Alex smelled coffee before she even opened her eyes. The rich aroma woke her with a sense of comfort that was reminiscent of her and Bucky's mornings together back at Headquarters. She figured Bucky was out in the kitchen making himself busy while she slept, so she hurriedly left the bed to go join him. Scrounging for something to throw over her naked body, she picked up one of Bucky's t-shirts from the pile growing next to his suitcase and slipped it over her head. She was dwarfed in it, but it smelled like him and was beyond comfy.

When Alex wandered out into the kitchen, she was surprised to find it empty. Instead of her boyfriend, she found a small folded up note propped on a mug and a pot of coffee waiting for her.

She took a seat at the island counter and unfolded the paper. On it was a brief note in Bucky's weirdly-perfect cursive handwriting:

Morning, doll. Hope you slept well.

Coffee is all yours. I had another dream. It wasn't great, so I went for a run to try and clear my head. I'll be back soon.

Alex sighed when she read the last part, fearing the worst. She hadn't heard Bucky get up at all during the night (then again, he successfully wore her out and put her into a delightfully deep sleep following their midnight romp)...but still, she usually had some idea he was in distress. Maybe the dream wasn't as bad as she was thinking. She hoped not anyways.

Folding the note back up, Alex reached for the coffee cup and filled it to the brim and kept it black. If Bucky was already out running, she needed to catch up to his level of energy. She also decided to surprise him with breakfast. If she knew her man, whenever he got back he'd be ravenous and likely inhale whatever she prepared.

There was a raucous clank of pots and pans, the crack of several eggs and the sizzle of sausage, and soon enough Alex had something resembling breakfast cooking on the stove. She used a few more eggs and mixed them with milk to whip up some French toast; dipping slices of bread in the mixture and laying them on the griddle.

In between sipping her coffee and managing the various pans worth of cooking food, Alex took a glance at the remaining stock of food. If there was a market somewhere - there had to be a market, right? Where did the employees get their supplies to live? - her and Bucky might want to make a stop there. She had an idea of grilling something awesome for dinner for them. In fact, she wanted to treat Bucky all day long, especially after yesterday and the night they shared.

Ten minutes passed before quick footsteps could be heard coming down the wooden boardwalk. Only Alex could sense the slightly-favored left side of that walk which always gave Bucky away. When he appeared in the doorway, he was a sweaty and beautiful mess. His dark hair was pulled back in a tight knot near the nape of his neck, the pieces that had fallen loose tucked behind his ears. He wore red shorts that hung low on his hips, the black band of his boxer briefs sticking out above the elastic band. His white sleeveless compression top was soaked with sweat and clung delightfully to his thick chest and abs. They flexed with every labored inhale and exhale as he tried to catch his breath, and all Alex could do was admire. His face was covered with sweat, right down to the smile on his lips that appeared when he saw her.

"You're awake!" There was excitement in his voice, but his eyes dropped immediately to the t-shirt covering Alex's body. Seeing her in his t-shirt always left him feeling a sense of pride. He loved seeing her like this: comfortable and relaxed and covered in him. It made him feel even better than he already did. He gave Alex a sweaty kiss, which she accepted with a smile.

"Already finishing my first cup" she told him. "Thank you for making coffee, by the way."

"My pleasure." Bucky's hands went to his waist as he tried to catch his breath. He surveyed the room, his gaze turning to the pans on the stove followed by a quick lift of his brow. "French toast?"

"Figured I'd treat you this morning." A hint of her smirk was visible over the rim of her mug. "Especially after your treat last night." She reached out and tickled his abs a little, teasing him for the unexpected middle-of-the-night sex.

A subtle smile appeared on Bucky's face. There was a hint of bashfulness in his eyes, but it was clearly mixed with pride. "Glad you enjoyed it." He cupped the back of her head and pulled her in for a forehead kiss. "I know I sure did."

Alex was well aware. It was rare, especially for Bucky, to initiate something as passionate and heavy as last night in the middle of the night. He never slept all that well, and when he did, he slept like the dead. There were plenty of times where Alex awoke next to him and eyed his bulky, naked body with a hunger she wanted to immediately satiate. Instead, she tried to always let him sleep, knowing she'd still be just as horny in the morning and could take action then. As such, last night had been a delightful change of pace and left her feeling relaxed and content.

Even as she settled onto her stool, she could feel a lingering pressure between her legs where Bucky had been only hours before. With thoughts of their heated session still in her mind, Alex took a sip of coffee and tried to steer her mind in a different direction. "Now what about this dream of yours?"

Bucky leaned over the island with a shrug. "It wasn't as bad as the other one," he said, eyes meeting hers. Trails of sweat ran down his forehead to his brow, which he wiped with the back of his hand. "The run helped, for what it was worth."

"Was it about Russia again?"

"It was." He clenched his metal fist, his jaw tightening in frustration. "I don't know why it keeps happening, and now of all times. I don't want them to interfere with our trip when it's been so good so far."

Alex's shoulders sunk a little. "Don't think like that, James. You know I don't mind. Doesn't matter if it happens on vacation or during a mission or just a regular Saturday back in New York." She reached across the island and placed her hand on his clenched one, easing apart his fingers. When his palm relaxed open, she entwined her fingers in his.

The small gesture seemed to ease him. The broad pane of his shoulders relaxed at her touch, and the tense muscles of his neck softened. He lifted her hand in his to his lips and kissed it. "This is why you're the best." When he said this, a bit of alarm appeared on his face and he stood up. "Shit, I almost forgot. I brought you back something."

A confused smile spread across Alex's face. "From your run?"

"Just something little. Nothing fancy." Bucky was all aglow as he said this, and any notion of distress from his nightmare disappeared. Alex studied him curiously as he reached into the pocket of his shorts and lifted out something concealed within his closed fist. "Hand out" he told her, his smile shining.

Alex extended an open palm over the island and waited, feeling a little flutter in her belly. Bucky never took his eyes off her as he dropped a single, flawless, pearlescent colored seashell into her hand.

"I know it's just a shell and all" he said, his eyes turning hopeful, "but it caught my eye, and it was pretty. I thought you might like it."

Alex placed a hand on her chest, her smile mixing with soft laughter. She stared down at the seashell, unable to help the aww face she made in that moment. Its exterior was curved like a swirled cone, its color milky white with a mix of blue and pink. Whenever she turned it in her hand, it caught the light and reflected a different shade. Its beauty was simple, but the thoughtfulness behind it meant so much more to her. "This might be the cutest gift you've ever given me" Alex told him. She pushed off the stool and threw her arms around his neck, feeling his sweat permeate through her tank top. "I love it. And you."

The hug lasted only a moment before Alex pulled away. She squeezed the taut muscles of Bucky's lower back excitedly. "Listen — why don't we just have a relaxing day in today. We can eat breakfast, shower together, fuck, take naps, swim, eat lunch, fuck some more..."

Bucky began to chuckle. "That's quite the list of activities. You sure you're up for all that?" He lifted one of his eyebrows coyly.

"We can skip swimming, I guess." She tightened her arms around his waist and stared into eyes. "So...you in?"

"Oh I'm in, alright" Bucky replied. "A relaxing day in sounds great to me right now."

"I also want to cook dinner for us later, too - but we're desperately in need of supplies." Alex inclined her head. "Any ideas on how we fix that?"

"We need a store." Bucky considered this for a moment. "I don't really remember Stark saying anything about a store."

"But there has to be one nearby, right?"

"You would think so." He tried to recall all the random shit Stark told him before they took off for the island, but him mentioning a grocery store didn't ring a bell. It was more likely that Stark told him and he was too excited to hear. "Alright, whaddya say we venture out just once?" Bucky suggested. "I'll take the Jeep back, you find the store, then we'll come back and do all those things you listed off." He pushed a bit of hair back from Alex's shoulder and kissed her neck. "Beginning first with the obvious."

The feel of his lips on her neck caused a welcomed warmth to spread from Alex's stomach down between her legs. She felt Bucky's arousal growing as well as it pressed against her thigh, the heat of it transferring to her own skin. "You better stop before you get ahead of yourself, Soldier."

The tickle of his laugh was warm and inviting against her neck. "You're probably right." He pulled back, a hint of guilt lighting up his grin. "I can't help myself with you."

"Clearly." She palmed his semi-stiff dick through his shorts and heard the slightest intake of air. It was gratifying to know that just the touch of her hand on his growing hard-on could make his breath hitch, even after everything they'd done together. If there was anything she loved more in this new life of hers, it was how easily she made Bucky melt in her own hands.

"Okay, now you're just being mean" Bucky growled, his voice deepening.

Alex backed away and took her needy hands with her. "You're right. You should go shower."

Bucky looked down at himself, unaware of just how sweaty and gross he really was. He looked at Alex and made a face. "Do I smell?"

"Of course you do."

He rolled his eyes. "Thanks a lot."

Alex patted him on the stomach lovingly. "I like you all sweaty and smelly, remember?" She watched him roll his eyes again and then laughed. "Go shower. By the time you're done, breakfast will be too - then we'll take the Jeep back."

"Deal." Bucky walked backwards, bouncing on his toes as he went. "See you in 5 minutes."

He turned and jogged the rest of the distance to the bathroom and Alex stood watching, shaking her head. James Buchanan Barnes was part soldier, part super hero, and part child all in one overgrown, sexy body. She didn't know which part she adored most, but when she looked down at the shell still in her hand, she had a pretty clear idea which was in the lead at the moment.


After breakfast, Bucky and Alexis took the Jeep back to the main building in hopes that Heilani was working again. Much to their relief, they found her standing behind the counter of the lobby desk and talking to the mother of the young girl they saw the day before. The little one stood at the woman's hip next to another young girl who appeared just a few years older. They shared the same jet black hair and tan skin, though the older girl's eyes were a bright hazel-green color.

All four sets of eyes turned in Bucky and Alex's direction when they entered, and the youngest girl's smile was almost instantaneous.

"Mommy, look!" She tugged on the hem of her mother's skirt, though the woman was already staring at the couple as they approached.

Heilani's warm smile welcomed them first. "Good morning Bucky and Alexis! Maita'i oe! How was your excursion yesterday?"

Alex glanced at Bucky, who stepped towards the desk first. "It was amazing, Ma'am. So much so that I think we're planning on just staying at the bungalow today" he told her. "We'll hand over the Jeep for now, then just come back and grab it again if we need it."

With this, Bucky met the gazes of the mother and her two daughters. He couldn't help but smile, especially when the littlest girl waved her small hand at him again.

"And who might you be?" Bucky asked the little girl.

Heilani lifted a hand to her forehead. "I'm sorry, I should have introduced you all!" She seemed flustered that she hadn't done it right away, especially when she came around the end of the desk and lifted a hand to her friend. "This is Kiona, another of Mr. Stark's employees and a dear friend of mine. And these two young ladies are her daughters: Millie and Lana."

Before Alex or Bucky could even say anything, Kiona's hand was extended. "It is an absolute pleasure to meet some of Mr. Stark's friends. We've met him of course, and his wife...but none of the others on your team."

Bucky was the first to shake her hand, followed by Alexis. Lana, the older of the two girls, stepped forward. Her hazel eyes shone eagerly when she looked up at both Bucky and Alex. She was at the age where she was beginning to get tall and gangly, but still had that childlike air of innocence about her.

"You are Avengers" she said. It wasn't quite a question, but more of a awed statement. "And you're Captain America's best friend! The Winter Soldier, right?"

Both of Bucky's eyebrows rose. His eyes met Alex's, whose expression lifted at the little girl's recognition. "That's right, I am" he told Lana. "But you can call me Bucky, if you'd like."

"Hi, Bucky." The girl seemed pleased, but never more so than when she turned to Alexis. "And you're Replica! I think you are socool."

Alex paused, her smile turning confused. "Replica?!" She looked at Bucky before turning back to the girls. "What do you mean replica?"

"That's your name, isn't it?" Lana cocked her head. "That's what my sister and I call you, anyway. You're a new Avenger. Not an original, like Captain America."

Bucky folded his arms over his chest, his entire frame turning in Alex's direction. Alex stared at him, seeing the way his smile was broadening. He was awaiting her response as much as Lana and Millie were, but she honestly didn't know what to say. She didn't have a super hero name; not that she knew of, anyways. She was just Alexis Markos, the mutant, the one who could mirror all the others.

Lana and Millie stood there blinking, awaiting a response. Alex turned to Lana and gave her a smile. "So...you think my super hero name is Replica, huh? I think that's a pretty good name, don't you, Winter Soldier?" She looked at Bucky, who nodded.

"A great name" he agreed.

"It's because you can do anything any of the other Avengers can" Lana answered. Her small body seemed to stand straighter as she said it, her chin lifting a little. "I think your super power is really cool. Andyou're really pretty."

Alex uttered a surprised laugh. "That's very kind of you, Lana. Thank you."

Kiona stepped in, her hands going to each of her daughter's shoulders. "We know your real name is Alexis, of course - but you know how kids are."

"But mom, they said her name was Replica on the news!" Lana countered. Her hazel eyes turned back to Alex. "It's okay if we call you that, right?"

"I think it's more than okay" Alex told her kindly. And it was the truth, too. Alex was taken aback by everything she was hearing, She wasn't used to having 'fans', and was surprised that two little girls on the other side of the world, so far from the Avengers compound and most of their mission locations, had even heard of them. She never considered that kids around the world would see the news or read articles about them online and all the things she and the team did for the planet. The realization left her humbled.

Kiona nudged her youngest daughter. "Millie, why don't you show Bucky what you made him?"

Bucky heard this and his brow bent. He was about to argue the need for any kind of gift, but Millie was already in motion. On the girl's back was a pink backpack with a Disney princess on it which she slipped off her back and began to rummage through.

Kiona looked between the couple and smiled. "She made this last night after seeing you. She couldn't wait to give it to you when she saw you again."

Millie lifted out a piece of white paper. She walked over to Bucky and handed it to him with a large smile. "I drew a picture for you."

Bucky took the paper from her, feeling a sense of humbled astonishment well inside his chest. On the paper were two stick figures; one with a shield, the other with a silver arm. On the silver arm was a giant star scribbled in red crayon. Done in the charming crudeness of a child's hand, it wasn't very straight, nor was it very precise, but it was evident who was who in the picture.

When Alex saw the drawing, she felt her entire soul melt. She glanced over at Bucky, who remained staring down at the paper. The corner of his mouth lifted, but Alex could tell he was struggling to find his voice.

"This is..." Bucky shook his head, his eyes lifting to the women before him. "This is the nicest thing I've ever gotten. Thank you, Millie."

Lana elbowed her sister and giggled, and Millie's eyes grew three sizes in excitement. "Do you like it?"

Bucky's smile was every bit as large as his heart felt in that moment. "I love it. I'm gonna bring this back to New York with me and hang it up somewhere I see it everyday."

"Really?!" the girls echoed.

He gave them a nod. "Really."

Kiona and Heilani both broke into smiles of their own. Their appreciation for Alex and Bucky's kindness knew no bounds, but the thrill that was evident on both of Kiona's daughter's faces was all that needed to be said. "Thank you so much, you two. This means a lot to them."

Alex waved a casual hand. "We're happy to know we have such young admirers." She raised an eyebrow at Lana playfully. "Especially ones that give us nicknames."

Bucky looked down at the paper again and felt one of Alex's hands rubbing the low of his back. When he met Alex's gaze, he could see the warmth in the deep color of her eyes. Their shared moment with the girl's was the first of this kind for each of them, and they were experiencing it together. There was a gleam in their eyes as they smiled at one another.

"I'm sorry to take up so much of your time, when all you wanted to do was bring Mr. Stark's car back" Kiona said apologetically. "C'mon, little ones. Lets leave the Avengers to their day."

Alex and Bucky tried to argue, but Kiona wasn't having it. It was all good-natured, of course; it hardly seemed possible for any of the employees they encountered thus far to be anything but kindhearted. Nonetheless, Kiona and her girls bid everyone a wonderful day and then they all took leave. Millie gave one final wave to Bucky, and he returned the gesture with a big smile.

"So you'd like to return the Jeep?" Heilani asked, getting them back on track.

Bucky's mind was already running. "Yeah, uh, actually - is Oro around? Is he down in the garage, or elsewhere on the property?"

Alex cast a glance in Bucky's direction, confused as to why he was asking about the groundskeeper. Bucky merely gave her a little eyebrow raise and a smile before giving his attention back to Heilani.

"I believe he should be in the garage." Heilani gave a few clicks on her computer and then nodded. "Yes, the schedule says he'll be around the main grounds today. Did you wish to speak with him?"

"Just wanted to let him know the tank's a little low on gas." Bucky tapped the counter. "Also, is there a store around here where we could pick up a few things?"

Heilani proceeded to give them directions to the market, which was only a short walk away from the building they stood in. They thanked her and headed back out to the Jeep, where Alex grabbed her backpack and sunglasses. She gave Bucky a quick peck on the cheek before he hopped into the driver's seat. "Want anything specific from the store?"

"Nah. Surprise me, babe." He turned the ignition as Alex closed the door for him.

"Meet you back at the bungalow then!" she said with a wave. She watched as he pulled away in the Jeep, then headed off down the paved path in the direction of the market.

Bucky eyed Alex's slender figure in his rear-view mirror, watching as she walked away from the Jeep and disappeared behind the building. He felt his heartbeat begin to accelerate, knowing that he fibbed just a little about talking to Oro regarding gas in the Jeep's tank. While the tank was getting close to empty, it wasn't the reason Bucky wanted to find Oro again. He wanted to find Oro because he had to know why he recognized him. Something inside his gut told him he had to know; that finding out his identity was important. Maybe if he asked Oro, it would help jog his mess of a memory.

Pulling the Jeep around to the entrance of the garage, Bucky pressed his flesh thumb up to the screen and waited. The beauty of being anywhere Stark had any influence meant he could get access to just about anywhere Stark could, including the underground garage on his private island. In no time, the large paneled doors opened and Bucky entered into the massive storage area where more than one Jeep was stored, along with a few other of Tony's favorite toys: a selection of motorcycles, convertibles, and one large SUV.

Pulling slowly along the line of vehicles, Bucky found an open space and parked the Jeep. He didn't immediately see Oro anywhere, but he figured the entrance security panel would tip off anyone monitoring the grounds. In all his experience, high-security garages of this kind always had some kind of small office where the human security component sat waiting and watching security monitors in the event the technology component failed.

With this in mind, Bucky climbed out of the vehicle and double-checked the Jeep was locked before setting off. He walked along the line of vehicles down to the far end of the garage, looking for a door or an exit that might lead to Oro's office. Instead, he found was another security panel. He placed his thumb on the screen and let the green and blue lights acknowledge his print before a discreet door on the wall slid open. On the other side of the door was a short hallway, which Bucky took until he encountered another security panel. He pressed his thumb to the panel and waited. When it opened, the other side gave him exactly what he was looking for: a security member's office, complete with a single desk, a mini fridge, and at least a dozen security monitors displaying different angles of the property.

After a glance over his shoulder, Bucky stepped inside the small office. He was surprised at how impeccably clean it was, though it smelled faintly of freshly cut grass mixed with oil. A series of white binders stood stacked on a shelf behind the desk. He ran his eyes over the labeled spines, most of which were maintenance manuals. So far, nothing within the office jogged his memory as to who Oro was, or if he'd met him before.

With some resignation, Bucky headed back out into the garage. He passed by the row of vehicles and found the stairwell that would lead him back above ground when a voice halted him in his tracks.

"Come in search of something specific, Mr. Barnes?"

Bucky heard Oro's voice and felt the hairs on his neck stand up. He turned, seeing the groundskeeper emerge from the shadows in the garage. "Oro?"

The man stood before him, looking pale and dirty in the same pair of work clothes he wore the day before. When he smirked, there was a strange sense of familiarity behind it. "Come now. You don't remember?"

This statement caused Bucky's suspicion to heighten. He reached desperately into his memory's muddied depths, trying to place the name or the face of the man before him. It felt like it was on the tip of his tongue, but it was also just out of his reach. "I'm sorry if we've met and I don't remember. You seem familiar, but my memory isn't what it used to be."

"Oh I know." With this, Oro's smile grew larger. "I can see in your eyes there is a...longing...to remember."

Bucky froze. The way he said that. The emphasis in his tone. "I'm sorry?"

"Your memory" Oro replied. "It's not what it used to be. One might say it is a bit rusted."

Something in the back of Bucky's neck clicked. He rolled his head, trying to make the sensation go away. He kept his eyes on Oro's, their gray color focusing on him like he was the only person in the world who existed to him.

Those gray eyes.

Bucky knew them.

"You know who I am, you just refuse to acknowledge me" Oro continued. His voice dipped to a new level, his pale face seeming more sunken in than before. His smile was abrasive enough that his cheeks seemed hollowed and gaunt in the yellow light of the garage. "You were only seventeen when you came to the lab, though we met decades later. About the same time you met the others. A shame you don't remember."

Seventeen.

Saliva thickened in Bucky's mouth.

Longing.
Rusted.
Seventeen.

His heart began to race, its beat uneven and frantic inside his chest.

No no no no no.

Bucky's stomach tightened. Something about this wasn't right. None of it felt right. He turned and began to walk away, but heard Oro's quickened footsteps following behind.

"Mr. Barnes, it seems you've done a fairly good job at forgetting exactly who I am to you. Or rather, who I was to you," he persisted. "I do wonder, though - if I continued, would you remember then?"

Bucky closed his eyes and increased his speed. "Stop following me." His voice was so harsh he hardly recognized it as his own.

"Why? Didn't you come down here to see why you couldn't remember me yesterday?"

He grit his teeth, willing the voice to go away. The sound echoed in his mind; a memory that had been buried deep but was now steadily rising to the surface. Sweat began to mark his forehead as his body reacted, even though his mind couldn't.

"Would there be a daybreak in your subconscious if I continued, Mr. Barnes?"

Daybreak.

Bucky halted. The bones in his neck clicked again, and he felt a pounding begin in the center of his forehead. He ran his flesh hand over his face, willing the pain to subside. "I'm sorry, Oro, but-"

"-My name is not Oro and you know it."

Silence settled within the concrete garage. Turning around, Bucky met the spiteful gaze of the man. He stared him down, wishing he could wipe that sneering smirk off his face. He wanted to squeeze his neck until those familiar gray eyes popped out of his head. Every instinct inside his body told him to attack, but that wasn't who he was anymore. Instead, he tried to breathe. He inhaled slowly, then exhaled slowly. In his turbulent mind, he heard Alexis' words of comfort talking to him, telling him to just breathe.

"You remember, Mr. Barnes" Oro spoke, his voice cutting the cold silence. "And if not, you will remember soon. All it takes is a few little words to jog that mush pile of yours that you call a brain."

Anger flared hot inside Bucky. So much so that his metal hand flexed, wanting to grab Oro and not let go until he watched the life drain from him.

Breathe.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Get out.

Bucky turned, leaving Oro behind. While Oro didn't follow, he did watch after Bucky as he made for the stairwell exit door.

"You'll remember soon enough, Mr. Barnes" Oro called to him. "You'll remember our little meetings in Siberia soon enough. I have no doubt."

Siberia.

Bucky's hand was on the door handle when a shot of ice traveled the length of his spine to the base of his head. A thousand needles throttled his mind as the past came rushing back to him, nearly knocking the air from his lungs. The fingers he had wrapped around the door handle began to tremble as dread overtook him.

He turned his head and looked at Oro.

The memory was clear now.
He knew where he'd seen Oro before.


Alexis found the store on the property and couldn't believe she hadn't seen it before. She supposed she was completely enthralled by the scenery on their initial drive in from the private airstrip when they landed on the island, causing her to miss it and several other little shops on the way. All in all though, the store was pretty obvious, and she was somewhat embarrassed she missed it before.

Once inside, she decided right away that the entire market was adorably quaint. It had everything she needed, and even a few things she wanted. She picked up some vegetables, a few pieces of fresh fish to grill, and some fruit for desert - all of it locally sourced from the island itself. She couldn't wait to try it. All the items totaled two bags worth, which were easy to carry back to the bungalow.

As she walked, Alex tried to take in the smells and sounds of the short journey. Tropical birds chirped in the trees above while a cool breeze ruffled the tall palms. Looking out past the boardwalk and the bungalow, clouds were gathering on the horizon. Their dark bottoms cast a pale shadow over the extent of the ocean, making the water appear more ominous than usual. If it was going to rain, today would be the best day for it since her and Bucky were staying in. Maybe it would make it even cozier. Sexier. The thought of rain on the ocean in a private bungalow actually made Alex tingle in anticipation. She hoped it would actually happen.

When she hit the boardwalk, she increased her pace the rest of the way to the bungalow, excited to start relaxing with her boyfriend. She pushed open the screen door with her hip, swinging the bags inside only to come to a complete halt when she saw Bucky sitting on the couch. He sat bent over his legs, his fingers sunk deep in his hair and his face pointed at the floor. When he looked up, the broad, handsome angles of his face were drawn and tight. The friendly look that was normally in his large eyes was now replaced with a look of dread.

"James?!" Alex put the bags down slowly, her eyes never leaving him. "What's wrong? What happened?"

Bucky's breathing shuddered so hard his chest shook. His hands sunk deeper in his hair, grabbing the strands as if he was in pain. Alex went to him and immediately dropped to her knees. She cupped his face in her hands and felt just how anxious he truly was. Touching him awoke her powers, their energy roaring to life inside her. She could sense his distress and his fear as if it were her own, and it scared her. "Talk to me. Tell me what happened."

"It's Oro." His voice was as rough as gravel.

"The groundskeeper?"

Bucky exhaled and nodded. "I recognized him yesterday. I didn't know why, or where I'd seen him, but something about him felt familiar. When I returned the Jeep, I ran into him. Now I know. His name isn't Oro at all. It's Boroshka."

Alex felt waves of scattered energy emitting from Bucky through her powers. The ocean hues of his eyes darkened with the pain he felt, his breathing still shallow and ragged. "Where do you know him from, then?" she asked, still caressing his face. She watched as the light within his eyes died completely.

"Siberia."

It was only one word, but Alex knew everything that word, that place, encompassed. It was where Bucky was forced to train other soldiers like himself, under pain of torture and strict ruling by Hydra's worst. It's where he had to watch others be taken from their lives and turned into instruments of destruction against their will. It's where he had to train those poor individuals, while also being wiped and restarted over and over again himself.

"We need to call Tony." She reached for her backpack to retrieve her phone, but Bucky grabbed her by the wrist.

"No."

Alex searched his troubled gaze. "But we have to tell him one of his employees is-"

"No we don't." Bucky stared at her, the fullness of his bottom lip now a strained, thin line. "We do not tell Tony."

Alex lowered the backpack to the ground, suddenly afraid of the short tone he was using with her. "Okay, we don't tell him. But please - help me understand why." Bucky's hand stayed locked around her wrist to the point it began to hurt. She rolled it in his hand, letting him know he was still holding on to her. As if in a daze, Bucky looked down as though he didn't realize his own strength. He unlocked his grip as fear bloomed in his eyes.

"I'm sorry" he said, his voice completely changing.

She rubbed her wrist, aware of the strength the man in front of her had at his disposal. Bucky never hurt her, would never hurt her, but moments like this made her realize the degree of power he was constantly curbing. "It's okay. Just breathe, alright? Tell me what happened."

Bucky hesitated, fearing he'd hurt her. Only after Alex stopped rubbing her wrist did he begin his account of the events that took place in the underground garage. He barely held Alex's gaze as he did so, looking either at the floor or his own hands. Alex felt her breath suspend in her chest when he mentioned that Oro knew his activation words; the words he worked so hard to overcome and fight against. Anger churned in her blood. She would forever despise Hydra for everything she'd seen and learned on her own personal missions, but most of all for what they did to Bucky for decades. Nothing sat rotting in her heart more than the hate she felt for Hydra.

As Bucky finished, his eyes finally rose. "I went down there in search of him" he admitted. "I shouldn't have, but I had to know who he was."

"And now that you know, what will you do?"

"I have to kill him."

Alex blinked. "James..."

"No, Alexis."

"But..."

"No."

There was no room for argument in his answer. There was nothing Alex could say or do and she knew it. Bucky's entire body was a knot of intense pressure; a tight coil ready to spring. He was in defense mode, and there was only one defense he knew when it came to the people who tortured him.

Understanding this, Alex gave him a firm nod. "Okay then."

Bucky's eyebrows rose. "...okay?"

"If you're doing this, I'm doing it with you." Alex traced along the strong line of his jaw, the feeling of his beard rough beneath her fingers. "We're a team, right?"

The corner of Bucky's mouth ticked upward ever so slightly. "Yes."

"Then I'm going to help you."

The dark cloud that surrounded him seemed to lessen. The way he'd been holding his shoulders and his back began to ease, and the muscle in his jaw finally unclenched. Alex felt a subtle change in the way her powers wrapped around his energy, signaling that he had finally begun to relax.

"And don't you dare say it's too dangerous for me to join." She lifted a finger to his face, half in jest and half in sincerity. This got him to smile just a fragment larger than before.

"I was about to."

"I know. I know you well enough by this point."

Bucky wrapped his hand around Alex's finger and lowered it. His touch was suddenly full of the tenderness Alex was used to, but beneath the surface lingered a layer of stress she could feel through her powers. He stared down at the faint white light that danced around her hand, connecting their energies through her strange powers. "You aren't even going to question why I want to kill him? Why that was my first reaction?" He lifted his gaze, worry settling into the tiny lines etched around his eyes.

"I don't need to" Alex answered simply. "I know what they've done to deserve it."

A shadow passed over Bucky's face. "You want to know what he did to me? What I remember him doing?"

"You don't have t-"

"-He electrocuted me. Repeatedly. While I stood in water."

The image in Alex's mind caused her stomach to buckle with nausea. She did her best not to show it, especially since Bucky's expression remained still as stone.

"That man...Boroshka...he forced me to do it to others. I stood there and electrocuted innocent men and women the same way he electrocuted me. He injected me with a burning solution if I..." He winced at the memory. "...if I didn't do it well enough."

Bile stung the back of Alex's throat. She cupped Bucky's face hard, forcing his eyes to come back from the memory and focus on her instead. "Listen to me, James. Don't let him get inside your head. You beat him. You beat all of them. And you'll beat him again; only it'll be for the last time. This time, you won't be alone."

Bucky only shook his head, his eyes lowering once more. "You're too good to me" he uttered softly.

Alex leaned forward between his long legs, hands braced on his thighs, until her mouth joined with his. At first he was rigid, his tongue hesitant against hers before he relaxed into her embrace. He exhaled hard as he found solace in her, and soon he was melding together with her as he always did. Her kiss was the comfort he needed to heal his broken heart and mind. Time and time again, the love and support Bucky craved in this lifetime he always found in Alexis. Her unwavering support made him feel invincible; like he could take on anyone or anything in this world with her. At the same time, he also felt unworthy of her love. He fought against this feeling, remembering that he deserved love just as much as the next person. It was something he worked on, but it was difficult to remember in times when he couldn't believe the person he once was. Alexis' love was proof he wasn't that man anymore, but he still felt unworthy of her.

When their kiss ended and their eyes met, Alex placed an additional, single kiss to his lips. "Now...we need a plan."

Bucky exhaled a defeated sigh. "I'm not sure what kind of plan we can make when my knife is our only weapon."

Alex rose to her feet. "Hold that thought." She ran a hand through his long hair, giving him a smile before she headed for the bedroom.

Bucky watched as she lifted her suitcase onto their bed and flipped open the top. She rifled through the clothes inside, digging to the bottom for something he couldn't see. When she turned and faced him, his expression lifted in utter surprise.

"You always bring a knife." Alex cocked her 9 millimeter handgun in one hand, while the other settled on her hip. "And I always bring a gun."

A full grin spread across Bucky's face. "How many rounds?"

"Enough."

He shook his head again, only this time he was laughing. "Now we're getting somewhere." He stood to his full height, feeling stiff and tired from the stress of the past hour. He met Alex in the middle of the room, his eyes lowering to inspect the gun. He recognized it as the one she usually carried; the one that stayed in the thigh holster of her uniform, the one she reached for first on every mission. Bucky supposed she brought it on the trip because she felt naked without it, much like he did without his knife.

"We may need more than what this can give" Bucky noted, eyeing her weapon. "Boroshka is highly trained, no matter how unassuming he looks now."

Alex tucked the gun behind her back between the waistband of her shorts. "If it comes down to it, I'll do a transfer with you. Then I'll have all your skills, plus my own."

Bucky hesitated. "But we've never really tried that?"

"It won't be like the first time we tried it. Not after everything that's happened between us." Alex's hand lowered to clasp his. "Trust me?"

"I do." He wiped back a piece of her hair, feeling his heart connect with hers in a way that was both strangely intimate and frightening to him. "But do you trust me? Enough to do a full transfer?"

"What do I have to be afraid of?"

"You know everything about me."

"That's why I trust you" Alex replied, her smile calming his nerves.

In the months they'd been together, they had crossed many boundaries together, some of which were things most normal couples never encountered. They'd been inside one another's minds and inside one another's bodies, but on a deeper, supernatural level. With Alex's powers, they shared a bond no one else could share. There was nothing they could hide from one another, least of all themselves.

Bucky's hands moved to the sides of Alex's neck, his thumbs resting on her jaw. "If we do this" he began, "we do it without telling the team. Without telling Stark. Without anyone knowing. We remove Boroshka from the entire equation. Maybe he knows something about Stark. Maybe he's plotting something. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out. The way he made a point to use the words back in the garage?" He shook his head. "There's no way this guy is here by coincidence."

Alex couldn't agree more. "Let's find out why he's here...and then let's kill him."

The confidence in her voice palpable, but it was the subtle way her mouth moved to form a smirk and the way she stared at him with those naturally seductive eyes that turned Bucky's fear and anguish into a twisted sort of lust. He drew her in, his mouth latching on to hers. He dipped his tongue into her mouth and groaned when he felt how eagerly she kissed him back. His girl really did want to join him in this singular manhunt. It perplexed him, but it also left him feeling beyond grateful. Just knowing she was there with him, supporting him and loving him like she did, he felt his groin tighten in response. At the end of the day, Bucky knew he and Alex were soul mates. Lovers. Partners. Teammates.

But they were also killers.

Between them ran an undercurrent to take down those that hurt others; to end anyone that spread pain throughout the world for no reason but to feed their own sinister egos. The hurt of their pasts drove them, but the hope they worked to create for their futures only strengthened the bond they already shared.

When Alex came up for air, she smiled against Bucky's mouth. "We make quite the pair, don't we?"

He nuzzled her nose beneath half-lidded eyes. "We do. In so many ways." His lips enclosed around hers. "I'm so proud to call Replica my girl."

Alex broke out in laughter, and for a moment Bucky forgot everything that troubled him in just the sound of her happiness.


Author's Note: Okay, I admit...I always wondered what Alexis' "super hero" name would be if she had one. I thought long and hard about it, and this seemed like a good fit. And who better to let her know what it was than a little girl who looked up to her? :) I hope you liked the little addition. It was fun to write, and the girls may play a larger part in the story as it unfolds. Also, how hot is Bucky? #Understatement, I know! haha. Thanks for all the support so far, my friends!