Bucky watches from behind as Natasha and Steve face each other.
‘You’re not gonna stop,’ Nat sighs, eyeing the way Steve stands protectively in front of Bucky. Bucky grips his gun tighter, causing patterned imprints on his right palm. Steve shakes his head. He’s already lost Bucky twice; he wouldn’t dare lose him again.
‘You know I can’t,’ Steve replies, and the unwelcome shakiness to his voice makes him frown. Nat gives him a half smile before shaking her head half-heartedly.
‘I’m gonna regret this.”
And with that, she turns around and stuns T’Challa. He falls to the ground, his whole body violently jerking. Steve’s eyes widen slightly, and he realises that Nat has done him a big favour. He turns around to Bucky, who sports the same expression. Steve gestures to the helicopter, and Bucky gives a hesitant nod before tiredly dragging his feet towards it.
Steve mouths a quick ‘thank you’ and follows suit. Natasha lets out a weak sigh.
‘I’m always picking up after you boys.’
---------------------------------------------------
Above the resounding noise of helicopter blades, Steve can hear the tiny taps of fingernails against plastic.
‘Hey, Buck?’ Steve pauses. What exactly do you say to your best friend who was brain-washed by your biggest enemy and turned into one of the country’s most lethal assassins?
‘Good job back there, pal. You did- you did good. I’m glad you’re back, bud. And I know that it’s gonna be difficult to get back on your feet after...’ Steve waves his hands around in a gesture that was to say: ‘all this bullshit you’ve been through’.
‘It’s been real tough the past few years, Buck. I almost had you, and then you were gone. I don’t want to imagine – no, scratch that – I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that I-’
‘Steve?’
A whimper from the back seat of the helicopter alerts Steve. Bucky sucks in a shaky breath.
‘I don’t- I don’t think I’m okay.’
Steve’s heart drops into his stomach. He fumbles with the seatbelt and unhooks it, awkwardly crawling out of his pilot’s seat. Steve gathers that from the shaking and sobbing mess in the backseat, Bucky is definitely not okay. Steve crawls over to where Bucky is sitting, avoiding touching him as to not make him go into shock.
‘Bucky?’
A few more sniffles.
‘Can I touch you?’
A shake of the head.
‘Okay, that’s okay.’
A few minutes pause. Bucky’s breathing quickens.
‘I don’t know if I’m worth all this, Steve.’ admits Bucky, who is scratching his arm raw. Steve shakes his head.
‘What you did all those years, Buck. It wasn’t you. You didn’t have a choice.’
Bucky shrugs. ‘But I did it.’
Steve frowns, again shaking his head. ‘No. No.’
Bucky raises his head, looking at Steve with wide bloodshot eyes. Tear tracks streak down his face.
‘You don’t understand,’ Steve continues, ‘That wasn’t Bucky Barnes. That was the Winter Soldier. Two completely different people. And the Bucky Barnes I know wouldn’t mass murder a bunch of people for fun.’
Bucky flinches at the reminder.
‘Sorry. I just- I hate this. I care about you, doll. I really do.’
Bucky lets out a fantastic sob and Steve wonders whether he said something wrong. Clearly not, as Bucky collapses on top of him, murmuring slurred ‘thank you’s.
After a good half an hour of crying into Steve’s lap as he slowly carded fingers through Bucky’s thick hair, Bucky sits up. He blinks hard, trying to clear his vision. As his eyes focus, he sees Steve softly smiling at him. Steve rests a hand on the side of Bucky's face, using his thumb to gently wipe away stray tears. Bucky’s face flushes. He’s supposed to be a super-soldier, not a cry-baby, Bucky thinks.
‘Buck?’
‘Yeah?’
‘Let me help you. Please.’
Silence.
‘Buck.’
More silence.
‘James...’
Bucky flinches at the use of his real name. ‘Okay.’
Steve reaches over and grabs Bucky’s hand, gripping it tight. Steve opens his mouth as if to say something, but closes it again. He brings Bucky's hand slowly to his lips, kissing the knuckles gently. Bucky leans further into Steve, looking at their hands together.
‘Stevie?’ Bucky asks. Steve’s heart lurches at the use of his old nickname. It’s been years since he’s heard that one, especially from the guy who’d given it to him.
‘Yeah?’
‘Will you be there with me?’
Steve grinned, and gave Bucky’s hand a light squeeze.
‘‘Till the end of the line.’