"Excuse me Tony? Do you have a minute?"
Tony glanced from the computer screen with a frown, "arm giving you trouble Barnes?"
Bucky balled and flexed his metal hand as he glanced down at it, he hadn't done enough with it to know if it was or not. "No, I think it's alright. I wanted to talk to you though... about Kagome?"
Tony cursed and shook his head; he couldn't act like he didn't anticipate a conversation about her not happening. "Is this where you ask for permission for her hand or something? Aren't you about 70 years too late for that?"
"I'm not… I can though if that would make you feel better." Bucky claimed a chair apprehensively, "you have no reason to like me and I understand that, because most of the time I don't even like me because of… my experiences. She and I had our whole futures planned out for after the war and it didn't… being with her is so easy for me; she really makes me want to be so much better."
"I want to give her the life we had planned before everything fell apart… and I don't want to see her fighting anymore and I was wondering—" Tony held a hand up to cut him off, rubbing the side of his face as he leveled an uneasy look at him, "you asking for work?"
Bucky blinked in response, he wasn't exactly sure what he was asking from the man or why he felt the need to tell him how he felt about Kagome. Maybe because it was Kagome's father and Winifred Barnes hadn't raised him to disrespect his elders.
"You know, since S.H.I.E.L.D. fell and I've taken over paying for everything I think there's some funding available that I can add an extra body to the payroll… you really want to be an Avenger?" Tony arched his brow as he leaned back in his chair, "think you can handle it?" he pointed to his head for emphasis.
"I want to see if I can save people again instead of… I've hurt so many and I need to feel less like a monster," Bucky whispered the last word as he stared down at his metal hand, swallowing hard he lifted his gaze to lock on Tony's, "but for Kagome too, I'll do it for her every time."
"You know Barnes… you make it so hard to hate you because you are everything I ever wanted Kagome to find in a guy, and you're the exact opposite of me which is always amazing."
Tony sighed heavily, picking a pen up from his workstation and twirling it slowly between his hands in thought. "She's not pregnant is she?"
"No sir." Bucky blinked rapidly at the question, he should already know that, he somehow managed to stop them any time they even had a thought of being alone together. Tony snorted at the title, "sir? This your first time talking to a girl's dad?"
"No, but it's the first time talking to a pa of the woman I'm in love with…"
Tony dragged his hand down his face with a grunt, he could have gone a few more years without hearing anyone proclaim their love for his kid; he wasn't ready for it... he wanted more time to get to know her, to make up for all of the years he had been absent... with another heaving sigh, Tony lifted his eyebrows as he pursed his lips, "she does seem a lot happier with you… I stand by what I said though; I won't hesitate to kill you if you hurt her. I don't care how we're related or if you're in your right mind or not."
"I understand."
"Good," Tony tossed his pen to the side; "what was your weapon of choice? I think it was… rifle... that's what Kagome said anyway back in Washington."
"Rifle and pistol, always have my knife on me as well."
"I can work with that," Tony scratched the side of his head as he regarded the former assassin, "who all knows about this conversation?"
"Just you," Bucky admitted softly, "Kagome would have some strong feelings against it, after the last time."
"Yeah, I'm sure she would," Tony mumbled. "Alright, I've got a lot of work before the party tomorrow night, you coming?"
"Party?"
"A victory party for our good work in Sokovia; you should come." Tony made his way back to the computer he abandoned before snapping his fingers, "oh before I forget, here is a phone for you; it's wireless charging."
Bucky caught the device easily, turning it over in his hands. "Wireless?"
"Yeah, don't ask Rogers how it works I'm pretty sure he only knows the basics, anyone else though they'll help you out." Tony closed the drawer that held the phone with a grin, "anything else?"
Bucky shook his head and pocketed the phone before turning; he'd talk to Steve first, telling Kagome what he did was bound to bring about some hard feelings.
"So you're one of us now? Just like old times then, huh pal?" Steve smiled as he slapped Bucky on the back, sipping his beer with a grin. Bucky snorted and nodded, "gotta make sure that little idiot from Brooklyn isn't trying to get himself killed, he's got no self-preservation."
"That is a very true representation of myself, thanks Buck." Steve glanced around at the other partygoers, before turning forward. "You tell her yet?"
"It's not the right time," Bucky shifted with a sigh, "I do need to tell her… I'm a little nervous after the last time."
"Yeah, she's got a sharp tongue when she wants to…"
Bucky licked the beer off his lips as he lowered the bottle, "it was bad then?"
"Uh… nothing I'm in a rush to relive but I would appreciate it if you don't fall off another train."
Bucky smirked at the prodding, "I'll do that when you learn how to fly a plane."
"Sure… hey Sam, good to see you." Steve held his hand out enthusiastically, "you remember Bucky?"
Sam smiled at Steve's welcome, glancing at Bucky wearily. "What's up man? Knock anyone out of the sky lately?"
"Sam—"
"No, no not recently but I'm always open for a re-do; interesting choice of food by the way," Bucky gestured to Sam's plate of hors d'oeuvers, "I had you pegged as more of a breadcrumb man."
"Is that a bird joke?"
"Well, that's what pigeons eat isn't it? It's been a while since I've them in the park so they might have changed their diet in the last 70 years." Bucky shrugged. Steve's eyes flicked between his friends, was this what he had to look forward to on missions now?
"I'm not a pigeon," Sam stated clearly. Bucky shrugged again, sipping from his beer with a hint of a smile on his face, "my mistake."
"Bucky, Kagome looks great tonight by the way." Steve pointed at the priestess across the room, sipping her drink as she giggled with Natasha, "you should probably talk to her before someone else tells her?"
Bucky nodded, from what he understood word traveled fast through the group and he really was pushing his luck if he didn't tell her tonight. "I'll see you guys later," he moved easily through the crowd, beckoning the singer of the band Stark acquired for the night to his level before whispering to him with a word of thanks, making his way over to the two women at the bar.
"—ou'd eat him alive for sure." Kagome twirled her drink before taking a sip, "at least humor me?"
"I'll think about it," Natasha nodded. Bucky placed his empty bottle on the bar, touching their arms to ease into the conversation with a small smile, "I don't mean to interrupt, may I steal Kagome for a dance?"
"No need to ask permission James, I'll see you later Kagome." Natasha winked at the priestess teasingly and sauntered away as she sipped her drink.
Kagome settled her glass on the bar top and slid her hand into Bucky's, her smile widening as he pulled her against him. Bucky tightened his hold on her lower back as he guided her across the floor, "you look beautiful tonight."
"Thank you, and you look as handsome as ever."
"I have to tell you something and I want you to hear it from me, I talked to Tony and he's agreed to bring me into the group… the Avengers."
Kagome stumbled briefly, eyes widening as he caught her, "are you crazy? You said you wanted no par—"
"I know, but that was before Rumlow tossed you into a burning building and they started recruiting your family. I've been given a second chance and I can't sit around when they're still out there planning."
Bucky twirled her expertly under his arm, pulling her flush against him as he gazed down at her. "Do yo—."
"When Rumlow's gone… no more." Cerulean eyes peered up at him biting her lip with a sharp nod, "and no more trains."
"I will avoid the train missions."
Kagome's tongue darted out as she mulled over her next question, "and Rumlow?"
"When I take him out, I'll stop and you and I can have the life we planned before the war." Bucky promised softly. Kagome cleared her throat with a forced smile, her grip on his hand tightening nervously, "I don't want to lose you again…"
"I have no intention of that happening a second time, his days are numbered sweetheart." Bucky tucked her hand in the crook of his arm as he led her from the dance floor, "French 75 still your first choice?"
Kagome nodded as he signaled the bartender, the weight of his hand at the small of her back doing little to reassure her. Bucky sipped his old fashioned slowly, the apprehension rolling off the woman in waves before leaning closer, "it's all going to be fine."
"Yeah but… we've had this conversation before and you didn't come home." Kagome blinked down at the glass handed to her, "sorry if I can't help feeling a little like this is déjà vu."
"This is different."
Kagome exhaled sharply, eyeing him from her peripheral with a frown, "what's so different this time, I'm not pregnant? That's the only difference I can see here."
"Let's take this somewhere quieter… no one else needs to overhear us." Bucky tossed back the rest of his drink, holding his elbow out as he shoved his hands in his pockets. Kagome moved silently beside him, her face conveying the flurry of emotions she was trying hard to keep from breaking through. She inhaled the cool night air as they stepped outside, retracting her hand from his arm and crossing her arms over her chest, "so… that's it then? You're going to hunt him down and… and then what? Hunt another one?"
"You're making it sound like I want to," Bucky snapped. "Well don't you? You can't keep making these decisions and saying it's because of me, it doesn't work like that!" Kagome hissed back.
"Fine you're right, this time it's for me; because I shouldn't have survived that fall." Bucky shoved his hair back from his face, tossing them to his side with a shrug, "I am beyond mad for what they've done to me and I think I have the right. They took everything from me; you think I wanted to leave you, or miss our daughter growing up? I think I'm entitled to a little revenge at this point, don't you?"
"You do have the right…"
"Then what's the problem here? How is this any different from what you did with the S.S.R.?"
Kagome grimaced at his sharp tone, shifting in her heels as she shook her head, "there is no difference…" Bucky shook his head at her softening tone, stepping closer, "don't you shut down on me now, you tell me what the difference is; you think I'm going to go so far over the edge I won't be able to tell where I end and the Soldier starts?"
"Of course not!"
"Then what is going through your head, help me out here!"
Kagome dropped her chin to her chest with a sigh, biting her lip before dragging her head back up, "because they're so good at taking everyone I love from me, I'm scared if they get their hands on you again I won't be able to break through their hold again... or worse, they'll really kill you."
Bucky nodded in understanding, the light from the building illuminating the side of her face and bringing attention to the tears shimmering in her eyes. "Look at me… all I want is Rumlow, that's all… that bastard's done enough to both of us that he's got it coming to him. This isn't like Zola, he's desperate and he's going to slip up and when he does, I'm going to take him out. They wanted me to be a monster… that's what they're going to get."
"You're not a monster though." Kagome dashed at her eyes as a few stray tears fell, "you're not…"
"I'm not your monster at least…" Bucky reached forward, his thumb brushing away the tears that fell, "but they haven't met a pissed off James Buchanan Barnes… the man that took out a bully with a crowbar, the Soldier's got nothing on him."
Kagome snorted through her tears, covering her face as her soft cries turned to strained laughter, "he was pretty badass…"
Bucky chuckled in response, carefully gathering the priestess in his arms as he placed his chin to the crown of her head, "I promise you, when he's gone that's it; Rumlow's the one I want."
"Okay," Kagome craned her head up to peer at Bucky, "no more promises of the future though… lets just live in the present because losing you… I hadn't felt that pain since I lost my friends and I think yours was worse."
"I can agree to that." Bucky pressed a kiss to her forehead, his eyes sweeping the area before looking back down. "Want to go back to the party?"
"Not really, I kind of want to get out of this dress and these heels; they're killing my feet." Kagome shifted for emphasis, squealing as Bucky lifted her easily and began walking back into the building, turning for the hall that had their rooms. "I've got you, relax."
Kagome's grip on his shoulders lessened, relaxing into his hold as her brow furrowed, "why don't you want me to fight them, back at the tower you—"
"Because it's my job as your… you shouldn't have to." Bucky swallowed hard as he changed his statement, jaw clenching as he gently placed her to her feet. He had been declared dead, he saw that in the museum, what did that mean for their marriage? "I just… I want you safe, that's all I've ever wanted."
Kagome's tongue darted out to wet her lips, leaning against the wall and tugging her heels off before straightening. She could see the same question she had asked herself multiple times flitting across his face. He shook his head to clear the thoughts with a frown, "stay with me tonight?"
"I'll stay with you every night, Bucky; if that's what you want." Kagome sighed softly following him into his room and dropping her heels by the door; Bucky shutting the barrier behind them and throwing the lock. He toed his shoes off next to hers, fingers unbuttoning his shirt before dropping when Kagome's fingers slid under his to slide the buttons through, her hands coasting up the planes of his abs to his chest as his shirt fell down his arms to the floor.
"I just want to hold you tonight sweetheart, is that an issue?" He murmured softly. Kagome shook her head, reaching behind to unzip her dress and step from the pool of fabric, taking the offered shirt Bucky held out to her. "You always looked better in my shirts then I did." He smirked.
Kagome smiled, sliding between the blankets as she settled them around her hips, arching as her fingers unclasped her strapless bra and tossed it to the floor. "I don't know, I was particularly fond of that blue coat, and the way you roll your sleeves up your forearms… I can't pull those off."
Bucky leaned over to flick the lamp off and shifted against the pillows at his back, his arm curling around Kagome's shoulders as she laid her head on his chest. He buried his nose in her ebony locks, inhaling deeply as he kissed the crown of her head, "я продолжаю любить вас."
He felt her lashes flutter against his chest, he could almost see her mind working to determine what he had said before she gently lifted her head to peer at him in the darkness. "What does that mean?" his lips quirked at her question, brushing his thumb over her shoulder with a slight shake of his head, "I'll tell you later, sleep now."
Kagome settled her head back to his chest, the feeling of Bucky's fingers running through her hair lulling her easily into sleep.
