The creak of metal grabbed Ava's attention. She stepped onto her front porch and watched a few minutes while Bucky worked under the hood of her truck.
Had she offended him yesterday? Even if she did, he still helped her. That said something about him.
"Need any help?"
Bucky stood straight, but didn't look her way.
"No, I'm good," he said. "This shouldn't take too long."
Ava walked to his side and watched him work.
"I'm sorry if I upset you yesterday."
"Don't worry about it."
"I think, though, that you might not have known what I was going to say."
"What makes you think that?"
"Because your response didn't really fit."
Bucky glanced her way, but kept working on the truck. Silently.
"What I was going to say is, you're the Bucky who fought with the Howling Commandos…. Captain America's friend."
Bucky's hand froze and his head dropped forward.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't realize it would—"
"No. It's ok." He stood and wiped his hands on a rag. "It's just… recent events… Steve…" He trailed off and lowered his eyes.
"I'm sorry. You don't have to talk about it. I just wanted you to know what I was trying to say yesterday. You looked a little hurt, and you've been so nice. I didn't want you thinking that I'd intended to be rude."
Bucky shook his head. "I didn't think you were rude. I'm used to it."
"Used to what?"
"People being afraid. I'm the Accords bomber. The Winter Soldier."
"Well… I wasn't afraid."
Bucky nodded. "I appreciate that."
"I'll, uh… I'll let you get back to work."
Bucky nodded again and ducked his head under the hood. Ava backed her way to the house. Bucky was so focused on the task at hand.
She'd hurt him yesterday, though she hadn't meant to. He assumed her reaction was fear, but it was a surprise. How often do you meet a man who's a hundred years old and still looks—
Ava shook her head. He was obviously attractive under that long, unkempt hair and scruffy beard, but he seemed lost in some way.
She poured a glass of iced tea and went back out onto the porch, to the side that wrapped around facing west. She loved this view. The land spread out a couple dozen yards to a line of trees that served as an entrance to a thickly wooded area. The setting sun tinged the grass in gold, and the clouds in shades of pink and orange.
She sat on the porch swing and watched the sun slowly drop, until Bucky walked up.
"All fixed," he said.
Ava smiled up at him.
"Thank you so much. How much do I owe you?"
He shook his head. "Nothing."
"What about the price of the part?"
He shrugged. "Consider it a housewarming gift."
"That's not how housewarming gifts work,"'she said with a smile. "I should be getting you the gift."
"Yeah, well, I like to go against the grain."
Ava stood. "At least let me get you a glass of tea."
He started to shake his head, but nodded. "Ok."
"Great. Have a seat."' She motioned to the swing. "I'll be right back."
She grabbed her own glass for a refill, and was back a moment later. She handed Bucky a glass and sat next to him on the swing. He seemed to shrink away, but thanked her for the tea.
"This is a great view," he said.
"It's my favorite thing about the place. Sunset is so peaceful here."
"The trees on our property are too close for this kind of view."
"Well, you're welcome over whenever you need a quiet moment."
Bucky glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
"I wouldn't want to impose."
"You're not imposing if you're invited."
He nodded. "Thanks."
They settled into a comfortable silence until the sun slipped below the horizon.
"I should be getting back." Bucky stood. "Thank you for the tea."
"Thank you for the truck."
"You're welcome."
—-
Sam turned off the television when Bucky came in.
"How'd it go?"
"Truck's fixed."
"Good. How'd it go?"
"Pretty easy. The part is really—"
"Dude, I don't care about the truck. How'd it go with Ava?"
Bucky glared at Sam and turned into the kitchen without a word, but Sam followed.
"Come on. She's cute."
"Then why don't you date her?"
Sam shook his head. "She's not interested in me."
"Well, she's not interested in me."
"Yeah, you tell yourself that."
"She doesn't even know me."
Bucky made himself a sandwich, hoping that Sam would drop it.
"That's why you date." Sam sat at the kitchen table. "Did she invite you in?"
"Nope."
"Ok. Offer you a drink?"
"Iced tea, because I didn't take money for fixing the truck."
Sam smiled. "So, you sat and drank tea together?"
Bucky sighed. "Yes."
"Barnes… that was a date."
"Wilson, get a life so you can get your nose out of mine. That wasn't a date."
"What was it?"
"A neighborly gesture."
"Uh huh. When are you going back?"
"I'm not." Bucky bit into his sandwich.
Sam stood and scoffed. "Yeah, you are. You'll see her again within a week."
"Why are you such a pain?"
"Don't talk with your mouth full," Sam yelled back as he left the kitchen.
—
Two days later, Ava drove over to Bucky's. She grabbed the tray from the passenger seat and hopped out of the truck.
Sam waved at her. "Good morning!"
"Morning, Sam! Bucky inside?"
"Yep."
"Just, uhhh… what exactly do you do with that thing?" She pointed to the shield in his hand.
"Practice. It's really useful, but it can be hard to control."
"Useful how?"
"You know whose this was, right?"
She stared at it a moment. "Oh!"
"He gave it to me. Passed the torch, so to speak."
"Wow. That's quite an honor."
"The biggest. That's why I practice."
She nodded.
"What's that?" Sam pointed to the tray she carried.
"Oh, Bucky wouldn't let me pay him for working on the truck, so I made some brownies for you guys."
He smiled. "Brownies, huh?"
"Yeah. I'm gonna…"
She nodded toward the house and Sam nodded.
"See ya later, Ava."
"See ya." She smiled, and walked toward the house.
She wasn't sure why she was nervous. Bucky was kind, even if a little closed off. But her nerves were getting the best of her. She hesitated, but knocked. Bucky answered a moment later and she stepped back so he could open the screen door.
"Hi."
"Hey, Bucky. I, uh… I wanted to thank you again for the truck, so I made you some brownies."
Bucky took the tray. "Thanks. You didn't have to."
She shrugged. "I wanted to."
"Heads up!" Sam yelled.
Ava didn't even have time to turn around. Bucky dropped the tray, grabbed Ava in his right arm and spun her out of the way to grab Sam's shield with his left hand. The sound of metal on metal vibrated through the air as Sam came running.
"Shit! Are you ok?"
Ava blinked at the shield in Bucky's hand, where she stood less than five seconds ago.
"I…."
"She's ok," Bucky said.
"I'm so sorry. It ricocheted at the wrong angle."
As the adrenaline faded, Ava's ankle started to throb. Her right ankle hit the porch stairs railing as Bucky spun her, and it was hurting.
Bucky put her back on her feet and she winced as her foot buckled.
"You ok?"
"No, my ankle… I hit it."
"Damn it. I'm sorry."
She tried to walk, but pain shot up her leg.
Bucky squatted down and lifted her jeans leg.
"Damn. It's starting to swell."
"I'll never drive home like this."
"I'll take you. Sam, grab some ice."
"On it."
Sam scooped up the tray of brownies and ran inside.
Bucky wrapped Ava's left arm around his shoulders and put his hand at her waist.
"Lean on me, ok?"
She nodded, but the first couple of steps made her ankle give out. Bucky scooped her up into his arms.
"Sorry about this," he said.
"It's ok."
He got her into her truck and Sam rushed out with an ice pack.
"You were right, Sam," she said. "You need practice. Lots of practice."
Sam smiled at her. "I told you. Sorry about your ankle."
"It's ok. Doesn't feel broken, at least."
"That's good. You need anything, let us know."
"Thanks."