Hello internet!
A/N: Everyone is back to see another chapter rise! So, here's said chapter! ;)
Enjoy you silly muffins (you are muffins now because I said so)!
I sat in my room patiently, waiting for Bucky to finish whatever conversation he was having with Tony and Steve. I was also beginning to wonder how he'd gotten into my room or even heard me.
Okay, I get it! Super soldiers! But sound-proof walls do block out even super soldiers' hearing!
I cringed trying to remember last night's events. I'd been depressed and exhausted. And most of all, frightened at how willingly I was telling everyone about my arm. It was strange to see Tony be afraid. I shuddered in disgust.
I went to pull at a baby blue blanket lying on the couch near me when there was a timid knock on the door. I rushed out of my leather seat, stepping over to the door. I took a deep, reassuring breath before I slowly turned the handle and opened the door to reveal a silent Bucky Barnes.
"Hey," I said carefully, not wanting to see him flinch.
"Hi," he replied quietly, running a hand through his long, brown hair.
"You can come in," I said shyly, opening the door a bit further and extending my hand out.
"Uh, thanks." He quickly stepped inside, turning to face me again.
"You wanted to talk to me?"
I nodded at him slowly, beckoning for him to take a seat. He obeyed and his arms were now nervously drumming on the arm of the dark leather couch.
I shuffled over so I could sit as well, trying to stop my breath from hitching. This was painfully awkward and it didn't feel like comfortable silence we had back then when I stared on for a while.
I finally looked up to see him watching me. I sighed again before beginning.
"How... how did you know I was... uh, was I in a nightmare?"
It felt frustrating trying to form just one question to start with. I had so many on my mind, an invisible weight giving me a dull headache, so I couldn't just choose one.
His broad shoulders tensed a bit, and closed his eyes for a second. I wanted to ask him what's wrong, but he spoke before I could.
"Should I just explain the whole thing?" He asked, his tone somewhat sullen.
Geez. Did I say something wrong? Good job, Charlotte.
I nodded carefully, before sitting back.
"Well," he began. "Your door was open, and - well, I was awake, so - I heard you screaming..." he trailed off silently, and I was this close to crying in thanks. I was so happy that he somehow, in his own way, cared, even if it was just a little bit.
"Okay..." I motioned for him to go on, and he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You - well, you were thrashing around. And your arm was - uh, silver." He pointed to my arm and I internally kicked myself.
Why didn't I tell him? I should've told him, right? Then again, what if he didn't react well? But still, a stupid secret I shouldn't have kept.
"Don't worry, I know what happened," he quickly added. "...Steve... told me."
I smelled a lie, yet didn't dig any further, because I didn't want him uncomfortable.
"Yeah... sorry I didn't tell you sooner," I said sheepishly, tugging at my hair.
"Don't worry. And... I'm sorry."
My eyes snapped up to meet his, blue on blue.
"Wh- what for?" I stammered.
"Well," he conceded. "For starters, I sorta ignored you for a bit."
I smirked, and playfully punched him in the arm, making sure my movements were delicate.
"And also, your arm. I know what it's like."
I actually smiled, and the big warm happy feeling of joy filled me. He was being so sweet, even after being broken for so long.
"I- well, I guess we both do," I replied, smiling one of my rare smiles at him.
He looked at me almost in surprise, but quickly dropped the shock.
"Well," he said, getting to his feet after another not-as-bad-as-before awkward silence. "I should get going. Steve's taking me to the library."
"Oh, really?" I asked, my eyes trailing after him. "Have fun, then."
He flashed me a look of thanks before gathering himself and leaving my small apartment. I have a sigh of relief, yet frustration all at the same time.
I should probably go to the gym. Does Stark Tower have a gym? I hope they do.
This girl has some punching to do.
The punching bag fell to the floor again, a small hole making the sand leak out. Damn these vibranium powers at times.
I wiped the sweat off my face ignoring the energy pulsing angrily in my veins. I had gone here when Bucky and Steve had left, and since then I'd been sweating my butt off and ripping through all the punching bags there. It was the only thing I could currently do.
Closing my eyes, I tried to ignore another oncoming headache which had been on/off for the last… three hours I've been here.
Huh. Three hours. Where are Bucky and Steve?
Maybe they're already back. I should go and check.
After I finished my mental conversation with myself, I took a towel, hit the showers and made my way to our floor.
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened to reveal… an empty space.
Just as I suspected.
But I did hear muffled shouts from somewhere. Almost like… an argument? Who was having an argument?
I followed the sounds of loud voices, carefully treading and keeping my footsteps silent. The sounds grew less muffled, and I eventually stopped to listen to another obviously secret conversation.
"She's a kid, Tony!"
Steve's voice.
"I don't care, it's just one damn mission."
That would be Tony.
"We're not losin' her again," another voice joined in.
Shit. Was that Bucky? He sounds angry.
"We're not losing her, okay?! It's just a bunch of HYDRA idiots! She'll be fine!"
"It's what they all say," Steve mumbled viciously.
I heard a gasp of exhaustion.
"Come on, Rogers! Have either of you read her file?! She's killed more than enough HYDRA agents to be safe! This will be easy!"
"You'll bring back her nightmares," Bucky warned, sounding dangerously mad.
"She'll be-"
Tony's voice was cut off when he saw me walk into the room. Steve and Bucky's eyes snapped my way as well and I saw that I had walked into a rather exquisite and expensive-looking meeting room. There were several leather chairs gathered around a very large glass table. Each were occupying one of the many vacant seats.
"Hey," I muttered, sort of embarrassed to have walked into this fiasco. I shuffled into another chair near Bucky.
"Oh, hey," Steve said, trying to plaster on a smile on his solemn face. "Good to see you."
"Why didn't you tell me you guys came home?"
I was very blunt. I don't know, I just became far more blunt since escaping HYDRA. It just felt good being blunt and honest and having a voice instead of being muzzled in.
"Uhhh," Steve shrugged nervously. "We heard you were busy in the gym."
"I wasn't that busy. When did you come back?"
"A few minutes ago," Stark replied quickly. "We were.. just discussing… uhh…"
"Well?"
I gave him an expectant look. Yeah, I already know what was happening, but I was curious on what they were going to come up with. Sorta cruel, but a master interrogator's gotta bring it, ya know?
"There's no point lying to her," Bucky chimed in, sort of reading my thoughts. While I may read his emotions, he reads my mind like a piece of paper.
Tony gave a deep, dreadful sigh. "He's right," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "Charlotte, we want to take you on a mission. Small one," he added quickly.
I stared at them in disbelief. Not that they wanted to take me on a mission, but the matter of fact that Steve seemed to have gotten his star spangled knickers in a twist for practically nothing.
"Ok…" I replied carefully.
"You don't have to," Steve also said, shooting Tony a dirty look.
"No, it's fine," I replied. "Could use the exercise. And besides-"
"It's not fine," Bucky began, cutting me off. Wooooooww…
He turned to me. "You just had a nightmare. There's no way you're going. That's final."
I opened my mouth to protest, but Steve cut me off. You guys are just dandy today!
"Buck's right, Charlotte. You're staying. It's risky with your mental instability."
"But-" I began, stuttering a bit. My eyebrows scrunched together. "But I'll be fine!"
Steve gave Bucky a strange look I haven't seen before. Bucky nodded at Tony, who nodded as well, and before I could say anything, I was picked up and swept off my feet. Quite literally.
"Hey!"
I yelled in anger as I pointlessly struggled against Bucky's grip. He, on the other hand, didn't even flinch when I landed a punch against his back.
"Let me go!"
He sounded like he was… laughing? That bastard.
He began walking out of the meeting room, leaving Steve and Tony there. I was quite literally kicking and screaming as he dragged me to god-knows-where.
Ugh, ugh, ughh. Not cool Barnes.
I kept screaming, but suddenly something flashed through my mind.
The one time they actually did wipe me. I don't talk about it a lot, pretend it never happened.
I had just returned from a mission, target successfully terminated. They had placed me in a medical room, where I was just being stitched up.
Word had been that the Winter Soldier had gone on a tough mission, so he'd be there too.
The guards walked past me, the Winter Soldier in between them.
When I saw the Winter Soldier's face for the first time, some emotion I was unaware of surfaced and a loud gasp escaped me.
The doctor next to me flinched when a spike narrowly missed him.
"Bucky?!"
I had rushed out of my chair, stumbling towards the bewildered Winter Soldier. The guards noticed.
"Code silver, Asset S is hostile."
"Why'd you reveal him to her, you morons?!" The angry head guard yelled in Russian. The others were building a barrier, but I shot all of them.
"Bucky! Bucky!" I kept screaming his name in vain, trying to claw my way to him. The guards, albeit rather dead, were still barricading him with their limp bodies all around, and everyone was shouting now.
"Bucky!"
Hot tears, which was something far too uncommon for me, began streaming down my usually impassive face.
Someone grabbed my arm and pulled me. I screamed and kicked in frustration, the Winter Soldier still showing no signs of recognition.
"No!"
They picked me up, slumped me over their shoulders, and restrained me into the electrical chair, where I screamed all night as they played with what memories I could access.
I was trembling now, and Bucky either noticed, or we were where we were supposed to be, as he finally dropped me down, making me face him.
"Hey," he murmured, still somewhat awkward at this 'emotional' thing. "Charlotte, c'mon. It's okay."
He cupped my cheek carefully. It felt somewhat... comforting. I tried to stop shaking like a leaf, taking deep breaths.
Then, out of the blue, I embraced him in a hug.
And THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is not just why BUCKY, but also my O/C need a hug! XD *jumps off a cliff*
Follow, favourite and review if you want a happy ending to this hug! (or not I guess...)