Edelweiss || Bucky x Reader

Chapter Forty Three

His voice. It's something about his voice. It's so familiar, so grounding, I just can't figure out why. Over and over I ask myself the same question.

Who are you, Bucky?

I sigh and stare out the window, as if I'm going to find an answer in the abandoned building on the other side.

A new apartment.

A pardon...but only if he reveals what he knows about Hydra?

Why would he...?

And a pardon for what?

Sam said Bucky understood better than anyone

Why?

Realization hits me right as there's a hesitant knock on the apartment door.

James Buchanan Barnes is the rouge assassin I was sent to execute

James Buchanan Barnes is the Winter Soldier

"Y/N?" He asks from the other side, in his frustratingly comforting voice. "Sam said you wanted to talk?"

Y/N... it too makes me feel steady. But I don't know what it means. A name of course, but not mine. I don't have a name. That I've always remembered.

"...I'm here." I say after a second, responding to a call for someone else.

The door cracks open and he pushes it slowly, like he's afraid to intrude on his own apartment. In one gloved hand he carries a plastic takeout bag.

"I brought an early dinner," He says as as he sets it down on the dining table. "If you're hungry, there's no pressure."

"I'm starving." I say as I stand, pulling the blanket tight around me like a cape. He walks around to the other side of the table and pulls out the chair. I look up at him, confused.

"You're supposed to sit." He says with a half smile. "It's a manners thing, guys are supposed to help their girls sit when they, uh... have a meal together."

I blink. It seems harmless enough, so I sit. He pushes the chair back up to the table. I watch him curiously as he walks to his own seat. There's a nervousness etched into his cheeks, a hesitance in his voice. There's something he's holding back on.

"It's shawarma." He sits and starts to unpack the bag of food in front of us."Steve recommended it."

"What's shawarma?" I ask.

He grins.

"No clue."

I glance down at the two boxes. We both have what looks like steak and greens wrappers in a tortilla. I don't think I've ever seen this much food at once. I stare at it so long I don't even realize he's started eating.

"I know it's more than you're used to, you don't have to finish all of it." He says gently.

I look up at him and feel my lips form a small smile. Sam was right, he does understand. I open the container, hold up the sandwich, and right as I'm about to take a bite, I notice something about him.

He's removed his gloves, revealing his silver left hand. I remember the epiphany I had earlier.

"I know who you are." I say quietly."You're the Winter Soldier, aren't you?"

He pauses and looks at me, not angry by any means, not even hurt, but maybe a little sad.

"No." He says after a moment. "Not anymore."

I consider this.

"I'm not the Edelweiss, then, am I?" I ask.

"That's up to you." He says. We've both forgotten about our food.