Sergeant Barnes: The First Avenger

Stars and Stripes

Bucky's POV:
As I dish up from a very bland microwave meal I had made for myself, I glance into my bedroom to find a small file resting on the plush double bed. I flick the light on and take it in my hands, lying flat on my back. I glance over a couple of pages before deciding that I'm too tired to try and deal with anything else right now. I sigh and dump the folder on my bed again, staring blankly at the ceiling. Sleep doesn't overwhelm me. In fact it doesn't even touch me. I think about what Nick said. Saving the world...trying to get me to see what everything is like now...heck, maybe even meeting a couple more people. Something tries to pull me away from that. Away from meeting new people and no longer being alone in this world.

But something else sparks within me. Something new... what would Steve want me to do?

What would Steve want me to do?

What do I want to do?

A smile pries its way to the corner of my lips as I get up from the bed, break through these chains that have tied me down for a year, and grab the phone. God, how do I use this again? I dart around my apartment, trying to find the number that Nick gave me a few months ago.

After hours of me rummaging around in draws, nooks, crannies, multiple minutes of me rethinking this decision and my apartment practically in ruins, I finally found the number and ferociously typed it into the house phone. One ring... two rings... I violently tap my foot on the floor, sighing a raspberry into the air... three rings.. "Go ahead, what is it?" Fury's gruff, low voice asks.
"This is James 'Bucky' Barnes. I'm in."
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The plane flies over a vast ocean. Two pilots sit in the cockpit, me and Agent Phil Coulson in the back. A small monitor sits in my hands, gently resting on my lap. I watch as Dr. Bruce Banner transforms into a giant green creature and practically destroys everything around him. "We're about 40 minutes out from base, sir." Someone, who I assume is another agent, states over coms, causing Phil to take off his headset and walk on over to me. "So this Dr Banner was trying to replace the serum they used on Steve?" I ask, looking up at the agent.
"A lot of people were. He was the world's first superhero. Banner thought gamma radiation might hold the key to unlocking Erskine's original formula." He explins. Dr. Erskine, the man who made Steve from being absolutely tiny in my arms to nearly unrecognisable. Nearly. "Didn't really go his way, did it?" I ask, referring to the giant of a man right before my eyes. "Not so much. When he's not that thing, though, the guy is like a Stephen Hawking." He states. I look up at him in confusion, not understanding his reference one bit. "He's like a smart person." Phil explains. I nod in response.

"I gotta say, it's an honour to meet you officially." He states. I smile a little. He's honoured to see...me? "I've sort of met you. I mean, I watched you while you were sleeping." I chuckle slightly at this. "I mean, I was present while you were unconscious from the ice." He babbles nervously. I stand up and make my way over to the cockpit entrance. "You know, it's really just a huge honour to have you on board this..."
"Well, I hope I'm the man for the job. Especially since I'm not, you know, a really strong and powerful super soldier like Steve was." I state, trying to stay lighthearted only to have it all slightly weigh down upon me again. "You are. Absolutely. Who cares if you're a super soldier or not?" Phil states. I crack a small smile. "We made some modifications to the uniform. I had a little design input." He says. "The uniform? Isn't the U.S army uniform a little old-fashioned?" I ask. "With everything that's happening and the things that are about to come to light, people might just need a little old-fashioned. Maybe even a little more than what you're probably thinking." He states. I stare at him, confused.
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We lower down closer towards the glistening blue sea, a large metal boat with an enormous crystal window quickly comes closer into view. We land on an underused runway as S.H.I.E.L.D piolots run to the many air ships dotted around and guide our plane to a landing position. Me and Phil walk down the bung hole, salty sea air whacking me in the face instanty. "Stow the seargent's gear." Phil commands to a crewman. I squint my eyes against the burning sun as we are met with someone who I assume is either a S.H.I.E.L.D agent or spy. Hard to tell from her bright red shirt, black jeans and black leather jacket. How is she not boiling practically all black? She comes closer to us, her silky red hair lively bouncing off of her shoulders with each step. "Agent Romanoff, Seargent Barnes." Phil states, introducing me to her. "Ma'am."
"Hi." she simply replies. "They need you on the bridge. They're starting the face-trace." Agent Romanoff states, her tone commanding and stern.
"See you there." Phil states to me, walking off.
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"It was quite the buzz around here, finding you in the ice. I thought Coulson was gonna swoon." Natasha explains. I look around for a moment, vans carrying oil canisters roll along the roads atop the boat. S.H.I.E.L.D is pretty impressive for being able to invent stuff like this. "Did he ask you to sign his Captain America & Seargent Barnes trading cards yet?" She asks. I chuckle slightly at this. His what now?
"Trading cards?" I ask.
"Theye're vintage. He's very proud." Natasha explains. I spot Dr. Bruce Banner in the distance, looking around nervously.
"Dr. Banner." I call over to him, catching his attention. I thrust out a hand for him to shake.
"Yeah, hi." he takes my hand and shakes it. A sweaty palm holding mine in a tight grip. "They told me you would be coming." he states.
"Word is, you can find the Cube." I state.
"Is that the only word on me?" He asks, looking around anxiously.
"Only word I find improtant right now." I say. He nods in response.
"It must be starnge for you, all of this." He states, gesturing all around him.