Chapter 8
"So they took Ferdinand home," You read the old book, the pages were almost falling apart, "And for all I know, he is sitting there still, under his favourite cork tree, smell the flowers just quietly," You took a shaky breath, "He is very happy,"
It had been almost a month since you'd been visiting Bucky every morning and reading to him. You read him the story of Ferdinand the most; at least once a week. It resonated with you and you felt as if it could have been the story of Bucky as well. He never wanted to go to war but he knew his duties and he loved his country above everything.
"Is he doing any better?" You asked T'Challa whenever you saw him and his answer was always the same
"It is a process, Y/N," He would smile sadly and you would nod softly because you knew that even the most advanced technology couldn't erase what HYDRA had planted for years
You were sitting at the window with a leg folded beneath yourself and another leg dangling from the sill. Bucky had been asleep for six months now and you were beginning to lose hope. You swore to yourself that you would let yourself age and die this time, with or without Bucky because you were tired and you were only human, you couldn't go on forever.
"Is he doing any better?" You asked the same but T'Challa's face held a smile, not a sad one at that
"We'll be seeing very soon," He told you and you nodded absently until his words weighed down on you
"What?" You gasped, "You're... Are you?"
T'Challa nodded, "There are still some tests to be done," He stated, "But we shall see,"
His voice wasn't filled with pity but rather, hope and even optimism
"How will you know that he's alright?" You couldn't help but ask
"We'll have to repeat the words," He said sternly with his shoulders squared and his eyes focused forward
A posture stated loud and clear that it wasn't up for debate. After all, a King had spoken.
"They'll be wakin' your boyfriend really soon, pretty lady," Sam smirked and you stared at him with wide eyes
"Who told..." Your voice trailed off
"Sweetheart, the others might be blind but I'm not," He winked, "You don't read to a sleeping beauty if you aren't in love,"
You blushed at the comment and he laughed as he wrapped his arm around your shoulders
"Just picture it, baby," He said dramatically, "Me and you, getting Barnes jealous,"
You laughed loudly because if Bucky was to wake up like he was before everything then he would be very jealous
"What you lookin' at my gal for?" Bucky's voice low and threatening
"She ain't your gal," The man laughed, "She's there dancing with that sorry excuse for a man,"
"Dressed like that," Another man commented, "Who wouldn't look at her?"
"Look, pal," Bucky smiled charmingly, "Tell ya what, you leave this bar like a proper gentleman that you're tryin' to be, or..."
"Or what punk?" The man grunted and Bucky laughed so melodically that it confused everyone else too
Your attention fell to what your boyfriend was laughing at as you danced with Steve and that's when you saw Bucky break a beer mug against some guy's face
"Bucky!" You squealed as the brawl began and you held Steve's hand so hard that he could feel a bruise coming
"Take it outside!" The staff yelled and you rushed to the people that owned the place to pay for the damages and took Steve and Bucky back to their apartment
"Both of you!" You scolded them all the way to home, "Children! Such children! I love children!"
"You love me, doll?" Bucky swaggered and you groaned
"Come on, Buck," Steve interjected, "Y/N was clearly talkin' to me. Ain't that right?"
"Yes," You said charmingly as you walked into the house, "I've loved you since I met you, Stevie,"
Steve squared his shoulders proudly and Bucky rolled his eyes as he sat down on the couch
"Told ya, Buck," Steve said smugly, "Pretty dame like her and you?"
"Shut up, punk," Bucky made a face and you laughed
"Well, that's not true," You explained as you ran a towel under cold water, "I find Bucky tolerable,"
"Is that it?" Bucky laughed and you straddled his lap as you wiped his blood from his brow
"Just about," You whispered softly and Bucky's hands fell to your waist
You leaned closer and you rested your forehead against his
"Why'd you fight?" You asked slowly
"Was starin' at you," He told you grumpily
"That's what men do," You explained, "They stare. You can't start fights just because someone's lookin',"
"Can and will," He challenged and you pulled away
"Just 'cause someone is lookin'?" You cocked a brow and Bucky's innocent smile broke through
"Trust me, Sam," You laughed, "Bucky is not the guy you want to make jealous,"
"Oh, the bad boy got a temper issue?" He gasped, "I could've never guessed that!"
"Temper issues only when it came to me and Stevie," You corrected him, "The number of fights those two got into," You pinched the bridge of your nose, "It's a surprise that either of them survived long enough to actually go off to war,"
"I thought Steve was the back alley fighter," Sam asked
"Oh, he was," You nodded, "Bucky got involved every time though,"
Sam laughed, "Those two are really somethin',"
"Closer than brothers," You hummed in agreement
Before you knew it, a month passed and preparations were being made to wake Bucky up. You read to him one last time and were usher out of the lab. Steve stayed throughout the procedure but you couldn't look at any of it. They were going to repeat the words and then see if their months of tests and progress had failed or worked.
You could hear screaming even though you were very far from the lab. Things were breaking and Sam was trying to reassure you, whereas Wanda was with Steve, ready to take control of the situation if need the would arise. Tishala was with you too, sitting quietly because even she didn't know how things could turn out.
Suddenly, silence fell and you couldn't hear anything. Your heart stopped beating because there was not a single sound rippling from the lab.
Sam kept talking but you zoned out completely as you began walking towards the lab. You couldn't pinpoint when you started to run and it never registered to you that Sam was running after you.
The doors came into view and you sprinted towards it. All sounds were lost on you and you saw the lab in complete disarray. Broken beakers, cracked computers, a two-way mirror that was almost broken through. Trays had been thrown around and some of the lights had been broken as well. Your eyes swept across the chaotic lab and you saw Bucky on the floor, on his knees and Steve holding him as both of them cried. You knelt down in front of them and your hand reached out to Bucky but his eyes were closed tightly.
You didn't think twice and wiped the tears from his face slowly. His eyes shot open and you stared each other for what seemed like the first time.
"Did it..." Your voice was failing you
Steve was looking at you and his blue eyes were flooded as well. A strange silence engulfed the three of you and your eyes met Steve's, his voice was failing him too. Bucky's eyes were bloodshot and helpless, he was bawling as if a hundred years worth of emotions had suddenly reached the surface.
All you could hear was Bucky's loud cries and Steve's shallow breaths. Your tears fell but no sound came from you and you moved closer to Bucky as he had doubled over while crying. You tried to wrap your arms around his broad shoulder and his shaking was seeping into you as well. Steve held the both of you and no words were exchanged.