In Hearts We Leave Behind 1/2

Title: In Hearts We Leave Behind
Summary: Bucky is looking for answers.
Written for the avengers_rbb challenge. I was lucky enough to snag petite_madame's gorgeous Steve/Bucky prompt, post-CA:TWS. You can see her art here, though I must advise you that the story starts before the comic does, so beware minor spoilers!
Characters/Pairings: Bucky Barnes /Steve Rogers, Peggy Carter
Wordcount: 7,623
Rating: R
Spoilers: Everything up to and including CA:TWS
Warnings: None that I can think of
Neurotic Author's Note #1: I need to gush all over petite_madame here, not only for producing fan-fucking-tastic, breathtakingly beautiful art, as usual, but also for putting up with me and my little RL-induced disappearing act this summer. It was an incredible privilege to be able to work with her. She is both a wonderful artists and a very patient collaborator, and deserves all the love.
Neurotic Author's Note #2: Have I mentioned how lucky I was to get this piece? I practically leapt off the page and screamed at me WRITE ME! WRITE ME NOW! I must beg our readership's indulgence, however, as I took liberties with the original dialogue in the dialogue bubbles, thus making poor petite_madame's life a lot harder. I tried to stick with the original script as much as possible, but there were times when, for my own stylistic purposes, I had to re-imagine what was being said. Any discrepancies you spot between the story and the comic are all my fault.
Neurotic Author's Note #3: I also owe undying thanks to my long-suffering and intrepid beta, rainylemons, who not only beat all my convoluted syntax into submission, but also gave me a few crucial pointers on how to hit the right emotional notes in the story when I was floundering about and missing my target by a mile. All hail to betas! Remaining mistakes are, of course, mine.

LINK TO ART

( When he thinks of himself at all, it's as the Asset )

Part 2

In Hearts We Leave Behind 2/2

Part 1

( He doesn't know how to identify the look on Steve's face. )