Chapter 24

Annie weaved through the bustling crowds to find a stilled Bucky in the sea of movement. She approached his side as she realized he was entranced by a man identical to himself that he could not remember, a man he could not be. He had regained random sections of his memories but the white print on the transparent screen depicting events of his life that he did not remember. He read and re-read the generic font in a hope that it would trigger another memory within him. But the cold, objective words lacked the stimulating nature Annie's stories and actions did. They were not words reliving an event. They were documenting and informing.

Annie studied Bucky's tense form, his eyes flickered as they examined the words before him. Annie knew he was searching for something in those words which was not there. She had experienced the same frustration in his exhibit. A pained expression consumed his face as his grievous gaze returned to the image that taunted him with his old self. He held a confidence and lightness that Bucky had been robbed of.

Annie reached out her hand into Bucky's metal one, she could feel the shutters of steel retract slightly at the contact even through his glove. She did not let go but tightened her hold. After a moment of hesitation Bucky's gloved, synthetic hand wrapped around hers, careful not to crush her fragile fingers.

With his hand in her own she gently lead him to a video screen, away from the glass panel of his past. Bucky was confused as Annie directed him to a screen that projected a clearly aged video. He was not focused on the tinted film, he watched the small, pale hand that was cradled in his own dangerous one. One squeeze and her hand would be broken. Did she not know that? Or did she not care? At HYDRA they had shown signs of fear, locking him up and threatening him; as if in a constant power battle. But Annie didn't seem to see him as a threat to her safety. To her he wasn't a weapon to be controlled but a man. But he wasn't the one she hoped he was and he was right to be feared by HYDRA. He just hoped Annie won't get hurt when she realised what he really was.

He exhaled a dismayed sigh as he viewed the video Annie had dragged him to. His eyes widened as they attempted to take in the whole film in front of him. There he was with the man in the poster, both with wide grins as they laughed together. Their eyes crinkled as silent laughter filtered from them in a moment of mutual humour. They had been friends once Bucky thought hopefully.

He glanced at Annie to see a sad smile painted on her face. That had been his friend once but that man was also Annie's brother, she must miss him. He was surprised when she murmured to herself more than him, "Your smile was always my favourite."

She liked his smile?

Warmed swirled in her cheeks as she realised what she had let slip. It was just his laugh and smile had made her dazed. He seemed to have that effect even in video.

He returned his gaze to the video now noting the age of the black and white film as well as the dates of birth and death on his biography. "How old am I?" He questioned Annie. He was sure it was more than average with recollections of HYDRA shoving him to a freezing pod.

"I think you are probably 98 years old," Annie counted casually, now used to their extreme age.

"How old are you?" He followed.

"I'm only 95," Annie joked amused at her ridiculous age.

Before he could continue Bucky abruptly grasped Annie's wrist, dragging her though the crowd. "Bucky? What is-" her exclamation ceased as she sighted an ominous looking man in black with shades hiding his eyes.

She instantly ducked her head to hide her face, following behind the fast-paced Bucky. Annie could now see that Bucky was effectively making his way to the exit but the two spotted an approaching HYDRA agent simultaneously. Annie begins to panic and frantically pulls Bucky to the wall and forces him to lean down. The ex-assassin resists slightly but Annie's grip on him remains firm as she lifts her mouth to her ear and whispers, "Natasha says that acts of public affection make people uncomfortable." Bucky nods slowly understanding.

Annie theatrically lifts one of her hands to play in his hair, surprised at its softness. Her breathing stills as she watching the HYDRA agent stride past them purposefully; his eyes scanning the crowds. She breathes a sigh of relief as her head falls onto Bucky's chest.

Her relaxed eyes snap open as she realises what she had just done and zips away from Bucky, moving to the now clear exit. She can't hear Bucky's silent footsteps behind her and has to turn to make sure he is there. As she does she notices the distant expression that overtakes his deep blue eyes. She likes that they haven't changed like everything else in her life.

"Who's Natasha?" Bucky suddenly asks.

"My friend, who happens to use to be an assassin," Annie responds without glancing at Bucky.

"An assassin?" Bucky voices, going over the new knowledge in his head.

Annie grins, "What? You thought you were my only friend with that past occupation?"

"How many do you have?" Bucky comes up beside her to study her expression, finding a small pointed smile.

"Including you? Three."

Once they exit the exhibit Bucky steps ahead taking charge of the situation. "We need to move on, HYDRA may know where we've been staying," Bucky reasons.

"But what about our supplies, I don't have much money let for food and clothes," Annie argued.

Bucky tensed as he responded without looking at her, "Fine, we get what we need and then move on. But you do as I say."

"Okay then," Annie resigned.

The two snuck through the alley way that cornered the building that had been staying in. Bucky paused at the edge as he cautiously checked the front of the building. There were no signs of HYDRA yet but they could have already found the building and be waiting inside. In that cause Bucky wanted Annie as far away as possible but he didn't want to leave her alone, unguarded.

"You stay here," he ordered. He decided that if he was fast enough Annie would be in minimal danger if HYDRA were already in the apartment.

"What? Fine, fine then can I have at least have one of the guns?" Annie negotiated.

Bucky saw the logic in this and went to reach for one of the guns hidden in his belt strap. He paused as he pulled out the gun and looked to Annie's expectant hand, questioning curiously, "How did you know I had two guns?"

Annie took the weapon with a smirk as she answered, "You're a professional assassin, or was, and I know enough assassins to be sure they have at least two weapons on them, especially seeing that we are on the run from an evil organisation."'

Bucky was stunned by how well Annie understood the situation they were in. Even though he did not trust the assassins Annie spoke of, he was glad that they had prepared her.

Bucky felt the familiar apathy of the Winter Soldier he had been for so many years overtake his mentality. "Stay in the shadows with your back to the wall. Shoot anyone who comes close," the Winter Soldier commanded severely.

With a check over the corner and his secondary gun in hand he darted to the door, his gun entering before him.

Annie did not like the way his face suddenly grew cold and merciless. Although since she had been reunited with him, he hadn't shown much expression. But his face a few moments ago was different. But it was still Bucky and he was just taking their safety very seriously, has he always had.

She did as he had said. Very glad that with all the walking they have done and still had to do today, that she was wearing sturdy boots instead of the heeled ones Natasha dashed around in. With all the amazing skills Natasha had, Annie was still baffled by her ability to not be hindered by heels. She felt a pang at not having Natasha here with her, or Steve.

Gun fire from the building above shook through her, alerting her to the fact that HYDRA did know where they were. She shouldn't have insisted that they return for supplies, she endangered herself and more importantly Bucky. She couldn't live with herself if he was forced into the horrible life he knew before.

She was determined to not let that happen, Bucky would be free from HYDRA no matter what it cost her. He sprinted to the edge of the alley way only to be stopped by a darkly dressed man that pointed his gun purposefully at her.

There was no time for this Annie frowned as she aimed the gun at the man's thigh. His gun dropped to the ground as his gloved hands flew to the bullet wound, his weakening form falling to the littered ground.

Annie stuck her pistol into the back of her jeans and collecting the HYDRA agent's gun as she exited the alley way and moved around the brick building.

She shot at a masked agent before he noticed her presence as her heart fell at the 4 agents waiting at the door, all armed with semi-automatic weapons. She prepared herself for engaging them as she focused on closing in on them silently.

She stiffened as a cold barrel of a gun dug into her back. "Drop the gun!" the demand of the HYDRA soldier muffled through his mask. The rest of the soldiers alerted to her presence.

She slowly bent down and placed the stolen gun lightly on the pavement, hitting herself for being of no help to Bucky. Who was most likely fighting for his life and freedom in the apartment. This was all her fault.

A boom exploded through the air as the gun fell from its threatening position on her back. She spun around to see his lifeless body. She drew the pistol from her jeans and shot an agent to her left. She turned to the other three to find them already taken out with crimson spouting from their chests.

Annie head twisted to search for the cause. A glint of silver drew her gaze to a compact balcony on the fourth floor where Bucky was posed with a larger gun than he had had earlier. He lifted the gun and travelled back into the flat.

He reappeared out the entrance a minute later lugging two bags that were packed past capacity. Bucky strode straight to Annie interrogating, "Are you alright?" examining her for bullet wounds.

"Yes I'm fine, are you hurt? What happened in there?" Annie grilled.

"HYDRA was waiting for us, but I got the supplies," Bucky informed.

"We need to get out of here," Annie voiced what the two were thinking as Bucky dropped the HYDRA weapon knowing there was no way to keep it without appearing suspicious. He handed Annie the smaller of the packs and cautiously lead them away.

"Bucky, look at this!" Annie shouted excited from the other room. After travelling across the city by hijacking a non-conspicuous car from the street Annie and Bucky had found a very modest Motor Inn in a somewhat deserted area. The room had been adequately sized, providing some open space for two people but only consisted of a compact bedroom, bathroom and the sparse living space with a kitchenette in the corner. Bucky had remained outside to survey the area and ensure they were not followed while Annie examined the inside. It was underwhelming until she discovered one of the features.

Bucky burst into the room afraid Annie was in trouble only to find the blonde holding up a small box with an antenna poking out of it. She smiled widely at him as he stared at her relieved and slightly annoyed.

"Annie, I thought- I mean what is that?" Bucky pushed down the scare and studied what Annie was fiddling with so intently.

Annie looked at him wondering how he didn't recognise a radio, though she assumed HYDRA didn't dance to music on the job or at all. Did Bucky remember how to dance?

"It's a radio, it picks up a signal and then projects music," Annie explained as she fumbled with the device trying to get it to work.

Bucky was unsure what she was attempting to do as she twisted the knob of the box until her eyes lit up as music filtered out.

"Bucky?" Annie softly called. He turned to her as she asked, "Do you remember how to dance?"

He knew what it was but could not recall any details like why you do it or how. Annie seemed to understand his strained expression as she informed, "You were very good at it and used to go dancing very Saturday with some date of yours to impress her." Her voice grew tense at the end.

Bucky was surprised by this, at how he was good at something he couldn't remember or really understand but also that he would go out without Annie. He couldn't imagine himself wanting to be around someone other than Annie.

"Were you good at dancing?" Bucky inquired, intrigued.

Annie's cheeks lit up as she confessed, "No, not really."

"Did you ever go dancing?" Bucky continued.

"Um, you would drag Steve and I along sometimes but not really," Annie replied making Bucky more and more confused by this man he was.

"Can you really not remember how to dance?" Annie questioned worriedly. She knew he could not recall memories but dancing was muscle memory.

"Yes," Bucky responded. Bucky had been a very good dancer and Annie felt it a shame that the skill was lost.

Annie inhaled as she stiffened, "I'll teach you then, I'm not very good but I know the basics." Bucky watched her curiously.

Annie felt her heart pounding loudly, afraid Bucky could hear it, as she stepped closer. Her awkwardness started to overtake her as she mumbled, "Your hand goes on my waist and your other one goes in mine."

She slowly raised her hand while hesitantly placing the other on his shoulder. A shiver ran down Annie's spine as Bucky's metallic hand gently rested on her waist. His other hand found hers as he stared down at her for the next step.

Annie gently pulled Bucky as she stepped backward, taking the lead. Bucky followed along stiffly as Annie continued to clumsily move to them to the side and then around in a circular motion. Annie would move and Bucky would follow.

Annie offered an awkward smile as she glanced up from her feet. Sadly noticing that Bucky was only slightly worse than she was. Though her movements remained stiff and uncoordinated while his grew more fluid and sure. Annie didn't have to pull Bucky along anymore but he steady took the lead, guiding her through the circular movements. With Bucky's smooth guidance through the steps Annie focused less on her feet.

With his growing confidence Bucky's grip tightened pulling Annie closer. The proximity had Annie's face heating to an uncomfortable temperature making her want to hold Bucky's cold, metal hand to her cheek even though the end result of the contact would make it worse. She eventually grew used to the contact and closed her eyes letting the music and Bucky's presence waft over her.

Bucky suddenly as if his body taking over began changing the simplistic dance into more complex and intimate moves as he spun the two of them around. Annie's eyes shot open and were surprised at what they saw. Bucky was almost smiling, this was the closest she had ever seen him to it.

She could not look at his face for long as Bucky spun her out before pulling her back in. Annie had to focus on not tripping but she nearly fell into Bucky, he used his hand to steady her.

"Have you always been this bad?" Bucky asked with amusement hidden in his tone. He continued that adapted movements as if they were second nature for him. Annie was thankful that his steady hands moved her through the steps to a dance she had only seen but never done herself.

"Yes, and you have always been good at this. That's probably why we never danced before," Annie confessed.

"I like dancing with you," Bucky stated candidly. Annie's gaze shot up and studied his eyes to find only sincerity causing her heart to leap.

So focused on Bucky, Annie tipped during a backwards step and her lost balance tilted her backwards. Bucky took the opportunity with his superior coordinating to lean forward and catch Annie as if he had intended to dip her the whole time.

Annie in clumsy breathes from the shock of almost falling was pulled up and spun into a new dance. She was twisted back to Bucky but with her back against his chest and his hands grasping her crossed ones on either side. She was spun in to the opposite side, this time enjoying the motion as the lively music from the radio swirled through the room. It seemed that Bucky had fully regained his dancing skills and he seemed to be more comfortable with his prosthetic arm as he expertly guided her with it. Annie had noticed his hesitancy to use it when he was around her, afraid of what it has and could do. Annie didn't care that it wasn't his original arm and she didn't fear it because of the man it was wielded by.

Annie was pulled back half way. Bucky then twirled, erecting a laugh from Annie. She was dipped again, the world of the room suddenly switching to a downward orientation. This time she did not experience fear but only a bubbling sensation that forced a wide grin to her face. The awkwardness and worries had fluttered away. She was pulled back up, closer to him than she had been when they started. She was particularly pressed against his chest. Annie tried to not think about how firm it was but she failed as she recalled the memory of him without a shirt covering it.

Those thoughts were eradicated as she dared a glance at his face noticing the dance had stopped completely. But ended up getting caught in his blue depths as he was already staring down at her with a great intensity.

He eyes were as they had always been but now up close Annie could see a pain that had been absent when he had known him. This pain made her heart constrict, not out of pity but something else, something that was deeper and much harder to explain.

She continued to study the dark deeps until she saw Bucky lean in. She suddenly became hyper aware, aware of his hands tightening on her waist, her heart hammering around her chest chaotically, the slightly rough material of his shirt that her hands rested on and his continually shortening distance.

She unconsciously drew forward was well, a desire to be closer to him. Did he do this when he went on dates? A harmful voice in Annie's head wondered. What if this was still his muscle memory and this is just what he did? Annie didn't want to be another date left behind. She knew that Bucky was not the same man but it felt wrong if this was just what he remembers to do at the end of a dance.

"Bucky?" Annie broke the moment but Bucky was still reluctant to release her. An action that had her heart maintaining its abnormal rate. "Um Bucky we should set up, it's getting dark," Annie attempted again.

She caught a hurt look on his face before it was overtaken with apathy sending a pang in her. But she knew he would regret it if it was just a spur of the moment action. But from all the emotions causing a chaotic storm inside her, she knew that she had feelings for this Bucky; the one that protected her and still made her laugh after all he had been through. She was hopeless.

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