Bucky's Anchor

Chapter 65 - Truth in the Silence

It was late afternoon, and Bucky had been sitting on the couch, staring at his old notebook. His face was calm, but I could see the storm brewing behind his eyes. I sat beside him, resting my hand on his shoulder gently.

"Yori?" I asked softly, already knowing the answer. The name had been hanging in the air between us for days now, like a shadow neither of us could ignore. I watched him as he nodded, not taking his eyes off the page.

"I don't know how to do this," he muttered, rubbing his temples with his vibranium hand. "I've faced a lot of things, but this—this feels impossible."

I didn't know what to say at first. How could anyone prepare for something like this? Bucky had carried the guilt for so long. Facing Yori—admitting the truth about his son—it was bound to tear him apart.

"You don't have to do it alone," I reminded him, squeezing his shoulder. "I'll be right there with you, every step of the way."

He finally looked at me, his eyes searching mine, and I could see the pain, the fear of what was coming next. It wasn't just the confrontation that scared him—it was the aftermath. What would be left when the truth was finally out?

"I'm scared," he whispered, the vulnerability in his voice hitting me like a punch to the gut. "I'm not sure I'm ready."

I slid my hand into his, intertwining our fingers. "You don't have to be ready, Bucky. You just have to be honest. Yori deserves the truth, no matter how painful it is."

His grip tightened on my hand, as if he was holding on for dear life. "And what if he hates me?" he asked, his voice raw with emotion. "What if telling him only makes things worse?"

I took a deep breath, not sure if I had the right words to offer him. "He might hate you, Bucky," I admitted. "And that's something you'll have to live with. But it's not about how he reacts. It's about giving him the truth. That's the only thing you can control."

For a long moment, Bucky said nothing, just staring at the notebook in his lap. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I know," he whispered. "It's just... after everything, I don't know if I can face him."

I leaned closer, resting my head on his shoulder. "You're stronger than you think," I murmured. "You've faced worse, and you've come out on the other side. You'll get through this, too."

He didn't respond, but I felt him relax against me, just a little. We sat like that for a while, the weight of the coming confrontation settling between us, heavy and unspoken.

---

The next day, we spent hours preparing. Bucky had written down what he wanted to say to Yori, but every time he tried to read it aloud, he would falter, his voice catching in his throat.

"I don't know how to do this," he said for the tenth time that morning, throwing the notebook onto the coffee table in frustration. "None of this sounds right."

I walked over, sitting down next to him on the couch. "There's no perfect way to do this, Bucky," I said gently. "You're going to stumble over your words. It's going to be messy, but that's okay. What matters is that you're telling him the truth."

He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. "What if I mess this up?" he muttered, his voice thick with doubt. "What if I just make everything worse?"

I reached for his hand again, holding it between both of mine. "You won't," I said firmly. "You're doing the right thing, and that's all that matters. You're giving Yori the chance to hear the truth, and that's more than most people would do."

He stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he nodded. "You're right," he whispered. "I have to do this. No matter how hard it is."

I smiled at him, my heart swelling with pride. He had come so far, fought so hard to be more than the Winter Soldier. Now, he was choosing to face his demons head-on, no matter the cost.

"We'll practice again," I suggested, reaching for the notebook. "But this time, just speak from the heart. Don't worry about getting the words perfect. Just... tell Yori what you need him to know."

Bucky took a deep breath and nodded, accepting the notebook from me. "Okay," he murmured. "I'll try."

As he read through his notes again, I watched him closely, my heart breaking for him. He had carried this guilt for so long, and now, he was finally ready to face it. But I knew it wouldn't be easy. It would break him before it made him whole again.

Still, I would be there for him every step of the way, just as I had promised.

---

As we prepared to leave for Yori's apartment, I felt a knot of tension building in my chest. Bucky was quiet, his face set in grim determination, but I could tell he was struggling. His steps were heavy, as if each one took more effort than the last.

We reached the door, and I hesitated for a moment, my hand instinctively moving to rest on my stomach. I still hadn't told him about the baby. It just never felt like the right time.

"Are you okay?" Bucky asked, his voice pulling me from my thoughts. He was watching me, concern flickering in his eyes.

I forced a smile, nodding. "I'm fine," I lied, though the weight of the secret I was keeping pressed down on me. "Just... nervous for you."

He nodded, his eyes softening. "Thanks for being here," he said quietly. "I don't know if I could do this without you."

I reached up, brushing a strand of hair behind his ear. "You're stronger than you think, Bucky," I whispered. "You've already faced so much, and you'll get through this, too."

He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. There was still so much weighing on him, so much guilt and pain that he had yet to let go of. And I knew that telling him about the baby right now would only add to that burden.

But as we stood there, preparing to face one of the hardest moments of his life, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe it was time. Maybe he needed something to hold onto—something good, something hopeful.

I opened my mouth to say the words, but they caught in my throat. I wasn't ready. He wasn't ready.

"Let's go," I said instead, squeezing his hand as I led him out the door. "One step at a time."

Bucky nodded, his hand gripping mine tightly as we walked toward Yori's apartment. And as we made our way there, I silently promised myself that I would tell him soon. After this, when the dust had settled, we would face the future together.

One step at a time.