Bad Idea | Corrupted Minds Trilogy Book 1 (Bucky Barnes)

Prologue

 It was the summer of '42, the year before James Buchanan Barnes was going to be sent off to fight in the war. He was already preparing to leave for military training but before he left he needed to say goodbye to that special person in his life. He waited for her in the sunny fields where they usually meeted and looked around to see if he spotted her. When he looked out further down the field, he could see the outline of a young woman with dark brown hair wearing a bright yellow that flowed in the light wind that blew. He smiled as he saw her and walked down to her.

"You're late." He told her. She approached him, her eyes squinted because of the bright sun. She chuckled.

"My father kept me in the shop a little longer. Some customer was off the wall because she didn't get her refund on time." She explained. He smiled at her.

"Well, you're still late. C'mon," He grabbed her hand and led her further up the field. "I have something important to tell you." Smiling, they both made their way to the laid out blanket he prepared for them to lay on. Whenever they met at the field, they always had a picnic. She sat down and he copied her.

"So," She looked at him. Her hair was down in combed through curls and she wore bright red lipstick that always made him look at her full lips. "What's your important news, James?" He slightly rolled his eyes.

"Why don't you ever call me 'Bucky' hm? Everyone else does." He chuckled. She exhaled and shook her head, taking out the things in the basket that he had set on the light blue blanket.

"I'm not everyone else," she pulled out the sandwiches Bucky made and handed one to him. He gladly took it from her. "And besides, you know how I was raised. Calling people by nicknames isn't proper." 

"Really, Viv?" His head tilted a bit as he looked at her with one eyebrow slightly raised. She laughed.

"What? My parents are strict." She shrugged. "But enough about me, what is it you wanna tell me?" Vivian unwrapped her sandwich and took a bite. Bucky sat up straight and looked into her round brown eyes. 

"Well, I don't really know how you'll react to this but it's better to tell you." Bucky became nervous. He was going to tell her that he was leaving to go to war but he was afraid she would leave him. Though technically they weren't together, he was afraid of losing her. "I'm leaving for a while... to fight in the war." He left it at that to see her reaction. Vivian's smile quickly left as soon as Bucky said the word "war." She put down her sandwich, not wanting to make eye contact with him.

"Were you drafted or?" She asked in a low voice.

"I enlisted." Bucky attempted to hold her hand but she moved her hand away and placed it on her lap. 

"When do you leave?" Vivian played with her fingers. To Bucky's surprise she was calm so far.

"I leave tonight." When Bucky said that, Vivian automatically looked at him in shock.

"And you're only telling me this now?!" She began to stand up. Bucky mimed her movement and followed her.

"Wha-" He went in front of her, stopping her from leaving. "I didn't know how to tell you, Viv. I wanted to say something many times but I-." Bucky stopped himself. He was rambling and wasn't thinking. 

"But what? James, why didn't you tell me?" Her voice lowered and he knew she was really upset. She rarely yelled but whenever she composed herself, Bucky knew she was angry. Bucky exhaled. 

"I-... I guess I was scared." He admitted. Vivian finally looked at him. 

"You shouldn't be afraid to tell me anything. Actually," Vivian  went back to the picnic and sat down. "I just might join you." Bucky furrowed his eyebrows. He went to her. 

"You're what?" He didn't sit. He couldn't sit. Why was she saying she would join him? She shouldn't even be thinking of war. 

"Well someone needs to look after you out there." She put one leg over the other and placed her hands behind her, looking up at Bucky. "You know nothing of anything medical, you'll most likely die without me." Bucky chuckled and place his hands on his hips, turning away from her and then back. 

"You're right about me dying without you." He held out his hand and she took it, standing up again. They looked into each other's eyes and Bucky moved a small strand of her hair that was out of place, his hand landing on her right cheek. "But I can't lose you. I need you to be here when I get back." His voice was almost a whisper. The idea of her dying on the battlefield was too much to bear. Vivian smirked. She placed her hand over his. 

"You know you won't change my mind right?" 

"Viv, please." Bucky almost sounded desperate. "Don't enlist." Vivian's eyes looked down as she nodded. Bucky felt relief as she agreed not to go. "Good. Now c'mon, doll, the sun's going down. I gotta take you home." Vivian scoffed.

"How many times must I tell you to stop calling me 'doll?'" She reminded him, helping to put away everything. Bucky laughed. 

"And how many times do I have to tell you that I will forever keep callin' ya 'doll?'" He countered. She rolled her eyes as she walked away from him. "Hey! Where you going?!" Bucky dropped everything and chased her as she ran away from him.