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Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel. I own Addison Carter.

RATED M

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He woke up abruptly because of a scream. Bucky jumped from his bed, grabbing the gun he had hidden under his mattress, and immediately went to Addison's room. She was in her bed, sweat running down her face and choking. He turned on the light on the nightstand immediately and put down his gun.

"Addison, hey Addison wake up!" he yelled at her as he shook her by the shoulders. She opened her eyes wide and struggled in his grasp, yelling at him to let her go. He removed his hands.

Her wide, unfocused brown eyes were staring at him, then everywhere around her. She was panting hard. She raised a hand to her neck and gulped loudly.

"James?" she called him quietly.

"Only me," he confirmed, approaching his flesh hand to her wrist. She eyed it suspiciously, tensed slightly when he took her wrist in his hand but relaxed when his thumb gently rubbed her skin in circles. "Nightmare?" She nodded weakly and he caught a glimpse of her computer about to fall from her bed.

He grabbed it to put it on the floor but turned it on accidentally, showing news reports and videos about Sokovia and Ultron. He closed the laptop and put it on the floor.

"You shouldn't put yourself through that," he whispered to her softly. She sniffed.

"Damage control is there but...there was more the Avengers could have done instead of...of just going home." She took a deep breath, biting her bottom lip nervously. "We couldn't save everyone and we left before we could at least dig them up. They deserved to be dug up by us so we could realize..."

Ever since Washington, Addison had seemed to...handle things well on her own. Bucky had to admire that about her because he didn't know what he would have done if he had been alone with his thoughts and the memories coming back to him in broken pieces. Just having someone made the weight on his shoulders less heavy.

He had someone to rely on, someone who would stay up with him when he couldn't fall asleep after a nightmare. Someone who could defend herself well enough for him to just unload what he had on his chest without restrain.

Yes, maybe there was...also the feeling to feel there was something special between them, a silent understanding, that made him like his life the way it was at this moment so much. He was not a fan of her being in the Avengers, the Soldier in him kept whispering to him he should just take her and run away from any danger.

He was not a fan of the way that blond guy hugged her so tightly, which was making him want to punch something with his metal fist.

However, it was not the priority right now. They had lived together for a bit more than a year now and it was the first time he ever saw Addison so panicked. He remembered the worry eating at him when he saw the news, how Wade started to show him how many insults he knew in several languages.

He had been terrified to lose her.

Now she was back, but clearly was traumatized. Apart from what she had done to help him, he had no idea what to do and feeling this powerless was frustrating.

"I know our positions are usually reversed but...you can count on me as well, if you need to talk or...I'll protect you as long as you're around me Addison." He leaned forward and put his forehead against hers, his eyes staring deep in hers. "Understand?"

She returned his gaze for a few, long seconds but nodded.

"I feel silly," she admitted under her breath.

"Don't be, you have every rights to feel whatever you feel about what happened." She pursed her lips.

"I'm not really used to...have someone to talk to freely."

"What about Wade?" She looked down.

"I stopped after the Rochester incident, I...I didn't want to drag him in my problems." Bucky smiled.

"Good thing I already have problems then." She chuckled.

"I guess there are some pros to any situations." They gazed softly at each other until Addison cleared up her throat and laid back down. Bucky let go of her wrist. "I'll...I'll go back to sleep and wake you up if I need to." He nodded and headed to the door.

"Don't hesitate, I live across the hall." He closed the door behind him.

Once back in his bed, he placed a hand on his pounding heart.

Addison was cute, and pretty, and made him feel like a human being. She was honest with him, telling him that yes, he had been brainwashed but he still killed those people.

She acknowledged James Buchanan Barnes entirely, before, after HYDRA and the man he had become.

He didn't want to lose that.

He didn't want to lose her.

He'd do everything in his power to give back at least a little of what he had received from her.

Home, July 2015

I was slumped on James in the couch when my phone rang on the coffee table. I looked at it and raised a brow when I read 'Sam' on the screen.

Jesus Steve.

"You're not answering that?" James asked me. I untangled myself from him.

The guy was more comfortable than I thought he'd be about me basically using him as a body pillow. He had been a great emotional support though.

With a sigh I picked up.

"Hey Sam, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Well, Steve asked me if you called me and almost ordered me to call you when I said no." I rolled my eyes. "He didn't tell me much about what happened, but I know enough to know that anyone with no military background will come out of Sokovia with some PTSD. Even military people actually, that shit was surreal."

"By PTSDs you mean nightmares reminding me I failed so many people and how some nights I'm afraid to fall asleep and train instead? How I choked in my sleep because I remember Ultron strangling me while flying over the road, ready to crash me in a car before he threw me in the Han river?" I replied sarcastically.

"For instance." I took a deep breath. He was unfazed by my rant. "Loss of sleep is common, like nightmares or night terrors Addison."

"I know, it's not my first PTSD."

"What do you mean?"

"I...I don't want to talk about it. Look, I know I can talk to you if I need to, and maybe I will do that in a couple of months. For now...I just want to stay out of the Avengers and fully accept what happened."

"Are you on your own to do that?" I shot James a look, his eyes staring at an interview of a Scott Lang in jail.

"No I'm not."

"If you can talk to them it's the most important. Just don't stay alone."

"Yeah I know. Thanks for calling Sam. And tell Steve to stay out of my business if he's not invited." He laughed.

"Will do Carter, see you!" He hung up. I threw my phone back on the coffee table. It landed on the rug.

"Shit." James pulled me back on his chest, his arm around my shoulders. I closed my eyes sighed deeply. "I don't even want to go back to the Avengers."

"You're in no state to go back for now."

"Thanks," I said witch sarcasm, opening my eyes. That poor Scott guy was tasered and the video was cut short, Christine Everhart now the only person on the screen. James' hand tensed on my shoulder. "What?"

"Can't you just quit?" I straightened up to have a good look at his face. He refused to look at me but concern lingered on his features. "I mean...you don't seem that fond of being on the team so..."

"I'm...still conflicted. And Doc's not here anymore. Thor's in space. Tony...is back on being a consultant. Clint retired. I...my main fight is equality between humans and mutants you know. It's not really the Avengers' fight but..." He shut the laptop. "I can't really quit though. My resume won't let me." He frowned and turned to me.

"You're forced to stay?"

"Kind of. The US government wants me where I can be 'handled' in case I go back to the dark side." He scowled.

"That's stupid, you're not..."

"Anymore. I used to be. To some, I will always be that extremist. Now, if I could quit I would leave that country anyway." He raised a brow. "I am American and British. I actually wanted to spend a year abroad in college but never had the courage to do it."

"Then why don't we just go?" I returned his smirk.

"I think running away together might get us in jail instead of a happy ending on the beach with a sunset. Well, we wouldn't have that easily in England either." He snickered, his beautiful eyes gazing softly at me.

I looked away, my cheeks flaming up. I...did I have a crush on him?

It would be bad.

He mumbled something under his breath.

"What?"

"I...I said I didn't like when you were with the Avengers." I raised my brows. "I never know if you'll come back or in what state. I can't protect you and right now I just...I feel powerless." I blinked, my heart missing a beat.

"Hey, you really care about that order, don't you?"

"Well I ended up caring about you. It's probably not my wisest choice but..." I punched him in the shoulder with a pout and he laughed.

"Can you promise me something?"

"What?" I stretched out my pinkie to him.

"Just...promise we'll stick together. Or at least stay in touch, or anything as long as we don't just leave the other without a word." He pursed his lips. "It started out with me helping you out but you're definitely the one helping me out right now. I promise I won't leave you alone, so please..." He crossed his pinkie with mine and his metal arm pulled me against his warm and solid chest.

"I promise I won't leave you alone Addie," he whispered in my ear.

I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, his scent invading my nose.

Damn, I seriously was crushing on him but I needed him too much right now to care about it.

Avengers Facility, New York, August 2015

Pietro asked me to come but it seemed nobody was home. I went to the communication room. Natasha was there, looking at a screen.

"Afternoon Addison," she greeted me idly. I looked at the screen. It was Sam, outside.

"Hey. Did something happen with Sam?"

"He got beaten by a guy who can shrink. He just asked me to keep quiet about it in front of Steve." She turned to me with a smile at the corner of her lips. "How have you been?"

"Getting better everyday. Not ready to go back on the field yet but...I sleep better at night." I never really said I had issues after Ultron, but Natasha could not be fooled. She figured quickly me not wanting to go on missions had a reason other than my own personal business, James Barnes.

"Well, if you freak out during a mission it's better if you stay on the side for a while." I nodded.

"Where's Pietro? He asked me to come." She raised a brow.

"He's with Steve, Wanda, Vision and Rhodey on a simulation near the compound." She smirked. "You know, Pietro often asks about you."

"Ha?"

"I think he has a crush on you since you saved his life." I pointed at myself in confusion. "He asks where you are all the time, what you like and most important, if you are single. I think Wanda is close to snapping at him by now." I chuckled.

"I hope he didn't make me come here for nothing."

"That reminds me, there's been a series of murders in town." I raised a brow at Natasha. "Witnesses described a man in a red suit randomly killing these people in plain sight." I bit the inside of my cheek.

Fuck you Wade. Colossus tried to get him to join the X-Men but he refused. If the Avengers were to get involved...

Although, I could not find it in me to blame Wade. I mean, after they put him through, even if he went willingly, I couldn't blame him. There was something wrong with his mind now. It was worst than before. The part 'guilt' definitely left the chat when it came to a large group of people.

"Do you know something?"

"The guy's a mutant. Sorta," I told her sternly. "He falls under the X-Men's jurisdiction and if they can't handle it, it will go to me." She stared harshly at me. "Pretty please?"

"I understand you care about that cause, but if he's a psychopath it's not safe to face him alone."

"My powers keep evolving Natasha, I'll be fine." Wade wouldn't hurt me anyway.

"I doubt it."

"Geez, thanks for the kind words."

"I'd rather be blunt if it keeps you alive Addison." Well, she wasn't wrong there.

We did some catching up for an hour, during which Sam joined us at some point, until the team came back from their training. Pietro barely saw me, he was a sweating mess, that he ran away in his room.

"Well, that's nice," I commented, my mug of tea in my hand. I took a sip from it. Rhodey was the first one to greet me. I stood up and hugged him back.

"How have you been Addie?"

"Good, good, how's the Avengers been treating you old man?" He grinned.

"I'm more than competent." I smirked.

"I don't doubt it."

"What are you doing here?" Steve asked me, putting his shield on the table for now.

"Pietro called me, I thought something was wrong." Wanda rolled her eyes with a groan.

"There is no emergency," she muttered under her breath. Vision shot her a look, before nodding to me. I nodded back and he left the room, phasing through the wall.

"Is that normal?" I asked them.

"Vision still has to learn why doors exist," Natasha pointed out.

"I see..." There was a flash of silver and Pietro was in front of me, a cocky grin on his lips and clearly just out of the shower.

I swear Wanda's eyes flashed red at her brother.

"Hey Addison," he greeted me. I smiled at him. "I...I wanted to ask you something."

"What?"

"Do...do you want to hang out tonight?" I blinked and grinned at him.

"Of course!" His grin widened. "When you were gone, Natasha and I decided to have a girls night. Wanda, you're invited by the way. You can come!" His grin fell. He was crestfallen.

"Junk food, face masks and mani-pedi," the Russian spy added behind me and I knew she was smirking.

"I'm in," Wanda pipped up.

Pietro shot Steve, then Rhodey, pleading looks. Rhodey pretended to have a call to make and Steve shrugged before leaving to put his shield away. Sam was already gone.

Pietro cursed in Sokovian.

I wasn't going to lead him on if it was a serious crush, but there was nothing wrong in having a little fun, right?

August 24th, 2015, on the way home from the Avengers Tower

I was tapping my hand against the steering wheel to the rhythm of the Guns N'Roses song playing in my car. I was now officially twenty-five. Tony insisted to have a party at the Tower. Pepper convinced him to only have the Avengers invited and our closest collaborators. Logan came with Piotr.

There was a brief discussion about Wade and Colossus was half-depressed by the topic, half-hopeful he could still make a hero out of him. Logan just rolled his eyes.

I had a discussion with Wade, mainly telling him to keep his vendetta low because he did not want the Avengers to get involved. He groaned in annoyance but did say he would be more careful.

I frowned and looked in the rear-view mirror. Someone was following me. I turned, changing my trajectory and going east instead of home. I had just left New York.

I focused on the thoughts I was hearing. I was the only one on the road, with no lights except for my car. It was like a bad movie. I sped up and felt whoever was following me...finding that amusing, challenging.

I made a thick wall of black matter on the road, with leather-like characteristics but they just went through it. I abruptly braked and stopped the car before leaving it. I created ropes of black matter from the road and tried to catch them. I did, but they easily cut through it. I took off on a platform but they caught my ankle, jumping above the height a regular human being could jump to, and clawed my ankle. I screamed in pain, blood already coating my jeans, as my platform disappeared.

They threw me in the road. I barely had the time to break my fall that I was painfully on my stomach.

I raised my head, my whole body aching as they walked toward me. Long hair, tall, imposing, long coat…

I rolled on the side when his nails dug in the tarmac. They shone faintly under the moonlight but I was sure it was metal.

I yanked on one of their legs, turned them around and sent them in the woods, as strongly as possible. However, I was barely back on my feet, my ankle shaking because of the wound, that they were charging at me. I widened my eyes and gulped, ready to make a run for it when there was an animal roar. Someone launched themselves at my opponent and they both rolled further away.

"Addison!"

"Piotr?" I mumbled, seeing my old friend. "Wait, so that's Logan?"

"He sensed something was wrong and we followed you." He looked down at my ankle. "You're hurt."

"With the little lights we have I'm surprised you even noticed."

"You're leaning on me." I looked at him. I was. I was holding his arm with both hands, leaning on it.

"So, maybe I just felt like leaning on you." There were screams and the person came back at us. Piotr turned into his metallic self and pushed me behind him.

He punched them in the face, sending them back to Logan.

"It's Sabretooth." I shot a stunned glance at my friend.

"Wait, the Sabretooth? The one who used to be a part of the Brotherhood of Mutants with Magneto and Mystique?"

"Yes."

"Oh sh..." Logan walked back toward us. He seemed preoccupied.

"You alright kid?"

"I'm bleeding out at my ankle?" He looked down. "What about that guy?"

"He ran away." I took a deep breath. "Do you know why he was targeting you?" I shrugged.

"The...well...maybe...there are workshops all around NYC where they experiment on mutants, where Wade was. Aksel was in contact with them and HYDRA. I...they have the Winter Soldier program, or at least they know how to wipe people and program them." I sighed. "I think it's Weapon X's successor." Logan frowned. "I don't know if they're the same guys but...recently it's the only thing I could think of, unless if he's HYDRA but HYDRA has other things to do than coming after me I think."

"Well, you have their precious weapon," Logan pointed out. I pursed my lips.

"Apart from that."

"Let's go back to the Institute." Piotr said. "We need to take care of your ankle and talk to the Professor."

"My car..."

"I'll drive it," Logan said.

Jean patched me up nicely while I was only half listening to James cursing on the phone. Once I was okay, Doctor Grey helped me to the Professor's office.

"So, any news?"

"He does not act alone, that we are sure of," Professor Xavier stated sternly.

"But we don't know who he's working for," Logan added. "Magneto doesn't have any reason to go after you either."

"So what do we do?"

"You go back to your life and we'll look for Victor." I widened my eyes.

"He could...damn, he will probably come back!"

"Right now, those workshops in New York are a more urgent matters. Also, I'd like to try to solve this ourselves before possibly involving the Avengers." I pursed my lips at the Professor.

"That's it? You're asking me to go home?"

"Indeed." I looked around the room. Ororo had a firm expression on her face. Hank and Scott seemed deep in thoughts. Jean patted my shoulder.

"We're the X-Men kid, let us handle it." I had no other choice than to nod at Logan.

"I guess I should go home then."

"Piotr will drive right behind you. Your ankle is still wounded, it is only to make sure you get home safely."

"Of course. Goodbye everyone."

I didn't like that.

I mean, I was sure they came from a good place but...I don't know, a part of me was wondering if they were keeping me away from this case because of my problematic past.

Let's hope it was nothing too bad.

Thank you all for reading! Don't hesitate to leave a review!

Bye!