Why is this not a thing?
Okay, if it's already been fangirled over and I haven't seen the posts, I'm sorry, tag yourself and put screenshots of the post here.
In FFH, during the school news scene, a picture of several heroes is on the screen, the kids saying they saved the world and specifically using the word hero.
Right in the front of the picture is Bucky Barnes.
Pre-Infinity War, Wakanda was the only safe spot for Bucky. Everywhere else, he was a wanted man. He's been called a criminal, a murderer, a villain. He's hated for a crime he didn't do. He's blamed for murders he had zero choice in. He should be considered a veteran, the longest serving prisoner of war, a miraculous survivor, a hero. Instead, the world has used him, abused him, blamed him, framed him, hated him. He has one country that was safe. He was suffering from PTSD most likely and had a plethora of psychological problems. He needed help, but only a few were willing to even acknowledge it. The world was out to get him.
Now? He's a hero and the world knows it. His picture is in high schools, because he helped save the world. He fought Thanos.
How much have things changed? I'd imagine the Sokovia Accords were dropped since tHeY wErE a BiG hElP iN iNfInItY wAr AnD eNdGaMe, DoN't YoU tHiNk? That would affect all other heroes as well. The UN, US gov, and CIA, along with several others, would be giving formal apologies for capturing Bucky, trying to kill him, prosecuting him for a crime he did not commit, as well as apologies to the rest of Team Cap. Either he'd be pardoned for his crimes as Winter Soldier or he would be determined not guilty and innocent since he had no choice in the matter. He'd be looked up to by so many. Prisoners of war would think of him as they were tortured or kept. Former prisoners of war recovering would think of him and know that if he could recover, so could they. Those suffering from PTSD, dissociative amnesia/fugue, amnesia and other psychological disorders, military or civilian, would look up to him, knowing he's suffered through it too and moved on. Amputees will see him as amazing because there's an amputee that saved the world! Those wrongfully accused for crime will know that Bucky was too but now he's a well known hero. Those had do horrible things under duress, whether by more ordinary circumstances or space crap (like Loki did in 2012), will know that they can recover from the guilt. Those that are hated will know that a hero was too hated by the world.
It's all very odd for Bucky. For years it's just been the rogue Avengers and Wakandans that give him support, and before that, no one for years. Now, he has a world of people that recognize him as a hero and will support him. It can be very overwhelming and can cause some faint anxiety (he's only told Sam that). After all, it'll turn around, right? It's temporary, it'll go back to being on the run, true? Sam has to keep reminding him that Bucky helped save the universe, and that's gotta mean something, right? But knowing this, Sam tries to help Bucky stay away from the spot light for Bucky's own comfort.
But, underneath it all, Bucky is touched. Touched by the girl that showed him her prosthetic when he walked down the street in Queens, investigating something. POWs he's rescued that break down in front of him, because their role model has come to save them. Amnesiacs that ask him about regaining memories. The guy that was captured, brought into public by his captor under duress, who had been forced to commit a crime and had luckily not been identified. Once he saw Bucky, hidden in the corner of a street in Brooklyn, he tried to escape, despite his captor having an arm around him as they walked, because he knew Bucky would save him if he made it obvious what was happening, and he knew Bucky would understand. The wrongfully accused man that hid with Bucky until Bucky could prove his innocence. He's deeply touched by it, since these people aren't just the government apologizing because they have to, they really look up to him.
