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"It should be destroyed," stated Steve.
"Incinerated, that way no one else can ever use it against Bucky again."
"Maybe. But it could have its uses. And what if there are other Winter Soldiers out there?" She knew there were but had no evidence to back it up.
She hoped Bucky would be able to confirm it. "How can we assume Bucky is the only one? Would Hydra really limit their Winter Soldiers to just one person?"
Steve sighed. "You could be right. But that book already fell into the wrong hands once, it can't happen again."
Natasha could understand Steve's fears. "The only option at the moment is keeping this book with us. Avengers Facility has been compromised and Tony hasn't been in the best shape to investigate yet. Once the security breaches have been fixed, I will not have to carry this book around with me. Bucky will be transferred back to our care once he has made significant progress. He's going to a good place, Steve. I've seen it. You've seen it."
With the help of Pepper and the influence of Stark Industries,arrangements had been made to place Bucky at a secure facility where he would begin treatment for the mental and physical abuse he had suffered within the hands of Hydra.
Their primary aim was ensuring he could be reintroduced to society.
Once Bucky reached a certain point in his treatment, Tony had informed Natasha he hoped he could continue it at the Avengers Facility.
"Do you trust Tony, Steve?" asked Natasha. "He helped set this up long before Ross became a problem. He's been putting in place the pieces he needs to help Bucky. Everyone here has gone through a verified check, double and triple checked."
"I do trust him," admitted Steve.
Natasha laid a hand on Steve's shoulder. "Then let us go and see your friend."
-------
Bucky's room was bigger than Steve had expected. It was comfy. He had a television. A double bed. An en-suite bathroom.
It looked more like a small flat than a hospital. "You seem surprised…" said Bucky.
His metal arm had been removed, something Bucky had consented to. Engineers had been called in to help design a new one, an arm that wouldn't be considered lethal or could be used against others.
"I thought you'd be in a prison…"
"Tony isn't like that, Steve," warned Natasha. "You told me you trusted him."
"I do."
"Then you shouldn't be surprised this isn't a prison, Steve," replied Bucky. "It's nice. People want to talk to me. See how I am, what do I need? They are taking good care of me. I'm quite happy to stay here. I will have meetings with government officials, to discuss with them the crimes I committed under Hydra but everything needs to be assessed and looked at. I can have visitors whenever. There are no set times for you to follow. I'm not being treated like a criminal."
"You shouldn't have to be questioned by the government. It isn't fair on you," said Steve quietly.
"How do you expect people to learn who were victims of Hydra if Bucky doesn't help them?" asked Natasha.
"The people who lost loved ones to Hydra's scheming deserve to know the truth. The government will not be pressing charges. Others may but they are likely to be turned down from the court because Bucky had no choice in the missions he was given. He was trained to be a merciless killer with no emotion, no individual thought, just with the mind-set to carry out his tasks and to flee if required. Bucky cannot be convicted of any crime whilst in the state of the Winter Soldier. If he committed crimes as Bucky, he would be able to be held accountable. We all are."
'And that is what Steve didn't understand before. Bucky had still committed crimes as himself, ones he had to be held accountable for. If Steve had listened to others and considered other options, we wouldn't have had to become fugitives. I wouldn't have had to betray Tony. I knew Steve wouldn't stop. I had to help him.'
She did regret helping Steve at the airport but it was the only way to avoid casualties as Steve was determined to do things his way and no one else's way.
Someone could have died.
True Ross had had it out for Bucky but that was only because he had been deemed dangerous.
Once it had become clear Steve was fighting to protect Bucky, it had been Tony's quick thinking and reasoning to convince Ross to bring in the Winter Soldier.
If Steve had appealed himself, the chase through the tunnel, resulting in several casualties, could have been avoided entirely.
Steve needed to learn to communicate and trust others to make the right decision. She knew he was finding it hard to work under the Accords and he was trying. She had to give him credit for that.
Steve needed to learn to communicate and trust others to make the right decision. She knew he was finding it hard to work under the Accords and he was trying. She had to give him credit for that.
'And I know after trusting SHIELD only to learn they were infiltrated by Hydra that he cannot easily put his faith in governments. That's why he can only trust himself…' Steve had been tarnishing everyone with the same brush even after all of the Hydra agents had been exposed. And she could understand it. But he was trying to adapt.
At least they had a chance now to face each problem as a team. They could all stand together and face Thanos as one unit without splitting apart. They already had an advantage they didn't have before.
"You're alright, Buck?" Steve asked. "They're not forc-"
"No, they're not." Bucky interrupted before Steve could finish his sentence. "If it means getting Hydra out of my head I'm happy to receive help."
"I'll come by every day," said Steve.
Bucky shook his head. "No, every other day."
Steve pursed his lips. "Fine."
Bucky turned his attention to Natasha. "How's your friend? Stark?"
"Recovering. He doesn't blame you."
"I know… He should do." Bucky winced. "I was in Romania, just in my apartment, when someone knocked on the door. I'd got to know my neighbours quite well despite my best efforts to keep a low profile… I answered… That man was there. Ross? Is that his name?"
"It is," stated Steve angrily. "He used you."
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