Steve was well aware that what he was doing right now was dangerous. To make a deal with a demon? To exchange something for a favor? If others knew what he was doing right now, they would most certainly seek a way to stop him. Demote him from this crazy scheme of giving his word to a demon. They would claim that there was another way. That they would find some way to bring not just Bucky – but everyone else back. That’s what they did. They fought against all odds and they would find a way to bring them back.
They would. But Bucky?
Steve lowered his eyes and his hands closed into fists. It was the second time he had seen him die. The second time he was experiencing that feeling of helplessness. That sharp knife piercing his heart and fracturing it in a million pieces. He should be the one to die. Not Bucky. Not when he didn’t want that war. Not when all he wanted was to live in peace. To lose someone that special not once – but twice? There was no doubt in Steve’s mind that they would find a way to bring them back. Yet without Bucky? Without that part of his being? Of his soul? He would never be able to be helpful. He would never stand up beside Thor and the remaining survivors.
Consequences be damned.
The soldier’s eyes lifted with resolve, his jaw clenching as he started back towards the demon. When the time came, he would do exactly what the other wanted – no questions asked. It could be anything. It could cost him his very soul. But for Bucky? To bring him back and not drown in his pit of darkness and pain? Everyone else would kill him if they knew what he had done. And… they would discover. Bucky would discover. It mattered not. It was a price that Steve was willing to pay if that meant heaving the other man back. Alive. The same way he was before he…
“I’ll do it.”
ky knew the answer would more than likely be a ‘yes’. it was the only way to go – especially since steve wanted bucky back so badly. not that he could blame him; not everyone was willing to give up the people they loved the most. especially due to the snap that ripped away so many like something biblical.
the one’s left behind were lost, confused, and even begging for mercy. he could offer it , bring -many- people back, but there was always a price. it never was a good one either – nor was it something anyone wanted to pay. yet… here he was.
making sure that the other said yes – making sure they signed themselves into something they couldn’t get out of. no, ky didn’t want his soul, but he’d eventually obtain it. that was how he worked.. he always got what he wanted in the end.
“it’s a deal then.” he could have said more – could have explained that there would be true consequences to what ky was going to do, but why ruin a good thing? no, he’d deal with them eventually. for now… ky had real work to do. “you’ve made the right choice.”
Steve didn’t know the risks – and quite frankly – he didn’t care.
To lose Bucky once had almost killed him. It had broken his heart into such small pieces that he never considered the chance of recovering from what he had lost. But Destiny had a way to be a playful bitch – and seventy years after – Bucky was once more back into his life as the Winter Soldier. They fought and in the end, he found his way to his best friend’s arms once more. Life seemed to have given them a chance to live. A chance at peace after everything they had done and suffered. And for what? For a lunatic with powers that transcended Gods to take Bucky away from him a second time.
With a snap of his fingers – Bucky had become dust.
And this time around, the pain was too much. The grief that consumed him was driving him insane – the loneliness killing him in ways too damn horrendous to be spoken. Bucky had been taken away from him yet again – and this time around, Steve would not sit idly by and wait for Fate to pull another prank on him. Bucky should be alive. Not him. Bucky deserved his chance at a normal life, without chaos and conflict. He had seen enough and done enough. His time was over – and Steve was more than ready to deal with the consequence of his actions.
If that meant summoning a demon and sell his soul for Bucky to be brought back? Then so be it. “I don’t care about others.” This time – he cared about Bucky. Steve knew he couldn’t save everyone but he could save Bucky. A life for a life. “As long as you can guarantee me that you will bring him back without some sort of nefarious side effect – as long as you can bring him back the way he was right before he vanished – I will do whatever you want. Take my soul to hell and torture me for eternity if that’s the price… but please…. Bring him back.”
he could have just said that he’d do it with no strings attached. a favor in return for a life brought back. all ky had to do was act; make deal, bring bucky back, and be through with it. he’d actually had done it before; the price was always a favor if he knew they could give him an advantage. a soul was powerful, yes, but word of mouth was far more powerful – at least to him.
“i can assure you that he will be brought back exactly the way he was before.” a truth. the one thing good about ky was he didn’t like – never in deals -, but he could twist the truth to his liking. though, in this case, he wasn’t even going to do that.
in ky’s mind, he knew what steve was going through, and knew the man would do anything – make any deal – to bring back the one person he loved. ky might not have been through it, but ky could relate. he’d tried to find his mother -bring her back- just to talk, to get to know her. sure, it didn’t turn out as he wanted it, but he knew what steve was going through, and why… he was going to make the deal.
part of him knew what it would cost – knew – that it wouldn’t turn out well in the long run for steve. though, he was willing to make deal, and that was honestly the the defining factor. no other reasons, no willing to inch their way out of it; he was ready to do whatever was possible to bring back someone he cared about.
“no torture,” he wouldn’t put steve through that. no one deserved to be put through that. “all i ask is that when the time comes. you do exactly as i say; no questions asked.”
he’d heard the plea’s before. everyone wanted someone back, but ky wasn’t willing to do so. not right away of course – it was like they didn’t know how to handle the death of a loved one. still, the scale of what had happened with thanos didn’t seem to phase ky due to the fact he didn’t comprehend it ( not now at least ). he knew several had died, but as to the amount? not even he knew.
still, he never could say ‘no’ to someone begging him – not even if he wanted to. part of him thrived off the begging, but another knew it was that slight trace of humanity still left him him. whatever the case, his arms folded over his chest with a slight grin. if rogers wanted bucky back so badly? he would have him, but not with out striking consequences.
“bringing someone back can’t be done with a snap.” it was irony, pure, and simple, but it served a point in his mind. “it will be… dangerous.” though, mainly since ky had nothing to work with, but that never had stoped him before. “among other things – are you willing to bring back one when it could jeopardize others?” it wouldn’t – not entirely, but he wanted to make sure steve was completely committed to the request.
Hellfirebound 