Steve Rogers & Bucky Barnes Imagines

6. Bucky - Memories Part Four (Final)

THIRD PERSON POV (MEMORIES IN ITALICS)

"They did the same thing to her as they did to you," Steve said, "Whenever you were in cyro, she was out. Same deal."

"They turned her into a murderer," Bucky growled, his fists tightening, "She was so innocent, Steve-"

"I know, Bucky, trust me I know."

"Did the lab analyze the ring, the paper? How long has it been there?"

"Yeah, the paper was under the headstone for seven months."

"HYDRA fell seven months ago," Bucky murmured, his hands trembling from how tight he was holding his fists, "How do we know where-"

"We don't," Steve interrupted, "But we know a place to start."

Bucky's arm was slung around her shoulder, hers around his waist as they looked down at the gravestone that had her father's name engraved in it. It had been there for months, but she didn't have the nerve to go see it since the funeral. Bucky had gone with her to that too, but this was just as hard.

"Do you need some time to yourself?" Bucky asked softly, but she shook her head and went closer to him, sighing.

"Do you mind just...standing here with me?" She whispered, looking up at him. He shook his head and held her closer, his arm tightening around her shoulders as they glanced at the grave again.

"I owe you so much, Bucky," she suddenly said quietly, looking up at him again, "I don't think anyone has stuck with me this long."

"I don't feel like I'm stuck with you, Y/N," he rolled his eyes, "I find it a miracle you even want to be friends with Steve and I sometimes. I mean, who wouldn't want to be friend with me, but that Steve is a little punk."

She laughed, causing Bucky to smile when it sounded so genuine – the sound was almost foreign to him since she'd been mourning. He missed hearing it.

She turned to him fully, hugging him tightly around the waist, not even thinking before murmuring, "I love you."

Y/N froze when she realized what she said, not daring to move to see the look on his face. She expected rejection, which was why she never said it before – now, she slipped.

She let go of him abruptly and stepped back, her eyes wide as she searched his face for the rejection. Instead, Bucky didn't hesitate to take her face in his hands, kissing her passionately. Maybe it was disrespectful to do in a cemetery, but Bucky wasn't known for following rules anyway.

Y/N kissed him back immediately, her heart almost bursting out of her chest at the reaction. It felt so surreal, so unexpected, that it as though it ended as soon as it began. After a moment Bucky reluctantly pulled away, still cupping her face as he smiled down at her.

"I've been trying to tell that I loved you for months, Y/N. I'm surprised you beat me to it."

"It'll be hard to get into, but shouldn't be too much of a problem," Natasha mused, absentmindedly inspecting her nails after hearing Bucky and Steve's small rant. "Do you guys have more of a plan than just barging in?"

Steve glanced sideways at Bucky, but he just shook his head, "No, actually."

Natasha didn't look surprised as she rolled her eyes, muttering something in Russian. "Fine, I guess. Will it just be us three?"