Rotten Judgement

Epilogue

You stood in the middle of the throne room, arms crossed, observing the two chairs on the slightly elevated pedestal. You were startled out of your thoughts when you felt two strong arms wrap around your waist from behind.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Bucky asked, kissing your cheek.

"Why is my throne bigger than yours?"

"Because I love you."

Laughing softly, you turned in his arms and gave him a loving kiss. You heard the shuffling of feet as several guards left the room and pulled away from Bucky.

"Are you ready for your coronation tomorrow?" he asked, his words muffled against your neck.

"It'll be okay." You took him by the hand and started to lead him down the hall toward your room. "I have something to show you."

You closed the door while Bucky sat down on the edge of the bed. You walked over to him and nudged his legs open with your knee. He put his hands on your hips as you settled between his spread legs. Smiling, you slid a finger under the knot of his tie and loosened it.

"I like where this is going." He helped you and tossed the tie over his shoulder.

"It's not what you think," you scoffed, now unbuttoning his black shirt. He cocked a brow at you, a cheeky smile on his lips. "Really, it's not what you think." He shrugged out of his shirt as you pushed the material down his arms.

"Uh-huh," he replied, not convinced.

A few days after you came back from the dead, you began to notice changes in your life. In addition to being immortal, you realized that you had extraordinary powers. You were able to heal people or, occasionally, bring them back to life.

Bucky was excited, but sensing your fear, he called the Fates who confirmed that you were now a Goddess. Not just any Goddess, but the Goddess of Healing. It took you a moment to accept it; after all, you were just a normal girl.

However, the more you thought about it, the more appealing the idea became. It was fitting, since the God of Death brought you back to life.

"I worked on something," you told Bucky, taking his metal hand in yours. "I think I can regenerate your arm."

"My love," he sighed, "the Hydra did this to me a long time ago. Its magic is very powerful, you can't-"

"Shush, I'm working!"

You ran your hands up and down his metal arms, focusing on the healing energy pulsing through your fingers. Bucky just sat there, a small smile on his face as he watched you. When nothing happened, you reluctantly admitted defeat.

"Oh, my Queen," Bucky cooed, pulling you onto his lap. "Don't be sad. You already saved me, you cured my heart. The rest doesn't matter."

"I'm the Goddess of Garbage," you mumbled against his shoulder.

Bucky chuckled and kissed the top of your head before he set you on the mattress. He crossed the room in a few strides and opened the top drawer of his dresser. You noticed he was hiding something behind his back.

"I wanted to wait, but I can't keep this secret any longer."

He sat back on the bed and handed you a small wooden box. You lifted the hinged lid, aware of his intense grey eyes studying your face.

"Is that a-"

"-crown," he finished. "Do you like it?"

"Fuck, it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!"

"I had it made especially for you." Bucky took the crown from your hands and placed it on your head. "For my Queen."

You stood up from the bed and raised your eyes to your reflection in the oval mirror fixed to the wall above the dresser. Bucky joined you, wrapping his arms around your waist as he met your eyes in the mirror.

"You look beautiful."

Your lips parted to thank him when you felt his left hand gently stroke your forearm. Your eyes widened and you lowered your gaze to his hand to make sure you were not dreaming.

"Oh, my God, I did it!" you screamed, startling him. "I regenerated your arm!"

He looked down at his hand, a shocked look on his face. He slowly raised his head and looked at you. The look in his eyes, one of admiration and amazement, rendered you speechless. He cupped your face with his flesh hands and covered your mouth with his own, drinking you in.

"A life without you, even an immortal life, would be empty."