Time Travel Barnes (Part 6)
He couldnāt remember if he was the type of guy that got over certain things easily. He really hoped he had been, otherwise, heād be getting stared at for the remainder of the time that they were going to hang around together. Bucky was actually looking pretty pale, with his eyes directly fixated on him on the other end of the room, with coffee in front of him that was being ignored in favour of staring into an older mirror.
He just stared, wide eyed, mouth slightly agape, his body completely still. It was like he was actually in shock or became a statue. And James was worried that maybe heād just broken him or something. Heād really hate if he just changed something in time by showing his face toā¦ himself.
During the time that nothing was said, he wondered if maybe this would just disappear, like he woke up to realize that it was all a dream and that it was just an unconscious desire to return to the time when everything was so simple and it was just him and Steve against the world. The fights against the Nazi. And the dames and drinking games with buddies after cooling down for the night while serving.
He wanted to wake up and just be back in his old, rickety bed back in Brooklyn, Steve in the room down the hall, both getting up to have breakfast with his ma while listening to some old stuff on the radio, news paper already sitting at the table. No HYDRA, or SHIELD or superserum and enhanced shit.
ā¦ Like the Bucky he was currently staring back atā¦
Maybe, if all this was real, he could make a life for himself. Just something simple and small, an-... And maybe he can get a girl, have kids, buy a dog and live happily ever after with rainbows and butterflies and unicorn bullshit.
He huffed quietly to himself and leaned forward on the one seated sofa, reaching out to carefully pick up the cup of coffee and take a sip.
āGood night, men,ā he glanced to the side, seeing Hannah wave to them with a hesitant smile before leaving the room, heading towards the door that led to a small bedroom that belonged to the couple.
āGānight. Thank you for the coffee,ā he replied in a German mutter, taking another sip while Alaric got up and gradually followed behind the woman, probably planning to give her a proper āgood nightā before coming back in. Like a kiss and a āsweet dreamsā.
James sat back in his chair, both hands around his cup as the bottom rested on his thigh, warming it up instantly. He turned back to Bucky, seeing him glancing between the door where theyād left through and him, seeming to have a little more colour in his face than before. He mustāve been pulled from his stunned state by the sudden chatter in the room. But even though he seemed to be aware of everything now, it was still quiet, the silence gradually growing awkward on Buckyās side of the room. It wasnāt completely that bad on Jamesā, but he could tell that the other man was stumped, unsure on what he should say or what to do.
āMy nameās Jamie,ā he muttered deeply while looking over the rim of his cup, taking a sip of the warm coffee and watching as the other soldier eyed him warily before clearing his throat. It didnāt seem like he was going to say anything, he was just watching him. So he assumed that maybe he should carry on explaining a few things that Bucky could maybe start a conversation on, or maybe ask questions about.
āJamie Barnesā¦ or that was what the orphanage told me,ā that seemed to catch his attention. His eyes widened a small bit and he was outright staring at him like he had two heads or heād just seen his left arm and scars. āSaid that I already had a name, thatĀ theyĀ gave me one before dropping me off there,ā he emphasized ātheyā to make it clearer on who he was talking about, their parents, or Buckyās parents. āThey raised me, I grew up and left, moved to Queens-,ā
āYou didnāt try to find āem? Ma ān Pa?ā it was like he already accepted that there was a relation here, and it took him back. James was actually staring this time, watching him with a very mildly stunned look on his face. If he wasnāt from 2016, it would be a way too big coincidence that they looked identical, had a similar name and that his last name was Barnes. Clearly, he hadnāt ignored any of it and just seemed to accept it without a second thought. āBuddy, we coulda grown up together, or-,ā he trailed off a little, pausing and looking lost. ā-Looked out for each other and had fun. Like brothers,ā was it supposed to hurt him after catching the weakness in his tone? The faint vulnerability? Heād know him less than a full twenty-four hours and he seemed so passionate all of a sudden, and over something that James made up to make life seem normal.
āI-,ā he huffed. āI canāt remember if I thought of lookinā for āem,ā he put the cup down and ran his gloved hands through his hair, pulling the strands out of his face. When he looked back over his younger self, he noticed the curious and confused questioning eyes on him. āI was in a German hospital not too long ago. A nurse said I was hit by a truck outside of town, had a bad enough concussion that I lost a huge chunk of memory,ā he lightly shook his head, the strands falling back into view as he moved to lean back in the chair and rested his skull in the hands still on his head.
āThat sounds rough,ā he knitted his brow sympathetically and seemed to relax slightly, seeming to stop and listen again as James shifted, bringing his booted heel up to rest on his other knee while leaning back into the arm chair.
āWouldnāt know, canāt remember,ā he scoffed humourlessly, seeing the light curve in one corner of Buckyās lips. āAnd out of what I remember, in pieces. I grew up, moved to Queens. Got myself a decent paying job, and saved up ātil I had enough to move overseas, and thensome,ā he shrugged one shoulder, the free arm that wasnāt cradling his head.
āHow long you been here? Why move overseas? And here of all places?ā he actually seemed genuinely curious, if all the questions coming out in one hadnāt given it away.
āCouple of years, I think, and it was mostly out of curiosity,ā he shrugged again, easily reaching out and grabbing his still warm coffee to take another sip, a little longer than the others. They were quiet for a few seconds, Bucky seeming to consider his words while nursing his own coffee. He seemed to be thinking, and hand by the faint twitches in the corner of his eyebrow.
āHow long did it take you to learn German?ā it was an off-hand question, nothing really important and it wasnāt a big deal, so he was thinking that this one would lead to more. Or maybe, heād just been randomly curious to know.
āNot long. I learned as much as I could as fast as I could,ā he didnāt actually know if that was a lie, because he didnāt remember anything about learning languages back in HYDRA, and he was sure he hadnāt known anything before, so they mustāve programmed them into him during his frozen periods or during the mindwipes.
āHave you ever tried German beer?ā Yes, in fact, he had. Over seventy years ago, give or take.
āI have,ā he smiled crookedly, taking the last gulp of his coffee before putting the cup down and relaxing back into the seat. He could already see the mischievous glint in his eyes, knowing what he was quickly planning in his head. So, to stop him in his tracks sooner better than later. āDonāt challenge me to a drinkinā game. Youād die of liver failure before Iām even buzzed,ā
āOh really?ā andā¦ he was taking this as a challenge. Well done, James.
āSeriously, Sergeant. You really donāt want to try it-,ā
āKnock it off with the formality. Itās Bucky-,ā the next thing he knew, said soldier suddenly flailed until he was sitting on the edge of his seat, staring excitedly at him. āWe need a nickname for you! Something like mine with a different first letter!ā it was surprising to see how overly happy the man seemed to be about having an identical brother with similar names. It was odd, yet amusing. āYou got a middle name?ā
He never actually thought of adding a middle name his half changed alias.
āNo, donāt think so,ā he raised a brow at Bucky, feigning seeming thoughtful.
And before Bucky could even speak, there was a knock at the door, loud and heavy and by the disinterested huff, the sergeant knew who it mustāve been. He cleared his throat and stood up, putting his empty coffee mug down before heading around the seat and moving towards the door. He seemed to become careful as he opened it, a tired smile gracing his lips as he opened it fully and seemed to relax on the spot.
āDum-Dum,ā he grinned. Bucky seemed to instantly remember something and turned to him, his grin getting wider and he gestured him over. āDugā, listen. Thereās a reason why Jamieās from Brooklyn, other than being born there,ā he rushed out, still gesturing to him. James gave a tired sigh of his own and reluctantly pushed himself up, rolling his shoulders as he headed over and lazily stepped up to his side. He walked right into the soldiers field of vision and his face instantly dropped, utter shock written all over his features as he stared and glanced between them, going to stare again. āWeāre twins, buddy,ā he said excitedly, but then paused. āWait, weāre twins right? How old are you?ā he was thankful that he didnāt have to correct him, that would bring up more questions on how he actually knew.
āThirty-two,ā he answered in a quiet mutter, trying to ignore the intent stare that he was still getting from Dugan.
āSo, maybe not twins,ā James raised a questioning brow at him, like he was confused by his change in sentence. āIām twenty-nine,ā he seemed to notice and clarify for him.
āHoly shit, this is weird as all hell in a handbasket,ā he turned to glance at the redhead of the three, seeing the still stunned look on his face as he frantically looked between them, again and again. It was completely understandable in this situation, seeing two identical guys in the same place even when they lived so far apart. Though James wasnāt from this timeline (sort of) so he had no clue as to why he was justifying it in his own mind. Itās not like they were actually related, but the same person, one having just been frozen over and over for a span of seventy years.
āGuess it makes sense, since you look a little older and a little bigger,ā he gestured to his build, fully grown and broad with muscle on muscle trained into his body. He was a fully grown man, though Bucky didnāt seem that far off.
āThis makes sense?ā Dugan chirped up, still watching them like this was too unbelievable. āTwo brothers, twins, born in different years, who didnāt even know that the other even existed, find each other after travelling over thousands of miles, during WWII,ā yeah, now it did sound rather stupid when Dugan had said it like that.
āOne hell of a coincidence,ā Bucky mused with a grin, laughing lightly as he crossed his arms and looked over at him. James had only smirked and let out a faint scoff.
āYeahā¦ anyway guys, afraid I have to break you up for the night. Sergeant, time to patrol,ā he mentioned tiredly, his constant stare starting to drop as did the mood, now that they had to part. Even James dropped his smirk at the realization of the time and knowing that they had to leave and do their jobs for the night. He was considering taking them up on their previous offer of tagging along on patrol. Theyād get in trouble though, if they were caught. So he swallowed the thought and turned his gaze to Bucky.
āIāll join you next time,ā he let a soft smile grace his lips and patted the soldier on his back, a friendly, casual touch men occasionally shared.
āYou better, Lucky,ā he laughed a little and James dropped his smile to give him a flat stare.
āBe more creative, Iām not a damn dog,ā he easily manoeuvred the man out of the door and heād let out a few giggled, turning around to face into the building where James was standing, almost completely filling the space in the doorframe.
āSee ya tomorrow, Jay?ā he messed with his gun, subconsciously tapping the side with his fingers as the older look alike just nodded.
āIf youāre still around, yeah,ā he shrugged, watching as he shared a grin his way and almost skipped to the side as Dugan shoved him in that direction.
āSee ya,ā Bucky waved casually, a tired grin still on his face and James only gave a lazy salute before they turned the corner and disappeared out of sight. The soldier let a sigh slip his lips before he closed the door and stepped around the seats to relax back into the one heād sat in before.
What had he gotten himself into...
Anyone want Part 7? Also if anyone has an a03 of fanfic.net acct you have my full lermission to repost this story on there just link my tumblr and let me know the name of the fic in the comments
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