The next few hours passed in a blur. The Avengers had wrapped up the Chitauri clean-up, and the damage to the city was being assessed. But while the rest of them worked to restore order, I was taken in. SHIELD agents, led by Maria Hill, escorted me to their secure facility—probably the safest place for me, considering the threat of Hydra still loomed large in the background.
It was strange, walking through the hallways of SHIELD. I had always been an outsider, even before the whole Hydra mess. Now, I was just another pawn on their chessboard. But it was better than being on Hydra's radar.
I was ushered into a sterile, concrete room, and there, waiting for me, was Nick Fury. The one man who had always kept his secrets close to the chest. His one eye fixed on me, unblinking, studying me like a puzzle.
"Bucky Barnes," he said, his voice calm, but with an underlying note of suspicion. "We've heard the story, but there are still things I need to know."
I didn't flinch, despite the weight of his gaze. If I showed weakness, if I hesitated, it would only confirm the fears that Hydra had planted in my mind—that I wasn't who I said I was.
So, I took a breath, sitting across from him, trying to keep my nerves in check. It wasn't about truth now. It was about survival. And the truth was, Hydra wasn't gone. They were still out there, buried in the shadows, waiting for me to slip up. I couldn't afford to slip up now.
I leaned forward slightly, my hands resting on the cold metal table. "Hydra's still out there. They've been operating under the radar for years," I said, keeping my voice low, steady. "I don't know how deep they are, but I know they've been pulling the strings. They sent me to do their dirty work, and when I started to break free, they came after me. They're not done."
Fury's eye narrowed, and his fingers drummed lightly on the table. "You've been running ever since, huh?"
I didn't answer him right away. Running. Always running. The thought tasted bitter, but I nodded.
"They won't stop. Not until they find me... or you," I added, my voice taking on a more serious tone. "You all need to stay alert. Hydra's methods are subtle. They get inside, manipulate, control. You think you're safe, but they can be anywhere."
Fury studied me for a long moment, as though weighing my words. Finally, he leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. "I believe you," he said flatly. "But don't think for a second that you're in the clear. You'll be watched. Everyone here knows your face now."
I nodded. "I don't care. I don't have time for hiding anymore."
He seemed to understand that. "You're free to rest here. But I'll be keeping an eye on you, Barnes. One slip-up and we'll have a problem."
"I'm not gonna slip up," I said, my voice firm. "But I need rest. I've been on the run for too long."
Fury didn't argue. Instead, he gave me a curt nod, signaling for one of the agents to escort me to a room where I could sleep.
The room was small, but it felt like a luxury compared to the tiny motel I had been holed up in for the last few months. I didn't need much. Just a bed, a shower, and a few hours to clear my mind.
As I lay down, though, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was always watching me. It wasn't paranoia, not this time. I could feel it—the weight of unseen eyes, the subtle shift in the air. SHIELD agents were always nearby, always observing. I had no doubt that Fury was watching me, just as much as I was watching the shadows.
But for the first time in a long while, I didn't feel like Hydra was lurking around every corner. The immediate danger had passed. At least for now. I could afford to relax for a little while. I closed my eyes, letting the exhaustion finally take over. I was safe... for now.
The next day, I woke early, my body sore but my mind sharp. Rest was only temporary. I couldn't afford to forget who I was, where I came from, or what was out there. Hydra would be back. I knew that. But for the moment, I could finally breathe.
I took the time to train, even inside SHIELD's facility. I worked out in the gym, pushing myself harder than ever. I had to stay strong, stay ready for whatever came next. Even with the eyes on me, even with the constant feeling of being watched, I couldn't afford to stop. Not now.
After a couple of hours, I decided it was time to meet up with Steve. I needed answers. I needed to know where we stood. I still wasn't sure how to feel about everything that had happened, and I needed to see if there was a way forward—if I could find a way to make things right with him.
I found Steve in the same secure SHIELD facility, talking with some of the other Avengers. His eyes flicked to me as I approached, and he gave me a small smile, but there was something unreadable in his expression. He was trying to figure me out. I could see it in his eyes.
"Bucky," he said, walking over to me. "You've been through a lot."
I didn't reply. I didn't know how to respond to that. My mind was too clouded with doubt and confusion.
He studied me carefully, as if he were searching for any hint of who I truly was. "I need to ask you something. Just to make sure."
I nodded, bracing myself. "Go ahead," I said, my voice steady despite the anxiety coiling in my gut.
Steve's gaze didn't waver. "Do you remember the mission in the Alps? The one we went on after... after everything that happened with Hydra?"
I froze. My mind raced, pulling at the fragments of memories, the pieces of Bucky Barnes I had taken on for myself. It wasn't a perfect fit, but it was close enough. The mission, the location—it was all there. I nodded, my voice quiet. "Yeah. I remember."
Steve didn't look entirely convinced. "What else do you remember? You and me, back in the day. Our fights. The times we had... together."
I had to tread carefully here. If I told him the wrong thing, it would all unravel. "We fought side by side for years, Steve. We were a team. You... you trusted me. I trusted you."
There was a slight hesitation in his eyes, but after a long moment, he nodded. "Alright. That checks out."
I exhaled sharply, relieved, but my mind was still spinning. Was I really Bucky Barnes? Or was I just pretending to be someone I would never be again?
"Bucky," Steve said, his voice softer now, "no matter what happened, you're still my friend. You're still part of this team. We'll get through this. Together."
For a moment, I almost believed him. But deep down, I knew the truth. I wasn't really Bucky. I was just someone who had taken his place.
And the longer I kept pretending, the harder it would be to get out.
But for now, I had no choice. I had to keep lying, keep fighting.
Because Hydra was still out there, and I wasn't the only one they were hunting.