CHAPTER 10.
When they'd gotten back to the hotel, there was note waiting for her at the front desk from Bucky who'd called it in. All it said was: "Debrief?" She'd chuckled at the incredulous look from the man at the desk and left a note back. "When?" She got back to her room and changed into jeans and a blouse and saw a note slip under her door. She picked it up and unfolded it. "Now?" She smiled at its adorableness. She grabbed a pen and wrote "OK". Then held it in front of her nose as she opened the door.
Standing before her was a slightly sheepish looking former assassin. He smiled at her note and nodded for her to follow him.
Now they were in the small conference room in the back of the hotel. Jenny poured herself a cup of black coffee from the percolator. She took a sip, closing her eyes. Damn that was good. Something about the way the Symkarians roasted their beans.
"I thought you only drank lattes," said Bucky. He'd changed out of his leather and into three layered shirts and a jean jacket. He leaned back in his chair. She'd never seen him look so casual.
"Why would you think that?" she asked.
The apples of his cheeks turned a little pink. "Max is always bringing them to you."
She looked away and wiped up a drip on the counter. "I take coffee in any form," she said.
He was more relaxed now that he was sitting.
She poured him a cup too and sat across the table from him. He gave it a sniff, and took a drink, nodding his head in surprised satisfaction.
"Not bad," he said. "But what I wouldn't do for a good dunk."
"Pardon?" she asked.
He shrugged and took another drink, looking like he hoped she'd forget it.
Fat chance. "What's dunking?" she asked.
He sighed and leaned back. "Standard 1940's breakfast. Donuts and black coffee. But not like the donuts you have now. These were sturdy-" He clenched his fists. "Cakey things." He mimed dunking an invisible donut into his cup.
"Ah. Like in It Happened One Night. Clark Gable."
His eyebrows raised. "How do you know that movie?" he asked.
"Grandma loved the classics," she said.
Bucky gave her a smile that for some reason made her toes warm. She cleared her throat. "So, is there anything you like about the twenty first century?"
"I like that it's acceptable not to shave every day. Razors are better too. Access to Thai food. And debit cards, those are nice. No loose change rattling around in my pocket. And the underwear is more comf…" He stopped as a crimson flush went up his neck to his ears.
She felt her cheeks burning a little too. She tried to change the subject. "So briefs- I mean debrief. What have you been able to find out?
Relief washed over his face, the blush receding. "I wish I could tell you."
She put her coffee cup down. "Um, then why are we doing this?"
"I only mean that I don't know. The shooter didn't talk, and then disappeared the next day."
"He did?" A cold shiver went down Jenny's spine.
"They were sure he wasn't connected, but he was. Someone helped him. The two radicals we caught escaped as well. I wanted you to know."
"So you think that it has something to do with the GRC, not President Tarkov?"
"Both."
"How can you be sure?"
"Gut."
"Just your gut?"
"They're too organized. No one has stepped forward to claim responsibility. Makes me think they have a bigger plan."
Jenny leaned back in her chair with an exhale. "I'm not going to lie," she said. "That frightens me." She didn't tell him the whole reason. That she was most afraid of shadow regimes. And if it wasn't Hydra, or the Flag Smashers, it was completely unknown.
"Sorry Jennifer, sometimes I forget I'm not talking to other…"
"Enhanced individuals?"
He smiled. "Yeah."
She cast her eyes down at his grin. "Call me Jenny," she requested quietly.
"Jenny." His voice was so soft, she felt a warmth settle at the base of her spine. She cleared her throat again.
"So what do we do? We can't cancel, this tour is too important."
"We keep our eyes open. Tell me if you see anything or think of anything."
"I will."
He took another drink from his mug. "That's really good."
"Better with a donut?" she clenched her fist like he had earlier.
He pointed at her with a nod. "That was always Steve's favorite." The moment Captain America's name left his lips, he became stiff and rigid.
Jenny swallowed. "You must miss him."
"Everyday."
Jenny got up and brought the pot of coffee back to the table and poured more in both their cups. "How did you meet?"
He smiled taking the warmed up mug in both hands flesh and metal. "We were thirteen. I heard someone getting wailed on in the schoolyard. I was always a big kid and I hated bullies so I went to investigate. I come around the corner and here's this skinny kid, ninety pounds soaking wet. He's got a bloody lip and a black eye, but he's throwing his arms around punching and kicking against three guys. I pulled them off, kicked them in the ass and sent them packing. Then Steve staggers upright with a cracked rib and starts yelling at them to come back so he could give them another thrashing. I couldn't stop laughing. I remember thinking 'this guy is stupid, but he's got heart'. We were inseparable after that."
"Sounds like you've always been a protector."
That pink returned to his cheeks. "Yeah, but Steve accepted me. I liked comics and trashy novels and The Hobbit. That stuff wasn't a popular choice for a husky kid in jr. high before I grew into my body. He never said anything, just encouraged the habit."
"The perfect friendship."
"It is," he said.
"Is?"
He took another drink. "What about you? Any best friends?"
She thought of Nicole, probably just getting to work now. So dissenting that she decided to go into HR as an act of rebellion trying to do things her own way. "Nicole. She's wild, but also solid. I don't know if that makes sense."
He nodded. "Any siblings?"
She knew her face had gone stone rigid. "No."
Bucky shrugged. He drank the rest of his coffee. He took both their mugs, walked them over to the counter, pushed up his sleeves and started washing them.
She watched him silently, how careful he was to gently rinse the cups, spread soap all over the outside and inside and dry them. Even though he could have put them in the tray for the bussers. He wasn't gloved now and she found herself studying his prosthesis. The metal hand fascinated her. She took in the subtle lines, the black and gold. There was finesse to it. What must it be like to lace fingers with metal ones? She shook her head trying to release the thought. This was dangerous ground.
"Ready?" he asked, drying his hands on a towel.
"Mhm."
They were quiet all the way back to her room. She could hear his thrumming heart through the silent corridor. Or maybe it was hers.
"I guess I'll see you tomorrow," he said when they arrived at her door.
"First official meeting with the Prime Minister."
"Nervous?"
"Yeah, but that comes with the territory."
"You'll be great. You were great- did great today."
"Thank you," she said, feeling the blush at the tips of her ears. She took out her key and put it in the lock.
"Jenny?" said Bucky suddenly. His voice was deep and rich.
"Yes?" she turned around to the former assassin as he rubbed the back of his neck furiously. Why did men do things like that when they were nervous? It was so attractive.
"Would you… Do you want to…" he stammered. Time stretched out, her breath caught in her throat. "Do you want to get some dinner? Just- just us?"
Her eyes widened in surprise. The Winter Soldier. Asking her on a date. Was he? Her mind reeled. "I… No, I can't."
He bit his lip and nodded slowly. He backed up. "Night."
"Goodnight."
She closed the door quickly and leaned back against it. What the hell was that?
She noticed her palms were slick with sweat and her heart was hammering against her will. Dinner? What did dinner mean exactly? She paced over to the window. Dinner… If it was a date, then it would be completely unprofessional to accept. But if it was to solidify their partnership, then it was professional. But what if he was thinking that it would turn into something else, then he would be sorely disappointed, and things between them the rest of the tour would be awkward. She pictured him across from her in the conference room. Beard dark and neatly trimmed. His eyes catching the light from the window, almost like glass lit from within. His laugh, genuine and… sexy? Oh no. Oh no, oh no.
She gave herself some little taps on her cheeks. "Stop it Jenny. You're better than this."
He couldn't actually be interested anyway. He was practically a god built from science magic. And she was… Not worth it.
Plus he was an Avenger, and Lord knew how she felt about Avengers.
"Oh god!" she said aloud. The temptation to call him back and say yes was overwhelming. She looked at her phone, five PM. Eleven am for Nicole which meant she'd be on break.
"Hey gorgeous," said Nicole, her mouth full of something.
"Hi. I want to know about baby, but first I have to tell you something."
"Oh God," said Nicole. Jenny could hear her dropping her utensils. "Please be what I think it is…"
"What does dinner mean?"
"What?"
"What does asking someone to dinner mean?"
There was a piercing scream on the other end. "By him?" asked Nicole.
"Yes."
She screamed again. "And you said yes."
"No."
There was silence. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"So, it's a date?"
"Yes girl. And you said no?"
"I have a lot of reasons."
"List them."
"Up until yesterday, I hated him."
"And now you like him. Next item."
"I wouldn't say like… But we're on the job."
"Not now, it's past five o'clock there. Next item."
"I haven't talked much about this, but… I've been hurt."
She could hear Nicole chewing on the other end. "I get that."
"I was engaged. Before the Blip."
"Next time I see you, you're spilling your guts. But listen, dinner isn't a proposal. You have no obligation to take it past dessert."
"A shadow organization may be trying to sabotage this tour, and if we go on a date it will be distracting."
"Say that again?"
Jenny clapped her hand over her mouth. "I shouldn't have said anything, I'm sorry. Please don't worry."
"I'm shutting this down. I'm going to Stuart. Then the Police. Then the Pentagon. Then the President…"
"No, wait, Nicole, this is too important. I have to finish the tour, please. Please don't say anything. You have to trust me. Bucky's handling it."
"Bucky's handling it huh?" There was silence.
"Nicole?"
She heard a sigh on the other end. "Baby's kicking more every day."
Jenny slumped in the desk chair. "Exciting! What's baby craving now?"
"Pizza with gas station nachos on top. I thought it was weird too, but now I'll never eat pizza without plastic cheese sauce again."
"Until tomorrow you mean?"
"Probably until an hour from now. Hey Jenny?"
"Yeah?"
"Go out with him. Please, for your sake. I… I kind of think you need this. You're not always open with me, but I think it's time to move on from whatever's holding you back."
Jenny took a deep breath and played with a piece of wood chipped from the old desk in her room.
"Also," continued Nicole. "I need to live vicariously through you."
Jenny laughed. "You're HR. Can you even say that to me?"
"As a rep for the GRC, no. As your friend, fuck it. It's time to get over that prick you were engaged to."
"Your break is over. Bye Nicole, love you."
"Spoil sport. And Jenny? Be careful. Be. Careful. Please. Text me our safe word, and I'll call in the troops."
"What's our safe word?"
"Dreamboat."
She laughed. "I promise." Jenny hung up the phone and not for the first time on this tour, missed hugging her friend.
She sighed and got up from her chair. She was absolutely starving. She perused the room service menu before she had to go back to her reports. Everything was in Symkarian, and she didn't know how to read it. Without thinking she picked up her phone again.
"Jenny?" asked a confused voice on the other end.
"Do you know how to read a menu in Symkarian?" she asked.
She heard Bucky's smile on the other end of the phone. "Give me five minutes."
She went to the bathroom to fluff her hair. When she caught her reflection she realized she was grinning. A grin that went from ear to ear. She almost didn't recognize herself. She pushed her cheeks together but they bounced back in place like the smile belonged. This was dangerous. She pushed her smile again and it disappeared.
There was a knock at the door, and Jenny walked to it brusquely. She threw it open. "That was quick- oh."
Max was dressed in a blue suit and tie. He looked amazing. "Dinner?" he asked.