Part One

Liron looked up at the school before her calmly. She and her cousin 'Talia had transferred to the US for two years, and this was the college they chose. Shield University, home of the Eagles…so the sign said.

She looked at 'Talia, who shrugged. They entered.

Term had not quite started, so the blonde didn't expect there to be many students around. There weren't.

They reached the…principal's office, and Liron ignored the slightly judging look the very conservative-looking secretary have them in their…somewhat gothic she believed the term was…manner of dress. He was not their priority.

The secretary folded his hands neatly over the desk. "You two seem a little disoriented. Lost your way through the dark?"

'Talia made no effort to conceal the accent they both had. "We are here to see Mr. Fury about our transfer here from Вдовы Academy."

"Well we don't let just anyone meet with the principal. Do you have anything to confirm your meeting with him?"

Liron quirked a brow, but let 'Talia continue being the one to do the speaking. "Let him know that Natalia Romanova and Liron Ruskin are here to see him about the school transfer…please."

The secretary glared a little. "I'm sorry, but he's busy at the moment-"

A deep voice called from the office. "Who is that, Mr. Pierce?"

'Talia raised her voice. "Natalia Romanova and Liron Ruskin here about our transfer from Вдовы Academy."

"Why didn't you say anything Peirce? Tell them to come in."

The secretary waved at them, and they entered the office.

At the desk was seated a bald, one-eyed, black man in a leather coat. He smiled a little. "Shut the door."

Liron did so.

"Glad you two made it."

"Thank you, Principal Fury." They spoke in tandem, a habit formed from being in each other's company almost constantly.

Fury chuckled a little. "People around here call me Director Fury. It has a nice ring to it, or so Stark – the kid that came up with it – says, and most of the staff agree. Stark will be a few classes with you."

They nodded. "Director, then."

At the end of the meeting, Fury got out another paper. "So have you thought of what you will be taking? Aside from the obviously required ones, that is."

Liron spoke by herself for the first time since stepping foot on the college grounds. "Could I possibly take Psychology as a major and Nordic Mythology as a minor?"

"Yes." He smiled a little again. "Basically anything you can think of for a class, we have it."

Liron smiled back and inclined her head before settling back into silence. 'Talia chose Dance for a minor and Computer Programming for a major.

Fury wrote down a few things. "These are your classes, and the locations of the classrooms. If you'd like to participate in any sports, sign up down in the gym."

They nodded.

"There's nothing really going on today because it's a holiday; so you'll start tomorrow. Here are the keys to your dorm. Curfew is at eleven." He handed them each a key.

"Thank you, Director Fury."

He nodded, and they smiled and left to find their dorm.

'Talia looked at her. "So what do you think?"

"I think this is just as good an idea as when we first decided to come here."

"So…same thoughts then."

"Yes."

They passed the gym, and heard voices, laughter and the sound of bouncing balls. They peeked in.

There were a few young men playing basketball and a few others sitting on the bleachers. Liron frowned in thought.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"That's not nothing."

"I'm just thinking."

"About?"

"The weather, funnily enough. It's so much warmer here."

'Talia's smile appeared in the corner of her sight. "Yes it is. But that is not what you were thinking." The redhead looked toward the playing young men.

Liron shrugged.

"Let's go see what they're doing."

"Okay."

They entered the gym. Liron kept behind 'Talia, her taller stature making a stair effect even with the redhead's heels.

The young men playing basketball looked over when the two young women reached the bleachers.

The ball hit one of the players in the head, and the others laughed.


"Distracted much, Barnes?"

"Ah shut up. Like you guys weren't distracted too." Bucky glared at his teammates, but it quickly morphed into a crooked grin.

Stark shrugged. "We didn't miss the ball."

Bucky shook his head and looked back over at the strangers. They were awfully pretty…especially the blonde.

"I'm'n'a go say hi." That said, Stark swaggered off toward the bleachers.

Rhodes took off after him. "They don't look very friendly, Stark…and you have a girlfriend."

"I'm just saying hi!"

"Not my fault if Potts chews you out, then."

"I know, I know."

Bucky frowned a little…he always got the guts to go first.

Steve came up and hit his shoulder. "You gonna play or not?"

Bucky smiled. "Whatch-you think, Punk?" He tossed the ball at his friend, and the continued the game.

Eventually Stark and Rhodes joined them, for whatever reason Stark's attempts to chat up the stranger girls failing.

Bucky chuckled. "Your charm is no longer affective?"

Stark shrugged. "I don't want Pepper to get mad at me."

Bucky laughed and caught the ball, then passed it. "Good point. Since she is the director's favourite."

Stark tossed it at the hoop. "Yeah."

Steve grabbed the ball and took it back up point. Bucky followed, staying to the side. After checking it, he ran to pass the ball to Steve, but Rhodes caught it and passed it to Stark. Bucky got the ball back from Stark and ran, dribbling it, toward the hoop.

He jumped up and slam-dunked it, hanging on the hoop for a little.

Distantly, he heard one of the strangers speak to the other in some language not English, and he dropped back down, rolling his sleeves up with a little smirk as he made his way over to them.

"So, what are you two beautiful chicks doing here?"

They looked at him silently.

"You two, uh, students here now?" He crossed his arms.

They nodded and spoke in tandem, with heavy Russian accents. "We are."

"Are there a lot of beautiful women like yourselves where you come from?"

"That depends on your point of view."

Bucky let his eyes roam over them slowly, drinking in their forms before he looked back at their faces. Both were frowning, but the redhead's bottle-green eyes were twinkling.

"Where are you two from?"

The redhead was the only one to answer. "St. Petersburg, in Russia."

Bucky nodded. "I've not been to Russia, but I went to Sokovia with Pietro over there," he indicated the silver-haired young man, "and his sister to visit their family."

The redhead smiled. "We once visited Odessa and Kiev in the Ukraine, but we haven't been to Sokovia. This is the farthest from home we have ever been."

"Well I hope you both have a pleasant stay…and have fun." His lips curled in a smirk again as he winked before heading to the locker room to change.


Liron scoffed a little, but 'Talia chuckled.

The dark-haired young man returned after a few minutes, a gym bag slung over his shoulder. He waved at his teammates, then looked at the two of them.

"Hope to see more of you two." His tone and face suggested more than his words, and he winked again, then walked off.

Liron looked after him, lips pursed in irritation.

'Talia laughed a little. "They try so hard."

"And waste their chances by acting like pigs."

Her cousin raised a brow. "Don't be so hard on them. At least they try."

"Fair enough, but is it too much to ask for for them to not look at us like pieces of meat?"

'Talia laughed again. "I don't mind it really, but if it bothers you, we can teach them a thing or two."

Liron nodded.

'Talia stood. "C'mon, let's go."

They found their dorm fairly easily. Boisterous laughter and the sound of some kind of video game sounded from the room across the hall.

Just as Liron unlocked their door, one of the voices in the room across the hall started shouting, and something started thudding as if someone was jumping up and down.

"Did you see that?! Did you see that?! I just kicked your guys' butts!"

Liron scoffed and went inside; 'Talia followed and they put their suitcases down.

"So…what do you think?"

"I like this." Liron gestured around.

"Me too."

Liron sat on the sofa.

"So what do you want to do until tomorrow?"

"Unpack, I guess."

'Talia shrugged, and Liron stood and lugged her suitcases to one of the dressers. Soon all their things were out and put away.

"Now what?"

"I have no idea. What time is it?"

'Talia looked at her phone. "14:28"

Liron yawned. "I hate jet lag. It feels like 22:28."

Her cousin chuckled. "Same, but it's kinda nice."

"Mm." Liron lay back on her bed.

"Maybe we should get some sleep. That way we'll be up early and ready to start the day properly."

"Good idea."

'Talia nodded and changed into pyjamas as Liron did the same. They both tossed off all the covers before getting into bed.

Liron got the lights.

"Night Liron."

"Good night."


"In your faces!" Bucky tore off his headphones, whooping.

"Okay, okay, okay, we get it, you won this time! Stop rubbing it in our faces!" Sam threw a chip at him.

Bucky blocked it, laughing. "No food fighting with the King of Halo!" He threw it back.

Sam caught it and ate it.

Bucky made a face. "That was on the floor, man."

He shrugged. "It's still a good chip."

Bucky pretended to gag, and Steve laughed.

Sam rolled his eyes. "You ate that thing in the fridge the other day."

"What thing? I eat lots of things, if you haven't noticed already."

Steve snorted, and Sam huffed. "I don't remember exactly, but it was gross."

"Wait, the thing that smelled like rotten eggs?"

"Yeah."

"That was good though! Tuna and eggs."

Sam made a face.

Bucky snorted. "You're not a fishy guy, are you."

"No."

Bucky laughed. "Alright."

Sam shrugged.

"So what should we do now?"

"Dunno."

"We could go raid the fridge."

"Meh."

Bucky chuckled. Steve yawned.

"You're still tired?"

"Yeah."

"Well…you can go to beddy bye and Sam and I can do something."

The blond just chuckled, and they smiled.

"Well…if you're tired too, Sam-I-Am, then maybe we should all go to bed."

Sam snorted at the nickname. "Nah, I'm fine."

"Okay."

He tossed another chip at Bucky, who caught it in his mouth. Sam laughed.


In the morning, Liron and Natalia got up early.

Liron between two tops, completely ready for the day otherwise. "Which do you think? The blue or the black?"

"Hmm…the blue."

She nodded and slipped it on.

"Ready?"

"Yes."

They grabbed their bookbags and headed out. Their first class passed without incident, as did the rest, until they shared one with that dark-haired young man.

His voice sounded from behind them. "Well hello, hello, little ladies."

Liron did not turn, simply getting out her books. Natalia smiled at him before doing the same.

"Oh c'mon, don't be shy." His voice was low, and his breath tickled Natalia's ear.

"I need to pay attention to the professor, mister."

"Please, it's Bucky."

"I still need to pay attention, Bucky."


Bucky pulled back a little. "Hm…tough one, aren't'cha?" He looked at the blonde one. "What about you?"

She ignored him.

He pouted and crossed his arms. "You two are not a lot of fun."

For the first time, he heard the blonde one speak on her own. "We are trying to pay attention."

Her voice…it was almost angelic. Bucky raised a brow. "Oh my gosh, she speaks?"

She went back to ignoring him. The professor pointed at him.

"Quiet, Barnes."

He obeyed, and the lesson proceeded.

After class, he stood and looked at the two Russian girls. "Could I interest you two in having lunch with me…us?"

"Why?" Once again, they spoke as one.

Bucky looked between them. "Are you guys twins or something?"

"Cousins."

"Whoa, that's weird. Anyway, I'm trying to be friendly toward y'all, so I just thought you'd like to sit with us."

The looked at each other, and the redhead spoke alone. "Sure."

Bucky grinned. "Great! See ya!"

He grabbed his bag and ran out to tell the others the news.


Liron rolled her eyes, and 'Talia laughed.

"Well, he is persistent."

"I think he's adorable."

Liron shrugged.

'Talia smiled at her. "C'mon, at least lighten up a bit. We're allowed to have a bit of fun, you know."

"I know. I just don't like him much."

"Why?"

"Too cocky."

"I think it's funny."

"I'm not stopping you."

'Talia raised a brow. "Psh. I'm not that attracted to him."

Liron shrugged again.

Her cousin rolled her eyes and hooked arms with her. "C'mon, let's go eat."

In the lunchroom, 'Talia steered them over to where Barnes and a pack of others sat. Barnes waved at.

"Hello."

"Hi! Please, sit."

They sat and put their lunch boxes on the table.

The blond young man next to the curly-haired redhead spoke first. "How was your day so far?"

As normal, Liron and 'Talia spoke as one. "Not bad."

"That's good." He smiled.

They smiled back, said a short silent prayer, then started eating. Liron could feel Barnes' eyes on her, but she ignored him. His foot brushed hers, and she moved hers away.

"Oh, sorry."

"You are forgiven."

She finished first, and addressed 'Talia. "Do you mind if I go find the library?"

"Sure."

Barnes spoke up. "What did you say?"

"I'm going to find the library."

"Oh. I can show you if you want."

She bit her lip. "…okay."

He smiled at her, then finished eating. She kept her face blank.

Barnes smiled. "C'mon, this way."

When they got to the library, they were alone, but Liron didn't notice, as she was busy looking around.

"Like?"

"Yes."

"You don't smile much."

"No, I don't."

"Why not?"

"Because. It makes it even more likely for a man to look at me like a piece of meat."


Bucky frowned. "I think it's nice to see a pretty woman smile. It makes her more beautiful knowing she's happy."

"Mm."

"And any man that thinks of you as a piece of meat should get a beating."

"Go get one then."

He frowned more. He did genuinely like her…but he also liked a bit of challenge. He sighed and shrugged it off. "I'm trying to be nice…but I do love a challenge and a girl that plays hard to get." Bucky smirked.

"I'm not playing hard to get; I'm not interested."

"Oh c'mon, every girl is interested."

She laughed sharply, and Bucky grimaced.

"You think too highly of yourself."

"I actually don't. I'm just cocky…but not as cocky as Tony Stark."

"I don't care. I'm not interested."

He groaned. "What can I do to change your mind?"

"I'm not going to be your arm candy."

"I think you mean eye candy."

"Same difference."

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not going to stop until I get you to smile." He started to walk past her, then stopped and kissed her cheek before bolting. "See you around Miss Russian!"


Liron stared after Barnes, one hand on her face where he kissed her. "…Cabbagehead."

She looked through the books.

Later that day, she and 'Talia were getting ready to leave when suddenly Talia gasped.

"What?"

Her cousin pointed. There was a…rose…in her bookbag.

"What the hell?" Liron took it out and examined it.

"Aww…someone's got a crush on you."

"I see that."

"Do you know who it's from?"

"No."

'Talia grinned. "This is so cute!"

"Depends on who gave it."

She shrugged. "Still cute."

"Natalia, you know my past with…such things." Liron looked in her cousin's eyes, solemn. "You know I have reason to be wary."

"I know, but…" She frowned a little. "Just…try to have at least some fun. For me? Please?"

Liron sighed. "For you."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Liron twirled the rose between her fingers. "What am I supposed to do with this?"

"I'd keep it. If the guy that gave you that is watching now, then he'd be thrilled to know you kept it."

"Yeah, but what do I do with it?"

"Keep it. Here, I have a bag you can use." She offered a plastic bag.

Liron made a face. "It may be from a guy, but I'm not going to crush it like that. I...I'll…I'll put it in my hair." She did that, weaving it into a braid.

"It looks nice."

"Does it?"

" Mmhm."

Liron nodded, and kept the rose in her hair until the end of the day, putting it in wather when she got back to her dorm.

'Talia smiled.

"What? It's pretty."

"You still kept it."

"Because it's pretty. I will not judge the rose by who gave it. It's not the rose's fault."

'Talia shrugged. "We should go out."

"Where?"

"Dunno."

"Well, let's look at that thing of places around."

They got out the map, but ran into a roadblock.

"I don't know what most of these places are."

'Talia looked over the map. "Well…we could ask the guys across the hall."

"I guess."

'Talia was the one to knock.

Barnes opened the door, a pair of headphones on. "Oh! Hey ladies!"

Liron frowned.

He took them off and ruffled his hair. "You don't look to happy."

'Talia shrugged. "We were just looking for somewhere to go out to eat, but we don't know what most of the places on the map are."

"Map?"

Liron held it up.

"Oh! Um…well…do you want chicken, pizza, tacos, hamburgers, Italian, or Mexican food?"

Liron tilted her head. "Which one's pizza?"

"Um…this one and this one." He pointed.

They nodded. "Thank you, Barnes."

He nodded. "We could take you there…if you'd like."

Liron bit her lip and looked at 'Talia, who nodded.

"Sure."

He smiled. "Great! Let me get the guys up. You can come in if you like?"

They looked at each other.

"C'mon, its fine. It's not like anyone's naked." He left the door open and went further into the dorm.

Liron and 'Talia went in.

"Have a drink if you want."

The living area was covered in pizza boxes and various drinks. Liron quirked a brow. Suddenly 'Talia elbowed her, and she looked up.

Barnes was in just a pair of jeans, snagging a shirt from a chair. Okay…if he was nice and she wasn't as…cynical…she bit her lip and looked away. He went back out of sight, and 'Talia and Liron waited.

'Talia hit Liron teasingly.

"What?"

"You know." The redhead smirked. "I saw how you were all googly eyed over him."

"I was not."

'Talia crossed her arms with a knowing look. "I'm not falling for that lie."

Liron scoffed.

A dark-skinned man in jeans and a green shirt came out of the room that Barnes went into.

"Well hi. I don't think we've met officially. I'm Sam Wilson." He smiled and held out his hand.

They shook it.

"Natalia Romanova."

"Liron Ruskin."

Wilson smiled. "Pleasure to meet you two."

"Likewise."

Barnes came back in, wearing a shirt this time, joined with a leather jacket and a necklace of some kind.

"Steve's still not up?"

"Nope."

Barnes groaned and rolled his eyes, going itnto the next room over. Something thudded, and a different voice sounded.

"You're such a jerk!"

Barnes returned. "He's up."

"What'd you do to him this time?"

"'This time'?" Barnes laughed. "I just pushed him out of bed. He sleeps all the time."

Wilson laughed.

Eventually 'Steve' came out, looking like a bear fresh from hibernation. Liron quirked a brow.

"You're so mean. I was having a wonderful dream."

"Huh, really? What was it about?"

"Ways to kill a boy named James Buchanan Barnes."

Liron had to bite her lip to keep the corners of her mouth from lifting.

Wilson and 'Talia laughed.

Barnes chuckled. "Ha ha very funny."

Liron addressed 'Steve'. "I could give you a few ideas if you want them."

Barnes sounded shocked. "No way."

Liron shrugged.

"I'd like to keep myself assembled and alive, thank you. This is a one and only genuine Bucky Barnes here, and there ain't no one out there like me. Besides, you'd miss me ya punk." Barnes chuckled, and 'Steve' laughed.

Wilson spoke up from the floor where he was just finishing putting on shoes. "Shall we go?"

'Talia and Liron nodded, and they all headed out.

After a bit of talking, it was settled that the girls would ride in Wilson's car with him and Barnes, and 'Steve' would take his motorcycle.

Just as 'Steve' was heading to said vehicle, a brunette woman walked out of the dorm building. He kissed her.

"Who is that?"

Barnes snorted. "Steve's girl."

'Steve's girl' got on his motorcycle behind him.

Liron spoke up. "She's pretty."

"Yeah. Steve's a lucky guy."

They all rode out.

They arrived, and Liron looked around. Barnes held the door for her.

"Thank you, Barnes."

He smiled. "You're welcome."

She nodded and walked toward the restaurant.

Once inside, the guys and gals sat across from each other in the booth. Liron instantly picked up a menu.

"You might wanna pick drinks first. They're pretty quick here."

She lowered the menu.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"That's not nothing."

"What's not nothing?"

"That look you gave me."

"I didn't give you any particular look."

"Oh…I thought you did."

"No."

"Sorry."

"You are forgiven."

He smiled, and she looked back at her menu.

The waiter came and took their drink orders. Liron got water, but most of the rest got soda of some kind.


Bucky looked at the two Russian girls. "So what are your names? I never got to ask."

"Natalia Romanova."

"Liron Ruskin."

He nodded. "Nice names."

Peggy turned to them. "Oh really? Then you're both Russian?"

"We are."

"I'm English." She smiled. "Peggy Carter."

They shook her hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Carter."

Peggy smiled again, and Steve spoke up. "She's been taking classes that have to do with Criminal Profiling and the like."

Romanova smiled. "Nice."

Peggy shrugged. "It's not that big of a deal."

"It's very interesting, though."

Peggy smiled in thanks, and Romanova returned the smile.

The waiter returned with their drinks, then left to tend to another table.

"So what pizza or pizzas do you all want?"

Ruskin studied the menu again. "The pineapple one looks good."

Romanova nodded.

Sam smiled. "I like that one."

Ruskin's stunning eyes twinkled for a moment, though her face stayed maddeningly impassive.

"Um…I'll get a supreme. Alright. Do you each want one pizza, or do some want to share."

"I'll share with Wilson, if he's getting the same."

Sam nodded. "Sure."

Bucky looked at Steve and Peggy. "Do you two love birds want to share, or should we be safe and let Steve have a box so he doesn't let you starve?"

Steve looked offended that he would do such a thing.

Peggy laughed. "It's okay. I'm not that hungry anyway."

The waiter came and Bucky took over ordering. "One large Hawaiian pizza, one large and one medium sausage and pepperoni, and a medium supreme."

He nodded and wrote it down, then left. Bucky relaxed.

Peggy turned to Ruskin. "So…I saw you got a surprise rose after one of your classes."

The blonde blinked. "Yes."

Bucky and the rest of the guys looked at her in surprise. "Already?"

"Yes." Ruskin looked irritated by the prospect.

Bucky laughed. "Who's the lucky guy?"

"I have no idea."

"Hmm…well…it could be a number of guys... unless it's a girl... then you have all the people in the school except for the couples and your cousin there."

Her head landed on the table. Romanova laughed.

"I mean, unless you are a lesbian, then…"

"I'm not. And I don't like romance at all."

"How can you not like romance? You get cuddles and dates and gifts from your boyfriend."

"And then it all goes to…" Her words trailed off into angry Russian mutters.

Bucky frowned in confusion. Peggy rubbed Ruskin's back and said something in Russian.

Ruskin jolted at the touch, and grumbled more. Peggy said some more, and Ruskin humphed.

The pizza came. Bucky passed it out, looking at Ruskin a little worriedly.

She ignored him and ate, seemingly calm again.

"Liron?"

Ruskin looked at him.

"Are you okay?"

"Wh-…I am fine."

His eyes softened a little and he nodded. "Well…" He cleared his throat. "Good."

Steve raised a brow at him, and he just glared at him a little before beginning to eat.

Bucky finished eating second, and interestingly enough, Ruskin was right behind him.

She licked a bit of sauce off of her lip, and a curl of warmth blossomed in him. She sucked that lip between her teeth for a moment before taking a sip of her water, and his cheeks flushed a little. He had to take a gulp of his drink to look away.


Liron frowned at Barnes, then slipped neatly in to a conversation with Peggy and Natalia about the colour blue.