Twice
A Captain America Reverse Big Bang collaboration (@capreversebb)
Art by: Elendrien (tumblr) (A03) Story by: DarkCaustic (tumblr) (A03) Rating: M Relationships: James “Bucky” Barnes/Steve Rogers Characters: James “Bucky” Barnes, Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanov, Helen Cho, Sam Wilson, Maria Hill, Nick Fury, T’Challa, Helmut Zemo Warnings: Major character death Word Count: 52K
Summary: “You should get away from me. Save yourself from all this nonsense,” Bucky says. Steve’s almost trembling, shaking his head no. “I’m not going anywhere. Bucky, you’re still an American so you still get a fair trial. No one is going to find you guilty. This,” he says, nodding toward the bars around them, “is temporary. And you will get out of here. And when you do, we will make a home together. Because anywhere you are is home for me. And SHIELD has been infiltrated by HYDRA before. I don’t trust anyone to look after you.” “Except yourself,” Bucky says. Steve smiles a little then. “Exactly.” Steve and Bucky escape Romania only for German Special Forces to catch up with them in neighboring Serbia. They manage to make another frantic escape, but this time, Bucky is shot in the back. He’s left injured and in constant pain, forcing Steve to bring him to a safehouse in the States, in the hopes that Doctor Cho will be able to help Bucky. But of course, not long after their arrival, they are discovered and Bucky is arrested for the crimes he was forced to commit while under HYDRA’s control.
Even with the serum and aid from Doctor Cho, Bucky does not heal fully and is left with limited mobility and in chronic pain. Steve trades his freedom and formally resigns as Captain America to be allowed into Bucky’s prison cell to care for him while Bucky is on trial for murder and treason. He assures Bucky that there is no possible way the jury could find Bucky guilty. Bucky was a prisoner of war and the jury will understand that. At least, that’s what Steve tells himself.