Chapter 20
You’d be eternally grateful to Steve for putting you and Bucky Barnes together. Not only was he an incredible man, but helping him adjust and adapt to his new life gave you a fresh purpose in yours as well. He became your teammate...your ally...the sidekick you didn’t even know you needed.
In other words, he was your friend. And you knew the feeling was mutual.
Truthfully, Bucky had become such a constant presence in your life that you’d used it as an excuse to push your problems to the back burner. It was so much easier to focus on him than it was to sort out your own emotions.
At the funeral, you had promised Edward and Oswald that you would contact them soon. But as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, you still hadn’t reached out to either one of them. It wasn’t that you didn’t want to. You just didn’t see the point in even trying until you had figured things out. Every time you’d attempted to deal with it, your thoughts and feelings would get all tangled up in a giant knot that couldn’t be undone. Frustrated and upset, you would set it aside. It became a problem that could simply be dealt with at a later date.
At least, it was until HE showed up.
“He’s still practicing with that thing?” Bucky asked from his spot in the front passenger seat of your car. The two of you had just parked in the yard, and you could see Sam throwing Steve’s old shield at a tree over and over.
“He wants to be perfect,” you replied. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”
“Except he isn’t getting any better. He still throws-“
“Like a girl?” you interrupted, giving him a teasing look.
“Not like a super soldier.”
“Well, he isn’t one.”
“You don’t have to tell me that.”
“You know, if I didn’t know better, I could mistake that slightly salty attitude of yours for jealousy,” you joked. The two of them had become friends, but there was still a rivalry between them that never failed to amuse you.
He let out a small snort as you hopped out of the car.
You were in the middle of greeting Sam and complimenting him on his shield work when you noticed Bucky seemed to be distracted by something. He kept looking back the way you’d come.
“What is it?” you asked.
“I didn’t want to say anything before because I wasn’t sure, but I think somebody followed us here. Get in the house.”
With one hand resting on your back, he pushed you gently in the direction of the front door. You moved at a swift, yet casual pace, with Sam and Bucky close behind. Once inside, Bucky locked the door and moved to peep out the window.
“Alright, you two stay here. I’ll slip out the back, go around, and try to come up behind them,” Bucky said. The Winter Soldier in him was coming out.
“It might not be anything, Buck,” you reassured. “Why don’t we wait a couple of minutes first to see?”
You jumped slightly when someone knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” Sam asked loudly.
“Bruce.”
“That is not Bruce’s voice,” Sam whispered to you.
“Bruce Wayne.”
Without thinking, you moved quickly to open the door. Bucky tried to grab your wrist to stop you, but your suddenness had taken him by surprise. You had the door open before he could do anything about it.
On the other side of it stood a young man. Even though he was no longer the teenage boy you still envisioned him as, he was easily recognizable.
“Bruce Wayne, look at you! You’re all grown up...and making me feel really old.”
You’d met Bruce when he was a child, now he was a man in his twenties.
“Well, you don’t look it,” he said with a smile.
“Come on in.”
After he and Sam shook hands, you introduced him to Bucky then motioned for him to make himself comfortable.
“What are you doing here?” you asked as you sat down across from him.
“It’s a bit of a long story. Tony Stark called me.”
When he noticed the expression on your face, he quickly added, “It must have been a few days before he...Anyway, I missed it due to the time zones. I’ve been living abroad the last several years...training and planning. I tried calling him back. You know we had talked a few times since you gave me his number. I never reached him, but he left me a message. He said ‘If anything happens to me, Y/n will make the best mentor you could ever hope to have.’”
“Tony said that about me?”
“Yeah, he did.”
“I always thought the world of that man,” you said quietly. “It’s nice to know it wasn’t one sided.”
Clearing your throat and raising your voice, you asked, “A mentor for what? And what have you been training and planning for?”
You noticed as Bruce’s eyes darted to Bucky and Sam.
“We can wait in the kitchen,” Sam offered, picking up on Bruce’s hesitation. Bucky, however, seemed less willing.
“No, it’s okay,” Bruce began. “I do want this to be kept a secret. But, Y/n trusts you with her life. That’s good enough for me.”
With a small laugh, he added, “You might find this kind of strange.”
“She video chatted with a talking raccoon the other day,” Bucky said. “Nothing’s strange anymore.”
Bruce pulled a small tablet out of his jacket and placed it on the coffee table in front of you. As you flipped through the blueprints and designs it displayed, you let out a “Wow.”
“You know this isn’t an easy road you’re thinking about going down?” Sam asked.
“I know, but the Wayne family has always had a responsibility to Gotham. It’s my turn now.”
“I always suspected that you were going to grow up to be a great man. I’m happy to know I was right,” you said, giving him a smile that he returned.
“Gotham has been steadily declining since the Snap was reversed. I guess as much bad came back as good. I think it’s time. I know you’re already busy, but I could use advice...and guidance. You have experience with this.”
“Of course I’ll help,” you said.
Suddenly, it dawned on you that this would most certainly affect Oswald and Edward, too. Even though you already knew the answer, you had to ask.
“This includes Penguin and the Riddler?” you said, attempting to sound casual.
“It does. Is that going to be a problem? I know they were sort of friends of yours several years ago.”
Bruce really had been gone a long time.
You found that you didn’t know how to answer his question. There was no way that you could ever bring yourself to move against them, no matter what they might be doing. But, there were a lot of very dangerous people in Gotham. Bruce’s idea was exactly what that city needed.
“What’ll happen to them?” you asked.
“I’m not planning on killing anyone if that’s what you’re asking. I only want to bring justice to Gotham.”
“Then it won’t be a problem,” you said before you’d even realized it.
“Good. They’ve been fighting each other for months now. They’ve managed to keep it pretty much between themselves, but it still needs to be dealt with.”
“Why would they be at war?”
The question had barely left your mouth when the answer came to you: it was because of you. Deep down, you knew it would always be this way. Whatever you did...whatever you decided...they would never stop. It would be like admitting defeat, and their egos would certainly never allow that.
“No one knows,” Bruce replied, oblivious to your revelation.
Now, it was going to be that much harder. But, you’d given Bruce your word. You weren’t going to go back on it now.
“Have you decided on a name?” you asked, pushing that reoccurring problem out of your mind once more. “Every superhero needs a name.”
“Yeah, I have.”
You noticed the instant change in his behavior. He seemed... embarrassed almost.
“What is it?”
He didn’t answer.
“Come on,” you urged him. “I know a guy who calls himself ‘Star Lord.’ It can’t be worse than that.”
——————
“Gotham is mine. That’s what he said!”
“I was there, Oswald.”
“I have not worked, and sweated, and fought all these years to give my city TO A MAN DRESSED LIKE A BAT!”
Edward rolled his eyes as he fiddled with his handcuffs. Oswald could really be overly dramatic sometimes, even by his standards. He was seconds from having the cuffs off when the prisoner transport van slammed to a stop, almost throwing them off the bench.
“What’s happening?” Oswald asked.
“How am I supposed to know?”
“Will you hurry up with that?” Oswald urged. “We need to get out of here.”
“Who says I’m taking you with me?”
Before Oswald could bite back, a loud clanging sound emanated from outside the door before it was practically ripped off of its hinges. They both sat, staring dumbly for a moment, before Oswald screeched, “WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!”
———————
You had decided to go back to Gotham with Bruce so that you could be there for his first night as the city’s dark knight...its caped crusader. After all, like you told him, he might get himself into trouble and need some help.
Bucky had also insisted on coming along saying, “Bruce might need you, and you might need me.” It was a sweet gesture and you readily agreed, especially since you had mixed feelings about returning to Gotham. Whether Bucky was that worried about your safety or simply sensed your internal struggle, you weren’t sure. You decided you weren’t ready to ask him.
As the three of you stood on the roof of one of Gotham’s skyscrapers, you watched Bruce with a protective eye.
“Do you have everything you might need?”
You were surprised at how motherly you sounded. Bruce had grown into a large, strong, powerful man, and you were worrying over him like he was a child.
“Yeah.”
“Keep us updated. Don’t hesitate to call us in if it gets too dangerous.”
“Okay, I will,” he replied, letting out a small chuckle.
“It’s time to let the kid go,” Bucky told you, bumping you playfully with his arm.
“Good luck.”
With that, you watched as he swooped off the rooftop towards one of the neighboring buildings.
You let out a deep sigh as you thought about what you’d just unleashed on your loved ones. The Batman would be the greatest adversary they’d ever face. Of that you were certain.
“You okay?” Bucky asked.
“I guess. I know this is the right thing to do, but it still feels wrong. They’ll be locked up a long time.”
“Maybe not.”
You gave Bucky a questioning look.
“I’m not the kind of man who’s easily intimidated. You know that. But, a couple of regular guys seeing a thing like that descend on them like a demon out of the night sky? Well, it’d probably be enough to put the fear of God in ‘em. At least for awhile.”
“Bucky Barnes, what are you suggesting?”
“Do what you’ve got to do.”
“You won’t think badly of me?”
“I never could.”
As you headed for the elevator, you realized he was still right beside you.
“You don’t have to get involved in this,” you said.
“I know. But I’ve done a lot worse, and never for as good a reason.”
“Do you have any idea how lucky I am to have you?” you said, staring at him with an expression of pure sincerity.
“I’m not that great,” he scoffed.
“You are to me.”
“Oh come on,” he said, grabbing you gently by the arm. “Let’s get out of here before you make me cry.”
——————
“THAT’S them? That’s what all of the fuss is about?” Bucky asked as the two of you watched Penguin and Riddler dangle helplessly, but furiously, from the light pole that the Batman had suspended them from.
“Yep.”
“No wonder you think so highly of me. You’ve got low standards.”
You were crouched on a fire escape farther up the street, formulating a plan as the crowd of cops and onlookers just got bigger.
“There’s a lot people down there,” you said, ignoring his earlier comments.
“We should wait until they’re being transported. It’ll be easier, and less conspicuous, to stop the vehicle later than it will be to get through all of that.”
“Agreed.”
Once the truck arrived, the pair of you slipped down the fire escape and got into your rental car. You were going to follow along at a safe distance until it was far enough away from the scene that you could intercept it without interruption.
“I think this is far enough,” Bucky said after several miles.
Pulling alongside and then slightly ahead, you made to move over in front of it as if you hadn’t even seen it there. You braced yourself for the inevitable impact.
“Oh my god!” you squealed when you got out of the car to look at the damage. “I’m so sorry! It’s all my fault! I was checking my makeup in the mirror and didn’t even see you!”
As you carried on to keep the driver’s attention, Bucky snuck up behind him and put him in a chokehold in order to hold him still.
“Sorry about this,” you said while you pulled the cuffs from his belt and proceeded to place them on his wrists. Once his hands and feet were bound, Bucky ran around to the back of the truck while you climbed in the cab to get the keys.
“I’ve got the keys!” you yelled out, right before the loud sound of metal being torn apart met your ears. “Or you can just rip the door off. That works, too.”
“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?” Oswald screeched at Bucky.
“Would you shut up?” Bucky said.
“Shut up? SHUT UP! Who are you to tell me to shut up?!”
“Oswald!” Edward yelled to get his attention. “Shut up.”
“Was I moving that slow or are you just trying to show off again?” you asked Bucky as you ran to join him at the back of the vehicle.
“Y/n” Edward said.
They both looked absolutely perplexed by the sight of you.
“What are you doing here?” Oswald asked.
“No time for that now. Let’s go.”
You uncuffed them before pointing to your car. Once inside, you said, “Tell me where to take you.”
In between giving you directions, they asked what felt like about a hundred and one very incriminating questions: What were you doing in Gotham? How long had you been there? How did you find out about what happened to them so quickly? How did you know where to find them?
“This one still hasn’t answered my first question about who the hell he is,” Oswald said, jabbing a finger in Bucky’s direction.
“Don’t be rude, Oswald,” you scolded. “Bucky, this is Oswald Cobblepot and Edward Nygma. Guys, this is Bucky Barnes.”
“I wish I could say it was nice to meet you, but you haven’t given me a reason to yet,” Bucky said, causing you to snort in amusement.
The name rang a bell with Edward in more ways than one. He’d actually met the man in Wakanda, but hadn’t recognized him due to the fact that he was now nearly clean shaven with short hair. He remembered that he was a friend of Captain Rogers. And there was that other little matter...
“So this is the muscular, ruggedly handsome former assassin you told us about,” Edward said with a tense edge to his voice.
You’d honestly forgotten all about that. Too bad Ed hadn’t.
Glancing over, you found Bucky grinning at you widely.
“I didn’t know you thought about me that way, doll,” he joked.
“Oh, shut up,” you said, smacking him playfully on the leg.
They spent the rest of the car ride in silence, glaring daggers at the back of Bucky’s head.
When you reached your destination, you said, “Let’s go in. I need to talk to you and I don’t like the idea of staying out here.”
You weren’t surprised when they were quick to agree with you.
The place you’d driven them to was Oswald’s most recently acquired nightclub. The three of you followed him through the swarm of intoxicated patrons to his office at the back.
Once the door was shut, Edward asked, “Is he one of yours?”
“Who?” you said, trying to play dumb.
“That idiot dressed as a bat.”
You shot him a small smirk as you thought about how to answer.
“He’s not an Avenger, and he isn’t answerable to me. Anything I might know beyond that is strictly my business,” you said as you made yourself comfortable in one of Oswald’s chairs.
Oswald appeared a bit taken aback by your response, but the corners of Edward’s mouth twitched up slightly. Apparently you were in charge now, and he loved it.
“Bucky,” you began, “could I speak to them privately a moment?”
“Sure.” Giving them his most intimidating Winter Soldier stare, he added, “I’ll be right outside the door if you need me.”
“Who is he really?” Oswald asked after he was gone. This time you knew he was referring to Bucky.
“My friend,” you said firmly. You weren’t going down that road with them again.
“I can’t believe you guys,” you started. “You’ve been behaving like a couple of children instead of the grown men you’re supposed to be. Fighting a war over me...absolutely ridiculous.”
“How did you know about that?” Edward asked as he turned to give Oswald an accusatory glare. Oswald responded with a shrug that said, “Don’t look at me.”
“You might be surprised at all the things I know. But, that’s not the point right now. I can’t keep showing up to rescue the two of you every time you get locked up somewhere. What happened tonight was your own fault, and it will happen again. I’m busy with my own responsibilities. I can’t drop everything because one or both of you ends up in Arkham or Blackgate or who knows where. I only showed up tonight because...well because I love you...both of you. But it won’t happen again. This is the last time. I’m not even going to come back to Gotham as long as you’re at each other’s throats. Has it never occurred to you that you’re stronger together than you are apart?”
“Of course it has,” Oswald said. “But...there’s something, or more precisely someone, that divides us.”
“Perhaps that’s the very thing that should unite you.” Taking a deep breath, you continued, “Apart from me, each of you is all the other one has. You were best friends once. I believe that, deep down beneath all of this nonsense, you still are.”
Before they could say anything, Bucky popped his head inside the office.
“You know that thing we’re here for? Well we gotta go.”
That meant Bruce had contacted him.
“I’ll be right there.”
He gave you a quick nod and disappeared back through the door.
“I have other matters to deal with this evening,” you said, slipping into the persona of your recently adopted leadership role. “Tomorrow, Bucky and I will be leaving for New York. I have a meeting with Dr. Strange, and I’m going to check on Spider-Man while I’m there. Afterwards, I have plans to go stay with Clint and the family for a few days. Unless something comes up, I should be free at least part of next week. I’ll try to come visit.”
“Do you really mean it this time?” Edward asked with a smirk.
“If you play nicely while I’m gone, then yes,” you said, rising from your chair. Feeling a tad guilty about giving them a hard time, you blew them a kiss and said, “See you around, boys.”
As soon as you were gone, Edward said in a voice practically dripping with desire, “She has changed.”
“Yes, she has.”
Edward couldn’t help but notice how disappointed Oswald sounded.
“You don’t like it?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just...there was a time in her life when she actually thought she needed me.”
In spite of their jealousies and their rivalry, Edward found himself trying to comfort the man next to him.
“I’m sure she still does. At least, as much as a woman like that really needs anyone.”
Chuckling slightly, Oswald said, “I suppose we knew what we were getting into from the beginning.”
Edward hummed in agreement.
“What do you think will happen now?”
“I don’t know,” Edward admitted. “But I’m dying to find out.”