Chapter Text
The night after Bucky asked me out, I was still ecstatic. Like this was a fever dream that I didn't want to end. Bucky and I hung out during the day but then he would go back to his place at the end of the day. That went on for a couple of days.
Until one night, Bucky and I decided together that we'd try sleeping in the same bed together. It went decent enough. Bucky mostly just held me as we fell asleep. We slept for a couple of hours until Bucky's phone rang. He answered it. "What?" Bucky said, still tired. I couldn't hear who was on the other side of the call. "Where?" Bucky asked, causing me to perk up. "Lower Manhattan. All right. I'll fill in Alex and meet you there. Send Alex the address." Bucky hung up the phone. He quickly got out of bed and started getting clothes on. "What is it, Buck?" I asked Bucky, getting out of bed. "Karli just attacked a GRC council meeting in lower Manhattan. Sam's meeting us there. But we got to go, now." Bucky said, getting a shirt on. I quickly put mine on. "All right, I'll get my suit, you get yours on." I told Bucky. I ran out the door and grabbed the suit from the box on the table. I just threw it over the clothes I was wearing. Bucky came out of the bedroom with his suit. I started loading up the gadgets. "Looking good, Doll." Bucky flirted a bit. "You too." I flirted back, smiling at Bucky. Bucky smiled back and gave me a quick peck. "Let's go, Doll." Bucky said, opening the door. "Let's go." I said.
We walked out and got into my car. I sped over to Lower Manhattan, going to the address Sam sent me. We got out and walked up to the barricade, getting on our comms. Cops were everywhere, forming barricades and pointing guns towards the building. Inside was lit red, which was not good. "I'm almost there." Sam came over comms. "What's the plan?" Bucky asked. "Karli's gotta be close. Keep your eyes open." Sam told us. "Well, they could be anybody." Bucky said as we walked up to two cops. "Sergeant Barnes. Agent Drake." They greeted. I nodded as we walked past them. "And by the way, I called in some backup." Sam said.
"Excuse me, sir. Ma'am. Are you supposed to be here?" A male voice asked Bucky and me. We turned around to see a white man in a smoky jacket, and black clothing and hat. The person then tapped on the side of their face, and I realize they are wearing the Nano mask. They then took off the mask and hat, revealing Sharon Carter. "It's me." Sharon said. "Good to see you again." I said. "Sharon, what the hell are you doing here?" Bucky asked Sharon. "Relax. No one's looking for me here." Sharon said as we started walking. "Do I hear Sharon?" Sam asked us. "Unfortunately." Bucky said. We stopped. "Hey, Sam. I thought I'd get the band back together." Sharon told Sam. "Thank you. You're risking a lot comin' here." Sam said, still on comms. "I hear pardons aren't all they're cracked up to be anyway." Sharon said. "Depends on the therapist." Bucky quipped. "They're gonna move on the building soon. Be ready." Sam warned us.
We started moving, waiting for Sam to give us a hint. I could hear him on comms taking someone out. "Sharon, Bucky, Alex, what's going on on your end?" Sam asked us over comms. "Nothing. All quiet." Bucky reported. "I'm sorry, who are you?" Someone asked Sam. "I'm Captain America." Sam said. I can't help but smile a bit. "No one's moving toward the building." Sharon reported. "Karli's not coming in. She's trying to force everybody out." Sam reported. I got the message as Sam tried to warn someone to keep everyone inside, but Sam got knocked down and engaged in a fight. Sharon, Bucky, and I started walking into the building. "You guys are gonna have to do something. Don't let 'em out of the building." Sam told us. Bucky walked through the metal detector first, but then I went through, then Sharon set off the metal detector. "Oops." Sharon brushed it off. "Here's one of them." Bucky said, pointing behind us. "Alex and I will get the evac." Bucky told me, walking away.
Sharon followed the guy down to the evac in the garage. Then, we made it around the corner of the balcony, where a woman with a short haircut, holding a phone approached us. "Mr. Barnes, Ms. Drake, it's Karli." The woman told us. Bucky grabbed the phone and we both looked at it, realizing it was a Flag Smasher phone. Bucky put the phone up to his ear. "Karli?" Bucky said as we both started going downstairs. "Aren't you tired of fighting for the wrong side, Mr. Barnes?" Karli asked Bucky over the phone. "I've done this before, kid. I know how it ends." Bucky told Karli. "It doesn't matter if I don't survive this. I'm fighting for something bigger than myself. And with all the bodies you've collected, have you ever been able to say the same?" Karli told Bucky. "You don't think I ever fought for something bigger than myself? That's all I ever tried to do. And I failed twice." Bucky said. Sam was still fighting whoever he was fighting.
Bucky and I stopped at the floor. "You think your cause justifies all this death, but in the end, the nightmares won't go away. You're gonna remember all the ones you killed. Trust me. Don't do this. Don't go down this path." Bucky tried negotiating with Karli. "If that's how you feel, you should sit this one out." Karli said. "Well, you know I ain't gonna do that." Bucky said. I smile a tad. "Well, thank you. I'm glad you took my call. You've been a big help." Karli said. I heard Bucky groaning as I realize Karli was stalling. "Goddamn." Bucky groaned. "Shit." I groaned, following Bucky down to the garage as well.
Bucky and I saw two motorcycles. "Seriously, Bucky, Alex you had one job." Sharon argued. "You worry about your guy." Bucky said, getting on a motorcycle. I got on mine, and we both raced out of the garage. We made it out onto an ally, then we got on the street, trying to track down the evac trucks, accelerating. "Well, that's one down." Sharon said. "How'd you manage that?" Sam asked over comms. "Mercury vapor, amongst other things." Sharon said. It was a minute and Bucky and I made it to the main street, seeing the barricade. "You better speed things up, Sam." Sharon said. "The helicopter's about to take off." I warn Sam and Bucky. "Bucky! Alex!" Sam exclaimed on comms. "I don't fly, man. That's your thing." Bucky said. "Don't have superpowers, remember." I told Sam as Bucky and I revved the engines.
We raced down the street. We saw a group of three Flag Smashers, who had crashed the evac trucks and had taken down the drivers. Once we approached the barrier, both Bucky and I slammed the brakes, sending the back end of our bikes up, then we pushed off, crashing the bikes into the cement barrier. Bucky tacked the Flag Smasher as I rolled to recover. I quickly got up and helped Bucky tangle with the Flag Smasher. Bucky took the first swing, nailing the Flag Smasher, then blocking his punch by pinning his arm. I punched him in the stomach, then got punched back. Bucky then nailed him, and I nailed him again. Bucky had him pinned just as he heard a fire erupt, and low and behold, one of them took the gas canister from our motorcycles and lit up the gas, setting fire to the truck.
I could hear the people inside screaming. Bucky got punched in the gut and got taken down, but I tased the hell out of the Flag Smasher, getting him down. Bucky and I ran over to the truck. Bucky and I tried pulling the doors open, but they weren't budging, as there was a lock on them. "Hold on!" Bucky yelled at them. Bucky and I tried pulling, but it wasn't working. Bucky then got angry and started punching the lock. Before I could suggest using the tasers to fry it, Bucky used his metal arm, nearly pulling it apart, and basically broke the lock, allowing the doors to open. I helped Bucky get them off and away. The last man grabbed Bucky's hand. "Thank you for saving us." He said. He ran away, and Bucky and I looked at each other. "You're welcome." Bucky said as we ran.
We saw Walker was in trouble, basically laying on the ground, surrounded by three Flag Smashers, and one grabbed a parking meter. Bucky tacked meter boy and I extend my staff. I use the staff to knock one of them off their feet, then dodged a block, and then Walker got up. I saw Karli knock Bucky off the side, hearing him scream as he hit the floor, though he made it. I get socked in the chest, then thrown over the edge.
I see one Flag Smasher drop down, but Bucky pushed me out of the way, breaking the block with his metal arm. I see my staff on the ground, but while Bucky had him distracted with punches, I got on the Flag Smasher's back and tased him, though he didn't go down, but was weakened. He threw me off, and Bucky hit him with the block. Just then, the other evac truck crashed through, teetering over the edge. I don't know what to do, because climbing risks shaking the beams, sending the truck down. And I can't hold a truck back, even with my upgraded suit. I grabbed my staff and put it back. Bucky grabbed me and pulled me back. I see a dented shield fall down, and I know it's Walker's shield. Walker was trying to pull the truck up.
A couple of Flag Smashers grabbed Walker and Walker tried to fight them off, but they all fell. The truck then started falling, but then stopped. I see Sam using his jetpack and holding the truck in place. I then saw two smaller bots with thrusters pushing the truck up. Bucky pulled me and Walker aside, then also looked up. Sam got the truck in a relatively safe position and I catch Bucky smiling. I smile too as I hear the crowd cheer. I hear Karli grunting, then I see a pole flying at me. Bucky grabbed it before it hit me. "Thanks." I tell Bucky. Karli goes running at us, but then Sam flew down in front of us, having knocked everyone down with his shield.
For the first time, I saw the white and blue suit that looked like Steve's old suit he used to wear before Shield was disbanded. It partially covered the lower half of his face, just above his ears. He had the goggles like before, and the interface on his arm. He had the jetpack on his back. Karli took off the mask. "You of all people bought into that bullshit?" Karli questioned Sam, betrayed. "I'm trying something different. Maybe you should do the same." Sam told Karli. Just then I heard an explosion. I see something that looks like a cannister, and smoke clouds out vision. I stay put, trying not to breathe in the smoke. "This way." Sam told us. I follow Sam and Bucky as Walker follows us.
We ran inside this tunnel that was partially under construction. "Hey, Sharon. We're underground. We entered the tunnel on William. Heading South." Bucky reported on comms as we kept running. "Looks like they split up. Here." Sam said. Walker turned right. "I got it. Alex, stay with Sam." Bucky told us, heading right. "Be careful." I told Bucky. "You too, Doll." Bucky said, before following Walker. Sam and I jogged forward. After following the tunnel partially, we heard several gunshots. Sam and I ran towards the sound. We saw Karli holding a gun, pointed at Sharon, and Batroc dead. Sharon was on the ground, bleeding. "Sam, Alex, stay back." Karli warned us.
Sam and I walked towards her slowly, with Sam putting the shield back. "So what's next, huh? You kill ten this time, then what, a hundred? Where does it end?" Sam tried to talk down Karli. "Please, let me help you." Sam said. "Karli, believe me, you don't want to do this. I know what it's like to believe in a cause and think you're making a difference. When I was with Shield, I had those same dreams of helping the world. It killed me when I found out Shield wasn't what I thought it was. So yeah, I bent the rules a little so I could fight my cause. But I didn't kill innocent people, Karli. But that doesn't mean the innocent ones didn't get hurt. And that killed me too. Do you want any more blood on your hands, Karli?" I tried once again to talk Karli down, hoping I had a chance. "Don't try and manipulate me." Karli said. She steadied the gun on Sharon. "Karli, don't!" Sharon yelled.
Before I could tackle Karli, Sam beat me to the punch, tackling Karli. They both got up. Karli threw a cinder block at Sam, who blocked it with the shield. Karli kept trying to punch Sam, going on the stairs. I take some gauze from my med kit and hold it on Sharon's wound, putting pressure. "I'm not gonna fight you!" Sam told Karli. He jumped off the stairs and rolled to cushion the fall. I turned to Sharon. "Are you okay?" I asked Sharon. "I'll be fine." Sharon brushed me off. Karli went to punch Sam's shield, but Sam put his wings down, not allowing him to move.
"Karli..." Sam said. Sam dodged more of Karli's blows and kicks. Karli hit Sam with a pole, the momentum flying him into scaffolding. "Stay down!" Karli yelled at Sam. Sam got up. "No." Sam said, defiant. Karli kept fighting Sam, who was still dodging and blocking blows. "Fight back!" I heard Karli yell. Sam flew Karli into a support beam. "Stop it!" Sam yelled at Karli. Sam flew up, hitting Karli's head on the grate on top, then came down. Karli kept punching him. "Fight me! Fight back!" Karli yelled again.
She got Sam down, and the shield fell to the side. Karli picked up the gun and aimed it at Sam. Sam got up and looked at Karli. Sharon then shoved me out of the way, pulled out her gun, and shot Karli. I gasped. Sam ran up to Karli. I stand up, and help Sharon against a support beam. Sam held Karli, grabbing her hand, knowing she wasn't gonna survive. Part of me wants to scream at Sharon for killing an innocent teenager. But part of me also knew she didn't give us a choice. It was either her or Sam. Sharon chose to save Sam. Karli died as Sam looked at Sharon. He carried Karli out of the building as I got Sharon out of there and leaned against a car, giving her some medical supplies to patch herself up.
I saw Sam fly down, I swear looking like an angel, still carrying Karli. Some EMTs brought over a gurney, and Sam laid her on it. I saw Bucky and Walker come up. I just hugged Bucky, still upset over what happened. The EMT's took Karli away, and Sam walked up to the circle of press, looking sad. Of course, the reporters were bombarding him with questions. Walker stood just ahead of me and Bucky, and he had his arm around me. One of the senators that were saved walked up to Sam. "Sam, thank you so much, from all of us." Ayla, as I remember her name to be, said. "Sincerely. You did your part in dealing with those terrorists, now we'll do ours." The older white male senator told Sam. "Are you still going forward with resetting the borders?" Sam asked. "Our peacekeeping troops will begin relocating people soon. The terrorists only set us back a bit." A white, grey-haired, female said. "You have to stop calling them terrorists." Sam told them.
I sensed that Sam was about to tell people off, which kind of excited me. "What else would we call them?" The senator asked Sam. "Your peacekeeping troops carrying weapons are forcing millions of people into settlements around the world, right?" Sam asked the senator, who shook his head yes. "What do you think those people are gonna call you? These label's, terrorists, refugee, thug, they're often used to get around the question, Why?" Sam told them. "Those settlements that happened five years ago, do you think it is fair for governments to have to support them?" The older woman asked Sam. "Yes." Sam answered. "And the people who reappeared only to find someone else living in their family home, they just end up homeless?" The senator asked Sam.
"Look, I get it. But you have no idea how complicated this situation is." The senator told Sam, about to walk away. I could tell Sam wasn't done. "You know what? You're right." Sam told the senator, turning towards him as he stopped. "And that's a good thing. We finally have a common struggle now. Think about that. For once, all the people who've been begging, and I mean, literally begging for you to feel how hard any given day is... now you know. How did it feel to be helpless? Now if you could remember what is was like to be helpless and face a force so powerful it could erase half the planet, you would know that you're about to have the exact same impact. This isn't about easy decisions, Senator." Sam told the senator.
"You just don't understand." The senator said. Not gonna lie, I was ready to punch him. Sam scoffed. "I'm a Black man carrying the stars and stripes. What don't I understand? Every time I pick this thing up, I know there are millions of people out there who are gonna hate me for it. Even now, here... I feel it. The stares, the judgment. And there's nothin' I can do to change it. Yet, I'm still here. No super serum, no blond hair, or blue eyes. The only power I have is that I believe we can do better. We can't demand that people step up if we don't meet them halfway. Look, you control the banks." Sam told them all, then turned to the older woman. "Shit, you can move borders! You can knock down a forest with an email, you can feed a million people with a phone call. But the question is, who's in the room with you when you make those decisions? Hmm? Is it the people you're gonna impact? Or is it just more people like you?" Sam looked at the crowd, taking a breath.
He looked back at the older woman. "I mean, this girl died trying to stop you, and no one has stopped for one second to ask why." Sam turned to the senator and pointed at him. "You've gotta do better, Senator. You've gotta step up. Because if you don't, the next Karli will. And you don't wanna see two point O. People believed in her cause so much that they helped her defy the strongest governments in the world. Why do you think that is?" Sam told the Senator and the older woman. "Look, you people have just as much power as an insane god... or a misguided teenager. The question you have to ask yourself is, How are you gonna use it?" Sam finished his speech.
I teared up a bit, hearing Sam. Not because his speech was sad, it was true, but it reminded me of Steve. He then started walking towards Bucky and me. He looked at Walker, who just gave him a nod. "Sorry, I was, uh, I was texting and so, all I heard was, uh, a black guy in stars and stripes." Bucky teased Sam as we walked, Bucky on my right, and Sam on my left. We all chuckled. "Does, uh, the mantle give you speech giving abilities?" I teased Sam, and we chuckled again. "Nice job, Cap." Bucky told Sam. "I'm proud of you, Sam." I smiled at Sam. "Thanks." Sam said to us.
"Sharon?" Sam said, seeing Sharon against the car, holding the gauze I gave her. Sam walked up to her. "You're blocking my light." Sharon said. "We gotta get you to a hospital." Sam said. "She's not gonna listen." Bucky warned Sam. "Already tried, Sam, she won't." I told Sam. "Hey, it's not the worst thing that's happened to me all week." Sharon said. "Told you." Bucky said. "Uh, Cap?" Some man in the distance called for Sam. "I think he's talking to you." Sharon told Sam. Sam smiled a bit. "Look, I'm sorry for how things ended down there. For what it's worth, suit looks good on you." Sharon told Sam. Sam chuckled. "Thanks." Sam said. "Sharon, it was either Sam or Karli. Thanks for watching his ass." I thanked Sharon. She just nodded at me. "All right, look, can we get out of here, please?" Bucky told Sharon, and I helped her up.
We started walking away. "I didn't forget my promise." Sam said. We looked back and then continued walking. I heard Sam flying away. I wasn't gonna lie, the suit fit him well.
Bucky and I got Sharon out of the way and I gave her some fresh supplies and she was insistent she help herself. Bucky and I went our separate ways, and I went back to my apartment.
I needed some time to decompress. I realize that I wasn't really as sore as I thought I was, and smile, sitting on the couch. I'm thinking about all that's happened. I mean, I watched a teenager who just was trying to do the right thing die. I mean, I knew it was either Sam or Karli, but I still wished we would have been able to talk her down. I realize that maybe Zemo did have a point. Karli was too past the point of turning back. I then realize that I can't dwell on what could've happened. I didn't hear from Bucky that night, and he didn't show up at my apartment.
The next day, I was doing what I would normally do. I hadn't heard from Bucky all day, even though I had texted him a few times, asking if he was okay, and offering to cook. When I wasn't texting Bucky, I was reading. Late in the night, I had some wine and had another book in my hand. I was interrupted when I heard a knock on my door. I put the glass of wine down and I put the bookmark in my book and sat it on my coffee table. I got up and walked to the door. I opened it and saw an upset Bucky. "Come in." I told him. Bucky walked in and took off his jacket. I noticed he wasn't wearing his gloves. I sat Bucky down on the couch and sat next to him, holding his right hand.
"Hey, babe, what's wrong?" I asked Bucky. He let go of my hand and leaned forward, his head in his hand. "Alex, you remember back on the plane, Zemo mentioned the name Nakajima?" Bucky asked me. "Yeah, I remember." I said, slightly confused. "His son, R.J, was killed. The official story was that he died in some attack and was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Bucky started getting emotional and I rubbed his back. I sensed where this was going. "The Winter Soldier killed R.J. I just told Yori that I killed his son." Bucky said, trying not to tear up, which caused me to nearly tear up. "Bucky, it wasn't your fault." I told Bucky, hoping to comfort him. "I know that now." He said. Bucky exhaled and leaned back on the couch.
"Bucky, I'm sorry that you had to go through that." I said, apologetic. "Alex, how can you forgive me for everything I've done?" Bucky asked me. I looked at him. "What?" I asked Bucky. "I've killed so many people, I've hurt you. How can you forgive me?" Bucky asked me again, getting emotional, and his voice breaking. I straddled Bucky and ran my fingers through his hair, and I felt his hands on my ass. "Because you are not the Winter Soldier anymore. You are James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes, and you are the gentlest, most loving, caring, man I know. And you're the man I love. And nothing you do will ever change that." I assured Bucky, giving him a soft smile. He looked me in the eyes. "Alex, I don't deserve you." Bucky smiled at me. I smiled a bit. "Sure you do." I smiled at him.
He held the back of my head with his metal hand and pulled me into a kiss. I closed my eyes and enjoyed it. Bucky let go and smiled at me. "I love you, Doll." Bucky said. When those words used to bring me to a panic, they now brought me peace. "I love you too, babe." I told Bucky. He smiled at me. I ran my fingers through his hair and kissed him.
Bucky let go and looked at me. I nodded my head, and Bucky lifted me up, kissing me. He carried me all the way to my bedroom, where he laid me on the bed. We kept kissing and eventually, the clothes were off. Once Bucky and I were both, let's just say satisfied, we just laid in bed together, looking at each other. "You're not so bad at that." I can't help but tease Bucky. He chuckled. "Neither are you." Bucky teased. He pulled me in for another kiss. We went to bed.
The next morning was business as usual for Bucky and me. Though, during dinner, we had an important talk. We were sitting at the table, and eating dinner. I could tell Bucky had something on his mind. "All right, Buck, what is it?" I asked Bucky. "What?" He asked me. "Bucky, what is on your mind?" I asked Bucky. "Sam offered for us to go down to Delcroix again. And I've been thinking about moving down there. With you." Bucky explained. I smiled a bit and Bucky looked at me confused. "Bucky, that sounds like an awesome idea. We'll head down tomorrow." I told Bucky, actually excited. Bucky smiled. "Sounds good, Doll." Bucky said. We finished dinner and then went to bed.
The next morning, I got some clothes and Bucky grabbed his things. Bucky came back and we got on a plane to Delacroix. Sam was hosting a cookout, so that's where I and Bucky went. I was hanging with Sam, seeing how excited the people got with Sam. I then saw Bucky arrive with the cookies and cream ice cream cake. He was playing with Sam's nephews, ducking and pretending to fight them, all while holding the cake. I laugh as Bucky went to the table to set the cake down. "Where is everybody?" Bucky asked, taking his sunglasses off. I walked over to him. "Hey soldier." I teased Bucky, going in for a hug. "Ah, there you are, Doll." Bucky smiled and gave me a peck on the lips. We walked hand and hand and I could see Sam's face, and then I remember we never told Sam about our new relationship status. "Wow, so you two, huh?" Sam messed with us. "Oh, can it, Sam." I joked with Sam a bit.
We enjoyed the party, and Bucky was talking with Sarah about us moving in with Sam, all with kids hanging on his metal arm. I wasn't even drinking, and this was the loosest I've ever felt. And Bucky looked hot with kids. The weirdest part was it was awesome to see how loose Bucky was. He was wearing just a t-shirt and jeans, and his arm was exposed. And I realized I was wearing a t-shirt too. And one time, I looked at my scars. When before they were ugly, they were now reminders of how much I went through. I'd look at Bucky, and I smile at myself. I'm also proud of Sam. As much as I missed Steve, I knew Sam was the only person who could carry on Steve's legacy.
At the end of the day, the sun was setting on the water. I was holding Bucky's arm as Sam walked up next to us at the pier. We smiled and looked at the sunset. I looked at my boys, and realize just how far we've come. "We kicked it in the ass." I smiled. "Yeah we did, Doll." Bucky looked at me. "Hell yeah, we did." Sam chuckled. Bucky pecked my lips, and Sam started chuckling. "Oh, quiet, Sam." I told him as I faced the sunset. "Hey, I'm happy for you two." Sam said, chuckling. We turned around and walked back to the party. "Seriously, when did this start?" Sam asked us, messing with us. "Sam." Bucky warned Sam. "Not that long ago, smartass." I smiled, chuckling. Sam chuckled and we went back to the cookout. I may not know what was ahead, but right now, in this lovely town, with my boyfriend and my best friend felt pretty good.