Monster (A Bucky Barnes Fanfiction)

66

I open my eyes as Steve flies the Quinjet towards the mountains. Bucky sits behind him.

"You know, I like seeing how happy you are with Nadya," Steve says.

I see Bucky smile, "She makes me very happy, even if I don't deserve her, she deserves someone better than me," Bucky answers. "Both her and Luka."

"Can't you see the way her face lights up when she sees you?" Steve asks him, "I don't think she'd be that happy with anyone else. In the time I've known her, I've seen how untrusting she can be, how closed off, and she barely ever genuinely smiles, except around you. She seems happier, freer, and honestly, she deserves it just as much as you do. You make her happy, Buck. She trusts you so much, more than anyone, and considering what she's been through, seeing her open up and trust someone is amazing."

Bucky nods as Steve goes on:

"And that little boy is every bit of you as he is her, and he doesn't care who you were before or what you did. All he sees is his father, who loves him and will take care of him. And I've also seen how happy Nadya makes you. I don't think I've ever seen anyone deserve each other quite as you two do. You make each other happy and you both deserve that after all the things you've been through. Don't ever think otherwise. She wants you just as much as you want her, so never doubt that. They're both your family Bucky, they're not going anywhere."

"Thanks, Steve," Bucky says.

"Of course."

"What's gonna happen to your friends?" Bucky asks Steve after a moment of silence.

Steve stares ahead, heavyhearted. He sighs and shakes his head. "Whatever it is... I'll deal with it," he tells him.

Bucky looks thoughtful. "I don't know if I'm worth all this, Steve."

Steve glances around at Bucky. "What you did all those years..." He says, "it wasn't you. You didn't have a choice."

"I know. But I did it."

I reach over and grab his hand. He looks at me and I can tell he feels really guilty.

"They forced us both to do horrible things, but we are more than our pasts. We have a choice now. That is what defines us, not what Hydra made us do."

"I know but-"

I put a hand to his mouth stopping him. "You were always worth saving."

Bucky gives me a soft smile and kisses my knuckles.

......................................................

Steve brings his Quinjet into land besides Zemo's caterpillar truck on the remote icy mountain top. The jet's wings fold up beside the fuselage.

Bucky pulls out a rack of guns labeled 'Romanoff'. He takes a light machine gun. I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Stealing one of my aunt's guns?" I ask.

He smirks and kisses me. "She won't miss it."

I roll my eyes and check my dual blade and throwing knives are in the right places and secure before Bucky and I join Steve.

......................................................

Bucky, Steve, and I stand together, waiting for the exit ramp to descend.

"You remember that time we had to ride back from Rockaway Beach in the back of that freezer truck?" Steve asks Bucky.

"Was that the time we used our train money to buy hot dogs?" Bucky asks with a smile.