Chapter 10: Wearing All Vintage Misery, Nope, I Think it Looked a Little Better on Bucky
July 26, 2014
Saturday, 1:21 P.M.
Yeah cool. See you there tonight read the text from Bella. We hadn't had a girl's night in such a long time, so we planned to go out to some restaurant tonight.
You bringing Skylar? I typed up with ease.
Yeah :D.
I still couldn't believe the fact that Bella and Skylar were just friends. The way they acted around each other implied something more. And if it did turn out that Bella and Skylar were romantically involved with other, then that would be perfectly fine; it's not any of my business on who they should love.
Speaking of Skylar, she always seemed so tense around Bucky. Uncomfortable, her eyes always shifting to him as if suspiciously watching him. Sometimes, Bucky would be able to see the occasional glances. I never understood Skylar very much, anyways. At times, she had such a cold demeanor, as if she could cut you with her eyes. Then, other times (usually around Bella) she would be casual and free. Maybe Bucky made her nervous. I guess you couldn't really blame her. Bucky was a shady looking guy and he has confessed to killing people.
That didn't matter. Bucky was a good man, no matter what's he done before. My face warmed at the thought of Bucky. My heart sped up as a small and lazy smile grew.
For some odd reason, every time I'm now around Bucky, I get this strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. It twists around and I feel giddy and happy. I've felt it before, but maybe this was real. I couldn't tell. Who am I, a 24 year old, to say how I feel? I was too young for this and have the rest of my life in front of me. I don't know anything about what I feel because I'm just too damn young.
At least, that's what my father would say.
Sure, I've known Bucky for a few months now. I heard worse stories, but for some odd reason, it didn't feel realistic to meet this stranger and then have…feelings for him. Still, people could grow affectionate towards each other even though they've only known each other for a few weeks. Like Romeo and Juliet!
Wait, never mind, they killed themselves in the end. Not a good comparison.
I crossed my arms, putting my phone down. The hairs on my neck rose, feeling watched. I lowly turned towards the window in my living room, seeing nothing.
Ever since Eric arrived (actually, even before that), I've felt like someone was following me. Not necessarily Eric himself, but just…something. The faint memory of the man that attacked us in the alleyway that one night at the Alder's Pub flickered in my mind. Maybe they had a connection?
I just shook my head and gathered my things, wearing gray-blue denim shorts and an olive green t-shirt. I was supposed to meet Bucky at the park, today. I bit back a small smile at the thought of Bucky again.
Bucky leaned back on the park bench, keeping his hands in his jacket pockets. Maybe super soldiers didn't get hot and sweat as much as the normal human does. It would explain a lot.
He had asked Erin to meet up with him. Bucky had some "special" activity planned for the both of them.
"Bucky!" Erin called out to him, slowly jogging up to him. A small smile flickered on his face as he stood, hunching his shoulders.
"So what are we doing today?" Erin inquired as she slid up next to him. Bucky rolled his shoulders, his fingers sliding over the pocket knife in his well…pocket.
"Actually, I wanted to teach you some stuff," Bucky responded, the corner of his lips twitching up into a soft grin. Erin tilted her head, cocking an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Follow me," Bucky waved her over and after a few minutes, they stopped under a leafy tree. It was cool and had a lot of shade. Perfect. Bucky pulled out the knife, causing Erin to hold her hands out and jump back.
"Woah there!" she called out in alarm. The assassin gave her a strange look and handed it to her, handle first.
"I'm going to show you some self defense moves. It'll help you, especially with Eric around. Is that okay?" he tentatively asked, furrowing his eyebrows. Erin nodded, slipping her bag off of her shoulder and tossing it on the ground.
"Alright, let me show you how to use the knife. What you want to do is-"
"-stick 'em with the pointy end!"
"What? Well, yes, but…"
"Sorry, go on. It's uh…from a show I watch."
"Right, well, you hold the knife at an angle, usually having the serrated edge pointed at the attacker. Have one foot forward, the other back behind you. Keep your left arm up to block any advancing moves. Try it," Bucky gestured towards Erin. She nodded and planted her feet on the ground, raising her hands, the blade practically gleaming in the dark light. Bucky tapped his chin and moved next to Erin, pushing her ankles further apart with his foot.
"You need a wide stance to make sure that you have balance. Also, don't keep your back and legs so straight. It makes you stiff," Bucky slightly squatted down, subtly curving his back. Erin watched him and reflected his image, staring straight in front of her with her lips pursed. The assassin glanced at Erin before it became staring. He admired the way she stood, the way her features stood out. He liked how her shirt clung to all the right places, her shorts slightly peeled back to reveal a faint tan line.
"Am I doing something wrong?" Erin asked, snapping Bucky out of his daze. He shook his head and moved around front.
"Alright, since you have no real training in combat, just keep the blade close and slash at your attacker. The best thing to do is to stab your attacker in the gut, then horizontally pull down to his or her abdomen. That can usually get them to back off. Or, if you can't quite get close enough to them, aim for the legs. Wounding them in the thighs, calves, feet, or ankles can generally slow them down, giving you time to run. Sure, you can stab them in the shoulder or arm, but it won't slow them down very much. You want to give them a limp. But beware. You will make them angry and they will come after you," Bucky explained, "If you are found without a weapon, kick them in the knee. If you hit in the front, it most likely will break the knee cap. In the back, they might just fall over."
"Also, don't slap them. Even if you're just flailing your hands around, keep them in tight fists. Here, give me your hand," Bucky took a hold of Erin's small hand, appreciative of how soft and gentle it felt compared to his rough and calloused palms. He situated her fingers into a fist, placing her thumb in the correct position. He felt her blue eyes boring into him and he pretended not to notice.
"With your fist like this, it acts like a club and it can hurt if you get the right hit in. You also have to be careful because if you hit with your pinkie and ring finger, you'll most likely break them," Bucky pulled back, earning a giggle from Erin. He looked at her, confused.
"What's…so funny?"
"You!" Erin beamed at him, furrowing her eyebrows.
"Me?"
"Don't look so hurt, Buck. I find it…adorable at how knowledgeable you are in this combat stuff," Erin shrugged her shoulders, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Well, when you're one of the world's most formidable assassins, you kind of have to know this stuff. Bucky sheepishly glanced down, biting the inside of his cheek.
"Don't worry. I don't mind learning it. It's actually quite useful, though I doubt I'll be able to even remember it all," Erin sighed. Bucky watched Erin put the pocket knife in her purse.
"You'll be fine; you're smart," Bucky lightly brushed Erin's bicep with the pads of his fingers. He noticed how her cheeks reddened slightly before she spoke up again, tucking her black hair behind her ear.
"Do you want to get something to eat?" Erin asked with a grin.
"She was really sick, in fact, her entire body had a ton of health issues. I'm surprised that she even survived at all. Hey, she's like Captain America in a way, ya know? Being super sick, but still an honorable and loyal person," I reminisced over my old friend, picking up my fork. We ended up at some small restaurant called the Misty Plaza Joint. It was a bit large and seemed rather vintage. I had ordered just a salad and Bucky ordered a steak. Right when our food arrived, Bucky wolfed his steak down mercilessly. I was still working on my food.
"When we first met, you were out running. Do you still run?" he asked, looking miserable as he practically devoured all the rolls we received as appetizers.
"No. I'm too scared now," I shrugged my shoulders, staring at a lettuce leaf.
"I understand," Bucky nodded and became a bit distant, subconsciously rubbing his temple with his index and middle finger.
"I never told you about my parents," I brought up the subject of my past, crossing and uncrossing my legs. Bucky's eyes shifted towards me, an eyebrow raised.
"I don't have a sob story or anything. I mean, it doesn't even matter-"
"-Erin…"
"Right. Well, they were drug addicts. You know, heroine and basically everything else. They uh…tried injecting it into me once. Just, one night, I was curled up in my bed when they burst through the door and tried stabbing the needle in my arm. Luckily, I was able to get away from them and phone the police, but…" I sighed, setting my fork down, suddenly not hungry anymore. Bucky stared at me, looking slightly confused. He sat back in his chair.
"What?" I asked him, tilting my head.
"Nothing."
"You know, I don't know much where you came from."
"I'm pretty sure I was born in Shelbyville, Indiana and when I was still young, I moved to Brooklyn," he responded and became distant, as if reminiscing about his past. Then, he broke out of his spell and began to eat again.
Bucky was a walking mystery and I couldn't crack the code.
Bucky walked me back to my apartment.
"Do you mind if I come in?" he asked, seeming shy.
"Actually I sort of do," Bucky looked hurt, but quickly wiped the expression away and replaced it with a blank face, "not that it's anything personal. I'm supposed to go out with Skylar and Bella. I have to get ready and then I'm going to leave."
"Oh, well, have fun I guess," Bucky shrugged with a grin and turned, heading down the hall. I watched his back until he disappeared down the stairs. A faint smile flickered on my face as I closed the door, tossing my purse on the kitchen table and heading to my room. I wasn't even able to get there when a loud knock interrupted me.
"Already? Hold on, I'm coming," I assumed it was Skylar and Bella, here to pick me up. So, I went to the door, unlocked it and opened it up, only to reveal…
"Hello, darling."
Eric. His body was clasped in a t-shirt and jeans and held a needle in his hand. I gasped and threw the door closed, only to have Eric throw his arm out, keeping the door open. I jumped back, panicking. My knife…my purse! I darted to the table and dumped my purse out, grabbing my pocket knife and flicking the blade out.
"That won't stop me," Eric chuckled darkly. I lunged forward, slicing his arm. Eric hissed and grabbed my wrist, trying to force me to drop it. Instead, I strained against his strength. His grip faltered and I was able to use the extra force to shove the blade into the top of his thigh. Eric let loose a growl, stumbling back.
"You bitch!" he insulted me, holding his leg. I turned towards the window in my living room. There would be no way that I could escape through the door. Yet, I couldn't get out through the window either. I was putting all of my bets on one thing.
So, I flung myself towards the window and practically threw it open and knocked out the filter, sticking my torso through it. With all of my might, I let loose a scream for one name.
"BUCKY!"
He stopped in mid-step, his hands in his pockets as he heard Erin's shriek. Bucky twisted around, only to see hands around her neck and dragging her away from her window. Bucky doubled back, ripping open the door to the apartment and sprinting up the stairs. Horrid thoughts ran through his mind as he finally leaped onto Erin's floor, his speed unrealistic as he flew through the hallway. He automatically knew which apartment to be in; her door was ajar. Bucky grabbed the edge of the doorway and swung himself in there, seeing Eric wrestling Erin to the floor.
Bucky growled, causing Eric to turn around. He snarled back at him and lunged for Bucky. This was going to be easy. Bucky dodged to the right, only to have Eric suddenly change directions and head straight for him. He had a needle in his hand and it drove straight into Bucky's human arm. Eric pushed down on the top, causing the liquid to be injected into Bucky. Yet, there was no effect on Bucky.
"Wha-?" Eric didn't have time to respond as Bucky grabbed the collar of his shirt and slammed Eric into the wall, causing him to break it. Repeatedly with his bionic arm, Bucky's fist pummeled Eric's face, blood splattering on Bucky. He bared his teeth like a vicious animal, his face contorted into something vile. Anger surged through him as he continued to break Eric's skull. Finally, he pulled away and roughly flung the creep on the ground. Then, Bucky propped himself up on his knee and wrapped both hands around Eric's fleshy neck, choking him. He wouldn't have lasted long; sick green and purple bruises began to form around his neck.
"-ucky, stop!" Erin shook his shoulder, but he had hardly felt it. She had stood there for the longest time, trying desperately to get him to snap out of this behavior. Bucky pulled away, standing and quickly grabbing Erin's shoulders.
"Did he hurt you?" he questioned, relief filling him when she shook her head. She had her cell phone in hand. She must have called the police. Not even five minutes later did the police arrive; the station was rather close to them. Bucky had to explain what happened while Erin comforted herself, shying away from anybody. The paramedics laid Eric on a cot, each of them cringing at the wounds.
"No human could have done this with their bare hands," someone muttered. Bucky heard and glanced back at Erin. He would do anything for her. The police left, leaving Bucky alone with Erin. He quietly shut the door, locking it. Erin was in the kitchen, making herself a cup of coffee. Bucky joined her, making himself known by scuffing his feet across the floor. Erin turned to him, still shaking.
"Erin-"
"Bucky I-…I was so scared. I didn't know what to do. I'm so stupid, I-"Erin set her coffee down and placed the heel of her palm on her forehead, fighting back tears.
"Are you kidding me? Erin, you at least listened to what I had told you about the knife. You did the best you could," Bucky responded, softly cupping Erin's cheek. She stared up at him, her lower lip quivering. Bucky gave a small smile.
"It's okay to cry, you know," he whispered to her. Erin wrapped her arms around Bucky's torso, hugging him tightly as her body shook. Bucky hugged her back, keeping her close and relishing the fact that she was still with him, here and safe in his arms.
He would kill anyone who would try and hurt Erin.
So so sorry, this is super late, I was busy during the weekend, so I had no time to finish this. And then I began losing muse to even write, so that's why this chapter is so short. I do hope you enjoyed what little I have of it.
Thank you for the reviews and follows and favorites. It means a lot to me for you guys to even take a few seconds out of your time in order to review or favorite or follow this story.
Have a fantastic day/night, where ever you are.