No-One But You (The Mystic Consultant) - Part 2

Chapter 38: Sunset (Part 8)

James Buchanan, also known as, "Bucky Barnes" was standing within a deliberation room that was designed for the Ancient One. Donna Strange currently held that position for the Mystic Arts, and she was using the appearance of the previous person as she spoke. Donna kept responding to the questions that "Bucky" sent in her direction, and it seemed like the man was annoyed.

He was a little annoyed, I mean, he wanted to talk to the person who he came to know as Donna Strange. Bucky asked her if she quit her job at the clothing store, and Donna quietly laughed at the question.

"Did I quit working at the fancy dress store? Did you really just ask me that question?"

She had to laugh again. Bucky was also touching everything in the room as he looked around. The not-so-winter soldier wasn't sure why she was laughing. Donna had worked at a clothing store located in the ritziest part of Manhattan. She took over her brother's apartment as well, until she moved in with Bucky way over in Brooklyn.

Looking back, Bucky couldn't recall if she stopped working there, and he remembered how she always dressed. Donna Strange had the fanciest clothes. She always wore the brightest colors…

Bucky glanced in her direction for a moment. The person in the room with him in that moment was dressed in some sort of ancient yellow, dojo rags. Sure, they looked cool, but Bucky didn't like the change. He was hoping to see a pretty skirt again, if they ever got around to catching up. Bucky forgot to respond. In fact, he rolled his eyes. The man Donna once tried to understand was pretty known for being a quiet brute…

"Are you happy with all this…mystic stuff? Whatever it is.."

Donna watched him toss his hand up as he spoke. He was pointing around the room at all of the mystical "stuff". Donna took a bit longer with her response. She thought about the person in front of her for a long while. "Bucky Barnes" moved on with "Agent" Romanoff, or, Romanov shortly after she left his apartment. It didn't take him long, but all of that was out of Donna's control.

She never really explained herself, and the young woman figured she didn't have to…

"I suppose it's no different than working for S.H.I.E.L.D. all the time. This is a lifelong commitment."

…

Donna gave her response, and she watched Bucky's eyebrow arch up toward the sky. Was that a dig? Bucky felt like she was commenting on Natasha's endless devotion to working for S.H.I.E.L.D. Her commitment was never-ending, and Bucky tried everything he could to pull Natasha away from it. Every once and a while, Bucky felt like he was making some progress, but then she was gone…

"But, are you happy with it?"
Happy? Donna heard what was said and she almost laughed at the notion. It wasn't juvenile, but she became pretty amused. Bucky seemed a bit troubled as Donna reflected on what he was saying. She almost took a step closer, but she figured that was a stupid idea. She began to think that James Buchanan seemed borderline miserable, and he hadn't changed much after she left.

He was still playing games with Tony and Steve, and his heart was still very unclear about what and who he wanted.

"You'll have to define the word for me. I'm not sure what you mean.."

Donna knew what joy felt like, but she wasn't sure how to answer Bucky's question. The young man held an annoyed expression after Donna answered his question. In his mind, he started thinking that Natasha had answered the same question in almost the same exact manner. He decided the women in his life didn't have a fucking clue, and they all behaved as if they were soooooooooooo fucking smart.

"C'mon….seriously? Being happy means you're not running around trying to fix shit all the damn time. You can't fix the world or solve all its problems, Donna Strange."

AND Natasha. Bucky was inwardly speaking to two people at once, but Natasha wasn't there. He was also speaking to Steve, Tony, and all the others as well. There were moments in his life where he knew he felt happy, and that was when everyone around him took a damn break. He always believed in doing things within a rotation, and without selling your soul and acting mindless.

Donna just took in the information as it was sent in her direction. She could feel an anger brewing beneath Bucky's stocky frame. Her mind went back to how handsome he was, and how charming he could be. Thinking that way made her close her eyes for a sec. She had to let it all pass..

It felt like Bucky was struggling. Donna finally took several steps in his direction.

The person she knew as James noticed that she moved in a little closer, but he saw her dojo-robes again and he looked away. It felt like Donna was hiding herself, and he didn't understand why. He didn't understand any of it, and that annoyed him to no end. Donna moving out of his apartment had bothered him as well, for years. Bucky thought he moved passed it, but the man thought against it in that moment.

He glanced down at her hand. Donna said something about taking it easy, and something about her comment being a joke. She understood what being happy was, and she tried to explain that she was kidding. Bucky Barnes was listening, but he gently touched her left hand as a response. Donna quickly looked down at her hand, because she immediately expected to have her soul fried to a crisp from a spell.

Her spell didn't work, and she suddenly felt the warmth from Bucky's hand. Donna's mind processed a series of things all at once, then she looked over at the door to the room. Her "baby" brother cancelled out her spell, and Donna Strange was experiencing a bit of shock. Her heart rate picked up for a number of reasons. Bucky let go of her hand..

He questioned his existence there at the Kamar taj for a minute or two, because Donna only commented on what Victor obviously did.

Victor Strange accepted the assistance from Oshtur, and Ezekiel watched a blue light travel slowly beneath his skin.

Victor spoke out an incantation, then he was able to touch Ezekiel's hands. They both took a second to process what had happened, then Victor began to laugh out at his sister. He said something like, got you sucker, then he went back to his playful laugh.

Chapter: END

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