The Red Soldier: Captain America and the Red Soldier

ISSUE #14

'Hello?'

'(Y/N)!' Bucky practically yelled down the phone. Sam had mentioned hearing (Y/N) sounding as though he were struggling, and it had been the only thing on his mind for the  past, painful, hour. Perhaps that was why Dr Reynor had held him and Sam back. Maybe she thought his hostility was towards his partner and not the idea of his boyfriend being harmed. Now that he'd been given his phone back though, he was desperate to talk to him – hear his voice – ensure his safety. 

'Not arrested anymore then?' (Y/N) chuckled, although it seemed strained, he could sense a croak in his boyfriend's throat. Bucky made a mental note to pick up a tin of (FAV/SOUP) soup on the way home, and to hunt out a scarf; he didn't want a repeat of last time – when (Y/N) had spewed in the toilet bowl only seconds before he was supposed to leave for a mission with Sam Wilson.

'No,' he smiled despite how much it had pained him to find out that John Walker had been the reason for his release. 'Just been worried about you, Doll.'

'Don't.'

'Sorry, I didn't... I know you don't like that.' James Barnes mentally slapped himself. Upon returning to Brooklyn he'd begun to slip into its dialect once more.

'No, it's not that, Buck.' There was a pause, as though his boyfriend was deep in thought for a moment. The line remained quiet, and Bucky Barnes began to worry, had the line been cut, or was (Y/N) too hurt to speak?

'(Y/N)?'

'I'm still here.'

'Then what is it?' he questioned, afraid he already knew the answer.

'I'm not coming home, Buck.'

James Barnes felt the muscles in his face contract. He exhaled shallow breaths, his chest constricting. He hadn't been expecting that. What he had been expecting was a nurse, or a doctor, to join the call and tell him Dr (L/N) was in bed, hurt but safe. Now he felt terrible for wishing that had been the case.

'You're what?' he questioned, continuing to hope that he'd heard wrong.

'I'm not coming home.'

He hadn't misheard, and it broke his heart. 'You're not coming... What? (Y/N), I'm confused. Are you hurt?'

A short sob sounded from the other end of the line, 'I'm safe, Buck...' Another pause followed, a few sniffles sounding from the other end of the phone. 'I'm sorry, I just... I can't... I...'

James Barnes quickened his pace. The sooner he got to their apartment the sooner he'd get to his bike, and then he could find (Y/N) and bring him home. 'You can't what? (Y/N), you're scaring me,' he practically yelled down the phone.

'That terrifies me,' (Y/N) (L/N) chuckled against his sobs, 'who am I supposed to rely on if Captain America is scared?'

'(Y/N) stop!' he ordered, swallowing his distress. He ran a hand through his hair, slowed his pace, and  exhaled loudly, 'just tell me where the fuck you are!' he shouted. 'I'll find you...' his tone softened suddenly, if (Y/N) was in trouble then the last thing he needed was to be cussed at, 'we can take some time off, visit Sharon and Biscuit in Wakanda? Or maybe we can stay with Violet for a while?'

'I'm sorry Buck.'

'(Y/N). (Y/N) please,' he begged down the phone. '(Y/N) I can help you! (Y/N)!' his pleas were ignored, the Red Soldier had already gone.

James Barnes continued on his path to the subway station, his heart heavy. With a struggle he managed to plug a set of headphones into the iPod Steve Rogers had gifted him before his death. He stuck the earbuds in his ears, pressing the only button he fully understood how to use, the large button in the centre which seemed to play any random song.