It might not be the best conversation for them to be having while standing in front of a tombstone with Thomas’ name on it. He can’t blame anyone for thinking that his existence is a hallucination after being dead for almost eight decades. He always thought himself to be indestructible due to the nature of his Inhuman physiology, the flames that constantly burn within him that can cover his skin in an instant. The fire burns a constant seven hundred and eighty degrees and that’s always been enough even if he could always go hotter. When aflame all blades and bullets melt before touching his skin. Which became his favorite trick to use in the war even if that meant singing his uniform. He ended up having to roll up his sleeves. This became something like a shield, protecting not just himself but his best friends and fellow soldiers when the timing got tough. Thomas became so convinced that nothing could hurt him and that would become his downfall one day. Deep down he doesn’t regret dying for his country. He knows that this is all real, obvious by the way his heart is beating so quickly. “Slamming doors would just be rude. I’d knock and ask nicely to be invited in.” He laughs for a brief moment but doesn’t linger on the subject knowing it would be hard for his best friend. He always thought that they’d grow old together and share war stories with their grandkids. Thomas knows this isn’t possible. His wife remarried and he can’t bring himself to be upset. She deserved to be happy and doesn’t look her up since it wouldn’t be fair to reopen those old wounds if she were still alive. It was his time to move on. “Bucks … I had no idea.” His chest feels heavy with grief. His own grief.
Once Toro has arms wrapped around Bucky for an embrace it’s going to be difficult letting him go. He notices that the grip is stronger than he remembers but he’ll have plenty of time to ask what that means. Times have changed but no matter what has happened? This is his best friend … his brother. Nothing could change the fact he loves him like family. They grew up together in Brooklyn and so it brings him some peace knowing that there’s a familiar face here. “Everything is overwhelming.” He can’t rely completely on Bucky for everything with adjusting to this new time period but it helps knowing that there’s someone here who will understand why his behaviors are different from everyone else. He doesn’t understand how telephones can be carried around on these tiny rectangles in your pocket or what the internet is. Only two of many, many, many technological advancements that leave Toro more confused than anything. He’s sure there was someone talking to themselves in the street as if their friend was next to them but nobody was there. This world is odd but if he survived the war … he might be dead of old age before he got to see any of this. What a strange though that is. Unfortunately that isn’t how his life got to end, instead, fate took him much too early. “Thank you …” Tears soaking Bucky’s clothes some more.
“There was so much left that I wanted to do …” Thomas could have went to art school. He could study French literature and spend his evenings sketching. He always envisioned this as his way of spending his time after the war was won. Maybe have some children, chasing toddlers around the house who recently discovered that they can create fireballs. However, life took a different path. He’s learning to accept it little by little. “I don’t mind being stuck with you. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I appreciate you helping me figure out a way to stay.” They pull back a little, eyes red from how much crying he has been doing but wants Bucky to have the chance to really look at him. “How much have you been working out?” He’s teasing lightly, trying to open up the conversation to something other than his death.
Bucky always thought of Toro as indestructible. He knows where it stems from, he can pinpoint it down to the very moment. He thought the fire that could engulf his skin would protect him from anything and everything. As kids, it protected him against illnesses so he wouldn’t get Steve sick. It could warm them on a cold night in Brooklyn or it could drive them crazy on a blistering summer day. That fire would simmer close to Bucky’s skin and warm him from the outside in, making him feel invincible too. They were just kids then, they didn’t know the horrors that were just over the horizon. Fire that could melt bullets but not the Tesseract powered weapons Hydra had. Fire that would be extinguished when the 107th was captured. Bucky can still hear him screaming, he can still feel the hoarseness of his own throat when he couldn’t yell for Toro anymore. A fire that went out and Bucky wasn’t there to see it. He didn’t see the last flicker of a fire he thought could never go out, after all they’ve been through now could it? No he never got to see that light die and maybe that’s why he could never accept it. Even in the short time he got to mourn, he thought over and over again it can’t be possible. There are myths of fire being reborn again -- rising from that ashes. And god --- maybe.. maybe Bucky was right after all. The embers never went out, they simmered because here is the phoenix himself. Toro is standing here, real and alive and -- warm. The fire has returned, not blazing, not yet but Bucky knows how he can fan those flames and help his friend after all these years. “I don’t think anyone would willing let in a ghost --- ‘s a good thing you’re not one.” No one wants to be haunted, because in the end it’s still death that follows people around. Bucky’s got enough of that as it is, it’s nice that someone from his past isn’t here to haunt him but rather... Bucky gets to guide him. “I know you didn’t.. but how were you meant to know? I don’t blame you, if that’s what you’re worried about. I know why you did it.” He can’t tell Toro just yet that he made the same sacrifice, that Steve made the same sacrifice. That would not only confuse his friend but lead them into a conversation that Bucky isn’t exactly ready for. He’s not sure if he’ll ever be ready to tell Toro about the Winter Soldier.
There’s that warmth again. A sign that this is real, that Toro isn’t some fleeting memory in his head. No he’s here and feeling just as much as Bucky is. And -- damn it’s so much to feel. So much grief and anguish. So much confusion and yet there’s a kindling hope. There’s excitement that lingers because there’s so much more to the world now. There’s so much Toro can experience and learn. He knows that Toro is going to have a hell of a time here in the modern world and there’s not one else in the world he’d want to have these experiences with. “I know, pal. I know. It gets easier, trust me. I felt the same way you did.” He chokes on his own words, throat feeling tight from the emotions. He remembers when that dam of his mind was broken. The world was too big, it was too loud and too confusing. He had no one to navigate with. He won’t let Toro go though this alone like he did. No instead he’ll walk side by side with his friend and show him everything he can so he can begin adjusting because... he won’t let Toro go back. It’s selfish, but now everything has changed. Before he feared Hydra and wanted nothing more than to go back to his time but now? He knows if they fix the timeline, Toro dies. He refuses to let that happen. He couldn’t prevent it this time but he will now. “There’s no need to thank me... not for this. You’re my brother and I wouldn’t let you go through this alone.”
His breathing is still stuttered as he listens to his friend. “There’s so much you can still do. You’ve got time now, so much of it. Whatever you want, we can do it. The world’s back at our fingertips.” Sure, it could dangerous for Bucky to be out in the open but he’s hidden himself for this long. They don’t even know where to begin looking, he just has to make sure on guard and things should be alright. Besides, what’s Hydra going to do when Toro flames on? Whatever happens, they’ll figure it out. They did then, they will now. “There’s no way in hell you’re getting sent back there. You understand me? You’re stayin’ here and I don’t care who I have to hit to make sure it happens.” Bucky takes half a step back once they separate, god he forgot how tall Toro was. That always pissed him off, especially once Steve got the serum and shot up to Toro’s height. “I’ve been working out a lot.” He laughs a little bit. “If I couldn’t be taller than you then I spent eight decades getting stronger than you.” Despite the fact he’s got his gloves on, Bucky still shoves his left hand into his pocket, an extra precaution to hide the stark silver metal that replaced his arm.
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