Safe Place

18: Bucky Barnes (Not The Winter Soldier)

**In this, Tony's always known that it was the Winter Soldier who killed his parents. And the Avengers all know that Steve's friend Bucky became the Winter Soldier, but they don't know the details (like the fact that he was brainwashed). Steve's plan was to pass him off as someone else or explain the situation beforehand, but he got scared and didn't. So, um, should be fun! ENJOY!**

Natasha's POV:

I'm woken by the sound of screaming from downstairs. It's not unfamiliar - Clint and Sam once started a prank war that lasted for two weeks and nearly disassembled Vision. I'm used to yelling - I once identified everyone on the team solely by their personal scream.

This isn't happy screaming, or fake-mad screaming, or drunk screaming, or Thor-screaming, though. It's a single loud voice, and whoever it is sounds terrifyingly angry.

I jump out of bed in my giant black sleep shirt, grab the knife from under my pillow, and run towards the commotion.  

"Murderer!" Tony's screaming at the top of his lungs. "You freaking murdered my parents! You'd better start running, and you'd better start running fast, because I'm coming for you, assassin! You killed my dad! You killed my mom! I'll kill you!"

I halt abruptly, nearly sliding off the landing. The knife falls from my hand.

Tony's in his code-print pajama bottoms and a white undershirt, unshaven and tired-eyed, and he's sobbing. Tears are just gushing down his face, and he can barely stand up straight.

Rhodey's beside him, and it's taking all his strength just to keep Tony upright and from leaping onto the man in the doorway.

I can't see who it is. The guys have formed a huge crowd around Rhodey and Tony.

Clint's dangling from the vents, mouth wide open. Vision and Sam are trying desperately to restrain Thor, who seems to be trying to smash the guy's head in with his hammer. 

"Steve! Steve!" the guy yells. "It's Bucky! Help! Your friend - he's really mad - help - help! Steve!"

The name clicks in my mind. The Winter Soldier. Steve's best friend. The love of Steve's life.

Bucky.

Only dimly aware of what I'm doing, I sprint down the rest of the stairs, knocking Clint out of the vents with a single well-placed jab. "Nat!" he yelps.

I ignore him and focus on Thor, gripping his wrist and twisting it until he crumples. I knock Vision, Sam, and Rhodey to the side, grab Tony, and haul all writhing, crying, 5'9" of him into the kitchen.

The guy at the front door looks clearly shaken. He has long brown hair, clear blue eyes, and a short beard. A single rolling suitcase stands in front of him like a shield.

Tony wiggles against my hand, tears staining the front of my T-shirt. I turn my attention back to him and pin him to the table.

"Widow," he growls. "Let. Me. Go."

"Stark, stop and think," I snap. With a groan, Thor rises and starts toward Bucky, and I stop him with a kick. Tony squirms and hisses, still crying. 

"Bucky, care to explain yourself?" I ask flatly.

He looks deeply uncomfortable, still hovering behind his luggage outside. He tugs on his baseball cap.

"Well, I'm sorry," he begins.

Tony starts to shake. "Oh, you're sorry," he bites, so violently that Bucky recoils.

"No - I - I was brainwashed, okay? I didn't want to do it! I didn't mean to!"