Chapter 2
Your chest heaved as you ran towards the crash site, "Bucky!" You screamed again, "Steve?" You called out but no answer came and that's when you saw it.
Bucky was dragging Steve's unconscious body out of the water and walking away. You wanted to make sure Steve was alright but you had to go after Bucky first, so, that's what you did. You ran towards your ex-lover. He walked slowly and limped, that's why you were able to catch up to him.
"Bucky," You spoke unsurely as you got close enough. His icy gaze turned to you and stared; looking as if trying to remember, "Hey," You walked closer, "I'm not gonna hurt you,"
"Can't hurt me," His voice was gruff and almost foreign to you
"I won't even try," You explained, "I'm Y/N," You swallowed, "Come on, I'll keep you safe,"
You offered him your hand and the chaos around the two of you seemed to melt away. His eyes flicked down to your extended hand and up to meet your gaze again. He weighed his options, unsure of what to do.
"SHIELD's gone," You began, "Please, come with me. You've got nothing to lose,"
Bucky looked at you for a long while, "Please," You begged this time and he nodded. His eyes were still flicking all over you, making sure that you weren't a threat.
"This can be your home for as long as you like," You stated as you led him inside your suburban house
Living forever meant a huge fortune and that brought you a lavish lifestyle. However, you'd invested most of it and bought a house big enough for a family; you lived alone. A kitchen, dining room and a lounge on the ground floor and three bedrooms on the first floor.
"Why?" It was the second thing he'd said to you.
"I'll tell you everything you ask me about," You explained, "But first, I need you to clean up. I'll run you a warm bath and make you dinner. You can ask me whatever you want over dinner. Is that alright?"
He nodded again.
"Okay," You smiled, "I'll call you when the bath is ready, you stay here,"
You hurried off to the bathroom in your room and turned on the tap. The water was hot enough to steam the mirrors. You added bubbles and scented oils, just so he could feel better. You remembered that he adored your rose perfume so you added that scent. If his eyes didn't remind him who you were then maybe the smell would.
"Alright," You announced as you walked down the stairs, "You can come now," Your heart broke to see him standing still exactly where you'd left him
You approached him with slow movements, "Hey, come on," You held his right hand firmly and led him up the stairs, "I'm going to take your clothes off now," You stated before you started to undo the buckles and straps. Bucky moved slowly and handed you his gun. You took it gingerly and put it on the bed.
"Are you my new handler?" His voice seemed echoed in the empty room and your eyes filled with tears that were threatening to spill
"No," You breathed, "I'm your friend,"
"Like Steve," Bucky said unsurely and you nodded as you wiped your tears
"Yeah, like Steve. He's my friend too," You said softly.
Soon enough, Bucky stood in his boxers, "I'm going to take these off and then you can step into the tub," You explained but he suddenly grabbed your hand with a painfully tight grip, "You can keep them on if you want," You said quickly, "You can tell me whatever you don't want to do and we won't do it,"
He nodded at your words, "Do you want me to stay or do you want me to make you something to eat?" You asked as he slowly sat down and let the water cover his body.
The scars that branched from his left arm like lightning was heartbreaking for you. You remembered his body from before. No marks on his skin other than the ones you would leave.
"Hungry," He stated and you nodded
"Call for me if you need anything," You told him, "Y/N," You reminded him your name
"Y/N," He hummed but his voice wasn't his own and your name didn't sound the same from him anymore
"Yeah, just like that," You smiled, "But a little louder, alright?"
He nodded and you left the bathroom, but kept the door open. You rummaged through your closet to find something that would fit him. Exboyfriend's clothes, forgotten clothes, anything. You found a tracksuit pyjama and an alum hoodie.
"I've put out some clothes for your on the bed," You said loudly, "You can wear them when you come out,"
You walked back to the kitchen, unsure of everything. You didn't know what to make for him, you didn't know if you should notify someone that he was with you and you didn't know even if he was safe enough to be around you.
You took a deep breath and began to make pasta. It was the quickest thing you could make. Your hands were shaking throughout for Bucky. He'd been so full of life and hope, his eyes would shine when he smiled and now... Now he was some old man's weapon because he'd been hungry for power. Bucky was corrupted but inside, you hoped that he could be healed. You didn't even realize when it began but the tears started to spill. You weren't crying but you couldn't stop either and the tears fell while you made no sound.
You had seen many things over the decades but this was by far the most painful. A man tortured into submission. A man that had gone to die in a war with his own will. His choice stripped from him. His choice to die, his choice to do anything; everything was stolen from him.
You didn't hear Bucky come down or when he sat at the counter. It was the sound of the gun being placed on the countertop that made you turn around; the handle was towards you.
"Hey, Buck," You smiled warmly, "Did you dry off properly?"
He nodded firmly and you fell quiet again. How am I supposed to talk to a man that doesn't say anything? You thought to yourself
"What's this for?" You looked at the gun, "You don't need weapons right now. You're safe here,"
"For you," He stated as he looked off into a distance, you didn't understand why would you need a gun.
Bucky sat with his back straight, without expression and waiting for an order
"I'm going to give you something to eat now," You said slowly, "You can ask for more if you want,"
You put a bowl full of pasta in front of him and sat across him on the island in the kitchen.
"Go on," You said softly and began to eat your own, showing him how to go about it
"We have same?" His words dripped of surprise
"Yes, of course," You nodded, "How did you eat before?"
"Didn't," He stated as his spoon dug into the bowl and he devoured it quickly, "More,"
You saw him finish the entire pot and some of yours as well. You didn't feel hungry after seeing him eat. How long had you been starved? You cursed internally
"Do you want to ask me something," You questioned as you sat in silence
He nodded but his eyes were glued to his lap
"You don't have to ask them right now," You explained, "We can talk about it whenever you prefer,"
Bucky nodded once more and bit inside of your cheek, you were really out of your depth.
"I'll show you where you'll be sleeping," You announced and stood up, "Come on," You stated and Bucky followed you without question
You led him up the stairs and showed him the bedroom that was across yours. You knew fairly well that Bucky could hurt you but you had enough energy saved to hurt him back if need be. You explained to him that your room's door will be open if he needed anything. Bucky didn't say anything throughout; he nodded at the appropriate moments, but no words left his lips.
He handed you the gun again and went to sit on his bed.
"Call for me if you need anything," You repeated yourself for the hundredth time
What am I going to do? You asked yourself, again and again, crying yourself to sleep as the night fell.
You back was towards the door because you couldn't bear the thought to waking up and looking at Bucky in that condition. His eyes dead and his mouth tight.
What did those bastards do to you? You slowly drifted off to sleep, telling yourself to take one day at a time