Chapter Text
It’s been days since Steve never came back to the present--to the future. Bucky tried his best to forget that Steve left him for Peggy, his first love and now his wife, but things weren’t working out that easily. Every time old Steve Rogers came into his sight, Bucky couldn’t stop thinking about how he lost his Steve.
‘....I don’t know if I’m worth all this, Steve.’
Bucky had told Steve as they flew to Siberia on a Quinjet. Steve had told him that it wasn’t his fault, that he had no choice to do all those killings--but Steve never said how much he was worth to him. And years later, Bucky got his answer. Steve chose to live a full, happy life in a world without him.
“...I guess I wasn’t worth much to you, huh?”
Bucky bitterly let out those words. He was in the newly built Avengers Compound. When he was about to go into a meeting with the rest of the new Avengers, his watch--beeped. He wasn’t expecting a call because everyone he knew in this world was right next door. But he still picked up the call, curious to see who dared to send the Winter Soldier a scam call.
“...Hey, Buck.”
Bucky froze.
It couldn’t be. This has to be a scam.
It was Steve’s--his Steve’s voice, the one Bucky always loved and missed. Bucky wanted to say something, but he couldn’t. His lips froze, and he just stood there, looking down at his watch.
“It’s Stevie. I know you are probably mad at me for leaving you in the future--
Oh, so now you want to apologize to me, Steve? Bucky scoffed.
“--But I just want to let you know I didn’t. I’m gonna come back to you at some point. I promise. I just had--I just had some things I wanted to fix in the past that I couldn’t ignore.”
That’s when Bucky realized--this wasn’t a call. This was a voicemail.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do if I had the power. I love you, Bucky. I always have and I always will. I’m with you til end of the line, alright? I promise I’ll come back to you--I promise--”
Why does his voice sound like he’s in danger? Why does the voicemail sound so rushed?
Then--Bucky heard another familiar voice, the voice that he never, ever, wanted to hear again.
“Hey! What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Captain? Seize him! Now!”
That voice belonged to none other than Arnim Zola, the one who was responsible for Bucky’s transformation to the Winter Soldier. And now--somehow--Steve was under his control.
Bucky froze up. And he fell onto his knees.
“Steve--! Steve. Steve--”
His Steve Rogers was captured by HYDRA. And Bucky couldn’t let that happen.