The Tale of Bucky Barnes

Chapter Six

The next evening, Sam asked F.R.I.D.A.Y. to alert everyone that it was time for the next part of the story. He didn't have to wait long before he heard everyone making their way to the living room. He sat down in his usual seat, ready to pick up where he left off. Sam would be lying if he said he wasn't as excited as everyone else to see where this story was going to go. "Alright, you guys ready?" he asked, mostly to the children, but the entire room cheered happily. Sam smiled. "Okay, here we go."

"You should have listened to me, but nooooo. You just had to be the hero and do things your way with no room for negotiation!" you snapped as the bandits lead you through the woods, down to the shore. "At least I wasn't the one yelling so loudly they caught us. And if it hadn't been your voice, your snores would have lead them to us." You glared at Bucky. "I do not snore." Bucky chuckled humorlessly. "Oh yes you do, Princess. Like a bear."

"Oi! You two, quiet down!" one of the bandits ordered. You finally stopped arguing. After a moment, Bucky spoke again. "Please tell me you hid the jewel." You would have clenched your fists had they not been tied in front of you. "No, I'm an idiot. Of course I hid the jewel. Somewhere they'll never find it." Bucky breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't as if he wanted the jewel, but he knew that, once the bandits had it, they would have no more need for the three of you.

The bandits marched the three of you down toward the water, where all manner of men were gathered. One look and you knew exactly what you were dealing with. "Pirates. Not bandits. Pirates," you whispered. "That's right. The most fearsome pirate crew you'll ever meet." For the first time, Bucky felt a small twinge of fear. Pirates weren't exactly known for their mercy around these parts. "Wait," you started, making Bucky look at you, "If you're pirates, where's your ship?" Bucky glanced toward the water again and, sure enough, there was no ship there.

"I'll ask the questions around here. But first, give us everything you've got of value and we may let you go when we're done." A man, presumably the captain, turned to face you all. To your surprise, this captain didn't look menacing at all. In fact, he looked rather meek. You were about to say something to Bucky when one of the pirates produced the jewel you thought you had carefully hidden away. "Well, look what we have here."

"Oh g-really? In your purse?!" Bucky complained. You glared at him. "I didn't think they would find it! I put it with my girls' supplied! Guys never look there!" Bucky couldn't argue with that. Most men tended to shy away from things like that. But still, you couldn't think of a better place? "Please, Captain, that jewel is sacred to my people. I really need it." The captain fixed his gaze on you. "Now it's sacred to my people, girlie." You started to argue, but he cut you off. "Enough!" You jumped at his sudden anger toward you. For someone who looked so meek, he could certainly strike fear into people's hearts. But it was that anger that made Bucky realize exactly who he was talking to.

"Wait. Captain Banner? Captain Bruce Banner? The pirate captain with the fiercest temper on the seas? Said to make the sea tremble with fear when he yells?" The captain, Bruce, looked mildly sheepish. "Guilty. And I know who you are, Bucky Barnes. Tales of your deeds have even reached us across the sea. Sorry about your girl, mate." Bucky flinched. "Yeah...thanks."

"Look, all I want to do is return home and save my kingdom. Bucky is helping me do that and going to rescue Queen Natasha at the same time. Please, just let us go." Bucky looked at you and then back at Bruce. "Actually, it would mean a lot if you could help us. Take us to Princess Y/N's kingdom on your ship." Bruce once again looked embarrassed. "Uh, about that...we can't."

"Why not?" Bruce pointed a finger toward a hill. The three of you looked and gasped. On the hill was Bruce's ship, the Hulk. "What happened?" Bruce made a gestured like it pained him to tell the story. "We got caught in a bad storm. The waves took us up to far and we hit the hill. It's stuck there now." It took everything in you and Bucky not to laugh at them. You needed them to get home.