The Red Soldier: Captain America and the Red Soldier

ISSUE #8

TW: Terminal Illness

A sigh escaped James Barnes's lips as he looked up at the red door of Violet Hepples's home. He remembered visiting the house during the war when it looked so different. Stretches of masking tape had covered the windows, the front door had been painted a dull blue instead of a blazing red, and Gladys McGowan had turquoise tulips planted beneath the bay windows instead of delicate cardinal poppies. His fist rapped against the door. He was glad for Sam dropping him off in England so that he might still see (Y/N)'s younger cousin but being there alone felt strange. Ultimately, he supposed the nature of his visit was traditionally done alone, something which did little to quell his nerves.

Violet answered the door, fully dressed despite her illness. 'James,' she smiled warmly, inviting him into the house. 'Did I get the dates wrong? I thought you were supposed to be dropping by two days ago,' she trudged elegantly through the living and dining rooms until she was in the kitchen, where she began to boil the kettle and retrieve cakes from the fridge. 'They're not fresh I'm afraid, but a day in the fridge won't have spoiled them,' she said as she placed an array of cakes and treats onto the table.

James stared at them, wondering why they were untouched. (Y/N) wasn't a huge fan of sweets, but he'd have a small slice of each of Violet's cakes in order to not seem impolite. 'No, I was supposed to come two days ago,' he assured her, ushering her into a chair before pouring them both a cup of tea, 'I thought (Y/N) was going to explain it all to you.'

'(Y/N)?' she asked, shaking her head, 'I haven't heard from him since he told me you'd be dropping by.' Bucky raised an eyebrow in confusion, withdrawing the phone from his pocket. There were no missed calls from (Y/N), no unread messages, or voicemails. 'Is everything alright, James?'

Bucky nodded his head, feigning a smile to conceal his concern. 'Are those brandy snaps?' he asked, pointing to the plate of crispy, caramel-coloured, tubes. He remembered having them when he'd last visited, and then later remarking to (Y/N) on their journey home that they were now his favourite dessert.

Violet smiled, sliding the plate over to him, as well as a piping bag filled with freshly whipped crème. 'I know it's not Christmas, but (Y/N) told me they were your favourite,' she said.

'They are,' Bucky nodded happily, filling two with crème before digging in, savouring the sweet taste on his tongue, and the way they crunched between his teeth. When he'd eaten both he took a drink of his tea. He was growing evermore accustomed to the drink the longer he lived with (Y/N) (L/N). Violet smiled, coughing slightly before taking a sip of her own drink. Bucky watched her worriedly, 'how are you feeling?' he asked, '(Y/N) won't tell me much.'

She frowned slightly, 'I'm an old woman, James,' she shrugged, 'and I'm dying. There's not too much to say.'

'You must know what's wrong though,' he replied, spooning sugar into his teacup, and stirring it in.

'Cancer,' she said plainly, 'in my right lung.' Bucky felt his eyes close as he tried to contain his emotions. That was how (Y/N)'s older brother had died forty years ago; gasping for breath in a hospital room surrounded by his family only months after the death of his grandmother. 'Oh, don't look so glum,' Violet chuckled, filling another brandysnap for him, and putting it on his plate. Bucky picked it up carefully, ensuring none of the crème slipped out.

'How did you find out?' he questioned her with a full mouth. Shards of brandysnap fell into his beard, which he quickly wiped away with the cuff of his jacket sleeve.

'After The Blip, the NHS offered check-ups for everyone who'd been snapped away. I went to mine, and we discussed my hip replacement, and the shoulder pain I'd been experiencing for quite some time. Well, they did some scans and found a tumour – small cell lung cancer.' Bucky felt himself weep from within. Suddenly (Y/N)'s behaviour made a lot more sense. He'd been living with this weight on his shoulders for months, whilst all Bucky had been concerned with was making amends for his old wrongdoings and rebuilding their relationship.