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For some people, old habits die hard. Even if there’s no need (nor sane motive) for said habits to exist anymore, people still cling to them for a reason. In Bucky Barnes’ case, one of those old habits actually comes from the time he spent under Hydra’s control. And despite being hard to believe that the same man who fought so strongly to leave behind that life would retain anything related to that dreadful era of his life, it’s understandable why he has a hard time getting rid of it.
As the Winter Soldier, Bucky had grown accustomed to being pretty much a human weapon-arsenal on the move. He was sent on missions armed to his teeth, almost literally, with various types of weapons strapped all over his body. That strategy ensured that he would always have a backup gun, knife, or explosive ready to use in case he needed to replace another weapon. Because even while having the cybernetic arm, it wasn’t good enough, especially for long-range combat.
On the other side of the “spectrum”, Steve Rogers –besides his super strength, speed, agility, and more provided by the Super Soldier Serum– has his vibranium shield, which he uses for defense and offense. That’s because he only means to incapacitate or knock out enemies, not to kill them.
Now, for the former assassin, it was a completely different matter, of course. The Winter Soldier was meant to kill his targets, anyone who stood in his way, and any witnesses remaining. Thus, the need for real weapons that could deal real harm (deadly, actually).
Nowadays, after breaking free from Hydra’s grasp, Bucky doesn’t want to take any more lives. Yet he still packs an ungodly number of weapons on his person to carry on during missions. He argues that it’s for the same purpose as before, only that this time around, it’s just to be able to knock out enemies as Steve does.
Even back during the war, he used a sniper rifle, so he’s more familiar with handling weapons than using just his hands for combat. That doesn’t mean he can’t do that too, though, he just doesn’t like it very much.
He also feels more comfortable that way, not only because it gives him a good advantage while fighting from a long distance, but because he has such expert control over guns and blades that he’s sure he will only kill if he really intends to and never by accident.
So, no one tells him anything about it, and there’s never a single complaint after missions. Everybody is just satisfied by Buck’s work. And the Sergeant even lends some of his backup weapons to his teammates whenever they need them.
But what most of the Avengers don’t know (that Steve does), is how long it takes for the Buck to get undressed once they get back home from a mission. It should be obvious that for most of them, it’s not an easy job getting out of their superhero suits.
However, for most of them, it’s just that: taking off a suit. For the Sarge, that’s just part two of the whole affair. Before that, he has to take off every single weapon he carries on his body.
Even if some of the other Avengers already suspect it, none of them truly know the lengths to which Bucky has to go to equip all of his weapons on his body and then take them off upon returning to the compound. Natasha and Clint had conversations and even bets about it, theorizing not just the quantity, but the specific types as well.
After all, they both had to borrow some of those backup weapons at least a few times. Even Peter felt intrigued by it, but he ultimately decided to just make a joke about it and call Bucky the “Swiss Army Knife Man”. Tony and Sam laughed about that moniker; Barnes didn’t.
However, the reason why Steve’s the only one that truly knows what’s going on behind closed doors is not just because he’s Bucky’s best friend but because he used to be his roommate too. The Sarge was put together with Rogers in the same room when he joined the team, so the Captain was the one who got a first-row seat to the whole “show”.
He used to stare in horrified amazement at the sheer quantity of weapons that his best friend would pull out of his outfit. And not only that, but the variety of types, sizes, and the places where they were hidden, tucked, or strapped to. Boots, waistband, sleeves. Pretty much everywhere the man could fit them in.
It usually took Bucky at least three minutes to be done with disarming himself (no pun intended). Only after that, he could change into more comfortable clothing. The first time that happened, Steve couldn’t help but mutter a slightly confused, yet impressed “What the fuck, Buck?” That, in turn, surprised and amused the other man, who admonished Rogers –in jest– for his foul language.
Ultimately, the novelty kind of wore off after a while, especially after Bucky got his own bedroom. Still, Steve remembers the recurrent event with fond disbelief. And the rest of the team still wonders about the “mystery” behind Bucky’s seemingly never-ending supply of weapons he has at hand during every mission.