Bucky's Anchor

Chapter 53 - The Flag Smashers Threat

Bucky was quiet these days, his thoughts hidden behind that steely exterior. His therapy sessions weighed on him, the reminders of his past haunting him like ghosts. Sitting at the kitchen table, I watched him carefully, trying to offer him the space he needed without pushing him too far. But I also knew something else was coming—something bigger than his internal struggles. The Flag Smashers. I'd heard the news reports, seen the unrest they were causing.

I leaned forward, resting my arms on the table. "Have you spoken to Sam recently?"

Bucky looked up from his coffee, his expression unreadable. "Not really. We haven't had much to talk about."

I sighed. "You should reach out. You're better together, Bucky. Whatever's coming, it's going to need both of you."

He frowned, as though the idea hadn't really crossed his mind, or maybe he'd been avoiding it. "Sam's doing his own thing. He gave up the shield, remember?"

"I know," I said gently. "But that doesn't mean he's not struggling too. This isn't about the shield. This is about the world changing around both of you."

Bucky shook his head, rubbing a hand over his face. "I'm just trying to figure things out."

I reached out, covering his hand with mine. "You don't have to figure it out alone, Bucky. Talk to Sam. See what he's dealing with. Maybe you two can help each other."

He was quiet for a long moment, his eyes downcast. Finally, he nodded, though it was reluctant. "Yeah. Maybe."

I smiled softly, giving his hand a squeeze. "You've come a long way. You can trust people again, Bucky. You don't have to carry everything on your shoulders."

As the words left my mouth, I felt a sudden pang of guilt. I still hadn't told him about the baby, and every day I waited, the secret weighed heavier on me. I wanted to tell him, I did. But with everything he was going through, it felt like the worst possible timing.

Bucky stood up, taking his jacket from the back of the chair. "I'll go see Sam. Maybe you're right."

I smiled, watching him leave, but a part of me wondered when I'd ever find the right time to tell him about the baby.

---

It had been a few days since Bucky reconnected with Sam, and now they were working together, though I could see the tension between them. They weren't the same without Steve. None of us were.

We were walking through the streets of Delacroix, Louisiana—Sam's hometown—tracking down a lead on the Flag Smashers. They'd been popping up everywhere, causing chaos, and we were trying to get ahead of them before things escalated further.

"Torres has been on their tail," Sam said, glancing over his shoulder at me and Bucky. "They've got some sort of plan, but we haven't pieced it together yet."

Bucky grunted in response, his eyes scanning the streets ahead. "What kind of plan?"

"From what we've gathered, they're trying to get resources for refugees. But it's not just that. They're using violence to make their point," Sam explained.

I stayed quiet, walking a step behind them, trying to process everything. The world was different now, post-Blip. People like Karli Morgenthau were desperate, and desperation made people dangerous.

As we turned the corner, Sam's phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket and glanced at the screen. "Torres says they've been spotted near the docks. We need to move."

Bucky nodded, his jaw tight. "Let's go."

The three of us moved quickly toward the docks, staying low as we approached. There was a small group of people gathered near a warehouse, their faces partially hidden by masks—Flag Smashers.

"Stay back," Bucky muttered to me as we crouched behind a stack of crates.

I shot him a look. "I'm not staying back."

He opened his mouth to argue, but Sam cut in. "Let's not do this now. We need to focus."

Bucky scowled but turned his attention back to the group. "Fine. Just stay close."

I nodded, gripping the weapon I carried tightly in my hand. This wasn't my first rodeo, but Bucky's protective instincts always kicked in at the worst times.

We waited, watching as the Flag Smashers moved crates of supplies into a truck. It seemed like a simple supply run, but something didn't sit right with me. There was an urgency to their movements, like they were preparing for something big.

Suddenly, one of the men noticed us. He shouted something in a language I didn't understand, and within seconds, the Flag Smashers were on the move.

"Go!" Sam shouted, and we sprang into action.

Bucky surged forward, his metal arm gleaming in the dim light as he knocked two of the Flag Smashers to the ground. Sam took to the air, his wings spreading as he swooped down to intercept a group trying to make a run for it.

I stayed close to Bucky, watching his back as he fought off another attacker. "Bucky, behind you!" I shouted as a man lunged at him with a metal pipe.

Bucky spun, grabbing the pipe mid-swing and wrenching it from the man's hands before knocking him out cold with a swift punch.

"Thanks," he muttered, his breath coming in short bursts.

"Don't mention it," I shot back, my own adrenaline spiking as I engaged with another Flag Smasher.

The fight was fast and brutal. These people weren't just angry—they were trained, organized. And that made them all the more dangerous.

---

After the skirmish, we regrouped near the dock. The Flag Smashers had escaped, but we'd managed to disrupt whatever they were planning for now.

"Damn," Sam muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. "We're missing something. They're too coordinated for this to be random."

"They're not just causing chaos," I said, catching my breath. "They're preparing for something."

Bucky leaned against a crate, his expression dark. "We need to find Karli. She's the key to all of this."

Sam nodded in agreement. "She's got followers all over the world. We're gonna need more than just us to take her down."

I could see the weight of the situation pressing down on both of them. The world had changed so much, and now they were fighting an enemy they didn't fully understand.

Bucky crossed his arms, his gaze hard. "We need to figure out her next move."

"She's got to have a base of operations," I said, thinking aloud. "Somewhere she's organizing everything. Maybe if we track down where they're getting their resources, we can find her."

Sam nodded thoughtfully. "Torres might be able to help with that. He's been monitoring their movements."

Bucky was quiet for a moment, his eyes distant. I could tell he was deep in thought, wrestling with his own demons while trying to focus on the mission.

"We'll figure this out," I said softly, stepping closer to him. "We always do."

He glanced at me, his expression softening for just a moment. "Yeah. We will."

As we prepared to leave the docks, I felt that familiar pang in my chest. I needed to tell Bucky about the baby, but how could I, when the world around us was still so chaotic? How could I add to his burden when he was already carrying so much?

I stayed silent, pushing the thought to the back of my mind. There would be time. There had to be. But for now, we had a mission to complete.

"Let's move," Sam said, his voice pulling me from my thoughts. "We've got a lot of ground to cover."

And with that, we set off, ready for whatever came next.