Winter Love || Bucky Barnes

5. Loki

My heart stopped for a moment. "Yeah, it's me."

Bucky immediately loosened my ties and took me firmly in his arms. "It's really you. You've got red hair now? That's very clever." He knew immediately why I had dyed my hair. Hydra knew what I looked like and so I could at least try to hide. That wasn't all I had done. I had also changed my name. I was no longer Connie Rogers but Violet Jones.

Bucky's gaze wandered to my neck, which was slightly red from his metal arm.

"Did I do this?", he asked shocked.

"It doesn't matter. It was an accident", I tried to calm him.

He sighed loudly. "Of course it matters. I hurt you, love. I almost killed you. I promised to always protect you and now..." he stroked his brown hair.

"Hey, look at me. Everything's alright. I'm fine."

He shook his head. "I should leave you. I'm no good for you. If they find me, you're in danger. I can't risk that."

"I won't let that happen. I'll protect you, Bucky. Please, I've had to live without you for far too long. Don't leave me now, I need you."

He stared at me, and then his lips were on mine. I ran my hand through his hair. I had missed this so much. I had missed him so much.

"We should look for Steve. He needs to know that you remember."

As Bucky agreed, we set off straight away for Stark Tower.

Steve, Nat, Clint, Bruce, Thor and Tony were already there, and when they saw us enter, everyone stared at us.

"Bucky?" Steve's voice trembled.

"Hey Steve", he said.

Steve patted his friend on the back. "Welcome back, man."

Tony walked owards us. "So, this is the Winter Soldier? And why did you bring him here, Connie? He works for Hydra!"

I sighed. "Tony, please. The Winter Soldier works for Hydra but not Bucky."

"And what if it's just an act? We can't take that risk. He could kill all of us at any moment."

"I know that Bucky's on our side. He's not going to harm any of you."

"How do you know that?" Tony's gaze stabbed through my body.

"Because I know him. He was my fiancé in 1944."

The Avengers stared at me with open mouths. "Fiancé?" asked Natasha.

"But he is much older than you," Bruce added.

"Well, nobody cared back then. And besides, the age gap isn't that big. But that's not the point."

"Then what's the point?" asked Thor.

"He was brainwashed by Hydra. They forced him to do terrible things. That's why we need to give him a chance. He's not a threat."

Steve put his arm around me. "I agree."

"Me too," Natasha added.

"Count me in," Clint said.

Tony was the only one who still seemed unsure.

"Okay, you can stay but I have rules that must be followed. First, he is not allowed to wander around alone. He will always have to be accompanied by one of us. Second, no weapons. Third, if you" he pointed at me "are alone in a room with him, you keep the door open. And no night visits."

I rolled my eyes. Tony had become like a father to me and he also acted like one.

But nevertheless, I agreed.

***

I woke up in the night to a buzzing noise.

I looked around everywhere and tried to find out where it was coming from.

When I was sure it was nothing in my room, I crept quietly through the hallway. The noise got stronger and stronger the further down I walked.

I stopped in front of the cellar door. I had never been down there before and didn't know what to expect. But I had to know where this strange noise was coming from.

So I quietly opened the door and climbed down the stairs.

I saw a sceptre with a blue stone built into it. The same blue as the cube on Hydra. Just as I was about to pick it up, I heard a voice and turned around hastily.

A man with black hair was standing in a glass cage, looking at me curiously.

"Hello, darling."

"Who are you?", I asked confused.

"You can call me Loki."

"What are you doing here? And how did you get here?"

"Oh, your friends have captured me. For quite a while now. And if you let me out, I will do anything you want."

I took a few steps towards him and studied him. He was wearing green and black leather.

"No. You are here for a good reason. I can't help you."

Loki looked at me with a smile. "I'm here for a reason, but it's not a good one.

I have noticed that you are interested in my scepter?"

I tried not to let my curiosity show. "It looks interesting. What is that thing?"

"It has an infinity stone in it. Have you ever heard of it?"

I shook my head.

"If you let me out, I'll show you how to use it."

"Can you hurt people with it?"

"Theoretically, yes."

"Then how do I know you won't hurt me with it."

He grinned broadly. "Because that would be a waste." 

I looked him in the eye. "Sorry, can't be sure about that."

His eyes became furious and suddenly he knocked so hard on the window that I flinched. "Stupid girl. When I get out of here, I'm going to kill everyone you care about and you're going to watch. I will make them suffer so that they plead for mercy but I won't give it to them yet."

I sighed. "Stop talking like that. It's not going to work."

"You should be afraid! Because if..."

"But I'm not. You know what. I don't think you're as evil as you pretend to be. I think you're just lonely. So stop talking to me like that, to the only person who's nice to you."

"I'm not lonely."

"Yes, you are. And I understand how you feel. But it's not worth becoming a villain because of it, it will only make you lonelier."

He looked at me silently.

"Goodbye, Loki. See you soon."

With a last glance, I left the cellar.