Unexpected visit

When Joaquin and Bucky arrived on the ship, they found Sam and the Bucky from universe 192 laughing, causing some discomfort and fear in Bucky.

Torres gave him a reassuring squeeze on the hand, which did not go unnoticed by Sam, who looked at them with a raised eyebrow.

"Everything okay here?" Bucky asked, ignoring the way Sam was looking at them.

"Yeah, he was telling me some things about the universes he's visited. It's been good for lightening the mood. And you?" Sam asked more pointedly than he intended. Bucky looked surprised by the tone, but responded casually.

"Great, we talked to Sarah and the kids. They're doing well." Sam's face softened, and he smiled at them.

"I would love to see them," said the Bucky from universe 192.

"Don't tell me you also flirted with my sister," Sam said incredulously.

"Flirt with Sarah?" Bucky questioned, confused, before his brain clicked, and he looked at Bucky in surprise. However, he wasn't recognized, so he turned his gaze back to Sam. "When I met your family, Sam and I were already together, so obviously, no, I didn't flirt with Sarah."

"Me neither," Bucky murmured, but only the other super soldier heard him since Torres was next to him and knew he had said something but didn't understand what, and Sam hadn't heard anything.

"But Sarah always told Sam he was lucky to have found me first because otherwise, she wouldn't let me escape, and Sam always replied, 'There's no world in which there's the slightest chance that I won't do everything to make this man mine.'" Sam smiled with so much affection at the memory that it was almost contagious. But then Sam realized something horrible that made his heart ache because he realized there was a universe where his sister and nephews had lost him for the second time, and this time, forever.

"How are she and the kids?" asked the Bucky from universe 192, whose smiling expression suddenly transformed into one of pure guilt.

"Sam... I... I'm sorry."

"Bucky?" asked Sam, not understanding why he was apologizing. On the other hand, Bucky couldn't help but feel bad hearing Sam calling the Bucky from the other universe by his nickname. It's absurd, he knows, but it's beyond him.

"I... I haven't talked to them since your funeral. It hurt too much."

"It hurt...?" Sam shook his head and looked at Bucky.

"Promise me that if something happens to me, you'll check on them from time to time."

"Nothing is going to happen to you, Sam," Bucky responded, not wanting to entertain that possibility.

"You don't know. None of us knows, and you've seen that it's possible, quite probable even, given the similarities between both universes," he said, pointing his head towards the Bucky from universe 192. The Bucky from their universe looked away, unable to keep looking into Sam's eyes, thinking that he might lose him. But Sam interpreted that look as a reluctance to take on that responsibility. "I know I'm asking a lot, and I feel selfish. It doesn't have to be often, just every once in a while, so they know you're there, even if I'm not. The kids love you, Sarah loves you," he thought, though he didn't say it out loud.

Bucky approached and put a hand on Sam's shoulder. "Sam, you're not being selfish, far from it. You're worrying about your family, as always, and, of course, I would do it if something happened to you," his voice trembled, but he recovered quickly. "I would take care of them. I promise."

Sam looked at him gratefully before hugging him. Bucky reciprocated the hug, squeezing Sam against him and resting his head on his shoulder.

"And who are you?" they heard the Bucky from universe 192 ask, causing both of them to separate, and Bucky was sure that was his intention.

"Joaquin Torres, sir. Don't I exist in your universe?"

"I don't know. I certainly don't know you."

"Who takes up the Falcon mantle?" Sam asked confused.

"No one," replied the Bucky from universe 192, frowning. "It's not really necessary."

Those words inexplicably hurt Sam. It almost felt like he was saying that, with a Captain America, there was no need for a Falcon, that he hadn't been necessary while Steve existed. Maybe it was true—Steve managed well on his own in the '40s—but Sam thought there were never enough heroes. It took a bunch of them, including himself, to defeat Thanos and his army, and the final blow wasn't even delivered by Captain America. However, that didn't mean his participation wasn't crucial. Yes, those words hurt, but he decided there were more important things at the moment than his pride.

"Well, tell Joaquin and Bucky how you were able to travel between universes."

"With a multiversal bracelet, it allows for safe jumps between universes."

"It's incredible!" exclaimed Joaquin. "Can we see it?"

"On my wrist."

Joaquin circled around the alternate Bucky to get a look at the bracelet, which was a shiny black hemisphere.

"And does this allow you to travel between universes?"

"That's right, but don't touch it."

"It's fascinating. I can't wait to see it in action."

"Soon you will," said Sam. "Bucky, I reiterate what I said before. It's probably dangerous to have two of you in this universe and none in yours. I'm sorry, but you have to go back."

"I can't, Sam. I used up the last of the trips to come here. This is my last chance."

"Well, damn, I'll call Strange, maybe..."

"Don't call anyone, Sam," the genuine Bucky interrupted. "He's lying; he can still travel between universes." If it had been someone else, Bucky probably would have believed the lie. His other self was very good at lying, but he was still a version of himself, and Bucky knew the truth.