The beginning of something new
Bucky’s eyes snapped open and he sat up with a gasp for air. He began to feel nauseous as he felt someone push him back down in bed. “Don’t kill yourself already. It’s only your first day here, pal.” He chuckled as he sat down next to Buck on the bed.
“What happened?” Bucky asked as he looked around and tried to figure out where he was. It looked like a bed and breakfast but not at all. He noticed his clothes were laid over a metal chair in the room. There was a portrait of a man with sleek black hair on the wall opposite from him. However, Bucky then realized he didn’t need an answer because oh my god he fucking remembered.
Bucky remembered. Which wouldn’t be a strange thing to most, but this is bucky. He couldn’t remember his life before Hydra one bit, but somehow here he was, remembering last night with ease.
“You passed out after getting drugged, so I don’t blame you for that. The only problem is, we have no clue who you are, and only criminals and druggies come running through the woods at night. So what did you do?”
Bucky felt like a toddler being scolded for doodling on the walls. The mere presence of the man towering over him sent shivers down his spine. He could only imagine what kind of horrible people lived in this run down hell hole.
“Listen, sir, I haven’t committed a crime in my life I swear. Really, I was trying to run away from these guys. Ah, not like a gang or anything.” Bucky stuttered. “Listen if you’ll just let me explain this whole situation to your “king”, I can clear things up and, you know, leave you all alone out here in the woods. I won’t say a thing about this to anyone, promise.”
“Our king is a power-driven super villain that can do more damage than any of us. He’s cunning and cruel, and he doesn’t care about anything but himself. Still wanna talk?”
“Well, why would you keep a crazy supervillain in your home?” Bucky asked like it was the dumbest question. Because obviously, you don’t keep villains in your homes, right?
“He’s a good leader, he’s just pretty emotionally unstable. He’s scared and frustrated and hasn’t trusted people ever since his father abandoned him. Loki is..he’s a really complex guy.”
The man sighed. “All I’m saying man, is that you don’t need to be afraid. You’re safe here, really.”
“I’d be safer if I could leave.” he mumbled under his breath. The man chuckled.
“You’d rather be running from that gang-not-gang than being here with us? I’ll let the others know you’re awake. We should be able to take you to get some food. You’re always welcome to visit me if you want. This here is my room.” He gestured to the space around him.
It was quiet and awkward for a while until there was a knock at the door. Well, it was kind of a thud. Then there was a yell.
“STARK! JOIN US AT THE DINING TABLE AND PLAY THE GAME OF CAN YOU LIFT THE MIGHTY THOR’S HAMMER?”
The man, Stark, sighed and opened the door to a beaming blonde brute.
“Thor, you don’t need to yell. Plus, we have guests.” Stark Gestured to Bucky. “Come on, Let’s get you some food and then I’ll introduce you to some people.”
They left the room and came to a table with Two people already sitting at it. Three, as soon as the Thor guy sat down. “They’re all nice, don’t worry.” Stark encouraged.
“Hey, Tony. Hey, I know I saw you briefly yesterday, but I didn’t get the chance to introduce myself. I’m Steve Rogers.” he grinned and stared at him like he was waiting for him to reply. Bucky looked down at his shirt, which he still didn’t know who it belonged to. “What?”
“Oh. Yeah. I'm, uh, Bucky.”Steve grinned and nodded politely. Stark came back then with a plate of food. Eggs and lettuce with bread. Bucky didn’t care. It’s still better than anything he got back in the Hydra base. “Ah, thanks” He mumbled.
Bucky ate a little before someone was poking him. “Hey, I’m Bruce.” Bucky nodded his head at the scruffy looking man while he continued to chew his eggs.
Bucky decided he liked Steve and Bruce. He didn’t know about Thor quite yet. He’s loud.
Minutes later, Tony was pulling Bucky out of his chair, nearly giving him a heart attack. “I just want to introduce you to someone. She’s cool I swear.” He started down a hallway to a recreational area where they sat down across from a woman with smooth brown hair. “Bucky, this is Wanda.” Tony introduced them and the girl, Wanda, smiled softly at Bucky. She proceeded to fiddle with her hands.
Hmm. Shy like Bucky.
“Thanks for leaving the door unlocked,” Tony chuckled. Wanda looked offended.
“You’re not seriously still mad about that, right? I mean if you didn’t like him he’d be dead!” She retorted.
Bucky couldn’t tell if she was joking or not. “Ah, sorry for getting you in trouble, Wanda.”
“Ok,” Tony started as he stood up. “Thanks for the riveting conversation, but I think we’ll be taking our leave now.”
“It was nice to meet you Bucky!” Wanda bleated and waved goodbye as Tony pulled Bucky away again back to the table from before.
“Hey ‘Tash!” Tonys chipper tone interrupted Bucky’s thoughts as he was shoved down at a table with Thor, Bruce, Steve, and now this new redhead. “This is Bucky, Banner knocked him out last night.” Tony explained, waving his hands all over the place.
“So he’s your pet?” ‘Tash said with a smirk. Bucky could feel his face turning red.
“Do not under any circumstances piss Natasha off,” Tony said with a jab of his thumb. “She will fuck you up.”
“I’m usually a decent person. Or at least I like to think so.” Natasha joked.
Bucky mentally noted to not mess with anyone at this table. Oh God, he thought, they’re going to kill me.
“Bucky?” Steve reached out to touch him again. Bucky flinched and pulled away. “What’s wrong?”
“Why are you being so nice to me?” Bucky’s voice was breaking more every second that passed. This place was so different yet oh so similar to the Hydra base. “You’re gonna hurt me and eat my flesh to survive or something or-”
“Bucky, we won’t hurt you. We’re the good guys here, okay?” Steve explained, placing a comforting hand on Bucky’s shoulder.
“Then let me leave,” Bucky suggested. His tongue felt fat in his mouth and there was a lump in his throat. He just wanted to go back to his bed, and fast food, and clean clothes, and, oh god a shower sounded nice.
Tony sighed, “You - you can’t leave Bucky. I’m sorry, I really am, but you can’t.”
“You can’t just keep me here!” Bucky wouldn’t cry. He wouldn’t. Little kids cried and Bucky was a grown man. “I have a life out there! I have a life -” That was kind of an untrue statement, so his argument was pretty weak, but they didn’t have to know that.
“I know, and I’m so sorry Wanda didn’t watch the door and you came in and Banner got so scared he knocked you out. I’m so, so sorry, but you know where we are, and we can’t let you leave. It would expose us to Hydra, and we can’t risk an attack on the only safe space we’ve had in years.” Steve sighed, the dirty blonde wrapping his arms around him tightly. This was awful.
“Life here isn’t that bad. We’ll find you a room, everyone here is nice, I promise. It’s a fresh start.” The curly haired Banner spoke up.
“You can rest in my room if you want, take a shower, brush your teeth. You can borrow some clothes too. Well, you are right now but, ah, we can share.” Steve said. Oh, So it was Steve’s pajamas he was wearing.
Bucky was being shuffled into a dark room with a bed, a nice bed. Bucky took his shirt off and climbed under the scratchy blankets. Banner was telling him where things were, but Bucky wasn’t listening. He was already starting to fall asleep quickly.
It’s been a stressful day.