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deliciousangelfestival · 2 months ago

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The Pearl's Secret - Bucky Barnes

Character: Bucky x female!reader

Summary: After a traumatic night at the Celine Mansion, young Bucky grows up to hunt stolen art tied to his past. His investigation leads him to a high-stakes auction, where a dramatic theft uncovers new clues. A chance encounter in a park propels him closer to unraveling long-hidden secrets.

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It was the coldest day Bucky could remember. Heavy rain lashed against the windows, the wind howled through the cracks, and darkness enveloped everything outside. He couldn't believe how the warmest place he'd ever known could turn into something so bleak and terrifying.

Ten-year-old Bucky hid inside the fireplace, tucked tightly into the small space. He hadn't known about this hiding spot until the owner, Mrs. Celine, had shoved him in there. "Don't come out until I say so," she had whispered urgently, her voice quivering with fear.

Despite her own terror, she had saved him from the intruders, protecting him as if he were her own, even though he was just an orphan—a nobody. She looked different now, her face pale and eyes wide, unlike the calm and gentle woman he used to know.

"Where is Y/N?" Bucky asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"She's safe," Mrs. Celine replied, her hands trembling as she grabbed a long sword from a knight sculpture standing near the fireplace. She paused for a moment, then looked back at him with a fierce determination in her eyes.

“Can I ask you for a favor?” she said, her voice steadier now, though still edged with fear.

“Yeah?” Bucky replied, his small hands gripping his knees tightly, trying to make himself as small as possible in the cramped space.

“Protect my daughter,” she said, her eyes locking onto his with an intensity that made him shiver more than the cold. With those words, Martha turned and rushed out of the room, leaving Bucky alone in the shadows.

Today was supposed to be a day of celebration. Every year, the Celine mansion hosted an Easter event for the local children and those from the orphanage.

The owner, Antoine Celine, a French aristocrat, and his wife, Martha, an American socialite, were known for their generosity. They were wealthy and loved to do philanthropic work. Every holiday, the Celine mansion was filled with laughter, food, and games, and the children always went home with gifts.

The reason the Celines opened their home was for their only daughter, Y/N. Bucky had heard from the older kids that she was too weak to play outside or go to school. Her parents invited other children to the mansion to ensure she had friends and didn't feel isolated.

The first time Bucky met Y/N was when he was trying to catch a white cat, which had climbed up a tree. He looked up to see a girl dressed in fine, porcelain-doll-like clothing with the cat nestled comfortably in her lap.

“She’s afraid of strangers,” the girl said, her voice soft yet confident, as she jumped down from the tree with surprising grace.

Bucky stared at her, quickly noticing how different she seemed from the other kids. "Are you the owner of this house?"

"Yes," you answered simply, a small smile playing on your lips.

"They said you're weak, but you could climb and jump from the tree. I couldn't do that," Bucky said, his tone filled with a mix of curiosity and admiration.

Hearing his words, you extended your hand to him. "Let me show you. It's not difficult."

From that moment on, Bucky and you grew closer. You would call for him, and he would come to the mansion, welcomed with open arms by your parents, who were thrilled to see their daughter finally making friends.

While playing at the mansion, often playing hide and seek with you, Bucky would explore every corner. The place was filled with paintings, artifacts, and old weapons—like a treasure trove. One room that particularly caught his interest was a gallery with three large paintings, each depicting a woman wearing pearl accessories. He wondered what the Celines had done to accumulate such wealth.

But perhaps it was this very fortune that brought about the tragic events of that day. After most of the children had gone home and only he remained to play with you, the lights suddenly went out. Darkness fell, and chaos erupted. Intruders burst through the windows. Antoine, your father, was quick to act, ushering everyone to safety.

You were panicking, struggling to breathe. Bucky helped you use your inhaler, his hands shaking as he held it to your lips. Your body was weak because of your asthma, and you were clearly frightened.

“Bernard, take Y/N to the safest place,” Martha ordered, handing you to the elderly butler. Bernard quickly scooped you up, moving as fast as his old legs could carry him.

Then, a scream pierced the air. Everyone froze, terror written across their faces. Martha's eyes widened with fear; she knew that voice—it was her husband.

"Go!" she yelled at Bucky, dragging him towards the fireplace. "Hide, and don't come out, no matter what you hear."

Bucky nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. He squeezed into the fireplace and tried to control his breathing, making himself as quiet as possible. He stayed there, trembling, until he heard the distant wail of police sirens.

Finally, he crawled out, his legs numb and unsteady. A policeman he recognized, Jack, was standing in the foyer, looking around with a grim expression.

“Bucky?” Jack said softly when he saw him, quickly taking off his jacket and draping it over the boy's shoulders.

“Where are Mr. and Mrs. Celine? Where are Y/N and Bernard?” Bucky's voice was a mixture of fear and desperation.

Jack sighed, hesitating for a moment before replying. "I'll tell you when the time is right. For now, you should go home."

“But where is Y/N?” Bucky insisted, his eyes searching Jack’s for any hint of reassurance.

“She’s not here,” Jack said quietly, avoiding his gaze.

The next day, Bucky learned the truth: there had been a burglary at the Celine mansion, and a murder had taken place. Your whereabouts, along with Bernard’s, remained unknown. He also found out that the stolen items were the three paintings of the women with pearls.

Bucky realized, as he stood outside the now-empty mansion, that he was still just a kid who couldn’t do anything to help that night. From that day on, he vowed to become a police officer so he would never be helpless again.

🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

15 Years Later

Bucky had made it his mission to find you and Bernard. Growing up, he had followed the news of the Celine Mansion murder closely. The case had garnered international attention, primarily due to the mansion's extensive art collection. Despite the media frenzy, the three paintings of women adorned with pearls—the ones that had captivated him as a child—were never mentioned among the stolen artworks.

Determined to uncover the truth, Bucky joined the White Collar Crime Unit, specializing in art theft. He hoped that recovering the stolen art from the Celine Mansion might also lead him to you and Bernard.

He felt a deep sense of obligation to the Celines; their charity had provided him with an opportunity to attend college, and he was driven to repay their kindness.

In his office, Bucky was a whirlwind of focused energy. His desk was cluttered with files, photographs of artworks, and leads on various stolen pieces. His eyes, sharp and intense, scanned documents and screen after screen, piecing together clues with relentless dedication.

His fingers tapped rhythmically on the keyboard as he pulled up images of art pieces and cross-referenced them with the stolen inventory.

Most of the time, Bucky encountered counterfeit artworks. When a seller insisted that a piece was authentic, Bucky’s expression turned skeptical. His jaw tightened, and his brow furrowed with irritation as he examined the so-called masterpiece, especially when it's related to Celine.

“This is fake,” Bucky said decisively, his voice steady and unwavering as he handed the appraisal report back to the seller.

The seller, visibly uncomfortable, stammered, “But how can you be so sure?”

Bucky’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. 'Because when we were kids, we have our own little marks on those paintings and artworks. Little signs only we knew about,' he thought.

He glanced down at the art piece, his eyes narrowing in recognition. “And this,” he said, pointing to a specific detail on the painting, “is not one of them. It’s fake.”

Bucky’s confidence came from the mischievous games you used to play together, where you both secretly marked the paintings with tiny, almost imperceptible symbols—proof of authenticity known only to the two of you. Those childhood secrets now served as his key to identifying the genuine articles from the forgeries.

🥀🥀🥀🥀

Back at the office, Bucky was engrossed in his work, his eyes scanning through a new batch of leads when a snippet of conversation from a nearby cubicle caught his attention. He leaned closer, straining to hear the details of the conversation between two colleagues.

“…I heard from my informant that there’s going to be a big auction soon,” one of them said, a hint of excitement in their voice. “Apparently, a major painting is going to be featured—one of a woman wearing a pearl necklace.”

The mention of the pearl necklace made Bucky's heart skip a beat. He straightened in his chair, his pulse quickening. The painting described matched the ones he had been searching for, the very ones that had been stolen from the Celine Mansion.

He immediately reached for his phone, dialing his friend and fellow investigator, Mark. As the phone rang, Bucky’s fingers drummed impatiently on his desk, his mind racing with possibilities.

“Mark, it’s Bucky,” he said as soon as his friend answered. “I need you to pull some strings for me. There’s an auction coming up, and I need to attend it. It’s about a painting with a woman wearing a pearl necklace.”

Mark’s voice crackled through the phone, a mix of curiosity and concern. “Are you sure it’s one of the Celine paintings?”

“I’m positive,” Bucky replied, his voice steady but filled with urgency.

There was a brief pause on the line before Mark responded. “Alright, I’ll see what I can do."

Bucky hung up, he couldn’t shake the feeling that this auction was more than just an opportunity—it was a chance to finally uncover the truth and perhaps, after all these years, find the answers he had been longing for.

🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

The auction hall buzzed with excitement. Guests in sleek, tailored suits and elegant evening gowns filled the room, each one wearing a mask to maintain anonymity. The atmosphere was electric, charged with anticipation and whispers of the extraordinary painting set to be revealed.

Bucky, his own mask fitted securely, scanned the crowd. The guests chatted animatedly, their voices rising in a cacophony of admiration and speculation. The painting, a masterpiece by a renowned artist, was highly coveted due to its association with the Celine family. The prospect of owning it was thrilling, especially given the painting’s rumored price.

“Did you hear? It’s supposed to be worth a fortune!” one guest exclaimed, adjusting his mask with a gleeful grin.

“Absolutely,” replied another, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “It’s related to the Celine collection, and with the owner’s death, the value has skyrocketed. It’s going to be a high bid for sure.”

Bucky could barely contain his frustration. The chatter was deafening, but he needed to stay focused. He knew that the value of the painting had increased significantly because of its connection to the Celine family’s tragic fate.

Finally, the auctioneer, a distinguished figure in a sharp suit, stepped up to the podium. He raised his hand to silence the crowd, his voice commanding attention.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, “it’s time for the highlight of tonight’s auction. We are pleased to present an extraordinary painting, a masterpiece that has captivated collectors and historians alike.”

The room fell silent, the air thick with anticipation. The auctioneer pulled away the cover, revealing the large painting. Bucky’s breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight.

The painting depicted a woman adorned with a pearl necklace. But what struck Bucky most was a single pearl that was a deep, unmistakable red. It was unmistakably one of the paintings created by you—its distinct mark making it immediately recognizable.

His shock was palpable. The painting was genuine. The mark of the red pearl was a detail only you would have included, a personal touch from his childhood friend.

Suddenly, the lights went out, plunging the room into darkness. The sound of gasps and frantic murmurs filled the air as guests scrambled in confusion. Bucky’s heart raced; he struggled to make sense of the chaos around him.

When the lights flickered back on, the painting was gone. A wave of panic swept through the crowd. The auction hall erupted into chaos as guests shouted and tried to make sense of the theft.

Bucky sprang into action, pushing through the crowd. He searched desperately for any sign of the painting or the thief. Amidst the confusion, he spotted a figure in a full-face mask moving swiftly towards the exit. Without hesitation, he pursued her.

The confrontation was fierce. Bucky tried to grapple with the masked woman, but she was swift and skilled. Before he could gain the upper hand, another masked figure appeared, and together they overpowered him. Bucky was forced to retreat, bruised and breathless, as the thieves escaped into the night.

The next morning, the news headlines were dominated by the heist. The stolen painting was a major story, but for Bucky, it was a clue that brought him one step closer to finding you.

Sitting in a park, Bucky sipped his coffee, the warm cup a comfort against the chill in the air. The stolen painting felt like a breakthrough, bringing him one step closer to unraveling the mystery he had been chasing for years.

The scene was peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos of the previous night. He was lost in thought when he saw a person with a yellow umbrella approaching. The umbrella’s bright color was a stark contrast to the grey sky, catching his attention.

As the figure stopped in front of him, the voice that came under the yellow umbrella was heavy but familiar. “You want to climb the tree?”

It was like a thunderclap in his ear. The voice was the same as it had been fifteen years ago. Bucky looked up, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw you standing there, grown up and with a knowing smile.

“Hi. It’s been a long time,” you said, your eyes shining with recognition.

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Author's Note: Hey everyone, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! I’m currently grappling with a writer’s block and have tried various methods to spark new ideas, but nothing seems to be working.

Any feedback or suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your support!

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