Traitor

Chapter 10

"Fuck." Tony fell into a slight panic as he stared into the now emotionless gray-blue eyes before him.  He was at a loss of what to do. For he hadn't ever been face to face with the Winter soldier before. The man before him might've looked like the Bucky he had grown to care for, but it wasn't him. This man certainly didn't look like he had an odd liking to plums.

It was supposed to be a fairly easy mission, a quick in and out. Tony didn't think it would turn out like this. They had been so close.

Tony had hacked into H.Y.D.R.A.S' system to scavenge for anything he could get his hands on, all while Bucky kept a look out. Only, they had been caught a mere moment later. Bucky was as graceful on the battlefield as a ballerina was on stage. His moves were calculated and swift, but that hadn't been enough.  Because what it took for it all to go to hell were a few angrily spoken words in Russian.

Tony could see Bucky fighting it, could see that he hadn't wished to bring Tony any harm. But there hadn't been anything he could do, the H.Y.D.R.A agent had managed to slip out of the room just as quickly as she had come in. Leaving Tony to fend for himself when the Winter soldier was triggered.

Now, he was Tony fucking Stark, he knew plenty about fending for himself. That wasn't the problem, he just didn't think he could bring himself to fight the assassin when he knew Bucky Barnes  was still in there. 

"Bucky. I-" Tony swallowed thickly when his voice came out a strangled mess. "I need you to snap out of it soldier." That only earned him a snarl.

Tony watched as the assassin became aware of his surroundings, utterly at a loss of what to do. "I know you're confused, Buck" He took a few cautious steps towards the other man, wincing when a gun was pulled out on him in return.
"It's okay, I can help you."

The soldier didn't even hesitate, his finger flexed over the trigger.

"I don't want to fight you." As if to prove this, Tony gave a murmured command for his suit to fold away. This didn't phase the soldier, he only repositioned the gun once the helmet was off. 

Tony couldn't find it in him to be scared when the gun was held firmly against his forehead. Because this was Bucky, a man who had earned his trust in a matter of days. Now he had to earn his.

"I can take you home."

The soldier hesitated then, looking Tony in the eyes. "I have a home?" His voice came out all mangled, strikingly different from Bucky's smooth drawl. Tony smiled shakily. "You do." As soon as the weapon was lowered completely, Tony held out a surprisingly steady hand.

"You have a home, I'll help you find your way if you let me." Tony didn't want to touch the other until he knew such contact was welcome. Bucky stared at him skeptically, as if trying to decipher whether Tony was genuine or not.

Soon enough, they were holding hands just as they had been a few hours ago. For a moment, they stayed that way. Staring at each other, and Tony was amazed that he felt the same way he had the moment he first met Bucky. This time, his blue eyes appeared to be searching Tony's desperately.

With no warning, the soldier tugged at Tony's hand, pulling him into his chest. He looked down at Tony, silently asking if it was okay. Tony smiled up at him, which seemed to put the soldier completely at ease.

They remained as they were until they were (predictably) interrupted by their fellow team members. "We've been compromised, we've got to go." Steve gave a frustrated huff upon entering the room. Only to stop dead in his tracks when the soldier pushed Tony behind him and pointed the same gun that had been pressed against Tony at him.

"Whoa, hey- its okay." Tony soothed, laying a firm hand on the small of his back. The soldier didn't lower his weapon or turn around, Steve raised his hands defensively.