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The Asset didn't remember his mission to retrieve the serum until the moment the screen showed that street. James didn't remember Howard Stark until the moment his face appeared on the screen. If they were being honest they barely remembered anything. The Haze of having the Soldier activated still hung over them.
The Soldier does remember though. He remembers that road. James remembers the man in that car. They watched as Tony Stark turns to face the screen. They watch as the horror dawns on his face.
"I know that road," Tony Stark mutters. The Soldier glances over at Steve Rogers, and takes in the set of his jaw. Bucky watches his hand clench around his shield, as he settles into a fighting stance. "What is this?"
Steve doesn't answer. Every line in his body tense, ready to attack.
The Asset watches his own hands slam Howard Stark's head against the steering wheel. Stops himself from looking away as The Soldier's hands wrap around Maria Stark's neck.
Tony Stark stares unmoving at the screen. tears are forming in his eyes.
Carefully, without looking away from the screen, or Tony Stark, or Steve Rogers, James puts down his gun. He ignores the incredulous look that Steve shoots his way, as he places the gun out of reach and steps away. Carefully the Soldier takes a seat on the ground, and places his hands on his knees palm up.
"What are you doing?" Steve hisses, Tony doesn't even glance away from the screen. He watches as James, Bucky, the Soldier, the Asset, kills his mama, and the tears flow down his face.
"The right thing," Bucky whispers back. The video ends, and for a moment only the sound of their breathing can be heard.
"Did you know?" Tony asks, staring blankly at the screen. It only takes one glance at Steve's face for Bucky to know the truth. He did.
"I didn't know it was him," Steve hedges, shifting between the two of them, and lifting the shield slightly. Bucky fights back the desire to restrain the idiot, the desire to protect him from the consequences of his stubborness. It's been a long time since he was Steve Rogers' protector.
"Don't lie to me Rogers," Starks voice is cold as a winter storm, "did you know?" James looks at the ground.
"Yes," Rogers says. There's a metallic snap, a whir, and a crunch. The Soldier tenses, and James has to fight the urge to get up. The Asset wants to fight. James wants to hide. They manage to stay still. There's a thump as Steve Rogers hits the ground, out of the corner of his eye he can see him.
"Stay down," Tony Stark says, and then the clink and whir of each step as the suit approaches them. James holds very still, eyes down, hands open.
For a moment neither of them move. There's a scraping sound as Steve gets back to his feet.
"Do you remember them?" He asks. He doesn't spare a glance towards Steve.
"Yes," James whispers. It's true now, he remembers Howard begging him to save his wife. He remembers the feel of her breath as he wrapped a hand around her throat.
"Leave him alone," Steve snaps, like an order. They both ignore him.
"You killed them," Tony says, when James looks up the glow of Ironmans eyes stares back at him.
"I did," he doesn't say he's sorry. Isn't sure how anything he could say would ever be enough.
"It wasn't his fault," Steve says, and there's desperstion in his voice. "Don't hurt him." Tony turns towards the super soldier and somehow the suit looks incredulous.
"Hurt him?" Tony asks.
"Don't," Steve repeats, and he hefts the shield.
"Who the fuck do you think I am?" Tony turns on the man. "You think I'd hurt an unarmed man sitting on the fucking ground?"
"It wasn't his fault," Steve falters in his approach.
"Sure, and who's fault was it?" Tony demands.
"What?" Steve blinks, his shield dropping ever so slightly.
"Who is at fault for my parents murder?" Tony steps towards the man. James looks up watching as the two of them stand toe to toe. The suits eyes glow as he stares down Steve, and James shudders to think what being on the receiving end of that look would feel like.
The Soldier remembers Hydra's file on Ironman, and it's simple conclusion. do not engage.
"Hydra," Steve blurts out, and he looks away . "Hydra killed your parents, not Bucky." The suit nods once.
"And who is at fault for lying to me about it?" there's a menacing whir as he asks. James swallows.
"What?" Steve mumbles, and the Soldier is starting to think he might be an idiot.
"I said, who is at fault for lying about my parents murder?" Tony repeats, and Steve steps back. Tony advances, not giving him any space.
"I don't," Steve trails off, wide eyes looking at the Winter Soldier. He wants a rescue.
"Don't look at him," Tony snaps, and Steve immediately looks back at him. "Eyes on me." Tony demands. "Who's fault is it?"
"Yours!" Steve shouts, "you would have hurt him!" The head of the suit cocks to one side mechanically.
There's a long pause.
"James Buchannen Barnes," Tony says without looking at him. "Have I hurt you?" His voice seems to float in the air for a moment. For that moment James is afraid to speak.
"No sir," The Asset responds.
"I don't know what your problem is," Tony spits, metal hand shoving Steve backwards. "I don't know when you decided I was some kind of monster." He steps forward, and Steve stumbles back a step. "But let me be very clear, Steve Rogers, if I ever see you again, I will be every inch of the monster you think I am."
He turns away then. Turns back towards James.
Bucky looks up, looks at the set of Steve's jaw, and the way his shoulder tenses.
"Stark!" He calls out, just as Steve throws the shield.
Stark doesn't even look as he catches it. Frozen in place holding the shield. The scrape of metal fingers against the vibranium as his hand tenses.
"What the fuck is your problem?" He throws the shield, and it flies out the window and down the mountain. "What the fuck did I ever do to you?" Stark screams. "Did I kill your parents?" James flinches. "Did I lie to you about it?" He demands, "What the fuck did I ever do to you? Since the day we met you have looked down on me! You've treated me like shit! And for what? What did I do?"
"You," Steve starts, and then pauses for a moment.
"Do you even know why you hate me?" Tony asks.
"I don't hate you," Steve starts, and Tony laughs cold and harsh as a winter storm.
"You don't?" He asks. "So you just lie to everyone? Tell them they're worth a tenth of what others are? Attack them when their back is turned?"
"I won't let you hurt him," Steve says, and Tony screams, in pain, and anguish, and frustration.
"He's not going to hurt me." James says, and Steve doesn't even look at him. James knows it's true, knows that Tony Stark won't hurt him as much as he may want to. If he was going to, he would have done it the moment that video ended.
"He's known me for five minutes and he has more faith in me than you do," Tony hisses. He turns away from them both. "What a fucking waste of time." The Soldier doesn't think he's talking about this mission.
"You created Ultron," Steve blurts out. "You killed Wanda's parents." Bucky can see him scrambling for an excuse.
"I sold weapons to the US government, same as my father." Tony says, his voice is dull, weary.
"You hated him," Steve accuses, "Howard was a good man."
"I thought he killed my mom," Tony admits, "I thought he drove drunk, and killed her." His voice cracks, and Bucky is sure that he's crying behind that mask.
"You just keep moving forward, no matter what." Steve shouts. His chest is heaving as he says it, and both Tony and James can hear the truth in those words.
"That's it isn't it," he sounds lost. "That's why you hate me, because you wish you could move forward." He shakes his head. Turns back towards The Soldier seated on the ground.
"Am I under arrest?" James asks.
"Yeah, for a lot of crimes probably." Tony says.
"I won't let you do this!" Steve shoves his way between them. "I won't let them kill him."
"Jesus fucking Christ," Tony slams his head forward into the Captains, metal meeting man. Steve stumbles back, tripping over James. His nose is bleeding. "You get in my space again, and I will kill you."
Steve gets to his feet, wiping the blood away. "I'd like to see you try." Bucky closes his eyes, not wanting to see Steve's death.
There's a zapping noise, and then the idiot is convulsing on the ground next to him.
"Stand up," Stark says, scooping Steve up. For a moment James hesitates, and then he gets to his feet. "Back the way we came."
James walks ahead of Tony, listening to the slow breathing of a passed out super soldier.
He thinks about asking why Steve is still breathing, but he already knows the answer.