ghost-inwinter

[ghost-inwinter]

Bucky never knew he would miss have his super soldier advantages. If he didn’t have the arm, it wouldn’t be so much of a burden. But the pain in his back just wouldn’t go away. At least he was able to get his hands on some good painkillers thanks to Tony. He was walking to his apartment after being at Charlie’s for several days when the woman in front of him dropped her phone. He picked it up and rushed forward, setting his hand on her shoulder. But he certainly didn’t expect a punch to his nose. And of course, seeing as he didn’t have his super soldier advantages, it hurt way more than it should have, and he already felt his bleeding. “...ow,” he mumbled, hand holding his nose for a moment and then he wiped the drip of blood with his finger. “Sorry... you dropped your phone.”

Walking down dark alleys was never a smart idea and she knew that but that didn’t stop her. After locking up the dojo for one night,  Dinah just wanted to make it home and her motorcycle was out of commission until she finished tinkering with it after her last mission. Since the invasion of the Skrulls, Dinah was a little paranoid. She was used to people lying to her. Oliver and his playboy ways. Waller and her government secrets. Dinah couldn’t stand liars anymore so when an invasion of them from outer space came and their entire being was a deception, then, she was going to have a little problem. Walking down, she didn’t hear a person approach her until she felt a firm hand on her shoulder. Out of complete instinct, she grabbed the hand and landed a punch square on the nose without missing a beat. 

“Jesus Christ, what do you think you are doing?”

[ghost-inwinter]

charliewebb:

Charlotte let out a yelp as her feet were swept out from under her, falling onto her back and looking up at Bucky with wide eyes. Of course he wasn’t going to go easy on her. She had asked him to train her, and he was going to act as if he was the enemy who came to kill her. She needed to get into the right mindset. His words helped a little, egging her on and making her eyes narrow. She pulled herself back to her feet, and aimed another punch, this time towards his torso. This time, not holding back.

When Charlie landed hard on the mat, Bucky fought back a grimace. He knew it probably hurt, but he couldn’t let that sympathy show. At this moment, Charlie wasn’t his girlfriend. She was his student. And she wasn’t going to learn if he put their relationship first. Something happened to her between landing on the mat and getting back up on her feet. The punch she threw wasn’t only finally aimed for his punching mitts, but thrown with purpose. He nodded. “Better. Again. Left, left, right.” He slipped off the mitts, decided to use just his bare hands. Bucky took one of her fists in both hands. “Align your wrist with the top of her hand to your knuckles, so it’s one straight line. That’s where the power lies.” He pat her fist, then held up his bare hands. “Again.”

[ghost-inwinter]

Bucky sighed when he sat down in the booth across from Steve. The painkillers he’d been taking only worked so well. He could still feel the stabbing pains in his spine each time he took a step. Every time he moved. At least this new arm didn’t weigh a million pounds like the other one. “I bet you a bottle of Tony’s vodka that I’m having a worse one,” he said. At least while he was sitting down the pain wasn’t as bad. He rolled the shoulder of his metal arm, adjusting it’s position. “So how bad was yours, punk?”

@ghost-inwinter

Getting through to Bucky was a struggle once Steve’s phone started to get waterlogged.

“What’s eatin’ you?” Steve asked, giving Bucky a once over when he showed up. Steve wasn’t faring much better—if someone studied him from a distance, he’d resemble a cartoon character with a raincloud more or less hanging over his head. Ororo had helped, but it was up to Steve to remember all of her advice. “Your day can’t be worse than mine, Buck.” 

[ghost-inwinter]

“No, not really.” He reached up and combed his flesh hand through his hair. “I knew his father, back in the 40’s. Which.. is a little strange. But, we were friends. Then I died and that whole mess started.” He shook his head. “Once I was myself again and came back to New York, Tony learned I was here through Steve and well,” he chuckled. “He really wanted to take a closer look at my arm. He made this new one for me,” he flexed the metal fingers. “I’m assuming you had something to do with that…” He laughed at T’Challa’s comment about Tony. “You’re certainly right about that one. I can’t tell you how many nights I’ve been down in the workshop with him not understanding a single thing he says.”

James. No one called him that name except for Natalia. Not even his family really called him that before. His sister sometimes. And his mother. But usually only when he was in trouble over something. “Bucky. Everyone usually calls me Bucky.” It didn’t feel right for anyone else to call him James except for Natalia. There was something different about him when they met, despite the fact that he was under HYDRA’s control. He was someone he’d never been before. And that’s not who he is now.

Bucky nodded in agreement. “HYDRA always has a plan. So if they have allied themselves with the Skrulls they have to have an ultimate goal. And it’s definitely going to be something that we don’t like.” He nodded along as T’Challa listed off the names. Although he’d never met Barton, obviously Natalia trusted him, so he would too. “The X-Men… I’ve heard of them. HYDRA kept a close eye on them, but I never interacted with any of them.” Bucky ground his teeth together and flicked his gaze up to the Wakandan King. “In truth, I’ve been itching to hit them where it hurts.”

[ghost-inwinter]

“You’re not going to hurt me. I’m wearing punching mitts if you’re worried about it. That’s what the padding is for.” When she did throw another punch, Bucky released a frustrated breath, hitting away her fist with ease. But he didn’t let this one pass. He spun and swept her feet out from under her. The thing about Bucky was when he was training someone, he didn’t take it easy. If they really wanted it, if there was a purpose behind it, they would work and learn if they wanted to. “Come on, Charlie,” he said sternly. “Open your eyes. This isn’t going to cut it if HYDRA comes for you. If the Skrulls come for you.” He was being a bully, but he was also trying to make a point.

[ghost-inwinter]

charliewebb:

Charlotte knew a few things about self defense. She started taking classes when heroes started popping up all over the city. and then the heroes she took in would often give her pointers or little lessons as a thank you. Now Bucky promised that he would train her now too, and Charlotte was excited to see what he would teach her. After all, he trained Natasha Romanoff right? He was already a good teacher. Charlotte stood in front of him, wearing a pair of black shorts and a t-shirt that belonged to Bucky, which was tied tighter to her body with a spare hair tie. She put on her own punching gloves, biting her lip at his words. Though she knew Bucky could take a punch, she didn’t really like the idea of hitting him herself. “D-Do I really need to w-wear these things?” Charlotte asked before adjusting herself into what she thought was a decent fighting stance. And then her fist swung, aiming for Bucky’s shoulder.

Bucky chuckled at her question and nodding, making sure to keep his eyes on her face. But the fact that she was wearing his shirt didn’t really help matters. But they needed to stay focused. Her self defense was important. “Yes, you have to wear the gloves, just for now. We have to strengthen your wrist and make sure you punch correctly before getting rid of them. If you hit someone wrong, you’ll hurt yourself more than you hurt them.” Bucky rolled his eyes, hitting away Charlie’s punch before she even came close to making contact with his shoulder. “Not there. Here,” he motioned to his face. “Feet placed just a little wider than your shoulders,” he moved one of his feet to nudge her own a little wider. “And don’t put all the weight on your heels. If you’re going to punch someone, hit them with a purpose. A half assed hit to shoulder is not going to do anything.” He clapped the punching mitts on his hands again. “Now… hit me. Here,” he indicated one of his hands out in front of him. “Hard.”

[ghost-inwinter]

@charliewebb

Honestly, he didn’t like Charlie being at the bookstore by herself. He didn’t like her being anywhere by herself. So training her in the Tower was a great excuse to get her into the safety of the building more often. With his history of HYDRA, he just wanted to make sure Charlie didn’t become a target for any reason. So staying in the company of himself, or someone else he trusted was essential for as much of the day as possible. Barefeet on the mats, hair in a small ponytail at the back of his neck, Bucky slipped on the punching mitts. “Okay… the first thing about defending yourself is having a good punch. After that, we can work on defence and then more advanced stuff.” He clapped the mitts together. “Okay, doll. Let’s see what you got…”

[ghost-inwinter]

T’Challa’s remark about Stark both surprised him, and didn’t at the same time. Despite a very painful aspect of their past that they both share, Bucky did consider Tony a good friend. But that didn’t mean he actually expected him to speak about him to other people in a good light. Especially someone like this. It was a bit strange to have someone come to him for assistance, despite many of this actions as the Winter Soldier being very public by now. But he was asking for help against HYDRA after all, and there was no one better to come to. In any case, he was glad that someone was finally willing ask him for help. After all, that’s all he wanted to do now.

Bucky nodded. “T’Challa. Okay. And first or last name is fine. Whichever you prefer. I’m used to both.” Even though it wasn’t the 1940’s anymore, he could still hear his superior’s calling him ‘Barnes’ at the back of his memory. Since visiting his sister, it was like a new flood of memories by the day.

He sighed, nodding at weight of the new intelligence that T’Challa had gathered. “I was wondering the same thing, but hoping it wouldn’t be true. HYDRA tends to align themselves with power, so I’m not surprised. They are a well armed force, with alien technology. Even in the 40’s it was foolish to meet them head to head with another force. Their weakness has always been infiltration. In the 40’s and now. With HYDRA at their disposal the Skrulls can cause a lot more chaos. That’s what their best at. Chaos and order. Whatever you plan is, we should keep it small. Only people you trust absolutely.”

[ghost-inwinter]

charliewebb:

“You know a-all I do is w-worry.” Charlotte pointed out, finally turning and looking at him. “I just wish i-it was over and that th-they were gone for good. I-I hate being s-scared all the time.” Charlotte sighed, reaching out and combing her fingers through Bucky’s hair. Bucky seemed pretty sure that they could beat this though, which made Charlotte feel a little more at ease. She leaned back in, pressing her lips slowly to his. “You’re m-mine now. I won’t let them t-take you away.”

Bucky shook his head. “Don’t. I can take care of myself pretty well,” he said with a small smile. “Charlie, you don’t have to be scared. You have me. You have Tony. A whole squad of people that care about you and that won’t let you get hurt.” He sighed. “But… if you’re really that scared then I’m sure I can show you a few things. Make you feel a little more at ease. And make me feel a little more at ease too.” He backed away from her lips and shook his head. “No one is going to take me from you.”

[ghost-inwinter]

slcvicshadow:

The police precinct had already been infiltrated by the time Natasha arrived at the scene. A HYDRA agent’s body was carefully concealed, the neck broken in order to hide their presence. Whoever it was had been well trained, their steps difficult to track, and their kills impossible to get a signature from. Many of New York’s heroes were far flashier — Tony would have left a telltale burn, Clint an arrow — and instantly, her curiosity was piqued. When the gunfire began, Natasha jogged down the hallway quietly, and saw James as his metal hand wrapped around the HYDRA agent’s throat. Predictably, he realized her presence, and silently, she chided herself for not assuming it was him. An assassin was clearly behind the last murder. “I wasn’t aware I needed an invitation,” she replied, eyeing him closely. “Ending old vendettas tonight, James?”

Although he knew it was a bad idea, Bucky was hoping to do this alone. He needed to. Because if no one else was with him, then no one would stop him. He knew HYDRA better than anyone else. As random and chaotic as these attacks seemed, they always had a greater plan. A greater motive. A plan. Even if that plan was to simply incite fear. Well, he wasn’t scared of them, and now he was going to give them a reason to be scared of him. But he wasn’t sure he really wanted Natalia here to witness it. “You here to stop me?” he asked, glancing down the hallway where he knew more HYDRA was waiting for him. “Are you sure that you can?” he flicked his gaze toward her, a small curl in his lips, but it was forced. “You and I know who these people are.” He took in a long breath, preparing himself for what was about to come next. It’s not that he hasn’t killed before. He just killed two men to get inside. And he killed plenty while they tried to come after him and get him back after DC. But that was in self defense. This, would be something else. “Either help me, or stay here.”

[ghost-inwinter]

notdaredcvil:

There were times when enhanced senses came in handy, and this was definitely one of them. Matt could accurately measure Barnes’ responses to certain stimuli, certain suggestions, and if his elevated heart rate was anything to go by, the thought of standing in front of a large crowd and speaking about his trauma was something that was dragging dread into his very being. “You wouldn’t need to stand in front of a crowd,” Matt said evenly. “I could get a statement from you and read it out in a court, if you would prefer. All the key details would be within that, and then you would have an opportunity to provide a preface or conclusion to speak to your own experiences.” People were always going to be critical of the Winter Soldier, but perhaps if they heard from the man who was once a war hero, the first on the list of fallen SHIELD agents, then things would be different. “He was,” Matt confirmed. “I don’t know much about it – most of his ops were confidential and special forces – but he carried himself like a soldier.” Matt paused for a moment. “He had goodness in him, somewhere. I still believe that.”

Bucky shook his head immediately at the idea. “No. Then people would think I’m guilty because I couldn’t show my face. Or didn’t have the guts to say everything myself.” He sighed, sitting a little deeper into his chair. “I mean, I’m not a lawyer, but am I wrong in assuming that?” The thing about all of this is the Winter Soldier is exactly what everyone thinks he is. It has nothing to do with changing the narrative or finding evidence to prove that he’s innocent. There was no evidence to show. It was all in his head. It came down to what people believed. And even having signed the Accords and having gained the trust of some at the Panel, there were those that were still weary of him. Bucky had no doubt that if he asked, he was sure Hill had some kind of contingency plan if HYDRA did get a hold of him again. “I don’t know if there’s anything I can say to change people’s minds.” Bucky remembered when the Castle case was all over the news. It intrigued him. Enough to research the man a little. They were in no means alike at all, other than the fact they were both soldiers. But just that simple fact, he found himself standing on Castle’s side of everything. He knew what it felt like to have a war inside of you all the time. “Every soldier does. Just depends if he lets someone pull it out of him or not.”

[ghost-inwinter]

charliewebb:

Charlotte’s expression fell. Of course she was disappointed that she couldn’t have a night away with the man she loved, but she understood. And she was terrified. After all, it was Hydra. The people who turned her Bucky inside out and made him a monster. She sat back in her own seat, gnawing at her lower lip as she started the car. “Bucky I-I’m afraid.” She admitted. “It’s Hydra a-after all, what if they c-come for you? What i-if they get inside your head Bucky?” She asked anxiously, gripping at the steering wheel tightly, staring straight ahead. She hadn’t started driving yet. She would start when it felt easier to breathe. Right now, it was all caving in on her. “Bucky I d-don’t want to l-lose you and I don’t w-want anything to happen to you and I-I won’t be a-able to protect you i-if they come.’

He felt bad for disappointing her, but he didn’t have any other choice. Bucky sighed when she refused to look at him. He reached over and placed his hand on her thigh. “Don’t worry so much. That’s not going to happen again. I won’t let that happen again. But I can’t disappear from this. I need to be at the front of this one, for my own sake. Because I’m not going to let them do anything else to people that I care about. Besides, it’s been years. There’s no telling that their conditioning is still in my head.” That was a straight up lie. He knew it was still there, and there was nothing he was scared of more than being under their control again. But he couldn’t run from this. They owed him a life, and he was going to take it back.

[ghost-inwinter]

Tony had warned him before he got the call, which was actually a text in all caps that a king was about to call him and he was also a friend of the Avengers and he was called the Black Panther in Wakanda. Bucky wasn’t sure what to make of that until the man called him and wanted to meet. Bucky agreed. He usually worked out at the Tower most days anyway. So after spending a few hours at the gym he showered and headed to the penthouse with his hair in a bun at the back of his neck and wearing a white sleeveless shirt that let his left arm gleam for all the see. FRIDAY greeted him as the elevator stopped. “King T’Challa is waiting for you, Mr. Barnes.”

“Thanks, doll.” He said as he left the elevator and immediately saw the man waiting for him on the couch. T’Challa rose to greet him. Bucky nodded in greeting. “Of course. I’m here quite often, so it’s not a problem.” He sat down on a couch across from him, leaning forward, setting his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together. “Is there something you prefer that I call you? I haven’t exactly met royalty before.” He nodded, a somber expression on his face. “I remember seeing it on the news. I’m very sorry for your loss.”

Bucky’s interest peaked when he heard that HYDRA was involved and that was the exact reason that T’Challa had come to him specifically. Bucky wasn’t used being asked for help or assistance, so this was a no brainer for him. “I’ll help you in any way that I can. Anything to help bring down HYDRA. Do you have any leads?”

@ghost-inwinter

There were few in the city who were more intimately aware of HYDRA’s proceedings as James Buchanan Barnes. The Winter Soldier had been under their control for the better half of a century, and for that reason, he was one of the key members that came up when T’Challa launched his investigation. HYDRA may not have been the ones to directly kill his father, but they had distracted T’Challa, allowing the Skrull to plunge a knife into T’Chaka’s stomach. If they had not been attempting to pawn Wakanda’s abundant vibranium, T’Challa would have been there to defend his father, and the king would not have died. For that reason, HYDRA as well as the Skrulls, had to die by T’Challa’s hand, if his father was ever going to achieve peace.

Stark had achieved a friendship with the man, and for that reason T’Challa was afforded his phone number, which he used to achieve a meeting with Barnes on neutral ground – in the penthouse of Stark Tower, sitting on Stark’s extremely comfortable and overcompensating white sofa.

“Thank you for meeting with me, Mr. Barnes,” T’Challa said, ducking his head in greeting. “I have heard about your experiences with HYDRA. I do not wish to exacerbate your trauma – far from it – but as I am sure you have heard, my father was murdered four months ago. HYDRA was an integral part in the plot against the king’s life. If I can destroy them, maybe then his soul could find peace.”

[ghost-inwinter]

Bucky shrugged. “I guess I’m going to have to live with that.” He sighed at her question and reluctantly shook his head. “As appealing as that sounds, with everything going on, I don’t think Hill would appreciate me just disappearing. I have things to do.” He sat back into his seat and brushed the hair out of his face. “With HYDRA attacking the city I can’t go anywhere, Charlie. They are my responsibility. No one alive knows more about HYDRA and how they do things than me. I have to be here. I have to do this. Even if people don’t trust me.”

[ghost-inwinter]

(✉️-> Spider Kid): I won’t take that bet, because I know you’re right.

ghost-inwinter:

(✉️-> Spider Kid): Ouch. That sounds like the opposite of fun. 

(✉️-> Spider Kid): Yeah the tower is good. And I think you’re right about Tony. He’s going to be excited. 

(✉️ ➡️ super cool arm): it wasn’t… pleasant, yeah. concussions are rarely fun.  (✉️ ➡️ super cool arm): seriously, ten bucks  says he makes popcorn and brings a folding chair

[ghost-inwinter]

♪ ♥ ؟ ϟ

♪ -a song that reminds me of Bucky and Charlie and my favorite lyrics from it:

“Beautiful Thing” by Grace VanderWaal

You’re my other halfYou’re what makes me meWhat makes me smileWhat I fall down and can’t get back, get back, get back upOn my feet

♥ -one thing Bucky likes about Charlie:

Bucky doesn’t know anyone better than Charlie. She cares, unconditionally. She trusts, unconditionally. He could never do that, and he doesn’t know anyone else that could either. It’s such a rare trait, and one that he hopes she never loses.

؟ -a random thought that Bucky had about Charlie:

There was a night that Bucky was at her place, and the two of them were in the living room, with both dogs. Charlie was sitting on the floor, one dog on each side. She was nodding off as they watched a movie. Instead of watching the movie, he was watching her. He shifted on the couch above her and her hand instinctively reached for him. Bucky took it with a small smile, and she settled in her sleep once more. That’s when he knew he loved her.

ϟ -for a plot I think would be fun for Bucky and Charlie:

I’m always open to anything.

[ghost-inwinter]

charliewebb:

There was no doubt in her mind that Bucky was sick of all of this. After all, it hadn’t been HIM to cause all that destruction all those years ago. It was Hydra using Bucky’s body to do the dirty work while they played with his head and stuck him in a freezer. “Bucky I-I don’t care how p-people treat me when I’m w-with you.” Charlotte told him honestly.She loved him too much to care. Charlotte loved Bucky. “I-I love the person that y-you are, and if they’re t-too ignorant to see it, then th-they don’t matter. Your f-friends would tell you the exact same thing.” Charlotte argued as she got into the driver’s seat. “And d-don’t apologize f-for that. We’ll b-be up here again soon.” She promised, flashing him a small smile. His annoyed growl made her tremble slightly, but Charlotte wasn’t sure if it was out of fear or not. She shifted over in her seat, reaching out to him with both hands. “We’ll f-figure something out, o-okay. We w-will together…” She bit her lip, shifting closer to him on the bench front seat of the car, pulling his hands from his face. “You m-made me fall in love w-with you Bucky. You’re a g-good man because I love you.” She told him softly. 

Bucky shook his head. “I don’t have very many of those left. Steve, Sam, Tony, Natalia… I think. Parker… you. I think that’s about it.” He wasn’t really sure that he could put Jessica on that list yet. They just knew each other, and understood some of what the other was going through. He couldn’t really put Hill on that list either. She may have trusted him to a point, but technically he just worked with her. “There’s way more people that distrust me than actually call me a friend.” Of all the ways that she was going to respond, that certainly wasn’t what Bucky expected. He glanced over at Charlie when she said those three words, thinking he was hearing things at first. But he wasn’t. He was silent for a moment, then reached over and took her hand and squeezed it gently. He gave her a small smile. “I love you, too sunshine.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek first, then turned her chin towards him and placed a kiss on her lips.