Chapter Text
Rebecca stared at the letter in her hand reading the words over and over, her daughter sat nearby, stroking her arm and saying something, but Rebecca couldn’t focus on the words. Her eyes stuck on the page reading over and over again.
“We have identified you as the next of kin to Sgt. James Buchanan Barnes. It is our duty to report to you his change of status from missing in action, presumed dead to current active, reserve military. He has completed his court mandated therapy and his presidential pardon is hereby in effect, clearing him from all wrongs committed against United States of America and any private citizens herein from the time of disappearance to reinstatement. Further conditions of full pardon include but are not limited to: regular mental health evaluations, immediate termination of all illegal activity, involvement and assistance as an asset in any situation that may require his connections or special abilities ie: Avengers initiative, Captain America program, Wakanda relations. Please find the current contact details of the asset below…”
“Brooklyn…” Rebecca breathed.
“Mom, what is it?” Her daughter persisted.
“It’s your uncle. The military’s finally gotten around to officially telling us he’s not dead.”
“What? Mom, Uncle Bucky has been gone since the 40’s remember?”
Rebecca handed her the letter, “There are more things in Heaven and earth, Audrey. I told you years ago when Steve Rogers was on the run from the government that it was all about your uncle.”
“But…”Audrey sputtered, “this is impossible…he was a lot older than you. He’d be…over 100.”
Rebecca shook her head, “Aliens in New York, half the population turning to dust…nothing’s impossible anymore. They did something to him. Someone did, I don’t know who. He’s got to be like Steve. Did you see the part about ‘special abilities’? And he’s involved with the Avengers.”
“Mom, it also mentions illegal activity, and wrongs against the United States…a presidential pardon. My God that can’t be good. What if he’s…dangerous?”
“I need to see him…I finally have confirmation that he’s alive, that he’s living in Brooklyn of all places. I’m going to see my big brother. I need to tell him he’s not forgotten, that his family still loves him.”
“Mom, your 95 years old…”
“Im only 90, I don’t count the 5 years I lost when I turned to dust. If I don’t do this now I might never see him again…I might never know what happened. This is a gift Audrey, and I don’t intend to let it pass.”
Bucky pulled down the sleeve of his black leather jacket as he shouldered the bag full of groceries down the street. He didn’t like to alarm passers by with a view of his arm. It was best if others just thought he was a normal person, like them. He scanned the area as he walked, constantly vigilant. Then he spotted it, the little vibranium ball, a Wakandan calling card. He walked towards it and picked it up, rolling it between his fingers as he looked carefully around for any sign of the Dora Milaje. Not seeing any he approached his apartment building, another little round ball greeted him on the stoop. Hmmmm, was Ayo waiting inside?
There was no sign of any disturbance when he opened his door. Sighing and shaking his head he put away his groceries and got a beer out of the fridge. His phone dinged, he checked it haphazardly. A text from Sam, he’d read it later. For now, he’d try to relax and wait for the coming visit from the Dora.
The knock on his door was expected when it came an hour later. “You usually don’t knock,” he was saying as the door swung open to reveal two women and a young man on his doorstep. The elder woman put a hand to her mouth and gasped at the sight of him. The younger woman put her arm around her and looked at him sternly, “Are you Sgt. Barnes?” She asked.
Bucky narrowed his eyes and his face went carefully blank, “who’s asking?”
“It’s him, Audrey. He looks the same. Just like I remember my big brother.”
Bucky stumbled back a step as his gaze swung back to the elderly woman at his door.
“Rebecca?” He whispered roughly.
She nodded and put her arms around him, embracing him in as tight a hug as she could muster. As she pulled back her arm trailed over his left arm. He pulled back out of her reach and wiped the tears threatening to overflow.
“I don’t care what’s happened, Bucky Barnes, you’re still my brother. I’ve loved you all these years and I still do.”
Bucky let out a sob and nodded slowly. “Um…come in. Please.”
They settled around his table and Rebecca began to make introductions, “this is my daughter Audrey, and this young man is her grandson…your great nephew, Mark. And this, she said pointing towards where he sat across from her, is my brother Bucky.” He smiled and sighed, “I honestly never thought I’d ever hear anything like that again…have anyone claim me as family. I’ve been alone for so long.”
“How old are you?” Mark asked confusedly.
“106,” Bucky replied matter of factly looking down at the table.
“You don’t look it,” said Audrey. Bucky let out a humorless laugh.
“Do you age at all?” Rebecca asked “You look a bit older than I remember.”
Bucky cocked his head and squinted, thinking how best to explain…he stood up…took off his leather gloves revealing his metallic hand, he removed his jacket and pushed up the sleeves of his henley. He looked back at his visitors, all eyes seemed to be on his arm.
“What is it?” Audrey asked warily.
“It’s vibranium…it was metal before. During my…captivity. I was captured, experimented on…by Hydra. I was genetically altered.”
“Like Steve Rogers.” Rebecca said.
Bucky shrugged, “sort of. It was a super soldier serum, yeah. It had generally the same effect, but Hydra was…not as kind. They also kept me in cryo-sleep when I wasn’t on missions so I didn’t age during that time. They took my mind, put their own programming in. I’m still…I’m still learning, remembering…it’s been hard,” he trailed off.
“You forgot us? That’s why we never heard from you?” Rebecca asked softly.
“I forgot everything, Beck. I didn’t know who I was. All I knew was death.” He shook his head sadly, his eyes downcast. His mind wandered to thoughts of his family waiting at home, living their lives through the many decades, while he worked for Hydra as a mindless assassin.
The Dora Milaje chose that moment to make good on their promised visit. While his family sat at the table and looked on in fearful shock a spear shot through the air imbedding itself in the wall wall next to his head. His eyes shot up and swung towards the door, “Ayo, Jesus! What the hell!” He pulled the spear from the wall with a sharp tug. Her next blow came at his head and he brought up his left arm to block it.
“Do you want peace, James? Or do you want war with the Dora Milaje?” She asked heatedly as another spear appeared in her hands and twirled menacingly close to his chest.
“Why would I want war, Ayo? You know me. You saved me.”
“You are free now because of Wakanda, all you have now, you owe to us.”
He held out his hands in a pacifying gesture as her second spear pointed toward his throat, “Yes, I know. And I swear to you I’m grateful. You asked me to make myself scarce in Wakanda after Zemo and I have. What is this about?”
“There was a theft of vibranium from one of our labs. Weapon prototypes were also taken. There is video of the suspect…He has been identified as The Winter Soldier.”
Bucky’s eyes went wide and fear filled his visage. “I am not the Winter Soldier anymore. He’s gone. He doesn’t exist.”
Ayo leaned forward, her face close to his, her eyes searching, “Truly James? Would you remember if you had done it? Do the words still force you to do their bidding?”
Bucky shook his head, “You know they don’t.”A hint of doubt coloring his tone.
She cocked her head thoughtfully and began speaking in Russian, “Longing, Rusted, Furnace, Daybreak, Seventeen, Benign, Nine, Homecoming, One…”Bucky closed his eyes and winced as she paused…when he opened them he saw the face of his elderly sister sitting at his kitchen table, her family around her as she watched this confrontation.
“Please Ayo, stop…my sister…”
“Freight car.” As the last Russian fell away from Ayo’s lips Bucky’s face fell into his hands, “It’s not me…it wasn’t me…”
Ayo lowered her spear and stepped back leaving Bucky leaning weakly against the wall. “Someone is trying to frame you, James, using your former identity to cover their own tracks. If you want The Winter Soldier to truly be banished from existence you must help us discover who is impersonating him. You owe us James, “she touched his left arm meaningfully. “So White Wolf, you will help us.”
Bucky drew himself up and ran a hand through his hair. “Yes, I mean…Jesus Ayo, all you have to do is ask and you know…not try to kill me.”
Ayo took her other spear and twirled them impressively before stepping back towards the door, “I was not asking, James. The Dora Milaje will be in touch. Watch for our signal.”
Bucky rolled his eyes but nodded and waved his hand respectfully in her direction and then she was gone.
He groaned in frustration and dropped into his chair heavily, spotting the two spheres sitting quietly in the middle of the table. He huffed a laugh…picking them up in his hand. “You left these!” He called towards the door…but no answer came. He shook his head and held one up between his fingers, “So I can contact her once I’ve done their bidding. Like they’re not lurking outside right now and won’t be watching my every move for however long this project takes.”
“Well, that was terrifying,” Mark said with a hint of humor. Bucky looked towards him and saw that same cocky recklessness that had been a part of him for as long as he could remember. “I think we’d better go, mom,” Audrey said cautiously from her seat. “Getting involved with this kind of thing is too dangerous for us.”
“I’m old, Audrey. I’m not dead. That was just a touch of excitement. I’m not leaving yet. I think my brother might just need his family right now.” Bucky gave her a sad smile and a slight nod. “Are you ok,” she asked as she reached across the table and placed her wrinkled hand on top of his metallic one.
Bucky looked down at their hands and opened his mouth…then closed it…words flying from his mind.
She stroked her hand over his with the utmost care, “You will be, Bucky, you will be.”