This past few weeks have been very hard for me. My cousin, who I was very close to passed away, and my own Siberian Husky, Koda passed away as well.
I apologize for the wait, and I apologize if you feel like it's not any good.
I am trying to get back into the swing of writing again, and I promise it will get better quickly.
Thank you for sticking around,
And listen to These Streets by Bastille for this chapter,
-G.
As they'd backtracked towards the very area Bucky had just saved them from, Tala watched as the calm he'd felt momentarily evaporated.
Although she'd mentally shut her powers down in an attempt to recharge from her overuse, they weren't needed as James shoulder became stiff and his back straight. His head swiveled on his shoulders in a pattern reminiscent of a submarine echoing for enemy ships, eyes looking each and every one person for a threat.
Tala, who usually walked with a small guard up, had never felt so insufficient before. If this is what he'd been brought to with being hunted, then she'd been hardly aware of her surroundings at all.
She did take the opportunity as his thoughts seemed to preoccupy his scrutiny to watch his moves, walking a pace behind him.
His body wasn't huge, like a body builder but the loose clothes he wore did nothing to cover the definition of his arms, chest, and even stomach. His jacket was unzipped, and whenever he turned ever so slightly to glance back at her, his t-shirt pulled against his abs giving her a quick side profile of muscles that made her own stomach tight.
Although he looked grungy, he was all together very clean, and held himself with all the years of training she'd expected him to have gone through.
All in all, he was a man comfortable with being a threat. He looked like he was unused to looking for the big bad over his shoulder, and that put her on edge if only slightly.
She knew nothing of his story, and relied heavily on her own powers to find solid ground in her assumption of his character. Something was coming for him, and quite possibly her now by extension, and reality of the situation was that she had no idea why.
Tala shook her head in the visage of a dog, throwing her unsure thoughts out, because she of all people knew that she needed to trust in herself fully or she'd bring what she feared to fruition.
There were only two reasons anyone did anything; fear and love. Both could come into play at once, but one or the other, it never changed.
She'd seen this man for who he was now, the type of man who reacted in fear with someone at his back, and love when needed for safety. He was human, and although his past may show her otherwise, she owed it to him to be subjective and open if only because he'd shown her his compassion when he'd been shown none.
Tala sucked the air between her teeth when a bike suddenly burst out from between the traffic to the right of them, streaking past them with screaming gears and tires.
Bucky fluidly stepped back out of the way, his arm held out to catch her across the chest. His hand grasped her right shoulder backwards, and pushed her softly to be completely behind him. He stood stoic for a few moments, his shoulders moving up and down slowly as he attempted to bring himself back under control.
Bucky filled his lungs and felt like an idiot. A fucking bike, and he reacted like it was a damn attack. His adrenaline peeked with each moment and he felt the rage that had kept him nearly blinded while on missions for Hydra begin to burn at the base of his brain.
He fought against the intrusion this moment, having let it completely run wild when they'd been ambushed at the museum, but wanted to stay calm in small instances like this.
Bucky wanted to stay normal, he needed to learn, and he didn't want to scare Tala.
He mind still felt fragile with the small revelation of a childhood book to his minds eye, and although it frightened him, he wanted more. He couldn't have walked away from Tala after his memory resurfacing, no matter what he'd felt about safety. Thankfully she'd made her own decision, and she'd explained to him in easy terms the quickest route to her home after they'd taken the train back towards the museum.
They'd gotten off the platform before her usual route after he'd explained to her that it was close enough to the museum that it would most likely be watched. He was almost positive the one they'd exited was also being watched, but she'd assured him that at this level in the game, they'd most likely still be looking for him by himself, and he begrudgingly agreed.
Although she'd been on their radar as a civilian within the museum, Bucky was almost positive that it would take the mercenaries quite some time to put together that the woman had been anything other than a civilian, if they ever did.
Hell, they might convince themselves that he'd somehow done whatever had happened, and that she'd woken before them and run off.
It made him antsy as hell to return so close to the area they'd escaped, and the remnants of the battle between Hydra and Captain America.
Most of the damage had been cleaned up by now, but Bucky felt like it had been only hours before.
Tala reached with a hand ever so slowly to rest softly on James shoulder, leaning closer to rest her chin against his back, unable to reach his shoulder even on her tip toes.
"We're around this corner, might want to get a move on?"
It was a gentle prod but got the man moving again, not before he rolled his shoulder, forcing her hand off, and his immediate movement to drop her chin off.
Tala rolled her eyes and continued to follow, slightly annoyed at the action, never understanding why when others knew she had felt their emotions, tried to act the opposite of what she knew to be true.
Making a quick left, six individual buildings facing inward with a common gate came into view.
Her townhouse lay on the right side of the six, a pool in the middle of them all, and a small office which made up the managers post made up the complex she lived.
She'd been asked many times by her own people why she stayed in DC in a small home, when she could be anywhere in something much nicer and with land.
The truth of it was she could never venture to far from her father's resting place, and in all other honesty, why go somewhere else, in a bigger home? She was by herself, and even then she'd left often enough where home was nearly negligible.
Taking the lead, Tala pushed open the main gate, which lead into the small office. Unfortunately the manager, an older woman with ruby cheeks, and a bad case of envy, was in.
She flashed an insincere smile towards Tala before fear entered her gaze when looking at James who followed close behind. He walked half turned watching the door close behind them, and didn't even bother to acknowledge the woman.
Tala smiled as well, and produced her keys from her pocket, where they had thankfully held on for dear life. Opening the inner door which lead to the middle area between all the townhouses, Tala held it open for James to continue.
He finally glanced at the old woman, assessed her, found her to be a minimal threat, and turned his back on her exiting to find himself in a large area littered with many potted trees and green surrounding a local pool area.
The door clicked shut behind him, and Tala made no move, instead offering a hand to him and a crooked smile.
"So, just a pre warning before I give up which is m-"
"You mean it isn't the one with the traditional Indian artifact on the stoop?"
Tala raised her eyebrows in surprise and glanced at her porch to sure enough find her mother's cradle board resting against her mailbox, which was also adorned with a small pouch and feather charm.
Scoffing slightly, Tala shrugged her shoulders and quipped.
"Native, not Indian. Either way, ground rules Buster. We'll get down to the grit of what happens next inside, but for now I don't think I need to threaten you. We both know what I am capable of, so if for some reason you're feeling a bit violent, how about you just don't?"
Bucky looked at her with a guarded expression as he listened to her, and when she gave a pause for him to answer, he didn't even pretend he would grace her with a reaction… at least a verbal reaction.
His eyes spoke eons, giving validity to her earlier thought as his eyes promised no violence, no anger.
"Also, before you chat our ears off there, be aware that I do have a dog. Not allergic are we?"
That caught Bucky off guard as he glanced at her with a raised eye brow, his ball cap still holding his hair in front of parts of his face.
Tala simply gave him a huge smile, and made her way to her front door, opening the top and bottom lock with ease, stepping into the front room nearly sighing in content as the spells of her people settled over her like a blanket.
Bucky followed slowly, and even in the late evening sun, the earthy tones of the décor calmed him as she opened her front door into a very open and uncluttered space. The moment he stepped through the threshold of her home, he felt a tingling sensational slowly cover him, almost like he'd stepped into the pool outside and the water was sinking into his skin. Oddly, it didn't feel intrusive, rather hesitant, as if a living breathing entity as the sensation tentatively enveloped his entire body before settling, and eventually disappearing. Although the tingling sensation was gone, he had the faint knowledge whatever it was still lingered, just past his ability to sense it.
"That was interesting…" Bucky growled it out, unsure of what to make of the event looking to Tala for an explanation.
"That just put you off the grid as long as you are in this home. Any that seek you will simply be unable to find this place in malice. Welcome to the beauty that makes up the Native culture."
Bucky stared at her, unable to simply believe in something as fantastical as magic spells, even in the dawn he lived in.
"Just like that, I'm safe from anyone who is looking for me?"
"That isn't what I said. Any that look for you with the intent to hurt you in anyway will be repelled. A spell of this magnitude is powerful but no shaman in existence has the power to hide a soul completely."
"Oh right because that would be silly…" Bucky didn't know how to believe her as he took a long look at her home.
The front room where they stood held a small hook set of wood, a long brown bench of dark oak hid several pairs of shoes underneath. Leading into her home, left a large open floor plan. A small living area past the opening from the mud room flowed into a dual dining room and large L shaped kitchen, kept separate by a marble topped island.
The walls were painted a soft shade of cream, and all the furniture in contrast were dark shades of wood, red pillows on a sand colored couch, splashes of dark green and orange candles strewn about gave the impression of a wooden area in Fall.
Tala moved into her home after hanging her keys up, and as he looked down at his feet for a moment he noticed an ash line burned into the wood flooring that marred the door entrance.
Glancing at all the doors and windows leading out, he noticed the same ash burn across the base of each one.
Taking a step further and closing her front door, Bucky found a large talisman bag wrapped with leather cord on the knob of the door.
A click of her tongue brought his attention back to the woman who'd now stripped her feet of her shoes, and hung her jacket from a wooden coat stand in the corner of her home.
She looked in extreme ease, and as he took a seat to pull his shoes off in respect of her home, almost expecting her to offer him a peace pip next, the pitter patter of paws and nails found a large lumbering white wolf coming down the wood stairs from the above level.
The beast was clearly past it's young years, grey hairs covering its muzzle constrating deeply with its ebony fur. It's eyes as dark and still as a starless night were hooded and its tongue lolled out of its mouth, panting happily as it immediately went to Tala.
Tala had received Shadow as a gift from a family she'd assisted when a litter of pups had been born while she'd been aiding their son.
He'd been with her now for twelve years, and had been her constant companion in all things. She'd taken him on every trip, paying to have him certified a service dog so she could bring him on the plane with her rather than put the poor animal in the hold.
He had never led her wrong, and although a mixed breed with wolf, had never shown any aggression towards a human being.
Now with old age, he preferred to stay home than go for long adventures and walks with her, and it was the only reason he hadn't been with her earlier this day.
Tala scratched the animals ears softly before smiling at Bucky who sat still on her foyer bench, his tennis shoes sitting neatly to the side.
She suppressed a small laugh, finding him in his socks an odd sight, before motioning to Shadow towards their guest.
Shadow happily looped to Bucky who stiffened immediately as the animal placed its head right into his lap, eyes looking up to him.
"His name is Shadow… He wants you to pet his ears. He won't bite, I promise he is completely tame."
Bucky hesitantly raised his hand and after a moment's hesitation, began to pet Shadow, his fingers running through the wolf's thick soft fur.
Unable to stand the disconnect she felt with her powers shut, Tala reopened her mind's eye letting the tendrils of her awareness reach out to the man who sat quietly petting Shadow.
A darkness held firm in her guest's mind, his jaw locked in thought and uncertainty.
He was afraid.
His emotions bled fear and embarrassment like a river, unsure of what to do in such a normal setting. He'd never been invited into a home as a guest, or at least from what he could remember.
Here he sat with his shoes off, meeting her pet, as if he was a friend… or a date, come to see her home. Now he sat like a fool, with no idea what to do now, what to say. He was afraid to offend her, to do anything wrong when he was supposed to be human.
Tala made her way back to the foyer and plopped down on the floor in front of James and Shadow, crossing her legs.
Bucky stared at her, his eyes widening underneath his ball cap, which he suddenly realized he still wore inside and whipped it off his head confused at her actions.
It was impolite to keep a hat on inside someone's home, he knew better.
Do I?, His mind whispered as the inclination came from somewhere deep within him.
"Well now, since he seems comfy with you petting him there, I guess we'll talk here. Time to get to know each other Mr. Barnes."
Bucky shifted uncomfortable almost instantly with her words, the dog sitting on his hind legs oblivious to his shifting emotions intent on only continuing to be rubbed behind his ears.
Glancing into the woman's eyes, Bucky bit his lip before shaking his head slowly rasping.
"Not anything to know."
"Pig's fly. You've all sorts of stories to tell, when you feel like it of course. I'm not pushing you there darling, I'm not expecting the deep and dark anytime soon. I'm thinking more along the lines of favorite color, maybe a culture, maybe a reason you keep hiding that arm of yours, you know nothing to deep."
Bucky couldn't have tensed any more if he tried, as he glanced at his metal arm mostly covered with the jacket and gloves he wore, petting Shadow. He remained silent and refused to look at her again lest she flash him another smile he didn't know how to handle.
Tala, knowing she'd touched a nerve, bit the inside of her cheek before letting a small huff out. Wringing her hands in her lap, she smiled to no one but herself before offering to the man in front of her.
"My tribe is the Seneca and my favorite color is orange. I obtained my powers from the master deity of my people, I volunteered for the honor. I love to paint, and have many tattoos. Many of which you will have to work to see." Tala winked at him then, which nearly brought a startled surprise to Bucky's face, and the momentary surprise is what finally brought the formidable man's guard to slowly lower.
Bucky swallowed nervously as the dog finally pulled away from him to find a spot next to where Tala sat, and flopped down to nearly instantly nod off. Leaving him with nothing to do with his hands, Bucky passed the hat he held in his left hand back and forth between his now free right, looking to Tala's face and eyes after plucking up his courage.
She watched him with patience and quiet expectation. Although he felt uncomfortable, in fact most likely the most uncomfortable he'd ever felt since becoming the Winter Soldier, Bucky wanted to make this work. If he tried, gave a little, then she could help. He had to try.
"I don't know what my favorite color is… and I don't know what race I am. Something white, guessing by the skin..." Tala laughed at the small joke and if Bucky were a light, he'd be beaming.
Taking a deep breath, he looked Tala square in the eyes and dropped the hat he held to the floor before stripping the glove finger by finger till it freed his hand, and pushed up the sleeve of his jacket to reveal his forearm and hand made of metal.
All cards were out on the table, and Bucky held his breath before speaking, ready for her to send him down to the floor crumbling under the weight of her power.
He expected it, he deserved it if she knew what this meant.
"And I hide it, because it will give away who I am."
Tala had seen and felt the flashes of metal, and had thought little on the actuality of it. Hell she'd thought of the metal as being a part of some army arm band or bangle of some sort.
This… was no army band.
James Buchanan 'Bucky' Barnes was the man she'd seen on countless news reels in the past weeks, with speculations that had run wild.
The Winter Solider, the killer of nations.