The Never-Ending Why: Chapter 25: Drop The Game (Part 5)

Bucky was in a bit of a rush. It took the S.H.I.E.L.D. calvary way too long to tap him and Steve off the field. Steve noticed how rushed he was to get back to New York, but the almost-soldier said nothing.

Steve kept to himself as they journeyed back, then the two of them went their separate ways when they got back to base.

Apparently, Bucky had a hot date? Steve was amused with what he was witnessing, and he packed up his bag. They spent four days out in H.Y.D.R.A. territory, and now Steve was ready to head home.

Bucky made it to Donna's work, and he even had an umbrella. It was technically his umbrella, but he bought it and brought it just in case she didn't have one.

Donna was more prepared for the rain than Bucky thought, because her black umbrella was the first thing that he saw. She opened it as soon as she left the shop, and another fancy skirt met his eyes when she turned to lock the door.

She noticed the person that always walked her home, but she said goodbye to her co-worker instead. That co-worker made a gesture, and Donna did everything she could to ignore it.

The people at her work were encouraging her to behave differently towards her "friend". They assumed he was walking her home because he wanted to be with her, but Donna refused to tell them that he did it for money.

She was clearly just a paycheck, and he had other ...interests. Donna did her very best to keep that thought out of her mind, and she ignored the gesture completely.

Bucky didn't notice the co-worker at all. He didn't care about their gossipy shit, and he kept looking at her fancy clothes. She was wearing a dark grey top, a dark jacket, and a gold belt. Her skirt was dark blue, and he noticed the tights that covered her legs were almost solid black.

He couldn't see her skin through them, and he started looking in a different direction. Bucky noticed that he was staring at her, and he told himself to cool it.

Since Donna randomly showed up at Steve's door, Bucky had avoided his random encounters with women. He had no visitors whatsoever at his place, and he also tried to avoid smoking. The not-so-winter-soldier really wanted a cigarette in that moment.

He also wanted something else, but Bucky refrained.

Donna said hello to him, and asked him if he was going to use his umbrella. He had it in his hand, but the light rain was covering his denim jacket.

Bucky looked down at his clothes, and he shook himself out of his thoughts. Right.. he planned to use the umbrella. He told himself that he did not bring it for her.

He popped it open, and just started walking forward. Donna slowly followed, and she thought about asking him how he was. He seemed a little different that evening, and Donna was unsure how to proceed.

She cleared the anger toward her brother out of her mind, but she fully intended to call him out when she saw him. Donna didn't want to talk to "Bucky" about her brother any longer. She kept looking at him as they walked toward the apartment.

They just kept going, and Donna started looking down the crossing streets. When they got to the third street, the young woman decided to turn left. Bucky's eyes flared open wide, and he quickly looked in the direction where Donna was headed.

That wasn't the correct way. She was changing the route. A wave of fear washed over Bucky because...

...yeah, he started inwardly freaking out. Donna kept walking, and she looked very rebellious as he caught up to her last step. She immediately smiled when she looked at him, and it made Bucky glance away.

"I'm not going home tonight. Hope you don't mind?"

She kept her smile going, and her pace remained the same. Bucky struggled to walk for a second. He started feeling very nervous, and he failed to respond to her. Donna needed to go home. Bucky didn't feel ready for what was suddenly happening on their weekly walk.

Well, that hesitation was NOT Donna's problem. She didn't want to go home, and it was up to everyone else to adapt. She stepped out onto a part of Manhattan that operated as an outdoor promenade of wonderment.

The area around her was filled with beautiful lights and sounds. It was filled with a bustle of beautiful people, and she felt like she was officially in heaven. Donna was so happy that she turned them away from their common path.

She looked around at all the shiny lights, and then she stopped her focus on the person that was walking her home. Bucky's nerves were out of control because Donna's behavior was unexpected.

He wanted to just take her home where it was safe, and not do anything else that he had on his mind. Everyone looked at him, and treated him like he was a bad person. He agreed with the looks in some ways, but he really didn't want to hurt Donna.

Bucky convinced himself that he would break her heart. He knew that he would hurt Steve, and look what he did. He should have kept lying to him, and now all he wanted to do was lie to her. He just wanted to get her home and walk away..

It wasn't because of Stephen either, maybe? He knew that he didn't have Stephen's respect, trust, or basic acknowledgment. That was all well and good. Bucky figured that could happen between them, with time?

He surprised himself with his thoughts, and he finally tuned into where the two of them were standing. Donna was right there in front of him, and she went with the feeling in her gut.

She gently stepped toward James, and pulled his face forward. Donna thought about kissing him, so she decided just to do it.

They both held their umbrellas, but Bucky almost dropped his. Donna's advance took him by surprise, but he stepped into it and slowly gave in. He returned her kiss for a short while, but then he forced himself back as soon as he could.

Bucky immediately wanted to leave, and Donna could tell. She took his backward step to heart, and so she started messing with her bag. It was set on her shoulder, and she moved it a few times. An awkward silence moved in, and Donna could hardly bear it.

"I don't want you walking me home anymore. You don't really need to, and I'm not afraid of being robbed."

She couldn't take it anymore. Donna wanted something else to happen, but she started thinking that she made a mistake. Her body was burning up, so she had to start walking in order to cool herself down.

Bucky snapped out of the state of shock that he entered, and he quickly followed behind her. He stopped when she stopped, and he kept staring at her face. The young man was deeply hooked on what was happening, but he kept denying himself the opportunity.

"James, why are you following me?"

Donna wanted the truth. She said that he didn't need to walk her home, but it had become something more than that. Bucky didn't want to admit it, but he walked her home because he wanted to.

Howard never paid him to inform Donna about her brother. His "employer" had no idea that he was even there. Bucky was never paid to walk her home either, but he kept telling her that he was.

Bucky lied to her, just like he lied to Steve. The idea of not lying scared him, so he just stood silent. Donna waited for him to answer. She waited a little while longer, then she started heading back toward their common path.

Bucky took in a slow breath, and he quietly followed her home.

Chapter: END

Thanks for reading.