Chapter Text
How did he, end up here?
How the HELL did ‘he’, end up here?
His own board overthrew him!
They called him reckless, egotistical, megalomaniac, and what not!
By now whole world will know the infamous ‘James Buchanan Barns’ is no longer CEO of his own “Inc”. The one he started from his dorm room at MIT with his college senior & best friend Tony Stark.
The moment he launched his first product, the ‘Venture Capitalists’ were running behind him.
Everyone wanted to invest in his Idea.
Everyone wanted to be part of his success story.
Wall street journal had praises for him. He was named youngest CEO in Silicon Valley.
Today they called him megalomaniac but back then when he started he was called Ambitious, most Promising, and the Future of Technology world!!!
He was praised from everywhere he went and he reveled in it.
Ohhh, how he basked in the highs of his success?
The Glory, The Name he created for himself!
How he ripe the fruits of his labor over the years, Biggest mansion in the Silicon Valley, Fastest Cars, Finest Suits, Private Jets, European holiday homes.
And
‘Natasha Romanov’ the Russian beauty!
The infamous Victoria’s Secret Model as his fiancée, he had met her at some ‘After Party’ of a movie premier he was invited to.
They were called the “It Couple” “Power Couple” even had their own ship name too.
They sizzled on the red carpets; all men wanted to be him and all the women wanted to be her.
Every magazine wanted them on their cover.
Offered millions to feature their engagement photos, people magazine, E! news wrote articles about their engagement party & its preparation.
Who’s who was invited to the “Party” & it was considered to be prestige issue to be on the Guest List.
Champagne was sourced from ‘South of France’ & 7 course meals were planned by most celebrated chef from France, Italy & Japan to deliver most exquisite & scrumptious delicacies to their guests.
Only his childhood friend Steve & his girlfriend Peggy had come to his engagement party.
His parents didn’t come neither did his sister Rebecca & her family. Rebecca had just delivered her 3rd child and couldn’t travel and his parents chose to stay with her to help take care of the older kids while her husband Sam took care of her & their new born.
Deep down he knew they just didn’t want to come; His mother didn’t like Natasha rather approve of her as his life partner.
The argument ensued when he had requested them to come & stay with him as he wanted to introduce his girlfriend to them.
He had told them that he planned to propose her for marriage & asked his mother for his grandmother’s ‘Ring’ the family heirloom.
She had outright said No! There was no room for discussion or way to convince her.
After his father’s intervention the fight was subdued but he knew he didn’t have his parents blessing for this Union.
He just needed to get out of the house so he went to Natasha’s & told her everything, she assured that she didn’t mind not having them her life.
She had been on her own for long time & was more than happy to have just two of them as family. He felt happy & had proposed to her right there without the ring. She said ‘Yes’!
They drank a little too much that night to ‘Celebrate’; eventually he had to go back to his place & make announcement to his parents.
He was arrogant enough to think he could handle his alcohol so drove back, at the turn he couldn’t control the speed & car took a hit at road barricades. Which in made it twist & turn and slam into a truck coming from other side of the road.
He woke up in the hospital with substantial injuries & his left hand being crushed to the point where to get it functioning he had to go through considerable amount of physical therapy.
It still hurt & he had tremors in his shoulder regularly. He had no mobility in the hand when pain was just too much.
His lawyers made best use of his money & reputation to keep ‘Drunk Driving’ off the records, but his father knew drunken driving accidents when he saw one.
‘George Barns’ had retired with a respectable career from NYPD & had seen too many drunk drivers in his life.
His accident drew the last straw in their relationship; his parents were disappointed in his behavior & left him to his own devices the moment he was brought home from hospital.
That was three years ago.
Then ‘Board’ suggested bringing, a helping hand till he was recovered fully, enter ‘Clint Barton’ ever so charming.
The moment man entered his life everything started going downhill. Clint questioned his every move, also second guessed all his decisions, openly.
Clint, had a way to sweet talk into peoples heart until he got he wanted. Always acting modest, trying to charm people with his ever so genuine demeanor.
Barton was street-smart but not ‘Intelligent’. The type of guy who believed in, “fake it, till you make it” with no real talent. “Jack of All, Master of None”.
Clint was the major reason why, he was overthrown from his position & his own company.
He was brought back to his senses when, small a back-pack dropped on him.
There you were standing, next to him in with one heavy bag by your leg and another one you were trying to shove in overhead compartment.
The moment you realized what had happened you clasped your hands to your mouth and dropped another bag in your hand on him.
This time he cursed loudly “What the fuck?”
“I’m sorry”, you replied as you picked up your bags.
He just shot you annoyed looks but didn’t respond.
Your repeated apologies towards him, he just groaned without looking at you. As you picked bigger bag and managed to shove it over his head.
You shoved the other heavy bag under the seats.
You were looking at your ticket and seat number to make sure you had correct information.
“Ummm, sorry but you’re in my seat” you told him.
He just made noncommittal noise, you were guilty disturb him already so you just tried to get past him as effortlessly as possible.
Just when your ass was in his face, your phone in back pocket started ringing.
“Ohh, Dear God” his temper rose.
“Sorry” you apologized again while answering your phone.
“Where the fuck, are you?” “Did you reach, in time?” guy spoke through speaker.
“Calm down Peter, just reached was about to sit when you called” you replied.
“Wait, let me find my headphones, you’re on speaker” you said.
“Aaaarg, you need to change your phone” Peter responded.
“Shut up, idiot I don’t have money for it” you replied as you tried to locate them in bag in overhead compartment.
The stranger was definitely irritated since, your stomach was on the side of his face now. He just cursed under his breath.
“You didn’t have to travel to all the way out there & spend all your savings to buy that server, then you could buy a decent phone” Peter retorted “Did you get it by the way?”
“Fuck off; We HIT a Jackpot, it’s in the best condition! Wait till you see it” you grumbled as you connected headphones.
Just when you again tried to slide past other passenger the trained moved and you fell into his lap.
“What the Fuck” the stranger had lost it by now and was giving you death glares.
You on the other hand were just, gawking back at his blue eyes and beautiful face. Completely entrapped by his gaze you just sat in his lap.
“Do you mind moving?” he asked you in rather rude tone.
“Ohh, am really sorry” you apologized thousandth time.
“Yeah, you keep saying that” he retorted “But here we are”.
You just shot up and finally settled in the window seat.
“Are you still there? What happened?” peter asked.
“Nothing Pete, will call you in the morning.” You replied “Just be at the station to pick me up”
“You got it, see you. Have safe journey” with that Peter disconnected the call.
You were just calming yourself, with what had happened. You could feel your co-passenger brooding by your side.
Now you were completely annoyed with him, as well. First off he was in your seat, and then he was being complete jerk to you.
You tried ignoring him, so you put on some songs and looked through window.
As time passed you decided that before you fell asleep for the night, you could make yourself some sandwich and make hot chocolate from the milk you brought in the thermos.
When you moved, you saw from corner of your eye that your co-passenger was cursing at his phone, clearly it was dead.
You just rolled your eyes, pulled power-bank from your back-pack and handed it over to him.
He was little taken aback but mumbled faint ‘thanks’.
You removed bread, peanut butter & jelly jars, disposable cutlery and started making sandwiches.
Just when you were about to take a bite you heard sound of growling stomach, you looked in the direction of the sound.
He tried to look away but he was indeed hungry, after all he had today, was his morning coffee.
You just slide other half towards him while eating yours, & started making more.
He was surprised by your kind gesture after all he had nothing but a jerk to you but, he would exchange pleasantries later.
Right now he was really hungry.
As he took first bite, taste of peanut butter & jelly struck a chord in his heart.
It just felt like ‘Home’, really familiar.
There was no way this regular breakfast snack was his mother’s recipe or made by her for that matter!
Back in the day this was his ultimate ‘comfort food’. When he moved to college, his mother used to make Jars of chunky peanut butter & jelly, which he used to relish, during his midnight study sessions.
As he was down his memory lane, you slide some more sandwiches & hot chocolate in paper cup towards him.
This time he said thanks loudly, you just nodded.
Once done, you just cleared everything and snuggled in your jacket. He also started to lean into his seat and closed his eyes.
Vibrating phone in your pocket woke you up, you tried to move but there is a weight on you. When you open your eyes your co-passenger is sprawled on you. You tried to push him away gently when he opened his eyes.
Clearly not coherent about his surrounding, he looked at you questioningly; you just shrug and answer your phone.
“Hey, where are you?” “Have you reached yet?” ”Why didn’t you, answer your phone sooner?” “Did peter reached to pick you up?” the person on the other side doesn’t give you time respond.
You just roll your eyes, “relax Dude, am yet to reach, Pete will be there to pick me up; just woke up” answering in one breath.
“Don’t dude me, just come straight here when you reach” he waits for your bye and then hangs up.
You stretch yourself and try to see where you reach, just then someone asks question and you turn in the direction of the sound.
“Where is this train going exactly?” he asks you
“Seriously?” you asked surprised “you traveled for overnight journey and you don’t know the Destination?”
“Well, was not in a state to think!” he replied “Don’t even remember how I got here, just needed an escape”
“We are headed to New York” you informed him.
He looked little shaken, his subconscious brought him Home? Why?
Just when he was having some kind of internal conflict, train started to slow down. You scurried to gather your luggage.
“Will you be alright?” you asked forehead creasing in worry lines.
“Guess so” he just snorted.
“Well, then. Goodbye” you stretched your hand.
He shook it, “thanks for everything” he said gratefully.
“No, problem” you replied “I’m Y/N by the way”.
“Jam- -“ he paused for a moment, and then replied
“Bucky”