Work Text:
It had now been two months since the Winter Soldier had rescued Steve Rogers from the Potomac River and promptly disappeared. Steve had spent that time poring over the file Natasha had given him, learning all that he could and looking for clues on where the Soldier – no, Bucky – might have gone.
Yet Steve had a feeling that he might not need to go very far out of his way to look for his friend. Steve couldn’t forget the look on Bucky’s face when Steve had made him remember who he really was. Steve didn’t know why Bucky had walked away upon saving him, but Steve suspected that the part of Bucky he’d been able to reach would also be making Bucky seek out answers.
Advertising for the Captain America exhibit at the Smithsonian wasn’t hard to come by. Steve was told that the exhibit had become much more popular in the years since Steve had been pulled from the ice. Shortly before Bucky had reappeared in Steve’s life as the Winter Soldier, Steve had visited the place for himself, blending in with the crowd so as not to be noticed.
Steve wondered if Bucky might have an inclination to do the same thing, so he started going regularly, day after day. When the employees he repeatedly saw inquired about it, Steve said that he wanted a chance to see every exhibit and he thought that going multiple days in a row would be the best way to do so. And he did visit those other displays, partially because he wanted to and partially because Bucky might find his way to those areas, too.
On the fifth day in a row of his routine, Steve finally saw the man he was searching for. Bucky was there, in regular clothes, staring thoughtfully at the part of the exhibit about himself and the role he’d had in Steve’s life both before and during the war.
Like Steve, Bucky had chosen to wear a cap, seemingly with the intent to hide his face. Steve could understand that; when Nat had leaked all of Hydra’s files to the public, the Winter Soldier’s true identity had become common knowledge.
Steve, across the room from Bucky, slowly approached in his direction, careful not to startle him or make it obvious that Steve was looking for him specifically. After several minutes, Bucky looked away from the exhibit and slowly around the room. Finally he noticed Steve and made eye contact with him. His eyes widened at the sight of Steve, and Steve simply gave a subtle nod and slight smile. Steve hoped that his expression communicated, “Whenever you’re ready to talk, I’m here.”
Bucky looked away from Steve and continued on through the exhibition space. Steve once again understood; he figured that Bucky would want the full context of the Captain America story to further understand his part in it. Steve followed several paces behind Bucky, keeping him in view until he reached the end of the exhibit. Bucky was standing there as if waiting for Steve.
Steve slowly walked up to him. When he was sure that none of the other visitors were looking, he took off his cap.
“Do you know who I am?” Steve asked.
Bucky nodded meekly. “Steve,” he responded.
“Do you know who you are?”
There was a second of hesitation. “Bucky.”
“Do you want to talk?” Steve asked.
Bucky glanced around. “Away from people,” he said.
“That’s okay. We can go outside,” said Steve.
Steve led him to the exit, and kept going until he found a bench in a somewhat secluded area. He sat down on it and motioned for Bucky to sit beside him. After a second, Bucky did.
When Steve noticed Bucky’s nervous look, he said, “It’s all right, Bucky. You’re not in trouble.”
Bucky’s shoulders relaxed slightly.
“You pulled me from the river,” Steve prompted. “Do you remember that?”
Bucky nodded. “Yes.”
“Where did you go after that?”
“Away,” Bucky answered. “Didn’t want to be found.”
“Where did you get those clothes?”
Bucky looked down as if in shame. “Stole them,” he admitted.
“Where have you been staying? Do you have somewhere to sleep?”
Bucky looked back up, then shook his head. “Nowhere to go.”
“I can take you someplace safe,” Steve assured him. “You’ll have a place to sleep, and clothes, and food. Whatever you need.”
Bucky thought for a moment. “Where?”
“My place. I have an apartment.”
“Stay there?” Steve realized that Bucky was indicating himself.
“Yes, you can stay there as long as you like.”
Bucky was silent for a bit, looking away from Steve at nothing in particular. “I… want to remember.” Steve took note that it was the first time Bucky had used a first person pronoun.
“I’ll help you remember,” Steve promised. “I’ve known you for a long time. I know it’s been a while since we’ve… been friends, but I remember who you are, what you’re like. I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”
Bucky looked around some more. “This world. So different.”
“Yeah, it’s changed a lot since back in the day,” Steve commented. “It takes some getting used to. But I’ve been getting along with it just fine, and you can, too. I’ll help you with that.”
“Hydra…” Bucky trailed off.
“They’re gone. We took care of them, me and my friends.”
“But Hydra… cut off one head…”
“Bucky, I’m not going to let anything happen to you. If anyone tries to hurt you or take you away, I’ll stop them. There’s a whole group of us who can stop them. We’ve done it before.”
Bucky considered that information. Then he said, “Home.”
“Do you want to go home, to my home?” Steve asked. “I can take us there.”
Bucky nodded. “Home,” he said again.
“That’s right. My home is yours too.”
Bucky met Steve’s eyes. “Friend?”
“Yes, I’ll be your friend, always.”
“End of the line,” said Bucky.
“Exactly, I’m with you til the end of the line, Bucky.”
At last, Bucky smiled, just a little. It warmed Steve’s heart so much to see that. Steve slowly reached out to gently touch Bucky’s shoulder, and Bucky accepted the touch.
Steve then took Bucky home to what he hoped would be a new beginning for both of them.