Shaddows of the Past
The mission in Paris had gone off without a hitch. Arthur could hardly believe how smoothly everything had gone. He was still riding the wave of satisfaction, feeling more like himself than he had in a long time. There had been a time when he’d forgotten what it felt like to do something for the right reasons, not as a soldier carrying out orders or as Hydra’s weapon. But saving lives, fighting alongside the Avengers—it was something that made him feel… whole.
Back at the compound, the energy had shifted. Everyone seemed lighter, in better spirits. Even Bucky, though quiet, seemed more at ease than usual. It was almost as if they were all, collectively, taking a breath after the storm.
Arthur was sitting on the couch in the common room, casually flipping through a photo album that Steve had lent him. He had always liked to look through photos—something about capturing a moment in time felt grounding. He smiled as he looked at old pictures of Steve and Bucky, laughing together in some distant memory. It was strange, but nice, to see them in a time that wasn’t full of pain.
“Arti!” Steve’s voice broke through his thoughts, and Arthur looked up to see Steve walking into the room with a grin plastered on his face. “You coming out with us tonight?”
Arthur blinked. “Out? Where?”
“Just a little get-together,” Steve said, his grin widening. “You know, fun. The kind of thing that doesn’t involve saving the world.”
Arthur chuckled. That actually sounded... really nice. He glanced over at Bucky, who had just entered the room. His friend gave him a small nod, the faintest hint of approval in his eyes.
“Alright, I’m in,” Arthur said, standing up with a half-smile. “Let’s see what you all have planned.”
The evening was exactly what Arthur needed. They ended up at a small restaurant downtown, all gathered around a table laden with food and laughter. Sam had made some sarcastic comment about Steve's obsession with vintage records, which spiraled into a debate about whether vinyl records were better than digital music. Clint had, of course, tried to make it a competition between Steve and Sam, but that only caused more jokes to fly.
Arthur sat back, watching it all unfold, something warm blossoming in his chest. For once, he didn’t feel like an outsider. He was just… there. Part of the team. Part of the joke. And, in this moment, it felt like home.
“I’m telling you,” Sam said, pointing his fork at Steve, “nothing beats the crisp sound of a record. You can’t even get that on a digital file.”
Steve shot back, laughing, “And I’m telling you, Sam, you’re living in the past.”
The banter continued, but Arthur could barely keep himself from smiling. For the first time in what felt like forever, he was surrounded by people who genuinely wanted him there. No strings attached. No expectations. Just... them.
As the night stretched on, Arthur realized something important—maybe it wasn’t just the mission or the adrenaline that made him feel alive. It was these moments. The laughter. The shared experiences. It was the people.
When they finally headed back to the compound, Arthur felt lighter, freer. He didn’t know how long this peace would last, but for now, he was content to just be in it.
The next morning, the team was back in full swing. It wasn’t long before Steve, Sam, and Natasha were gathered around a table, talking mission details. Arthur wandered over, curious, but already dreading the return to their usual routine. Missions meant going back out there, and as much as he loved being part of the team, the anxiety still gnawed at him. Could he really keep this up? Could he keep being the man he was today and not the one Hydra had shaped?
Bucky caught his gaze from across the room and gave him an encouraging smile, as though sensing his hesitation. For a moment, Arthur felt the familiar weight of that old uncertainty pressing in on him, but he shook it off. He had made it this far. He had a team now. A family.
“So,” Sam said, pulling him from his thoughts, “the mission is in the works. A little something to keep us busy. We’re heading to Paris to prevent some arms deal from going south.”
Arthur blinked. Paris? The last time he had been there, things had been… different. But the idea of going back, of doing something good in the place that had once held such dark memories, was suddenly appealing.
“You’re in, right?” Sam asked, leaning forward with that grin of his.
Arthur paused for a moment, then looked over at Steve and Bucky, who were both watching him expectantly. He smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I’m in.”
“Great,” Steve said with a smile. “We leave tomorrow.”
The mission itself turned out to be smooth—easier than expected. In and out. No problems. Just the way Arthur liked it. But the best part was afterward. As the team regrouped, having successfully shut down the arms deal, they stood together in the streets of Paris, watching the sunset over the Seine. It was a picture-perfect moment, and for a fleeting moment, Arthur didn’t feel like the broken man who had been sold to Hydra all those years ago. He felt like Arthur.
“Not bad, huh?” Clint said, elbowing Arthur as he looked out over the river.
Arthur grinned. “Yeah. Not bad at all.”
Later that night, after the mission had wrapped up and the adrenaline had worn off, Arthur found himself on the balcony of the compound, watching the stars. He had started to develop a habit of getting lost in the night sky. It calmed him, reminded him that there was still beauty in the world. And tonight, the stars seemed a little brighter, as though they were echoing the hope he hadn’t dared let himself feel in a long time.
A soft thud behind him caught his attention. He turned to find Bucky standing there, looking up at the same sky.
“You good?” Bucky asked, his tone soft but genuine.
Arthur nodded, feeling the comfort of Bucky’s presence. “Yeah. I think I’m finally good.”
Bucky smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Good. You’ve earned it, Arti.”
Arthur chuckled softly. “I think we both have.”
For the first time in a long time, the future didn’t seem like a weight pressing down on him. It felt like a possibility, a new beginning. With the team by his side, with Bucky there to remind him that he wasn’t alone, Arthur could see a path ahead—a path that wasn’t defined by his past, but by what he could choose to become.
And for once, that felt more than enough.
To be continued…