Chapter 10 : Bucky

M: Steve, I need to talk to you after our run, and it's gotta be somewhere private.

S: How serious is this?

M: Let's just say it's serious enough that you might freak out... but I'll try to keep you calm. Maybe. Wahahahahahaha

S: U R crazy. S: How was that?

M: Haha. Ur getting the hang of it.

S: Are you on your way?

M: I'll be at the three in two minutes.

S: See you soon.....

Training Steve on how to use his phone was one of my finer accomplishments. Not only can Captain America text like a pro now, but he's also mastered the art of video calls. We've upgraded our running path to the one near the Washington Monument, just like in "Winter Soldier." So far, I haven't spotted Sam yet, but I know it's just a matter of time.

"Ready?" I ask, jogging up to Steve.

"I'm always ready," he replies with a smile. "Let's hit it." We start our run, the rhythm of our footsteps syncing up. After a few minutes, he glances at me. "So, how serious is this thing we need to talk about?"

"So serious that if you had a heart condition, you might want to reconsider this conversation. I figured I'd wear you out with this run first, make sure you're too tired to react." I grin.

"Miranda, I'm a super soldier. Tiring me out isn't exactly easy," he chuckles.

"And I'm a light elf. I could do this all day," I retort, picking up the pace......

"Okay, I'm officially done," Steve pants, finally admitting defeat as he collapses under a tree. "I shouldn't have underestimated your elf heritage."

"Yep, pretty cool perks," I say, sitting down in front of him. "But let's get serious now."

"Shoot," he says, still catching his breath.

"There's a man—someone who was a success in HYDRA's super soldier program. He's like you, but with a high-tech metal arm to replace one he lost."

"Like a prosthetic?" Steve asks, brow furrowing.

"No, more like something Stark would build—cutting-edge tech," I explain. "This guy is HYDRA's greatest asset, but they control him completely. They've wiped his memories so many times that he's basically a programmed weapon, a shell of who he used to be."

"Mind control?" he asks, clearly disturbed.

"Sort of. It's more like brainwashing. They erase his memories and reprogram him to follow orders, making him believe his only purpose is to serve HYDRA," I say.

"So there's a HYDRA agent out there with super soldier serum and a high-tech arm, basically brainwashed into being their perfect weapon?"

"Exactly. Now, are you ready for the real kicker?"

Steve gives a nervous laugh. "That wasn't it?"

I take a deep breath. "Steve... Bucky's alive." He starts to stand, but I place a hand on his shoulder. "No, stay down. I'm not finished." He leans back against the tree, eyes wide, heart racing. "When Bucky fell off that train, Zola found him. His arm was beyond saving, so they gave him a metal one. They messed with his mind, wiped his memories, and kept him in cryo-sleep between missions. Basically froze him in ice until til they needed him over the past 70 years."

"How do you know all this?" Steve's voice is barely above a whisper, his eyes searching mine.

"I have my sources, Steve. And I have reasons to believe they're waking him up for another mission."

"I have to find him," he insists, starting to get up again.

"No. He's going to find you," I say, my tone firm. Steve opens his mouth to argue, but I cut him off. "Steve, you have to trust me on this. Let things play out as they're meant to."

He hesitates, then nods slowly. "I trust you."

—— Three Months Later ——

"Hey, Tones. What's up?" I ask over the phone, trying to sound casual.

"Not much, just planning the next big thing—safety bots," Tony replies.

"Oh, that sounds... fun. Don't get too carried away." I tried to hold back my nervousness.

"Yeah, fun. What about you?"

"Just contemplating all my life choices and wondering where I went wrong... Kidding! I'm just chilling in the Tower's lab, waiting for you to finish that compound."

"It's going to be big, you know. Takes time to build something this groundbreaking."

"Yeah, yeah, I've seen the blueprints. I'm just impressed you let me design my own room. Pretty awesome of you."

"I know, I know. Still don't get why you need a lab in your room, though. Mine's always open."

"Tony, yours is literally right next to your bedroom. Don't be a hypocrite."

"Whatever. Building is my job, kid. What's your excuse?"

"For the fun of it. Don't tell me you never lose yourself in your work."

"Touché," he laughs. "You should come help me with these bots."

"Ehhhh... Nah, I'll pass. Have fun with your pet project, pretty boy." I mean... Tony wont actually create Ultron until the compound is complete, and he needs Banner. Right?

"Alright, alright. Catch you later, kid."

Tony's holed up with compound's construction is ongoing, and I'm here in the Tower, holding down the fort. Between my daily runs with Steve and my weekly sessions with the Ancient One, life's got a pretty decent rhythm.

——⏳——

"Where are you, Steve?" I mutter to myself, scanning the tree line.

Right now, I'm waiting in the shadows for Bucky to drag Steve out of the water. The helicarriers are already tearing each other apart overhead, so it's only a matter of time... There! Right on cue, I spot Bucky hauling Steve's unconscious body onto the riverbank.

"Hey," I call out softly, stepping forward. Bucky whirls around, eyes wide, like a cornered animal.

"Who are you?" he demands, advancing on me with a predator's caution.

"I'm Miranda," I say, keeping my tone calm. "And you're James Buchanan Barnes. You grew up in Brooklyn with your best friend, Steve Rogers."

"I'm not Bucky," he snaps, but there's hesitation in his voice.

"You are," I insist. "And you know that deep down. Why else would you save him?" I nod toward Steve's limp form.

Bucky's eyes flicker with doubt. "How can I trust you?"

I reach slowly for my back pocket, keeping my movements calm and deliberate. "I have a gun. I'm going to throw it to you." I pull out the weapon, careful not to make any sudden moves. "It's loaded. You can check."

I toss the gun to the ground between us, and he eyes it suspiciously before picking it up. "Why are you giving me this?" he asks, his voice a mix of confusion and mistrust.

"Because I trust you won't hurt me, and I know you want to remember who you are," I say, meeting his gaze steadily. "But we need to get out of here before Steve wakes up."

After a tense moment, Bucky nods. "Fine. But if you try anything—"

"I know. You'll put me down. I get it. I'll follow your lead."

With that, Bucky turns and leads us deeper into the forest, his metal hand gripping my arm, the gun pressed to my side. Eventually, he finds a rundown shack and pulls me inside.

"Okay," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "This might sound strange, but I have powers. I can help bring your memories back."

Bucky crosses his arms, his expression skeptical. "Powers?"

"Yeah, I know. A lot's changed since 1942." I take a deep breath. "I just need to touch your skin to make the connection. Your hand will do, but if you accept, I can touch your forehead for easier access."

He hesitates for a moment, then slowly extends his hand.

I take it gently, focusing my energy, and dive into his memories. I see flashes of his life—his mother, his sister, the streets of Brooklyn, Steve in countless alleyway brawls, the war, Captain America, the fall from the train...

[A/N - I put together another video to showcase Buckys memories this time. Once again. It might not be perfect.]

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

[A/N- Let me know what you think!]

When I pull back, Bucky is staring at me, his eyes wide with realization. "You okay?" I ask, worried I might have overwhelmed him. "Did I break you?"

He laughs, but it's a broken, hollow sound. "No... How did you do that?"

"Like I said, powers." I swirl a small white flame of magic in my hand as proof. "The world's gotten a lot stranger since you last saw it, Bucky."

"This is all... so confusing," Bucky says, standing up and pacing.

"No," I say firmly, "Sit down. We need to talk." When he does, I pull out a card and hand it to him. "This is a burner card. There's $5,000 on it. Untraceable."

"Why are you doing this?" he asks, looking at the card like it's a live grenade.

"Because Steve is my friend, which makes you my friend. And right now, you need time to figure out who you are and where you belong," I say. "Just stay away from HYDRA and SHIELD."

He nods, taking the card, and I hand him a phone. "This is a burner phone. My number's in it. One call. Use it if you need me."

Bucky stares at the phone for a moment before pocketing it. "Thank you."

"No problem. Go have some fun before things go to hell again."

He manages a small smile. "I'm glad Steve has a friend like you."

"And Steve's glad to have a brother like you," I reply, watching as he walks away into the shadows......

"Hey, Ste—"

"Miranda, I saw him! I think he remembered me."

"Who?"

"Bucky. He saved me."

"So, he remembers you?" I ask, feigning surprise.

"I believe so. Thank you for warning me."

"No problem, Steve."

——⏳——

I've been going over this in my mind, weighing the risks. With the right resources and the right people, we just might be able to pull off the whole Vision thing. Maybe. But it's a long shot. Am I ready to gamble everything on it? I'm not sure.

____M: Need to meet before you go off-grid!

F: Meet you at Phil's.

P: Do you need me? I'm not around.

M: No, just Fury is good.

F: I feel special.——

"Miranda?" Fury steps into the room, dressed down in civilian clothes, but the look on his face says he means business.

"Hey, you ready for the next bombshell?" I ask as he takes a seat across from me.

He nods, bracing himself. "Hit me."

"Tony... might... accidentally create a self-thinking robot that decides wiping out humanity is the best course of action."

"What?!" Fury's hand goes straight to his temple, rubbing at the frustration that's building. "That man never learns, does he?"

"Not in this lifetime," I say, shaking my head. "But to fix it, he's going to create something else—a humanoid that's like Superman on steroids. And get this, the guy can lift Thor's hammer."

Fury leans back, trying to absorb the absurdity of it all. "So what's my role in this mess?"

"The evil robot, named Ultron, is going to Sokovia. He's planning to turn the whole city into a massive meteor to wipe out life on Earth—think of it as his way of hitting the reset button on humanity. The Avengers will stop him, but the collateral damage is huge. A lot of people are going to die unless we do something."

"So, you want me to start evacuations?"

"Exactly. All, of Sokovia. City. Country. Everything. I know SHIELD is in shambles, but you've still got connections. Use Phil and his team if you need to. In my future, the only way to stop Ultron is to destroy the meteor, which means the entire city is going down with it."

Fury lets out a heavy sigh, his fingers rubbing at his forehead again. "Alright... When does this go down?"

"All I know is that Ultron wakes up in the new Avengers compound. I don't have a specific timeline, but it's coming."

Fury shakes his head, clearly resigned to the madness. "Anything else I should know?"

I lean in with a grin. "You're going to pick up two new superhumans for your secret boy band."

Fury smirks. "Well, at least there's that."

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