A/N: Guess what friends? I have a beta for this story now! Which is part of the reason why I'm updating now instead of tomorrow like I plan. Also because I have no patience.

Make sure to thank Emerald2211 for making it look like I know English even though this is my first language. The joys of having a language disability.

Edit like two minutes after posting: Thanks Goldenfightergirl for the amazing quest title ;)

Mirrors are weird. You get so used to seeing yourself in one that you forget that it's not really what you look like, but a mirror version of it. It's even weirder looking at one and not seeing yourself.

Sure I knew that I had a new body, but I never got to take a good look at it until I climbed onto the countertop of the bathroom in the shitty motel room we rented out. Curly black hair wasn't too different from the curly brown hair that I had, but everything else was different.

My eyes, for example, were fucking purple.

Not even 'mostly blue but look a little violet in the right light', but just straight out purple like from an anime. It was totally funky genetics since mutants are a thing in this universe, which I guess I shouldn't complain about having an odd eye color. Mystique has blue skin. It could have been way worse.

It was still unnerving to look at.

"Okay, the bathroom is free." I announced before grabbing the newspaper.

Without bothering to look to see if not-Bucky reacted, I skimmed through all the articles involving Tony Stark and his corporation. Turns out Tony went missing two months ago when his group was attacked by terrorists. Something that I soon realized had happened in the first Iron Man movie. Which, good news, means that this universe might be following the movies and I know a little about it. Bad news, Avengers came out in 2012 and that is my only time of reference for when Steve wakes up.

Not sure I can hide not-Bucky from Hydra for three years. That's probably even more impossible than trying to escape with Sandra and Feliks and look how great that turned out.

[Quest: 'Til The End of the Line]

[Reunite James Barnes with Steve Rogers]

[Reward: a positive relationship with Steve]

[Timelimit: six years]

[ ] Accept

[ ] Decline

I shoved the palms of my hands into my eye socket and groaned.

[x] Accept

Who knows, maybe I'll get lucky for once.

Six years was a long time though for a deadline. A lot can happen. A lot can change. As long as I'm smart about it, there can be a lot I can change as well. Though with butterfly effect and all, there are probably things my mere existence has already indirectly changed. And directly since without me using my Apparition, Sandra would still be alive and not-Bucky still in that Hydra facility.

I folded up the newspapers and stuffed it into my bag, figuring it could be used as a fire started.

"I'm gonna go to sleep now. You can have the bed." I announced as I slipped into the sleeping bag, trying not to think about the last time the carpet was cleaned or the pillow or...

"Are you just going to keep cleaning your guns all night?"

He didn't say anything, but did at least look up at me.

"I'm not judging. If that is your nightly routine or whatever, then go for it." I said before the impromptu staring contest got to be uncomfortably long.

I was more curious about where he was getting all the weapons from. It was almost hypnotic just watching him meticulously go through each item before putting it back who knows where. Some of them went into pockets, but most of the guns looked too big to fit.

I might have to claim magic until proven otherwise. And I will be proving otherwise as soon as I feel like I can search his outfits without getting murdered.

"You ever wonder what the first thing you're going to do when our parents come to save us?" Sandra asked in a whisper.

It was dark in the bunker, and we should have been asleep by now, but apparently, Sandra has been thinking.

"I want some ice cream." Feliks answered without hesitation.

"Ice cream? Isn't it cool enough?" I asked with a smile that no one could see.

"That's why I want ice cream. To warm-up."

The two kids laughed along with me before the sound of movement stopped us.

"What about you Sandra?"

"I was thinking of the zoo, but a park would be nice too. Then the three of us could play whatever we want. My mom and dad would like you two. They always asked me if I made any friends before..."

Sandra didn't finish her thought, though there was no need for her too.

"Lani?"

"Hm?" I forced my eyes open even though I don't remember closing them.

"What are you going to do now that you're out?" Feliks asked, and something about that struck me as odd but the thought was gone quickly enough.

"I'm not sure. Ice cream in the park sounds good with me."

"Yeah, but that's what we want to do. You can't do that for us." Sandra said and I really wish I could see the pout she was obviously sporting.

"Of course I'm not going to do it for you. We are all getting out so we can all have ice cream in the park."

"Lani..." Feliks sounded so sad that I sat up to look at him.

Only it wasn't the dark outline of Feliks I was looking at, but the pale vision of Sandra in a hospital gown.

"We can't have ice cream in the park anymore. It's too late now."

"What? No, it's not too late! I can go back-"

"Maybe if you reloaded instead of trying to leave. But you were too scared. You wanted to leave more than you wanted to save Feliks and me."

"That's- that's not what happened. It was an accident! I just-"

"You told me it was okay to be scared as long as I didn't harm anyone else. Why would you lie to me?"

"I didn't! I just-"

"You just let me die to save yourself." Feliks said, sounding so resolved.

"No! I did not want to do that. I'm sorry. I didn't-"

"Goodbye Lani." Sandra and Feliks said at the same time right in front of me.

Sandra in her bloody hospital gown with a breathing tube in her nose. Feliks with a bullet hole in his left eye. Then it was no longer the bunker, but the hospital room willed with doctors and I tried reloading again, and again, and again, and again, and...

[Game Saved]

[HP at max]

[SP at max]

I tried getting out of bed but ended up just rolling over since I was in a sleeping bag and not a bed. At least the questionable smell of the motel carpet was enough to calm me down a little. Enough for me to slide out and go to the bathroom without running like a frightened child.

Because no matter what I may look like, I wasn't a child. I was an adult who let two kids down and very likely got them both killed. And it wasn't like I couldn't do anything. I just did the wrong thing and fucked everything up.

My reflection in the mirror showed a scared little girl with a too-thin face and baggy eyes.

I could admit to myself that I am terrified about going back. Enough that I hope Feliks is dead so that I never have to go back there. But I just don't know.

I don't know anything.

We ended up leaving a few hours later. Not-bucky was already awake when I finally exited the bathroom. I have no idea if he ended up going to sleep or not. But hopefully, he knows his body's limits when it comes to stuff like that.

We walked out of Seattle for hours before hearing the freight train come through. They only come once a day, and so it was a good thing we left before sunrise. Even though it was a complete accident on my part. Not like I really paid attention to how often trains came in my past life.

"Ready for another train ride?" I asked with a lazy grin.

We weren't going to jump onto the train like last time. Just slip into one of the empty carts while it passes by. It was already open a little, just enough for not-Bucky and I to slip through. All we needed to do was run over to it, and I wanted to try and do it without having to use my Apparition.

I want to have that bragging right of hopping on a train after all.

Though as soon as I started running to match the speed of the train (thank fuck these weren't built trains), I quickly realized a major issue with this plan of mine. I wasn't tall enough to jump in.

"Fu-aaaah!"

I was lifted up by the back of my shirt and pulled into the cart.

"Oh, Thanks." I gave not-bucky a huge smile even though he wasn't looking at me.

Sure I could have teleported in, but it was nice that he chose to help me. Even if it was also a little embarrassing to be picked up like a misbehaving kitten.

"You look to be a bit young for a runaway."

"Shit!" I turned around to see three teens sitting on the other side of the cart.

"I think you scared her Finn." One of the two girls said.

"No, I just... Wasn't expecting anyone else in here. Sorry." I looked over to not-Bucky, though he was just glaring at them.

"You're chill. We're all here for the same reason, though I was not expecting a dad and his kid to be train hoppers." The boy whose name is apparently Finn said.

"Oh, we're not related." I said before I thought better of it.

A little girl traveling with a stranger sounds sketchy as hell, even if that is what I'm doing. No reason I should tell a white boy with freaking dreadlocks that, though it's a little late now.

I mean, I could go back but...

"...We're just travel buddies. For now." I continued, though from the looks I was getting I didn't smooth their worries.

"Riiight. Well, it's going to be a long trip so you two might as well get comfy. I'm Cassidy by the way, and that's Finn and Hannah." The purple hair girl from before said.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Lani and this is..." I paused to see if not-Bucky wanted to give an allis or not, but he just stayed by the half-open door.

"... I don't really know his name but I've been calling him Buddy."

"You don't know his name?" The other girl that was pointed out as Hannah questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"He's been through some shit." I said with a shrug before sitting down around the electric lantern they had.

"Well, we've all been there before." Cassidy said, giving Hannah a glare before she could ask any more questions.

And that only made me want to ask why they were here. They didn't look related, and maybe they met in a runaway youth center before deciding to move. I can't imagine their reasons for running away from home were happy though.

So I didn't ask, and they didn't ask why I was with not-Bucky. Though even with that elephant in the room, the hours passed quickly with small talk.

"You have a guitar?" I asked even as Cassidy pulled the beat-up acoustic out to play.

"Yeah, Finn gave it to me for my 16th birthday," Cassidy said, giving Finn a smile that made me wonder if they were dating.

Though she treated Hannah like that too. Maybe they were in a poly relationship thing. Unfortunately I could see them being disowned by their family for something like that. I can already tell that the three are not ones to hide who they are.

"You know how to play?" Cassidy asked after playing a few songs.

Even not-Bucky started looking a little more relaxed than our last train-trip.

"A little."

I played for close to a decade, but that was in a different body so I doubt the muscle memory carried.

"Well, let's hear it. It might be a little big for you, but..."

Suddenly I had a full-size guitar in my arms and it was definitely too big for me now. And my hand was too small to do any bar chords, or any chords where my figures were more than one freit away, but I strummed a few songs out.

Just bits and pieces of songs, some that I realized weren't even out yet. Or may not be out. Hard to know just what is the same and what is different in this universe.

"Fuck Lani, that was really good. Did you two escape from some child genius camp?"

I gave a nervous laugh as I gave Cassidy back her guitar.

"Something like that."

"You know, playing like that is a good way to make some cash. You're welcome to stick around so we can show you the ropes." Finn added nonchalantly.

"Finn..."

"Just for a little while Hans. The road isn't easy and I know you needed help when you started off too. We'll just be... what the shit is it called... paying it forward."

"We can't stay in one place for too long." I interrupted before an argument could start.

But if these kids have any tips for getting money, that could be useful. I don't want to rely on not-Bucky having to pickpocket every time we want to buy food or spend the night in a motel room.

"It wouldn't take too long. I'm cool with it, and maybe it will give time for your friend to get more comfortable with us." Cassidy joked before tossing me a blue bag.

"...holy shit you have Oreos. Bu-ddy, have you ever had Oreos before?"

I didn't even like Oreos that much, but having something sweet after so long made it taste like the best thing ever.

Not-Bucky took the cookie from my hand and sniffed it before taking a small bite.

"It's not poisoned, and you don't need to eat it if you don't want to."

Not-Bucky looked at me before eating the rest whole.

"So?"

"It's okay."

[Relationship Increase: James Barnes companionship]

[Level 2: James will consider your advice]

"Wow, it's only okay? This is like a classic old man." I said with a huge grin and I heard Cassidy stifle a laugh in the background.

"It's okay." Not-Bucky repeated, and I gave a snort.

"Fine. Let me know if you want more."

By the time we jumped off the train not-Bucky had three more.

A/N: So Cassidy, Finn, and Hannah as totally based off the characters with the same name from Life is Strange 2. In my notes I had 'Gay hobo teens' and they were my first thought. Even though I had fun writing them, they probably won't ever come back.

As always, thank you everyone who has favorited/followed this story. Also I checked and this story is now in two communities? That's wack. Anyways, special thanks to Ittehgaps, PrincessMagic, I.D's Fantasy, BasicallyComplicated, Brunolmg, Lull Meister, Guest (with the nice suggestions), BlackDove WhiteDove, KazeKiba777, Lulumo, DullReign82, Emerald2211, Goldenfightergirl, and Death Fury for taking the time to leave me a review.

I had a good laugh at how many people thought I killed Tony off-scene. Trust me, if something like that happens you would be getting a pov change so that the reader will know what's up and not Lani. Also my personal goal in this story is to get to the point where all the Avengers try adopting Lani, so death is off the table.