Notes: There were wacky udates today because I needed document room because this story is pretty lengthy compared to the rest of my stuff. Hope you enjoy!

~SoN~

Chapter 5-Getting to Know

Beni:

Let me tell you and my inner monologue something. That ass should be illegal in the jeans I pulled out for him, despite the fact that they were slightly to big, but that's why I also gave him the belt. The arm was a little bit of a turn on, too. But the star was a mystery, just like him. I planned on painting it like the star from Mario Kart if I ever got the chance to do so.

But for now, I kept telling myself to stop rambling, and I was really thankful when my big mouth actually sort of listened to my brain. Then I just watched as he made a big heaping plate of my cooking, and I couldn't help but smile a little.

Instead of getting back up like the lazy little shit that I am, I just scooted my chair back until I was in arm's length of the silverware drawer, leaned a little more, and pulled out a knife and fork. Then I clossd the drawer, scooted back up, and handed him the utensils. He hadn't grabbed any when he came to sit down.

"So," I said, trying to ease the tension in the room a bit, "What's your name?"

He stayed silent for a moment, eyeing the food with caution as if I had poisoned it. He cut a little piece of the pancake off and ate it before finally answering me.

"...James. But...People call me Bucky."

Well with hair like that you're gonna have even more nicknames, I thought. But instead I just said,

"Bucky? Cool. Mine is Beni."

"Beni?"

"Yeah."

"...Isn't that a boy's name?"

"It's Beni with an 'i,' not Benny with a 'y.'"

"Oh."

He played with his food a little bit before taking a bite of the eggs this time.

"Is it bad? I mean, I know I haven't cooked in a while,but I'm not that bad. I didn't spit it any of it if that's what you're wondering. I'm one hell of a prankster but even I'm not that evil."

Oh. My. God. Why can't I just shut up? That would be really nice and helpful at the moment. Before I start rambling, or end up embarrasing myself in front of the stranger-but-also-kind-of-not-a-stranger.

"That's not what I'm worried about," he said slowly, as if he was deliberately trying to choose his words carefully. Which was a smart idea considering I had his gun and knife. An SIG. Nice choice of artillery, but I myself prefer a Glock .26 or a sniper rifle. I made a mental note of how him not having his defense made him seem really uncomfortable.

I gave him an easy smile and grabbed my crutches again. In the corner of my eyes I saw him tense up-again. I stood up and pulled a bar stool over from the island in the kitchen and pulled it up in front lf the sink. Then I began to wash the dishes, and silently watched and listened as Bucky devoured all of the food on his plate in just a few minutes.

But it was to quiet for my tastes.

So I tried my best at friendly conversation.

"So where are you from?" I asked over the water. He gave me a quizzical look for a moment before answering.

"Brooklyn. I'm from Brooklyn."

Third Person:

Beni noticed how he seemed like he needed to repeat it for himself, like he was reassuring himself that that's really where he came from.

Bucky, on the other hand, had no idea why he was answering her questions. Maybe because it was her being nice to him. A huge change that he had yet to get used to. Maybe it was because she still had his weapons. Maybe because he thought she was sort of...Cute, in a way. Like maybe her and his past self would be the best of friends.

"Brooklyn? Like, New York?" Beni said, washing the inside of a glass. He nodded, and she whistled.

"That's cool. I would ask you what you were doing all the way out here in D.C., but that's none of my business. That, and I'm from Queens. I think my house was the only lawn that didn't have a lawn gnome on it," she chuckled slightly at that last part. Bucky raised an eyebrow, tilting his head to the side ever so slightly.

"To expensive?"

"No. To tacky. I'm actually kind of relieved that dad broke it against the house when he was drunk."

Stop talking about it. Go away from that area. Finish the dishes. Go die in a hole, she thought. What a wonderful to-do list.

"He sounds fun," Bucky said. He could tell she was uncomfortable about the subject of her father. He could tell by her body language, and he was a master at reading people like that. Her motions got slightly slower, and a little more jerked as she washed each dish.

"Yeah, totally," she said. She shook her head and mouthed the word 'no.'

"So, anyway...Uh...Where did you serve?"

Beni knew it was a stretch, but she wanted the conversation off of her. She already gave him to much without meaning to, so maybe she could get him to do the same.

"The 107th..." he replied. He looked almost uncertain. She had no idea where or what that was, but it sort of answered her question, and answered a completetely different one in general, so she was content with his answer. He had served. That explained the gun and knife. But if he served then why was he running? And who was he running from?

"Did you serve?" He asked, after what seemed to be an eternity of silence. Beni turned off the water and dried her hands, looking up to meet Bucky's blue eyes that seemed almost to bright compared to his dark hair and the heavy bags under his eyes. Beni nodded.

"Yeah, in the Marines."

Not surprising, Bucky thought.

"For how long?"

"Three tours, plus Basic of course. You?"

"Five...Six years? Something like that."

Beni nodded and smiled, another question popping into her mind. This time it was purely out of curiosity.

"What was your rank?" She asked.

"Sergeant, but I helped the Captain with a lot of other things. We were best friends..."

Beni internally cheered because she was a highed rank, but at the same time she wantes to know shy he suddenly seemed kind of sad talking about this mysterious captain-with-no-name.

"That's not to bad. It's better than a private."

"Yeah, I guess. What about you?"

"I was a Captain for most of the time, but left a colonel. It happened shortly after I lost my leg. Like, 'Hey, you get a promotion for being a good little soldier and bringing our troops back. Oh, here's a token of our appreciation with a medal that has no use except for show,'" Beni said with a fake smile. When she was done speaking she dropped her smile and huffed, blowing some stray bangs out of her eyes.

Bucky almlost smiled. It had been...Well...Years since he's had a nice conversation like this. At least seventy, seventy-five, give or take. But she certainly didn't need to know that.

"So...Bucky? Do you have anywhere other than here you can stay?"

Bucky hesitated. Should he lie and say yes? Technically, though, an alleyway was a place to stay, so if he said yes he wouldn't really be lying. He could make any place his place. But that's not what he answered, despite his brain saying that it was a bad idea.

"No. Not really."

"Well," Again with her split decision making. She needed to break the habit. "Do you wanna stay here?"