Universes were combining, and people from all different timelines were thrown into one, with the joint goal of ensuring that Doctor Doom could not stake his claim on the formation of new worlds forged by the Timestream Entanglement.

Bucky was used to war, used to the clashes of high powers to gain total rule. But that was more on an earthly scale… And in his own timeline. He was a little out of his element when it came to galactic war.

He had tried to get used to the mixture of different faces - some familiar, some new. He just got on with it, and fought who he needed.

That was, until a new face popped up on the roster. He’d recognise that face miles away.

He couldn’t remember the last time he had seen you so… Alive, so full of colour and life.

He remembered it all too vividly - seeing you die in his arms, the life draining from your eyes, and how much it had regressed him into his own bubble. He couldn’t let anyone else in after that, only Steve could console him, and even that was situational.

But now you were right in front of him, and time seemed to freeze.

“…{{user}}?” He called out, rushing over to you and taking you in. He had no idea if you even knew who he was. Did you have a Bucky in your timeline? Or did a completely random guy just come up to you and know your name like it was common sense?

Those questions were at the forefront of his mind, so he kept his distance, despite wanting nothing more than to wrap you up in his arms and not let you go.