Bucky's Anchor

Chapter 46 - The Passing of the Shield

Bucky's POV

I felt it the second he didn't come back through the portal. Something inside me told me that Steve wasn't going to return the way we expected.

I glanced at Sam, and he was scanning the area too, his face tightening with worry. Everyone was looking at Bruce, waiting for an answer. But I didn't need to wait. I already knew.

"He's over there," I said quietly, my voice barely audible over the rush of wind by the lake.

Sam looked at me, confused. "Where?"

I nodded in the direction of the old wooden bench, my stomach twisting. "There."

We started walking toward the bench, every step feeling heavier than the last. I knew before I even got close enough to see his face. The figure sitting on the bench was different—older, but familiar.

My breath caught in my throat when I saw him, really saw him. It was Steve, but not the Steve I knew. He wasn't the young man who had been by my side for decades. He was older, gray-haired, but somehow more peaceful than I had ever seen him.

Sam's steps faltered beside me, his eyes wide with confusion. "What the hell...?"

I didn't need to say anything. We both knew. This was Steve's choice. He had gone back and stayed in the past.

Steve looked up as we approached, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips. There was no regret in his eyes, only peace. And that peace hit me harder than I expected.

"Hey, guys," he said, his voice steady but with a weariness that hadn't been there before.

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "Steve..." I trailed off, not knowing what to say. There were a million questions swirling in my head, but none of them seemed to matter right now.

Sam stood frozen beside me, staring at Steve like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, unable to form the words.

Finally, Steve patted the spot on the bench next to him. "Sit with me?"

---

Sam sat down first, still looking at Steve like he was trying to solve a puzzle. I stayed on my feet for a moment longer, unsure if I wanted to sit down, unsure if I was ready to hear the answers I knew Steve was going to give us.

But I sat anyway.

Steve looked out over the lake, his expression soft. "I did what I needed to do," he said after a long pause.

Sam was still struggling to find the right words. "Steve, what... how? What happened?"

Steve let out a long breath, as if he had been holding it in for years. "I returned the Stones, just like we planned. But after that..." He glanced at me, then back at Sam. "I stayed."

"You stayed," Sam repeated, his voice quiet. He looked at me, like he was trying to make sense of it all. I didn't say anything. I didn't need to. We both knew what Steve meant.

Steve nodded, his gaze drifting back to the water. "I got to live the life I always wanted. I got to be with Peggy."

At that, I felt something twist in my chest. I should've been angry, maybe. I should've felt abandoned. But all I felt was relief—for him, for the life he finally allowed himself to have. This was his choice, and it was the right one.

Sam shook his head in disbelief. "So... you've been living a whole other life this whole time? While we were..." His voice trailed off, and I could see the hurt in his eyes.

Steve didn't look away from the water. "It wasn't easy," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But it was worth it."

For a long time, none of us spoke. We just sat there, watching the way the sunlight danced on the surface of the lake, the peaceful stillness around us almost too much to bear. It was a world away from the battles we'd fought, from the chaos that had consumed us.

---

After a long stretch of silence, Steve turned to me. There was something in his eyes that I hadn't seen in years. Contentment. Closure.

"I know this wasn't what you expected," he said softly. "But I couldn't pass up the chance to have that life... with her."

I nodded, understanding what he meant without needing further explanation. He had earned it. He had earned the right to live a life that wasn't about fighting, about sacrifice. And who was I to stand in his way?

"I know," I finally said, my voice thick. "I get it."

Steve's gaze softened, and he nodded slowly. "Thank you, Bucky."

There was more in those three words than anyone else would have heard. But I understood them perfectly. Thank you for understanding. Thank you for being there. Thank you for letting me go.

I nodded back, not trusting myself to speak again.

He turned to Sam, who was still staring at the shield, resting it on the bench beside him. Steve picked it up and held it out to him. Sam blinked, surprised, but didn't take it right away.

"You're the right person for this," Steve said gently. "I'm sure of it."

Sam stared at the shield for a long moment before finally reaching out and taking it from Steve's hands. His expression was unreadable, but I knew this moment weighed heavy on him.

Steve gave him a small smile. "You'll do great, Sam."

Sam nodded, but he was still processing everything. I could see it in the way his eyes darted from the shield back to Steve, then to me.

"I'll try," Sam finally said, his voice low. "I'll do my best."

"I know you will," Steve replied softly.

And just like that, the mantle was passed. It wasn't loud or dramatic. It wasn't some grand ceremony. It was quiet, personal, and right.

When Sam turned to me, his eyes wide with uncertainty, I gave him a nod of approval. Steve had made his choice, and it was the right one. I knew Sam would live up to it.

Steve leaned back on the bench, his eyes closing for a brief moment as the sun warmed his face. He looked... content. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like everything was going to be okay.

---

Seeing Steve like that, so at peace with everything, it hit me harder than I expected. He had finally gotten the life he deserved, the life he had always wanted. And even though it meant saying goodbye to him, I couldn't help but feel relieved. Steve had fought enough, sacrificed enough. It was time for him to rest.

As I stood up from the bench, I glanced at Sam, who was still holding the shield like it was made of glass. We exchanged a silent look, and in that moment, I knew we were ready for whatever came next.

Because Steve had left us more than just a legacy. He had left us the strength to carry it forward.