One-shots/Short Stories

Bucky Barnes

"I promise"
Bucky walked down the streets of Brooklyn, whistling a tune absently while winking at some pretty dames - thus, causing the women to giggle madly and gossip about how charming and flirtatious he was.
He went to walk past a small café when he noticed his best friend sitting inside with a woman. But not just any woman. . .she was the most gorgeous woman James Buchanan Barnes had ever seen. He gaped at the sight of his small, fragile friend talking to a beautiful fallen angel like they have been friends their whole life. Why didn't Steve tell him about her? When did they meet? How come Bucky had never seen this woman before!
Without anymore thought, Bucky went inside the café, the bell ringing in the almost silent café. Steve and the beautiful woman turned to the sound of the bell. When Steve and Bucky connected eyes, Bucky sent him a smile. "Steve!" Bucky went to him and immediately ruffled his hair. "What are you doing here? And with such a pretty dame?"
"Bucky, this is Rosalie Mary. She's an old childhood friend of mine before her and her family moved to London." Steve introduced them. "She recently came back to Brooklyn and we were just catching up."
"Wow, nice to meet ya." Bucky shook her hand with a giant smile on his face. "I was actually just walking down the streets when I saw the two of you. Decided I needed to know who the lovely dame was that was sitting with my best friend." Rosalie blushed at his compliment, looking down at her lap with her brunette hair acting as a curtain to cover her flushed face. Bucky smiled at the reaction, before snapping back to reality. He never felt something deep like that for a woman. Did that mean. . .?
"Anyway, I was wondering if you two wanted to join me tonight at a club that has recently been opened." Bucky told them. "Drinks on me."
"Bucky, if this is about me trying to find a woman. . ." Steve sighed.
"Aw come on!" Bucky complained. "It's not fair that you don't get any women in your arms. Don't you want someone in your life forever?"
"Do you?" Steve retorted. "You always have girls hanging on your arms, only for them to be gone the next day."
If Steve asked him that before he saw Rosalie, he would have scoffed and said something about having fun until he finds the right one. But now?
"Yeah, I'd like to find the one." Bucky flitted his gaze to Rosalie's for a moment, his blue eyes connecting with her brown doe-like eyes. "I have a feeling that I might meet the one soon." At that statement, Rosalie released a small smile, Bucky winking in response.

***

She was rolled into the Smithsonian by her great niece, the both of them heading to the Captain America section. There, they read every plaque and shared the opinions about the history.
"Aunty," the little girl called, "is that you in the video?"
"Hmm?" Rosalie tore her eyes from the image of Bucky with the rest of the Howling Commandos, her eyes landing on the black and white video that was showing. It was her and Bucky at a military base, both of them beaming with their arms wrapped around each other. She watched as Bucky stared down at her lovingly while she wasn't looking, her eyes focussed on her left hand.
"Yes, that is me." she croaked out in her old voice.
"Why are you there?"
"Because, I was to marry that man: James Buchanan Barnes." The ten-year-old stared at her in surprise.
"Really? You knew Captain America and his best friend?"
"Of course!" she laughed weakly. "They were the two most important men after my father."
"Wow. . ." her niece stared at the video in awe. "That's so cool. Did you marry?"
"I'm afraid not, my dear." Rosalie sighed, a tear slipping out of her eye. She brushed it away quickly, clearing her throat. "Bucky died during a mission. We were supposed to marry a week after that mission. He promised that he'd retire and we'd start a family - something we dreamed about."
"That's sad, Aunty." the little girl frowned. "I don't like HYDRA."
"Me neither," Rosalie murmured, "I lost my Bucky because of them."
Hours went by, and the two were gone; the little girl pushing her Aunt out with a wheelchair. Unbeknownst to the two, a man had heard their whole conversation, and watched as they disappeared from his sight.
He turned back to the video of the happy couple, watching as they shared a kiss. His right hand clenched into a fist, his left metal arm hidden in his hoodie's pocket. That hand was clenched into a fist as well, though with an old photo of the said couple.
Bucky looked at the caption above the video, reading it slowly.