Lovers in Arms | Bucky Barnes

Part 19

One of the guards comes up to Bucky and undo's his ankle monitor. The thing has been itching for days now, he's glad to be freed of it. He sighs in relief.

When the audience and jury have left the courtroom, Bucky is being escorted through the main doors. With a big swing both doors open and the press awaits them, flashes from the camera's and reporters stuffing microphones in their faces shouting questions.

Karol lowers her head, pulling on the brim of her baseball cap, trying not to be recognized by anyone. Bucky pulls her close and wraps his arm around her waist. Guards are making sure they are being guided through the mass.

"Sergeant Barnes will answer no questions today!" Moore shouts.

Bucky hears a small voice over all the noise from the reporters. 'Mister Bucky?' It's so soft he almost didn't hear it. It somehow catches his full attention and he looks around through the crowd. Searching for the origin of the voice.

Behind the group of people he spots a little girl. Standing next to the witness who testified a few days ago, she raises her hand slightly and waves politely. Bucky shoves some rude reporters aside to plough through the crowd. When he reaches them, security keep the reporters away.

He towers over the woman when he stops a few feet in front of her. She's dressed different. She wears a long floral dress and a colorful vest on top. Looking a bit like a hippie. Her hair is hanging loose on her back, a few small braids are braided in her hair. It's almost like she was forced to wear such formal clothes before. The girl is wearing a red dress decorated with small white flowers and a hairband in her blonde hair. She needs to tilt her head way back to even make eye contact with Bucky.

She grips the handle of her bag tightly before she says anything. She feels guilty and Bucky can clearly see this reflecting in her eyes. "I'm really sorry I testified against you like that Sergeant Barnes. My mind was blinded and ignorant. I see now that the person on the bridge was someone else. My sincere apologies." She bows her head slightly to Bucky.

"Miss David, please don't apologize. I understand."

"When I spoke to that lawyer, he made it sound like you were the reason my daughter got hurt. He twisted the truth so I would testify against you."

Bucky puts his hand on her upper arm to comfort her and gives her a smile. "It's okay ma'am."

"I'm glad the jury also saw you're innocent." The small voice barely rises above the noise of the crowd. Reporters are still shouting at him for a reaction or statement. Anything. Bucky drops to one knee until he is at eye level with the little girl and looks at her. He smiles at her. "What's your name?" He asks softly.

"Stacey." she smiles sweetly.

"I'm sorry Stacey."

"For what?"

"That I hurt you." Bucky rubs his eyes and squeezes his eyes shut. He feels guilt for something the Winter Soldier did. It doesn't matter who did it, he or the Winter Soldier. It were his hands that caused this. Injuring a little innocent girl. Scarring her for years to come.

Stacey puts her tiny hand on his cold metal hand, he looks up. "It's okay." she says softly, comforting him. He then turns his hand, she lays her hand in his and shakes it. It's an odd sight, a huge Super Soldier kneeling in front is this tiny little girl. He smiles at her.

"Thank you Stacy." He whispers to her before he stands up, reaching out his hand to the woman. They shake hands. "Thank you ma'am." She just nods and turns to walk away. "Come along Stacey." She takes her mother's hand and looks back at Bucky, she waves enthusiastically. "Bye mister!"