Winter Soldier x Reader: Oblivion (10)

By the time you had gotten into the city, it was already mid rush hour. Typical of D.C. , there was horrible traffic. The truck was inching along at a grueling pace on the freeway leading into the city. You could feel the shift in Bucky's attitude, gone from concentrated to jittery and uncomfortable. You as well, felt similarly. Being surrounded on all sides and not being able to move didn't bode well with you. 

Yet eventually you managed to get off the highway and into the city. You detoured around the National Mall before parking in a garage a few blocks down from the Smithsonian.

"Keep your hood up" Bucky advised you as you disembarked from the car. You heeded his advice and kept your hood up as to obscure your face, Bucky did the same.

You headed in the direction of the mall, following a small crowd of students as they made their way through the streets of D.C. You kept a few paces behind so as not to draw attention to yourselves. However, once a few of the students began to look back at the two of you, Bucky reached for your arm and dragged you towards a food van. You were silently, yet immensely grateful; you hadn't eaten since the night before. Already your stomach had begun to growl with emptiness. You could only imagine how hungry Bucky was as well.

He purchased a hot dog for each of you before quietly thanking the vendor and swiftly walking away. You followed him, cautiously noting that the vendor had cast a lingering glance at Bucky's face. 

You didn't dwell on it, however, for soon you were sitting on the grassy lawn of the mall and silently smiling with the satisfaction that came with having a full stomach. Bucky was still eating his hot dog as you lay back on the grass, casting an arm over your face to block out the late afternoon sun. 

"This is nice." You muttered. Bukcy cast a glance your way, one eyebrow raised inquisitively. You smiled back at him. "Laying in the sun, eating food, being with a friend..." You trailed off lazily. You didn't notice the way Bucky stiffened at the word 'friend'. Instead, you focused on absorbing the gentle warmth of the sun and the coolness of the grass.

And as you did so, your thoughts began to wander.


A sunny yard, dappled shadows falling from the branches of a tree...

A child like giggle, followed by the sound of pitter patter footsteps...

"(Name), come play with us!"

"(Name)~!"

"Good catch, (Name)!"

"Look out, (Name),"


"(Name)"

You opened your eyes drowsily, mildly surprised to find Bucky standing over you. 

"(Name), we have to go."

You knew that tone of voice. In a second you were getting up, the soft blades of the grass tickling your hands as you pushed yourself off the ground. 

"What's wrong?" You asked as you stood. Bucky was looking towards something. You followed his gaze, and noted with alarm the vendor who was speaking to a pair of policemen. 

"C'mon." Bucky instantly had his arm around your shoulder, gently guiding you away from the lawn and up the street.

You glanced over your shoulder, noting the policemen had begun to walk in your direction, but apparently did not spot you, yet. 

Yet even as you continued to walk, you knew that as long as you were out on the streets, they would find you. So it was with grim determination that you gently pulled Bucky towards the building you were about to pass, an intimidating structure that said with bold letters: "Air and Space Museum" on the sign out front. 

It was fortunate timing, for as soon as you stepped inside the doors, the two policemen strode past. One was muttering into a radio as they passed.

You breathed a small sigh of relief, knowing you were in the safe. You turned to the inside of the building, and were surprised to find a large, open airspace with half a dozen aircraft hanging suspended from the ceiling. Small planes, rockets, even spacecraft decorated the museum. It was a startling yet pleasant surprise to see the unfamiliar ships hanging from the ceiling. 

So busy were you staring and observing the aircraft that you did not notice Bucky gently leading you away from the main entrance. You did notice, however, the bright colors of the painted soldier as you passed him. 

And suddenly, you were elsewhere. On a boat, in the dark of night, the same man watching you from afar...

"(Name)" The voice startled you from your trance. You looked at Bucky, mouth slightly agape, then back to the painting. 

"Bucky..." You murmured quietly. "Who is that man?"

You didn't notice the way Bucky stiffened, the way his muscles coiled underneath his jacket. You were too focused on the main in the painting, the way his eyes looked off, distantly, at something intangible. Suddenly, you were walking towards the painting, your feet seeming to move on their own accord. A hand placed itself on the cheek of the man, spreading fingers across the painted surface. 

You could vaguely hear the speaker from the com above you, but one name stood out in particular:

"Captain America."

You mouthed the name to yourself, the title sounding so familiar yet so foreign. Wandering further into the exhibit, you found yourself staring into the face of a man that seemed to have haunted your dreams, so familiar was he. 

"Steve Rogers" you repeated to yourself. A flash of blonde hair, blue eyes, the colors of the american flag...

And suddenly, you were no longer looking at his face, but another's, this one shockingly familiar. 

Dark eyes, a strong jaw, tousled hair, though much shorter than what he had now; but the familiar determination and focus on his face.

You knew the name before you saw the insignia.

"James Buchanan Barnes"