Fire
Charlie was on fire. Not 'on fire' as in doing really well in soccer or whatever, but the engulfed in terrifying orange flames kind of 'on fire.' Bucky almost died from shock. Just seconds before she had been meeting one of her contacts--a wealthy businessman who had once contracted Bucky to do some industrial espionage, and who given the right incentive could bribe anyone onto an airplane. Now suddenly Charlie was melting through the plastic bench at the bus stop. Bucky wasn't really sure what to do when it came to spontaneous combustion, but she was about to tackle Charlie and roll him on the floor with the hopes of extinguishing the flames when Anna grabbed Bucky's hand.
"Don't be frightened; Charlie's fine. That's his special." Anna interjected wisely. Bucky paused and noticed that despite the flames, Charlie seemed neither uncomfortable nor injured in any way. Even his clothes were not being consumed by the flames, though the bench was starting to drip onto the pavement. Bucky sighed heavily and pulled at the collar of her tux.
"You know this shit is why I stopped doing deals with super villains." Bucky's contact--his name was William Sharpweather though he tried to insist that Bucky call him 'Nighthawk'--groaned flirtatiously, as if being an assassin for hire was something much sexier than it actually was. Bucky was glad she had decided to wear pants instead of that pretty red gown from Dior, even if it meant she had to steal a tux she would never wear again.
"Jem's not a super villain." Anna piped, sticking out her hands as if to warm them over Charlie's fire, "Maybe an antihero but not a villain. She's nice." And then, without any warning, blasts of ice and cold air erupted from Anna's hands, effectively putting out Charlie's fire. William put up an attempt at a seductive eyebrow. Bucky almost rolled her eyes.
"Jem. That's your name?" William asked, totally unfazed by the children's superpowers and knowledge of the term antihero. Bucky's expression hardened. She had already agreed to meet this man in broad daylight and in civilian clothes. Luckily--or unluckily for him most likely--the venue was at least deserted. Though his terms had dictated that she dress formally, which explained the tuxedo. But William only knew Bucky as the Winter Soldier, and it would stay that way. Bucky made a mental note to buy Anna an ice-cream for thinking of such a clever way to throw this already invasive man off her track. "It's a beautiful name."
"Thanks. Now. About this deal--" Bucky tried to bring the conversation back on track.
"What's your price?" William stated suddenly, his hands tightening minutely on the seat of the bench.
"There is no price. You give us safe passage to Switzerland and I don't leak everything I know about you to the press." Bucky felt the hint of a smile hiding beneath her coldness.
"That's not what I meant. I have hired you once. Could I do that again?" William grinned at Bucky hungrily. Anna glanced at Charlie and they both scooted towards Bucky as if to protect her.
"If you want trade secrets stolen from a rival company, I am your girl. But I will never really be 'your' girl if you get what I'm saying." Bucky was dead serious in a way that made William think of the first time he had met her, in his living room one day when he had returned home late from work. He was starting to become absolutely terrified, but not enough to stop hassling Bucky.
"Come on. It will be fun for you as well as for me. Imagine what you could do with that arm of yours--" William grinned and Bucky flexed her metal fingers inside their glove "You're a spy, don't tell me you haven't done this before."
Bucky was on fire. Not literally on fire, or 'on fire' as if she were doing well in soccer or whatever. Bucky was on fire with rage.
"Charlie, Anna, you might not want to watch this." Bucky growled beneath her breath, standing up and rolling her left shoulder in anticipation. "You want to see what I can do with this arm of mine? Well by all means, I'll show you." William was reduced into a whimpering, bleeding mess in a matter of moments, nursing two cracked ribs and a shattered ego. "My terms. You get us safe passage to Switzerland, I don't leak your disgusting love life and questionable business practices to your shareholders, and I never see your slimy ass again." Bucky paused and turned to Charlie and Anna, who despite Bucky's warning were looking on in awe. William nodded pathetically. "Good. Now let's go." Bucky nodded to her wards and they followed her back down the street. It was only when Bucky had returned to the motel where they were staying, changed clothes and burned her tuxedo when she was able to cool down slightly. Charlie and Anna sat together on the couch, whispering to each other. Eventually Anna cleared her throat.
"Um, Bucky?" Anna asked nervously as Bucky paced back and forth, articulating her arm panel by panel like she did when she was nervous. "Charlie and I were wondering if you would teach us how to do that. You know. Fight people." Bucky stopped dead in her tracks, and sat down on the bed with her head in her hands. Charlie stood up and tentatively walked over to Bucky who was doing everything in her power to keep it together. He stood next to her, shifting from one foot to the other, unsure of how to proceed. Then, in an act of faith, he settled down next to her and put a hand on her shoulder. Bucky let out a sob and he pulled his hand away and got up again.
"You don't want to learn. Once they found out I had trained you, SHIELD would recruit you, and you would be doomed to follow in my footsteps. You don't want this kind of life. You want to grow up, get married, have children of your own, and grow old. You may not want that now, but you will. Stay as you are while you still have that chance." Bucky took in a ragged breath, wiped her eyes and sat up straight. These were children. She couldn't let them see her cry, it would destroy their morale. She took another deep breath and looked up at her wards. Charlie and Anna stood in front of her, but they were different. Mostly because Charlie was on fire again, and Anna seemed to be a living ice sculpture. They were holding hands as they had been when Bucky had first seen them, each apparently immune to the other's power. But also because instead of seeming tentative and afraid, they for once seemed resolute.
"It's a bit too late for that." Anna replied softly, her voice sounding as if it were echoing through a cave. "Please will you teach us?"