Armor (Winter Soldier)

[13]

"Join the party?", a man with a gotee and a shining circle, seen through his t-shirt—held a glass of wine in his hand. Currently, he had been toying with holograms and such lab equipment.

Seeing no reaction from Bucky and Sam, but lots of staring, he shrugged and drank the red liquid.

Footsteps could be heard down the hall, making the couple turn their attention towards the entrance.

"Tony!", Pepper came running into the lab where she had currently left the two 'guests'.

She took the glass away from his mouth and set it down hardly on a desk nearby.

" You want to show some nice attitude? We don't want them to run off, right?", she warned with a tone.

The man known as Tony, looked surprised, but not taken aback. "Last time I talked to you, a bunch of damn unicorns and sunshine came out of you."

Pepper pursed her lips.

"I didn't know Fury wanted Metalhead and Bookworm to do the job.", he said and reached for his wine glass once more.

Sam was starting to not like this guy and Bucky...well Bucky sort of wanted to strangle him.

"There is someone—", Friday started.

"Let the guy in.", Tony ordered casually while swirling the glass in his hands. Pepper breathed out a load of air and stood in her place, a little frustrated.

Bucky was a bit startled when he saw a man with black attire and eye patch, come through the door.

Fury kept his eyes locked on Bucky, not so much in Sam.

"Sargent Barnes.", he walked over to him, sticking his hand out. A dead stare, was implanted in Bucky's face as he shook the man's hand.

"Nick Fury, not so much the director of SHIELD any longer.", he said as he stepped back to look at Tony.

He was a Sargent? Bucky turned to look at Sam, who was smiling the slightest. Maybe, before he was HYDRA's.

" I see that you've done a great deal of making Barnes paranoid, Stark.", he said then turned to Sam.

"Not me," he scoffed, then pointed to Sam. "Ask the madam."

Pepper face palmed and Tony tried to hide his grin.

"Your name?", Fury asked.

Sam laced and unlaced her fingers, like a small habit of hers that amused Bucky.

"Samantha Voyles.", she replied.

"Well done, Ms. Voyles. I'm afraid your assistance has come to a good result.", he stated, and Sam nodded, looking at the ground.

Before anything else was mentioned, Jarvis announced another person to come and the whole room went silent.

So quiet, that even everybody's breathing could be heard; Bucky's being the loudest.

Through the door, came the man that Bucky was trying to avoid the most.

The man who made him leave HYDRA for good.

The man whom he recognized as the kid who got beat up in back alleys.

The man he saved from drowning, but almost killed him at the same time.

The man who told him to finish the mission, because he was with him till the end of the line.

"Bucky...", Steve spoke, breaking the quiet.

This time, he didn't stiffen, he looked at Steve.

"Steve Grant Rogers.", Bucky stated in a monotone voice, as if saying his name would trigger memories, but also make him feel that he is not a stranger to him anymore.

Steve saw Bucky, very different from the last time he saw him. Short hair, normal clothes, but the metal arm was still there.

His eyes welled up with tears as he remembered what they had said to each other, seventy years back. Back in 1942.

" I thought you were dead."

"I thought you were smaller.", Bucky had said.

He smiled as one tear rolled down his cheek. Back at the bridge, he couldn't cry because he was in utter shock.

Now, he was in utter happiness and a mix of sadness.

He ran up to Bucky, whom looked at Sam for approval and she hugged the air to indicate that it was okay.

Bucky smiled and hugged Steve back.

" I thought you were dead.", he said.

"I thought you were smaller."

°°°

All right, all right.
Hate me.
Just do it.