Just outside the gates of the Avengers Compound a small black sedan pulls up and 45 silent minutes later we pull up outside a run down apartment building inside the city. We're three floors up and when I push open the door I sigh.
"I miss Istanbul." The apartment is tiny. I was told it was a one bedroom, however, with the lack of doors on any of the rooms it feels more like a one room space. There's a small kitchen with a microwave, sink, and a mini fridge that is dusty and dim. It is just large enough to turn a full circle in and it melts into what is supposed to be a living room. A sad, brown couch is slumped up against the wall as the only furniture in area. The wall it is propped against was most likely white at some point, but now it is grimey and I can actually see finger prints from the previous tenants. Beads hang across a doorway and clink together as I push them aside to inspect the bedroom. "Are we gonna set up a schedule for who sleeps in the twin? Or should we flip a coin? Heads one of us gets it, tails and the roaches get it." I call over my shoulder as I stare at the small bed. At least it looks more welcoming than the couch.
"I'll sleep out here," Bucky says as he drops his bag beside the couch. "I've slept on worse. I'm going to take a shower and then go to sleep. I suggest you do the same, we have a big day tomorrow." He doesn't wait for a response before heading for the bathroom. I hear the water turn on and pace through the apartment.
"I was thinking that I should go in alone tomorrow. Talk to Keiran alone. You should stay here."
"What?" Bucky raises his voice over the water as I lean against the bathroom door frame. "That's out of the question. My job is to keep you safe. I can't do that if I'm sitting here."
"I can't just go in with a partner when I've always worked alone. It'll seem suspicious. Let me go in and talk to him first. I want to set this up for success." The water turns off and he sticks his metal arm around the curtain to grab the towel hanging from the wall. Huh. The thing's water proof. After a moment's pause, he pulls back the shower curatin and steps out with the towel wrapped loosely around his waist.
Look, I'm only human. I can't help but follow the lines of his abs to where they cut a perfect V at his hips. Blushing, I spin away from him.
"There's no door on this bathroom, Kit," he says as he steps around me. He stands so close to me that I can feel the heat from the shower coming off of his skin. His voice is low and soft as he leans towards me, I feel his breath on the back of my neck and goosebumps spread over my skin. "You'd better get used to it." I don't even need to see his face to know he's wearing that stupid smirk. I can hear it. Cursing myself, I grab a fresh towel and hope in the shower. Of course there's no hot water left.
I swore I would never come back here when I finally fled the country. I stare up at the building masquerading as a publishing company in front of me.
Sure Reed Publishing does publish books. But they're mostly low lying, poorly written books that never sell. It's just a front for the real family business. If left unattended much longer Keiran will truly be a mob boss. I step inside the door and my footsteps echo loudly through the mostly empty lobby. A large receptionist desk sits in front of the elevators and in the middle of the circular desk sits a pretty blonde wearing a disapproving scowl.
"Good morning," I greet her as I casually lean on the cool counter. "I'm here to see Mr. Reed."
"Do you have an appointment?" Her tone is cordial, but her expression tells me to drop dead.
"Nope. I assume I just go to the top floor?"
"You can't see Mr. Reed without an appointment. I'm going to have to ask you to leave before I call security." I roll my eyes and head for the elevator bank, pressing the button pointing up. By the time I turn back to face the woman, a large balding man comes charging around the corner heading straight for me. He practically skids to a halt when he gets a good look at my face and his intimidating aura melts away. His scowl is replaced with a friendly smile.
"Hi, Bruno," I say with genuine fondness. I glance around him at the receptionist. "She must be new."
"Yeah. Hey, Melody, I'm gonna take Miss Evans to see Mr. Reed. Be a doll and call ahead for us." With a huff she spins around in her chair and picks up the phone. "Let's head up." Bruno gestures for me to get into the elevator as the doors open. He clambers in after me.
"It's nice to see you, Bruno." I mean this sincerely. Bruno has always been kind to me. When I fell out with Keiran, he's the one that drove me to the hospital. He puts a meaty arm around me and squeezes me tightly against him.
"It's good to see you too, kiddo. The boss'll be happy to see you." He grins down at me and I have to physically repress the shiver that goes down my spine. Thankfully the elevator dings to let us know we've reached our destination. The doors slide open and Bruno leads me out into another large waiting area. Oversized chairs line the wall directly across from the only door on the entire floor. Keiran's office. Bruno knocks one time before slowly opening the door and beckons me to follow. Keiran doesn't look up from his desk when we enter and holds up a finger to silence us before we even utter a sound.
"Thank you for your concern, Melody," he says, his words lilting with his Irish accent. He hangs up the phone, scribbles something on the paper in front of him and finally peels his eyes away from his desk. "Thank you, Bruno." A dismissal. Bruno bows out of the room and I wish he would've stayed. Instead the door closes softly behind me and leaves me alone with Keiran. He stands and walks around the front of his desk, never taking his green eyes off of me.
"I thought you were never coming back here. 'When hell freezes over' was the term, I believe." He crosses his arms and leans against the front of his desk, nodding for me to come closer. I know better than to disobey, so I do. "So, has hell frozen over, Little Bird?"
I force myself to maintain eye contact with him despite the fact that our proximity is making my skin crawl. "I suppose it has," I say, grateful that my voice is strong and even. When he pushes away from his desk and closes the space between us with two strides, I do not waiver. Even though every instinct is screaming at me to run.
"I always knew you'd come crawling back here." As calm as I am trying to outwardly appear, when he reaches for my face and brushes my cheek with his knuckles, I recoil. "You still haven't forgiven me?"
"You tried to kill me, Keiran," I force myself to meet his eyes again and for a split second I think I see remorse within their depths.
"I thought you had betrayed me, my sweet girl." His voice borders on crooning as he drops his hand slightly and runs his cold fingers over the scar just below my collar bone. The reminder etched into my skin of where he carved into me with his knife. I have six identical ones down my side. My heart hammers in my chest so hard I'm sure he can hear it.
"I would never do that to you," I lie. Keiran breathes in deeply through his nose and cups my cheek in his palm as he runs his hands to the side of my head, tangling his fingers in my hair.
"Mo gra," he murmurs, his eyes traveling over my face. "I have never loved anyone the way I loved you. You broke my heart, Little Bird."
"I'm sorry," I whisper. This is one of the main reasons I didn't want Bucky to tag along today. While I was being serious when I told him it would be suspicious if I had a partner, I also knew how this reunion was going to go and I wanted no judgement from him of all people. I want no one to bear witness to the relationship I once held with Keiran. I've never felt anything for Keiran, but it was, at one point, beneficial for him to love me and to believe I loved him in return. "Let me make it up to you... give me a job. Let me prove myself to you," I nearly choke on my words, but I maintain eye contact hoping my doe eyes expression melts him. A small smile pulls at the corners of his mouth.
"You can be my personal assistant." My shock must be clear as he continues. "Now, now, you can't expect to be welcomed back into the big leagues so quickly. Everyone starts at the bottom here."
"So what," I scowl, yanking away from his hands. His fingers pull roughly out of my hair with the movement. "You put me downstairs with Barbie to screen your calls?" I stride away from him and take a seat in a chair across the room from him, crossing my arms.
"You know the rules, Katherine." He opens his arms as if to say this is out of his hands. His tone chastises me like a child. "If you want to play with the big kids, you have to get your hands dirty."
"That's what I'm asking for here," I snap. I have to toe the line between irritation and remorse if I want to convince him I'm truly trying to work for him. "I want the dirty work. Please, Keiran." I soften my voice as I plead with him. He crosses the room and stops in front of me. I feel the cool metal of his ring against my skin as he curls his right pointer finger under my chin, forcing me to look up at him.
"Convince me," he whispers. "Why do you want back in suddenly? You disappeared off the face of the earth and now you've come back here. Why?"
"I need the money, okay?" I break eye contact, feigning embarassment. It isn't a lie exactly, I am flat broke. And if I can score some cash while on this mission then that's an added bonus. "Besides, I have a bargaining chip. Something you might find extremely useful." I've piqued his interest.
"More useful than you?" He quirks an eyebrow.
"Well maybe not more. But definitely something you'll want. I need your word first. I want in. I've heard whispers about what you're doing. All those politicians and their families? I want in." Keiran stares down at me for a long moment, sizing me up. Just when I'm sure he's going to deny me again he opens his mouth to speak.
"If, and this is a big if, whatever secret you have up your sleeve is valuable enough, I will consider cutting you in."
I shrug. "Not good enough. I'm not willing to share my secret weapon on a consideration." We sit in silence at a stalemate. The longest game of chicken I've ever played.
"Fine," he finally concedes. "I will cut you in. On a probationary basis." I nod, this basically means if I fuck up in any way, he will end our agreement and most likely my life. With his promise, I reach into my pocket and pull out a newspaper clipping. I grab his hand and slide the paper into his palm. Confusion colors his face as he unfolds the scrap. I watch his face light up as he recognizes the article.
"Is this-"
"The Winter Soldier," I interrupt and confirm. "My new partner."