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“I don’t know about this…” You stared down at the two wires in Howards hands that snaked behind him and connected to a car battery. You looked at his confident stare, the smile that graced his lips and shook your head. “I don’t see how this will help.”
“Trust me,” Howard said, “I did the math on this--you just need to do your thing, and then I’ll give you a little boost. I wasn’t going to tell you the plan but Peggy insisted.”
You looked over to Agent Carter who stood on the front porch next to Captain America and Bucky. She nodded her approval of this, though you could see her lips were downturned. All of them had grim faces on, and that was saying something considering they were in the middle of World War Freaking II.
“Best to make this quick,” Howard suggested. “Don’t want to get back and find out you were never born.”
“I don’t think that would happen...maybe. But…” You inhaled deeply through your nose. You were already back in your original outfit, hands forming fists at your sides. There was a reason you asked for Howard Stark, and this was it. The solution to your problems. Worst case scenario he kills you and nothing actually changes in the timeline, right? You wet your lips, looking away from Bucky.
“Do your thing,” Howard instructed.
So, you did. You thought of the strongest connection you had to the moment you’d disappeared. You thought of your friend, and all the places you’d visited on your trip so far, and how much you missed them. Briefly you thought of Bucky, how close you’d just come to kissing him and what his future held. You wanted desperately to believe he’d be there when you got back, but couldn’t stop the knot from forming in your gut.
And then you remembered why you’d tried travelling to the past in the first place. You opened your eyes with a gasp, just in time to see Howard press the wires forward and attach to your chest. “The train!”
The pain of the electricity through your system was brief, as was the sight of Howard’s panic from your outburst. The heat zipped through your body, from your heart to your fingertips to your toes and back again.
You felt a scream bubble in your throat, eyes squeezing shut as you fell backwards. But...you didn’t connect to the snow, nor did you hear anyone calling out to you as you thought they would. Surely Bucky would be worried about someone literally electrocuting you. Your heart raced, skin drenched in sweat as you shot up in bed.
Your surroundings were too dark to see, sheets a tangled mess in your limbs until you finally threw them to the floor. Your hotel floor. Your hotel in Germany with your best friend sleeping in the bed next to yours. Breaths came in heaving gasps as you looked around the dark room, a slight orange glow coming in through the curtains.
You fumbled with your phone on the nightstand, handings shaking as you tapped the screen. It lit up, blinding you temporarily until you were able to see the date. May 28, 2018. You let out another heavy breath and tossed the phone on your bed.
Was that real? Or was it just a dream? Waking up in the past had never felt like this, so once your heart came down to a normal speed, you made a phone call. When it was done you let out a relieved sigh, unsure if you were ever going to time travel again.
“Bucky,” you whispered. Would he keep his promise? You rubbed a hand over your face, starting to laugh until you were nearly in a fit. Beside you your friend grumbled awake, squinting at you in the early morning glow.
“What is your problem?” A pillow connected with your head. You were just electrocuted by Howard freaking Stark, that was your problem. You met Captain America and Peggy Carter and all the Howling Commandos. You travelled nearly 80 years into the past. You made a promise to meet someone again.
You didn’t think about the fact that Bucky might not even remember you after all that happened to him. You shook your head, falling back onto your pillow. You had an entire day and a half to find out the truth, and for all the fear you carried with you, you focused on the hope that he would be there.
Maybe he was thinking the same thing as you. Maybe he’d been waiting years to see if you would be there too.
When you picked out your clothes for the next morning you went with the exact pieces you’d already chosen. A pair of skinny jeans, a blazer, and your favourite graphic tee. You considered dressing up, but couldn’t think of a way to justify to your friend who had your itinerary for the day planned out.
You were antsy all morning, legs often bouncing whenever you sat down. It wasn’t until you made it to the bar, bustling with tourists and locals alike, you stilled. Your friend bumped into you with their shoulder and asked, “You coming?”
“Yeah.” The word was just a whisper. You didn’t want to walk in just as much as you wanted to. Your steps were shaky, legs nearly buckling as you were pulled along by the wrist to get inside.
It was exactly as you remembered, from the music to the smells to the people sitting at the tables. Your eyes scanned the entire bar twice but you didn’t see the one you were looking for. Bucky was nowhere in sight.
You blinked to will away the tears, swallowing the lump in your throat and smiling at your friend as they pulled you to the bar. You took a seat on the same stool as before and ordered the same drink. All you could do was listen to your friends plans for the rest of the trip, unable to talk for fear of bursting into tears. You should have been happy--you stopped the train from derailing, lives saved. People got to go home from their vacation, raise their kids, live their lives. Because of you.
Yet...tears began to fall. It was quiet, thankfully, against the voices of the bar. You swiped at your cheeks, thanking the bartender for your drink when you felt a presence to your left.
“I leave for five minutes and that’s when you decide to show up?”
You whirl, nearly falling off the stool if not for Bucky’s hands grabbing your waist. Though he wore gloves you could feel how much harder his left hand was with the metal. His hair was longer, but his eyes still lit up the same as they had when looking at you in the 40s. Your mouth opened but you couldn’t even form his name, so instead you jumped to your feet and wrapped your arms around him, burying your face into his neck. Finally you were able to mumble out, “Bucky.”
His arms hugged you close, neither of you willing to let go. His chuckle rumbled through you and you shook your head. Unbelievable. This couldn’t be happening, right?
“I’m the one that waited years but you’re the one crying?” he asked. “How long have you--”
“A day,” you admitted. You pulled back, resting your hands on his shoulders and looking him in the eye. “I wanted to make sure the train didn’t derail. I--I didn’t think about it until the last second when Howard…”
“Gave everyone there a heart attack?” Bucky finished. “Yourself included.” His right hand came to your cheek, stroking with his thumb. “I nearly killed Howard when you fainted, and then again when you vanished.”
“That’s what was supposed to happen,” you said.
Bucky’s brow furrowed. “It was two days, sweetheart. Watched over you for two days before you finally...came back, I guess.”
“What? It wasn’t immediate?”
Bucky shook his head. “But that’s all in the past now, isn’t it?”
You couldn’t hold back any longer and lunged forward, pulling Bucky towards you. Your lips met, the residual taste of beer and mint finding its way to you. You pulled yourself to him, standing as close as possible until you felt a tap on your shoulder. Reluctantly, you each pulled away.
Your friend was holding their hands out at you. “Uh, what the hell is happening right now?”
A laugh escaped you. “I will explain everything, but I need you to take the rest of the tour alone.”
With that you turned back to Bucky and resumed your kiss.