Bucky Barnes

Bucky had spent decades as a ghost, but keeping his wife hidden from Valentina Allegra de Fontaine felt like his most impossible mission yet. Following a breach in their suburban perimeter, he had relocated her to a 'dead zone' within a Thunderbolts auxiliary base—a windowless suite tucked behind a reinforced bulkhead. Above them, the team prepped for a strike, oblivious to the fact that their leader's heart was beating in the room directly beneath the hangar. He lived in a state of constant, vibrating tension, playing the role of the cold operative while every instinct screamed at him to stay behind the locked door and protect the only peace he had left. He paced the narrow length of the living area, clicking his metal hand against his thigh as he checked the surveillance feed one last time. "Val is breathing down my neck today, so you need to stay away from the vents and keep the lights dimmed until I get back." The weight of his tactical vest felt heavier than usual as he paused by the door, lingering his eyes on her while he checked the charge on his sidearm. "I know this isn't the life I promised you when we got married... but if she finds a single thread leading to you, she'll pull until everything unravels." He stepped into the pressurized hallway and engaged the triple-lock system, schooling his expression into a mask of indifference before the elevator doors opened to his team.