for...

Moodboards

Bucky and Star

**************

if you would liked to be tagged in this series, please comment or reblog here!! it’ll just help me to keep up with everyone to have a central hub for tags

lt rogers tags <33: @milesdickpic @roosterscockpit @luckyladycreator2 @hotch-meeeeeuppppp @malindacath @twsssmlmaa

love each of you little starlights <33

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pixiexdusts-world · 3 months

Text

Incorrect quote

Bucky: Stop setting things on fire because you're curious about what will happen. What will happen is fire.

Y/n: But what if something else happens just this one time.

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just-dreaming-marvel · 1 year

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I’m From Brooklyn, Too ~ 158

OUT OF TIME MASTERLIST

I’M FROM BROOKLYN, TOO MASTERLIST

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Word Count: 1,905ish

Summary: Y/N reunites with Morgan. Sam calls with important information on Steve.

Notes: You must read Out Of Time in order to understand this. The chapter numbers continue from Out Of Time.

Y/N appeared in her living room, looking around she didn’t see anyone.

“Morgan?” She called. “Morgan?”

Hearing some laughter, Y/N looked out the window to see Natasha and Morgan playing in the falling leaves. Her eyes focused in on her daughter—that looked too much like her father—as she giggled and ran around the yard. Slowly, Y/N walked out onto the porch. Natasha heard the door open and looked over.

“Morgan,” Natasha called. “Look who’s home.”

Morgan looked in the direction of where Natasha was pointing. She gasped as she jumped excitedly. “Mommy!” She yelled before she started to run. “Mommy! Mommy!”

“Morgan!” Y/N exclaimed, rushing towards her daughter. Y/N bent down to catch her as she launched herself into her mother’s arms. “Morgan!” Y/N cried as she pulled her daughter closer.

“Mommy! I missed you!”

“I missed you so much, baby girl. So much. I’m so sorry that I was gone for so long. I promise I’m never going to leave you like that again.”

Y/N held Morgan tightly to her, thinking of what could have happened to herself and the goodbye she just had gone through. Y/N practically refused to let Morgan out of her sight and touch for the rest of the day. Natasha took care of making the meals so that the two could focus on each other.

Morgan ended up falling asleep on the couch after dinner, curled up into Y/N as a movie played on the screen. Y/N almost didn’t bother moving her but knew that Morgan needed to sleep in a bed and Y/N needed to talk with Nat. She carried the little girl up to her and Tony’s shared room. Y/N tucked her daughter in and kissed her head before going back down to the living room to find Natasha on the couch. Natasha quickly stood and embraced her friend.

“I was so worried,” Natasha whispered.

“Me too,” Y/N responded.

Nat pulled back and guided the two of them onto the couch. “What happened?”

Y/N explained what she could about Westview and what Wanda had done. It was hard for Y/N to talk about AJ and Tony. Natasha waited patiently for Y/N to explain, holding her hand as she did so.

“I got out of there as soon as I could,” Y/N continued. “But… but by doing that… Tony and AJ…”

“I’m so sorry, Y/N,” said Natasha. “I hate that you had to go through losing them again.”

Tears trailed down Y/N’s cheeks. “I haven’t even recovered from losing Tony…” Y/N turned and watched the flames dance in the fireplace. “I need to call Bucky.”

“Y/N, Bucky’s gone.”

Her head snapped toward her friend. “What? What do you mean gone?”

“He went to Westview. He was helping SWORD for a little bit. But then he couldn’t take it.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Wanda had turned Westview into some sort of television production. SWORD was able to access it. Bucky watched you and Tony in Westview. Wanda even exited Westview and taunted Bucky. She told him that you had created Tony and AJ. He couldn’t handle knowing that you created them. He believes that life is what you truly wanted. So he left. He hasn’t been answering my messages or Sam’s.”

“Oh my gosh… Natasha… if I lose Bucky…”

“I know… I know…”

~~~

Y/N was alone, outside on the pier. Natasha had turned in for the night and Y/N wasn’t ready to go to bed just yet. Her phone twirled in her hand as she debated on whether or not to call Bucky. Finally, she dialed his number and placed it to her ear. Y/N held her breath as the phone rang and rang until it got to his voicemail. She sighed before deciding to leave a message.

“Bucky…” she wistfully said. “I’m, uh, I’m out of Westview… I… Natasha told me what you saw… what Wanda told you… Just please, call me back so that we can talk about this… Please, Bucky… just… just know… I’m from Brooklyn, Buck.”

She ended the call and looked out upon the simmering lake. Oh, how she wished things were different.

~~~

Deciding that family was the most important thing and healing from all the loss, Y/N began to put her focus on Morgan, Peter, and Harley. Natasha decided to still live with Y/N as she helped her with the kids, Stark Industries, and the non-profits she had started during the blip.

It was February, four months since Tony’s death and the Westview incident. Y/N had dropped Morgan off at preschool and was cleaning up the house when Sam called her.

“Hey Sam,” Y/N answered. “What’s up?”

“I need you to hear me out, Y/N, okay?” Sam immediately said. “Don’t hang up, don’t yell, just listen. Can you do that for me?”

“You’re scaring me, Sam. What's going on?”

“It’s Steve.”

“Sam—“

“Y/N, hear me out.” Her silence gave him the go-ahead to continue. “He’s dying and he wants to see you. I know, I know he hurt you and Morgan by leaving. But he is still your brother and I know that you still care about him. I’m going to text you the address and you can make the decision on whether to visit him or not. He’s not going to be here much longer though, Y/N, and I don’t want you to live with any regrets.”

“Thank you for the information, Sam. I hope you and your family are doing well.”

“We are. Thanks for asking.”

“Don’t be a stranger around here, Sam. We would love to see you.”

“I’ll try my best. Please at least think about visiting Steve and remember, there’s really not much time left. I’ll be calling to check in later.”

The call ended and Y/N felt incredibly conflicted. It weighed on her mind for the rest of the day and through the night. Natasha could tell that something was on Y/N’s mind as she cooked breakfast the next morning.

“What’s going on?” Natasha wondered.

“Steve’s dying,” she replied.

“What? Are you going to go see him?”

“I don’t know… Sam just called yesterday but he said that there’s not much time... He really hurt me, Natasha. He left me… he left Morgan… when we needed him most.”

“I know. It’s your choice. I’m sure Sam already told you this, but don’t make a decision that you’re going to later regret.”

Y/N nodded. “Can you take care of Morgan today?”

“Of course.” Natasha brought you in for a hug. “Stay with him as long as you need.”

When Morgan came down to breakfast, Y/N explained that she needed to take a quick trip to see a family member who was passing. Y/N made sure to see Morgan off to school before packing a bag and opening up a portal to the address Sam had given her. Taking a deep breath, she stepped through. She looked around at the wooded area where there was a small log house in the midst. An old car sat in the driveway, causing her to wonder who was with him.

Y/N walked up to the door. She held up her hand and took a second before knocking. Quick-paced feet came toward the door. It opened to reveal a woman who had to be in her late twenties-early thirties. Looking at her, Y/N took note of how she had Peggy’s brown hair and Steve’s blue eyes.

“You’re Y/N,” she said with a smile.

“Uh, yes,” Y/N responded. “And you are?”

“Oh, sorry, I should have started with that. My name is also Y/N. I’m Steve’s granddaughter.”

Y/N felt like she could pass out. “What?”

“Why don’t you come in?” She opened the door wider. Y/N took a step into the house. “Pops has been hoping you’d come.”

Y/N nodded as she took in the small room. There were pictures of children and adults and Steve and Peggy all around the room. There were even pictures of the twins and the Team scattered around.

“I’m sorry that this is the first time we’ve met,” the great-niece said. “Pops kept saying we had to wait, and I understood why, I’ve just always wanted to meet you.”

Y/N turned to look at the younger woman. “Where is he?”

The younger one pointed to the slightly open door down the hall. “He’s in there. Honestly, I don’t know if he’ll last the week. I’m a registered nurse so I’ve been here helping. Pops has really been holding out for you to visit.”

“Pops, huh?”

“Yeah,” the woman smiled like it was a fond secret. “Thank you, by the way.”

“Whatever for?”

“For being the type of woman that I am proud to be named after.”

Y/N didn’t know how to respond to that compliment so she turned and headed down the hallway. Before entering the room, she set her bag down. Taking a deep breath, Y/N slowly pushed the door open. What she saw broke her heart. An old Steve lay on a hospital bed, connected to oxygen and a heart rate monitor. His head turned to look at who was standing in the doorway. A smile crossed his crinkled features.

“Y/N,” Steve said.

He reached out a shaky arm and beckoned his sister toward him. Silently, she stepped into the room, closed the door, and went over to the chair beside his bed.

“Hello, Steve,” she responded.

“I’m so glad you came.”

“Yeah… I almost didn’t.”

“Well, thank you for doing so.” He coughed slightly as he tried to sit up more. “I know that you didn’t have to… Y/N… I need you to know that I am sorry for what happened. For everything that happened between us since I woke from the ice.” She stayed silent, wanting to know all that he had to say. “I should have told you my plan… should’ve been honest from the beginning. You and Morgan both deserved that… just know, I am sorry and that there wasn’t a day I didn’t think about the two of you and Bucky.”

“Steve… I don’t think that I’ll ever be able to fully forgive you. Leaving me and Morgan right after losing Tony was a low blow. Especially not telling us. You went back to a woman who had moved on too. Peggy had moved on… I appreciate your apology, Steve, but I am not ready to forgive you right now.”

“I understand that. I don’t regret going back to be with Peggy, but I do regret leaving you and Morgan.” His hand reached for Y/N’s. Y/N met his hand, grasping it between her two. “Thank you for coming… I missed you.”

Tears pricked her eyes. “I missed you too.”

~~~

Steve and Y/N chatted for a few hours. Y/N could tell that Steve was growing weaker with each passing second. Once Steve was finally tired enough to fall asleep, his granddaughter came in to check on him.

“He’s doing worse,” she whispered. “He may not last the night.”

Y/N hadn’t let go of Steve’s hand in hours, almost like holding it would keep him here. She was still holding it tightly when he passed two hours later.

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delicatebarness · 8 days

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ro-is-struggling · 2 years

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Can I request one where it’s post tfatws and zemo somehow breaks out of the wakandan jail and is back and he texts reader (Steve is Y/N’s older brother and she is also a supersoldier and married to Bucky) on a burner phone and she’s very secretive and one night she meets Zemo in a closed off diner and stuff and they discuss something his new plan to take down and expose the power broker (Bucky and Sam don’t know it’s Sharon) and when she leaves she runs into Bucky on the street but he can’t see her face because she’s wearing this and it’s very dark so they start to fight but she gets away and Bucky notices that the moves seem familiar. The next day, he asks her where she went last night because she came back late and she lies and so the next night, they fight the power broker’s men and she’s not in her regular fighting outfit she’s wearing this and zemo is hiding and later when Bucky sees the figure getting away he runs after it and shoots a bullet to the sky to stop the person. She realizes that this is where he finds out and she can’t do anything so she turns back and when she does removes the hood, it reveals it’s her and he is betrayed and thinking she’s working with zemo to bring back the winter soldier but she was only trying to take down the power broker with angst and fluffy ending plz 😁❤️

Hi! I absolutely LOVED your request so much!! I've been working on it for so long bc I wanted it to be perfect. I don't know if it is, but it's as close as I can get🤷🏻‍♀️ Also it's kind of long bc I tried to eplain a little the reasons behind reader's actions I got carried away. I hope you like it and and that it comes close to what you had in mind

Summary: Zemo contacts you after escaping from prison because he wants you to help him stop the Power Broker. You thought he was crazy for thinking you would be willing to join him, but when he brought up the fact that it was a dangerous mission you had no choice but to accept his offer. You hated Zemo, but you weren't willing to lose Bucky. He was the last family you had left.

Warnings: established relationship (Bucky and reader are married), angst, reader lies to Bucky, Zemo being a little shit and getting in everybody's heads, Bucky’s insecurities, ends in fluff. Also reader is Steve's younger sister and a super soldier

English is not my first language

Word count: 9400+

Notes: there's surprisingly more Zemo in this than I initially anticipated. Apparently i find him to be an interesting and fun character to write, so sorry about that

Between Us || Bucky Barnes x Rogers!Reader

You should have known something bad was going to happen. Usually fate didn't let you enjoy many peaceful moments. It didn't care that you had earned your vacation or that you and Bucky were planning that romantic getaway since your wedding. No, fate only cared about making you run from one problem to another without giving you a break. Your whole life had been like that, so when you heard Bucky's phone ringing you knew your vacation was over before he even answered the call.

What you didn't expect was to see all glimpse of happiness leave your husband's face as soon as the voice on the other line spoke. His expression became serious, raising your concern. He ended the call after exchanging a couple of words that didn't give you much information, and let out a frustrated sigh, throwing the phone on the bed. You got up, approaching him with concern to ask him what had happened.

"Zemo escaped."

Your vacation was over as soon as those words came out of Bucky's mouth. You quickly packed up your things and hopped on the first plane back home, where you contacted Sam before settling comfortably back into your house. He was already working with the Dora Milaje to find Zemo and bring him back to prison so he gave you a brief summary of what they knew. They didn't have many leads, just a vague theory about how he had escaped, but that was it. Zemo hadn't left any trace or clue as to where he was headed. So you spent the last few weeks stuck watching security camera footage waiting for facial recognition software to find him somewhere.

"I never should have helped him escape." Bucky muttered in frustration as he watched the live feed from one of the security cameras located near one of the properties Zemo owned in the area. His eyes were glued to the screen, but you didn't need to see them to know they were filled with guilt and regret. Zemo could get inside Bucky's head in a way that very few people could. And now he was letting the situation cloud his judgment, finding a way to blame himself for Zemo's escape even though he had nothing to do with it. So you stepped in to stop his thoughts from spiraling out of control.

"Stop that, Buck. This is not your fault." You reassured him in a soft voice, turning his chair around to force him to look at you.

"Yeah well, I helped him escape the first time. He spent how long in that German prison? And he never tried anything... And now he spends a couple months in Wakanda and he escapes! Makes me think that maybe he liked the freedom I gave him a little too much."

"It doesn't make any sense." You spoke in a contemplative tone. "You said it yourself, he was locked up for a long time and he never tried anything. So why now?"

"Because he's insane and I showed him how to do it."

"No, there's gotta be more to it. There's something we are not seeing. This feels too random to be Zemo."

"What do you mean?" Bucky looked at you with confusion, his eyes full of curiosity.

"I mean Zemo works with a moral code, a very fucked up one, but a moral code at last. All he does has a purpose. Using you to destroy the avengers, helping us stop Karli and the rest of the super soldiers... So what is his plan now?"

"What you're trying to say is that we should try to figure out what his plan is in order to catch him?" Bucky said more as a question than a statement. You nodded.

"I mean, I think it's very unlikely that he escaped just because he was bored. It's Zemo! There's always something more with him." You had no idea what he might be up to, but you were sure he was up to something. That just was the kind of person Zemo was. "I think that's our best plan to catch him."

After discussing the situation for a while, Bucky left the room to call Sam and tell him about your ideas and theories. You took advantage of the moment to get up and stretch your legs, approaching the coffee pot to pour your second cup of coffee of the morning. You hadn't slept well the night before and you would need to have your energy and cognitive abilities functioning properly if you wanted to make progress on the case.

Your phone began to vibrate and you pulled it out of your pocket as you took a sip of your hot coffee without giving the matter much thought. You expected to find some unimportant notification or an email that you didn't have time to respond to. However, when you read the content of the text message glowing on your screen you almost dropped the cup of coffee from your hands. It was a rather cryptic message from an unknown number, but you were sure you knew who had sent it.

Hello, my darling.

We should talk.

Meet me at midnight and come alone.

The message had a location attached to it at the end, with no name or personal details to give you any clues as to who the sender was or to whom it was addressed. But you didn't need any details to know who it was from.

My darling.

That was not a message that you had received by mistake, nor was it a joke. No. That was a message that Zemo had sent specifically to you. You were sure of it. No one else called you that way. You didn't know exactly why he did it, you suspected it had something to do with his obsession with annoying Bucky. He knew you hated it when he called you that and that's why he had used it in the message. He knew you would recognize it immediately.

It was a stupid move. Escaping from jail just to contact you and give you his location and the time he would be there. You didn't understand the logic behind his action. What did he think would happen? There was no way you would listen to him. You would attend his meeting, only accompanied by Sam, Bucky and all the Dora Milaje if that was what you had to do to catch him and put him back in jail.

However, you thought it would be a good idea to play along. You were pretty sure that Zemo had communicated with you using a burner phone, so there wasn't any point in tracking him down. But maybe if you got him to talk you would get some details that might help you understand the situation a little better.

What makes you think you can trust me?

You wrote after contemplating your options for a moment. You were trying to provoke him, to bait him into talking without being too obvious. You thought it would be best to proceed with caution, to react defensively instead of agreeing to his demands immediately to make it seem more credible. Zemo knew very well that you didn't like him and he didn't like you either. As a super soldier, you represented everything he hated. But he was still communicating with you and you wanted to understand why.

Time seemed to freeze as you waited for an answer. Your eyes stayed glued to the screen as you bit the skin on the inside of your cheek. The seconds ticked and you started to worry by the lack of an answer so you threw the phone on the table in frustration, thinking that maybe Zemo had already thrown the phone away to avoid being traced.

But then the device vibrated again. And nothing in the world could have prepared you for the words you read when you unlocked your phone.

Sharon is the Power Broker.

The world around you began to spin as you read the message over and over again, hoping that somehow the words in it would change. It couldn't be true. You refused to believe it. She had helped you escape after the Sokovia Accords, turning against the government she worked for you. She had risked her life by helping you stop Karli and the Flag Smashers. Sharon had saved your life on countless occasions and you refused to believe that someone like her was capable of the acts attributed to the Power Broker.

But then the cynical voice inside your head reminded you that Sharon had spent a lot of time alone in Madripoor. Years in which you hadn't had contact with her, so you didn't really know what had become of her life. She seemed to have managed quite well. And yes, it was largely because she had become a smuggler of stolen art, but there was a big difference between that and being a mob boss, wasn't there? Still, that voice in your head couldn't help but wonder if it was possible that Sharon was capable of something like that.

"No, there's no way..." You muttered to yourself in an attempt to quiet that annoying voice. That was probably all part of Zemo's plan, whatever it was. He was messing with you because that's what he did best. He is an expert in the art of manipulation and you couldn't let him into your mind. You couldn't let him win.

However, when Bucky came back into the room you didn't mention anything about Zemo's message or his accusations about Sharon. So on some level he had already won, you just weren't ready to admit it yet.

Lying in the darkness of your room you continued to mentally debate what you should do. The meeting with Zemo was in an hour and you still hadn't decided what course of action to take. You wanted to tell Bucky, explain the situation and go with him to find Zemo to settle everything once and for all. But seeing him sleeping so peacefully next to you, you weren’t able to wake him up. He looked so calm with his eyes closed and his hair all messy on the pillow. It wasn't so common for him to sleep so peacefully. His dreams were usually plagued with horrible memories of his past life that haunted him in the form of nightmares.

He needed a good night's rest, he deserved that peace and quiet and you didn't want to be the one to interrupt it. Just as you didn't want to be the one to inform him that there was a small possibility that Sharon was the Power Broker. You knew he would blame himself for it like he did with everything. Because in his mind he was the reason Sharon had had to escape to Madripoor and live among criminals until he eventually became one. And you didn't want to bring him that kind of pain, at least not until you found out the truth.

Looking at Bucky's beautiful face you realized what you had to do. Leaning over him, you placed a soft kiss on his forehead, feeling the weight of guilt on your chest. ‘It's for the best.’ A voice in your mind repeated over and over as you got out of bed. You grabbed some clothes from the closet before heading for the door, opting to change your attire in a place where the noise of your movements couldn't wake Bucky.

Before leaving you turned to observe the relaxed figure of your husband in bed, moving slightly to adjust his position as he slept. "It's for the best." You whispered into the darkness before leaving the room, closing the door carefully behind you.

You quickly changed out of your pajamas into a more appropriate outfit. You decided it would be better not to wear your usual suit to avoid being recognized, so you opted for a black outfit that gave you incredible mobility while helping you stay hidden in the darkness of the night. You laced up your combat boots and pulled up the hood of your suit, hiding your identity behind the fabric, before grabbing your gun and heading out of your house.

As you drove to the location Zemo had sent you, you adjusted the details of your plan. You were not going to work with him. You didn't care if his words were true, he belonged in prison. But you figured it wouldn't hurt to talk to him a little before you arrested him, find out what he knew to deduce if it was just a bunch of lies or if he was really telling the truth. It was a big accusation he was making against Sharon and you couldn't just ignore it. So you decided it would be best to talk to him to draw your own conclusions. After all, Sharon was your friend and deserved the benefit of the doubt.

There was nothing you wanted more than for Zemo to be lying, but deep down you knew there was a possibility that it was all true. As much as it pained you to admit it, him breaking out of prison to deal with the Power Broker sounded reasonable. It fit his moral code and you feared it might be that missing piece of information you had been looking for all along.

When you arrived at your destination you were surprised to find that it was a well-maintained building. Due to his status as a fugitive you expected Zemo to have arranged to meet you in some abandoned shed in the middle of nowhere, but you should have figured it would be the opposite. That was not Zemo's style, he liked luxury and the finer things in life. He was a Baron after all, that was the life he was used to.

You checked the perimeter before entering, looking for any signs that would alert you that you were walking into a trap. The streets were empty so a guard or sniper would have easily stood out. Finding nothing suspicious, you knocked on the door while praying you had made the right decision.

The large doors opened, revealing the face of an elderly man on the other side. It was the same man who had greeted you on Zemo's private jet when you helped him escape from prison the first time. He smiled kindly at you and led the way to his employer. You walked down the hallway cautiously, resting your hand on the gun secured to your waist in case you needed it.

"What the hell is this place?"

The room at the end of the hallway was much larger than you had expected. It was decorated with expensive looking paintings and vases. In the center was a long wooden table that looked like something out of a fairytale princess's castle. On it rested a variety of plates filled with food. And at the head of the table, seated as if on a throne, was Zemo.

"Ah, my darling, you made it!" He exclaimed, looking up from his plate to glance at you. "Do you like it? It's one of the several properties I own in the area." He explained simply, wiping the corners of his lips with a cloth napkin that rested in his lap.

"We didn't know about this one." You muttered, momentarily distracted by your surroundings.

"I was counting on that," he said with a smile. "Please, sit down, darling. I hope you don't mind that I started without you." He added, gesturing toward the food on his plate. "I couldn't help myself, prison food does not compare to these delicacies."

You watched him from the doorway with slightly raised eyebrows, surprised by his casual tone. Zemo continued eating as if nothing was wrong, as if he was sure that you were no danger to him. That bothered you. You weren't there to play games, you were there to arrest him and get the information you needed. He thought he had you trapped under his web of lies and manipulation, but he didn't and you made sure to let him know it.

"Get up, Zemo. You're coming with me." It wasn't a request, it was a statement reinforced by the gun you had taken out of its holster and held in your hands, pointing in his direction. Zemo looked at you with amusement in his eyes and continued eating, not at all concerned about your threatening pose.

"Relax, my darling. There is no need for violence."

"I'm not here to play, Zemo. You are going back to prison." You took a couple of steps forward, approaching him hoping that your insistence would make him realize that things wouldn't go his way this time.

"We can talk about this." Zemo spoke in a soft tone, finally letting go of his fork and focusing all of his attention on you. "Remember, I'm on your side."

"No you're not. We are not partners, I'm not working with you!"

"Yet you are here all alone, just like I asked." You opened your mouth to respond, but closed it a second later. He was right and you hated it. Zemo smiled triumphantly and you began to think that maybe you hadn't made the right decision after all. "You need me to stop the Power Broker... To stop Sharon from hurting more people."

"How do I know this isn't another one of your tricks?"

"All the information I have on Sharon is in that file." Zemo pointed to a rather bulky folder resting on the other end of the table, right in front of your eyes. "Go ahead, read it. You'll see I'm being completely honest with you, my darling."

Your eyes traveled from the folder to Zemo and back to the folder, trying to decide what to do. You had gone there with the goal of getting that information and Zemo didn't seem to be ready to escape from there the moment you let your guard down. You'd be quick, flip through the files, see what he had to offer and in the end arrest him anyway. What could go wrong?

You lowered your gun with some hesitation and slowly approached the table. Your fingers lingered over the folder for a moment as you gathered the courage to face the information it contained. Letting out a sigh, you opened it, scanning the pages carefully.

It was too much to take in, the confirmation that Sharon was indeed the Power Broker evident on every page of that file. You felt overwhelmed, the world around you spinning as your brain struggled to process the information.

"How did you get all this? You were in prison." You spoke, dropping into the chair closest to you. You didn't trust your legs to support your body for much longer.

"I had some help. Old contacts, people who owed me favors... I was able to reach out to them before I was taken and sent to Wakanda."

"So that's how you escaped? With their help."

"I can neither confirm nor deny the involvement of any of my associates in my escape from prison." He said in his characteristic cryptic tone, making you roll your eyes.

"Yeah, sure you can't." You mumbled to yourself, returning your attention to the papers in front of you. You read every word in that file several times in an attempt to convince yourself of its validity. It was hard to believe, but Zemo was telling the truth and he had the evidence to prove it. You closed the file folder in frustration, letting out a sigh as you leaned against the back of the chair.

"And what's your great plan to stop the Power Broker? Because I assume you have one."

"You are correct, my darling." He smiled at you as he placed the glass of wine he had previously brought to his lips back on the table. "But you don't have to worry about it. You don't have to know all the details, I just need you to be ready to fight whenever I tell you to."

"No way!" You weren't going to work with Zemo, much less without knowing the details of his plan. You weren't going to let him turn you into his personal thug. "No, I can't do this. You're going back to jail."

"It's in your best interest that I take care of this, Y/N. Who else is going to do it if not me?"

"I'll tell Sam and we'll figure something out."

"It's too risky." Zemo interrupted you, raising his voice slightly. All of a sudden the expression on his face, which was previously relaxed and amused, changed to a serious one. "Sharon is his friend. Sam cares about her, but the Power Broker only cares about money and power. Sharon won't hesitate to eliminate him if she needs to, and she will use Sam's feelings against him."

"No... There has to be another way."

"There is none. Sam and Bucky are too weak to do what needs to be done. They'll let their feelings cloud their judgment and we can't afford that. Sharon is dangerous and if we want to stop her we need to be as ruthless as her."

"No. No way." You jumped up from your chair, refusing to listen to any more words coming out of Zemo's mouth. He couldn't be right, could he?

Maybe he was right when he said that Sam and Bucky would let their feelings cloud their minds, but that was normal. Finding out that Sharon, someone they thought was an ally, a friend, was actually one of the biggest criminals out there was pretty wild news. You expected them not to believe you at first because you yourself had had trouble processing the situation even after reading the incriminating files. But that wasn't reason enough for you to go behind their backs, let alone join Zemo of all people. Maybe it would take a while, but you were sure you could convince Sam and Bucky to investigate Sharon. And then together you could come up with a plan to stop her.

"Let me ask you this." Zemo's voice stopped your nervous pacing, circling the room as your mind worked faster than normal to come to a decision. "Would you rather fight one of the most dangerous criminals out there with me, someone you don't care if lives or dies, or with the little family you have left?"

You looked at Zemo with a frown. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Things can go wrong very easily and very fast. And when that happens blood will be spilled. Are you sure you want it to be the blood of the only family you have left now that Steve is gone?"

You wanted to tell Zemo that he was being dramatic. Assure him that Sam and Bucky could watch their backs and that he was just saying that to scare you. But you weren't able to formulate a word because a lump formed in your throat as a voice in your mind began to wonder if Zemo was right. You knew the Power Broker was dangerous from everything you had read about it. And Sharon had been able to keep her alter ego a secret all this time, helping you under the guise that you were friends when she had only done so out of convenience. She was a highly intelligent and skilled woman and you honestly didn't know what to expect from her.

The only thing you knew for sure was that you were not willing to lose Sam or Bucky because of her. They were the only family you had left. In a world that was still foreign to you, they were the only thing that felt normal, familiar, comforting. Especially Bucky, whom you not only loved with all your heart, but also knew since you were a child. They were your support, the ones who kept you afloat even in your worst moments. Steve's departure hurt a little less with them by your side. You still missed your brother, but Sam's friendship and Bucky's unconditional love helped you get up in the mornings. Honestly, you didn't know if you would be able to go on if something bad happened to them, much less knowing that there was something you could have done to prevent it.

Zemo watched you closely, waiting for an answer. Even though he was sure he had convinced you he still wanted to hear you say it. You wanted to slap the expression of victory off his face, but you restrained yourself. The truth was that you were more angry with yourself than with him. You hated yourself for letting him get inside your head. You knew he was manipulating you and yet you let him continue. And now it was too late to turn back. You were completely screwed.

"Fine, I'm in." You said through your teeth. "What's the plan?"

Zemo didn't tell you much since he was in the early stages of planning. He only told you that for the time being your role was to be the brute force he needed to fight his way through the Power Broker's many allies. That wouldn't be a difficult task for you since you were a highly trained super soldier. Zemo mentioned to you that he would soon need you for a mission—something to do with getting specific information about Sharon and her routine—, but he didn't give you many details. He only asked you to act carefully around her and to find out as much as you could without being obvious, using her friendship as an advantage. He assured you that when he needed you he would call you and explain all the details and you didn't bother to press him for more information. You knew it would be useless, Zemo loved mystery and secrecy.

When you finally parted ways after discussing the central points of your new partnership, you made your way back to your car. You had parked it a couple of blocks away so as not to arouse suspicion in case things went wrong. And you were thankful you had done so as soon as you turned on your phone and saw the messages from Bucky. Apparently one of the security cameras in the area had captured Zemo's image. And now your husband was heading there to inspect the place in hopes of catching him, sending you the location in case you got to see the message in time.

"Fuck fuck fuck" you muttered under your breath, adjusting your hood as you quickened your pace. Seeing the time Bucky had sent you those messages and taking into account the time it had taken you to drive there, you figured he was probably already in the area. You should have figured something would go wrong. Fate and luck had never been on your side.

You walked through the dark streets with caution, remaining in a state of constant vigilance. It was late so there weren't many people on the street, something that was both good and bad. On the one hand, it was good because it allowed you to have a clear view of your surroundings and therefore distinguish anyone approaching you. But on the other hand, it was bad because it meant that you couldn't run away as easily if someone did indeed approach you. So you had to keep an eye out for any sign that someone else was nearby so you could hide and escape without being seen.

Your heart was beating fast, a lethal mix of nerves and adrenaline coursing through your veins. You picked up your pace, desperate to get to your car. You were getting closer and for a moment you really believed you could escape from there without any problems. But then a figure appeared in your field of vision. A familiar figure walking directly towards you.

"Shit!" You exclaimed in a whisper, recognizing Bucky just a few meters away. You immediately turned around and started walking in the opposite direction, praying he hadn't seen you. You scanned your surroundings for an escape route and found an alley a couple of meters away that could help you lose him. You headed towards that place, crossing the street without bothering to look sideways. However, you barely made it a couple of steps before you heard Bucky's voice behind you, shouting for you to stop.

You decided then that it wasn't worth keeping a low profile and started running. You were fast, the serum coursing through your veins giving you superhuman agility. But to your bad luck, Bucky was as fast as you, catching you in a matter of seconds. His hand closed over your arm in a tight grip, trying to force you to turn around. You pushed him off and continued on your way. You really didn't want to fight him, not only because you loved him and hurting him pained you, but also because as soon as you got into physical combat he would realize that you were not a normal person. You had super strength just like him and there weren't many people like you around so you were afraid he would find out about you.

However, when Bucky insisted you had no choice but to respond. He grabbed your arm again, only this time he managed to turn you over. You were thankful for the darkness of the street and for your choice of outfit since it helped you keep your identity a secret even when Bucky was looking you straight in the face. But since he couldn't make out your face under your hood he thought you were someone working for Zemo, so he didn't hesitate to raise his fist and aim it at you. Luckily you were able to dodge it, that punch and the rest of the attacks he tried to throw at you.

Soon the two of you were involved in a kind of dance, a choreography in which he tried to get closer to you while you did your best to avoid him. It was very similar to the routines you followed when you practiced at the gym. So much so that Bucky couldn't help but think that his opponent's moves looked familiar.

He failed to land any of his punches on you. You had excellent reflexes and knew his fighting strategy all too well. You were able to predict his moves before he made them. He had only come close to hitting you once, but at the last moment you were able to stop his fist, capturing it in your hand. Bucky looked at you with surprise, recognizing at that moment that he was probably dealing with someone with powers. Since your secret was already out in the open you took advantage of the grip you had on him to push him with force, effectively throwing him away from you. You tried to measure your strength, using enough to throw him back a couple of feet, but not so much that he immediately realized you were another super soldier, though at this point you didn't know if that would make a difference. Bucky stumbled from the surprising force of your shove and fell on his back, giving you enough time to scurry down the alley and disappear into the darkness of the night.

"Did you see their face?" Sam asked Bucky, concerned to hear about this new mystery person his friend had confronted the night before.

"No, it was dark and they had a hood covering their face." The super soldier replied, struggling to remember every detail of the fight.

"How do we know it wasn't Zemo then?" IYou interjected, hoping that Bucky would not be able to read in your eyes the guilt you felt for hiding things from him.

'It's for the best.'

"Because Zemo is not that strong or fast." Bucky kept to himself the detail that there was something familiar about the way his opponent moved. He didn't see the point in sharing that observation, it would only confuse you as much as it confused him. He decided it would be better for him to investigate that clue on his own. "Where were you last night by the way?"

Bucky's question took you by surprise. You expected to have to explain your absence at that time of night, but you didn't expect him to ask you about it at that moment. You wondered if perhaps he was suspicious of you. "Oh I couldn't sleep so I went for a drive to clear my head." You excused, hoping Bucky would believe you and not continue to press the issue. "I'm sorry I wasn't there."

Bucky's eyes scanned your expression for longer than necessary. For a moment you thought he had figured out you were lying. After all, he knew you too well and was more than capable of reading your thoughts with a single glance at your face. Your mind began to prepare a bunch of excuses for when he would accuse you of something, determined to keep your activities secret. But to your luck Bucky wasn't able to say anything because Sam interrupted him.

"Is there anything else that you remember about this mystery person?" He intervened before the conversation went off the rails.

"No." Bucky muttered, reluctantly looking away from your face.

"Okay so what are we thinking? Another super soldier? Or maybe someone with powers?"

"I don't know, Sam. If that's the case then are we sure this person is working with Zemo? It doesn't sound like him." You reasoned, hoping to throw them off the trail. It was a valid question, after all, Zemo wasn't the type of person to form alliances with superheroes.

"They were in the same area where a security camera captured Zemo's image. I think it's safe to assume they're working together."

"But he hates superheroes and all the super soldiers are dead." You persisted, praying that you didn't sound so obvious. Your argument was well founded. In the time you had spent with Zemo he had not ceased to mention how much he hated the existence of superheroes. It was one of the reasons you had been so surprised that he had sought your help. So it was logical to find it strange that he was working with one now. You knew that, yet your nerves made you think you were being too obvious.

"That we know of." Sam said. "Maybe the Power Broker has one super soldier running around that we don't know about."

Bucky, who had stood silently staring at you, noticed the way your whole body tensed at the mention of the Power Broker. He thought it was strange, but decided not to say anything about it. "Besides, he needed to escape somehow, right? He could have joined forces with someone he hates out of necessity." He theorized and you wanted to scream at how close he was to the truth. You hadn't helped him escape from prison, but you had joined forces even though you hated each other because it was the only option you had left.

"So we think he's working with the Power Broker now?" You asked, feigning confusion. "How? He was in a prison in Wakanda, far away from Madripoor."

"I don't know. Maybe he made a deal with him before getting caught. Don't forget he was alone for a while before I got to him." Bucky said. As much as he was wrong about the Power Broker connection you thought it was a pretty logical reasoning that answered the riddle of how he had escaped. Well, at least part of it.

"We need to go back and analyze everything that happened during the time we were with Zemo. There's gotta be something we missed that's useful now." Sam instructed and that's exactly what you did for the rest of the day.

You compiled a list of known criminals that you knew had some remote connection to Zemo. Some of them had possible connections to the Power Broker as well, so you focused your attention on them first, tracking them down and analyzing every bit of information you had on them.

It was a difficult job given that they were good at staying in the shadows, avoiding the authorities. Sam had to call several contacts, but by the end of the day you were able to gather enough information on your suspects. You still didn't know if or how any of them had actually helped Zemo—or how they had done it—, but it was a start. Your list had several promising names that you hoped might shed some light on the mechanics behind Zemo's escape.

However, as relevant and important as some of the information was, you couldn't help but feel guilty not telling them what you knew. Sam and Bucky were theorizing about who among all of them could be their mystery person without knowing it was you. You had to fight the urge to confess the truth to them on several occasions, reminding yourself how dangerous it was to confront the Power Broker. You needed to protect them from Sharon and from themselves. You couldn't lose them.

Your thoughts were interrupted by the vibration of your phone in your pocket. You picked it up not expecting to find any important notifications. It was too fast for Zemo to communicate with you again. While talking the night before he had implied that he wouldn't need you for the time being. However, the message from an unknown number flashing on your screen told you otherwise.

Change of plans. I need you here in two hours.

Don't be late, my darling.

When you looked up from your phone you met Bucky's eyes, who was analyzing your expression with curiosity. You locked the screen and hid the device back in your pocket defensively even though you knew he wasn't able to see anything at the distance he was at.

"Everything alright?" Bucky asked, drawing the attention of Sam who looked away from the computer to you.

"Yeah, it's just my friend Lizzie... She messaged me saying she needs to talk." You lied, invoking the name of one of the doctors on the Avenger's tower medical team who had become your best friend over the years. "Is it okay if I at least call her to see what she needs?"

"Go talk to her, Y/N." Sam allowed you, believing your little lie. "We can handle this. You have done enough already, you deserve a break."

"Thank you, Sam. I'll be back as soon as I can." You thanked him as you gathered your things. "Keep me posted, okay?"

The last thing you heard before you left the room was Bucky's complaining about how he too deserved a break.

"You need to be more careful!" You exclaimed in a raised tone as soon as you had Zemo in front of you. "A security camera caught your image not far from where we met last night and Bucky almost caught me."

"Did he?" Zemo spoke in a calm tone as if he did not understand the gravity of the situation.

"No, but I had to fight him and now he thinks you're working with the Power Broker."

"Then there's nothing to worry about." The calmness in his voice irritated you to the point of having to clench your fists at the sides of your body to avoid hitting him in the middle of the face.

"Easy for you to say, you're not the one that has to lie to him."

Zemo approached you with slow but confident steps. He stopped when he found himself a couple of inches away from you, completely invading your personal space. He looked at you with his head slightly tilted to the side, studying your expression to guess your thoughts. You remained firm in your place, maintaining eye contact to show him that he didn't intimidate you.

"Remember why we are doing this, Y/N." He spoke in a soft but firm tone that radiated authority. "We take down the Power Broker while your lovely husband and best friend stay safe, far away from danger. Your lies are for the greater good."

"I know." You rolled your eyes. "You don't have to do this shit with me, I'm not going to tell them. I'm just saying... It feels wrong to lie to them."

"You'll forget all about it once you return home to your beloved Bucky after defeating Sharon." Zemo offered you a smile before walking away from you, giving you back your personal space. "Now let's get to work."

Zemo explained the mission carefully. Apparently he had learned of the whereabouts of a guy who worked for the Power Broker. He was a low-level criminal, but he believed he had relevant information about Sharon's plans. So your job was to help Zemo get to him. According to what he had told you, the guy had more security than usual, which was not only suspicious but also made your job more difficult. You would have to be very careful if you wanted to get to him, but you were confident that wouldn't be a problem.

"What happens when we get to him?" You asked him while discussing the mission. "How are we gonna make him talk?"

"You worry about getting us inside and leave the rest to me. I'll get him talking." You didn't like the way Zemo said that, but it was too late to question it now. You had gotten yourself into this mess and you had to see it through to the end. Otherwise, the lies you had told Bucky would be for nothing.

Although the situation got you thinking about Sharon's future. So far there had only been talk of 'stopping' the Power Broker without really specifying what that entailed. You had a pretty clear idea of what Zemo meant when he talked about 'stopping' Sharon, though. For him there was a very easy way to deal with people like her, but you were beginning to question if that was really the end you wanted for her. You knew it was the quickest and safest solution, the only one that would assure you of putting an end to her and her plans without any of your loved ones getting hurt. Honestly, you were a little tired of fighting, of losing people, but you weren't sure you had what it took to go through with Zemo's plans. After all, Sharon had been your friend at one time.

You shook your head to clear your mind of those thoughts. You didn't have time to question things now, though you knew it was something you would have to reflect on eventually. For the moment your priority was to fight the Power Broker's men who were protecting the criminal they needed to capture.

Taking out the outside guards hadn't been as difficult as you thought it would be. You insisted on handling it alone since Zemo wanted to kill them in cold blood. You knew they were criminals and probably didn't deserve your sympathy, but letting him just kill them didn't sit well with you. Things got more complicated when they entered the building. There were more guards who weren't able to get out of the way and a fight broke out. The sound of gunshots and punches were all you could hear as you worked with Zemo to make your way to your target. Despite how badly you got along and how much you disapproved of some of his methods, you made a good pair in combat. He had your back and you had his.

You managed to get rid of most of the Power Broker's men in a matter of seconds. You thought you had a good chance of winning the battle and getting to the target before he managed to escape. But then a door opened and from the other side appeared Sam and Bucky, who were immediately attacked by the thugs. Amidst the chaos of the fight they were able to find you in the sea of people. Your eyes—which luckily for you were covered by your outfit— focused on Bucky's for a moment, before turning to Zemo.

"We need to go. Now!" You exclaimed in the middle of the fight, pushing Zemo towards the exit.

"No! We need to get to him!" He resisted, pulling out a gun and shooting a man who was approaching to attack you from behind. "We can use them as a distraction." He added, referring to Sam and Bucky fighting the Power Broker's men. You rolled your eyes, irritated with Zemo, and used your strength to push him to safety, away from the fight and the intense gaze of your friends.

"Sam and Bucky are here for you, not him. They'll get to you before we have the chance to find this dude." You explained, grabbing Zemo by the shoulders in the hope of bringing him to his senses. "We need to leave." You didn't wait to hear his protests, dragging him away from the fight in search of a way out.

The place was a hellhole, nothing more than a dirty old warehouse in the middle of nowhere. However, you were surprised to walk through a door and find an area that functioned as a parking lot for a variety of cars. You instructed Zemo to get into the vehicle closest to you and start it while you watched the door, making sure no one had followed you there. The plan was to use it to escape from there as quickly as possible, more concerned about not getting caught than completing the mission. You would find other opportunities to get information about the Power Broker as long as you managed to get out of there unharmed.

Although apparently luck was not on your side that day—was it ever?—, because before you could do anything, Bucky entered the room. He shouted for you to stop while pointing the gun he held in his hands at you. You knew that the reasonable thing to do was to obey his orders, but you still tried to escape. However, when Bucky fired into the air you froze in place, realizing the seriousness of the situation.

You quickly came to the conclusion that you had no escape. Bucky had caught you and was ready to shoot you to prevent you from escaping again. If you wanted to save yours and Zemo's life, you had no choice but to surrender and confess the truth.

Putting your hands up in the air, you slowly turned around to face Bucky. He was pointing his gun at you, watching you menacingly. It was strange to look into his eyes and not find the love and warmth you always saw in them. You hated it. You hated to be seen as a criminal, an enemy when you weren't one. You were his wife, the love of his life, and you were teaming up with Zemo to protect him. You were doing this for love, so why did Bucky seem so hurt when he recognized your voice?

It was then that you realized what a big mistake you had made.

"Don't shoot!" You warned, seeing the confusion on Bucky's face at the sound of your voice. You brought your hands up to your hood, slowly pulling it back to expose your face to your husband. He looked at you with a mixture of shock, confusion and betrayal in his eyes. Shame came over you, settling in your stomach in the form of a knot. You wanted to look away, the pain in Bucky's eyes was almost impossible to bear, but you fought to maintain eye contact. It was the least you could do at that moment.

"Y/N... W-what are you doing here with him?" Bucky asked, pointing his gun at Zemo, who watched the scene silently, waiting for the right moment to escape.

"Bucky..." You began in a soft tone, looking for the right words to explain the situation you had gotten yourself into. "This is not what it looks like. I-"

"Not what it looks like?" He interrupted you, repeating your words in disbelief. "So you are not helping Zemo right now? Because that's exactly what it looks like to me."

"I am helping Zemo." You confessed with a sigh, finding no point in continuing to lie. "But it's not what it looks like, okay? If you let me explain..."

"We've been looking for him and all this time you knew where he was and you didn't tell us!"

"No no no" you repeated, desperate to make Bucky understand the reasons behind your actions. You approached him taking a couple of steps in his direction, and he instinctively pointed his gun at you. You stopped for a second, your heart breaking as you realized he saw you as a threat at that moment. You saw the surprise in his eyes as well and decided to continue walking towards him, confident that he wouldn't hurt you. Once in front of him, you placed your hands on his gun to encourage him to lower it.

"Zemo contacted me yesterday and I went to see him, but it's not what you think." You explained once he lowered the gun.

"So it was you last night." It wasn't a question, but you nodded anyway. "Why? Why would you do this? Why wouldn't you tell me the truth?" Bucky's voice sounded broken and you knew he was holding back tears. The knot in your stomach tightened and a wave of guilt washed over you.

"I'm sorry, Buck. It's complicated. I didn't mean to lie to you at first but I just-"

"Why would you choose to work with him? Why didn't you tell me?" He interrupted you. It was as if he was thinking out loud, as if his brain had forgotten how to use his inner voice. "Is he trying to bring back the Winter Soldier? Is that why you were being so secretive about this?" Bucky knew that the accusation was far-fetched, but he wasn't thinking straight and his brain seemed to have lost its filter.

"What? No!" You were shocked by his words, hurt that even for a moment he was capable of considering the idea that you could do such a thing to him. You had seen him suffer for the Winter Soldier. You still did when at night the memories of his past haunted him in the form of nightmares. You had watched him fight for his freedom from Hydra's control, sticking with him through every part of the process. Now that he was finally free you would never think of imprisoning him like that again. "Bucky I would never..."

"Then why?!" He exclaimed, raising his voice. He was not angry, but confused and hurt. His eyes begged you for an explanation that made sense and you found no strength in your heart to keep hiding the truth from him.

"Sharon is the Power Broker." You let out with a sigh of defeat, watching Bucky's expression contract with confusion. "It's true. I didn't want to believe it at first, but it's true. Zemo contacted me because he needs my help to stop her and I agreed to work with him because I didn't want to lose you." You ended up with a broken voice, tears threatening to escape your eyes.

"What?" Bucky looked at you with a frown although both his voice and expression were much softer than mere seconds ago.

"She's dangerous, Bucky. All those who confronted her ended up dead. And now that she's back home she's more powerful than she has ever been. I didn't tell you any of this because I didn't want to drag you and Sam into this... because I couldn't bear the thought of losing someone else... of losing you."

"Hey, you're not gonna lose me." Bucky mumbled, taking your face in his hands and wiping the tears that fell down your cheeks with his thumbs. "You're not gonna lose me, doll. I'm right here. I'm always going to be right here by your side." His voice was soft, trying to inspire calmness through tone, but it only made a new wave of tears roll down your cheeks. You cried because the assurance in his voice comforted you but also because you knew they were empty promises. No one's life was guaranteed and Bucky, just like anyone else, could die at any moment, leaving you alone in an empty world without his smile.

"I know lying to you was wrong and I know I probably let Zemo get inside my head, but I couldn't stop thinking about you getting hurt. I accepted his offer because I thought it was going to be easier working with him since I don't care if he lives or dies." You explained your reasoning between sobs and sniffles. "I know I was wrong and I'm sorry. But I did it to protect you because I love you, Buck. And I could never do anything to hurt you. Never." You insisted, referring to the accusations he had made minutes before.

"Shit, doll. I'm sorry! I didn't mean to say those things. I know you would never hurt me. I just... I wasn't thinking straight." Bucky apologized, ashamed that he was capable of insinuating something so horrible. He knew you loved him, knew you wanted nothing more than his happiness. You had stood by him in his worst times, supported him even when he wasn't sure he deserved it. You were the love of his life and he didn't understand how he had let his mind lead him to think something so horrible. "You know that Zemo gets into my head. I saw him and I saw you and my brain just stopped working."

"It's okay, I'm not mad." You told him with a weak smile, resting your hands over his hands that still rested delicately on your cheeks. "I lied to you and you had all the rights to be upset. I just wanted to make sure you knew I could never do something like that to you. I love you with all my heart, Bucky. You are my family, my home. I want nothing more than your happiness and wellbeing."

"I know, doll. I love you too. So, so much. I can't even put it into words." He confessed, leaning down to rest his forehead on yours. It was such a simple but intimate gesture that it sent a wave of comforting warmth through your body. "I'm sorry, doll." He whispered against your lips.

"I'm sorry too." You responded before closing the short distance between you, bringing your lips together in a delicate kiss. Bucky reciprocated immediately, using his grip on your cheeks to tilt your face to deepen the kiss further, effectively showing you how sorry he was. You did your best to follow his lead, hoping that he too would be able to feel everything you felt for him on your lips.

The world around you ceased to exist for a moment. Zemo, the Power Broker and all your problems disappeared from your mind as you melted in the arms of the love of your life, your soulmate. In that moment you were reminded once again that all you needed to be okay was to have Bucky by your side. He was your rock, your lifeline, the only one whose mere presence was able to clear the fog that clouded your mind and make the sun come out. He was your everything, your whole life. You decided at that moment that you would never again let anything come between you, whether it was Zemo, the Power Broker or death itself.

"Thank you for your help, Bucky. I couldn't have done it without you."Sam's irritated voice interrupted you, forcing you to pull away. When you turned around you noticed that he was accompanied by Zemo, who was handcuffed. You looked at him in confusion, wondering when he had gotten out of there and how he had managed to do so without alerting you. "What is she doing here?"

You and Bucky shared a look. He nodded his head slightly, encouraging you to speak. You let out a long sigh before returning your gaze to your friend's confused face. It was time to come clean.

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