Chapter 23

"Thank you for helping Bucky," Annie grinned as she put away the last dish. He discarded the tea towel and shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to do.

Annie quickly jogged into the living room that was situated on the other side of the wall and returned with a large bag. Bucky looked at it curiously as Annie pushed it into his hands. She stepped back advising, "You should probably change and have a shower, I got some towels too."

Annie was getting desperate for Bucky to change, during the washing up Annie had been growing more and more tense with Bucky still in his HYDRA suit. The suit that emphasized his broad chest and shoulders as well as creating a deadly image. It was becoming quite distracting and he didn't seem to notice.

The assassin nodded his head before rummages through the bag and collecting what he needed. He dropped the remainder on the table as he marched off to the bathroom. Annie relieved but still slightly sad that he wouldn't be wearing the suit for the foreseeable future watched his retreating form.

The constant spray of pressurised water ceased as Annie had finished setting up her bed on the couch. She decided it was the best time to do so as Bucky wasn't there is refuse and stop her. This needed to be done as Bucky as durable as he seemed to be now could not continue to sleep on a chair and he held no hope of fitting his large form onto the narrow lounge. Annie on the other hand was quite capable.

She found a book on the shelf, one of the few items that were present in the flat and began reading. Her concentration was interrupted as she heard Bucky's voice, "This shirt doesn't fit." Annie hadn't heard him approach and was unsure if it was his history as an assassin or if she was simply too engrossed in the novel she had found.

Bucky held up the deep red shirt that was too tight across his chest out to Annie who was curled up on the couch with a small book in her hands. When she looked up at him she froze as her eyes grew to the size of saucers. His eyebrows furrowed, unsure of what was causing her so much distress. He could hear her heart beat increase rapidly as the book feel from her hands.

Annie had looked up from her novel to view a moist, shirtless Bucky. The sight causing her to still and her heart beat to excel. She couldn't move, only able to stare at him. Droplets of water fell from his damp hair. The evil drops leading her eyes as they trailed down his ridiculously toned chest. Annie had never seen Bucky shirtless before or many people, due to the conservative attitude of her time. She had slowly become accustomed to the more revealing culture of the 21st century.

Steve came rushing into the room of their new apartment as he heard a sudden squeal from Annie. With frantic eyes he found her frozen on the couch, eyes stuck on the TV. He found the cause of her shock in the underwear commercial on the television. "What on earth?" Steve muttered as Annie was finally able to turn to him. "Steve what is this. They're not wearing anything but underwear. How is this allowed on air?" Annie questioned.

"It's a different time I guess. I think this is normal," Steve reassured. Annie dare another glance at the TV as a fit man flashed on in boxers. Annie never having seen an almost naked man curiously watched. The TV flicked off and Annie looked to Steve who held the remote and an annoyed expression. "No more!" he ordered before stomping out of the room with the remote in hand.

Bucky was not the same as the fit man, he was much better looking. His chest and stomach rippled with muscles that were a perfect medium between lean and broad, somehow matching both descriptions. It was almost painful how wonderful he looked.

"Annie?" Bucky questioned with concern laced in his voice. He was worried she was hurt in some way.

Annie finally blinked her eyes and moved her gaze to his face. Her stunned expression turned to disbelief as she shouted, "Bucky why aren't you wearing a shirt?!"

He held out the shirt again, repeating, "It doesn't fit."

"O-oh, um there's a bigger one here," Annie stuttered as she frantically dug through the bag of clothes. She handed him a light blue shirt a size up before darting away, unable to be so close to him.

"Annie!" Bucky called from the living room.

Annie ran in from the kitchen knowing Bucky would not call her unless it was important. "What is it Bucky?" she questioned worriedly.

He gestured to the small TV screen that they had finally gotten to work. It was on the news, one of the few channels that the television had. And stern faced reporter sat in front of the screen with a headline and image beside her 'SHEILD secrets revealed!'

"Yesterday the internet exploded as the secrets of a hidden government intelligence agency called SHEILD were leaked. With this shocking development it has been discovered that the fascist, WWII organisation HYDRA was working in the ranks of SHIELD, this has been speculated as the most likely cause of the shutting down of SHEILD. Also with this reveal many deaths have been credited, including numerous political personalities by the HYDRA assassin, the Winter Soldier. Police have sent out an arrest warrant for the mysterious character." Annie looks to Bucky nervously. When had this happened? She returned to the screen, afraid to miss anything.

"But some deaths have been proved false with the discovery that Annie Rogers, the sister of Captain America did actually survive the crash. Her whereabouts are still unknown as well as if this knowledge was available to the living legend, Captain America. For detailed accounts of all leaked information check our website under recent news," the reporter informed stoically.

Annie turned the TV off allowing silence to fill the room. She timidly moved over to the couch that Bucky sat on and pulled her legs up. She looked down at her crossed legs searching for what to say on the developments.

It was deemed unnecessary as Bucky grumbled, "It isn't safe to stay with me. HYDRA is looking for me and now so is the police."

"No," Annie twister her body to face him with a surprised expression. She had not suspected that was where Bucky would go. It frightened her, she had just gotten him back and now he wanted to ditch her. She knew it was for her safety but it was logical for them to stay together. "I'm not sure it's safe anywhere for me now," Annie confessed worriedly.

At Bucky's raised brow Annie explained, "Bucky now everyone knows I'm alive. Now anyone who wants to hurt or control Steve will try to use me against him. I'm a target now too and I can't go back to Steve and risk being a liability. I can't let that happen. I'm safer with you than anyone else. I think we should stay together."

To Annie's relief Bucky nodded, agreeing before demanding at she sleep and heal to get better faster.

3 weeks had passed since Annie had been shot and then saved by Bucky and 2 weeks since Annie had deemed herself mobile. The two had spent that time attempting to help Bucky remember what HYDRA had taken from him. They had made some progress, Bucky now able to recall sections of the war, his childhood and the fact that his favourite colour was blue. Bucky would instantly tell Annie what they were about and she would offer context and a timeline. Sometimes she would go off into stories and Bucky would happily listen sometimes forgetting that they were his memories.

Bucky had retained quite a few memories that centred on Annie, making him wonder just how close they had been but the topic seemed to upset Annie. The moment her face twisted with sadness he changed the subject and asked her something else. He didn't tell her everything. Somethings he kept for himself. One being the warm feeling present in memories where he is close to Annie.

For years Bucky only had one hazy memory of Annie but his brain was filling with more of them by the day.

Annie sat on the floor with the book she had opted to read for the second time. Her book resting on her bent legs as she examined the pages, the words translating into assumed images. As Bucky entered the room Annie found her attention straying from the book and onto the brunette as it always did. He was wearing a shorter sleeved shirt than usual exposing his bionic arm. He studied the silver metal the mimicked the shape of his other arm perfectly. As Annie had once thought although she knows that the arm was deadly it was beautiful in the gracefully curved steel.

She frowned as she noticed a curious feature of the arm. "Bucky?" Annie called out but the man's focus was already on her. "Why is a red star painted on your arm?"

Bucky raised a thick brow as he strained to view the shoulder. He deserted his attempt as he heard light laughter from the other side of the room. He stared at Annie was a deadpanned expression as she continued to laugh. "What is it?" he questioned, slightly frustrated at not understanding the reason.

Her laughter grew as she attempted to explain, "I-I'm just imagining a-a HYDRA per-person painting a-a star." She quietened slowly breathing, "Sorry it's just so strange."

Bucky thought about it and he supposed to be funny to think of the fearsome HYDRA adding a star. For what purpose? A symbol? There would still be the individual tasked with painting a shape.

Annie watched as she saw Bucky almost smile. Well she wasn't sure. Her laughter ceased as she frowned, asking, "Bucky? Why aren't you smiling? It's not as funny as I thought is it?"

Even though Annie knew she was no comedian she preferred it when Bucky smiled and he hadn't smiled at all. Though she assumed she wouldn't be prone to smiling if she had experienced what Bucky had. She still wanted him to though.

"You used to smile all the time," Annie confessed drawing a curious eye from Bucky.

"That smirk drove me crazy. You would smile at me across from tables or in any inappropriate situation just to annoy me," Annie continued reminiscing as she stood from her previous position on the floor.

Bucky watched Annie as she wore a soft smile and a distant expression. Bucky cleared his throat as if attempting to clear the confusing emotions usually linked to Annie. She looked to him, anticipant. "We need to move," Bucky stated. He had been contemplating moving for a few days. Even though Annie was likely assumed dead by HYDRA, he was still being pursued and he didn't want to push the luck they've had so far. He was growing more and more stressed by the thought of HYDRA finding Annie and now that she was almost healed, they had to go soon.

Annie nodded easily accepting the fact, "Okay then but we need to go somewhere first."

Annie hunched her shoulders as the two made their way into the large stone building. A hat and well-placed hair hid her face from most people's views but she was more worried about her tall, muscular companion that would have a harder time sinking into the crowd as she would. Annie had made sure to buy Bucky a pair of gloves seeing as the metal hand was a huge give away of his identity. She was worried about herself as well, she was assumed dead according to the scenario depicted by Bucky of when he shot her, and she knew that she was safer because of that fact at least from HYDRA.

As much as it dismayed her that Steve thought she was dead, she didn't want anyone using her against Steve now that everyone knew she did not die in the crash. Annie took a moment just to admire the amount of times she had died but not died, it was impressive.

Annie began to panic as the metal detectors came into view. How had she forgotten that! She thrust out a gripped Bucky's sleeve frantically, attempting to drive him away from the detectors. With his superior strength Bucky made them both remain on course. Annie held her breath the entire time Bucky was walking through the security area anticipating the deafening whoop sound of the alarm. Air resumed its progress into her lungs as he passed through cleanly and turned waiting for her to do the same. When she reached him her curious eyes darted to his as her mouth spurted numerous questions, "How did you do that? When did you realise that they wouldn't off? How could you risk that?"

Bucky was amused by Annie's frantic action and pace; he liked it when she was confused. It didn't happen often. He then remembered he needed to give an answer and rattled his brain for the reason he was so calm and sure. "HYDRA said I didn't have to worry about that," he answered vaguely.

She drew her off to the side, away from the traffic of the entrance as her face took on an intense expression that he had learned to label as her thinking face. Her brows scrunched down and her lips pressed together whilst she blinked an abnormal amount. Bucky had enjoyed learning and labelling all of Annie's faces, some he was able to relate to ones in memories. Bucky had found Annie inadvertently gave away her emotions on her face, making her easy to read.

Her eyes lit up as her clever brain connected the dots. She babbled quickly as her mouth attempted to keep up with her brain, "Of course HYDRA would have somehow made your arm undetectable. You would have needed to sneak into high security buildings for assassinations. Is it the type of metal or is there a device inside disrupting the metal detectors?" She questioned to herself as she examined his arm through his sleeve.

Bucky shrugged his shoulders, not too interested in HYDRA's motives. Bucky did not enjoy thinking about what he had done while in HYDRA's employment. He held her elbow, leading her on to the exhibit. She caught up and matched his speed before stopping in front of a torso sized poster with a costumed man.

She pointed to the poster asking, "Do you remember him?"

Bucky stared at the sleek surface of the plastic, taking his time. Eventually he responded, "The man on the bridge?" he turned to Annie breathing, "I knew him."

Annie beamed at the tall man, "Yes you did. That is Steve, your best friend and my brother."

"Why is he wearing a costume?" Bucky questioned.

"Why were you wearing a costume? A full leather suit and a mask it now normal clothing," Annie reminded cheekily.

Bucky turned and began moving into the exhibit. A lanky screen stood in front of them surrounded by display boards that littered with various information. Bucky did not bother with the information but was directed at the screen where an image of pre-serum Steve faded to be replaced by post-serum Steve. Bucky didn't know much about Steve's transformation as Annie had decided it would be easier to explain with the visual stimulus of the exhibit. "So Steve was very small as a child, he changed when he was accepted into the army after many failed attempts. He was in a top secret US Government experiment called Operation: Rebirth. The creator of the Super-Soldier formula was Abraham." Annie explained looking to the beside information for the details. This was the sketchiest part of her knowledge of Steve.

She continued reading aloud, "The Super-Soldier Serum is the name for a process to increase the physical attributes of its recipient to the peak of human potential. Peak human enhancements have all their capabilities like mind, strength, speed, durability, healing, eye sight, immune system, and aging at the maximum level of human potential. I'm sorry but I wasn't there for it and Steve wasn't allowed to tell me much. All he really said after was that it was painful. They had injected him with some formula and then flooded him with vita-rays."

The next section the two encountered the bibliographies. Bucky seemed to intensely absorb all of the information. Annie grew embarrassed when Bucky had moved on to her room. He turned to her with an expression she struggled to identify. He would question her on information, asking if it was correct. She nodded but had to escape the awkwardness of showing someone her biography room in an exhibit and moved to the corner of the room which projected the video of the mission she had conducted with the Howling Commandos. A soft smile graced her face as she watched the old scene. Her life had become so crazy but in this scene it was as she remembered.

She jumped when Bucky's voice came from her side, "What are we doing?"

He had come up next to her obviously finished with her bio. He had recognised himself in the video. "This was your old team, the Howling Commandos," Annie educated.

"Were you part of it?"

"No, I wasn't. This had been our only mission together. We had infiltrated a HYDRA facility for information and I was needed. You and Steve had not been happy, "Annie laughed at the memory of their grumpy expressions.

"I guess that didn't do anything though," Bucky asked.

"If you are guessing that that didn't stop me from going, than you are correct. I went and got everything we needed. Although there was a bump on the way and we had to hide in a closet and…" Annie's recollection faded as the memory of her and Bucky in the small space filled her senses.

Bucky grew curious as Annie's sentence just stopped and her heart beat increased. "And?" Bucky encouraged as blush lined Annie's cheeks.

"And-and we got out and got everything we needed," Annie blurted out frantically. "Well we should go to the next room!" Annie almost shouted as she readied to quickly exit the room and conversation.

Her escape of foiled as Bucky's arm blocked her exit. "And?" He questioned again wanting the whole story.

"And I told you what happened. We got away with what we needed," Annie attempted again as she moved to the other side to be free of this increasingly stressful situation.

Bucky's other arm moved much faster than Annie could blocking all hope of freedom. "And?" he questioned lowly as he leaned closer. He could hear her breathing shallowing and her heart thrumming against her tiny ribcage. The more she resisted the more he knew she was hiding something from him.

"Um-ah wwe were almost captured by HYDRA but we weren't but it was embarrassing," Annie made up.

Bucky did not move, showing his rejection of that answer. "Annie, no secrets," Bucky asked. HYDRA had kept secrets from him, be didn't want Annie to.

Annie sighed and Bucky knew he had won her over. She refused to look at him as she murmured, In the closet we were close and we-we almost kissed." She risked a glance up at him for his reaction.

Bucky was shocked by this. He had developed some feelings toward Annie but he hadn't identified them yet. He then noticed that during her answer Bucky had subconsciously leaned closer until he was a handbreadth from her. He felt an odd increase in the speed of his pulse as his face heated. He felt extremely unnerved being this close to Annie but experienced a contrasting want to stay this way or risk getting closer. He felt as if he was reliving the moment she had hidden from him.

He abruptly pushed himself off the wall and walked out of the room, onto the next station. Annie took a moment to register what had just occurred before chasing after Bucky.

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