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"Random Subject Prompts"

Chapter 004: James "Bucky" Barnes

Marvel Universe: Captain America: The Winter Soldier/Civil War

Prompt: December

Chapter Warning: slight spoilers from Captain America: Civil War

KH*JB*KH*JB

December 1991

He was in a daze. He didn't – couldn't – understand it. Why? He did what he was supposed to, he completed his objective, so… Why? It wasn't like assassinations were anything new to him. He'd done it dozens, if not thousands, of times.

So, why did killing Howard Stark utterly shake him to his core?

His chest was starting to feel tight. When he thought about the confused, bewildered expression Stark had worn just before the killing blow… when he had said that name… What did it all mean? It didn't make sense.

Hand clutching the front of his uniform, he knew he couldn't go back to the base. Hydra didn't allow weakness. When they demanded the mission report, what was he going to say? They always watched him, his expressions, so carefully. The only time he got any sort of freedom was when they sent him out to kill someone. And was that really freedom?

He had a feeling he deserved better. More, maybe. His life was meant for… more. But in what way? He didn't understand – had never, honestly, thought this way before.

Or had he?

Killing Howard Stark and his wife had definitely shaken something within him. Something he hadn't realized was still there. Something… human.

It was equal parts liberating and down-right frightening.

Pulling his motorcycle to the side of the road, he closed his eyes and let the cold, snowy wind brush against his face. He had never taken the time to do something like this, just clearing his head, before. Hell, his head was always 'clear' thanks to those Hydra doctors and scientists. They wanted a perfect killing machine.

He just wanted things to stop.

"Are you lost?" a soft, feminine voice asked.

Reacting without thought, going on instinct, he instantly attacked the person who had snuck up on him. Stupid. That was stupid. He shouldn't have let his guard down. How many times had he waited for his targets to do the exact same thing before striking? It was the fastest way to get killed.

But the unexpected happened.

The woman, he concluded based on her voice, easily dodged him. Using his momentum, she flipped him over her shoulder and sent him flying into the nearest bush. He laid there, still dazed and now stunned, wondering what his next move should be. Normally, he would keep going, keep attacking, but… But.

"I'm so sorry," the unknown woman said, sounding genuine and even a little panicked. "I didn't mean to do that. I shouldn't have approached you so suddenly – at least not without making myself known. You were just defending yourself." Fabric rustled as she made her way towards his position. "Are you alright? I didn't injure you too badly, did I?"

She spoke with a slight accent, his mind catalogued vaguely. Asian.

Her voice rose an octave. "Oh, Kami-sama, I didn't just kill an innocent man, right?"

At that, he had to scoff. Her? Kill him? Maybe in a different lifetime. Maybe. And innocent? Had he ever been considered that? He couldn't remember.

"Oh, good. A sign of life," she cheered, an obvious smile in her voice since he couldn't see her face. "Hey, mister, do you speak English? If not, I could try something else? Oh! I just learned Romanian. Do you speak Romanian?"

Great. She was the type who talked, and talked, and talked. A natural-born chatterbox.

But, seriously, why Romanian? Of all the languages she could learn, why that one?

Well, he shouldn't be one to mock her. He could speak that particular language, too, after all.

"Mister?" she called out. Bushes rustled, and a soft curse floated on the night breeze as she cussed – in Romanian – at a branch that snagged at her clothes.

Okay, he could admit she sounded pretty hot speaking Romanian. But he would never say it out loud, not even if his life was threatened. Instead, he continued lying where she'd thrown him, motionless.

"This is getting ridiculous," she muttered, though he could still hear every word. "I swear I did not throw him this far."

He should move and leave while he still could. It would be simple enough to sneak passed her, get on his motorcycle, and drive off. He didn't need this right now. He had… things to figure out.

Her voice was suddenly a lot closer, and his startling blue eyes locked onto a pair of mesmerizing amethyst. "Ah, I found you," she exclaimed happily.

Silently, he stared at her.

Unperturbed, she stared right back, smiling. "What are you doing out here? It's December, snowing, and driving around on that bike of yours could be dangerous." She blinked as she took in his attire. "Whoa, what an interesting outfit. Are you some kind of soldier or something, mister?"

His cheeks became uncharacteristically flushed as he continued to examine that smile. Didn't she realize she shouldn't be associating with guys like him?

Then again, his mind rationalized, she did throw you over her shoulder easily. It proved she wasn't completely helpless, but still. Something foreign bloomed within his chest the more he stared at the petite young woman. She was beautiful with creamy, sun-kissed skin and delicate hands. Her eyes were unusual enough to catch anyone's attention, and he could barely glance away from their soul-deep depths.

But the way she stood, open but cautious, and the way she had moved when countering his initial attack… She was a warrior, perhaps a solider like himself. She'd seen battle, had probably fought her own wars, her own demons.

It was… fascinating.

Not in the least bit put off by his unresponsiveness, she continued to smile. "My name is Kagome, by the way. Kagome Higurashi. Do you have a name? I don't want to keep calling you 'mister'… mister." She released a tinkling laugh at her small joke.

His lips almost twitched with hidden amusement, but he refused to allow the reaction to be seen. He had to stand firm, not become… friends with this strange woman. His heart was as cold as ice, damn it, his mind coolly calculating. Hydra didn't allow friendship. Hell, the only thing keeping an organization like it together was their solidarity in bringing down SHIELD. If not, they'd all be at each other's throats.

When he only continued to blink at her, Kagome hummed. "Did I break you?" she wondered out loud, mostly talking to herself. She glanced left and right, as if searching for something. "I don't think I did. You don't seem fragile to me." Her eyes met his once more, and they positively twinkled despite it being so dark out. "Do you have somewhere to stay? If not, you can bunk at my place tonight. You don't look familiar around these parts, so you must be some sort of traveler."

He refused to speak, refused to acknowledge her words. Was she insane? How could she just invite a stranger into her home? Didn't she realize how dangerous that was? How dangerous he was? If Hydra ever found out about her, they'd probably order him to kill her.

IF Hydra found out... His mind played with the idea, turning it over, left and right. He could keep one secret, couldn't he? Just one…

Besides, better him than some other man who would take advantage of Kagome Higurashi. If nothing else, he would make sure she was safe while in his company.

But if she picked up any more 'strays' along the way… Well, he wouldn't be responsible for having to run them off. He was just… protecting her. He wanted to protect her.

Being ordered to assassinate Howard Stark had shaken something deep within him, even deeper than he would ever come to realize.

Because, now, he had something he wanted to do – for himself. Hydra couldn't control him anymore. Not over this. He wouldn't return to them, not until he absolutely had to. If it meant keeping the strange woman safe, if it meant keeping her out of Hydra's reach, from them finding out about her… Yes. Yes, he would go back.

He didn't know what it was, this feeling that clenched his heart as he looked at her. He didn't understand why it had to be her, but it felt right. It felt right in a way that he hadn't experienced in a very long time, if ever. When he gazed at her, at those mesmerizing amethyst pools of wisdom and understanding… He was equals parts liberated and down-right frightened. But in a good way.

Kagome seemed to read his mind. Her smile got bigger, and she held a hand out to help him up and out of the bush. "Good," she said, pleased. "You're gonna like it at my house. I have hot chocolate. It's Swiss," she added, as if to entice him. "Do you have a name? If not, I'm just going to call you something random."

"Not… really," he said, finally speaking his first words of the night. The other operatives of Hydra just called him Winter Solider, but he didn't want to hear that damned nickname coming from her. He hated it, hated the very idea of what it represented.

"He speaks," she cheered brightly. When he stood – towered, actually – in front of her, she didn't release his hand, the metal one. Thankfully, the glove he'd put over it kept it from freezing her own appendage, but he wasn't used to the casual touch. He had to work hard not to squeeze too tightly. "What should I call you, then? Do you have a preference?"

"Not… really," he said again.

Kagome started to lead him back towards his bike. "Okay, that's not a problem. We'll try out a bunch of names until we find something that you like. How does that sound?"

"Alright."

"Not much of a talker, are you?" She threw an amused smile in his direction to show she wasn't offended. "Are you shy? Or just the type that likes to brood and be mysterious?"

Brood? Was she serious right now? Well… maybe I do.

"Brooding and mysterious, it is," she decided, nodding once to add emphasis. They reached his abandoned motorcycle, and she reluctantly released his hand. He instantly missed the contact, but didn't let it show. "My house isn't far from here. You could probably walk your bike the rest of the way. Is that okay? I have somewhere you can store it until you decide to leave."

She made it sound like he was staying indefinitely rather than just one night. He really hoped she didn't do this sort of thing often. If she did, it was a miracle she had remained unscathed, not to mention alive.

He nodded once to show he heard and agreed with her plan, then followed her back to her house. During the entire journey, she chattered almost nonstop about anything and everything that seemed to cross her mind, while throwing out names she could call him. When he didn't give suitable reactions, she huffed then started thinking of the most ridiculous things to identify him as. The most offensive – one that caused even him to stop and glare at her – was 'Raccoon Man.' Where the hell did that even come from?

By the time they reached the edge of her property, which turned out to be about an acre of land in a forested area, Kagome sighed in exasperation. "I should just call you Mister December."

He gave her a blank stare, silently conveying his disapproval.

She waved a hand dismissively as she led him to a barn that was painted in the stereotypical red. Inside, it was warm and insulted from the snowy weather, with bales of hay and gardening tools strewn about. From his quick scan, the barn was mostly used for storage and a makeshift garage, if the tarp covering a car was any indication. Surprisingly, he also noticed targets here and there, obviously used to improve aim and accuracy with a bow and arrows. Did she know how to do archery?

"Okay, okay," her voice caught his attention once more, "I admit, that sounds like a nickname you'd receive after posing in one of those firemen calendars. You know, only wearing half of your gear and stuff, posing all sexy and shirtless. I'll think of something else."

Was she indirectly saying he wasn't attractive enough to pull off a look like that?

As she led him to her house, which appeared to be two-stories high with a wrap-around porch, she started naming off a few nicknames that he could possibly find appealing. All were shot down when he didn't even twitch in response.

When they made it inside, he glanced around cautiously. The first floor was an open area concept, with a spacious living room and kitchen. The staircase that led upstairs was sturdy and polished to shine even with minimum light. A fireplace was warmly crackling, giving the entire floor a cozy feeling. Her furniture and personal belongings were strewn around every surface, giving the place a feeling of home, of comfort and safety. And he could instantly tell they were alone.

"Oh," she exclaimed, catching his attention away from his observations. "How about I just call you Soldier? Or even Heishi? That's Japanese for the same word. What do you think? You already look the part."

It wasn't very imaginative, but he liked how simple it was. As long as she didn't add 'Winter' in front of it, he would be fine.

"Heishi is… acceptable," he gruffly said.

"Yay," she cheered, beaming. "I'm going to start the hot chocolate. Make yourself at home, Heishi."

When she flounced away towards the kitchen, he wasn't sure what to do with himself. He'd never been in this sort of situation before. What did he do? When he was at the Hydra base, he basically slept, ate, trained, and so on, whenever he was told. He had never been ordered to 'make himself at home.' What did that even mean?

Kagome came back several minutes later, two cups of steaming hot chocolate in her hands. She blinked, surprised, as she saw her guest in the same spot she'd left him. His handsome facial features were contemplative, yet bewildered. It was obvious he didn't know what to do.

Her heart clenched. From his aura alone, she could tell he'd been through a lot. His body was also frozen into its current state by something unnatural, and something terrible must've happened to his arm before he'd gotten the metal one. His life had been difficult, perhaps unforgiving. Cruel. She would do anything and everything possible to help him. It wasn't because she was a bleeding heart.

It was because she knew he was good.

Setting the cups down, she gently grasped the metal hand as her eyes stared into his, determined.

"Heishi," she softly said, making sure he heard every word she spoke. "Stay here for as long as you want. Okay? And even if you leave, you'll always be welcomed back. You're safe here, I promise."

His eyes closed as his shoulders relaxed, her words a balm on his battered senses. Warmth spread through his entire body, absorbing her promise like water to parched nerves. Her very presence, so close to him, was soothing. Comforting. When was the last time he'd felt like this before? He couldn't remember if such a time had happened.

"Thank you…"

KH*JB*KH*JB

A Few Days Later

It was surprisingly easy to live with someone he'd just met a few days ago. Kagome was very bright, talkative, and intelligent. She could hold an entire conversation by herself, especially since she knew he wouldn't contribute much. But he always listened, even when she said things that utterly confused or confounded him. And she didn't pry into his business. She could've asked about that night she'd found him, but she didn't. She talked and interacted with him as though they had known each other for years.

Of course, she was careful about how she approached and handled him. She always made sure he heard her when she moved around the house, and she hummed random songs in the mornings when she woke up and cooked breakfast. It was those considerate little things that made her so easy to live with, to be around. He didn't feel the need to be so antisocial because of that.

And her smile was pure gold to him. The way her entire face lit up was like seeing a sunrise for the first time.

Unfortunately, all good things had to come to an end. He couldn't stay with her in that cozy, warm house for much longer. Hydra would no doubt start looking for him if he didn't report in soon. The last thing he wanted was to let them invade this haven he'd found.

"Do you really have to go so soon, Heishi?" Kagome mumbled sadly, her eyes downcast and mournful. The way her delicate fingers picked and fiddled with the hem of her clothes, how her head remained bowed, was heartbreaking.

He sat on the seat of his motorcycle, reluctant but resigned. "I'll… come back." Maybe. Hopefully. Even if they wiped his memory clean, he honestly had doubts he would forget Kagome for long. She was truly unforgettable. Her, and the house she willingly shared with a complete stranger on a cold, December night.

She looked at him, then, eyes pleading. "Promise?"

"Yes. I promise…" He just hoped he could keep it. "I… don't know when I'll be able to come back."

"I'll wait for you," she solemnly said. A small smile quirked her lips up. "But if you take too long, I'll have to track you down and drag you back."

His own lips twitched, wanting to smirk. "Deal." With that, he revved the bike's engine and took off before he decided to stay – damn the consequences.

However, he couldn't fight the urge to take one last glance at the woman who changed everything for him.

As he watched her wave at his retreating form, he swore silently to himself that he would find her again. Her, and that warm, cozy house she had shared with him.

No matter what.

KH*JB*KH*JB

Present Day – December

His name was James "Bucky" Barnes. It was… weird to finally have an actual name, a true identity. And it was all thanks to a guy who apparently knew him from over seventy years ago. Steve Rogers or Captain America, as SHIELD liked to call him.

Bucky knew he could've gotten more information out of him if he'd wanted, but… There always seemed to be a 'but,' somewhere. He had pulled Rogers out of the water, saving his life, so it wasn't like he had completely burned that bridge (even if he had shot Rogers in the stomach prior to that).

However, he currently had a much more important mission to accomplish.

Finding Kagome, and the unintentional haven she had provided for him so long ago.

How many years had passed since that cold, December night? Too many, if he were honest. Much more than he intended.

But he had known one thing for certain: She was the first memory he remembered clearly. That bright, sunny smile, and her mesmerizing eyes. He could even remember all of the silly names she'd called him. Raccoon Man was still, by far, the worst thing he'd ever been called.

Bucky pulled his bike over to the side of the road, eyes carefully scanning the landscape. It was amazing how little it had changed over the years, and he hoped it remained that way. It was peaceful, almost like scared ground.

Like his first night, he walked the powerful cycle the rest of the way to Kagome's house. He didn't know why, but it felt like a tradition he couldn't break.

Finally, he reached his destination and, again, he was amazed how little it had changed. It was also comforting, in a way, like the land had kept its promise to wait for him. Just like Kagome had done.

Putting his bike in the barn, he slowly made his way to her front door, a backpack full of his few possessions slung over one shoulder. The ragged baseball cap was still pulled low, but it was mostly because he was worried about any passing satellites in space. Tracking a person down was quite easy now.

As soon as he stepped onto the porch, the front door flew open. He braced himself, ready for an unexpected attack, but nothing could have prepared him for the small bullet that was Kagome.

"Heishi," she exclaimed, equally relieved at seeing him and upset that he had taken so long to return. "You're back!" Flinging her arms around him, she effectively tackled him to the ground, head cushioned against his firm chest. "What took you so long?"

Bucky grunted upon impact, but made sure she was safe from any harm. His metal arm securely wrapped around her trim waist to keep her anchored as he slowly sat up. As relieved as he was to be reunited with her, he didn't want her getting sick because her clothes were soaked with melting snow.

"Sorry," he gruffly said, not used to being remotely apologetic about anything. "I was… busy." An understatement.

Kagome pulled away just far enough to examine his facial features. "Busy doing what?"

"I found out who I am. Bucky… My name is… James "Bucky" Barnes."

A radiant smile nearly split her face in half. "That's great," she said. "How did you figure that out? Did your memories come back on their own?" She didn't know much about his past, if anything important, but she accepted everything he told her without missing a beat. She was just so… nonjudgmental. So easy to talk to, to confide in.

"I… met someone who knew me… From before." He wasn't going to tell her he had tried his best to kill said person. Not yet, anyway. "He said we were friends… best friends. He was sure that I was dead." The expression on Captain America's face when he firmly said he wasn't going to fight him flashed before Bucky's eyes. But he shook it away. If he had it his way, their paths would never cross again. He already had somewhere he wanted to be.

Kagome gently grasped his metal hand in that comforting way she had. Her smile was softer. "I'm glad you got to see your old friend again – even if you didn't recognize him."

He nodded once in acknowledgment. He supposed, if he hadn't run into Steve, he would still be under Hydra's control. Or in SHIELD custody. Neither option was appealing for various reasons.

"I left…" he slowly said, eyes locking with hers meaningfully. "I left the… organization."

The laugh she released was both happy and relieved. She stood, holding out a hand for him to take, like she'd done that fateful night in 1991. "Tell me everything that happened since you left," she smiled beautifully, "Bucky."

His mouth quirked into a smirk, and his hand grasped hers to stand. Neither let go nor looked away from each other.

Without his knowledge, his free hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb smoothing over the silky skin almost reverently. "How… do you still look like you did all those years ago?" he softly inquired. He had expected her to look a little older by now, but he'd been so eager to see her again it hadn't registered how she hadn't aged a single day until that moment.

Kagome laughed. "Looks like I have some things to tell you, too. Now, come on. I have hot chocolate." She added, enticingly, "It's Swiss."

He nodded. "Alright."

"Ah, still a man of few words, huh? Still broody and mysterious, too?"

In response, he gave her a blank look.

Kagome nodded in mock-understanding, doing her best not to laugh. "That's okay. I totally go for guys who like to brood and be mysterious. Bad boys have always been 'in,' you know."

"No." He had a feeling this would be one of those conversations where she left him utterly confounded and confused. But a slight thrill went through him when she'd said she liked guys like him. That was a good thing, right?

She patted his arm sympathetically. "It's okay, Bucky. We have all the time in the world now to catch you up on everything you've missed." Her eyes brightened as she led him into the house, warm from the fireplace and everything just as he remembered. "Do you know what a cell phone is? It's…"

As she continued chattering excitedly, while preparing the promised hot chocolate, Bucky quietly sighed in relief. He'd finally found the place where he belonged – and the person he wanted to hopefully spend the rest of his life with.

Here is my collection of James "Bucky" Barnes from Marvel! Hope you enjoyed it :) Please don't forget to follow, review, and add this story to your favorites list!

I'll be posting all of my Bucky chapters here, as well as on "Random Subject Prompts."

XOXO,

Celestial Law