We'll Meet Again...I Know When || Bucky Barnes x Reader

19 || Laughter

The landscape in Siberia is void of color, blanketed only in the white of snow, charcoal black of mountains, and the smoky-gray in the sky above; a perfect match to what you're currently feeling in your heart.

No one's really said anything since leaving the airport, too upset, tired, and sore for conversation, although the last two points may only apply to you. Your super soldier company hasn't seemed too out of breath, but for someone with regular human endurance, running around an airport fighting the Avengers can be quite the hassle; it doesn't help that you had been sitting on your ass in Europe for nearly two years without exercise either.

Despite all efforts to think of something else - anything to distract your mind -, your thoughts always return to the events that have unfolded today. Not daring to speak a word of it aloud, you silently fret over them and the current status of your relationship with the other Avengers. It's no doubt shattered by this point; a heartbreaking thought, really.

You had already been in hot water with them after going on the lam with 'the Winter Soldier' for so long, but you're convinced you could've lessened the damage if you had just been given time to explain. Natasha would've backed you up and Clint's a fan of redemption arcs, so you'd like to believe with their help, you could've argued your case well enough for Bucky to be given a chance...Then the UN bombing happened which is when any hope of fixing things officially swirled down the drain.

The Avengers - the entire world is convinced Bucky committed that attack and if Steve couldn't change their minds, you highly doubt a 'criminal' like yourself could've either...but should you have tried? Maybe, just maybe, it would've worked and you wouldn't have had to leave on such terrible terms.

You feel terrible for hurting your friends, but you feel especially guilty for betraying Tony. He only wanted to do the right thing which you can't blame him for. Even so, you just wish you could've gotten your nephew to understand...Maybe if you had brought up that point earlier, it would've tugged his emotions in your favor: Hollie loved Bucky, so why not try to help him as your aunt would've wanted? Would that have been too cruel to say? Possibly. For all you know, part of Tony's anger back there might've already been sourced from the knowledge that his aunt's fiancé was the one who ultimately took away his entire family from him...Yeah, it's probably a good thing you didn't bring it up then...

You can feel Bucky's eyes watching you. Although he sometimes pauses to look at Steve who's piloting in front of him, he mostly stares at you across the way, likely not realizing your knowledge of this, after all you've been staring out the window blankly yourself, not in the mood to be the one to start a conversation, so he does for once:

"What's gonna happen to your friends?"

You're not sure who he intended this question for, but Steve takes no issue answering sternly, "Whatever it is, I'll deal with it."

Bucky's attention drops to his lap pitifully, "...I don't know if I'm worth all of this, you guys..."

"You might not think so yourself, but to us, you are," if the seats were closer, you would've set a hand over his, however your forced to merely turn your head his way, hoping the emotion that shines in your eyes will offer enough sincerity to get the point across anyways, "I'd even say you're worth more if it were required. We'd do anything to protect you, James."

Steve looks back temporarily, catching your eyes with a small smile. You nod to him, confirming that you understand his unspoken words of agreement.

"You gotta understand that what happened back there was our choice. We could've gone home at any point. We could've let Tony take you without a word of protest, but we choose to stand up for you on our own accords. We weren't about to watch our friend be arrested for something he didn't do. I'm sorry, but there's nothing you could've said or done to change our minds on that - even now, you have zero chance, I'm afraid. We're in this together for the long-haul."