The Soldier broke into an abandoned house and carried Ava up the stairs he drove as far away as he could with Ava bleeding in the passenger seat. He had to stop he couldn't let her die and he had no idea how bad the wound was. He laid her down on a dusty table and pulled her dress up examining the wound. They'd gotten lucky the bullet had barely missed an artery but nothing too bad. The soldier pulled out his knife and cut off her dress to use as a make shift bandage for when he was done removing the bullet. He grabbed a lighter from the car they took and started to disinfect the knife before pulling out the bullet. He had learned to patch himself and others up out on the battlefield, what little he remembered of the battlefield anyway.
Ava woke up on a bare mattress her side hurt like hell. The previous day's events flooded into her and she looked around frantically for Bucky. He was sitting next to the mattress his back against the wall he was asleep. Not a deep sleep apparently because when Ava tried to sit up she let out a small groan of pain that woke him up.
"Be careful don't move very much I'll get you some water." Bucky said getting to his feet and walking to a small table that held their things.
"You know when I took the job at Starks and S.H.I.E.L.D I thought my days of being shot at were over." Ava said touching her bandaged side. "Thank you." She said taking the water from Bucky. Ava's phone rang surprising them both, she still had it tucked into her bra. It lit up with Tony's name.
"Hey Stark what's up?" She answered her voice strained. Tony hardly called her since she'd been fired but since there trip there something must've been wrong.
"Dr. Ava Marin?" The barely familiar voice asked.
"Who is this?" Ava asks worry spreading on Bucky's face. He walked over to the windows and scanned the field for danger.
"This is Steve Rodgers Ma'am and Tony Stark has told me you are with The Winter Soldier." Steve says.
"Captain Rodgers." She greets kindly "I am with Barnes. Does my sister know?"
"No Ma'am, Ava where are you two?" Steve asks and Tony says something about being able to track the call in the background. Ava looks over at Bucky. "Are you both alright?"
"Barnes its Steve he wants to know where we are, he can help you." Ava says covering the phone.
"No." Bucky says sternly "I don't know him, or I don't remember him I don't know if I can trust him Ava I know you and I know I can trust you not him."
"I'm sorry Captain but Barnes doesn't want to be found not yet and please don't tell Natasha I'm with him I'm sorry I've got to go." Ava says hanging up the phone. She threw it across the room and tried to stand. "Barnes if we don't leave now they will find us."
"Here you shouldn't strain yourself." Bucky says picking up Ava and carrying her to the car with ease. He sat her down in the blood stained seat and ran back into the house to get what little gear they had.
"First things first we need to get the hell away from here and then get some supplies." Ava said to Bucky after he slid into the driver's seat.
"Ava I need to take you to Stark's, he can take you to your sister or Captain Rodgers so they can keep you safe." Bucky says starting the car. He didn't want to give up the only person he trusted but he didn't want her dead either.
"Shut up Barnes you and I both know no matter how pissed off I am at you the only way I'll be really safe is with you and you need my help." She argues "So help me god if you take me to Stark tower I will hunt you down. Don't you dare forget I am a Romanoff and we don't just sit and hide."
"You were shot." Bucky said looking over at her face full of guilt.
"That's part of the job." Ava shrugs. Her eyes showed her defiance a smirk played on her lips daring him to tell her no. He knew she was right if he did take her to Starks she'd leave the minute he turned his back. All of this was bringing fierceness back to her that she had buried deep years ago when Nick Fury saved her. It was slowly pouring out of her since the day Bucky had grabbed her.
Bucky drove for miles until Ava had him pull over to get gas. He looked over through Ava's window to make sure they were safe and he caught a glance of a man staring at her. The man looked at her like a dog that hadn't eaten in weeks. It made Bucky's skin crawl; he was disgusted at the way some men looked at women. When Bucky looked at Ava he saw she was wearing nothing but a bra and her panties with her dress bandaging her midsection leaving almost nothing to the imagination. Ava looked up at Bucky when he frantically got out of the car and stomped over to the man ogling the girl.
"Do you have a problem buddy?" The man asks as Bucky got closer to him.
"Yes I have a problem with the way you're looking at my friend." Bucky growls.
"Oh that nice piece of ass you're riding with? How much did she cost?" He said gesturing towards the car. Bucky didn't hesitate in clocking the man with his human hand the man fell to the ground with a thud whimpering. Bucky pulled off his jacket revealing his metal arm and dragged the man up the side of the car with his metal hand wrapped around his throat.
"You do not speak about a lady like that sir show some respect." Bucky says releasing him and walking to the car he took off his shirt and put his jacket back on.
Ava watched Bucky punch the man that just gestured to their car and she winced when Bucky pulled him back off the ground and took off his jacket and shirt. Bucky walked back to the car and handed Ava his shirt before getting gas. Ava was confused until she realized she was nearly naked and she blushed brightly. His shirt smelt like him like a one man war, something dangerous that made her feel safe. Ava grabbed her wallet and looked over at Bucky.
"When we get out of the state we can uh stop by a store." Ava said Bucky noticed her face was still bright red. "Why did you hit that guy?"
"I don't like men who disrespect women." Bucky shrugged. Ava smiled he sounded almost like Steve.
Steve stood at a gas station that had reported a man being attacked by a man with a metal arm. Steve showed up in full armor and all if Bucky attack this man he had to be a threat he wasn't a Hydra soldier anymore, he wasn't under anyone's orders or control.
"Why did the man with the metal arm attack you?" Steve asked the man with the bruised and swollen jaw.
"I don't know Captain. I didn't know a mad man was something Captain America would be interested in." The man said innocently, Steve could tell he was lying.
"The Soldier doesn't attack random men for no reason so I suggest you start telling me the truth son." Steve said sternly.
"I said some disrespectful things about the woman he was with it weren't my fault she was dressed like a whore." The man answered.
"Well then you deserved what you got." Steve said disgusted walking into the station to view what little footage they had.
All he could see was Bucky punching the man and a short brunette woman in her undergarments with fabric fashioned as a bandage around her. She must've been hurt he thought watching Bucky hand her his shirt. If she was hurt he needed to get a hold of Natasha.
The soldier walked down the aisles of a giant blue store called Wal-Mart that claimed to contain almost anything one could need. He walked to the clothing section first. Picking clothes for himself was easy, black jeans, black shirt, black tank top, black pajama pants and a couple pairs of boxers. Shopping for Ava wasn't as easy, the women's section was full of different fabrics and styles. He wasn't even sure what size she wore they all seemed different even though they read as the same size; he decided to just go with a medium. He got frustrated quickly trying to figure out what she would like he'd watched her for two months and her clothes were always so different but so simple. He just grabbed a black shirt, white tank top, black jeans and a pair of light blue pajama shorts similar to one's he'd seen her wear before. The worse part of shopping for Ava was going through the undergarments isle.
"Do you need any help sir?" A small blonde woman asks. He looks over at her she could tell he was extremely confused holding different bras and panties in his hands. He nods. "I'll take that as a yes so what does your girlfriend like?"
"She's not my girlfriend and I don't know." He answers.
"Oh well what do you like I'm sure we could find something nice in your size." The woman says giving him a reassuring smile trying to make him feel comfortable. He tilted his head confused by the woman.
"They aren't for me they are for a friend." He said softly. The employees sighs happy that he didn't snap at her angrily for her being confused and wrong.
"Um alright do you know what she usually wears?" She asks and Bucky's cheeks turned pink a bit embarrassed that.
"She normally wears very simple things." He replies a bit uncomfortable and the worker grabbed a couple pairs of underwear that resemble shorts and a pair that were black and lacy.
"Well the boy shorts are very comfortable but if you want something for both of you to enjoy." She smiles and Bucky takes the garments and thanks her.
Ava waited in the car lying back in the seat she started to doze off when Bucky opened the trunk. He put all but two bags in the trunk the other two he handed to Ava and she grinned. Ava pulled out a couple candy bars, chips and a couple sodas that she had specifically asked him for.
"Nothing heals a wound like chocolate." Ava said taking a bite of a Kit-Kat handing a piece to Bucky he accepted it and took a bite he smiled at the taste.
"I don't remember the last time I had chocolate." He says enjoying the familiar taste of the candy.
"You poor man." Ava says handing him another piece. "I love this song." Ava says listening to the radio.
About an hour later they came up to a motel and checked in. Ava dramatically flopped down on one of the beds and winced.
"I forgot I was shot." She said her legs dangling off the bed.
"How do you forget you've been shot?" Bucky asked a smile playing on his lips. He hadn't noticed how good Ava looked in just his shirt. It was too big for her and fell mid-thigh.
"It's been numb till now and it's been a fucking crazy day Barnes and I can't wait to shower." Ava says trying to sit back up and cursed in pain.
"Ava you shouldn't move around a lot you'll hurt yourself." He lectures.
"Fine then you can help me." She shrugs getting up and walking to the bathroom challenging him. He followed her into the bathroom refusing to back down and let her hurt herself worse. Ava tried to pull the shirt off but it was a lot harder than putting it on Bucky moved her hands off the shirt and slowly took it off her.
"Don't move." He says kneeling next to her he started to unwrap the makeshift bandage and gently checking the wound. His fingers lightly traced the skin around the wound he stopped when she shuttered he assumed she was uncomfortable or that he hurt her so he pulled away.
"One more thing" She says turning around trying to hide her pink cheeks that he hadn't seemed to notice "Can you uh unhook my bra?" Bucky did as she asked and quickly left the room not wanting to make her more uncomfortable.
Ava laid in her bed thought about Bucky, she thought about how kind and gentle he could be even brain washed and turned assassin he was still very gentle. She thought about when he traced his fingers around her wound his fingers right above her hip bone. It had made her shiver her heart had skipped a beat, she wanted to kiss him again but she was still angry and not quite sure what she was feeling. The water in the bathroom stopped and he came out in a pair of sweats hanging low on his hips. They hadn't said a word to each other since he wrapped her wound back up neither knew what to say. It didn't take her long at all to drift to sleep.
"Ava." Natasha warned from behind her sister. Natasha was sitting on the floor tied to a pole. "Move."
"Oh little spider I'd listen to your sister if I were you I don't want to kill you A but I will." Micah the man she thought was once the love of her life said his gun trained on the sister
"I trusted you. I loved you." Ava growled. "I will not let you kill her." Ava lunged at her now ex-fiancé and grabbed for his gun. He fired a shot but missed his mark the bullet grazed the side of Ava's head but didn't fatally hurt either girl. Ava scrambled for the gun and took her shot not hesitating when Natasha's life was endangered.
Bucky woke to the sounds of Ava muttering in her sleep she was crying. He walked over to her bed and whispered her name.
"Avy wake up" he said touching her gently. Ava stirred at the sound of Bucky's voice.
"Bucky?" She whispered through a sleep filled haze her cheeks stained with tears, she sat up slowly waking up.
"Yes it's me Avy I'm here." He said pulling her onto his lap holding her. "It was just a nightmare." He said comforting, she felt safe in his arms.
"Did you call me Avy?" She asked looking up at him.
"Yes I'm sorry I heard Tony calling you that and I thought it might be comforting." He says softly.
"I like when you say it more than when Tony does." She whispers her head on his shoulder she was exhausted.
"Go back to sleep Avy I'll be over there." He says laying her back down. She grabs his arm before he could move away.
"Will you stay with me Bucky? I don't want to have that dream again." She asks her voice soft and innocent; she seemed very sad and scared he had never seen her so shaken up.
"Alright." He says softly laying down next to her. She fell back to sleep in no time.
Ava woke up Bucky's arms wrapped around her protectively he was still fast asleep. Ava felt warm safe and content. That was the best either of them had slept in a very long time. She had nearly forgotten her dream. Ava turned to face him not at all disturbing his deep sleep. His face was soft and calm, she pushed some loose hair behind his ear and his eyes fluttered open. He smiled at her and kissed her forehead lightly. Their cute little moment was disturb almost instantly Ava groaned when the phone rang.
"Hello?" Bucky answers the phone his voice groggy with sleep.
"Hello, I'm looking for an Ava Marin?" A man on the other side said and Bucky handed her the phone lying back down.
"Hello this is Dr. Marin." Ava answers sitting up confused at how someone found there room.
"Good Morning my little spider." The voice that haunted her nightmares said making her stomach drop. 'This can't be really he's dead' Ava repeats to herself.
"Who is this?" she snapped Bucky shot up next to her sensing her distress.
"You couldn't have forgotten me already Ava dear is that why you're with the soldier to forget about me? Ava you know exactly who this is." Micah's voice filled her head.
"It can't be you're dead. I killed you." Ava growled into the receiver.
"Ava I would think you'd know better than anyone else that the only way to know someone is truly dead is to watch them be buried being a S.H.I.E.L.D agent in all I mean Av baby come on Fury, Rodgers, Coulson even your little soldier they're all supposedly dead." Micah said chuckling.
"What do you want Micah? You can't kill Natasha she's twice the soldier you ever were and people are always watching her." Ava snaps Bucky is staring at her Ava's features full of hatred and fury.
"Oh Av I'm not after your sister not when the price on you and your companions head is so high. Oh my sweet little spider you have this coming to you. We could've been together and happy but Natasha has always come first with you. Do you remember what I used to tell you? I'll always catch you. Ava I know where you are and even if you run I'll find you, better kiss your soldier goodbye." Micah says before hanging up.
"Ava what's wrong?" Bucky asks utter fear crossing her features.
"Pack our stuff we need to leave now." Ava says moving out of the bed her side burning she dialed a number on the hotel phone. "This is a bread crumb Captain Rodgers we may need your help and Natasha's tell her Micah's alive." Ava said her voice sounding panicked before hanging up the phone not letting him get a word in.
"What's wrong?" Bucky asked following Ava out the door both still in their pajamas.
"My ex-fiancé is in town." Ava said almost casually starting the car Bucky looked confused. "He's an assassin part of the K.G.B. He tried to kill Natasha I thought he was dead I shot him. If he's still alive and after all these years and he's just now coming after me then something is definitely wrong." Ava said racing onto the main road not giving a shit about speed limits.
Steve grabbed his shield and phone Sam stood up when his roommate his gear. Steve had moved in with Sam when he was released from the hospital and the two had been tracking Bucky.
"Another lead?" Sam Wilson asks.
"Yes an address Ava the girl Bucky's with sounded panicked something is wrong she told me to call Natasha so suit up." Steve says dialing Nat's number.
"Hey grandpa what's up?" Natasha answered she was sitting on her couch her legs draped over Clint's legs he had just returned from a mission.
"Ava called she gave me a motel address and told me to call you and tell you Micah's alive." He said repeating the message.
"Text me the address I'll meet you there be careful Rodgers." Natasha said sternly her entire mood changing at the sound of the man's name.
When the group got there one of the hotel rooms was burnt out and the fire department was there. Natasha and Steve showed the men their S.H.I.E.L.D badges; even though S.H.I.E.L.D was disbanded the badges still gave them access anywhere. The hotel manager told them a man had called asking for the line to one of the client's room, the clients left shortly after and the room was set on fire. The manager was very angry about it.
"Who is this guy?" Steve asks Natasha.
"My sister's ex-fiancé. He was an assassin who tried to kill me and almost succeeded The Winter Soldier is deadly but not as deadly as Micah can be, the man is crazy and Ava is all alone" She warned.
"No, she isn't Bucky is with her she'll be safe with him." Steve says but it didn't comfort Natasha at all.
"If she's with the winter soldier after everything Steve she's not safe she cares about him and she will take a bullet for anyone she cares about. She'd take a bullet for anyone remotely innocent. I need to call Nick."
"You're afraid of this man." Bucky said Ava was about to deny it but he spoke again. "I know when you're afraid and when you heard his voice you were afraid."
"Yes I'm afraid I'm terrified." She admits her hands tight on the wheel turning her knuckles white.
"Ava pull over." Bucky says softly.
"Bucky I'm alright." She says.
"Pull over." He says sternly. She obeys her body shaking. "Tell me about what happened."
"I fell in love with a man named Micah Zyle, turns out he used me to get to Natasha he's crazy I shot him after he shot me what scares me is I loved him I let him get to me after all I learned from my time helping Natasha. I can't trust myself hell the only reason I'm alive is because Natasha was on S.H.I.E.L.D's radar Fury found us and saved us. I joined Stark research to get away from all the combat. S.H.I.E.L.D offered me several jobs and training but I turned it down and now I have a mad man I was in love with hunting me Bucky." She said letting out a sob it was too much.
"It's alright Avy he won't hurt you, I won't let him" Bucky says holding her hand. Ava was angry at herself for crying but she couldn't help it.
"I need a damn drink." Ava said wiping away her tears and starting the car again. She drove to the next bar she saw with a hotel in walking distance. "Ah yes a dive bar next to a sleazy motel just in case you can't hold your liquor Barnes." She smirked acting as if the past few hours never happened.
Ava ordered a shot of whiskey for the both of them and some cheese fries. She didn't realize she was hungry until she'd seen the menu.
"Bucky will you teach me how to fight and shoot better?" Ava asks and Bucky looks confused "I need to be more prepared for Micah." She says solemnly.
"You are still injured." He simply states with him around he doesn't see a reason for her to need to hurt herself worse.
"If I don't get better at defending myself I will be worse than just hurt James I'll be dead." She said emphasizing the last part of her sentence.
"Alright we'll start tomorrow morning." He nods accepting his drink from the bar tender.
Ava downed her drink in one swallow and ordered another relishing the familiar burn in her throat. The two sat and talked Ava was on her third drink slowing down a bit when the bar started to fill music playing loudly. Bucky wasn't used to the way people in this time danced, nothing like he remember not that he remembered much. A man in tight black jeans and a dark blue shirt came up to them. Ava thought he was cute nothing compared to Bucky but the man's short blonde hair, green eyes, and sharp jaw line where very attractive.
"Hello darling I was wondering if you'd like to dance." The man asked getting a glare from Bucky who didn't like the flirty smiles Ava and the man were exchanging "That is if your boyfriend doesn't mind."
"Oh he's not my boyfriend, just my friend and uh sure I'd love too." She said happily feeling the alcohol buzzing in her body. It'd been a long time since an attractive man had asked her to dance and she just couldn't pass it up. Sure she liked Bucky but they weren't dating or anything and it was just a dance to her.
Bucky gripped his glass tightly taking another swig the alcohol not affecting him at all. He couldn't help but stare at Ava and the random man dancing, he wasn't staring at her like prey like the man at the gas station but he had his hands on her hips and it was stirring feelings in Bucky that he didn't like. Bucky wanted to go up to the random man and pull him away from Ava, to tell him to leave but he didn't. His grip on the glass tightened till it shattered.
"I'm sorry I'll pay for the glass." Bucky says to the bartender and he just chuckled.
"It's all good I've seen many jealous men break things, usually over another man's head when they flirt with his girl." The bartender shrugged.
"I am not jealous she's not my girl." Bucky says glancing over at her she's laughing happily. Bucky loved seeing her laugh usually but this time it bugged him.
"Yes you are son whether she's your girl or not you want her to be." The bartender says sitting down another glass in front of Bucky "Try not to break this one."
"Barnes what happened to your hand?" Ava asked sitting next to him again. He hadn't noticed the blood dripping from a cut on his palm.
"I broke my glass." He says simply as she cleans his hand with a napkin. The man Ava was dancing with came back up and sat next to her with two drinks.
"Hey Alec this is my friend Bucky." Ava says introducing him and taking a drink he offers her.
"Bucky. That's an odd name." Alec says.
"It's a nickname." Bucky snarls Ava glanced at him confused by his hostility.
"Well Ms. Ava I am going to hit the men's room I'll be back." Alec says with large grin.
"I don't like him." Bucky says to her glaring.
"Why not? He's really nice." She says shrugging starting to get tipsy.
"He could be a threat." Bucky says Ava could tell he was jealous.
"Barnes dear boy are you jealous?" She asks in a failed attempt at a British accent. Before Bucky could reply Alec returned with another man.
"Ava this is my boyfriend Sam." Alec says gesturing to the other man Bucky's eyes widened a bit and he looked away his cheeks a bit pink.
"Well hello Sam. Let me tell you your boyfriend is one hell of a dancer." Ava grins tapping Alec on the shoulder.
"I know. Come on." Sam said grabbing Alec's hand and taking him to the dance floor.
"Oh hey Bucky did I mention Alec plays for the other team?" Ava grins drunkenly at Bucky.
Ava laid across the hotel bed her legs dangling over the side. Bucky watch her curiously as she kicked her legs and giggled she was drunk. The alcohol hadn't affected him a bit. Ava laughed telling him some story about some pet she had when she was little. He was enjoying how happy she was.
"Man I loved that dog, man I love all dogs and cats well animals in general but you can't take care of a pet when you're always moving. Sometimes I wonder how life would've been like if I wasn't well a scientist slash spy." She said softly.
"You would be safe." Bucky's voice came out sadder than he had meant.
"And I would have never met the great and wonderful Sergeant Bucky Barnes." She said with a small smile. "That other life would have been awful." She said sitting up in front of him.
"You aren't mad at me anymore for the whole camera thing?" He asked wanting to completely clear the air.
"Nah who could be mad at such a cute confused soldier." She said in a sing song voice kissing his cheek.
"I think you've had too much to drink." He smiled "Go to bed."