Chapter Text
All things considered it could have gone worse, Sam thinks.
Zemo is back in prison, where he belongs. A Wakandan prison, no less, so his chances of escaping are slim. Sam is loath to admit that he even started to gain some begrudging respect for the man. The baron can be quite amiable, for a murdering psychopath. And some of his opinions weren’t entirely objectionable. Sam even secretly agrees with Zemo’s take on the danger of symbols. But all that newfound respect went right out the window when he witnessed just how much Zemo enjoyed messing with Bucky‘s head. Bringing out the Winter Soldier and auctioning him off to Selby had been all too easy for him.
It was uncomfortable to watch and still makes Sam’s blood boil now when he thinks about it. Even if Bucky himself won’t show whether it‘s still affecting him. Which makes sense, Sam thinks, because the former assassin is bottling everything up. Sam can still see the signs in his over expressive eyes that show raw emotion whenever Bucky thinks nobody is watching. The guy needs to get back to therapy, and if Dr. Raynor doesn‘t find a rapport with Bucky, Sam vows that he‘ll find him someone else.
Which brings him to the thing that could definitely have gone better, and which will likely prevent Bucky from simply walking back into his old life in the not-so-distant future. Because, while Zemo has been recaptured and Rhodey’s connections with the government have kept them out of prison for their little stunt in Berlin and Madripoor, there‘s still a bit of a fallout that they haven’t been able to keep under wraps:
Bucky‘s comeback as the Winter Soldier in the Princess Bar, captured on multiple phones and going viral.
Of course, the U.S. government doesn‘t appreciate a brainwashed super soldier on the loose. And no amount of explaining would be able to undo the damage now that the story has been picked up by several news outlets and public opinion has been steered in clear favor of getting a potential menace off the streets, permanently. Bucky can‘t go back to his apartment in Brooklyn, can‘t simply go back to the life he’d started to build for himself. Sam isn‘t so sure just what that entailed, though, since Bucky was so ready to throw it all away for one last mission.
So Bucky’s got a choice to make now: go back to becoming a fugitive, or come back to the U.S. and deal with the repercussions of his actions.
Sam can tell that Bucky is tired. Tired of running. Tired of realizing that whatever he does he cannot escape his past. It’s heartbreaking to see. When Bucky suggests that they should just lock him up and throw away the key, Sam has to fight the urge to shake some sense into him. That‘s not what Steve would have wanted for his friend, but Steve is gone now and, sadly, so has Bucky‘s willingness to work through his trauma and get back to living.
Sam wants to help him. He really does. But he doesn’t know how and there‘s the not-so-insignificant fact that he already has so much on his plate that he feels close to breaking point himself.
Now that Sam finally has time to reflect, all of it comes back to the forefront in a rush.
Saving his family‘s business, the only thing left that still connects him to his mom and dad. Trying to repair the strained relationship with his sister. The nagging feeling in the back of his mind that maybe he‘s made a mistake giving up the shield. That maybe the country would have been ready to accept him. That he might have been able to see past the history of oppression and the ever-present reminders that said history still affects him and everyone who looks like him in the here and now. That he could have taken up the mantle of Captain America in hopes of building a better future. That healing can still be achieved even in a country as deeply divided as his.
Of course, those are all hypotheticals. He gave up the shield for a good reason. Having someone like Walker take it up doesn‘t change that fact, and there‘s no point in dwelling on it. The moment is gone now. There‘s no turning back time.
In the end, help comes from a rather unexpected source. Because while Bucky is a menace, he‘s also an asset, and Walker (of all unwelcome people) sees that, so a third option is added to Bucky’s list of choices: be recruited by Walker and fight alongside the new Captain America. And show some damn gratitude while he‘s at it. Those are Walker‘s exact words. And Sam can barely restrain Bucky from beating the guy into a bloody pulp.
It takes Sam two days to talk Bucky into accepting the offer. It‘s his only chance after all.
So it‘s back to the U.S. and, upon Sam‘s insistence, back to therapy. To his credit, Walker accepts that condition, albeit reluctantly. And Bucky will get a reprieve for two weeks, after which he‘ll have to join Walker and his friend Battlestar on a press tour around the country to steer popular opinion back into the pro-Bucky camp. Sam also suspects the only reason Walker is willing to help in the first place is to have Bucky add legitimacy to Walker‘s claim on Steve‘s legacy.
Bucky looks sullen and depressed on their flight back and no amount of coaxing and gentle ribbing can get him out of his funk this time around.
Once they’ve landed, it becomes evident that Sam was right. Bucky‘s face is still plastered all over the news and he won‘t be able to return to living his life incognito. Probably not ever again. And Dr. Raynor is firm on one thing: Bucky can‘t just go back to being alone and unsupervised. At least not for now.
So Sam makes an offer. One he really hopes won‘t come back to bite him in the ass.
“It would help if you could be a little less…” he gestures vaguely towards Bucky, “this.”
Bucky glares at him.“What? Kids love me!”
Sam rolls his eyes. He already regrets asking.“Just tone down the assassin vibe, will you? Wouldn‘t want to scare my nephews. My sister would kill me.”
That earns him another glare, further proving his point, really.
The sun is already setting when they arrive in Delacroix, Louisiana.
Bucky‘s been unnaturally quiet during the drive. It‘s not like the guy is much of a talker at the best of times in Sam’s experience, which makes it hard to reconcile the man he‘s gotten to know over the past few months with the image Steve had planted in his head. But Sam has come to enjoy their banter and seeing Bucky squashed silently in the passenger seat, frowning the entire time, his mind turned inwards, rubs Sam the wrong way.
When the city limits come into view Sam turns off the road and heads towards the ocean. Bucky‘s frown deepens and he looks over at Sam questioningly.
“I kind of didn‘t tell my sister I was bringing you along,” Sam explains with an apologetic smile on his face. “Probably best if you sleep on the boat for tonight.”
Bucky doesn‘t argue, simply shrugs and stares ahead again. It‘s unnerving. Right about now Sam could do with a lecture on wizards, or an off-hand comment about lack of planning and foresight but all he gets is the silent treatment.
Once they pull up at the pier, Sam‘s resolve falters. It‘s warm enough for one night. There are plenty of blankets and a somewhat comfortable bunk on the boat, but he doesn‘t feel entirely at ease with leaving Bucky alone for the night.
“You want me to stay here with you?” Sam questions as he shows Bucky around the cabin.
“No, I‘m fine.”
That‘s probably as much as Bucky is prepared to speak for the day.
“Okay then. I‘ll be back in the morning with some breakfast and coffee.“ Sam smiles at Bucky and gets a slightly more friendly stare in return. He‘ll take it for now.
“See you in the morning, buddy.” On impulse he claps Bucky on the back and finds, to his relief, that Bucky is merely a little surprised and not recoiling from the touch. That‘s something at least.
As he turns back on the road into town, Sam’s doubts come back in full force. What if Sarah objects to having the former Winter Soldier shacking up with them? He wouldn‘t really blame her. Bucky’s past has been all over the news in graphic detail, and she‘s got the kids to worry about.
Sam tries some breathing exercises to calm his nerves. He’s really not looking forward to this particular conversation.