A/N: Hello all, sorry for the long absence, life has been crazy, but what's new right? Hope you enjoy the update, and haven't given up on Bucky and Madeline. The events of Civil War are quickly approaching... but that is all I will say for now. Enjoy the update. more to come soon! -Cat
Chapter Forty-Five
The Bentley parked just on the inside of the hanger doors. The drivers side door opened and Madeline got out holding her small backpack in one hand, wearing a leather jacket over her white crew neck long sleeve t-shirt and true religions, a favourite zip-up red hoody under the leather, hood pulled up over her still damp hair.
Bucky climbed out from behind the drivers side seat, only to reach back to grab the bigger back pack before hefting it up onto his shoulder. He matched Madeline in travelling wear, light blue jeans, a grey stanfield, with a green hoody under a corduroy jacket, lined with sheepskin. He looked at Madeline as he pulled the ball cap lower on his brow, "You ready?"
She took a deep breath, holding his gaze, she nodded, her eyes gleaming almost...excitedly, "Yeah, think so." He shook his head at her, "What?" She asked looking up at him concern pulling her brows down.
Bucky stepped towards her, closing the gap between them, his hand came up to the side of her neck, his thumb tracing her jaw line. He saw her breath catch in her throat and knew her pulse was quickening, "Just thinking, how lucky it was I don't mind listening to NPR."
For a second Maddy looked at him like she had no idea what he was talking about, then, her brow cleared and she looked up at him, a blush just barely colouring her cheeks, "It was rather, wasn't it?"
Bucky smiled at her, "Definitely was," He leaned down, his lips just barely brushing against hers. He could feel her lean into him, but his mind stayed focused. He pulled away and looked at Madeline, she slowly blinked her eyes open, "Come on." He put out a hand and instantly without needing to look at it, Madeline put her hand in his and turned walking towards the plane with him.
Bucky looked at the Jet. He had never been one for aircraft, course now he knew a lot about them. It was a comfortably sized private jet. The smallest you could use for a trans Pacific or Atlantic flight. He stared at the side reading Wayne Enterprises, on the tail. He looked at Madeline as the door on the plane slowly opened and stairs unfolded for them.
Madeline felt his eyes and looked at him, he raised an eyebrow and glanced at the name. She blushed deeper this time, "Oh that. It's kinda my plane, so-"
Bucky felt his eyebrows shoot up and he couldn't help but interrupt Madeline, "You have your own plane?"
Now Madeline went positively beet red, "Yeah, pretty much. And it's getting us out of the country so let's drop it. Lucius!"
Bucky was distracted looking up the plane's stairs to see Lucius Fox standing there staring down at them. "Perfect timing kids, come on, let's get this thing in the air. We have already been checked by customs, we are ready to fly."
Madeline hurried up the stairs not letting go of Bucky's hand and guiding him up the stairs. Bucky looked around him. The Wayne's knew how to travel in style. The cabin was lined with what looked like mahogany, the four enormous arm chairs were upholstered in a creamy ivory leather along with the comfy looking sectional. Bucky noticed a fully stocked bar just beside the door to the cockpit and another door at the far end of the plane. As well as an enormous metal case sitting in front of the sectional.
"Sergeant Barnes," Lucius said formally to Bucky as he nodded at him.
Bucky looked up at him from the case, he shrugged at the man, "You can just call me Bucky, Mr. Fox."
Lucius smiled, looking genuinely flattered, "Well, I can do that but please, call me Lucius."
Bucky nodded. Madeline dropped her bag on to one of the seats and Bucky followed suit. He noticed her looking at the case. "What's in the box, Lucius?" She asked as Lucius pulled up the stair case. Bucky instantly stepped beside the older man and took over the action.
Lucius casually patted Bucky on the arm as he turned to Madeline, "Thanks son," He straightened his jacket. He marched across the plane and knocked on the door leading to the cockpit. Bucky felt the plane rumble to life as he fixed the air lock in place.
He looked back at Lucius his brow furrowing, "You're coming with us?" He couldn't help but ask, glancing at Madeline who was still staring at the box, with curiosity all over her face.
"Seriously though..." She added to no one in particular but Lucius was looking at Bucky with raised eyebrows.
"Course I am, aside from the pilots, I am the only one actually on the roster of this plane. Besides, I have some business I need to attend to in Tokyo."
Bucky nodded, and opened his mouth to say thank you but Madeline interrupted him, "Ok, no, really, Lucius! What's in the box?"
"Ah, yes, couple of going away presents for you two. Been tinkering with them in my spare time. Been quite fun actually." Lucius walked over and opened the box, "Took me back to the old days with your dad."
Madeline's eyes bulged as she looked inside and Bucky moved so he could see into the box. On top was what looked like a heavy duty men's black jacket. Lucius lifted it up. Bucky felt his lips part as his eyes took in the jacket. Most noticeably it only had one sleeve, the right sleeve. Bucky looked up to meet Lucius' eyes as did Madeline. Lucius let a mischievous smile play across his aging features, "Thought you two would like that. There is an attachable sleeve as well, but I thought I would let you two have the full affect. Made of a leather Kevlar composite I've been playing around with. Resistant to blades, as well as bullet grazes. Now a direct shot from a large calibre, can't help much there, so don't be too foolish but might be better than the corduroy." He chuckled handing the jacket to Bucky who took it.
It was heavy but still lighter than he thought it would be, he looked up at Lucius who was watching him, smiling, "Thank you,"
"Don't mention it, gave me something to do." Bucky was pretty sure the CEO of Wayne Enterprises had enough to do but didn't argue, "Oh now this, I must say, I am pretty proud of." Lucius leaned down and removed the other sleeve exposing what was under it. It looked like pieces of an outfit or armour that was all in soft foam cutouts.
Madeline caught Bucky's attention, she stepped up to the trunk sized case and knelt down in front of it. Gingerly, she reached in, barely letting her fingers brush over one of the pieces. Bucky looked up at Lucius who was looking down at Madeline smiling fondly.
"Is this...?" Madeline began but trailed off, sounding almost overwhelmed. Bucky wasn't used to seeing her like this. The only other time she had ever acted like this was when Bucky had given her the Gala tickets. He couldn't help but step closer to her and crouch down beside her, his one leg bent behind her. He watched as she gently brushed her finger tips over the pieces.
"One of the military body armour suits we used for the original Bat-suit? Sure is... With some minor adjustments of course," just as Lucius said the words Madeline pulled a piece from the protective foam and held up the front of a breast plate with an obvious shelf to accommodate a woman's bust. "Same as your dads suit, bulletproof except for large caliber armour piercing rounds, careful of blades on your joints but other than that, should keep you safe and snug."
Madeline looked up at Lucius, "You made all this for me? For us?"
He smiled down at her warmly, but Bucky could see the concern in his eyes. It was the same concern Bucky carried around with him, the same concern that thudded in his ears every time he looked at Madeline. "Well, you kids don't know what's out there. I wanted to help you stay as safe as possible. The both of you." Bucky was surprised when Lucius looked at him, just as warmly and with just as much concern.
Madeline was instantly up, throwing her arms around Lucius's neck, breast piece still in her hand. "Thank you so much Lucius, I don't know what to say."
"Say you'll look after each other. That's all I want to hear." He glanced up at Bucky from his hug with Madeline. Bucky nodded slightly, standing up slowly. He wanted Lucius to know that he would look after Maddy no matter what. It was his main priority.
Getting his memory back had been like a clearing agent. He could see everything clearer, not just his memories. He loved Madeline, she loved him. She wouldn't let him leave her behind. He knew that now. And he didn't want to. It wasn't because he didn't want her to be safe, but he realized that some people who were probably after him, nefarious people, they wouldn't care about hurting Madeline to get to him. He needed to her to be with him to keep her safe. She also allowed him to calm his mind, she evened him out, even when she wasn't trying to. He needed her to keep him safe. If ever anything changed Bucky would do what he needed to to make sure Madeline was kept safe, and right now that meant keeping her with him.
Lucius gave a subtle nod, relating that he understood the message. Madeline pulled back and looked back down at the box, staring at it in awe like a child getting their biggest wish for Christmas. "So, you guys gonna start calling me 'Bat Girl' now?" She said looking up at them a goofy smile on her face.
Bucky raised an eyebrow, Lucius just shook his head, "I'm gonna go ahead and not tell your father you said that." He shook his head, chuckling in spite of himself.
