Part Two
Steve Rogers was the one thing Hydra could never truly take from him. Thanos couldn't either. Bucky knew that somehow, even if he didn't end up in Preya and even if he didn't end up surviving and still ended up dying in the snap that he would be fighting wherever he was, whatever forces that laid beyond the veil of death, he'd be fighting tooth and nail for as long as it took, if it took every bit of strength in him he knew he'd keep fighting as long as he ended up back with Steve. Not without him. Not without him. Not without him.
"I get it," Bucky smiled, his Vibranium arm still holding Steve close, his good hand moving up to brush a few wayward strands of hair from Steve's eyes, then moving to wipe a few tears from his own eyes with the back of his hand. "I just... I spent so long without you, all that time I was fighting to get back to you, so much has happened, we've both been through so much. You... I couldn't do any of it without you, you've always been the stronger one, even before all this." He patted Steve on the bicep, giving him a little grin, before it faded into an easy smile.
"Steve," Bucky said softly, before he rolled his eyes slightly at himself, so overcome with emotions, still barely keeping himself together, he knew if he wanted to say what he had to say to Steve it would take hours, he was just so all over the place right now. Actions meant more than words, and they weren't in the less forgiving times any more. And even if they were, Bucky didn't care what people thought.
"It's always been you," With those words, Bucky drew Steve in for a kiss, both his arms wrapping loosely around Steve and keeping him close. He felt tears prick his eyes again but he didn't care, there could have been a solar eclipse, a meteor shower, hell they may have even fallen in the fountain but Bucky wouldn't have noticed anything but Steve. He kissed Steve soft but with intent, each movement saying IloveyouIloveyouIloveyou.