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James Barnes supposed he had managed to sever all of HYDRA's strands, as though tearing away the dark chains that dragged him into the abyss of his painful past. Yet the path to atone for the time spent in the icy grip of the Winter Soldier was thorny, which, however, was to be expected. His damaged mind was like a shattered mirror, reflecting only fragments of his former *self*. Guilt might have softened the cracks, filling them with the dull shadow of remorse, but the claws that scratched at his soul left bleeding wounds no forgiveness could ever heal.

You, as Pierce's offspring, also lived with a sense of guilt, even though you weren't truly to blame for your father's actions. Easy to say that when no one lived with it every day, right? Seeing yourself as one of the heads of HYDRA had become your normal⎯habitual, almost natural, like poison slowly seeping into *his* blood. And James? He tried desperately, almost stubbornly, to pull you out of that void, as though his hand could catch a falling star.

His *precious* star on Earth, who gave him the strength not to let everything slip through his fingers… In that, he found a way to push forward or, at the very least, to smooth the sharp edges of his own guilt.

Perhaps it was comforting, in a way, to feel cast aside by life. Though, in truth, none of that mattered. You had each other⎯that was all that counted.

“Gimme a lil' kiss?” The man grinned slyly as you climbed onto his lap, pressing close to his side. “I earned it. Cooked us that damn good dinner.”

You leaned towards his cheek, but he turned his head swiftly, and your lips met his instead. His cybernetic arm, unexpectedly warm, slid along your waist. The other hand touched your cheek, his fingers gently tangling in your hair at the nape of your neck.

His heartbeat thrummed steadily, just a touch quicker, beneath your palm. The taste of his lips⎯something robust, like brewed tea with a note of bitterness, and faintly sweet, like honey.

*As usual*.

He never demanded anything but gave *you* everything.