Falcon & The Winter Soldier Series | FanFiction

Episode 4.6: Bounty

   Kobik floated down to the cave and walked inside, the smoke traveling above her head. "Hello?" She called out.

She walked further into the cave, starting to see a light glowing and flickering. She then began to run towards the light and continue to call out. "Hello?!" She yelled, her voice echoing.

"Who is that??! Who's there?!" A voice yelled, appearing from near the fire.

"Daddy!" She shouted. "It's you," she smiled.

"Kobik?!" Bucky called out.

   "It's me, daddy," she smiled. 

   She looked at him, his state.  His hair was longer and unkempt as well as his bushy beard.  His cheeks were sunken in and his eyes had significant dark circles around them.  His lips were chapped and his skin was broken and dry.  He looked frail, skinnier and still wearing the same SHIELD suit he had been for months, but being cloaked in the fur of a bear to stay warm.

Tears soaked his dry cheeks as he slowly stood upwards into a crouch, opening his arms. She rushed into them, him wrapping his arms around her and cradling her head as he wept.  "Oh, I missed you so much!" He exclaimed.

   "I missed you too, daddy," she smiled as they parted, holding his face. "You look like a lumberjack," she said, causing him to chuckle heartily.

He then sat back down with her and sighed, scratching his beard. "Thanks for the first laugh in months," he smiled, then pausing. "Did we win?" He asked as her smile slowly turned into a frown. "Is everyone okay?"

"I don't know," she muttered.

He looked down, frowning, not knowing the safety of his loved ones. "Are...are you sure you don't? Are they at least alive? Are they alive?"

"I think so. They took some of them though and put them in jail..."

He scoffed, then smiling angrily. "What is this?" She asked, pointing to a chunk of meat.

"Deer. I've eaten a lot of that over these months. I've lived off the land before, but not like this."

"Can you tell me more what you eat?" Kobik asked innocently.

Bucky was tired. He was lonely, distraught, depressed, and deprived. He missed his loved ones every second and it ate at him. He found company in the cave, making drawings on the walls and occasionally talking to the animals as friends. He just smiled at Kobik and began to list off more of what he ate, enough to survive: deer, fish, raccoon dogs, attic moss, and kinnikinic or Fox berries. It wasn't the most diverse diet, but it sufficed. Because of his choice, his sacrifice, he wasn't living, he was surviving.

C L I N T 'S H O U S E

It was lunchtime. The team and Clint's family were seated around the table, casually eating and talking. They had really no where else to go, so they stuck together. Any tensions had mostly subsided, but there was still the occasional argument. The kids enjoyed having the heroes as constant company, hearing their stories of heroism and strife, but watered down of course.

   Sam still hadn't touched the shield.  He refused.  He didn't feel worthy of it.  Scott & Hope we're trying to get Cassie to stop watching the news, especially about the Ronin.  Her heart issues had returned, now having anxiety attacks and nightmares.  She missed him.  She missed Kate as well, her best friend.  Yelena was also missing Joaquin & Sharon, but she kept to herself about it.  John and Bobbi were doing quite well and surprisingly keeping up the spirit.  Rhodey tried everyday to encourage Sam, but perhaps it just wasn't time yet.  One thing they couldn't seem to agree on was whether or not to give up.  Some were ready to.