Chapter Text
Sam was against the idea of the trials.
Vehemently against them.
There were a million and one other problems that the Government needed to sort through, and it was outrageous that they felt the need to put Bucky on trial to decide if he should be allowed to live in society.
Sam had been with Bucky he had received the summons and had felt his heartbreak at the look that had come over the man. Defeat was radiating from him, making Sam's gut clench with guilt.
A part of him wanted to let it go, and wash his hands of the entire ordeal. He had enough problems to work through, and he didn't need to wade into a tiff with the government. But he couldn't. Not in good conscience, at least.
“Look after him,” Steve had implored, moments before launching himself into the past. “Please.”
Steve had given Sam a journal that contained everything he thought Sam would need to know about Bucky Barnes.
As much as Sam loved and respected Steve Rogers, he couldn’t help but think that it would have been much easier for him to stick around to look after his friend.
His best friend.
Sam was happy to help Bucky, he really was, but he and Bucky weren’t exactly friends. Sure, they had come to share a mutual respect for each other, but friends?
Sam, of course, had told Steve that he would do what he could. He would look after the 106-year-old former Assassin, who liked to stare and scowl.
What could possibly go wrong?
. . .
“Bucky, I know you’re in there. Open the door!”
It had been three minutes since Sam had arrived at Bucky’s apartment.
Three minutes of him pounding his fists on the door, and hollering at the man to open up.
He really didn’t have time or patience for this.
“Alright, I’m coming in!”
He stepped back and kicked the door open.
“It would've been easier to just open the door.” He walked into the living room and stared
Bucky was sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, and his arms clasped around his knees, his jaw clenched and his gaze fixed on a spot on the wall.
Sam looked around and realized that there was literally no furniture in the place. “Dude, it’s been 6 weeks. Where’s your furniture? A couch? You have a bed, right?” He walked to the bedroom, but there wasn’t a bed to be found, only a blanket and a pillow. “Why is this place so sad?"
“I didn’t see the point in buying any of that stuff," Bucky replied despondently. "They’re going to lock me up, so why bother?”
“They’re not going to lock you up, Bucky, I'm not going to let that happen. Now come, we have an appointment with the barber in 30 minutes.”
Bucky tensed, but he didn’t say anything.
The appointment had been his idea, but Sam knew that he wasn’t thrilled about following through with it.
The barber had been recommended by Steve, and Sam had made the arrangement for Bucky to be the only one present. There wouldn’t be anyone around watching and making Bucky self-conscious.
“Let’s go," Sam urged. "Get up.”
Bucky sighed but didn’t argue. He merely got to his feet and stalked out the door.
“Great. Good talk.” Sam followed him out to the street, smiling slightly as Bucky got into the front seat of the truck.
“We’re getting you a license the second you're pardoned.”
“If I get pardoned.”
“You’ve got to stop with that negativity.”
Bucky didn’t respond.
Sam sighed and started the truck. He didn't know how to talk to Bucky, and h e wasn’t expecting Bucky to speak, so they listened to Marvin Gaye.
“There are some things you need to know about Bucky.”
Sam looked down at the book Steve was holding out, and slowly took it.
HYDRA had made a book on the Winter Soldier, and Steve had made a book on Bucky.
Sam began to flip through the pages, stopping to read a few excerpts.
- Bucky doesn’t like to be barefoot - it reminds him of being pulled out of cryostasis.
- Bucky hates crowds, and blaring music - it makes him antsy.
- The last time he truly celebrated Christmas was in 1942.
- He’s seen the ocean, but he’s never stepped foot in it.
- He likes old movies and music - they calm him down.
- He doesn't like sharp objects near his head...Or anything, being near his head - it reminds of the halo's used to wipe his memory.
- He liked being on the farm in Wakanda.
- He remembers. Everything. Everything, Sam.
- He likes reading, math, and science.
- He loves Disney - happy endings.
- He misses his family.
“Steve, I’m not sure about this,” Sam said, closing the book. “He and I...we don’t have a great relationship. We're practically strangers. I can’t just-”
“Try, Sam. Please. He needs a friend.”
Sam wanted to yell at him for that. Steve had been Bucky’s best friend, and he was abandoning him.
Jay, the barber, had everything set up for them when they arrived.
Bucky entered the shop with a closed-off expression and placed himself stiffly in the chair. His hands curled into fists, and he stared pointedly at the wall, seeming to block everything out.
Jay glanced at Sam curiously, and Sam nodded.
The faster they got this over with, the better it would be for everyone.
Bucky flinched slightly, as Jay set to work, his legs beginning to twitch like he was preparing to make a run for it. "I don't like this," he mumbled
Sam hesitated for a brief moment, before pulling a stool towards Bucky’s chair and sitting across from him. “Steve told me you liked Disney.” He reached out slowly and placed his hand on Bucky’s knee.
Bucky’s eyes jumped to him, and he stared at him for a few seconds, before he gave a hesitant nod. "Yeah," he whispered. His fists were curled, with his fingernails digging into the palm of his right hand.
“Cool. I like Disney. My sister and I watched a lot of those movies growing up. I really liked the old ones though. You know, like the Hardy Boys. Have you seen those? There was this one that dealt with lost treasure. I used to watch those on repeat. Oh, and the Fox and the Hound. Have you seen that? Man, Disney didn’t pull any punches on that one. There’s this super depressing scene, where the fox is left behind, and...” He shook his head. “You’ll have to watch it.”
Bucky’s eyes were closed now, and he was attempting to take deep breaths.
“I’m going to have to lean him back into the sink,” Jay said.
This wasn’t going to go well.
Sam kept his hand on Bucky’s knee, as Jay began to tip him back. “You’re okay, Bucky.”
Bucky’s knuckles turned white with how tightly he was clenching his fists.
“Cinderella is my favorite princess,” Sam blurted out. “Cause she’s broke, you know. But she still found her way to happiness. Yeah, she had to marry a prince, but you know, her story ended with her being rich. So, that’s going for her.”
“I-I can’t do this,” Bucky said in a tight voice. “I can’t...please..."
“I’m right here, buddy,” Sam said, tightening his grip on Bucky’s knee. “I know where your mind is, but you’re not there.”
Jay turned on the water and began to wash Bucky’s hair.
Bucky exhaled slowly, and relaxed slightly, seeming to enjoy the warm water.
It wasn’t electricity.
“Now, Mary Poppins,” Sam continued, “that was my mom’s favorite. We used to watch that as a family on Sundays. There was something so...homey and magical about that movie.”
Sam kept up a steady ramble, with his hand on Bucky’s knee, throughout the entire process, talking about his favorite movies and memories of magical moments with his family.
Bucky seemed to relax, sort of.
Jay was going as fast as he could, explaining every step he did, before doing it.
He washed Bucky's hair, squeezed the water out of it with a towel, cut it with scissors, and then used a trimmer to make it nice and short.
Finally, it was done. Bucky shot out of the chair, as soon as was able, and was out of the shop before Sam knew what was going on.
“Thank you,” Sam said. He tried to pay, but Jay wouldn’t accept it.
“Consider it a favor for an old friend.” He smiled warmly and held his hand out.
Sam smiled and shook his hand. “Thank you.” He got back out to the truck and looked at Bucky, who was pressing his head against the headrest, and breathing deeply with his eyes closed.
“You didn’t look to see how it turned out," Sam said lightly.
“I’m sure it looks fine,” Bucky replied. He kept his eyes closed and meticulously opened and closed his hands.
“Yeah, I’d say. You look more like Prince Charming than an Assassin, which will help you in this case.” He turned on the car and shifted into gear. “You look good.”
More silence.
“Bambi was the last Disney movie I saw before the war,” Bucky said, a few minutes into the drive.
Sam lowered the volume of the music and looked at him. “Really?”
Bucky nodded, “I saw in the theaters, and cried when the mom died.” He scoffed. “And then Steve and I would watch the movies we both missed when he visited Wakanda. I really liked Swiss Family Robinson.”
Sam chuckled, “That’s a good one. After watching it, I always wanted to live in a treehouse on an island.”
“Yeah...”
Silence fell again, and remained until they reached Bucky’s building.
“I’ll be back tomorrow to pick you up, alright? We can get breakfast if you want. Or not. If you’re too nervous to eat anything, then we can just get on the road and call it good."
Bucky didn’t say anything and got out of the truck. “Thanks.”
Sam nodded, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Bucky.” He watched the man disappear into the building and sighed heavily. He pulled out the journal Steve had given him and turned to the last page where a letter was written from Steve.
Sam,
I know I’m asking a lot of you, and I’m sorry about that. But I need you to do this for me. One last favor. I know you can handle the shield and the responsibilities that come with it, but I’m also trusting you with one of the most important people in my life. My best friend. He’s been through a lot, which is honestly putting it lightly, but I know that you’ll be able to do some good for him. The man you know now, isn't the man he used to be. Just...take it slow. Please, Sam. Please do this for me. I need to know that he’s going to be okay.
Steve
Sam shook his head and closed the book.
He made a promise to Steve, and he intended to see it through. He would help Bucky and hope to God that things worked out.
He would do the best he could to get him through the trials, and then do his best to stick around for what came after.
He struggled to wrap his around the fact that Steve had up and left, choosing the past over his 'best friend' who needed him. He'd left Bucky in the future...one that hadn't been kind to him.
It just didn’t make sense.
But not many things did these days, and that was the world they lived in. All Sam knew was that there was no way he was going to let the Government condemn Bucky Barnes.
There was no way Wakanda was going to allow that.
One way or another, Bucky was going to remain a free man.