A/N: Thank you Emerald2211 for beta'ing this chapter. She is literally the best.

I fixed up the bike before the end of the week with some help from Bucky. Turns out he knows a lot about motorbikes, and I found out a motorbike is just a less powerful motorcycle. It was nice to have a distraction and not have to worry about money for once.

It made sense that it wouldn't last.

On the last day that Bucky planned to work on the farm, I was already starting to get bored and was trying to see if I could make the bike electric.

"You know, since gas is a finite resource anyways and I could set up a solar power battery to charge it while we're stopped in a town. I've made something like that before to charge a cell phone." I rambled as Bucky cooked the rest of the eggs he was given the other day.

Apparently, there was an old lady who saw Bucky walking by one day and tried to woo him with fresh duck eggs. At least that is my theory as to why he got them.

"And it's not like it needs to be a sunny day for it to work. Honestly, the real problem I need to work on is how to make the battery more effective."

"Stop talking and eat."

I shoved some scrambled eggs in my mouth, trying to swallow it without tasting because I've always thought duck eggs taste weird. They do have more protein, so I guess I shouldn't curse the old lady for not gifting Bucky some normal chicken eggs.

"Bluh."

"It's not that bad," Bucky said as he finished off his plate like it was nothing.

"That's because I'm pretty sure you can't taste anything. I honestly do not understand how you're able to cook so well." I grumbled while reluctantly eating some more.

Bucky stood up to wash the only two plates that we found that wasn't broken.

"Maybe we should get some more before we leave."

"Don't say that. I don't want to think about how that would save money and... damn it. At least take me with you if you talk to her. I want to see your face when she flirts."

"No." Bucky said firmly before patting me on the head.

I don't know who was more surprised by that, me or Bucky who was looking at his hand like it was that of a stranger's.

"Um, that better not be your metal hand. I don't want my hair getting stuck on your joins." I tried joking, but Bucky still removed his hand like it was burned.

"I don't know why I did that."

I turned around in my chair to see Bucky still staring at his hand completely dumbfounded. Only his eyes were unfocused, like he was looking but not seeing.

"Maybe because people often like to show their affections for others with physical touch?"

"No, it's..."

I waited patiently for Bucky to finish his thought, but he ended up shoving his gloves on and a jacket.

"I should go."

"O-okay? See you tonight."

I waited a little longer, wondering what that was all about, before apparating away.

I was able to buy $50 worth of stocks before I started feeling guilty. Here I was about to profit off a guy who was tortured for months. I mean, I'm in an interesting position where I know how things might happen. I'm already using my very limited knowledge of Marvel to help Bucky, though I haven't even touched the whole trigger word thing I saw floating around Tumblr. I could just tell Tony that Stane was the one responsible for his torture. It would save a lot of heartache down the line, assuming that he believes me.

I would need to let him know anonymously, maybe even hack into Stane's e-mails or something and tip Tony off that way. I know how to program, so I could teach myself how to hack, what with my runscript available.

It's something to think about at the very least. Like I didn't have enough to worry about with trying to hide from Hydra and pretty much everyone.

With nothing else to do, I ended up back at the house way sooner than I had the previous days. It was still light out, and with the bike fixed up, I decided to just take a walk. It was a nice spring day with no clouds in sight, and it wasn't like I had to worry about cameras out here.

I ended up going to the farm that Bucky was working at, just to surprise him. I made sure I knew where it was in case I ever needed to apparate there, so I knew something was different right away.

Well, pretty sure a whole field on fire is always a dead give away that something was wrong, but I still started running towards it before stopping. Before making myself stop since I learned my lesson last time with jumping ahead before thinking.

I was pretty far away, but I could see figure of Bucky facing off against three other people. I could see his gun was out, but for some reason, he didn't shoot. Then suddenly he froze and the gun fell from his grip. One of the figures started walking calmly to Bucky and everything in me was twitching to do something. To go help him.

I didn't need to see anything more than that.

[x] Load Save

[...]

[Save loaded]

[SP at max]

[HP at max]

I jumped out of the sleeping bag and hastily pulled my clothes on before I started to pack my things.

"Bucky we need to leave now!" I yelled, already knowing that Bucky was awake and making breakfast.

I heard the stove go off while Bucky started gathering our stuff as well. No questions. He just did it.

I really hope he heard the panic in my voice and wasn't just obeying an order.

Only a few minutes passed before I was on the back of the bike holding on while Bucky drove down the road. My heart was still racing as I tried to think about what I saw.

Obviously, Hydra found us. Either we stayed too long or just got unlucky, but either way, things somehow got more serious. I was thinking that it would be better to be in rural areas since there are fewer people and cameras, but maybe not. I don't know. Maybe I should have stayed longer before reloading so I could figure out how they found us.

It was still too close for comfort.

I kept looking around expecting to see a van or a helicopter or something after us, but hours passed with only a few cars going the opposite direction. It was completely nerve wracking each time someone passed us.

We only stopped after the sunset. It was one of those towns that is right off the highway, that all look eerily similar no matter where you are in the continental US. I stayed next to Bucky while he checked us into some motel, ready to apparate or reload at a moments notice.

But we checked in without any trouble, and even got a room with twin beds.

"Hey Buddy? If Hydra found you right now, would you go with them?" I ended up asking one of the many questions that have been on my mind.

It has only been two months since we escaped. I was taking the fact that Bucky has started talking in English as a good sign, but it could have been just wishful thinking.

Bucky was checking the room, and hardly paused in his movements when I spoke up. But he did pause, and it still took him a while to answer.

"I don't know."

"I guess that's better than a straight yes." I muttered, though I had no doubt that Bucky still heard me.

We eat some packed food left over from last time we went shopping a few days ago.

"So if we want to avoid Hydra spotting us, is it better to be in the city with more people or not?"

"Doesn't matter. The chances are the same." Bucky said with such conviction that I didn't need to ask him why he thinks that.

I haven't bother asking him how much of his missions he remembers, but apparently, he knows enough to figure out how Hydra will track us. Or is tracking us.

"Right, any ideas where to go next? I don't think just driving east is going to work forever."

I ended up pulling out the journal I got from the dollar tree that I've been using for my motorcycle project to write down Bucky's suggestions. We are no longer at the point where my common sense and the tips Hannah gave me for lying low is enough to stay hidden. Reading it over, it looked a lot like the notes of a paranoid freak, but is it really paranoia if people are actually out to get you?

I even suggested Bucky and I get a haircut, but then he said that would leave too much DNA and I really don't want to know why that would be a problem. Hats and sunglasses will just have to be enough of a disguise.

We left before the sun rose without either of us getting sleep. Bucky was watching guard and I was too worried. I didn't want to save and wake up with Hydra in the room with no way out.

[Game Saved]

[HP at max]

[SP at max]

"How did you fall asleep without falling off?"

I opened my eyes to see we were at a gas station and the sun was already low in the sky. At least there was no guns in my face or any other sign of Hydra. I guess trying to stay up over 24 hours was a little ambitious considering my body is that of a five-year-old. Pretty sure I was still taking naps at that age the first time around.

"Mad skillz. With a z." I muttered, slipping off the bike in order to stretch my legs a bit.

We were in what looked like one of those old mining towns that now are half ghost town and half tourist trap for people driving through the town.

"You can sit in the front then."

"Wait, are you going to let me drive?"

"No. You're small enough I can reach over you." Bucky said before picking me up and putting me on the bike.

"Dude, I'm not going to fall asleep again."

"I'm not going to take any chances kiddo." Buck said before patting me on the head again.

And just like last time he froze.

"Is that going to be a thing now?" I laughed, only Bucky removed his hand like my head was on fire.

Again.

"I don't know why I did that."

I awkwardly turned around to see Bucky looking at me, only his eyes weren't focused on me. It was exactly what happened last time. Like he was looking at something else.

Only it didn't happen because I reset.

I then took a critical look at Bucky. It didn't make sense for him to be freaking out like this if it was just a casual touch. I grabbed his hands all the time and he has no issues picking me up like a child. So it had to be something else.

Then I got it.

"Do you remember something?"

"I..."

A car pulled up at the other gas station, and Bucky forced me to turn around.

"Buddy-" My words were quickly cut off by the sound of the motor, and we were off.

After weeks with no sign of Hydra, Bucky forced me to go to the library.

Personally, I think he was getting annoyed by me asking him questions all the time, but he was right. I'm not very good at being idle. Then considering how worried I was that if I left Bucky would just be gone, yeah it was no surprise that he forced me to do something.

Bucky was doing some odd jobs for the day, like dog walking and gardening, and I was in a library in another state. I needed to buy the stocks again, and it was time I learned how to hack. Even if I decide not to do anything with Tony, being able to get some type of information on Hydra would be wonderful.

Turns out the SI stocks dropped even more then last time, so with my $50 I was able to get a bigger portion. Then I opened up my runscript.

[loading Runscript...]

[Runscript Successfully activated]

Hacking on a public computer was beyond stupid, but I don't think Bucky and I can just keep hiding from Hydra for three years. We are going to get unlucky again, and I might not be able to reload. Honestly, trying to hack into Tony's personal system might be a good way to practice. Tony might be a bit of an ass, but he's a good person deep, deep, down. At least, I don't think if I got caught he would care enough to track me down.

So two birds with one stone. I can relieve some of my guilt and practice my skills.

A new routine formed after I made that decision. I would take a nap right when we stopped for the night before apprating over to some random town to practice on their computer until I got kicked out for the night. Having runscript running almost all day was useful, but being able to reload if I made a mistake was even more reliable. I can't afford to get caught after all. By someone online or even the librarians who get worried about a small kid being by herself.

Thinking about it, it's weird how much I'm able to get away with. Then again, weird is just the default for this new life.

It was just starting to look like summer when I decided to just go for it.

Tony was well into his designs for his Mark II project when JAVIS interrupted him.

"Sir, someone tried breaking through your personal firewall."

"You're joking."

Tony saved his work before having JAVIS pull up a monitor. Not like people don't try hacking into SI, but the official firewalls were more then good enough to stop any attempts. Also, it's not like Tony stored weapon designs on his personal servers anymore. Or anywhere for that matter.

It was a weak attempt, and was child's play finding the code left over from the wannabe hacker. Though, the code was the part that was interesting. There was nothing in there but a set of comments.

#your stay with the ten rings wasn't by chance

#your father-figure sold you

#as in sold your weapons on the black market

#and tried to kill you to get SI for himself

#obadiah stane will try to kill you again

#sorry:/

#also you might want to look into using another element for your reactor

#palladium poisoning isn't fun

"...JAVIS what am I even looking at. Is this what a stroke feels like? Am I having a stroke?"

"No sir, you are not currently having a stroke."

"Then what the hell is this about?"

A/N: So originally I had that last section with Tony at the beginning of chapter 10, but yesterday I finished writing chapter 11 and it was such a beast I decided to work my chapters around a little. I like keeping them around 2K-3K range since it makes it easier to read over and edit in my mind. And I don't know about you all, but I also like reading chapters that are between 2K and 5K. Longer than that and I'll have to wait to read it.

Also, it was so funny how most of you have the same reading schedule as me. As in any time and all the time. Nice to know my readers are just big nerds like me ;) I think I'm going to try updating on Wednesday and Saturday/Sunday. At least until I start-up classes in September.

As always, thank you everyone who has favorited/followed this story. And super special thanks to Mr. Hungry who reviewed right when I was setting up this chapter to be posted, the lovely three Guest, Cboylan, Updown1234, Akira D. Rysuke, Lightblade23, XenoLucifer, BasicallyComplicated, Emerald2211, Death Fury, JustUsingARandomName, BlackDove WhiteDove, Goldenfightergirl, Nameless Angel 00, Cinnybun, and I.D Fantasy for leaving me a review.