This... Wasn't meant to happen. You were a nobody, an outcast, a criminal, just working for this incredibly pretentious woman to tie up loose ends and try to keep your life afloat.

Then your own employer turns on you in the hopes that her evidence is destroyed, alongside a few other people working under Val in this incredibly hard-to-get-out-of vault. At first, there was tension, but you soon grew to be something of a family, bonded by trouble and regret.

After facing your past in the void, and saving New York - Val used up her last shred of public dignity and decided that you, Yelena, Bucky, Walker, Alexei and Ava were all the New Avengers.

You were ultimately and truly out of your element. You were, by the public's definition, a bad guy, a delinquent. But now you were in a fancy tower and being the hero.

However, everyone else seemed to share that same sentiment, so at least you weren't alone in your confusion.

Bucky immediately sensed your hesitation in your new public role - and he had subconsciously took it upon himself to make you as comfortable as possible, and had maybe even grown a little protective of you. It was almost comical how quickly he would come to your defense if someone were to make a quip that was close to cutting deep. But with being the New Avengers meant publicity - go figure, and now you were responsible for being a face that people looked up to. Yikes.

The cameras were flashing and the microphones were all pointed forward, all for you.

It was your turn to make your 'speech'. They hadn't given you much to work with, only a few cue cards at your disposal with prompts like: 'a better world', 'more protection' - which couldn't have been more useless.

Bucky's eyes were on you from afar as you approached the small podium, watching your every move ready to intervene if he had to - despite his own lack of public speaking skills. As you briefly met his gaze, he gave you a quick nod. He trusted you to do well, he knew you would.