Hanging Up and Out

After sitting with them for a few minutes while they watched the football game that had still been going in the background, Victoria said that she was going to try and organize her clothes. It was only a few minutes later that they once again heard the sound of music coming from her room. But this time, they did not understand any of the words that were being sung. They could hear the original singer, but over that was the sound of Victoria's voice.

"What is she singing?" Bucky asked him as if he knew the answer.

"I have no idea," he answered listening while trying to decipher the language style. "Something Asian, but I'm not sure what."

"Should we go in there with her? She's just working in there alone, while we are sitting out here. This may be a good time to talk some more," Bucky said looking a bit hopeful that he would back him up.

"Why not?" he said as the two of them stood and made their way to her door, which was once again barely cracked open. He had noticed that Victoria never shut her door all the way, making him wonder if there was a reason why. Knocking on the door, they didn't hear her call out to them, she just continued to sing with the song. Pushing the door opened slightly, he looked around the door to the closet where he could tell that she was.

"Victoria, is it all right if we come in?" he called out.

"Yeah, I'm in the closet," he got as a response, the music dying down so it was just background noise.

"We thought that you might like some company help or while you worked," he said seeing that she was sitting with her back to the wall underneath the hanging bar while staring at the shelving on the other side of the closet. She had moved some of the bags to make room for her to sit, putting them in the center walking area of the closet.

"Sure, grab some floor," she said, "if you can. It didn't seem like this much when you don't have to carry it all with you."

"We were a bit surprised when we got back up here and found the area at the elevator filled with bags," Bucky said moving a bag on the door wall and taking a seat so he was looking over the entire closet. He moved further in and took a seat on the open floor area near the back of the closet. He noticed afterwards that they had once again taken up their usual sides for Victoria.

"Now, I just have to figure out how to organize everything, and sitting like this is really becoming uncomfortable," she said leaning to one side and removing her cellphone from her back pocket, putting it onto the floor next to her. She then did the same for the other side and pulled a billfold from her other pocket. Opening it up, she pulled out a large pile of cash. Folding it over as she stood, Victoria lifted up the lid of the white jar and deposited the money inside.

"You shouldn't have been walking around with that much cash on you. It could be dangerous if someone saw it," Bucky said voicing his own thoughts from earlier.

"I have a feeling that it would have been more dangerous for anyone who tried to do something. Beside," she said figuring she was talking about being with Natasha, then setting the lid down gently on the jar before sitting back down, "Today was the best way to get rid of having some of it around."

"We are not trying to nag, but we are going to worry," he said.

"I've started to pick up on that over the past few days. If ya'll are that worried, how about this? I won't leave here again with that much on me, unless at least one of the two of you are with me. Deal?" she said looking between the two of them.

"Deal," he answered as Bucky seemed to relax some, making him feel a bit better at how well she took their maybe over-protective comments.

"What are you listening to?" Bucky asked as the song changed to another one with foreign lyrics.

"FRIDAY uploaded my playlists so that I could listen to them on the room speakers. This is my Japanese anime songs. I'm guessing that the two of you probably haven't seen much anime, if any?" Victoria asked talking out a pile of socks from a bag, placing them on the floor.

"No, I don't think we have," he answered.

"Since you were singing the lyrics, does that mean you understand what they are saying?" Bucky asked. He saw a look cross over her face, the same one that she seemed to get when they asked about something that she probably didn't discuss with others.

"Yeah," she simply said, seeming really hesitant about continuing.

"You don't have to hide anything that you can do from us, even if it's something like your talent with the piano," Steve said knowing that she had worried about it days ago. Victoria had slowly started telling them of other stuff, but she could still be wary, thinking that they may judge her. She took a breath before picking up more items and putting them away into drawers.

"I can speak Japanese. When I started to watch anime…years ago, once I left home, I picked it up," she admitted, but not really looking at either of them and sounding a bit hesitant at one point.

"We both can speak other languages. I know Russian and Romanian," Bucky said.

"And I learned French back during the war," he supplied.

"I knew about the Russian from the other night when ya started cursing from Tony and Natasha listening in on us," Victoria said, but still seeming a bit hesitant about this topic.

"Do you know any other languages?" Bucky asked, also noticing her apprehension and trying to get her to open up to them.

"I've learned a few through the years," she said working on the small clothes items, but Steve noticed that it seemed more like fidgeting. "To graduate high school, you were required to have two years of foreign language, so I took a year of both French and Spanish."

"That's not unusual for nowadays," Steve supplied. "But that would just be the basics of the languages, right?"

"It should have been, but since I read the first year books of each, I went to the teacher and asked to borrow the more advanced years books, to complete them," she supplied, seeming to be opening up a bit.

"So then, you know four languages?" Bucky asked.

"Not exactly. I've kind of picked up a few more," Victoria said now looking between the two of them. She then sighed and seemed to make up her mind about something. "Do both of you promise to not freak out?"

"There is nothing that you can tell us that will make us freak out, Vic," Bucky answered firmly. She looked over at him and he tried to give her a reassuring smile of encouragement. Victoria then took a seat on the floor where she had been when they came in to find her.

"Ok, then, here it goes. Back in Springfield, where I grew up, there was an older lady who lived down the road that taught me the Gullah language, only found in the south along the coast. While I was living in San Francisco, I learned to speak Mandarin, since I was staying in a small apartment in Chinatown. When I was living in Hawaii, I learned to speak Hawaiian. Not too useful in New York, or anywhere else for that matter.

"When I lived in Chicago, there is a large Polish population, so I added it. I also had a deaf neighbor in Chicago, so I learned American Sign Language. There are a lot of metal bands that like to use Latin in their lyrics so I thought it would be fun to add it. And when I started at the messenger service, I would hang out with some of the guys that like to get together and play Counter Strike online...and I kind of picked up Russian," Victoria told them as she stared at the floor, almost like she was guilty of something.

"So when I started cursing the other night…" Bucky began.

"Я все поняла, что вы сказали," Victoria answered him in Russian. The way that Bucky's face turned to shock, looking at her, told him that with whatever Victoria said, she must have spoken the language properly.

"But, you only began working there since around the spring time. You've learned Russian over the past few months?" Steve asked not sure if he was really understanding.

"Yeah, I'm a fast learner. I use an online program to finish learning a language once I pick up on the basics, like with Russian from playing online games, but those were mostly curse words," Victoria smiled as she finished telling them that. So far, they had not heard a single real curse word from her. "If I focus on what I'm learning, then that's all it takes."

"That's amazing," he said thinking about how long it had taken him to pick up French being fully submerged in the country. Then he remembered this morning when Victoria had been talking into her pillow after waking up. So he decided to ask, "Were you speaking a different language this morning? After you woke up and saw how you were lying in bed?"

"Yeah," she answered. "That was just a bit of Gullah."

"Didn't you say you were only in Hawaii for two months total?" Bucky then asked remembering her story from the other night.

"Yeah, but I learned that one mostly for fun," she said pulling a shirt out of a bag. "So, eleven languages plus Morse code."

"Have you ever thought about working in a job as a translator?" Steve asked curious about her answer. Being able to do such incredible things, as they were learning, but then she chose simple jobs that anyone could do.

"No, jobs like that would mean a detailed background check and I try to avoid those," she said standing up to hang up the shirt she had taken out.

"But, you don't have a criminal history. Why would that worry you?" Bucky asked.

"I don't have an educational background that would be useful. Companies don't want to her that a simple high school grad just quickly picked up a language. They expect years of learning it from a credited college," Victoria was moving to hang another shirt up. He knew that she was right. Having her natural ability was one thing, but she was right that a company would demand proof, not just the ability.

"Is that why you take such simple jobs, like waitressing and bike messenger? Because larger companies won't hire you?" Steve wondered.

"Kind of. You're forgetting that I've been moving around a lot and for a long time. That also doesn't look good on a resume. Working for a larger company with a 'career' job, by the time I could accomplished anything, I would have gotten the urge to move on, so I stick to learning trades that can be used anywhere," Victoria said seeming a bit easier talking with them now that they knew a bit more about her. "But, I also tried having a desk job for a short time. It didn't work out. I got bored trying to sit still for eight hours a day, but there were nights when I didn't even sleep for three hours before having to start over. Working bike delivery was one of the first times that I actually enjoyed working. Between it, and waitressing at night on weekdays, I was able to use up some of the energy I had, and sleep a bit better."

He watched as Bucky sat back against the wall as she spoke, wondering if he was thinking the same thing. There was a very good chance that if he asked Tony and Pepper, that there was probably somewhere inside of Stark Industries that Victoria may be able to work at. Between her multi-languages, all the skills she had acquired, as well as being able to learn new skills from just reading about them, there had to be something that she could do.

But, would she even consider accepting a job that someone else helped her to get, if he were to ask Tony and Pepper? Victoria was very independent. It may be something to bring up at a later time. There was not an immediate rush for her to do anything this week concerning finding a job. Maybe around Monday would be a better time, after the holiday and weekend were over. Besides, it may be selfish, but he wanted to spend more time with her, and Bucky undoubtedly felt the same.

Standing up, he reached inside of a bag and removed a shirt, putting it onto a hanger before handing it to Victoria. If he was going to be here, he may at least help. She seemed to be sorting the shirts into some configuration. Bucky also stood up and began to help, the three of them working quietly as more music continued to play softly in the background.

Eventually, they heard her begin to hum when the song changed to a soft melody with a female singer. Enjoying helping her unpack, as the song continued, Victoria began to sing softly as she worked folding jeans and placing them on one of the available shelves. Moving to another bag, they just listened, looking at each other every once in a while, wondering if she realized what she was doing. When she moved to the pink bag that Bucky had tried to look through, he watched with a smile as she began to unwrap the top bundle.

"So, do I even have to guess who went through this bag?" he heard from behind him as he saw Bucky's head drop slightly at being caught.

"I only looked inside because of the name of the store," Bucky honestly admitted, turning around to face her. "I had no idea what the secret was until I had already opened one of the wrappings."

Victoria was leaning on the drawers smiling, looking like she was in the mood to tease. Reaching down into a different bag, she pulled out two items. Holding up the two sets of cotton panties, they could see the symbols on them that she had been talking about earlier: his shield and a red star. He could feel his face turning red as he looked at the items.

"I cannot believe that they even make something like that, but that you also purchased it," he said looking down at the replica of his shield.

"Wait until ya'll see me wearing them," she grinned, opening up one of the drawers and placing them inside. He had to take a hard swallow as a picture of her in them crossed his mind once again.

Reaching down into another bag, he found that the item inside was one large heavy shirt, a sports jersey of some kind. Holding it up to inspect, Victoria saw him and got a wide smile on her face.

"That's probably my favorite purchase today," she said coming over to take it from him.

"What exactly is it?" he asked.

"Chicago Blackhawks winter pullover jersey," she said holding it up to her. It was a men's size that easily swamped her as it hung down to just above her knees.

"You couldn't root for a New York team?" Bucky asked reaching over to feel the heavy cotton material of the hoodie.

"Nope. I worked at the United Center when I lived in Chicago. That's where I learned to love hockey. Working there, I was able to watch them practice, as well as the games, and I also met the team," she said picking up a hanger to put it on. "Do the two of you even have a favorite hockey team?"

"Not really, we've just seen a few games," he answered folding up some of the now empty bags and putting them on the floor outside of the closet.

"Well, you can either adopt my team, go for the New York Rangers or Islanders, and don't get me started on the stats of the Sabers. Or ya'll can pick more symbolic teams," she said placing a stack of funny colored socks into a drawer.

"Symbolic teams?" Bucky asked moving over so that he was leaning on the drawers next to her.

"Sure, I would guess that you would choose the Dallas Stars and Steve would choose the Washington Capitals," she grinned, closing the drawer and staring Bucky down, seeing if he would argue. "But if you do...we would be a house divided."

Steve chuckled a bit at her logic, and finding her choice of teams for the two of them amusing, while the two of them continued to stare at each other for a few moments.

"Fine, Chicago it is," Bucky answered, sighing heavily, but finding her staring Bucky down amusing. There were grown men would not make eye contact with him. Victoria then turned to him, her eyebrows slightly raised in questioning, wanting an answer.

"Chicago," he then also relented, not really caring that much. She then reached over and wrapped an arm around each of their necks pulling them into a group hug. But he did not expect the kiss that he suddenly found planted on his lips from her for a few seconds before she then turned her head and gave Bucky a similar one. When Victoria pulled her head back, she was smiling at the two of them, and she had not yet released her hold on either of them.

"You have chosen wisely," she said looking at him, before she moved her right arm which was holding Bucky, so that she pulled his head closer for another deeper kiss. As they were kissing, she turned slightly so when her left arm pulled him closer, that he was pressed against her back, her head tiled to the side so that he would have access to her bare neck. Taking the chance that Victoria seemed to be offering, he wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing the spot that he eagerly wanted to. He then felt Bucky's arm slide over his own at he tried to hold onto her waist also, from her other side.

When they broke off their kiss, Victoria turned her head around and leaned in to give him another kiss, her tongue slipping between his lips easily. As they continued to kiss, he then felt her entire body turning towards him, while their four arms were still around her waist. Bucky, now positioned behind Victoria, began pulling her body into his own, but his own grip prevented him from stealing her away. With both of them holding Victoria's waist, she was firmly pinned between the two of them, while Bucky took over kissing the spot on her neck he had just been at.

Victoria's hips then gave a circular motion, causing her to rub against his own hips before moving back to press into Bucky's. He moaned slightly at the feeling, wanting her to keep doing it, which she did a few more times. With each swipe of her body against his, he could feel himself becoming harder. Hearing the similar moans coming from Bucky, he was no doubt feeling the exact same pleasure.

Steve was not sure how long the three of them stayed like that, reveling in the experience from all three of them becoming so intimate together for the first time. Pulling back from kissing her because he needed air, Victoria quickly turned her head so that she gave another firm final kiss to Bucky's lips, before the three of them slightly moved apart, their arms dropping the different holds. He noticed that all of them were breathing heavily, a series of smiles plastered on their faces. Steve knew that they could have taken that a bit further, but they had all held back.

"I've been thinking about doing that all day," Victoria said, leaning back to rest herself against the drawers, while Bucky put his arm up onto the wall, and he reached over for the hanging bar.

"Anything else you've been thinking about doing?" he asked giving her a wink as he teased her. Both Victoria and Bucky both laughed at his bold comment.

"And here I was thinking he was the one with the dirty mind," she answered still laughing, pointing a thumb at Bucky.

"I am…he just said it first," Bucky responded which made him laugh at the comment. That was definitely his old friend coming through.

Translation Note: Я все поняла, что вы сказали – Russian for: I understood what you said.