He didn’t register anything but voices. Loud voices everywhere around him.
It’s as if all of his other senses were turned off.
He can’t feel, can’t smell, can’t see anything.
He can’t even breathe properly.
It doesn’t help at all that the voices were talking about him.
They were calling him a monster, a mindless freak and if he was honest with himself he agreed with them.
Why did he even agree to come along with Sam in the first place?
He could be in his apartment right now, alone, without being crowded by people. But no he just had to agree to accompany Sam to his announcement interview.
Today was the day he finally announced the new era of Captain America.
It was supposed to be completely about him.
He should have given a little speech and then answered some questions about taking on the shield but somehow the attention was directed towards him.
It all started with a simple question from one of the many reporters.
„What’s the Winter Soldier doing here?“ the reporter asked shortly after spotting him.
That’s when it escalated.
„What’s he doing here?“
„He is a murderer!“
„Mindless freak!“
„He should be locked away!“
These are only a few things he could make out between the many voices.
Suddenly Sam was standing right in front of him. His lips were moving but he wasn’t able to make out the words that were spoken.
All he knew was that he couldn’t breathe.
So he ran.
He turned around and just ran away from the many voices as fast as he could.
He ran until he found a quiet and dark room where he finally fell down onto his knees, completely out of breath.
His sight became blurred and he was sure he would have passed out soon, if it wasn’t for the noise of somebody opening the door.
He looked around to see Sam standing inside the now opened door.
Slowly he made his way towards the slumped down figure, carefully kneeling in front of him.
Sam started to talk but again he wasn’t able to hear the words.
Sam slowly held a hand out towards him.
Unsure of what to do he put his own into the outstretched hand.
The other man brought his hand towards his own chest and breathed deeply.
Automatically he started to copy the other man’s breathing.
Shortly after he was able to focus more on the world around him.
He now noticed that he was kneeling in a little storage room with no windows and one single door.
He also started to finally register Sam‘s voice. He was repeating the same words over and over again: „You are James Buchanan Barnes. You’re in a storage room in the Captain America exhibit center in Washington D.C.. You’re with me, Sam Wilson. You’re not alone.“
At first he was a bit confused. What was Sam doing there? But slowly he started to understand.
He was trying to ground him and as much as he hated to admit this, it worked.
„You back with me, Buck?“ Sam asked.
„Don’t call me that.“ he grunted.
Sam let out a huffed laugh. „I thought we were over this by now.“ he smiled a little at him, „it’s good to have you back.“
“It’s good to be back.“ Bucky replied.
They both sat down properly next to each other, leaning against the closest wall.
For a few minutes they were silently enjoying each other’s company until Sam suddenly broke this silence.
„I’m sorry.“ he said.
„What for?“ Bucky asked.
„For what just happened. For what the reporters said. For not being able to silence them. For dragging you here in the first place even though you probably didn’t even want to come along. Just for this entire situation.“ Sam explained.
Bucky looked shocked at his friend, because yes as much as he tries to deny it this is what they were now, friends.
„Nothing of what just happened was your fault. You didn’t know this would happen and seriously I don’t think anyone could have stopped those reporters at this point. Not even Steve… heck I don’t even think that Stark would have been able to stop them and he knew how to deal with this shit. Also do you really think anyone could drag me anywhere I didn’t want to go.“
„Wow I don’t think I have ever heard you talking so much at once.“ Same joked teasingly, to which Bucky responded with a light slap over his friend's head. „But yeah maybe you’re right this once.“
„What are you talking about? I'm always right.“ He looked to his right to see Sam‘s annoyed face.
Sam slowly stood up from the floor and walked towards the door. Right as he was about to leave the storage room Bucky stopped him.
„Sam… thank you for helping me… with… you know what… I really appreciate it.“ he said honestly.
„No need to thank me. That’s what friends are here for.“