You Are Not a Monster

Pieces

a/n:
Here we go, final chapter! Before we get started, I'd just like to thank you all for reading; I hope you've enjoyed it! This has certainly been fun for me, as it's the first thing I've written and actually posted to something for strangers to read. I've enjoyed getting all the feedback from you guys, and I want you to know I greatly appreciate this. But, enough about me. Cue the lyrics, Kronk!

"I'm here again
A thousand miles away from you
A broken mess, just scattered pieces of who I am
I tried so hard
Thought I could do this on my own
I've lost so much along the way

Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole

I've come undone
But you make sense of who I am
Like puzzle pieces in your hand,

When I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole

I tried so hard! So hard!
I tried so hard!

Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole
So you can make me whole"

Bucky slowly made his way to the doors of the Smithsonian, hands shoved in the pocket of the jacket he'd changed into, hair tucked under the ball cap. He knew he would trigger the alarms, but figured the guards had dealt with enough veterans with prosthetics that it wouldn't be much of a problem.

He'd hidden his duffel in a thick bush after the bus had left, and it felt odd walking in without it. He hesitated when he approached the swinging door and opened it with his flesh arm. He'd taken the glove off that hand but left it on the other in case they wanted proof he had a prosthetic. They would just assume it was molded in the shape of a hand, not that it was made of sophisticated metal plates that moved so naturally they may as well be a normal one.

There was a small crowd inside, most of them with hats and sunglasses pushed into the tops of their heads.

Tourists.

As Bucky had expected, he set off the metal detector on his way through. He stopped and walked over to the guard without him having to forcefully take him. Bucky figured it would avoid conflict and suspicion if he was proactive instead of reactive.

The guard in the black uniform met him halfway, leading him off to the side. He wasn't stern, yet still showed dominance; he was lax, but took his job seriously.

"I have, uh, a prosthetic." Bucky said shyly, nodding to his left arm.

"Of course. Mind if I see it? You understand, I just have to make sure." The man said. Bucky removed his arm from his pocket, using his other arm and making the movement look difficult. He pretended to use his right hand to straighten the metal out, and held out his gloved one. The guard felt the hard metal beneath the thin fabric and nodded.

"Thank you, sir." He said with approval. "And thank you for your service."

Bucky gave him a small nod.

If only you knew what I have done. He thought bitterly as he followed the crowd to the Captain America exhibit.

Bucky was in awe as he looked around at the huge display. The voice of a narrator played on various monitors, each one over different events in the famous Captain America's life.

The largest part of the display was a mural of Steve in uniform, the Howling Commandos flanking him.

Including Bucky to his left.