Bucky stared into the mirror as the reflection changed back to himself. 'Don't be a coward' he said to himself. Nancy knew who he was, Nancy knew what he'd done and where he was. Maybe most importantly, Nancy was made for him, and him for her. He had to meet her, but he also had to protect her. The conflict in his mind, how could he keep her safe, war followed him everywhere he went. But to not be with her, to know her and not be together, that was unbearable.
''Come on ice man, we got a job to do,'' Sam shouted outside the door to Bucky's hotel room.
''I'll be right out.''
They were staying in Paris, following up a lead on an arms dealing ring when he'd got the message, 'Wakanda needs you white wolf' then an address.
The journey there was simple enough, Sam was on the phone to Torres for a long time, organising a jet to their location if required. The address as it turned out was the Wakandan outreach centre in Paris. It was a modest sized town house overlooking the Seine. They were led inside by a stoic faced man, looking to be in his late 60s, white hair stark against his dark skin. He silently brought them to a small office. Children's faces were pressed against the banisters opposite pointless at them laughing and waving. Bucky couldn't help but smile, waving two fingers in greeting. Their guide turned to usher them away. When they entered the room, the door closed behind.
''White Wolf.'' Bucky didn't recognise the woman behind the desk. She was tall, had long braids pulled back off her face and wore an immaculate black suit. Her face was striking yet kind, there was a deep worry line on her forehead. Bucky nodded at her and Sam introduced himself. Kitama was her name.
''We have a job for you, a rescue of sorts.''
Bucky and Sam shared a quick glance between them.
Kitama continued,
''there is to be a kidnapping attempt on a British socialite, we need you to stop it.'' She spun the screen in front of her round and Bucky's heart stopped.
Nancy's face was plastered across the screen. If anyone in the room noticed his shock, they didn't show it.
'Nancy Cartwright is the daughter of England's ambassador in Wakanda, she's attending a dinner representing her father tonight, then her and some other select officials will attend the royal opera house for a ballet. Our intel tells us that is when the terrorists will take her.'' Bucky still couldn't speak. He couldn't take his eyes off her picture. She wasn't smiling, she didn't even know the picture was being taken, her getting into the back of a black car, red dress hitched up showing her black heels, gazing back at the building she must've just left. Her home. 'Go back' he wanted to shout at the picture.
''What do they want with her?'' Sam asked, Bucky was grateful he was dealing with the conversation.
''Ransom.''
'' Money?'' Sam asked
''Not exactly, we believe they wish to force the hand of her father, to work on their behalf.''
''Where is she, we'll go now, we'll get her safe.'' Bucky thought he saw Sam's jaw drop at his statement, but it didn't matter, he had to find her, get her safe, and the safest place for her was right by his side.
The details were passed on in a blur, Bucky's attention was fixed on Nancy, the royal opera house in London, Torres would get them there, Sam could survey the outside, he could get in grab her and get out, quicker the better, the rest could be sorted later.
Before he knew it he was sat opposite Sam in a stealth plane, quiet as they took off over Paris.
''What going on blue eyes?'' Sam asked and was met by a stony glare. ''Come on, I saw your face in there, you know this kid, knew her back in Wakanda?''
''She's no kid and she's never lived in Wakanda.'' Bucky said without thinking.
''But you do know her?'' Sam pushed.
''Complicated.''
''Look I know you've got this while silent and deadly thing going on, but if there's something I should know, you probably best to tell me, so there's no surprises.''
Bucky shook his head and Sam stood up to adjust his suit, stalking over to Torres. Soulmates were sacred and Bucky wasn't ready to share that truth with anyone but Nancy right now. Sam knew something was up, he wasn't stupid. However, he also knew when not to push Bucky.
The trip across the channel was short and Torres came over with Sam. They had to fly low and quiet, small jump to the adjacent roof and get down to the third story window. Take the bridge between the two buildings. From then Bucky would need to memorise the layout, find his way to the box and get her. Then down to the streets and blend into the busy city. Sam would find them, monitor anyone following and then Torres would pick them up for extraction. Simple. Simple up to a point.
The grandeur of the opera house surprised Bucky, the patterned carpet and large stairwells reminded him of a time long ago. Sam stayed pitched on adjacent roof, shield in hand, monitoring the CCTV footage whilst redwing scanned the surroundings.
''Next right Buck, should be a stairwell, you are looking for box 5, she should be there, the corridors unguarded,''
''On it,'' he took the stairs 2 at a time,
'' you gonna tell me what's so special about this girl yet?''
''No.''
...
Nancy lent forward in her chair as Tchaikovsky's music swirled around her. She was enjoying this, if only because feigning great interest stopped the foreign secretary from attempting more conversation. No, she didn't know what her father's position was on an exclusive trade deal with Wakanda, and no she wasn't sure when he'd be back in the country. She also didn't need him to get her an ice cream in the interval though a strong drink might be appreciated. He swapped from treating her like his 13-year-old daughter to trying to catch a glimpse down the front of her dress. More than once she thought of Bucky, off on a mission, out their doing something for the greater good. Nancy like helping her father, reporting back to him on the goings on at such events, feeding him information on the British perception of Wakanda. These were turbulent times, and yet she still felt nothing more than shiny ornament brought out for parties.
She felt the door opening before she heard it, a slight change in pressure within the top box. The minister didn't notice, in fact she thought he might have dropped into sleep. She felt someone behind her, silently approaching, the hair standing straight on her neck. No one else should be in there. She swung round quickly arm raised. A metal hand caught it as a palm of flesh covered her mouth, she bit into it on instinct before seeing who it was. Bucky. Her face of fear relaxed at once and Bucky gently knelt behind her chair, the minister hadn't so much as stirred. His breath was at her ear as he wound his right hand into hers, holding it tightly.
''In ten minutes, the interval starts, get up and leave the box, we have to get you out of here.''
His voice was barely a whisper, she responded in the same tone.
''What's happening?''
''Shhh,'' he breathed stroking his thumb overs hers soothingly, ''later.''
And so, the sat in silence, him holding her hand and her watching the ballet. As the curtain closed and the audience clapped Bucky drew her silently to her feet and out the door.
He looped her hand through his arm and steered her down the stair well.
''What's happening?'' Nancy tried not to shout as she struggled to keep up with his long strides.
''The Wakandans sent us, someone's planning to take you,'' he pulled her close to him stroking a thumb along her cheek. She shivered gently, his eyes darted around her face ''I won't let them.'' He turned on his heel and pulled her after him.
''Slow down Buck... Bucky- ''she stood firm, ''James!'' There were people milling around them now, coming out from the lower circle.
'' I'm prepared for this, my whole childhood, we had like practice runs, what's the plan?'' She held his gaze sternly. Bucky felt pain in his chest, who has to prepare to be kidnapped, what child should have to worry like that. He stalled for a moment.
''We go out, down to the streets, find a safe place to wait for an extraction.'' He looked her in the eye, trying to read her feelings, she rolled her eyes.
''We'll go to my house, it's safe there.'' She made to walk off, but Bucky's grip on her arm stopped her.
''We are getting you out of the city, tonight.'' He said firmly.
''Not gonna happen, there's things I need.'' Nancy kept trying to walk away but Bucky wouldn't move.
''Nancy- ''
''No Bucky- ''
''No Nancy stop! Look at me, pretend we're talking, laugh at something I said.'' He pulled her easily back him. She laughed cheerfully, a sound like Christmas bells.
''Too men against the wall back there,'' he breathed just loud enough for her to hear. '' don't look, they're watching you, we need to find another way, walk with me.'' He linked his fingers with hers and they walked slowly back towards the box, they could've been just another couple out to see the ballet. He was even dressed the part, black suit and shirt, he hid the metal had in his pocket.
''Are they following?'' Nancy whispered. Bucky nodded his jaw clenching. ''I got a plan, meet me on the roof'' she said as she pushed off him with surprising force and her hand slipped from his. She darted into the woman's bathroom.
The queue inside was thick, woman everywhere touching up makeup, waiting for a stall, drying hands, noise and people, a good place to hide. She shimmied through the crowd, muttering apologies as she went, and found the window she was looking for. Pushing in wide It locked in its stays, shit, she thought glimpsing the fire escape she was looking for, the gap was too tight for any adult to fit through. Nancy took a moment, breathed in and out. She jumped up on the windowsill and amongst shouts from the other ladies, kicked on the window stays. Property damage, great they might not let her come back now. She slid out the window, landing on the fire escape just as the window above smashed and Bucky's arm appeared. He soon followed, shouts following him. Nancy ran up the stairs to join him as they continued up to the roof. No easy feat in stilettos.
''What's this plan then doll?'' Bucky said turning to her as side of the building turned into the deep London sky. Nancy looked around finding her bearings.
''Over there, there's a way down, comes out the other side of the stage, go down take the side door out. Hit the streets, get back to my house.''
''We can't go to your house- '' Bucky's protests were stopped short by the roof door bursting open. ''Ever used a gun before?''
''Give us the girl!'' A masked man shouted, he was followed by three others, behind them Bucky could hear feet pounding on the metal fire escape.
''No of course not.'' Nancy replied not taking her eyes off their assailants. Bucky had his handgun drawn, Nancy hadn't seen where it had come from, he'd been too quick.
''How about a knife?''
''No not that either.''
Bucky pushed her down and drew another gun, seemingly from nowhere, one pointed towards the masked men and the other back towards the fire escape where more men now emerged.
He shot first, the masked men had drawn guns as well, but they were no match for his superhuman reflexes. He aimed for hands and feet, to disarm not kill, this gave Bucky time to move Nancy towards the buildings edge. One escaped the fire though, dashing round and grabbing Nancy round the middle. Before Bucky could respond Nancy had landed a sharp elbow to his nose, stepped back, digging a heel into the top of his foot. The attackers grip loosened enough for her to break free. She grabbed his arm bending it around his back until she heard the tell-tale crunch of dislocation, then forced him into the floor with a kick to the back of the knee.
''Where'd you learn that?'' Bucky called over his shoulder as another figure approached him.
''I told you, I've done a lot of preparing.'' She shuffled back then realised she was at the roofs edge, there were still 3 men coming toward them.
''Do you trust me?'' Bucky said turning briefly towards her.
''Of course, I do.'' For she did, since the moment he first spoken to him, the first time she knew what he was to her, she'd known, he will protect me, he will never let me down. I am his and he is mine. There was no thought of doubt. Although she was surprised when he pushed her. Hard in the chest and she toppled. Next she was falling and falling fast.