Chapter Text
When Bucky Barnes arrived at the Tower, Nova Stark wasn't intimidated by him, just curious. She had read about him, the Winter Soldier, the assassin with the metal arm and haunted eyes. But the man she saw in front of her wasn't a headline. He was quiet, restrained and clearly unsure what to do when people actually looked at him instead of through him.
Bucky spent most of his time in his room, emerging only for food or water. He was still adjusting, still convinced he needed to hide from everyone and nobody pushed him on it. Not yet.
Tonight, the Tower was calm, the city's distant hum barely reaching the upper floors. Nova stumbled in through the main elevator doors, still buzzed from a night out with friends. She kicked off her heels and stumbled with a laugh, rubbing at her sore feet. Her outfit was simple and comfortable, fitted blue jeans, a soft white sweater slightly slipping off one shoulder and her long dark curls cascading down her back in loose, messy waves.
Her footsteps echoed lightly as she walked up the stairs and moved down the corridor toward her room. Passing Bucky's door, she thought she heard a noise, a muffled thump. Maybe he dropped something? Her footsteps slowed as she heard the noise again, this time, more deliberate. A sharp inhale, followed by another dull thud.
She hesitated for a second before knocking lightly on his door. "Bucky? Are you okay?"
No answer.
Nova's frown deepened as she tried the handle, expecting it to be locked, but was surprised when it turned easily. The room was dark when she opened it and as her eyes adjusted she could see him lying on the floor, a pillow under his head, his duvet draped over his lower body. The upper half of him was bare, toned muscles rippling under pale skin, the dog tags around his neck catching the dim light. He was asleep, oblivious, but something about the scene felt fragile, haunted almost.
"Bucky..." she called softly, stepping closer.
Still nothing. She tried again, a little louder this time, but he remained asleep, fidgeting and muttering under his breath. Nova bit her lip, torn between letting him sleep and worrying about whether or not she should even be in here. Either way, it felt wrong to leave him trapped in a nightmare. Taking a deep breath, she crouched down beside him and gently shook his shoulder.
"Bucky," she murmured, voice still soft but firmer this time. "Hey, wake up."
Bucky's eyes snap open, dark and wild. In an instant, his metal hand shot up and wrapped around her neck.
"Bucky!" she gasped, her heart hammering in her chest as she gripped hold of his metal hand and tried to break free but his grip was deathly strong.
He hauled her up before she could react, slamming her against the wall with brutal strength. Pain shot through her spine and she was struggling to breathe. She clawed at his wrist, tried with everything she had to push him off, but he was too powerful. The next moment, he flung her across the room. Pain shot through her side as she slammed against the chest of drawers; a lamp toppled, shattering with a sharp crash.
Nova hit the floor hard, wincing in pain. Looking up, she saw Bucky looming over her, his metal hand clenched into a fist. His face was flushed, eyes blazing with a mix of confusion and adrenaline. He didn't seem to recognize her, lost in whatever nightmare had taken hold of him.
"Jarvis! Get help!" she cried, gasping through the pain.
Before she could react further, his metal fingers yanked her hair, dragging her upright, slamming her back against the wall again. Her breath hitched. Her eyes met his, blue, stormy, lost and she realized just how far gone he was.
"Bucky," she choked out, desperate. "It's me -"
Ignoring her pleas, his metal arm raised and the world tilted toward darkness, but then a shield of energy slammed between them. Bucky grunted in discomfort, loosening his grip.
"Step back, Barnes," a familiar voice barked. Nova's father, Tony, stood framed in the doorway, his Iron Man gauntlet glowing. Steve barrelled past, ready to intervene.
"Stand down!" Steve commanded, stepping in between them.
But Bucky was in no mood to listen; he dropped her as he charged, his metal arm swinging. The first blow landed against Steve's gut, hard enough to knock the air out of him.
"Bucky - it's me!" Steve choked out, dodging another wild swipe.
Bucky didn't reply. He kept coming, fuelled by something feral, something wild that drove him relentlessly. Nova watched helplessly from the floor. She didn't dare move, her whole body screaming in pain.
The fight was fast, brutal and it was clear that Bucky was operating on pure instinct, fighting to kill. Steve blocked and dodged, trying to subdue him without causing serious damage. Each blow was harsh, loud, the sound of metal connecting with flesh. Tony tried to intervene but Steve yelled at him telling him he had it under control.
Steve finally managed to wrestle Bucky into a hold, pinning him against the wall. "Snap out of it, Buck," he growled, face inches from Bucky's. He shook him hard and something in Bucky's eyes shifted. Confusion. Terror. Recognition.
Bucky's eyes met Nova's as she lay terrified on his bedroom floor with Tony crouching beside her and checking her over. The realisation of what he had done hit him and the colour drained from his face. He collapsed, heavy and broken onto the floor.
Tony's voice was razor sharp as he stood to face him. "You're out of here."
"Tony," Steve sighed, shaking his head.
Bucky looked dazed, disoriented. He looked up at Steve, then at Nova, shock and horror spreading across his face as he saw her lying there, battered.
"Nova..." he choked out, voice rough like gravel.
Steve let out a sigh of relief, knowing that Bucky was back. "You're back, it's ok Buc -"
"No it's not," Bucky interrupted him.
"You're damn right it's not. You touched my fucking daughter," Tony yelled, moving to approach him but Steve stood between them. Tony glared at him. "I knew this would happen, he's too dangerous to be here, I want him gone Roger's. That's an order."
"Tony, you can't ask me to do that," Steve replied, standing firmly in his stance.
"And why not?" Tony shot back, anger flaring in his eyes. He gestured at Nova, still lying on the ground and at Bucky, now on his knees, staring at his hands in disbelief. "You saw what happened here!"
Steve sighed heavily. "Yes, I did. But that wasn't him."
"And you expect me to believe that?" Tony retorted, his voice laced with frustration. "He's dangerous, he could have killed my daughter!"
"Dad," Nova swallowed, pain flaring in her ribs. "Please, it's ok I -"
"Enough!" Tony shouted, sighing and rubbing his face in frustration. "Come on let's get you checked out," he said, helping her stand.
Nova tried to stand on her own but winced as pain shot through her, her left side feeling tender.
Steve watched her wince, concern etched deep in his eyes. He looked at Bucky, still on the floor staring at the damage he'd done. The guilt was evident on his face, almost crushing him under its weight.
"We can help him," Steve said quietly. "He just needs time."
Tony scoffed. "Not around my daughter he doesn't." With that he walked out with Nova, leaving him alone with Bucky.
Steve waited until they were gone before lowering himself to sit beside Bucky. The room was quiet, the remnants of their fight scattered around them.
"You didn't mean it," Steve said softly.
Bucky didn't look at him. He just sat there, the memory of Nova's body slamming against the wall playing over and over again in his mind. "I - I hurt her."
Steve put a comforting hand on Bucky's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze but Bucky shrugged him off. "You weren't thinking. You were trapped in your own mind."
Bucky shook his head, running a hand through his messy hair. He looked at Steve, desperation in his eyes. "He was right. I could've killed her, Steve."
Steve didn't deny it, because it was true and he knew it didn't matter what he said at that moment, Bucky wouldn't listen and honestly he couldn't blame him.
Bucky stood weakly and grabbed a duffel bag from the wardrobe and started to pack. "I'm too dangerous to be here."
Steve stood up, trying to block Bucky's path. "Don't do this," he said firmly.
"I have to," Bucky replied, his voice gruff. He tried to sidestep Steve, but Steve was having none of it. He planted himself firmly in front of Bucky, blocking his way.
"Running away won't fix anything."
Bucky hesitated, the duffel bag in his hand filled halfway. He looked tired, haunted, like leaving was the only option he had left.
"What choice do I have?" He said softly. "After all I've done to him...now I hurt his only daughter."
Steve's jaw set, his gaze intense. "This isn't about Tony," he said.
Bucky's lips curved into a humourless smile. "Isn't it?"
Steve knew Bucky had a point. Tony had been a constant critic, every move Bucky made questioned, every effort doubted. But Steve also knew that wasn't the heart of the issue. He took a cautious step towards Bucky, voice gentle but insistent.
"Leaving will just prove him right, you've changed Buck. You're not a monster, show them that."
Bucky's grip tightened on the duffel bag, his knuckles whitening. For a long moment, he just stood there, breathing hard, caught between instinct and Steve's stubborn belief in him. Finally, with a sharp exhale, he tossed the bag onto the bed. The sound of it hitting the mattress was heavy. Defeated. He dragged a hand over his face before meeting Steve's eyes again, raw with self-loathing but yielding for now.
Steve let out a breath and sighed, patting him on the back. "Let me talk to him," he assured him before leaving the room.
Despite Steve's words, Bucky wouldn't unpack yet.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Nova hissed as Bruce's fingers brushed the bruise forming around her neck, not to mention her ribs that hurt to move. The lab lights were too bright, too sharp, making her head hurt even more. Tony hovered beside her like a storm waiting for somewhere new to strike, she knew he was furious and it had been a while since she had seen him this angry.
"I'm fine," she insisted, wincing as she tried to sit straighter.
Bruce raised a brow. "You're shaking, Novi."
"It's cold in here," she lied. Tony shot her a look that said, 'Don't even try that bullshit with me.'
Bruce moved away to fetch some ice, leaving them alone for a moment. Tony leaned against the edge of the metal table she was sitting on, hands tucked into his pockets. Nova could feel the question bubbling up without him even having to ask.
Finally, he spoke, his voice tight. "What the hell were you thinking, Novs?"
Nova flinched at the sharpness in his tone. The disappointment. She knew she'd screwed up, there was no denying it. "I don't know," she muttered, avoiding his gaze. "I just... I wanted to make sure he was okay. He was having a nightmare and -"
"So you just barge in on someone that unstable? Jesus Christ, Nova..." Tony ran a hand through his hair, frustration seeping into his every word. "That's a death wish. Or have you forgotten that he's an assassin, trained to kill! What would you have done if I hadn't been there?"
The weight of her actions pressed down on her like a ton of bricks. Her father was right, she knew he was right. But the truth still hurt.
She met his eyes, her shoulders slumping. "I... I just wanted to help."
Tony scoffed, his anger barely contained. "You helped alright. Helped almost get yourself killed."
"Stop it, I'm not a child dad, so don't talk to me like one."
Tony's glare darkened, his patience on borrowed time. "No? Because you sure as hell act like one," he snapped. "A naïve, impulsive child who thinks everything's a game. Well, newsflash, Nova, this isn't a game. Bucky is dangerous. You could have died tonight."
His words hung thick in the air, harsh and stark in their truth. Nova swallowed, pain lacing her voice as she tried to defend herself. "He didn't mean to -"
"Didn't mean to what?" Tony interrupted her. "He fucking attacked you, Nova!"
Nova sighed. "Dad -"
"No." He pointed a warning finger, pacing now. "Barnes is gone. End of discussion."
Before she could argue, the doors slid open. Steve stepped inside, shoulders tense, face drawn with guilt. He looked like he'd failed the entire world.
"Nova, are you alright?" he asked quietly, stepping forward.
Nova tried to straighten up at the sight of Steve, putting on a brave face. "I'm okay, Steve. Don't worry."
Tony scoffed. "She's bruised and terrified but yes, please, let's downplay that so Barnes feels better about himself."
Steve ignored the bite, his eyes locked onto Nova. "I'm so sorry. He didn't know where he was. He thought he was somewhere else, with someone else..."
Tony scoffed again earning him another glare from Steve. "Tony please, throwing him out now? It'll destroy him."
"And that excuses what he did to her?" Tony shot back, eyes blazing. "You're not going to try and guilt trip me into keeping the guy who nearly choked my daughter to death under my roof."
Steve's jaw tightened, visibly distressed. "I'm not trying to guilt trip you, Tony. I'm just asking you to show a little compassion. Bucky's been through hell."
Tony shook his head, a bitter laughed escaping his lips. "Compassion? You want me to show compassion to someone who could have killed my child? He's...he's taken enough away from me!" Tony's voice cracked with raw emotion, his carefully constructed mask of anger slipping just enough to reveal the terror underneath.
The lab lights caught the shine in his eyes, fear, grief, a father pushed to his absolute limit. Steve's expression softened slightly at the sight of Tony so unravelled, but he didn't back down.
"He wasn't himself, Tony. You know how PTSD works better than anyone here."
A beat of silence stretched between them before Tony exhaled sharply through his nose and turned away from Steve entirely, a clear dismissal.
"Jarvis," he called out tightly instead, "Revoke Barnes' access codes immediately."
Steve's hands curled into fists at this sides but before he could argue further Bruce interjected quietly from where he'd been observing near Nova.
"He needs monitoring more than ever now. Tony, if you send him out there alone..." His tone held unspoken weight, they all knew what relapse looked like for men like Bucky Barnes after all these years of being trapped inside their own heads.
Tony refused even that though, his decision already made as final as reinforced steel. "Then take him elsewhere Rogers, because under my roof? He stays gone."
The ultimatum hung heavy in air between them all, leaving no room left to negotiate, only consequences waiting to unfold whichever path they chose next.
Nova's heart sank. She could picture Bucky out there, haunted, guilty and alone. She knew that look in his eyes before the nightmare snapped him back. He wasn't there, not really. And she knew, god, she knew that if she'd just left him alone, none of this would've happened.
"Dad," she said softly, sliding off the bed.
Tony spun to face her, eyes narrowing as he took in her defiant stance. "Sit back down, Nova. You're hurt."
Nova held her ground. Her whole body protested the movement, a sharp ache shooting down her side. She ignored it, straightening her shoulders stubbornly. "No."
Tony's expression darkened. "Now isn't the time for a temper tantrum."
"This isn't a temper tantrum, Dad," Nova snapped, pushing past the pain.
"This is me asking you to listen. I'm not letting you throw him out for something that wasn't his fault."
Tony scoffed at her words, his frustration boiling over. "Not his fault? He attacked you, Nova!"
His hands clenched into fists, the stress of the situation and the weight of his concern for his daughter evident in every tense muscle. "I won't risk your safety over a man who clearly can't control himself!"
Nova took a breath. "If I hadn't gone into his room, he never would've touched me. He was having a nightmare. He didn't know it was me."
Tony shook his head. "Nova -"
"I startled him. That's on me." Her voice cracked, but she pushed through it. "He needs help, not punishment."
Bruce lowered his gaze, Steve swallowed hard and Tony's anger faltered, just for a second.
Nova stepped closer to him, placing a hand on his arm. "Dad, please. Don't kick him out because of what happened to me. I'm okay, but he's not."
Silence filled the room, heavy and sharp. Tony looked torn. The love he had for his daughter warring with his fear and anger at the situation, his heart twisting. But the sight of Nova standing there, bruised, battered and pleading on Bucky's behalf struck a chord that was hard to ignore. He closed his eyes for a moment, pinching the bridge of his nose. When he opened them again, the anger had given way to reluctant resignation.
"You're too soft," he told Nova, but there was no anger in his voice, just a father's stubborn, protective love. "You can't save everyone."
"Maybe not, but I can try. Didn't you tell me that once?"
Tony exhaled sharply through his nose, the sound weighted with reluctant surrender. He looked at Nova, seeing not just her bruises but the steel in her spine, that same damn stubbornness he'd passed down to her.
He let out a heavy sigh and faced Steve. "Conditions," he bit out finally, jaw tight as a sprung trap. "Full psych evals every week with Bruce overseeing him personally."
Steve straightened instantly at this small concession while Bruce nodded solemnly beside them both, they knew what rare victory even partial cooperation from Tony Stark actually was when it came to personal safety measures regarding family members, especially after incidents like these ones.
"So help me god, if he steps one foot out of line, he's out of here, got it?"
Steve nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing a fraction. "Understood. Thank you, Tony."
Steve gave her a small nod before leaving. Nova let out a breath, relief washing over her. She wasn't naïve enough not to know the weight of this decision or the constant monitoring Bucky would be under now, but at least it was a chance.
"Thank you, dad," she murmured, meeting her father's gaze.
Tony just shook his head, a mix of exasperation and love in his eyes. "Don't thank me. Just, be careful around him, Nova. He's more than a little broken, you're not to be alone with him, ever."
"I know, Dad," Nova said quietly, her own stubbornness giving way to weary exhaustion as she sat back on the bed.
They all knew what kind of damage someone like Bucky could do on his worst day, hell, even on his best day. She wasn't an idiot, but she couldn't shake the image of him from moments ago; the pain, the confusion in his eyes. She knew, even if no one else seemed to.
Bucky wasn't a monster. Just deeply, painfully alone.