AN : Hello my loves, apologies for the lengthy absence. Work has been a little cruel and trying to find the head-space to do this story justice has been pretty tricky.
On the plus side, Civil War is released in 28 days, what the actual fuckery... I'm not ready, but I'm so ready! Of course #teamcap all the way.
The lyrics for this Chapter are from Bucky and Rachel's playlist, and it's legit their theme song. It's called Honeymoon by the utterly phenomenal Lana Del Rey.
If anyone wants the list from the playlist just holler, I'll be happy to share it!
As usual, reviews and constructive crit are welcome.

Much love xx

Chapter Twenty-Five

We both know the history of violence that surrounds you
But I'm not scared, there's nothing to lose now that I've found you

The breeze that blew through the open window was not altogether unpleasant.

Rachel had found a small amount of make-up in the locker beside her bed, and while Bucky rooted through the bag and pulled out various packets, Rachel managed to cover most of her lumps and bumps with what looked like a very expensive foundation.

''This is sooo good.'' she mumbled a few moments later, as they sat cross-legged at the end of her bed.
Steve had sent them a couple of foot long sandwiches packed with everything and anything you could ever want.

Bucky merely grunted affirmatively and Rachel giggled, thinking he looked rather like a hamster, with big round eyes and swollen cheeks. He had tied his fair back loosely, and dark strands were falling into his bright eyes.

He turned a light shade of pink, and swallowed loudly.
The pink that coloured his cheeks turned scarlet as Rachel leaned forward and wiped some mustard from the corner of his mouth.

''Sorry.'' Rachel froze, her hand still resting on his chin, she chewed her lower lip.

Bucky shrugged and smiled as she withdrew her hand slowly.
It was hard for him, his head was such a cacophony of sounds and images, people, places and times and he wasn't sure what was real and what was not.

She was real, Rachel was as real as anything he had ever felt before.

But what now, where did they go from here?
They were not normal, nothing about their circumstances, how they had met, what they had gone through were even remotely normal.
Rachel was of a similar mind, Bucky baffled her, in more ways than he frightened her. The metal arm was far from inviting, and she had watched him kill a man in cold blood for her.
Upon their first meeting, he had slammed her to the floor and it was by some grace that he hadn't merely killed her.
She had read his files, brain-washed or not, Bucky was a skilled assassin. With amnesia, PTSD and unknown triggers, he was a damned ticking time bomb.

On the other hand, she had seen a beautifully endearing side of Bucky. A loyal and playful side that made her want to fight for him, to protect him in any way she could. Rachel knew that on a physical level, Bucky was more than capable of looking after himself.

However, on a mental level, Rachel felt almost singularly responsible for Bucky's mental state.

They finished their lunch in a comfortable silence.
Their knees brushing gingerly from time to time and the occasional soft smile passing between them.

''So what now..?'' Rachel wondered aloud several minutes after they had finished their lunches.

Bucky cocked a questioning eyebrow.

Rachel ran her teeth over her bottom lip. ''Well I don't suppose they're gonna just let me leave after all of this...''

There was a flash of earnest panic in Bucky's eyes. ''You want to leave?'' he asked, very quietly, casting his eyes to the floor.

Rachel realized the careless wording of her sentence, she was still getting used to Bucky's very literal brain.

''I mean go home, they won't let me go home, I imagine I'll have to stay here for a couple of days.''

She watched the tension leave Bucky with a soft sigh.

''I thought -'' he looked at her sheepishly and Rachel smiled softly at him.
It was the most fucked up situation Rachel could have ever imagined, but she was pretty damn sure she loved him.

''I agree with Tony.'' Natasha had been silent for the vast majority of the heated debate.
Steve stared at her coolly when she finally did interject.

''We can't just turn them back out into the world Steve, Bucky is still damaged, we don't know how far into his head Hydra have gotten, and like Tony said, Rachel is an unknown enhanced. We have no idea what she may be capable of know that her mother and the good doctor have stopped treating her.''
Steve did not look happy, but he knew when to bow out of an argument. He begrudgingly knew that both Tony and Natasha were right.

There was no way of knowing how Bucky's recovery would go unsupervised, and any momentary lapse could prove dangerous. As for Rachel, there was some level of the serum in her, and until it had revealed itself to the fullest, Rachel raised a potential danger to herself and to others.

''Fine.'' he said through gritted teeth.

''Wonderful!'' exclaimed Tony, his voice was dripping with a sardonic tone that grated on Steve's nerves.

''We should at least tell them.'' he folded his arms. ''I'm not lying to either of them Tony. We're better than that.''

Tony shrugged, ''Have it your way, but they stay in S.H.I.E.L.D's control and care until we can assess the danger they pose to the outside world.'' there was no sarcasm, there was a seriousness in Tony's eyes that Steve had only seen a few times.

''I know he's your friend Cap, but he's got a hit list longer than anything we've seen before. If he wasn't your friend, he wouldn't even be here.''

Steve's jaw tightened, but he remained silent.

''I'll have a talk with them.'' he uttered after several long minutes, and turned on his heel without another word.

''I kinda figured to be honest.'' Rachel shrugged after Steve explained that she needed to stay for a couple of days.

''They wanna run some tests too...''

Rachel's eyes narrowed, ''What kind of tests?''
Steve looked hesitant when Bucky's eyes looked away from him.

''You're an Unknown Enhanced Rachel. We don't know if you're going to change, how it will affect your body, your mind.''

''-So you're gonna run tests rather than trust me and just wait?'' Rachel was becoming mildly pissed off, she had - in the last three weeks, left her stable life and stable job. Joined S.H.I.E.L.D, almost been murdered by Bucky, was then kidnapped and tortured by HYDRA, and more or less had the entirety of everything she thought she knew torn to pieces.

Yet they were asking more. Always more.

''I didn't ask for this Steve.'' she whispered.
''I-'' Steve began but Rachel cut him off.

''You volunteered. Tony built his suits, we didn't ask for any of this.'' she motioned towards Bucky whose eyes were on the floor. ''Clint, Bruce, Natasha, they get to walk away if they want. What about us?''

Steve held up his hands in defence. ''It wasn't my decision.''
''So am I now a prisoner?'' Rachel asked, ignoring his statement.

''What?''

''Am I a prisoner of S.H.I.E.L.D?'' she repeated, rather loudly.

''No - of course you aren't a prisoner Rachel.''

''Then I want to go home to collect some things.'' Rachel crossed her arms like a bold child.

''I - alright... I'll arrange something for you.'' Steve nodded.

''I'll be going with her.'' Bucky added, still not meeting Steve's eyes.

''I can take you now if you like?'' Steve smiled a little, and he was relieved to see Rachel reciprocate, even if it was only the barest hint of a smile.

Rachel knew in her heart that it was not Steve's doing. He was not trying to detain them, unfortunately he was the easiest target, and she immediately regretted taking it out on him.

She nodded at his offer to take her to her house, and rose from the bed. Bucky mirrored her actions with a fluency that made them look like synchronized dancers.

Steve turned and began to make his way out of the room, Rachel and Bucky followed, and without even thinking about it, Rachel reached for Bucky's hand, her fingers intertwining with his.

It was far from ideal, but she had him and he had her, and they would move forward together.