Sorry, it's not very long. I've only just written this and I hope it will tide you all over until the next chapter. Pre-warning, it's a shit chapter but it's very Effie/Bucky orientated.
Sorry for any mistakes xx
When we got back to the apartment, Bucky went straight to the laptop set up in front of the balcony window. He settled down, pulling a can of Pepsi from the mini fridge next to the desk.
"Anything new?" I asked, knowing the answer would be no. Frankie would have updated me on anything new involving Hydra. It was something he needed to do to keep a peace of mind.
"No." Short, blunt and to the point. What was the point in wasting his breath when we both knew the answer?
"Do you want me to cook anything?" I asked receiving a shake of the head. He always got so closed off when he didn't find what he was looking for. I think he forgot that it wouldn't be easy hunting down Hydra. "I'll leave you to it then."
With one last glance at him, I made my way out of the living area and to the kitchen/diner. Dropping my bag on the counter I opened the fridge, pulling out a can of Dr. Pepper and made my way over to my grand piano.
Sometimes being Tony Stark's daughter had its advantages and being able to own a grand piano was one.
I fiddled about with a few random keys while I thought of something to play. Biting my bottom lip, I thought about Bucky and what type of music would be soothing for him. I'd tried to get him to listen to some classical when he slept wondering if it would help him, but he refused.
"Frankie can you get up the sheet music for Divenire," I asked tapping out the first few keys without the sheet music. Within seconds the notes where in my sight and I let the music wash over me.
I was aware that she'd also put on the violin cover in the background to go with my composing piece. A small smile grew on my face a minute into the song as it started to pick up. This was my favourite part of the song as it promised the gradual build-up and passion of the music.
As I continued to play I let the music lead my emotions and as it grew in elegance and power I thought of my dad and how I missed him. We may not have been the closest, but he was always looking out for me and he cared about me too much sometimes. Lying to him now and keeping my status hidden from him was ripping me apart and I wished I could just talk to him.
It was Tony that had introduced me to playing the piano. He told me that his mother had taught him, and he wanted to at least teach me something useful. It came to a surprise to him when it turned out I was a little musical progeny. Not that I wanted anything out of it. I didn't want to share it with the world. It was something special I had with Tony and later Pepper.
My musical brilliance along with my intellect and snarky attitude had been inherited from the Stark's.
My eyes, on the other hand, had been inherited by my mother along with the ginger hair. I also suppose some of my facial features had to come from her as well, but I couldn't help but hate the idea I took after her knowing she was Hydra.
"Roseanna played the piano," Bucky said interrupting my thoughts and causing me to mess up on the keys as I turned to face him, my nose turned up in distaste. I disliked it when he compared me to my mother.
"Did you sleep with my mother?" I asked, wanting to know ever since he mentioned it during his nightmare back in Canada.
Bucky frowned and stepped further into the room. His eyes were such a dark blue it looked as if there was a storm brewing. Had I made him angry? Usually, his eyes were a bright blue like the ocean.
"I never slept with your mother," he stated sounding almost robotic s he replied. The twisting in my stomach told me not to believe him, but why would he lie?
"Are you sure? Can you even remember?" I flinched after I said it, wishing I could take my words back, but the damage had already been done.
"She was my mission," he bit out, the muscles ticking in his jaw. "I was there to protect her during her pregnancy. I was protecting you."
Well, when he said it like that it put it in a whole different context. No, it really didn't. He could have still slept with her. I've seen the pictures of her in the Hydra folders, she was beautiful, ridiculously beautiful and it made sense why the sent her to try and bring in Tony. Even I could admit that he was a vain man and would not skip at a chance to sleep with someone like her.
"Just because you were there to protect her didn't mean you couldn't sleep with her," I snapped rising from the piano bench. "You said you couldn't sleep with her, but that doesn't mean that you didn't or that you didn't want to." Glancing carefully at his face, I placed my hands on my hips and frowned up at him. "Did you want to sleep with her?"
"No! She was just a mission! I don't get attached to missions and I certainly don't sleep with them!" he fired back, taking an intimidating step towards me. I could see his metal arm flexing with his anger and wondered if he'd wrap in around my throat.
"Does that mean you won't get attached to me? Am I still a mission to you, Bucky?" I yelled, blinking the tears away before they could fall. I was seriously not going to cry over him. it took a moment for me to realize what I had said and when I did I took a step away from him as my mouth dropped open and I struggled for words. "Let's forget I said that."
Turning away from him, I grabbed my can of Dr. Pepper and made a dash for my room. Muttering under my breath about my idiotic behaviour I threw myself on the bed, squealing when my soda went flying over me and my covers.
"I'm such a twat," I cried, letting the can drop to the floor and I let my tears mix with the soda.
"Look I don't know—" Bucky remained silent as the door hit the wall and I peeked at him through my finger seeing the amused look on his face. "What did you do?"
"It's none of your god damn business," I snapped, sending him the middle finger as I rolled off the bed, dragging the soaked sheets with me. Glaring at the floral pattern on the bedding as I stripped it I tried to ignore Bucky as he entered the room.
"Seeing as this is the only bed and you've been adamant we share; I think it's got a lot to do with me." He was being a smart arse and if I could have found a way to hit him I would have done it a hundred times over by now. "You can't ignore me forever, Ethel. What you said, I don't understand why you're so upset over it."
His eyes were back to the ocean blue now and I was left trying to figure out when I had looked at him again. From the raised eyebrows I knew he was waiting for a reply too. Did he really think I was going to tell him I might have found him attractive and was interested in possibly starting something with him in a romantic sense? The answer was no.
"Ethel—"
"Why do you call me that?" I cut him off as my irritation grew.
"It's your name."
"And you hate it when I call you James, which happens to be your name. Not Bucky, which you don't seem to have a problem with." Why was I sounding like such a twat? A hormonal twat!
Jesus Christ, now I knew why. I was due on. I was totally PMSing right now and taking it all out on Bucky like a little psycho girlfriend.
"I'm sorry?" He muttered his face scrunching up as he waiting to see if it was the right thing to say.
"For Christ sake, Bucky, you shouldn't be apologizing for this. I'm fucking raging with crazy hormones and take it out on you, a poor, lost man that can't remember the majority of his past because he was brainwashed by an evil cooperation from the war. And now I'm rambling and you're freaking out because I've scared you. Don't deny it, I can see the wide-eyed, open-mouthed look you've got going on right now." I didn't mention that he was also slowly backing out of the room as if it would lead him to safety.
"I don't know what's happening," he mumbled as I threw myself back on the bed screaming into the mattress.
"It's a girl thing," I told him but what he heard was 'uuuagrummingggggg'.
"Ma'am, I hate to interrupt your whining, but I've located a way to get into the Hydra base," Frankie said, her voice echoing around the room. I groaned into the mattress once more before rolling over and looking at the ceiling.
"What do we have to do?"
I will never forget the day I saw James 'Bucky' Barnes walk into a nightclub in the red-light district in Paris. And thankfully because of my lenses, I was able to snap a picture of the horror on his face as the scantily clad women stumbled and danced around him.
"I get why you dressed like that now," he grumbled in my ear, bending down close so I could hear him. I tried to suppress the shiver that ran down my spine at the heat pressed against my back.
"Hey, I'm not dressed like any of these people!" I accused letting my eyes linger on one woman wearing a leather bra with matching leather booty shorts. I nodded to her as if proving my point.
Bucky had turned into my dad when I walked out of our room in a tight, black little dress and bright red heels. I'd managed to tame my curls and had thrown on a bit of make-up making sure my lipstick matched my heels but I was almost marched back into the room by Bucky when he mentioned how he hated my outfit.
"You look like every other woman here," he argued, nodding at a group of young girls wearing matching black dresses.
"That's the point, Bucky. I'm supposed to blend in, that way I can seduce this Andre dude and get us into the Hydra facility after you do your torture shit on him." I think that glass of wine I downed before coming here had hit the spot a little too well. I was totally not bothered by Bucky torture this guy at all.
"Maybe I should do it," Bucky said, his grip on my arm tightening as he swayed to the music, copying me and everyone else in the club. I snorted and turned to face him, letting our bodies rub together as we blended in.
"I don't think he's your type, Buck, or vice-versa. Plus, I'm sure everyone in Hydra will know your face."
"What if he recognizes you?"
"I'll be less noticeable than you, Buck. Oh, there he is." I watched as Andre stumble his way onto the dance floor. Ah, he'd already drunk a bit and was on his way to being sloshed. This should be easy. "I'll meet you out back in the alley," I told Bucky leaning up and pressing a kiss to his lips before dashing off to Andre.
On my first step away from Bucky I'd already had my plan to trap Andre. On my second step, I estimated it would take five minutes to meet Bucky in the alley. On my third step, I remembered Frankie had control over all the cameras so we wouldn't be seen. On my fourth step, I stopped dead on the spot and spun around to face Bucky, but he was already gone.
"Fucking hell!" I brought my fingers to my lips as I recalled kissing him.
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. xx