Navigated

Slow Burn [Bucky Barnes]

Lilac Feather master of procrastination, Jacqueline
Evanscombe, Stars the Doggo, Meowmeowgrrrl123 HAIL
HYDRA

7 7

After Nat and Jacqueline left, Bucky retrieved the

broom from the corner and swept the glass into a
pile. He picked up a few of the bigger pieces and
began to think about the newest development.

He had killed Jacqueline’s parents. Why? Because he

was told to, obviously. Why was he told to?

Because they were close with Howard and Maria.

There was no reason other than that.

And now this girl lost her parents and had panic
attacks. Because of what he did.

He had shot them dead in front of their house. How

sick was tha—

“Ow! Shit!” He glanced down at his right hand. A

deep cut was oozing blood from his palm. He had
forgotten he was holding the glass shard.

Bucky knocked on Steve’s door, but there was no

answer.

He opened the door himself and shut it behind him.

Steve was asleep, his form rising and falling evenly
underneath his blanket. “Steve!” he whisper-yelled.

“Who goes there?” Steve asked in a silly voice, still

asleep.

Bucky sighed. He went to stand next to the bed and

leaned over his friend. “Steve, get up, it’s
Washington’s birthday!

Steve shot up. “Happy birthday, George!” he glanced

around. “Wait a minute.”

Bucky cackled. “Works every time.”

“One day, it’ll actually be Washington’s birthday, and

I won’t wake up!” Steve threatened.

Bucky rolled his eyes. “Sure.”

Steve squinted at his friend through the dark. “Buck,

what’s wrong?”

Bucky sighed and sat down in a swivel chair near

Steve’s desk, crossing his arms.

Steve leaned over and turned on the lamp, then

sighed himself. He knew the look that was crossing
Bucky’s features. It was his “I’m thinking about the
Winter Soldier” face.

“Who?” Steve asked quietly.

Bucky squeezed his eyes shut. “Jacqueline’s

parents.” He let out a heavy breath, like he had been
holding it.

“Oh.” Steve whispered. “Wow.”

Bucky glared.

“No, I just meant, it’s weird that she and Stark were
so close, and you...” he trailed off, knowing Bucky
would know what he meant.

Bucky then gave him a pointed look.

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“It was because the families were close.”

“Too close, apparently, for HYDRA’s liking.” He

looked away and gazed into a part of the room the
light couldn’t reach.

“Well, you remember them, right?”

His gaze snapped over to him. “I remember all of

them.”

“But you didn’t recognize Jacqueline?”

“I did, after I overheard her.”

“And she doesn't know who you are?”

Bucky shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

There were a few moments of silence.

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“I know.”

“It’s not.” Steve insisted.

“It never is. But it was me who pulled the trigger.

Who left them for her to find on their front sidewalk.”

“You couldn’t have known it was her who was going

to find them.”

“I could’ve thought about it.”

“You weren’t you.”

“And you didn’t see her out there!” Bucky was

suddenly on his feet, angry. “I didn’t see the panic
attack, but I saw after it, and it was a bad one.”

There was a moment before Steve broke into a grin.

This made Bucky even more angry. “What?!”

“You’re sweet on her.”

Bucky glared. “This isn’t the time. And no, I’m not.”

“I’d say it is. You’ve never acted this way about

anyone else you’ve killed.”

Bucky winced at Steve’s outright word choice, but

recovered quickly. “That’s because it’s someone we
know.”

“We know Tony,” Steve pointed out. “You’ve never

acted this way about him.”

Bucky realized Steve was right and he flushed. He

looked away. “Okay, so maybe I am,” He wasn’t
admitting anything, he was just admitting the
possibility; he wasn’t entirely sure himself. “So
what?”

“So, her parents are dead,” Better word choice. “And

she doesn’t know it was you. I think you should go
for it.”

Bucky furrowed his brow. “I have to tell her.”

Steve nodded thoughtfully.

“But when?”

Steve shrugged. “There might not be a right time.

But I think you’ll know.”

Bucky sighed. “This advice is probably going to

backfire later.”

Steve nodded. “Probably.”

Then both men laughed.

« PREV 7 ▼ NEXT »

Share

Authors 4

Remove from library 485

Discussion 2.8k

Tags Action Fanfiction Romance Marvel Avengers Hawke