ʜɪꜱ ꜱᴀᴠɪᴏʀ ━ Bucky Barnes/Avengers

06: his return & confession

1940s

The soldiers march past everyone and continued doing so until they reached Colonel Phillips, then they all blended in the crowd. I was standing near the colonel, which made me nervous because I knew if Steve was here, then Bucky was close by. After the soldiers all merged, I lost sight of him, who was probably just being blocked by others in front of him.

I kept searching for him, but it was too crammed to even move. Then, I manage to push myself forward where they stood. While searching, I see standing behind Steve was Bucky, looking like he's been through hell, but his face said otherwise. 

"Let's hear it for Captain America!" 

The crowd cheers. And as Bucky smiles and claps his hands, he looks around the over and over until his eyes land on mine. His clapping slows down, then his face fills with shock and disbelief. 

I gave him an assuring smile, hoping it was enough to show him how relieved I am to see him alive. 

Then, he starts to walk towards me slowly, gently pushing people aside that were in his way. I do the same and we both meet in the center. When we're face to face, he stays quiet and keeps the same expression as before. 

I break the silence, "Are you alright?"

"I...I think so."

He still seemed to be stunned. I didn't know whether it was because he realized he had made it out alive or because I was here.

"I've barely been here for a day, and people are saying you're already dead." I try to lighten the mood.

It was a terrible joke, but it cracked him up a little.

He plays along, "I was trying not to die, and I didn't."

"That's good," I suddenly feel my throat tighten and my eyes start to water. I was tearing up. But thankfully, I was able to hold it in. 

The colonel suddenly interrupts, taking away all of the survivors and bringing them all in as they stood in front of me. They paused as the colonel gestures me with his hand to take a picture. I snap out of my thoughts as I hold the camera that was carried around my neck in my hands and bring it up to my eye, counting down to take the shot.

~

After all the cheering and hugging, we all went back to our respective tents, except for Steve and I, who were at Bucky's tent.

They were both cleaning away their hard work and pain while I was writing down what Steve had told me for the article. It was quiet for the first couple of minutes since everyone was in their own thoughts. I was focused on my writing and the other two, especially Bucky, were still recovering from what probably had happened. Maybe processing it.

But there's a burning question that I've been wanting ask, and Bucky beats me to it.

"So, how exactly did you end up being twice my size?" He asks.

Steve stops in his steps, "Uh, it's a long story." Then he continues to move again and heads out the tent.

"Where are you going?" Bucky asks again.

Steve says he'll be right back, but he doesn't explain where he was going. Now, it's just me and Bucky alone together.