THE FADING FALLEN ● Bucky Barnes X OC ● 18+ ● ENGLISH [COMPLETE]

Chapter 34

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The shrinking list of names in the little notebook Steve had left him proved to Bucky that the therapy sessions were having at least some effect.

He had just come from his meeting with Dr. Raynor. Even though he wasn't really pleased with the forced talks, they had to be for his pardon.

To somehow cope with the struggles and nightmares, as well as everything that had happened, he did his best.

And yet he had no idea what this was all about. Even though he was no longer controlled, what should he do with his life, which was still haunted by his past?

Wakanda was the only place where he could at least take a little break.

The memories of it actually awakened in him the desire for a carefree life. For people who surrounded him and whom he could trust.

Above all for that one certain person.

As he walked lost in thought past the small restaurant and looked inside, he saw the older man sitting at the counter. He was chatting with the smiling waitress.

From one second to the next, his dreamy imaginings were overshadowed by guilt and doubt.

Before he could even think about himself, there was a lot on his list to fix.

Even though Bucky knew he would forever pay for the Winter Soldier's actions, he had to do it. He wouldn't be able to find a little peace until he did.

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Somewhere in Southeast Asia

Bucky couldn't hope for some peace anyway. The fact that his road to redemption had to wait a little longer was all thanks to Sam.

He couldn't believe he just gave Steve's shield away and it was now in the hands of a guy named John Walker.

Sam seemed to attract trouble any way he could.

After a half-round-the-world trip, a more or less unplanned dive, an unscheduled session with Dr. Raynor, and a personal acquaintance with the new troublesome wannabe Captain America, they now had to deal with a teenage group of super soldiers and someone named Power Broker.

From a quiet life, he was therefore pretty far. If Bucky had been told what he would do, he probably just smiled and dismissed it as insanity.

And although it cost him some effort to free this person from prison, he had no other choice. 

Just as little as now going back to being someone he had long wanted to leave behind.

The trigger words continued to hang over him like a Damocles sword. The hope that he truly was free of it, was the only thing he could really hold on to.

And the memories, which thanks to one person, weren't so bad for him anymore. Bucky remembered back to the moment in Wakanda when Emilia secretly followed him into the underground dungeon.

As much bad as he carried with him, her lovely glowing face crept in wherever he was. There was just no way to avoid it.

"We have to fix this. I'm the only one who looks like a pimp."

"Only an American would assume a fashion-forward black man looks like a pimp. You look exactly like the man you're supposed to be playing."

Sam and Zemo's words brought him out of his thoughts as they got into the car at the doors of Madripoor. Even as Bucky knew what their destination was, he thought of Emilia.