The Big Fall
The sun was low in the sky when they returned from their lunch, the afternoon settling into a quiet, golden haze. Bucky and Arthur had spent the last few hours talking about everything and nothing. They'd shared stories of their time in the field, joked about ridiculous things from their pasts, and for a brief moment, the weight of the world seemed to lift. Bucky wasn’t a man who talked much about his past, but with Arthur, it was different. The words came easier, the silence felt more comfortable.
They walked back into the compound side-by-side, a rare camaraderie between them that hadn’t existed in quite the same way before. The door slid open, and they stepped inside, the quiet hum of the place greeting them like an old friend. It was a familiar setting now, though still not as warm as the kind of place Bucky could call home.
But Arthur had given him something that hadn’t been easy to come by: *peace*.
"I don't think I've ever seen you eat so much," Arthur teased, nudging Bucky with his elbow as they made their way toward the main area. Bucky rolled his eyes, though the smile on his face couldn't be hidden.
"You're lucky I don’t punch you for that." Bucky gave a halfhearted shove to Arthur's shoulder. "But seriously, man, that was a good sandwich."
"Yeah, the 'killer' ones," Arthur replied, laughing. "They lived up to the hype. But next time? I’m picking the place."
"You better pick somewhere that doesn’t involve me walking a mile for food," Bucky said, smirking. "I'm too old for that."
Arthur chuckled, but the mood shifted subtly as they entered the living room. The tension from earlier had faded, but there was a new energy in the air. The team had gathered in their usual spots, Tony was sprawled across the couch, Steve was at the table with a pile of mission reports, and Sam was tossing a football back and forth with Peter. But something was off, a quiet buzz in the air as if everyone was waiting for something.
Arthur’s gaze flicked around the room, his mind instantly on alert. Bucky noticed the change too, his instincts kicking in as he scanned the room. The familiar, safe atmosphere had shifted—just enough for them to feel it.
"Hey, what’s going on?" Bucky asked, his voice cautious, his eyes landing on Steve, who was looking up from the papers scattered in front of him.
Steve looked up, his expression serious. “We’ve got some new intel. It’s… important.”
“Another Hydra cell?” Tony asked, sitting up, his brow furrowed. “Don’t tell me we’re going through this again.”
"No, not Hydra," Steve replied, shaking his head. "This is... something else. Something big." He paused, glancing over at Arthur and Bucky. "We've got a lead on the organization behind the experiments—whoever’s been pulling the strings. It’s more connected than we thought.”
Arthur’s stomach dropped. The experiments. The ones that had twisted lives—his, Bucky’s, and countless others. They were always a shadow in their lives, a shadow that refused to let go. He’d been expecting this day, but he hadn’t expected the weight to feel this heavy.
"Let me guess," Tony said, "we're supposed to go kick down the door and save the world again?"
Steve’s jaw tightened. "This is different. These people aren't just trying to control others—they're trying to build something, some kind of new… weapon. And we need to stop them before they get any further."
Bucky’s eyes darkened, the weight of the words sinking into him like a stone in his gut. The past wasn’t just lingering—it was coming for them. And this time, it wasn’t a matter of surviving it. It was a matter of *fighting back*.
“We’re in this together, Buck,” Arthur said quietly, turning to face him. He didn’t need to say more—Bucky had seen the resolve in his eyes.
Bucky nodded slowly. “Yeah. We are.”
Steve stood up, his posture straightening as he addressed the group. “I’ve already contacted the team—we’ll get everything lined up, but this is going to be tricky. We need to stay sharp, keep our heads in the game. We can’t afford any mistakes this time.”
Arthur’s heart was beating a little faster now. He wasn’t used to having this much at stake. But he couldn’t back down. Not when everything was on the line. Not when Bucky—his brother, his friend—was standing by his side, ready to fight.
“This could be the final step in clearing the slate,” Tony added, his voice much more serious than usual. “If we can stop these people, we’re not just ending the cycle for us—there’s a lot more at stake. A lot more people could be affected if they keep building whatever it is they’re making.”
Peter tossed the football in the air, catching it as he looked at the team with a mixture of excitement and concern. “So, we’re saving the world again, huh? Kinda feels like old times.”
Bucky gave him a half-smile, but his gaze was still focused, calculating. “Yeah, but this time, let’s make sure we don’t screw it up.”
"Right," Arthur said, cracking his knuckles. “Let’s get to work, then.”
They all gathered around the table, getting their gear ready, formulating the plan. Each member of the team had a role to play—some would gather intel, some would infiltrate, and some would fight when the time came. But for Arthur, this wasn’t just another mission. This wasn’t just about fighting enemies or bringing down bad guys. This was personal.
He glanced at Bucky once more, who was already strapping on his gear, his face set in determination. Bucky wasn’t just doing this for the mission. He was doing it for the people he had failed, the ones he had hurt, and the ones he had tried so hard to protect. This wasn’t just about redemption. It was about reclaiming a life, a purpose.
And Arthur would be right there beside him—like always.
As the team prepared to leave, Arthur caught Bucky’s eye and gave him a nod.
“Ready for this?” Arthur asked, his voice quiet but steady.
Bucky looked back at him, his gaze soft but unwavering. “Always. Let’s do this, Arti.”
They had faced down their pasts, fought their demons, and rebuilt their lives. Now, it was time to fight for something bigger—something they could hold onto. Together.
The door slid open, and the team filed out, ready for whatever came next. Whatever the future held, they would face it together. They were a family, bound not by blood, but by choice. By brotherhood.
And that was all they needed.
As the sun began to rise, casting long shadows across the compound, Arthur felt something inside him settle—like the storm had passed, and they were finally free to rebuild.
The fight wasn't over, but they were ready.
And for the first time in a long while, Arthur believed in the future.