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

20 || The Grand Reveal

The Siberia base is quiet enough to hear a mouse scurrying along the floor a full corridor away which only adds to your anxieties walking through it. The doors had been left wide open upon your arrival, confirming that someone had indeed made their way inside before then. Assuming it's Zemo, there's no telling how long he's actually been here. For all you know, it could've been plenty of time for him to wake the other winter soldiers from their deep slumbers. Seeing how much trouble one had given Steve, Natasha, Sam, and you all those years ago, you're not too confident in how well you can fend several off even with Steve and Bucky's own strength.

Bucky leads the way, gun drawn as he scans every nook and cranny of the facility through his scope. Behind follows you then Steve, sneaking practically side-by-side with his shield held between you both. No one gets any further than a foot away from each other, eyes darting to the slightest of movements where you think you saw something only to confirm it was nothing at all, only results of your wary imaginations.

As you all tiptoe up a case of stairs, a loud thud echoes through the silence, founding like thunder against your ears. It results in all three of you spinning around, Bucky's gun pointing over your head and your hand clenched around the baton strapped to your belt while Steve peeks out from behind his shield now at the front of the group. Each of you kneel low against the wall when a door can be heard groaning open somewhere up ahead.

You had begun to feel dizzy holding onto your breath for so long until the doors across the hall were fully forced open, revealing Tony's familiar iron suit instead of a rogue super soldier. You can barely see it provided the darkness, but the shine of alloy against his glowing eyes and his arc reactor give him away. While his presence here is surprising (and a little alarming), at least he's a more welcomed sight than Zemo's army.

Although Bucky remains tense, you stand straight as Steve lowers his shield slightly before descending the stairs. Tony takes off his helmet as he wanders closer and casually glances around the hallway, "You seem a little defensive."

He isn't wrong. Steve keeps his shield in front of himself, taking cautious steps towards his former colleague whose intentions he doesn't quite know yet, "It's been a long day."

A smarter you might remain on guard as well, remembering that mere hours ago Tony had his heart set on arresting your dear Bucky for a crime he hadn't committed. The only reason you relax now is because of that deeper trust you still hold towards your nephew. You believe in his good heart and his determination to do the right thing, he just needs to find out what that exactly is. With that said, you want to believe he's here due to a change in a mind. The fact that he's removed his helmet, a critical form of defense against a deadly attack, can be taken as a sign of truce, can't it?

Tony's eyes fall to you, this being the first time he's been able to acknowledge you individually, "(Y/n). Back from your honeymoon, I see. How was Costa Rica this time of year?"

"...No one's going to let me live that down for a while, are they?"

"At ease soldier, I'm not here for you," the attention was temporary, changing to Bucky, the only one who hasn't let a single muscle loosen. Even with prompting, he keeps his gun aimed.

"Then why are you here?" Steve's the one to ask.

Tony shrugs, meeting Steve in the middle with a nonchalant air about himself regardless of the circumstances, although that's always been a talent with you Starks, "Because your story might not be that crazy after all. Maybe - possibly...Ross doesn't know I'm here and I'd prefer to keep it that way or otherwise I'd have to arrest myself which seems like a hassle, don't you think?"

"Probably a lot of paperwork," Tony scoffs at Steve's reply, a slight smirk pulling at his beard. It's followed by Steve finally lowering his shield all the way with a short nod, "It's good to see you, Tony."