"We don't separate," Bucky says for what feels like the millionth time. We sit in the back of a cab on our way to RCP. His voice is low and serious; is it ever anything else? I roll my eyes.
"Yes, father. I told Reed you are my partner and we're a package deal." The car slows to a stop in front of the company's building and Bucky hands him cash without counting it out and hurries me out the door.
"I'm just saying. You don't go anywhere without me," he says over his shoulder. I stop mid stride and grab his arm, simultaneously stopping him and spinning him to face me.
"Look at me. And listen. I don't know if you remember this or not; I was in Hydra right beside you. A very similar serum runs through my veins that is pumping through yours." He opens his mouth to speak but I raise my hand to halt him. "I am more than capable of handling myself. And once we're in there, you are stepping into my world. Got it? You are not my boss or my body guard. I have no need for either, understood?"
Even though he looks like he wants to argue, he simply nods and allows me to lead the way inside Reed & Co. Publishing.
"Hello again, Melody," I say pleasantly to the ever sour blonde. She barely registers me and instead is practically drooling over Bucky.
When we were young Bucky could pull any girl he wanted, and he frequently did. Looking at him now with his closely cut hair and the shadow of a beard on his jaw, I have to admit he is still ruggedly handsome. The only difference between then and now is the he barely even skims over her face as we pass by her desk.
We load onto the elevator and as we rise towards the top floor my anxiety pulls at my chest. My past with Keiran is sure to come to light sooner or later and I don't want Bucky to think less of me.
Why should I care what he thinks? I think stubbornly, trying to squash down my worries. I did what I had to do to survive.
Before I have any longer to think on it, the elevator dings and we head for Keiran's office. I do not knock before pushing my way inside.
Besides Keiran, there are two men in the office. I recognize only one of them, John Teller. He's been working his way up the ladder and apparently has landed a position as close to the big boss as possible. I never liked John and the sight of him now leaves a bad taste in my mouth. His greasy blonde hair isn't the only slimey thing about him. All three sets of eyes fall on us as Bucky pulls the door shut behind me.
"Well hello there, Johnny. Where's your brother?" Michael Teller, Keiran's right hand man. I'm surprised to see John and this stranger here instead of Mike. John's eyes are cold as he surveys me.
"Mike left the business." Unease, cold as ice, prickles down my spine. You don't just 'leave' the business, I was lucky to get away with my life. And I barely managed that. I wonder what happened to him. "Funny thing seeing you here, Kit," he continues, rising from his chair and approaching us. Out of the corner of my eye I see Bucky tense up and pray he doesn't do anything stupid. "I couldn't believe it when Boss said you'd be coming back. I thought he was joking; maybe planning on getting rid of you when you showed up today. Personally, I don't think that he should let you leave here today. I find you to be untrustworthy."
He stops just inches away from me; so close I can smell his breath. I wave a hand at him in dismissal and breeze passed him to take the chair he was previously occupying.
"Good thing it's not up to you." Keiran, who was watching the exchange with interest, smiles at me over his desk. I glance back at Bucky and gesture for him to come closer. He glares at John a moment longer before coming to stand at my side. "Keiran, this is James Barnes," I introduce him with his full name, these people don't deserve the use of a nickname that's reserved for friends. "The Winter Soldier," I say the last bit with a look over my shoulder and smirk at the shock on John's face.
"Mr. Barnes, it's a pleasure." Keiran stands and walks around his desk to offer his hand to Bucky, who does not take it. "I have to ask," Keiran continues, dropping his hand with a smile. "The mind control...?" He leaves the question hanging in the air.
"My mind is mine alone." Bucky is short and curt with Keiran and I worry that it may rub him the wrong way if Bucky keeps it up.
"So you are here of your own volition?"
"I wouldn't say that," Bucky responds as he glances down at me. Keiran follows his gaze and the friendly facade he has put up falls slightly.
"Ah, I see... She is quite magnetic, isn't she?"
"I trust her," Bucky clarifies. "If she says it's a good job, I follow her lead."
"Yes..." Keiran nods, clearly lost in his own thoughts. "There once was a time I would've also blindly followed her." He reaches for me and lovingly runs his hand over my hair. John scoffs in the background, pulling Keiran's attention away from me. "Anyways, Kit I'd like to introduce you to Rufus." He gestures to the other man in the room that I don't recognize.
Rufus smiles at me but it isn't a kind smile. It doesn't quite reach his eyes and instead of softening his face the way a smile should, it looks like he's wearing a mask. "We'll be working closely during your probationary period." Bucky shoots me a look that goes unnoticed by the others in the room.
"Great. So when do we start?"
"Immediately," Keiran says. "Your old office is still downstairs and has remained mostly untouched. You will find clothing and other needs for your job. I suppose we can set James up with an office somewhere on the first floor if need be."
"No need," Bucky says, stepping closer to the arm of my chair. "I don't take up much space and I prefer my own clothes." Keiran narrows his eyes but doesn't argue.
"Wondeful. Rufus will escort you to your office, Kit, and give you a file with what you'll be doing today. Get changed into appropriate clothes, go over the file with Barnes, and then meet Rufus out front in thirty minutes." He dismisses us and I follow Bucky and Rufus to the door only to be called back by Keiran at the last moment. "Oh, and Kit? I'd like a quick word." Bucky slows down and glances curiously back at me. With a nod at him to continue, I turn back to Keiran.
"What's up, boss?" I say as I close the door before Bucky has the chance to argue about getting separated.
"That apartment you're living in?" He moves into my personal space and tucks a stray hair behind my ear. "It's a shit hole. Let me set you up with an apartment inside my building." I shiver. He had me followed? Of course he had me followed. I clench my jaw and shake my head.
"No thank you. I like my apartment," I lie. "It's... got character."
"And roaches." He strokes the side of my face with his finger tips, leaving them to linger for longer than necessary and I have to stop myself from reaching up and breaking them. "If you're worried about Barnes, you can bring him with you. The building allows dogs." He smirks, proud of his joke.
"No, Keiran. Barnes and I are perfectly fine in our apartment. And I'd appreciate it if you stop tailing me."
"You know that's not going to happen, Little Bird. At least not until I'm sure you're loyal to us." I leave the room and fume all the way to the elevator bay and make my way to my own office.
When I walk inside, I can practically see steam coming out of Bucky's ears but I put a finger over my lips to silence him and then point to my ear with the other. He understands immediately. They're listening. He nods but his eyes tell me that he's already scripted out the lecture I'm sure to hear later.
"I looked through the file. It's some club he's sending us to. About fifteen minutes from here. You're supposed to talk to the owner, I assume." He hands me the folder with our assignment and I flip it open as I sit down at my old desk.
Keiran wasn't lying when he said my office was mostly untouched. The mahogany desk is set up exactly as I had it before I left and it looks like the only people that have been in here are the cleaning crew. The file doesn't say much, it just has a name and location.
James, Lyle.
Nightingale Lounge; Owner
I recognize the name of the club and groan. "Okay, well... let's get on with it then. I have to change." I open the doors of a tall wardrobe and rifle through the clothes. I understand now why he wanted me to change. The Nightingale isn't exactly a high society club and he wants me to fit the bill. I pull on the hem of a dark blue dress and push it aside, not enough give in the fabric in case of a fight. Instead I pull out a short black dress that gives the illusion of being tight against the skin but is stretchy enough to move in. "I'll be back." I quickly change in the connected bathroom and give myself a once over in the mirror. The dress still fits just as it did all those years ago and I have to admit I missed these clothes as I pull on a pair of black red bottoms. Keiran never skimped on clothing for me. I breeze out of the bathroom and march passed Bucky without looking at him, I don't want to see his expression when he gets a load of my ensemble. "Let's go, Rufus is waiting."
"When we get there, you will locate Lyle and your job is to convince Lyle to endorse the boss in the upcoming election," Rufus explains as we get into the car.
"Who cares who Lyle votes for?"
"Keiran wants Lyle's word. Lyle has a lot of pull around here and the boss wants to make sure he doesn't endorse someone else, hurting his chances of winning." I snort in disbelief. Leave it up to Keiran to run for office but wanting a guaranteed win. But as we draw nearer to the Nightingale I begin to work out a plan to convince Lyle. I know nothing about US politics since I've been out of the country for so long so I can't use anything specific to that. And then I glance down at my clothing and realize exactly how Keiran wants me to convince Lyle. Nothing ever changes with that man.
I lean my head back on the headrest and stare up at the car's ceiling. There's a stain on the fabric up there that looks like it could be coffee thrown into the air from someone slamming to hard on the breaks. Or it could be blood. I stare at it until the outline becomes blurred and I try to remind myself why I'm here. Absolute immunity. I can stay in the states. This will be over before you know it, I coach myself.
"We're here," Bucky says softly as the car stops.
"I'll wait out here," Rufus unlocks the doors and I feel Bucky's hand, warm and strong, clasp around mine as he pulls me out of the car behind him.
"Stay close to me until we find him." In an attempt to remove myself from the situation as much as possible, I don't berate him for being overbearing again. Instead I allow him to pull me into the club and let the thumping noise around me fill my brain until there is nothing but the rhythm of the music.