REMEMBER ME (BUCKY BARNES & NATASHA ROMANOFF)

2. STAGES OF GRIEF

Denial:

"They don't suspect anything," you were whispering. "The plan's almost complete. Should be ready for extraction by the end of the month."

Bucky's jaw clenched as Sharon paused the video. He didn't like what she was insinuating. "That's not real," he said, his hands curling into fists. He didn't like it when people judged you, misunderstood you. You weren't...People thought the worst of you because you didn't like to spend time with the others. You were awkward and quiet and hard to understand. But Bucky understood you perfectly well. It was what made you two a good match. "Whatever you think you have...It's not real."

Sharon stepped towards the table. She had called a meeting with the Avengers to tell them that their star employee was not who you said you were. Her brow raised as she dropped a file on the table, sliding it across to where Bucky sat. He would be the hardest to convince, she knew, but once she had him...The others would follow.

He flipped the file open. It was smaller than probably any of their files. But that was to be expected. You were an average citizen before you came to work as a designer for the team. This though...This was a far smaller file than most average citizens.

"What are you trying to say?" Bucky asked.

"There's a lot we don't know about her. Don't you think it's odd that she just...came out of the woodwork? Was able to go through the hiring process with flying colors? Almost like she knew exactly what she needed to say to get in here...Like someone was feeding her information."

"Y/N's a good person. She wouldn't do what you're accusing her of doing." He turned his gaze to Steve, almost pleading as he said, "Right, Steve? You know Y/N wouldn't do this."

But Steve...He didn't look as convinced. Steve let out a low sigh, looking away from Bucky for a moment, before saying, "Look...Maybe we should hear Sharon out."

"You're being paranoid."

"And you're being naïve," Sharon snapped. She dropped another file on the table and pushed it towards Bucky. "Because while you've been falling perfectly into her trap, I've been actually making sure she's on the right side. Spoiler: she's not."

Bucky ground his teeth together, looking down at the file. He didn't want to open it. He didn't want to risk finding out that maybe you weren't the loving girlfriend he knew you to be. Because...God, as much as you assured him he deserved good things, he couldn't believe that. Not when the world was so cruel to him. Not when everything he ever wanted, everything he ever loved, was ripped from him again and again and again.

So he pushed the file to Steve, let him open it instead. He could trust Steve's word. If Steve read the file and could conclude that you weren't on their side...Then maybe it was true. But, if Steve read the file and could conclude that you were good, then this conversation would be over and done with. No one would question Steve.

Steve opened the file, flipping through the contents. His breath hitched, and Bucky knew it was all over. Steve looked up, almost apologetic, and said, "It's true...She's working for Hydra."

"But...she loves me."

Sharon rolled her eyes. "Listen, Barnes, is it really that outlandish to believe someone like her would go for you? Before she came along, no one else was lining up to go on a date with you. Her love was never real. It was just a way for her to get in, to get you back to Hydra."

"Sharon, don't..." Steve said.

"No, he needs to hear it: Y/N never loved you. This was all just a mission to her. Hydra's been trying to rise back up for years now, but they can't do it until they have their super soldier back. And why bother with trying to make another serum when there's a perfectly broken soldier waiting to be scooped up again?"