Chapter 4
The coffee cup clinks against the spoon, swirling black liquid on a sticky diner bar.
It's been a full week now. Or at least, however time works here, wherever here is. Fully released and ready to be "back in the world".
The doctor checked him out, signed the papers as Bucky sat there for a moment, trying to silence the part that wants to believe this is real.
"You know, usually when I can get someone's knees weak, it's a compliment." Howard says as he walks back into the room, that all too familiar plummeting sensation haunting him. "Never had it happen to a fella before. How you feeling, pal?"
It's an even stranger sensation, hearing Howard Stark's voice. Still charismatically arrogant, a youthfulness that would never leave, and instead transfer to his son. His son, who would look like his replica, and yet nothing like him; as a face twisted with sadness, anger and rage comes into his mind. All of it against the backdrop of every other mission, and he deserves to see those faces. Even in this pseudo-afterlife. But hearing it, being able to grasp Howard Stark in the flesh again, is as strange as it will get.
"Okay." He gets out, still not able to look in his eyes.
"That's the second time now." He sighs, sitting in the bunk opposite him.
"Second time of what?"
"The second time you've looked at me like I was a ghost."
"If only you knew." He mutters.
"Huh?"
And it's then he says the only thing he can, the one thing that he needs to, even if it isn't real, or it's a time warp he's stuck in. "Howard," as Stark looks up at him, even further bewildered that he called him by his first name. "Promise me something."
"What did you go through, kid?"
"I'm serious." He says, looking at his eyes for the first time and seeing that Tony Stark inherited those dark brown hues that could express so much emotion, from him.
There's a pause, both worried and heavy that exhales into the quiet air before Stark responds. "Okay pal. What is it?"
"That when you have a family... A kid... Don't leave him."
"What the hell are you on about?"
"Don't take any chances. Just..." He remembers the last he saw of Tony; a regretful, lonely and hurt son, who wanted justice for a parent he never saw enough of. "...be there for him. Promise me."
Howard looks at him worried, as if Bucky is either out of his mind or saw something. He can't tell him just how right he is. "....Yeah." He finally says. "Okay."
Bucky nods, looking back at him.
"What the hell did they do to you over there, Barnes?" Howard asks.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"-fee?" The waitresses voice comes back.
"Sorry, doll?" He says on automatic.
She smiles. "I asked if ya wanted mo' coffee, honey."
"No, no, Thanks."
"Extra sugah then? It looks awfully dark to me."
He looks down, too still black liquid and the smoke wisps that were present before, now retreated back into the lukewarm cup. "I'm okay. Thank you."
She looks at him, winking slyly as she slides a small cup of sugar cubes to him. "Everyone needs some sweetness every now and then." The waitress gives one more smile as her red hair goes back to the other side of the bar.
He smiles, looking down. Even here, he has a thing for redheads.