My Soldier (Bucky Barnes)

Cupid Problems

It had been evening by now as I stood alone in the open land. The sun had set low and the sky looked like a mess of colors. The oranges, reds and pinks were standing out the most. I felt the cool breeze hit my face and exposed neck and limbs which made me shiver a bit. For once I felt normal. Usually, I would heat up my body and control the temperature around me but I can't do it now else I'd be naked. I closed my eyes and concentrated my thoughts on the things that I could be reminded of by my surroundings. The slight sun heat but the coldness of the winds. Coldness, winter. Winter, Bucky. Bucky. Throughout the afternoon not once had I thought of him but now I did. I remember him telling me that he'd always liked to go to Europe during his missions. He liked it there. Maybe I should start searching from there. I was positive about finding him. This time I would keep him safe. "It's quite nice out here." I heard a voice say. Someone who I grew close with in the last few months. "It is." I replied.

He stood next to me and continued talking. "You know they say the old times were very calm but they never seemed like it to me." I turned my head and looked at the blonde man with curiosity who was looking at the farms in front of us. "Why's that?" "The war was cruel on us who worked hard in the factories for a living. Especially to me as I didn't really had a decent health then. I'd always had to sit in the corner while they made fun of me as they worked on the machines. I was desperate to help the country. That's why I signed up, to find purpose. After crashing that plane, I thought the world was in peace again but when I woke up, we were still at war. The one that had never stopped." he said. "You saw that in your dream. Your failure to bring peace?" I asked. "No. We had won and I was alive, not frozen. I saw the cost at which we won. I saw her and she was happy I kept my promise but it was useless knowing that we won on the price of dead men. Our brothers. When I saw that I couldn't even enjoy the dance with her. It was as if I failed all of us." "You didn't fail anyone. Wars are the worst, they bring out the demons in us. But there always has to be a price paid for what has to achieved. When you exposed HYDRA, you exposed yourself, you ended SHIELD. But it was worth what you had to do. We don't blame you and about her, it was the same thing. You had to give your peace to bring peace to the world." Steve looked at me and smiled. "You did what was right to you. Don't feel sorry for doing that." I whispered to him. "Thankyou." he whispered back. We just stood there looking at the fields and birds until a voice broke our attention. "Captain Rogers and Dvorvak." We both turned around and saw Nick Fury standing in front of us. "How did you know we're here?" Steve asked him with curiosity. "Who do you think helped Barton keep this place hidden from all his allies and enemies?" "Well that makes sense. Why you here? You got anything for us?" I asked him. "I guess we'll have to find out." he said with a shrug and started walking to the house. We followed quietly. 

The whole team except Thor was sitting in the living and dining area. I had folded my legs and was floating in the air at a fixed place as I quietly listened to the team. I saw Nat giving me a smirk and Tony just smiling at my newly found self control and confidence. "Alright Fury I guess you can start talking and Ana you're looking badass, kiddo. Totally digging the new look" Tony said "And so does the loverboy." Nat said with mischief laced in her tone and looked at Steve who looked flustered. I looked at him but he avoided any eye contact with me so I waited for Fury to talk. "Ultron took you folks out of play to buy himself time. My contacts all say he's building something. The amount of Vibranium he made off with, I don't think it's just one thing." "What about Ultron himself?" Steve interjected. "Ah. He's easy to track, he's everywhere. Guy's multiplying faster than a Catholic rabbit. Still doesn't help us get an angle on any of his plans though." Nick answered. "He still going after launch codes?" Tony asked with seriousness. "Yes, he is, but he's not making any headway." "I cracked the Pentagon's firewall in high school on a dare." Tony bragged. "Yeah, well, I contacted our friends at the NEXUS about that." "NEXUS?" Steve asked. " It's the world internet hub in Oslo, every byte of data flows through there, fastest access on earth." I answered his doubt. "They say Ultron's fixated on the missiles, but the codes are constantly being changed by unknown parties but I'd still pay folding money to know who it is," Nick said. "A team of 8 HYDRA agents were once recruited there. So we can't really trust them." "You know them?" Tony asked directly to me. "To the core. I was once under their tech team. They were quite exceptional at their jobs." I said. "Good, I'll hit up NEXUS and you're with me. Brucie, you may join or not." Tony announced. "Hey! I was supposed to be your first choice but yeah sure I'll come with you two." Bruce said. "But what does Ultron want to do with all that vibranium? He keeps changing bodies." Nat asked. "Like you said, he wants to evolve. Change into something greater than us, humans. We need to contact Dr. Cho." I said. "I'll make the calls." Bruce offered and left. We got to know that Dr. Cho had been missing and her machine too. Steve, Nat and Clint decided to retrieve it back from Ultron while me, Tony and Bruce were heading to Oslo after a quick stop in NY. We needed professional clothes. 

We decided to call it night and I headed to my assigned room with Steve. He seemed a bit nervous and flustered throughout the evening, ever since our talk in the fields. I sat on my side of the bed but Steve didn't. He was still standing and looked stressed so I decided to ask him about it. "Hey Steve, you okay? You seem a bit stressed. Is it because of Ultron? I-is it because of me? I'm sorry if I've done something that might hurt you-" "It's not any of your fault. Trust me, it's Nat. Ever since I rejected her advances of dating, she's been relentlessly looking for girls to woo me. And now, you've caught her eye. All she keeps talking about is how close we both are and that I should take you on a date. Don't take it the wrong way. You truly are amazing and beautiful and so kind hearted but, the truth is that I've never moved on from Peggy. She was my first love. Time wasn't at our side in our case but I truly love her. You are an amazing person Ana, I do believe it but I've always felt for you as my closest friend. My closest person. I'm so sorry. It's fine if you want to stop being friends with me." he said with tears collecting in his eyes in the fear of losing his best friend. He looked down at his feet so I walked to him and held his hands. "Don't be sorry Steve. It's okay, I find you as my best friend too. My only one, to be honest. I know how much you love Peggy and I truly respect your feelings. Nat is the one being immature over here. She always keeps pairing us together and I always refused to her idea cause I don't think I can be loved. After all my years in HYDRA, it's difficult for me to trust a person to give my heart to. So don't even think about losing our friendship. Your my closest person too Steve, I wouldn't want to lose that, okay?" I said and he looked into my eyes. "Thankyou, Ana. I don't wanna lose you too or lose our dynamic friendship." he said as he hugged me. I hugged him back. "If you want, I'll talk to Nat about it and make her stop being like that ok?" I tried consoling him. "Yes, thankyou." "Let's sleep then shall we Cap?" he chuckled at that and we headed to bed. 

In the morning, we all left for our respective missions. On reaching, I bid Nat a goodbye. "Don't take too long and don't get hurt." I said. "Don't worry I won't. I have to get your loverboy back alive for you." She said with a mischievous tone. "For the last time, I don't like Steve. He's a good friend to me. We may be close, yes but we don't feel like that about eachother. That poor guy is getting stressed and so am I. It almost ruined our friendship. Please you have to stop." I clarified to Nat. "Sorry I just thought you both were cute together but I guess I was wrong. I'm really sorry, Ana I just wanted the best for my two friends. Can we still remain friends?" I rolled my eyes and instantly pulled her in for a hug. "Obviously, dumb dumb. But you gotta stop troubling him too. If I ever like a guy you'll be the first one to know." "Wait so do you have your eyes on someone?" at that I pushed her into the jet while she laughed. Steve gave me a quick hug while Clint gave me thumbs up and they left. "Ana! Ana ana! Wooof, there you are. I was searching around for you." Tony complained. "What happened, Stark?" "I got this for you. Don't complain and wear it. Try not to burn it, it's Pepper's." he said. "I'll be careful and thankyou." "No problem, kid. Now go change." I went back to my room as I changed into the formal attire and dressed up neatly. After a few minutes, we were all in the jet as we headed to Oslo.