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

21 || It's a Family Matter

Despite his charismatic and sometimes childish personality, Howard could actually be a pretty intimidating guy when he wanted to be. Bucky learned that the hard way after being forced to start his first official date with Hollie (and the several afterwards) standing toe-to-toe with him while repeating a list of rules that would (as Howard sternly insisted) be followed during the night.

Now, Bucky didn't tell Hollie this for months and had still died of embarrassment through her teasing once he finally did, but that entire time Howard was scolding him for 'sniffing around his baby sister', Bucky was trapped in this weird zone of both fanboying and being nervous wreck at the same time because 'oh god, my girlfriend's brother is the Howard Stark - the guy with the flying cars! I'm meeting my idol and he already hates my guts, what do I do?'...Yeah, Hollie didn't let that one go for a looong time...

Regardless of how much Howard liked to give him a hard time, Bucky never held it against him, in fact as an older brother himself, he respected it. Howard may have made it his life's mission to annoy Hollie nonstop, be it through simple things like being a natural idiot or purposefully refer to her by her full name in front of people she liked knowing damn well she hated it, but nevertheless, he did so out of love and while he wasn't thrilled to realize his baby sister had grown up, he was happy to see she at least picked a guy who treated her right.

Howard still picked on Bucky any chance he got, but he also gave him his blessing to marry Hollie (after another lengthy talk, that is). In the end, Bucky returned that respect by not only tearing his sister away from him, but also taking his own life many years later...Bucky killed Hollie, Howard, and Maria Stark...

This isn't new information to himself. He actually remembered a while ago, late at night long after you had fallen asleep and he was left staring at the apartment's ceiling while silently sobbing. After remembering what he had done to Hollie, he didn't think it could get any worse. What's worse than killing the love of your life anyways? Killing nearly her whole family, too, apparently...

That's why Bucky never told you. He was afraid to. When it came to his responsibility over Hollie's death, he was too overwhelmed in the moment and just let the information slip, but how would he tell you he's the reason for her brother and sister-in-law's deaths, too? Tony's your friend - a close one at that. You would always practically brag about him like a mom would her child despite the fact that he's a grown man. Bucky assumed it was because Tony's Hollie's nephew. Maybe you thought the two men could bond over their care towards her and you seemed so determined - so hopeful...He didn't want to ruin it for you by telling you the truth...

Now you know, though. Just as he had feared, you look traumatized at the revelation made. You look at him in utter horror as the tape finishes, the color drained from your face and your eyes brimmed with tears...You've known the Winter Soldier had killed people, but how terrible do you have to be to kill your own family? He's a monster...

You couldn't watch the rest of the footage, but your stomach feels nauseous even with how little you had seen and heard. Mix that with how heavy your heartbeat is and you begin to fear you might throw up. It's enough to completely distract you from Zemo. If you weren't so affected, you'd probably be cursing him out already, maybe even lunge at the chamber in a helpless attempt at breaking more than just his nose because how dare he make you all watch that?! For what reason?! That's how you might've behaved, but you've forgotten all about him by now, numb to everything around yourself, however this doesn't last long.

You snap out of your trance in an instant when Tony makes a quick move towards Bucky. In a single step, you're blocking the path between them.

"Tony - Tony!" You rush, your hands pressed to the chest of his suit due to his determination to confront Bucky and your stubborn refusal to allow it, "Anthony, listen to me! He didn't mean it! He was under HYDRA's control. He wouldn't have been able to stop himself..."