Chapter 1
The sound of giggling in the Wilson household was a common one. It was a sound Bucky had grown to love over the past year or so. Whether it was AJ and Cass playing video games together, Sam hitting Sarah with a classic one-liner while they finish up the dishes in the kitchen… or even back in Wakanda, when the children would stare down at him as he stirred awake each day. He’d gotten used to that sound.
The Wakandan kids seemed to find a cheap thrill in the confused look he would send their way, through the blur of the morning fog in his eyes. Shuri would giggle then too, taking in the joy of the children. She always managed to see through the mask of neutrality that Bucky wore those mornings, emerging from his hut. She could see that he relished in the interactions. He relished in the pure and genuine curiosity of the kids, and the absence of fear in their eyes.
The same fearless eyes as AJ and Cass have always had when they look at him, though right now they were conveying a different message. Two sets of small, dark eyes were staring him down over fanned out hands of playing cards. Bucky shifted his back slightly from his position against the front of the sofa. He had his left leg bent up, with his right extended out on the carpeted floor.
AJ was laying on his stomach, his legs kicking in the air as his eyes kept darting from his own cards, to Cass’, to Bucky’s and then back again – though he would’ve needed x-ray vision to be able to actually read them from his angle.
Cass sat cross legged, a foot or so away from the kitchen’s entrance. Bucky was looking at his own cards, but he could feel the older kid’s eyes leering at him from across the room. Was he trying to… intimidate him? Intimidate the Winter Soldier? Bucky chanced a quick glance up to meet his eyes, but wow. They were like daggers staring back at him, and The Winter Soldier felt himself get ever so slightly unsettled.
‘If HYDRA could see me now.’ he thought to himself, before cringing at the unfunniness of his own joke.
After around twenty seconds, Bucky finally tossed a card onto the pile in the middle of the group. He knew he wasn’t going to win. He never won. If he was being honest, he barely understands the rules of the game. What’s it called…? Scum and Warbags? Wardogs and Scumlords? Scumbags and Warlords. That’s the one. The first time they played it, Sam and Sarah were playing too. They all sat around the kitchen table, like he used to with his sisters and Steve back in the day. Sarah had to help him though, they even shared a hand for the first few rounds.
Technically he won in his third ever round, not that anyone would let him claim it. Well, not if Sam had anything to say about it. "If you played a single card without making eye contact with my sister prior, then I might’ve let you have bragging rights. As it stands? You’re a Scumbag through and through." Bucky could picture that smug, toothy grin that Sam wore.
Asshole.
Those two should be back from the store soon, just a quick trip to get some groceries for dinner.
The moment Bucky’s card landed in the middle of the group, AJ jumped up to his knees. He slammed a card down onto the top of the pile. That was his final card, which means he-
"Yeawwww!" AJ squealed as he sprung to his feet, pumping his fists up in the air.
Cass groaned from his position on the floor, "I was so close, I only had one card left." He then lazily threw his card on top of his brother’s, before gathering all of them into a single pile. Getting ready for round… twelve?
"Not close enough!" AJ’s air punches soon morphed into an incredibly uncoordinated victory dance. Bucky could feel a broad grin spread across his face, paired with a hearty chuckle that he couldn’t hold back.
"I guess that means you’re Scumbag again, Uncle Bucky!" AJ teased mid-dance.
Bucky tilted his head to the side and shrugged sheepishly, "I guess you’re right, kid."
Uncle Bucky...
It’s got a nice ring to it, don’t you think?
Sam seemed to think he’d earned the title by now. He had been around the Wilsons a lot since Sam took up the ‘Captain America’ responsibilities. He’d just help Sarah, the boys and the locals out a bit in-between any assignments he went on with Sam. When Old Mr Jay’s pipe burst, Bucky helped him clear out his furniture so his floors could be replaced. When Sarah couldn’t get home till late, Bucky watched the kids and cooked dinner – he could whip up a mean beef stew. When Cass needed help with his history homework, Bucky stayed up ‘til 1 in the morning with him to finish it. It helped that his project was all about the Howling Commandos.
He'd just been there. For all the small things.
Cass rose from his place on the floor, leaving all the cards stacked in a neat pile in front of him. "Water?" he asked, looking down at Bucky.
"No thanks, I’m okay." He answered with a casual headshake, head turning to AJ who had collapsed onto the couch behind him.
"AJ?" Cass called out tiredly.
The younger boy sat up on the couch before answering with a smile, "I can get my own!" With that, he jumped from the sofa and dashed into the kitchen. Cass shrugged and followed in a few steps behind.
Bucky leant his head back on the sofa cushion, letting the orange shine of the setting sun warm his face through the window. He closed his eyes and allowed himself to embrace his enhanced sense for a moment.
The sound of waves lapping up against the dock. Birds tweeting sweetly, flapping their wings as they soar through the air up above. The gentle hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. The gush of water filtering out of the tap and slowly filling up a glass. The light breeze of the day making the clothes on the line flap back and forth. Footsteps echoing on the porch steps. The low whine of the screen door as it’s opened slowly.
"Cass, who’s at the door?" Bucky called out casually from his position on the floor. Unexpected visits from neighbours were almost an every day occurrence around here, especially when Sam is around. If anyone needs anything, they can always come to him. His inability to say ‘no’ to someone in need is both his best quality, and most glaring weakness.
The sound of glass shattering had Bucky on his feet in an instant.
"Bucky!" AJ squealed from the other side of the wall. Bucky was in the kitchen entrance in a blink, and stood there frozen before the boy had finished calling out his name. He felt his stomach drop, eyes pinned to the scene in front of him.
A tan man with dark hair stood beside the sink, one arm gripping Cass across his collarbone and the other pointing a gun at the child’s head. The boy was forced to his tip toes, clinging onto the forearm holding him still to keep his neck unobstructed.
AJ darted toward Bucky from across the room. The frightened boy clung onto Bucky’s left leg, nudging his tear soaked face onto the side of his uncle’s jeans. Bucky’s vibranium arm lowered down instinctively, gently guiding AJ behind him. His right arm was up in the air, palm to the intruder to show he’s not armed. Other than his… arm.
"Cass, look at me," Bucky spoke in as calm of as voice as he could muster as he locked eyes with the older kid through his lop-sided glasses. "You’re gonna be okay." Cass managed the tiniest of nods. He was being as brave as he could. No tears had fallen, but Bucky didn’t miss the way his shoulders shook.
"I promise you," Bucky’s started before his eyes snapped to the man in front of him, his voice going monotone as he glared. "Nobody is gonna hurt you."
The intruder jostled Cass, his forearm shifting tighter and narrowing in on the boys neck. The kid closed his eyes with a tiny groan as he was forced even higher onto his toes.
Bucky’s hand reached out as he stepped toward them, but stopped dead in his tracks when the man growled out, "Not another step." He then brutishly shifted the position of the gun on Cass’ temple so the boy could feel it now, making him shriek in fear.
"Okay, okay. I’m staying right here." Bucky rushed out, eyes flashing from Cass, to the gun, to the armed man’s eyes. "What do you want?" Bucky watched as the man loosened his grip slightly, allowing Cass a slight relief. Poor kid was hauling in shaky breathes that were only getting more and more shallow.
"Where is he?" The man yelled. A demand more than a question.
"Where’s who?" Bucky replied slowly, receiving a huff from across the room.
"Wilson!" His voice boomed through the house, before being replaced with a half-hearted chuckle. "Captain America. That’s what people call him now, right?"
Bucky felt AJ’s arms tighten around his leg. There was a silence as he stared back at the man, mind racing. What the hell does this guy want with Sam? Who is he kidding, it could be a hundred different things. People tend to hold grudges in their line of work.
"Where is he?" He shouted, violently jerking the kid to the side. Cass whimpered, tears falling freely now. Bucky’s heart ached at the sight.
"He’s not here, just… let the kid go." Bucky pleaded, Cass’ sobs growing louder.
"Why? So you can charge at me and snap my neck? Maybe put a few bullets in my chest just to be safe? I know who you are." The last sentence was muttered in disgust.
Bucky ignored the jab that normally would have set him off, "AJ." His eyes are locked on the man holding the gun. "You’re gonna leave the room, okay?"
"Nobody’s going anywhere." The man snarled.
Undeterred, Bucky continued. "You’re gonna run upstairs, get in your room and lock the door."
"Nobody’s going anywhere." The man reeled, yanking Cass and taking the slightest step back.
"You don’t need him here." His voice remained level, trying to keep the man relaxed and desperately trying to reassure the kids that everything was under control.
Bucky sidestepped, placing himself between AJ and the intruder with the door now directly behind them.
"AJ, go upstairs." The man glared at Bucky but didn’t protest any further. The young boy didn’t move, still clinging onto Bucky’s jeans from behind. "AJ," He reached back with his left hand, gently pulling AJ’s arm from his leg. "Go. Now." Bucky had to nudge him one more time, then listened to the sound of his little footsteps darting out of the kitchen and up the stairs. The silence broke once they heard the door slam overhead.
"Where is Wilson?" The man hissed, emphasising every word.
"Not here, just tell me what you want wi-" The man cut Bucky off, looking more and more agitated.
"Tell me or I swear to God, I’ll kill the kid." He shook Cass, pushing the barrel of the gun into the kids cheek. He screamed out Bucky’s name, before the man’s hand moved to muffle it.
"No, stop! He’s – he’s out of town." It took everything in Bucky not take this guy out. He just couldn’t risk Cass getting hurt… or worse. "It’s just me and the kids. Just us." He looked down to the crying boy. "Cass, you’re okay. He’s a smart guy." His eyes went back to the man. "He’s not gonna hurt you."
"You have no idea what I’m capable of." The man spat.
Bucky could barely hold in the rage boiling up inside of him, "You will nothurt an innocent child." Both commanding and pleading. His arms were held out, lowered slightly from their previous position. The silence hung in the air for a moment before Bucky found his voice again, "Who are you?"
The man’s mouth twitched as though he was about to answer, but the sound of a car pulling into the long dirt driveway stopped him. A smirk crossed his face before he finally spoke, "Just you and the kids, huh?"
Bucky took in a sharp inhale, clenching his jaw as his eyes darted from Cass to the man pushing a pistol into his cheek. Sam and Sarah would walk through the door on the far side of the kitchen any second now and they have no clue what or who was waiting for them.
The man shifted the gun from Cass, instead pointing it at Bucky. ‘Back it up,’ He gestured toward the lounge room behind. Bucky followed the orders and moved cautiously, just happy that the gun was pointed at him and not the kid. They kept moving until they were hidden from the kitchen windows.
The man stopped in the entryway between the two rooms, where Bucky had been standing moments prior. He felt his heart race as he heard the sound of two car doors closing. Then the sound of the Wilson’s usual banter, not that Bucky could focus on what they were saying right now. Two sets of footsteps plodded onto the wooden porch.
He needed to do something. They were running out of time.
The door handle creaked as it turned and Bucky watched the man chance a look into the kitchen. That’s the only opening he needed.
Bucky lurched forward, ripping away the arm wrapped around Cass with one hand and pushing the boy onto the carpeted floor with the other. His momentum sent him tumbling into the armed man, the pair colliding hard with the kitchen tiles.
"Cass, run!" Bucky shouted desperately as a single gunshot rang out.