What if...The Watcher chose differently?

Coming back from the dead, if could be classed as that, didn’t feel too great and Bucky had been through it twice now so he thought of himself as having  qualified opinion. So when he randomly awoke in the middle of Wakandan woods with what felt like the mother of all hangovers he wasn’t entirely sure what was going on. “Jesus.” He groaned rubbing at his temple.

 He was snapped out of his confusion as a voice suddenly spoke into the ear piece he had been wearing. “You there, Bucky? Somethings going on.” It was Sam “Yeah I’m here, just a little banged up but I’ll live.” Bucky responded seeing that the ground before him was charred yet overgrown. Suddenly it was all coming back.

 Thanos had managed to get all six infinity stones but the avengers had tried to delay him as much as possible. Kamala, Thor and Jane were the first ones to get close to him and attempted to fight but it meant nothing, just like Vision and Wanda’s sacrifice, as he overpowered them easily. Not even the power of two Mjolnirs was enough to even stumble the mad titan.

 Steve had quickly joined the fight once more with a throw of his shield at Thanos’ head but the second he did there was a flash of bright green than ensnared the nearby surroundings. Everyone froze and was helpless to watch as the large purple figure snapped his fingers with a thunderous, universe spanning boom.

 The green soon receded as a dull and numbing pain took over all of Bucky’s sensation before feeling his body start to grow lighter as his consciences slipped. “Oh…Steve…” Bucky said faintly as a few years of memories came flooding back.

 The reunion they shared where James had tried to kill his old friend, now lover.

 The moment where he was finally able to break free from the Winter Soldier programming.

 The moment he joined the avengers in the fight against AIM and Monica’s hunger for power.

 The time spent getting to know Steve again as neither were the people they were before.

 The fight that had happened just moments ago but everything was now all black at least it was for a few moments before he had awoken again staring at the sky. He spoke over the comms again “Where are you guys?” He asked picking up the rifle again and raising an eyebrow at the sight of the oversized magazine. More time spent reloading is more time that the enemy can use against you he reminded himself.

 “On your left.” Sam says with an audible smirk “Been waiting a long time for that one I bet.” Bucky remarked as he heard the familiar sound of the wingsuit approaching before Sam was stood next to him. “We need to find the others.” James suggested “I’m not picking up any of their trackers. It’s just us and T’Challa. The others…are at the avengers compound.” Sam gave a confused expression before they looked at each other.

 Bucky quickly knew what to do “Steve, this is Bucky, you there pal?” He asked but got no response as a circle of orange sparks formed. “Where are you?” Steve asked presumably looking around but Bucky just glanced at Sam and smiled “On your left.” He answered getting an annoyed sound out of the Falcon. “That’s my line.” He exclaimed as the two stepped forward through the portal.

 They each saw Steve stood amidst what looked like a nuclear testing sight judging by the amount of rubble and debris everywhere. Bucky had been so worried about the other man when he felt himself go but Steve lucked just about as good as one can when covered in dirt and blood. Yet what he wasn’t expecting was for the soldier to run towards him and pull him into a desperate kiss before stepping back.

 “I’ve been wanting to do that for five years.” Steve explained as it seemed those five years hadn’t wavered his emotions away from the Winter soldier in any way. Yet Bucky couldn’t help but notice the shattered shield. Seems things were damaged both physically and metaphorically.

 As this happened various other portals had opened and various figures came out. The ones he recognised was the flashes of purple as the other Hawkeye appeared beside them as her mentor stood to her right. Clint and Kate had been major gamechangers in the fight as they had managed to fight off the initial attack from the Children of Thanos in New York.

 Then there was the Black Panther himself who was followed by two other warriors before Wanda flew down onto the battle field. In the distance there was a sudden appearance of a giant figure as Kamala busted through the remains of compound building with her signature red and blue sharply contrasting the brown and grey of the environment before lowering her hand as a suit of armour and racoon jumped off.

 He lost count but they at least now matched the opposition of hundred of Chitari. Steve held his hand out before suddenly Thor’s hammer came flying to his palm. “When did that happen?” He asked the Captain “I’ll explain later.” Steve said before calling a bolt of lightning. This time they were going to win, He could tell.

 “AVENGERS!...assemble.” Steve commanded. All hell broke loose.

 Everyone ran forward from both sides and soon enough Bucky found himself firing at the waves of aliens that were rapidly approaching. The chaos was made up of various explosions, blasts, lasers and the works but he kept himself to things he knew and that was guns and the vibranium arm that was nigh indestructible but that belief was out the window after seeing the split vibranium alloy shield.

 As it went on Bucky found himself near Thor and Steve who were covering each other’s backs. They had been throwing around magic weapons and turned out that Thor had a large and extravagant axe complete with an intricately designed handle. Eventually the two had unintentionally switched weapons but neither had managed to notice the fallen shield on the floor.

 With an evasive roll, he avoided a Chitari that launched at him but missed as Bucky slid over to the shield and secured the loops over his right arm as the rifle was attached to the back of his jacket. He managed to use the broken weapon to stun a foot soldier of Thanos’ army before piercing it’s head with honed edge.

 After that he managed to deflect a shot of energy from another before charging at the hostile with the shield protecting his face. Bucky then threw the shield and watched as it landed in stomach of the attacker. He swiftly pulled it back at passed it back to its rightful owner. “I Didn’t see that coming from you.” Steve remarks before quickly shocking an enemy with a wave of electricity from Mjolnir. “What can I say? I learnt from the best.” Bucky answers with a wink as the fight continues.

 Said battle culminates as they manage to require the infinity stones for themselves but nobody was expecting that Iron man or better known as Tony stark would be able withstand the sheer power of all six stones long enough to enact the coup de grace against the mad titan and his armies. Yet the cost of such action was to lay down his own life.

 While the two were more a nemesis to each other after the events of the Sokovia accords. Yet even now he held a deep respect for what the man had just sacrificed even after all their fighting, even he could not hold a grudge. After Tony snapped his fingers it was silent and almost deafeningly so as the remaining forces that Thanos had started to turn to dust and blow away in the wind.

 It was cathartic to see his enemies and temporary killers be reduced to ash. Instead of focusing his joy towards the deaths of his enemies he instead turned to face his partner and longest friend, “He was a good man.” Bucky said placing his hand atop Steve’s shoulder before the captain placed his own above James’.

---

 After the dust had cleared the survivors were left to mourn the dead and for the avengers that meant the death of Tony Stark. Yet Bucky couldn’t find in himself to go. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to but Bucky thought it was for the best after killing both of his parents and then nearly caused the Iron Man’s death by running away and trying to find the truth. He though that Tony wouldn’t want him there and he respected that.

 Yet only a few hours after the funeral was he stood beside a time machines as Steve geared himself up in the white suit. His job was simple enough: Return the stones to the exact moment they were taken and then return to the present yet Bucky could tell the man had other plans. They needed to talk.

 Bruce had been explaining something “Once the stones are back in place you will return to gate and you’ll be back here in about five seconds once you’re done.” The scientist had explained “Got it.” Steve responded “See you on the other side.” He said nodding at Sam and Bucky but the man intervened.

 “Hold on a second.” Bucky said stepping on to the machine and taking a hold of Steve’s free hand and speaks quietly “Don’t come back.” Bucky says simply as if It would just as easy as that to give up everything he had come to know “What do you mean?. All my friends are here. My life is here.” He countered

“You’re here”

 He knows that what he just said has hurt Steve hell it hurt to hear himself say it. “I know but after everything you’ve done for us…for me, you deserve something better than me. Live the life you were supposed to.” Bucky said seeing the way that his partner’s expression fell further “Be with Peggy.” He insisted before getting a silent nod from Steve as the two share a final melancholic kiss before parting ways as Bucky stepped of the platform.

 Steve nodded to Bruce as he picked up Mjolnir as the helmet formed. Bruce continued to flick buttons “Going back in three…two…one.” He pressed the big red button as Steve disappears out of sight. Even at the sombre moment Bucky can’t help but smile to himself and hope the his friend took the advice. “How long till he gets back.” Sam asked “If stays the course then it should be a few seconds but If he takes James’ advice then we might not see him.” Bruce explained stepping back as Sam nodded in acceptance.

 The all stood waiting for something to happen but nothing did. There was no bright flash as the Captain returned to the present but no there wasn’t anything except the muted happiness he felt knowing that his best friend had gotten the life he deserved after being deemed a criminal for trying to do the right thing or traitor when he loyal to his friend but now he got to experience what he should have from the beginning.

 Yet bucky was suddenly called upon. “Buck, I think it’s for you. You should go over.” Sam suggested as he met the man’s sightline and saw a figure sat on a bench near the lake. He didn’t need to be told twice as Bucky slowly made his way over and sat on the wooden bench and spoke

“So was it as good as I said it would be?” Bucky asked Steve “It was.” He answered honestly “You were right but I couldn’t help but wonder what could have been.” Steve added as he stared at the calm waters “Well if you spend too much time wondering about what could’ve been you won’t see what’s ahead but I’m sure that Captain America thought ahead.” Bucky said giving his former partner a knowing look.

 Steve just nodded and gave a simple response “I did.” Before grabbing something beside him and placing it between the two before pulling a zipper back to reveal the red, blue and white glint of a shield. Bucky already knew what he was going to say “I can’t take this.” He argued before Steve had said anything “You can because I chose you. You might not think that you deserve it but you do.” Steve insisted taking it out and handing it to his friend.

 “Take it.” Steve ordered and Bucky couldn’t object as he adjusted the straps of the weapon to fit around his flesh arm tightly. “How does it feel?” Steve asks “It’s heavy. Like something that doesn’t belong to me.” Bucky says but Steve just laughs it off “Well it does, It’s yours and I trust you’ll do the right thing with it but just make sure not to drop it.” Steve says

 “I will.” Bucky nods taking a deep breath. Looks like he was going to be the new Captain America.

---

 That was a lie and Bucky new it as he felt the weight of the shield fall to the floor of the half built construction site. “I’m not going to fight you Karli. You know this isn’t the way to do things. If you kill those officials then everyone will brand you a terrorist.” Bucky said now nearly defenceless. “Like they haven’t already! We’ve been called terrorists, monsters and murderers just because we refuse to lay down and kneel because the government suddenly doesn’t like us.” Karli argued running towards Bucky but her punch was parried as she got pushed to the side.

 Karli just grew more annoyed as Bucky refused to fight back “You have to listen, there is still a way everyone can walk away from this but if you kill them you won’t even see the sun. Trust me.” Bucky warns “Oh so the only one that gets to be redeemed is you? Anyone else is permanently locked away?!” Karli tried to hit him again “I’m saying you don’t have to be redeemed. You can still do the right thing and surrender.” It seems his words are finally getting through to the woman as she seemingly hesitates.

 She nervously speaks “And how will now that things will change?” She asks looking down “You can’t know for certain. You just need to have faith and trust that people will do the right thing.” Bucky explained offering a hand out and for a second it looked like she was about to give up with three loud shots rang out as Karli’s eyes grew wide before her body fell forward into Bucky’s arms.

 Bucky cried out as the ginger haired girl collapsed before him as he barely managed to catch her. “I’m…sorry.” Karlie manages to choke out before her body fell back. “No, no! Wait! Damnit.” He says before looking up to see Sharon with a pistol in her hand “I’m sorry but I couldn’t risk losing the power I have if she ever got out.” She said and suddenly he realised something.

 “You’re the power broker.” He muttered “So slow to catch on.” Sharon taunted turning the gun on him “Now you’re either going to join her or you’re going to be a good boy and come along with me.” She threatened using the click of the hammer to try and intimidate him but he remained steadfast planning his next move.

 He was going to run towards the shield but use his arm to block the few bullets that Sharon would shoot before that. With a small sigh and abruptly ducked forward and managed to withstand two shots of her pistol with his hand before kicking the shield up into the air and following it with a spinning kick to launch the weapon at Sharon and where it was meant to just stun her so he could get closer, instead it lodged itself in her stomach as he witness Sharon spit out drops of blood.

 Once again his only way of dealing with his problems was violence and killing, he wasn’t Captain America. No he was still that living weapon that Hydra had turned him into. He was the Winter Soldier still.

 His moment of regret was diminished when he felt an pair of eyes looking at him, almost staring into his soul.

 “James Barnes, Once the Winter soldier and now Captain America, you have been chosen.”

 Bucky spun around and witnessed the sight of a large figure dressed in a purple cloak with a large bald head. “Who the hell are-“ He tried to ask but was suddenly thrown into a portal and placed in a familiar bar with a group of five others.

 Looks like there was another fight left in him yet.

-End of Chapter 1-