Two different directions.
One being left, and the other being right.
Going right landed Kristofferson Vorobeva in Madripoor, and having no other choice than to fall back onto his old ways in order to survive after having freedom for the first time in sixteen years.
Going to the left landed, Bucky Barnes having no other choice than to go back in cryo-freeze without ever getting a chance to tell Kristofferson what happened, or being able to keep his promise of finding him. Leaving Bucky with no other option than to send Steve Rogers to track him down and bring him to him so they can be together, even though Kristofferson has no paper trail that proves he even exists in the first place and hates him more than can fathom.
Only for Bucky to turn into dust when Kristofferson is finally found, leaving him abandoned by him once more for the next five years without ever getting to explain to him what happened to get them into this situation in the first place.
!! Please note before reading, this book contains themes heavy themes such as: graphic descriptions of violence, internalized homophobia, mentions & descriptions of blood, mentions of child abuse, mentions of alcohol abuse, panic attacks, manipulation, past and present physical abuse, past and present medical abuse, food restriction, mentions of past murder of a child/children, murder, thoughts of self-harm, suicidal thoughts & tendencies. If you are unable to handle these topics, this book will be triggering for you !!
cross posted, and more frequently updated, on ao3
"I kneel into a dream where I am good and loved. I am loved. My hands have made some good mistakes. They can always make better ones." - Natalie Wee
Bucky has to spend six months locked up with a stranger.
His teammates went on an international press tour and left him behind. They hired someone to supervise him, per the conditions of his pardon- a roommate, they said.
A roommate?
In which: Bucky's heart slowly thaws, he develops a soft spot for his idiot roommate, he discovers his vibranium arm is extra-sensitive, he rediscovers that whole 'sexual attraction' thing, he has Not Great mental health including nightmares and therapy, he has a complicated relationship with his ex, he really enjoys blowjobs, he deals with the backlash from his criminal trial, he addresses internalized guilt and shame, he gets laid for the first time in decades, he deals with jealousy, he digs up old feelings, he cuts his hair, he takes pain meds and traumatizes everyone in the room, aaaaaand more.
Told (mostly) from Bucky's POV.