Brothers At Last

Chqpter 17

Bucky felt the feeling he hadn't felt in ages; the feeling of an anxiety attack. If it was really what he thought it was, then he wasn't safe and neither were the people around him. He was endangering everyone he cared about just by being in their presence.

When Steve saw the look on Bucky's face after he opened the package, he immediately knew that something was wrong. He had seen Bucky enough times while he was having flashbacks and memories were resurfacing to know.

Steve had a moment of indecision, and then made the choice to follow Bucky's footsteps.

"Bucky!"

Steve found him by the water, sitting along the bank of the river.

"Steve-"

"Bucky. Tell me."

"Steve, if you know, then it puts you in danger."

"Bucky, please."

"I'm serious! You could die for this box," Bucky retorted, tossing the box a few inches from his right hand.

"James Buchanan Barnes, you are going to listen to me right now," Steve said, grabbing Bucky by the neck of his shirt. "If you tell me that you don't want to give me more problems one more time, I think I'm going to lose it. Your problems have been my problems for over ninety years. Don't think it's any different now."

Bucky was surprised at Steve's tone. It was more firm than Bucky was typically used to, because Steve rarely shifted away from his natural jovial and friendly tone.

"Here," Bucky said, laying back on the rocks of the riverbank as he tossed the box to Steve. Steve read the note that came in the box and gently lifted it out, finally seeing the thing that had finally set Bucky over the edge: the Winter Soldier mask.

"Buck-"

"Steve, it doesn't end. They don't care, and if they come after me again-"

"Then we blow them up and end it."

"It's not like that, Steve. You've heard the motto. Cut off one head, two more grow in its place."

"Bucky... we're going to work through it."

Bucky shook his head, looking down at the rocky riverbank. He looked back up to Steve with tears in his eyes that threatened to leak out.

"No, Steve... This. This is one of my last straws. It seems like they did it on purpose, wait until I finally feel like I'm able to live again, and then they take it from me. I... I just don't know anymore. I mean, the logical thing to do is ignore it, but if they've 'disbanded' and can still do something like this then surely there are a few ex-members still around."

Steve knew as much about HYDRA as the next guy, but no one knew the inner workings as well as Bucky. He had been involved for most of his life.

•••

Percy had a notion about what the box could have contained.

It seemed like something from Bucky's past that would definitely not be followed up with a thank you note.

There was only one thing that Percy knew could make Bucky's blood run cold like that; something from his past that reminded him of the things he'd done.

In Percy's mind, Bucky had given everything to make sure that Percy had what he needed. Now Percy was going to return the favor. He wanted to help Bucky with what he needed, because as his brother, Percy felt that it was his job.

He found Bucky beside Steve on the riverbank, presumably talking about what had been in the box.

"Bucky?"