𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 | ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉᵈ

𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 ▸𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆/𝒃𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒚

"And don't do anything stupid until I get back," Steve winked at him, trying to lighten the solemn atmosphere and fluttering sadness that hung between them.

Bucky smiled slightly and shook his head. Where were the days when that skinny little kid from Brooklyn stood in front of him, getting into every fight and thinking he could do it?

But Steve didn't need him now.

"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you," he countered, and they both involuntarily remembered the time they'd say goodbye like this the night before Bucky went off to war. Back then, they were both young, naive, immortal; James was sure he would come back safe, that nothing and no one would separate him from Steve. But fate had it another way, and it put a lot of obstacles in their way. And even though they had managed to overcome them, Bucky knew they had both become completely different men over the years than they had been before. He couldn't blame Steve for opting for a happy life with his love at his side. But even so, he selfishly wished it were otherwise. To keep Steve needing him. Today, he knew, he would say goodbye to him forever.

Steve leaned over and hugged him tightly. Bucky hugged him back, trying to smooth over any emotion so the blond man wouldn't know what he was really feeling. What emotions are stirring him. Then he let him go and pulled away. He wished he could hold him a little longer, but he knew that would make it harder.

He tried to smile. "I'm gonna miss you," he said softly, putting his hands in his pockets. Steve studied him silently for a moment as if to memorize every feature of his face.

"It's gonna be okay, Bucky," he assured him in a firm voice, and then he turned his back on him, picking up a briefcase of infinity stones. Using a new time machine, he was to take the stones and Thor's hammer Mjölnir back to the past, to the exact place from which it had been taken.

It's gonna be fine. Bucky wasn't too sure about that. He wanted Steve to be happy, of course, but he didn't want to say goodbye. Now that he was finally free after so many years when he could finally begin to live ... the idea of living in a world without Steve Rogers was in his throat. He needed it. He didn't want to be left alone. But he knew he couldn't stand in the way of his happiness.

When Steve disappeared into the past and didn't show up, Sam and Bruce started barking at each other. Neither had the slightest idea what had gone wrong. Bucky turned his back on the two men with a sad smile on his face. He knew nothing had gone wrong. On the contrary. Everything worked out exactly as Steve had planned.

He awoke with a start and sat up quickly. He was breathing heavily, and it was a few more seconds before the image began to fade before his eyes. He pushed the blanket aside and sat facing the window, placing his feet on the cold floor. Outside lamps shone through the curtains, and Bucky ran his fingers through his short hair and let out a long breath. As he closed his eyes and lowered his head, his military dog tags, which were hung around his neck, chimed softly.

It didn't take long for the blanket on the other side of the bed to rustle, and a few seconds later Bucky's mattress arched slightly. "Bucky?" a man's voice whispered in his ear, and the soldier felt a firm, strong body press against him as he hugged him from behind. "What's going on?"

The dark-haired man leaned against him wearily and grabbed his hand, which he squeezed tightly. "It was just a nightmare," he replied in a raspy voice. "You can sleep on."

The man pressed a kiss on his bare shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, completely ignoring the last line he had said to him. "You had a nightmare about the things you- about your past?"

"This time ... this time it was different," he said evasively, trying to find the right words. "It was ... about you. About us," he told him, turning his head. The care he saw in his eyes almost touched him. "It's stupid," he muttered, burying his face in his neck. "You're supposed to be the one doing stupid things." Bucky's lips curled in a slight smile as Steve laughed quietly. His laughter warmed pleasantly and made his heart flutter. It also gave him the courage to tell him what he dreamed. "I was back again. It was a few minutes before you set out to return the Infinity Stones. And . . ." he hesitated for a moment. "You know, I... I didn't tell you something."

Steve looked surprised and drew back a little to see his face. "Alright? So what's going on?" he asked carefully, a worried frown creasing his brow. Bucky closed his eyes for a moment so he could return to that place for the last time.

"I remember standing there and watching you get ready to disappear. And then you didn't come back for a long time. Sam and Banner were afraid something had gone wrong. But I... I thought that was just your plan. Go back to the past and stay there. Finding Peggy and . . . living the life you've always wanted with her," he confessed carefully. Steve looked taken aback by his words.

"Bucky . . ." he breathed, and for a moment there seemed to be nothing else he could say. Both of them were thinking the same thing at that moment.

"Steve!"

Bucky turned in surprise. Steve? Was he dreaming? How could he - how could that be? He gasped softly as he saw him coming down the steps. In his hand was an empty briefcase, which he placed on the ground, making his way with a smile to Bucky, who stood in disbelief and watched.

"I had some trouble. But I shouldn't be surprised, should I?" he said cheerfully, then noticed James's expression. A worried shadow crossed his face. "Bucky? Is something wrong?"

"No," he said shakily and felt a happy smile come to his lips. He couldn't believe he was back. He wanted to jump around his neck again. "I was just... I was worried that something had happened to you," he said, finally smiling.

Steve put his arm around him. "Well, now I'm back and I'm not going anywhere..."

"At the time, I thought you had abandoned me. That you . . . chose Peggy over me," Bucky said quietly, hanging his head. But the next second, he felt the blond man gently take hold of his chin and turn his face toward him.

"Bucky," he said gently, his eyes soft, "how on earth did you think I was going to leave you? After so many years, I finally got you back. I wasn't going to leave you. And I'm not going anywhere, do you understand?" he said quietly but firmly, and Bucky nodded as his eyes dripped into his face. "You've always been there for me. Even though I had no one else, I still had you, and that was enough for me. You've always been the most important person in my life to me. No one can ever replace you, Bucky. And please don't forget that. And don't you ever think about me leaving you again. Because that would be the stupidest thing I could ever do."

Though they had long since revealed their feelings for each other and lived together for several months, it was only now that Bucky felt all the uncertainty had finally left him. "I love you, Steve," he whispered, cupping his face in his hands and drawing him in for a long kiss.

Rogers stroked his cheek and smiled. "Merry Christmas, Bucky."