Red, White & Blue | Bucky x Reader

Chapter Fourteen

The interior of the quinjet is silent as Steve navigates toward Siberia.

"What's gonna happen to your friends?" Bucky softly whispers.

Steve keeps his gaze on the horizon as he thinks of his answer, finally sighing as he glances down and shakes his head. "Whatever it is... I'll deal with it."

"We both will," I correct, and Steve looks over at me. I nod in confirmation. "They were there for us despite the consequences. I'll be there for them too."

Bucky goes silent for a moment, looking out the window as he thinks. "I don't know if I'm worth all this."

Steve glances at me before responding. "What you did all those years... it wasn't you. You didn't have a choice."

"I know," Bucky replies. "But I did it."

I move from my seat to sit in the one next to him. "Do you remember our first mission with the Commandos? I just made my first kill and I was having a difficult time coping with it... Do you remember what you told me?"

Bucky turns his gaze to me, waiting for me to continue.

"You told me that sometimes there's no choice but to kill," I remind him, "and that it's a burden that we will have to carry with us for the rest of our lives... I can't even imagine what HYDRA put you through, but you won't have to carry it alone. You have me, and Steve, and even Sam, to help you find a way to move forward."

Bucky reaches over, giving my hand a tight squeeze in thanks before turning back to the window. I give him his space, returning to my seat at the controls as he contemplates my words.

We fly over the icy tundra, searching for the HYDRA facility, and I finally spot the red caterpillar truck parked beside a large rock formation. I direct Steve's attention to it, and he steers the quinjet down, landing in the snow beside the truck. I unbuckle my seatbelt to join Bucky as he pulls out Natasha's weapon rack to grab one of her rifles.

Bucky and I join Steve at the back of the jet as he slams his fist against the ramp release, the freezing air brushing our faces as the ramp descends.

"You remember that time we had to ride back from Rockaway Beach in the back of that freezer truck?" Steve asks.

"Was that the time we used our train money to buy hot dogs?" Bucky asks, a smile growing on his face.

"You blew three bucks trying to win that stuffed bear for a redhead," I remind him.

"What was her name again?" Bucky teases.

I playfully roll my eyes as Steve replies, "Dolores. You called her Dot."

"She's gotta be a hundred years old right now," Bucky ponders.

"So are we," I say, nudging him.

"Well," Bucky says, looking me up and down, "you look pretty good for such an old lady."

I mock offence and laugh, happy to see a small part of the old Bucky shining through. "You're not so bad yourself, Sergeant."

Steve smiles, looking away as he puts on his helmet. He takes the lead as we descend the ramp, walking through the snow toward the facility entrance set in the rock.

"He can't have been here more than a few hours," Steve states, peering through the gap in the wide-open door.

"Long enough to wake them up," Bucky warns.

"You boys ready?" I ask, glancing at both of them before taking a step inside.