Winter (A Bucky Barnes recovery story)

29 Ward

Natasha instantly placed herself so she was shielding Bucky.

"You're adorable you know. It's so cute you're willing to die for him, but that's not quite what I have planned. First I'm gonna deal with him, I will beat him until he's unrecognizable, then I will let him watch me do the same to the rest of you, sparking his memory. Then I'll kill you. This is his punishment, for what happened to me after he escaped. He will suffer worse then I did." Ward growls, he grabs Natasha by her hair and throws her aside.

"I can't let you do this." Sam says sternly, standing in front of Bucky.

"Shame." He laughs, before bringing the gun down across Sam's temple. Sam falls to the floor and Steve pushes himself up with a groan.

Ward grabs Steve and shoves the hilt of his gun into his shoulder, causing Steve to cry out and fall back. Ward grabs Bucky by his hair and lifts him up, he throws him against the ground then begins kicking him, eliciting a groan.

There is multiple, large explosions outside and then the Avengers burst in.

Ward looks at them startled, he quickly aims the gun at Bucky's head but Tony blasts him. He hits the wall and slumps against it, unconscious.

"Thank God." Natasha breathes, managing a tired, half smile.

"Looks like we got here just in time." Clint comments from where he stood slightly behind Tony.

"I'll carry Sleeping beauty and you help Falcon." Tony says to Clint, who nods and helps Sam up. Tony picks up Bucky bridal style and Nat helps Steve, who was clutching his shoulder in pain. They reached the jet with no problems

"So tell us exactly what happened." Bruce says, one of the nurses was applying pressure to Steve's shoulder while others were attending to Sam, Nat and Bucky.

"They wiped him." Steve replies hollowly.

The avengers all fall silent and so does Sam, the nurses continue with their tasks.

"I'm sorry." Bruce murmurs softly.

"Sorry won't fix anything. Sorry won't restore all the progress we made." Steve grimaces.

Bucky moans slightly and turns onto his side, he opens his eyes and looks around. His eyes were wide and suddenly he was on his feet, unsure of where to go and slightly dizzy.

"Sit down, Bucky." Bruce says, standing in front of him his hands raised slightly.

"Who's Bucky?" He whimpers, there was a look in his eye that read he was dangerous and confused.

"You." Steve sighs, he was holding back tears.

"No." Bucky hisses, frantically he looks for an exit.

"Don't get any ideas." Tony says from where he stands near the door, his voice was altered slightly by his suit.

Bucky looks around once more before running towards Tony, he dodges Tonys out stretched arms and then shoves the door open. He jumps and Tony curses before jumping out after him.

Bucky wasn't quite sure what to expect, a sudden death? Miraculous survival? He just didn't know so when he landed on his feet with a cry of agony, he smiles slightly before running.

Tony curses when he realizes Bucky was gone. "He's gone. He got away." He sighs, Bruce says something in reply and Tony flies back up to the jet.

Bucky watches him leave before limping out of the building and then blending in with the crowd, as much as you can blend in with no shirt, no shoes a limp, covered in dry blood, and a metal arm. So yeah, it's an understatement to say he stuck out.