Chapter Text
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: IRONY
BUCKY - NEW YORK SHIELD COMPOUND
“I asked you a question!” Bucky dunked the man’s head in the bucket. He coughed and choked on water as he came up.
“No!” Just as Bucky went to put him in the water again, he felt an arm grip him. In his worked up state, he turned to see Sam.
Bucky had spent the last hour in a SHIELD interrogation chamber questioning one of the Hydra men that had attacked Wanda. SHIELD hadn’t been able to get anything out of them so Bucky took it upon himself. He’d be damned if these men got away without an explanation.
“I think it’s time to stop,” Sam said calmly. Bucky was panting, his anger getting the best of him.
“Listen to him,” the man laughed and Bucky lunged for him but not before Sam could catch him.
“He’s not worth it, man!” Sam shoved Bucky back roughly so he was looking at him. “You’re better than this now.” Bucky met his friend’s eyes and it made his anger dull down. “You’ve worked so hard to get here, Bucky. Don’t let some asshole take you back.” The man laughed behind them.
“You were only good as the Winter Soldier,” the man spoke with a thick, Russian accent. “Maybe your child will be better.” It took all of Sam’s strength to hold Bucky back.
“Hey, hey, hey!” Sam shoved him back again and something clicked. Bucky looked at the man.
“So you weren’t after her. You were after the child?” The man’s smile disappeared. “Why?” The man just looked straight up, not wanting to engage anymore.
“Hey, you got something. Take a break.” Sam grabbed his shoulders and turned him around, leading him out of the room. Once out, Bucky buried his face in his hands. “We’re going to figure this out, okay?”
“Agatha wants Wanda, Hydra wants my child and I can’t keep them safe.” This was the first time Bucky had audibly expressed his frustration over all of this. He tried too hard to stay composed around Wanda to make her feel safe but he was panicking inside.
“We will keep them safe,” Sam assured him but Bucky just sighed and let his arms drop to his side.
“This is my one real chance at having something- having a family and… it feels like everything is trying to take it away.” Sam dropped a heavy hand on his shoulder.
“Listen to me. No one is taking them from you, okay?” Bucky just sighed and resigned to nod his head. He took a few moments to compose himself and they headed down toward medical where he had left Wanda earlier. When they found her, she was still in a medical room with a nurse.
“Sergeant Barnes,” an agent acknowledged as they passed by. Bucky nodded in return.
“Sergeant Barnes?” Sam whistled. “I like the sound of that.” Bucky chuckled beside him before his eyes settled back on Wanda. He was watching her talk to the male nurse that seemed to be laughing at everything she said.
“Have you picked out any names yet?” Bucky shook his head.
“Wanda hasn’t brought it up and I’m not sure if she wanted an American one or Sokovian.” Bucky shrugged. “I’ll let her choose.” Sam made a noise beside him.
“So you and Wanda are really doing this baby thing, huh?” Bucky had to peel his eyes off of the nurse that had touched Wanda’s arm ‘playfully’ and look at Sam.
“Yeah, we are.” Sam gave him a strange look.
“But y’all aren't… going to be together?”
“That’s not how-.”
“I know that’s not how the baby was made but I’m just saying, you two have been living together for months and got real close. Are you sure there’s nothing there?” Bucky just shook his head. “Then why do you look like that staring at her and that nurse right now?” Bucky looked back up at him in surprise. Sam had a smug smile on, just watching him.
“I’m just careful with her,” Bucky tried. “I never know who’s real and who, like that Hydra agent, has an agenda.”
“Yeah, I’m sure that’s the only reason why,” Sam smiled and patted his shoulder. “Go get your girl, man.” Bucky decided to not respond to Sam’s taunts and walked into the room, making Wanda and the nurse look up.
“Hey,” Wanda’s smile brightened.
“How’d everything go?”
“It went well,” the nurse answered instead and smiled at Wanda. “She’s all clear. Both mom and baby are healthy.” Bucky pursed his lips and tried not to show his grimace towards the man. Wanda returned his smile and beamed at Bucky.
“They said he’s the size of a grapefruit,” Wanda said excitedly and laughed. Her joy was infectious and regardless of his prior emotions, he found himself smiling at her.
“That’s it?” He joked and walked over to her, past the nurse. She cradled her stomach and looked up at him proudly. He leaned over and put his hand over hers on her bump. Ever since the baby had first kicked, she’d call him every time she felt another one and make him stay and hold his hand to her stomach until he did it again. He could tell that with each passing day, she was less nervous about the pregnancy and more excited for their baby.
“I,” the nurse shuffled, fumbling a bit at the edge of the bed, “will leave you guys to it.”
“Thank you,” Wanda offered, whereas Bucky just nodded.
“My pleasure,” he smiled at Wanda but not for long as he looked over at Bucky and shuffled out.
“You should be nicer.” Wanda leaned back, “They’re just checking up on me.”
“Oh I’m sure he was,” Bucky mumbled as he helped her down off the bed. Wanda just laughed.
“Not everyone’s out to get me.” Bucky laughed at the irony.
“I didn’t mean it like that.” It took Wanda a moment before he saw her register his words.
“Oh…” It suddenly got awkward between them. He didn’t know why he had to make the stupid comment. They were perfectly content before he had. “Bucky… I’m not-.” He just waved her off.
“No, it’s okay. Let’s get out of here though. You haven’t had your walk yet.” He knew she wasn’t done with the topic but thankfully didn’t push him. They walked around their neighborhood for a while. Wanda said it helped her so he’d offered to join her, partially out of fear someone would attack her and partially because he enjoyed the time with her. Everything in New York seemed to amaze and fascinate her. It was a weird concept to think that she came from such a different world and background. Then again, so did he.
They got back to the apartment and spent the evening watching a movie. Wanda couldn’t stay up and left to go to bed early. He sat in his living room thinking about how much his life had changed from almost six months ago. He’d been so utterly alone and didn't have any goal or idea about his future. He’d look at it with despair whereas now he had hope. He’d have a child he could love and watch grow. He couldn’t keep the smile off his lips. And no matter what, he knew now too that Wanda would always be in his life. He found comfort in knowing that her bright spirit would always be there. He had gotten so used to her laugh and sweet smile in this apartment, he didn’t know what he’d do without her.
His attention was shifted when he heard Wanda in the bedroom. He already knew the sound of her having a nightmare. She thrashed and screamed as he entered. He was at her side in a heartbeat. He leaned over her, holding her in place to stop her from moving so much; he was afraid she would agitate her wounds. As she woke up, he let her arms go. She cried and held onto his chest tightly as her whole body trembled from the nightmare. He laid down next to her, not really knowing how to move with her still clutching him. He eased up after a moment and wrapped his arms around her, softly comforting her. She eventually drifted off again and he lay there, still entangled with her.
He looked down to see her now sleeping form leaning against his chest. He brushed her hair lightly as he gazed at her. It was strange. After all his life experience would beg to differ, he felt comfortable. Holding her, he found some peace and dozed off.