forum Marvel AU OxO?

Started November 29, 2019 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

Bucky nodded, a faint smile flashing across his face. "Hopefully." He replied with a slight shrug.

Steve let out a soft sigh, straightening his posture and trying to shake off his nerves. He checked his watch, "Only about another hour to go, then I can collapse into my bed. I'm not sure I slept last night."

Bucky shrugged. "I did. But…yes. Leaving would be nice." He replied slowly. He sighed quietly

"Hmm. What I wouldn't do to sneak away with that tray of candied figs," Steve quietly chuckled, smiling to himself and returning the polite glances of the people that passed them.

Bucky let out a soft laugh. "Mm. Well. People keep pointing at me while talking with each other, like I can't see them." He shrugged his shoulders slightly.

I can't blame 'em; he's gorgeous. "Hmm," Steve sighed, his eyes casually scanning the room, "I'm sorry it bothers you. We just gotta make it through this next hour, it'll be okay."

"I don't blame them. I am kinda the whole reason this thing is even happening. I've had like three reporters come up to me asking for pictures or questions? I probably said the wrong thing. Tony is gonna kill me." Bucky replied, looking at the crowd.

"Aw, I'm sure you did fine," Steve said reassuringly, "And Tony– I think he understands what it's like to be the topic of conversation, and the nervousness that comes with it. So don't worry, just be honest and…answer every question with another question," He chuckled.

"How am I supposed to be honest and answer everything with another question, Steve?" Bucky replied, frowning and shaking his head. "Especially when I've been told that I look like I want to murder everyone here, which was… an interesting conversation."

"It's a technique for– What?" Steve asked, his smile slipping off his expression and frowning, "Someone said that to you?"

Bucky nodded slightly. "I apparently have a…Resting Bitch Face?" he replied with a slight shrug. "Which means I look like everyone here needs to be murdered."

"Hmph," Steve sighed, the faintest hint of a smile returning, "That doesn't sound like a very white-collar worker thing to say. They're just suspicious, I think." He looked around the room, "I'm sure they don't really think you'll kill anyone, maybe they're just trying to get under your skin?"

He shrugged. "Or maybe they're trying to get me to say the wrong thing and make me look bad." he replied. "Tony said that might happen. That they might try and trick me into saying something convicting."

"That's a possibility, yeah." Steve said with a slight nod, seemingly calm even though the thought of being separated again was something fearful. "Just don't give 'em the satisfaction," He said with a boyish smile, "I need you here with me."

Bucky let out a soft laugh. "I don't remember enough to convict me." He replied. "Or…I don't remember enough to defend myself."

"That's alright, no one's asking you to play lawyer right now. The important thing is that we have the basic facts, and that you're here: safe, and making progress." Steve said, nodding politely at a councilman.

Bucky snorted softly. "Making progress is up for debate, but. I guess so." He replied, shrugging and putting his hands in his pockets.

"Well, yeah," Steve smiled, "Any progress is still progress. Even the little things you've remembered still count."

"Yes, but they wouldn't be enough to defend me in a court." Bucky replied, looking at Steve and shaking his head.

Steve quietly sighed, he's kind of right. "–But, SHIELD. I'm sure they've got more evidence and information on the whole situation."

"Steve, I destroyed SHIELD, remember?" Bucky replied in a low tone, looking at the blonde man. "There is no SHIELD anymore. That's like…half of why people hate me."

"Aw, they don't hate you," Steve told him, though he wasn't sure that was entirely true. "But Fury and Natasha– they got rid of HYDRA, too. She released all the um…files, and that information is out there. The truth is out."

"Right. All of it. Including what I did." he replied, looking at Steve. "And…maybe they don't hate me, but they certainly don't love me." he shrugged his shoulders.

"Well…they don't love the Winter Soldier, no," Steve said, pursing his lips and looking at the ground and thinking about the war memorials in Washington, "But they do love Bucky Barnes, and…I feel like they and you just need to see that the two aren't the same."

"But we are the same thing." Bucky replied slowly. "You can't just…you can't just have one, Steve." he shook his head, looking away.

"But in the sense of public image, Bucky Barnes is who you really are," Steve told him, "The guy that fought in the war? Who spent his train money trying to win a stuffed bear? The guy that I grew up with, that's you."

"Right, but I'm also the Winter Soldier." he replied, studying Steve for a moment. "You can't just ignore that, sweep it under the rug."

"Yeah, I get what you mean– but you weren't yourself when you were…him," Steve said, remembering his cold gaze when he first saw him in Washington, "You didn't have control and…you were different."

"I'm still him, Steve." Bucky replied. "Just as much as I'm Bucky." he closed his eyes, shaking his head slightly.

"Maybe your memories make you feel that way, and…maybe the idea of him is still a part of you," Still haunts you. Steve sighed, biting his lip, "But– right now, Bucky, you're you again. You know what's right and what's wrong."