Chapter 2

Steve leaned against the kitchen counter and studied the faces of the team. Other than Scott, he knew them all extremely well; he trusted them, but he wasn't sure if they trusted him enough to be objective about Bucky. His way was the only way forward for his friend unless they locked him up or put him in cryofreeze again, but neither option is what Steve thought Bucky deserved.

"What is it, Cap?" Clint asked. He had been watching Steve warily since he walked downstairs. After what Steve had gotten them all into, he understood Clint's skepticism.

"I want Wanda to attempt removing the mind control that HYDRA put in Bucky's head."

Sam switched off the TV and all of them now focused on Steve. After a long silence, there was a short period of them looking at each other, like they were trying to decide who should argue first.

"Can Wanda even do that?" Scott asked. He hadn't been around long and most of that time he spent in a cell, so it was easier to question Steve's decisions.

Steve shrugged as he shook his head. "I'm not sure. She manipulated our minds and put us into a fugue state when we battled Ultron. We never talked about what happened, but it was a very vivid dream or vision, and it was personal. Wanda was near me less than a minute and she read me enough to get what information she needed to use and forced me to see it."

"The same is true with what she did to me. It knocked us all out, including Thor and Banner." Natasha sat forward to rest her elbows on the table. "But Steve that only lasted a few hours."

Clint glanced around, asking where Wanda was. Steve nodded towards the door. "She's outside with Bucky." He glanced back at Clint and said, "Hit me with it. I know you have something to say."

Clint remained silent, looking down at his hands. Eventually, he took a deep breath before saying, "If Wanda were to do this and it worked, it would be great. However, if it doesn't work, what are we going to do? And how will you protect Wanda if the Winter Soldier comes out and goes after her? How many people has he taken down at one time? He's dangerous…"

"I would never let him hurt her, Clint," Steve insisted, angry that Barton had even considered he would. "He took a few people down last time he came out, I'll admit, but…"

"A few people?" Clint laughed. Nat shook her head, trying to get him to watch it. "From what I heard he took down Nat, Sam, Sharon, Tony, and the king of Wakanda, not to mention dozens of agents. You almost didn't make it either. And that was just the most recent event. He killed multiple people, nearly killed Fury, and shot both you and Nat in DC. He threw you out of a heli-carrier. He is an assassin, Cap, one of the best in HYDRA's history, trained to ruthlessly kill whoever gets in his way. Unlike most assassins, there are no emotions or logic to his actions. He follows orders and he can't be rehabilitated. You're the only person who can even slow him down, and I'm not entirely sure that you can stop him. You are trying to protect Bucky but you don't seem to get that when that switch flips, he's not Bucky. He's not your friend. He is a killer, nothing more."

The room grew silent once more before Natasha said in a calming voice, "Steve, you think you can get Bucky to return once he becomes the Winter Soldier by reminding him of your friendship. But Clint's right. The Winter Soldier isn't your friend. You need to see them as two different people sharing one body. And you can't kill one without killing the other, which is a weakness you have that the Winter Soldier can exploit."

Steve started to interrupt, so she quickly added. "I have no problem with Bucky, Steve. As a former assassin, I can't even judge what he did. He's a good guy and I understand your friendship is important. But when he's one personality, he's not the other. Have you heard him speak Russian as the Winter Soldier?"

Shaking his head, Steve crossed his arms over his chest. He might not convince them. But perhaps he only needed to convince Wanda.

"His voice changes. He speaks Russian like a native. But the other day I said something to him in Russian and he didn't understand right away. It took him a few minutes. Perhaps the programming is deep inside his mind and he had to process it to understand. Bucky moves, stands, and fights differently. The Winter Soldier fights like he has nothing to lose. I honestly don't think he even fears death other than his mind's involuntary reaction to avoid it."

Sam stood up and walked to the refrigerator to grab a beer. After a few swallows, he looked over at Cap. Steve looked defeated already, but he had been that way all night. "Steve, if you believe it's the way to go and Wanda agrees, then you know I'll back you. But I agree with some of what Nat and Clint are saying. Bucky and the Winter Soldier need to be treated as two people–your friend and a stone-cold killer."

"What do you want me to do?" Steve answered loudly, clearly getting angry. "I can't allow him to be triggered again because, as you've pointed out, I can't stop him that easily. But I think after over seventy years, he deserves to be free of HYDRA's control."

Everyone got quiet, unsure of what to say. "I know I'm not part of the Avengers and haven't known you guys long," Scott said cautiously. "But if you take out the assassin programming, are you sure that there isn't a safeguard to prevent him from being taken over by a hostile force? Didn't the HYDRA agents during the war keep cyanide pills in their mouth in case they're captured?"

Steve hadn't even considered that. Dragging his hands through his hair, he looked down at the floor. He usually would always do the right thing, but with Bucky, he couldn't be impartial. He glanced at Scott, saying, "That is a valid point, Scott. I'm not even sure."

"Steve, I would trust you enough to follow you into battle under most circumstances. But I just need you to acknowledge how dangerous he is, Rogers. I feel you can't accept that." Barton stood up and began pacing. Nat was giving him a look. What she was trying to tell him, he didn't know, but he wouldn't pussyfoot around this issue.

x0x0x

As Wanda and Bucky walked toward the house, they heard voices rise and fall, indicating perhaps an argument. They both stopped still. "Do we have to go in?" Wanda asked with a pleading glance at him. She wasn't able to battle them tonight.

"Yes. Let's just get it over with." Bucky put his hand on her back, guiding her to the house. She was pretty sure he wouldn't do anything if she slipped from his grip and ran off, but that seemed excessive. On the porch, he held the door open for her. They entered into an argument.

"He's tried to kill me multiple times." Sam complained.

"Don't be such a baby. He actually shot me twice and you don't see me crying about it," Natasha responded, ignoring Sam's scowl. "Look, Steve. You don't know if she can do it and, if she can't, what damage she may inflict on him by mistake. You're asking her to poke around in his brain. I don't know if she needs that pressure on her, nor does Barnes need that risk. And as Scott said, there might be safeguards in his head to prevent her from helping."

Steve answered more quietly than before. He was leaning against the counter casually, but Wanda could tell how tense he was by the way he held his shoulders. "I think she can do it. But she might not want to. We have to ask…"

Clint let out a chuckle. "If you ask Wanda to do anything for you, she will. She's incredibly loyal and she's proven that. But maybe you shouldn't ask. That's all we're saying. We don't want anyone to get hurt again. Have you even talked to Bucky? Does he even want her to do it? He's had too many people messing with his mind already."

"That's why I'm trying to help him," Steve stressed, glancing at Clint with frustration. "If Wanda can help him and we don't let her because of fear…" The room went quiet for a few moments before he continued, "You trusted me before about Bucky. That's all I'm asking. Give Wanda a chance to help him if she is willing, so someone I trust is helping him."

Wanda and Bucky looked at each other before he shrugged slightly. She realized that they were talking about her helping Bucky somehow. Since they obviously didn't notice the two of them, she cleared her throat. Sam and Scott had guilty expressions, so she didn't bother asking them. "Steve, what is it you want me to do?"

"Before he asks you, some of us don't want you to attempt this and think it's dangerous," Scott interjected quickly. "I'm not sure if I get a say but I'm firmly… unsure about it."

"You don't get a say, Tic Tac." Sam smirked. He grew serious when Wanda met his eyes. "But Wanda, you need to be sure before you even agree to it. This might be dangerous to both of you."

Steve barely looked at her before he lowered his gaze, likely thinking about earlier in his room. It frustrated Wanda because she hadn't been able to talk to him and clear the air. And now she's going to make things much, much more awkward.

"I want you to try to remove the brainwashing HYDRA did to Bucky so he never has to worry about someone else triggering it," Steve replied, then looked at Bucky. "I think he deserves to be free of their control. And I know everyone will feel better about him not becoming a killer again."

Wanda felt everyone's eyes on her and dreaded what she had to say. Maybe she should have told Bucky in private or Steve at least. But she hadn't had the courage. "I will do what I can to help him. But there is something you both should know." She glanced at Bucky and felt the guilt ten times worse because he appeared hopeful that she could help him. "Bucky, I should have told you outside I know, but… I was afraid." She lowered her eyes for a minute and took a deep breath. She glanced at the others and they waited expectantly, so she just dove in.

"When I first saw you at that airport, I wasn't sure if you'd recognize me." The surprise in Bucky's eyes confirmed what she suspected. He had no recollection of her. She tried to swallow the lump lodged in her throat, but it sat there, choking her. " We've met before. They brought me to Siberia when your handlers took you out of cryo for some missions a few years ago, and their control over you was slipping. They made me manipulate your mind. I only realized it was you because I saw Steve in your memories." Bucky's eyes filled with pain and betrayal. Eventually, he turned away from her.

Wanda could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears over the silence in the room. Suddenly, Steve stormed over to her with his fists balled up by his sides. Steve wouldn't hit her, but he was mad enough to. He grabbed her shoulders firmly, jerking her away from Bucky's side, and pushed her to step back, until she felt the door behind her, never loosening his grip. She faced him as bravely as she could under the circumstances.

"You helped brainwash him? Wanda… how could you do that?" he growled, jerking her close to him, intimidating her even if she wasn't completely afraid. "Obviously you did horrible things with HYDRA, but I didn't think you could torture my best friend. How dare you not tell me? You could have told me this before you met him. You kept this from me on purpose, like a coward."

Before she could answer, Clint walked over, putting his hand on Steve's arm before the super soldier dropped his hands from Wanda. "Let her go. Steve, you're not being fair. She didn't know you when…"

Steve hesitated barely a moment before he glared at Clint. "She helped brainwash a guy to assassinate people, Barton! And, despite our friendship, she's kept this from me ever since."

Losing her temper completely because of the back and forth with her emotions all night, the guilt that she felt, and her powers being off, Wanda pushed Steve away as hard as she could. She barely moved him an inch, which only made her even angrier, but she resisted using her powers. "Stop it," she demanded.

Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "I won't apologize to you for what I did, nor will I justify it, because I didn't do it to you. I did it to him. But I am sorry. Sorrier than you could understand. But even if he can't forgive me, Bucky likely understands why I did it more than anyone here, except maybe Natasha. Do you think HYDRA gives you an option? Well, they didn't. You can't pick what you want to do for them."

A sob escaped her. Eventually, she returned her gaze to Steve. "They threatened Pietro and, before I even left Sokovia, they began torturing him so I wouldn't doubt they would kill him. My choices were saving my twin, the only person I had, or a man I didn't know."

Steve calmed the slightest bit, and she risked a glance at Bucky. He watched her silently, his face blank, so she continued. "They wiped your memories so much that parts of your mind were almost shredded, figuratively. You would have eventually forgotten your basic skills, like walking and talking, and then you'd be of no use to HYDRA and expendable."

Remembering how horrible it had been almost took her breath away. Raising her gaze to Steve, she continued, "Bucky's mind has always fought the control from the beginning. He just wasn't aware of it. I also tried to save memories he struggled to hold on to, causing HYDRA to lose control of him. He remembered just enough that his brain struggled to remember everything, breaking through their control. What I did to him may have made it easier for them, but it also helped him regain some of his memories naturally. I think that's why he eventually remembered you in DC, Steve."

Wanda glanced nervously back at Bucky. "You may not believe this, but I have always regretted it. I saw from your earlier memories that you were a good guy. And I helped them hurt you further. I didn't know how to tell you."

Bucky studied her thoughtfully before asking, "If you could do what you did then, can you remove the brainwashing now?" She nodded with some hesitation and it was like a punch in the stomach to see how hopeful and relieved he felt, despite all she had told him. His gaze softened towards her, and she felt like she could breathe again. But she wouldn't feel better until she helped him. "She didn't have a choice. You can't forgive me and refuse to forgive her. I want her to help me." Steve stepped back from Wanda, but his eyes never left her face. She felt like he was attempting to decide if he recognized her at all.

"Wait, slow down. It would great if she can help you, but before anyone gets their hopes up, we should go over a few more things." Natasha interjected, then looked at Wanda. "If you can't do it, or if you do something wrong, could you hurt him, make him worse or force the brainwashing and The Winter Soldier programming to be permanent? Drive away all of what is Bucky."

Wanda thought about it for a few moments before she admitted she could. "But I think it's very unlikely. I don't know how to explain it… Bucky's brain fully formed before the brainwashing; he was an adult so most of his development is part of him. But the brainwashing is like a thin layer over who he is. It's not even complete with a personality and natural development and skills." She looked over at Bucky and continued, "There are things you can do that the Winter Soldier can't and vice versa. There are just parts of your mind that aren't accessible to him."

Clint glanced at Natasha and pointed out, "That explains why he didn't understand what you said to him in Russian."

"Soldat, eto pravda? Vy ponimayete?" Natasha asked, and everyone turned to stare at Bucky. He was quiet for a long time before finally replying, "Ya ponimayu."

Sam pointed out, "But the words Zemo used were Russian and Bucky responded to those immediately."

"Because that is on Bucky's side of his mind. They didn't brainwash the Winter Soldier, they brainwashed Bucky, so those words caused an immediate reaction. If I said one or two of them, even if I was using it as an example, his mind and likely his body would have the same reaction." Wanda noticed he was uneasy even talking about it. Without even thinking, she reached out and took his hand, squeezing it gently, hoping it would reassure him.

Wanda waited until he seemed less tense and was going to continue when she noticed both Steve and Clint staring at their hands. Wanda dropped his hand and raised her gaze to his quickly. She felt so awkward that a simple gesture made everything so suspicious, but Bucky seemed unaffected by it. Ignoring the guys, she finished explaining, "If they had attempted to make him The Winter Soldier all the time, I think eventually he would have gone insane."

Bucky glanced down at his vibranium arm. "If we attempt this, it can't be in this house or around the rest of you. I will not risk hurting anyone again."

"You will not risk hurting her either. Either Steve stays with you or this isn't happening." Clint glanced at Bucky, then at Steve. "If Steve is going to even let her try."

Eerily calm, but not confrontational, Bucky faced Clint. "Actually, it's not his decision. It's my brain and her powers. If Wanda's willing then… we don't need Steve's approval." Turning to Steve, he clarified, "But, I would like you to be on board with this and I'm assuming Wanda feels the same."

Wanda watched Steve for a long time before she told him, "I want to help him. I won't hurt him. I'll go slow and be very careful. If it gets rocky, I'll stop."

Steve studied her face and then Bucky's in silence. He almost asked the others their opinions, then realized Bucky was right. It wasn't anyone's decision but Bucky's and Wanda's. "You two can start tomorrow night, in the barn or outside, whichever is better for you. I'll stay out there in case something goes wrong."

x0x0x

A knock on her door surprised Wanda. It was already late when she came upstairs and she thought almost everyone was already asleep but except Bucky. She played poker and drinking shots with Clint, Natasha, Scott, and Bucky for a while, but the other three went to bed. She talked to Bucky for the longest time. And as he said earlier, he was very charming and also easy to talk to. She couldn't stop laughing when he told her a few stories he remembered from his childhood. He had been quite the troublemaker apparently, but it seems like he always protected Steve. Until Steve had to protect him. Their friendship reminded her of her bond with Pietro. When he started asking questions about her life, she grew nervous and introduced him to Netflix. She left him watching the Matrix movies. She wasn't sure that was wise, but every man loved the movie, so she figured it was a win.

Wanda opened her door to find Steve there. Stepping back, she signaled for him to enter. "What's up?" she asked, uncomfortable around him. They were not having a stellar day in their friendship. Plus, she was only wearing a long t-shirt and thin short shorts. But she ran around in short shorts and skirts at the compound all the time, so it's not like he hadn't seen her legs before.

After coming into the room, he silently stood there, looking stoic, muscles tight, back stiff and straight, obviously gathering his thoughts. She just watched and waited.

"I need to ask a favor." She could tell that it was a big ask by his behavior, but she also knew she'd do it. "You saw what Bucky went through with HYDRA, didn't you? All of it… what they did to him?"

"Yes." At first confused, she quickly realized what he was about to ask her. "And if you're about to ask me if I will tell you…"

"No, Wanda." Steve took her hands in his and held them together. "You can make me see and feel it. I need to…"

Wanda pulled her hands from his grip and stepped back. "Steve Rogers, you have lost your damn mind if you think I would do that to you. Do you want to relive your plane crash and going into the ice while you're at it? Besides, Bucky wouldn't want you to see or feel it."

His expression turned miserable when he grasped her arm, not hard just making sure she couldn't walk away from him. "It will be hard but I need to know, to understand."

"Then ask Bucky. That will give you a chance to help him."

"He won't talk about it or tell me. You're the only one who can help me." He pulled her so close he could rest his chin on her head. "Please, Wanda." Wanda was conflicted about the right thing to do. He would feel worse if she showed him, though. She tried to decide how to handle his request, but there was only one answer.

Wanda stepped away and studied his face. "Would you trust me to say that you will regret it if I do this? It won't help you or anyone else, including Bucky. It might even hurt him for you."

"I can't explain. It's just… I need to see, to understand."

She shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. She sighed deeply before replying, "Bucky is awake downstairs. We're going to go talk to him. That is the only way I will do this." When she moved toward the door, he stopped her, his fingers digging into her arm, tight enough to hurt. As soon as she flinched, he released her, muttering an apology. She took a calming breath, then added. "How would you feel if I shared your most traumatic experiences with him without you having a say? Steve, please, don't ask me to betray Bucky after what I already did to him. Please. You cannot understand the depth of my guilt." He looked at the floor and Wanda took a step to him, pulling his face up. "I'll do anything for you, if you ask. But I won't betray Bucky again. If you care about me, you won't ask me to. I can't."

Steve reluctantly nodded. They stood there silently for some time, and she hoped maybe he would rethink his request and realize this was a bad idea. But she also knew Steve, so she wasn't totally surprised when he looked at her expectantly.

Fuck.

Wanda hesitated before opening the door to see if she could sense someone in the hall. She opened the door and scanned the hallway before she left her room. Steve shut the door quietly after them and they walked down the stairs as silently as they could. It was hard because the stairs squeaked. The last thing Wanda wanted to do was run into Clint or Sam and have to answer questions about why Steve and her were in her bedroom and now were sneaking around. Their teasing would never end. Exhaustion that ran deep into every muscle made her feel loopy at the thought of them creeping around. She almost giggled, despite how serious Steve's favor was. Hearing the sounds of The Matrix, she felt relief, knowing Bucky was still awake. They turned the corner into the living room and Bucky glanced over at them. She remembered she wasn't wearing much when his gaze drifted down her body.

"We need to talk," Steve declared bluntly, going to sit on the couch facing his friend.

Wanda closed her eyes and took a deep breath, wondering at his total lack of subtlety. She needed to stall this for a few minutes. "The movie is almost over. He can finish it." She gave Steve a warning look so he hopefully wouldn't argue. "Does anyone want a drink?"

"Am I going to need one?" Bucky glanced between the two of them. Steve's expression was stormy, so he said, "Yes, I'll take one. Thank you, Wanda."

Wanda didn't even wait for Steve to answer. She knew he'd need one. They had finished the Scotch and whisky already. These guys could really drink and, according to Natasha, she could handle more since she was Russian. Unlike the KGB apparently did, HYDRA didn't have great bars, so Wanda still hadn't built up a tolerance for hard liquor. Someone would usually make her some mixed drink, depending on what type of other drinks were in the refrigerator. The drink was heavier on the mix than the alcohol. She found a full bottle of vodka. Opening the fridge to see what they had, she called out to Steve, "What goes better with vodka? Cranberry juice, orange juice, or Milk?"

"Orange juice, probably. Anything but the milk, unless you want to be sick. Jesus, Wanda," Steve replied with a chuckle. She heard Bucky laughing at the thought of her mixing it with milk and called out, "Shut it, Barnes."

The movie ended before she finished, so Bucky came into the kitchen. Standing close to her, he took the bottle of vodka, pouring it into the glasses she had pulled out. "What's going on? I have a bad feeling I will not like it, unless you came down here to seduce me."

"Why would I need Steve for that?" she laughed, looking over her shoulder at him. "Never mind, don't answer that. I can't think of anywhere that could go without it making me blush."

"Are you ready?" Steve said as he walked into the kitchen. "Let's go outside or to the barn. I don't want to wake the others." Without waiting for a response, he walked outside. Wanda hoped maybe that he would come to his senses after seeing Bucky, but she knew there was little hope.

Placing a hand on his arm, Wanda spoke to him quietly. "Before we go out there, let me tell you that if you don't want me to do what he asks, I won't. I understand why he is asking but I also understand why you'd say no. You're the only one with the right to decide." Grabbing hers and Steve's glasses, she moved around him to go outside. She didn't want him to ask too many questions until Steve told him what all this was about. As soon as she went outside, cold air slapped her in the face and on her bare legs. Bucky apparently realized her mistake long before she did, and he came up behind her with a blanket. She supposed it was one he planned to use to sleep in the barn. Steve took the drinks from both of them so Bucky could wrap the blanket around her.

"How did you stay warm before you had me providing you blankets and jackets?" he teased. Steve was already walking toward the barn. She felt a warm hand caressing her cheek and she glanced at Bucky. "Are you okay? You're still shaking. Do you want me to go inside and get you something?" She shook her head, not telling him to the real reason she was shaking. Using her powers to warm her legs made her feel better and not just because she was warmer. Her power being more off than she realized, she worried she would hurt Steve by mistake, so if she released some of it, there might be less danger of that.

Steve reached the barn and turned to watch them impatiently, so the pair rushed to join him. Wanda hadn't been in the barn yet and looked around once Bucky turned on a lantern. There was an SUV and a motorcycle in there that she supposed Fury had arranged for them, although they looked dusty, as if they had been out here awhile. There weren't any chairs, just straw on the floor and some wooden benches. Although it made no sense for horses to be here, it disappointed her that there weren't any. Wanda took her drink from Steve and sat down on one bench, studying the ice cubes intently to avoid looking at the guys.

"So, what's wrong?" Bucky asked, sitting down on another blanket that was clearly where he intended to sleep. He glanced from her to Steve, waiting patiently. She just started drinking her drink.

Steve remained silent and eventually turned to her. "She can show people things, like visions or… I don't know what it's called… things that she wants them to see." When Bucky nodded, his friend continued, "I want her to show me something but she won't do it without you agreeing to it."

The silence stretched out for far too long. Steve didn't continue, likely because he couldn't figure out a simple way to say it. But she would not say it for him. Cautiously, she glanced at Bucky and she knew by his expression that he already knew.

"Why? What can it help?"

Shrugging, Steve replied, "Bucky, I need to know. I can't explain why. "

Bucky remained silent for a while, clearly thinking about it. He sighed and nodded toward the door. "Wait outside. I need to talk to Wanda."

Not even hesitating, Steve rose and left. She grew a little annoyed because he didn't even ask questions about leaving her alone with Bucky, who could very well end up being really pissed about this. But he didn't seem angry. Her heart was pounding and her exhaustion intensified with each beat. She didn't even want to do this for Steve, so she hoped Bucky didn't expect her to justify it all for him. Already on the verge of tears, her emotions running wild because of this whole damn day, she wanted to curl up in bed and cry herself to sleep. Not deal with sharing Bucky's trauma with Steve.

Bucky finally spoke. He seemed more tired than charming now. "I don't want him to see everything. Actually, I don't want him to see anything…"

"Then tell him, Bucky," she insisted. "If it's only going to re-victimize you then don't do it. Steve will understand if you tell him why." She realized too late that he might not like to think of himself as a 'victim' but he was.

"I feel like he won't let it go if I refuse."

Wanda rose and came to sit beside him. "I won't do this if you don't want me to and I won't show him anything more than you say I can. I don't want to hurt either of you and, if I do this, I know it will hurt you both." Without noticing, she was rolling her red energy lines between her fingers. He took her wrist and watched her hand with interest, his thumb moving in circles on the inside of her wrist. This quiet moment with him felt so soothing, she just wanted to stay here.

"I am unsure of a lot, but I know you wouldn't hurt me intentionally. Or Steve." He pulled her hand to his mouth, kissing the back of her hand, then raised his intense blue eyes to hers before releasing her hand. "I'm going to trust you to decide what you can show him. You probably already know what is most painful to me, what I would not want him to see." Nodding, she bit her bottom lip to hold back the tears burning her eyes. "Then I trust you. I don't understand why he wants to do this but I believe he thinks he needs to." He stood up and held out his hands to her, pulling her up nearly in his arms. They paused in the same spot. She swallowed hard, surprised at instant sexual tension between them. It felt like the air was crackling. Eventually, she met his eyes. It clearly surprised him as much.

Her gaze lowered to his perfectly formed mouth. She remembered how earlier she noticed him chewing on his lip and how he would stick the tip of his tongue out absentmindedly. Even now she saw how much fuller his bottom lip was than his upper, both of them a shade of red that reminded her of ripe berries. That color women buy lots of lipstick to achieve but came naturally to him and made her want to suck on his lips. She returned her gaze to his, then felt his arms wrap around her waist and he bent down to kiss her once, but withdrew before he touched her lips, as if doubtful. When he finally lowered his mouth to hers, he seemed cautious, so she leaned closer, assuring him she wanted him to kiss her. It was a slow kiss, but erotic as hell. His hands clutched her back, bringing her even closer. His vibranium arm and hand felt different, but it didn't bother her. In fact, everything about him seemed perfect right now.

Eventually she realized Steve was going to get impatient and reluctantly drew back. "Bucky, if I don't get this over with, I won't be able to do it." He nodded, looking as thrilled about what she was about to do as she was.

"We'll talk afterwards if you're up to it." He grabbed his drink and headed toward the door. Before opening the door, he turned around and gave her a reassuring smile.