Sweeten the Deal
Bucky Barnes was a fugitive. He lived in the shadows, he was a ghost story, a legend, he–
“Hello, and welcome to Stacy’s Bakery! What can I get for you today?”
Bucky smiled at the girl behind the counter, lifting his baseball cap just enough to show his face. He knew there were no cameras in the shop, and the only two customers were sitting close to the door and facing the windows.
“Hey, Katie,” he greeted. He’d missed this bakery fiercely while he was away from New York, and it showed in the warmth of his voice. “You got a good special for me today, or should I just go for the usual?”
Katie’s smile grew when she recognized him, and Bucky felt unreasonably touched by that. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite customer! Haven’t seen you in a while, Jim.”
Bucky shrugged. “I’ve been out of the city. Just got back today, thought I’d pass by my favorite shop before heading home.”
That was a lie. Bucky’d been back in New York for three days now, after Steve had caught his movements and almost cornered him in Berlin. At the moment, Cap was chasing a false lead to Albania while Bucky had flown back to the States; he’d have to leave again soon, towards Mexico, maybe, or Canada.
Katie laughed, unaware of where his train of thought had gone. “Smooth talker,” she teased. Then, pointing to the menu on the wall, she added, “Today’s special is blueberry cheesecake, but I remember how much you hate those.”
Bucky nodded. He was about to order the usual – a salted caramel muffin that made his mouth water just by thinking about it and some hot cocoa – when a third voice chimed in from behind him.
“Really? You don’t like blueberries? That’s probably a crime in all 50 states.”
Bucky froze, caught off guard.
First of all, he had no idea how someone had managed to walk inside the shop and then get close enough to potentially attack him without him noticing. And secondly…
He knew that voice.
Calmly, he reached inside his hoodie and grabbed the knife strapped there. He didn’t turn around to look at the man behind him.
“Are we really gonna do this here?” Bucky asked, deceptively mild.
He was already shifting into mission mode, his brain automatically looking for ways to escape now that he was aware of the danger. And avoid collateral damage , he mentally added when Katie frowned at him.
The man behind him snorted. “I mean, I was hoping we’d be able to talk this through. Avoid structural damage and all that. Not that I knew this place existed before today, but I do really enjoy blueberry cheesecake.”
“I’m sorry,” Bucky mouthed. He turned around, looking away from a confused Katie. His eyes immediately jumped towards the other customers, only to find that their seats were now empty. How he hadn’t noticed them leaving was beyond him.
“What do you want, Stark?”
Tony raised an eyebrow at him, somehow managing to look both sarcastic and unimpressed. “You’re a fugitive, Sergeant Barnes. Half the world wants something from you.”
Then, with a tired sigh, he continued, “FRIDAY’s facial recognition program got a match on your ID this morning, and since the good ol’ Captain is halfway around the world on what I’m guessing is a wild-goose chase… Well, I was the only Avenger around, so here we are. And please, don’t pull that knife out of your hoodie. I like to wait after breakfast before starting to throw punches.”
Reluctantly, Bucky took his hands out of his hoodie, keeping them raised to show he was unarmed. He’d spotted Stark’s gauntlet-watch before the man had slipped his hands in his pants pockets, and Bucky had no desire of getting a repulsor blast to the face.
“So, what now?” he asked.
Stark hummed. “Now you get to decide. Either you come back with me to the Tower and get reunited with your old buddy, or you keep running until either SHIELD or Hydra find you. Pick the first option, and you’ll get the best team of lawyers my money can buy, and the guarantee you’ll get a fair, public trial to clear your name and put an end to your days as a fugitive. Pick the second…” he shrugged. “I don’t get a say in what happens then, but I’m assuming it won’t be pretty for you.”
“Wait,” Bucky interjected, bewildered. “What do you mean lawyers? A trial? I thought I’d be thrown in jail as soon as I showed my face.”
“America sees you as a traitor, Barnes, but you and I both know you weren’t responsible for those crimes. If you go through a public trial, with evidence of being a POW who was brainwashed for decades… they’d be crazy to condemn you.”
“And if I refuse?”
“You pick the second option.” Stark’s tone was flippant, but Bucky could read the tension building in him.
Bucky hesitated, considering his next few words carefully. “I appreciate the offer, Stark, but you don’t have the full picture here. If you knew what I’ve done, you-”
Stark cut him off, suddenly much colder than he’d been before. “December 16th, 1991.” At Bucky’s shocked silence, his mouth curved in a bitter smile. “I’ve read your files, Barnes. The offer still stands.”
Bucky mulled it over for a second before gingerly lowering his hands. He pointed at Katie, who was still staring wordlessly at them.
“You mind if I still get breakfast before jumping into this mess?”
That made Tony’s grin widen, going from grim and strained to full-on teasing, and Bucky’s stomach flipped at the sight. Damn, that smile was dangerous .
Tony passed him two fifties with a flourish. “A blueberry cheesecake for me, plus whatever you want. And let Katie keep the change.”
Katie spluttered, hurrying off to get their food, and Bucky couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. God, his life truly was a wild ride.