She could feel his large arms tense against her shivering back as he carried her limp body towards an unknown location. His warm breath caressed her flushed cheeks, sending constant tremors across her bare arms, heating every inch of her frozen skin against the cold night's winds. Her heavy eyelids refused to open, but to an extent, she was able to muster up enough sobriety to try and grasp a feel at her surroundings. There was nothing familiar about the dark streets buzzing wildly against her wavering vision, as the cold sensation of his metal arm brushed against her fevered shoulder. The mess of hair concealed his expression, but from his stiff body language, he seemed uncomfortable being this close to her-
Bethany awoke from her dizzying delusion, breathing heavily against her uncomfortably familiar mattress.
"Stupid dream." she wheezed sluggishly, awakening from her drunken slumber.
Unsettling sensations washed over her drowsy body as she clenched her forehead in an effort to calm the extensive nausea spreading throughout her system. Blinking against the unpleasant sunlight piercing through her closed shutters, she positioned herself upright, desperately struggling to ignore the incoming migraine threatening to take over her muddled thoughts. Regaining her momentum to try and get out of her crabby bed, she arose to her wavering feet,quickly noticing she was wearing the same attire from the night before.
Last night, she thought with sudden panic, and immediately tried to recall the foggy events that had seemingly transpired during her drunken endeavor.
Lights, bushy eyebrows, and alcohol. Lots of alcohol. she reminisced regretfully, burying her throbbing head between her sweating palms.
Suddenly, Bucky's angered glassy eyes filled her vision, abruptly remembering the heated fight that had taken place before the alcohol had become apparent. His harsh, but truthful, words mixed within her own enraged statements, causing her to sigh inwardly at the frustrating ordeal. Eventually, after enough time pondering that her brash actions had ultimately caused the increasing headache, she halfheartedly crossed the stale apartment room, stumbling over her own two feet with exhaustion.
I gotta get out of here.
She fumbled with the slippery door handle, gradually managing to open the creaky door with slight desperation.
"I think it's best if you leave." Bucky's melancholy voice filled her sensitive ears, causing Bethany to jump in her skin.
She sighed against the dusty door, leaning her pulsing head back onto the murky wood at his abrupt presence with obvious frustration. He stood statue still before her, clenching his tightened fists by his side, a motion she had slowly grown accustomed to. As usual, he was staring her down with cold, azure eyes, glaring into her soul like it was his job to do so. The navy cap had surprisingly made a return, motioning the prospect that he was deciding to venture outside.
"Bucky, please. I'm not in the best state to deal with your stupid attitude right now-" she moaned with exaggerated exasperation, shutting her heavy eyes in an effort to block the overwhelming pain erupting inside her pulsating temples.
"You need to leave. Now." he pressed, the frustration evident within his firm tone.
She opened one tired eye, raising her eyebrow at his vulgar attitude. He seemed exceptionally more tense than usual, as she couldn't help but notice his strong throat tightening at something she couldn't quite understand. She frowned, slightly unnerved by his concealed desperation to have her gone.
"I was just leaving. You don't have to remind me twice." she confessed, lowering her gaze to the stained concrete.
He didn't reply, continuing to glower at her weak figure spitefully. For a minuscule moment, she thought she saw his snowy eyes flicker with an emotion she was unable to recognize, sending intense shivers down her unprepared back with uncertainty. Without another word, she continued on towards the stairwell, quietly fighting the urge to observe him one last painful time.
The airport was full of tourists and Romanians, either eagerly awaiting their flight to anew destination or preparing for a loved one's return. Bethany couldn't help but smile at their emotions, as even though the new world had faced several life threatening situations over the recent years, the civilian still found happiness in their familiar home. Home, for Bethany, was Washington, not with a flame that had died out years ago. She had guiltily ignored Steve's calls, and continued to form her perfect lie to cover her absence since he had been gone. Sam was also waiting at home, even just the thought of seeing him again sent embarrassed flutters inside her unprepared stomach. He would either hate her, or forget about it. For both of their sake's. Bethany prayed it was the latter. Purchasing her tickets, she walked to the terminal, and prepared to brace herself for the daunting flight back home.