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STEVE POV
“Buck, where are we going?" Team Cap was walking through a small village. Slab dab in the center of one. "People are going to recognize us. They do get the news here, you know." He didn't trust this one bit. They walked past a bar; people didn't really look, but they did notice. Who wouldn't. Four individuals in roughed up uniforms. "Just shut up, I know a place." How would his best friend know a place here? We made a turn into a dark alley. Bucky grabbed a key from the top of a gate door in said alley and opened it. They all walked into a small courtyard. Bucky locked the door behind us.
"Bucky, for real, where are we?" Sam looked as confused as I felt.
"A safe place." Then he knocked on the front door. When it opened, a blonde woman squealed and jumped him. He let out a breath, and I was about ready to peel her off him when he spoke softly. "Hi sweetheart..." Sweetheart? Sam and Natascha let out a confused sound.
"James! You're here!" She pulled back and looked at him, smiling. Like a ray of morning sunshine. "Can we crash here?" He moved a lock of hair out of her face while holding her close. I haven't seen him act like this since our Brooklyn days. Even then, never this close. "Yes! Come in all of you. Are you hungry? Thirsty?" She opened the door with her foot without moving away from Bucky.
"Thank you, ma'am. It's nice to meet you." Maybe I was being a bit formal, but I know nothing about this woman. "My name is Sam; I'll have some water if you have it." Sam spoke, and Nat also chose to show off her best side. "Me too miss." She said with a smile.
"How about this," the woman spoke, "James will give you all the tour while I cook you all up some dinner and get you refreshments." Honestly that sounded amazing. The last full meal must've been a week ago. "That sounds wonderful darling." Bucky's voice sounded so soft. He seemed calmer too, his shoulders less tense and the lines on his forehead less deep. Once he let her go all that tenseness returned.
"Well, come in, come in!" I followed Buck in with Sam and Nat, to the living room. It was a small apartment, but very cozy. She was previously clearly seated on the couch as there was a mug on the side table and a book opened next to it.
"Livingroom, over there is the bed- and bathroom. Toilet is in the hall we just entered through. No interrogating her." Buck spoke shortly.
"But that doesn't mean we can't interrogate you. Who is she, Barnes?" Natasha asked.
"And more importantly, why is she so nice to you" Sam added.
"She is someone I met a long time ago and showed me kindness even when I wasn't myself." He started squinting slightly.
"Is she HYDRA Buck? Or was she?" The question had to be asked.
"Involuntarily, yes. But that is not my story to tell."
I nodded. Anyone that got out of there without losing Bucky's respect could be trusted. Even my touch he sometimes stepped away from. Only when he didn't see it coming. But what just happened between them, the way she jumped him. He trusts her, and that's rare.
"The pasta is on the stove, it will take about 10 minutes. Would any of you like to take a shower? I have some extra clothes. If you wish to change out of the uniforms?" She said when walking back into the living room.
A shower did sound nice. "Dibs." Sam was faster than us. "James, would you mind showing him? The clothes are in the same spot. Bucky nodded and lead Sam to the bedroom.
The woman looked at Natasha and me, and within a moment I felt a wave of calm come over me. "He wouldn't bring you all here if he didn't trust you and it wasn't absolutely necessary."
"We got ourselves in a little pickle and we desperately needed a place to stay and lay low." The words came out of Natasha's mouth without any filter. The woman nodded, "I understand. How is James with that pressure?"
It was my turn to answer. She looked at me and I felt slightly woozy. "Worse than he is telling us. He has been fidgeting and squinting a lot which means his head hurts and he has been pushing a lot of feelings down." Why did I tell her all that? She must've picked up on my confusion because she answered before I could ask anything.
"At my previous place of residence they found out that when people are near me they are more likely to spill what is on their mind. That is why I moved to a remote village when we were freed by the information dump of the Black Widow. If you feel uncomfortable with how I operate, I would recommend staying at least four paces away from me. That's how much I can reign it in without hurting myself." She sounded calm. As if she has been telling people this news repeatedly for years. Yet she didn't look older than 25.
"Thank you for telling us this. If Bucky trusts you, so do I." I spoke honestly.
"Thank you Mr. Rogers." I didn't let it show, but it has been a while since i heard my last name without the title 'Captain' attached to it. I didn't mind it.
BUCKY POV
Being back in this apartment brought back fond memories. The time I spend here before I took myself to Romania was vast. After escaping America to Europa I looked for a remote place where I could think. Stepping off the boat in Rotterdam is where she found me. Feral and overstimulated. It wasn't a good look but she calmed me down. She drove me to her house and helped me get my brain back in order.
She didn't change a bit. Of course, she didn't, but it was astounding to see non the less. I never asked her, her age. It's not important, I'm an age improbable too. So is Steve.
Holding her again felt like a dream. Being near her calmed not only my mind but my whole body. Having other people here however, that tensed me back up. How they looked at her, assessing her. I didn't like it one bit. "So this is the shower, towels are in that cabinet." I motioned over to the cabinet next to the sink absentmindedly while grabbing a pair of sweats and a shirt for him out of the dresser. "Does she have a boyfriend? Having men's clothes around like this." It was a valid question he was asking. "No they are mine." Honesty is the best policy right? "Barnes, what is she to you?" Another valid question. "She's the reason I don't have 798 murder charges on my belt and I am allowed to take another breath after the whole Zemo debacle." More he wasn't going to get. This is my story and my life. For now it seemed to be enough because he took the clothes and turned the shower on.
Quickly making my way back to her, hearing the last few words of her conversation with Steve and Natasha. "Call me Steve, please" Steve looked less agitated as he did when we just arrived. I didn't focus my hearing on them much so I'm curious what she said to make him change his mind this fast.
Taking her back in my arms felt like a second nature. So did pressing a kiss in her hair. "I think the pasta is nearly done, do you want me to check on it?" I murmured softly into her hair. "Ill do it.. You sit down." She turned around in my arms and pressed a kiss on my cheek. “You look tired…” I tried, but she wouldn’t have it. “I had a morning shift, but I’ll have the day off tomorrow.”
I smiled softly, that would mean we’d have the whole day tomorrow. “What do you do for work?” Natasha asked. “I work at the hotel around the corner as a receptionist, and because business is not going as well as they hoped I occasionally also work the breakfast shift. It’s hard work but it pays the bills, plus people think I'm just naturally charming and don’t look at me suspiciously when I get my way.” Y/N turned partly so her hips were still flush with mine but she was looking at Nat. “That is a great job choice then.”
“I’d say so!” She pressed another kiss on my cheek before disappearing to the kitchen.
“Why are you not here permanently Buck, she seems good for you.” My best friend asked.
“It’s difficult to explain but it wouldn’t be good for her.” I spoke.
“Because she's soft and nurturing and you're afraid you’ll break her.” Natasha was spot on. Sitting down on the couch I answered, “I wreck the sunshine inside her so I'm happy with seeing her only once so often. It’s a small price to pay.”
“So you say.” Apparently Nat didn’t agree.
"I do say so Natalia." I said sternly, hoping to end the conversation.
That is also when my sunshine peeked into the living room, "Food is ready, will you set the table?"
I nodded to her and smoothly did so. She is a creature of habit so there hasn't changed much since I've been here last. When was that again. Let’s see, I pulled Steve out of the water in 2014, then fought Tony in Siberia roughly 2 years later, so it must have been approximately three years ago. I’d say.
“You have a wonderful shower”, Sam walked out of the bedroom looking fresh as a daisy.
“Thank you, Sam, I see you found my moisturizer?” Y/N asked, smiling.
I did not like Sam smelling like her. It’s not right. I felt her arms wrapping around my waist, "You next..."
Looking down to see her smiling softly made my heart jump. She really was pure sunshine... "I'll be back soon, don't let these animals eat it all hm.." I joked.
"I promise..." She let go and I could get my well-deserved shower.
HER POV
It was good to have him here again. The others however... I didn't know how to act around them. They weren't like him but they are still normal. Right? "The food tastes great, thank you."
I gave Natasha an appreciative smile, "If you stay tomorrow too, I'll make you all something better."
"How long are we staying Steve?" She looked at the blonde man, and so did I.
"You're welcome for as long as you need it." It was true. My house might be small, but no other people were using it besides me so I was happy to share the space. It's not like I'm lonely, I have friends, but the apartment could feel a little big at times.
"An extra day would be nice to plan where we can go next." He spoke carefully, as if he was a burden by asking this.
"Again, you're more than welcome, Steve." I felt two warm hands on my shoulders. Bucky's metal arm heated by the warmth of the shower.
"Any food left for me?" I looked back at his face and smiled. "Loads..."
An hour later everyone had showered and sat in the living room, relaxing. I was sitting on the couch with Bucky's head in my lap, softly massaging his scalp. "I will wash your uniforms tomorrow, and mend them if needed."
Bucky let out a soft grunt, and I placed a hand over his mouth. "I also texted my colleague and I can borrow 3 extra cots from the hotel, so we'll have to rearrange the living room a little if you all don't feel too tired.
"It won't be a problem, do we have to pick them up?" Steve asked, I could already see the worry appear in his eyes.
"We do but I have a master card, we can get in and out without anyone noticing." I smiled softly, taking my hand of Bucky's mouth.
"And I'll sleep with you right?" He asked.
"Obviously, no one is sleeping on this couch, that's horrible for your back." I leaned over and pressed a kiss on his forehead.
"I'm curious," Sam started.
"Don't Sam." Steve said curtly.
"You can ask me anything Sam, what's on your mind?" I looked at Sam, gave him my full attention.
"Well... Are you not afraid?" He asked hesitantly.
"Of James? Well, no. He never harmed one hair on my head and he has always been honest with me. Even in his darker period he has always been a gentleman." I spoke.
"Don't exaggerate sweetheart. I did curse you a lot." James's blue eyes looked at me.
"You were in a lot of pain, it was to be expected." There was pain again in his eyes. I do hate to see it. It was so undeserved. It wasn't his fault.
"Did you help him get rid of the programming?" Sam asked. The whole room fell silent. I looked up slowly.
"No. I could not. It's still there." One of my many failures in life was not being able to help him with that. He could still be taken over involuntarily.
"Did you try? To get that out of his head?" Steve asked softly.
"I did. A few times." I wanted to say more but Bucky interrupted.
"It hurt a lot. Like your brain gets stretched thin and someone needs to cut through it with a dull knife." All three winced. Just that movement told me they all had been in a world of pain before.
"Seeing him in pain hurt me, but i was willing to sit thorough it if it meant helping him." I didn't stop moving my hands through his hair.
"It was my choice to stop trying. We were getting nowhere. It took them 5 years to condition the words into me. It's not easily taken out. The book is burned and only a hand full of people know the specific phrases. I'm willing to gamble." I felt his heartbeat quicken. He was afraid.
"Liar." I whispered, low enough for only him, and maybe Steve, to hear.
Bucky slowly got up. "Enough interrogating, let's get those beds from your work." And i nodded.
Getting the beds didn’t take long. I had two super soldiers with me and the restaurant attached was already closed. No prying eyes anywhere.
"Is everyone comfortable with their bed?" They all nodded.
"There's water from the tap, food in the fridge and all doors and windows are locked, so I hope you all have a good night." I am nothing if not a good host.
“Goodnight” “Sleep well” “Thank you” I smiled at them before taking Bucky's hand and pulling him along to the bedroom, closing the door behind me.
“Hi bubba...” He didn't speak. He only took my face carefully in his hand and pressed a soft kiss on my forehead.
“Bed?” I asked softly. His eyes showed so much exhaustion. He nodded, and after pressing another kiss to my forehead, he let me go, took his shirt off, and got into bed.
I didn’t think much about it and turned on the bedside lamp, the one that gave me calming waves on the ceiling. Taking off my sweater and sweatpants and crawled into bed myself.
“This wasn't how I imagined seeing you again” His tone was soft.
“I'm glad I get to see you at all again..” I didn't get to speak anything else before he pulled me into his arms. He forever the big spoon and I the small spoon.