Closer Than You Think
Six Months Later
Lillies and tulips slowly begin to bloom in the small garden in the back yard. Some daisies have already sprouted, little bumble bee butts hang out of the plants, eating up the pollen in the center.
Spring has sprung early in New York, resulting the early blooming of the garden you claimed was yours. A soft breeze sways the flowers, causing some of the bees to buzz away into a small bee house you hung on a near by tree. The sun is beating down on your bare shoulders, and your knees are slightly sore from kneeling in the mulch, but with Spring making an early appearance, you need to get this garden ready for the little bugs. Some butterflies rest on a near by wild flower, almost as if they're waiting for a better meal, that you are currently planting.
When the snow had melted, rain washing away the slush, you saw the bare sad garden a short stroll from the backdoor. You had turned to Bucky, demanding him to let you make it into something beautiful and lively. You had driven yourself to a local flower store, purchasing over three hundred dollars worth of pre planted flowers. You had even bought dandelion seeds.
After you planted everything, added little garden decorations, bird houses, bird feeders, and some bee homes, you had stood there, hands on hips. Pride bloomed through you, the garden was going to be beautiful.
Here you are, kneeling on the mulch, camera in hand as you try to capture the perfect shot of a bumble bee butt sticking out a flower. As you snap away, you hear a soft sigh from behind you. Turning your head, you lock eyes with Bucky. He is dressed in a black tee, dark wash jeans and his signature black boots. Tilting your head, "You don't look dressed to be gardening." You smile widely. You slowly stand, pushing the little sticks off your knees.
"I've come to steal you away," He hums, stepping closer to you. His fingers find the thin strap off your tank top, playing with the flimsy fabric. You've grown to learn Bucky likes to touch you in the smallest of ways. Fingers fiddling with your clothing, playing with your hair, lightly bushing his digits along you arms or face. Every time, it makes your heart swell. "As much as I love watching you play in the garden, I need you." His eyes are dark.
Sighing, "What do you need?" The look on his face is alarming. Bucky doesn't ever need you unless its one of two things. One, he needs you spread out for him. Two, someone has opened their big mouth and he needs you to smile at them to draw them in.
Its become a new dynamic.
Since Dillan, which he wasn't dead, but he did end up the hospital after "someone" found him in the street after he got "jumped". Bucky had made sure Dillan understood if he so much as opens his mouth again, his teeth will be ripped out and his tongue will be missing. That day had changed you, changed Bucky, changed the path you both had been on.
You still have your photography business, your apartment, your own life outside of Bucky, but you have found yourself spending more and more time here, in his home. He's never flat out asked you to be his, or to move in, but when he's kissing you, rubbing his hands all over your body, he whispers his claim on you. And you whisper yours back.
When business starts to tilt on the side from someone running their mouth, being shady, or a new target of someone thinking they can out law Bucky, you step in. You still haven't killed someone, and don't think you ever will, but you do help Bucky with the interrogation. You've taken it upon yourself to help lure in the bad men, for Steve, Sam, Tony, or Bucky. You're the first woman to walk along such a power mob boss, publicly. Bucky has never hidden you, and you have never shield your face when out with him. "New York's most powerful couple" had been printed everywhere in the city, yours and Bucky faces under the headline. Hand in hand while walking out of one of his many clubs, both of you smiling.
The love wasn't a secret to the city.
Staring up into ocean blue eyes, you remember the time you first helped him after Dillan.
It was snowing on a chilly December day, your ass parked on Bucky's desk, playing with one of his fancy pens. Bucky himself was reading an article about a local business being robbed, a brow arched high on his forehead. Before you could even voice a question, one of his men comes walking in, a stern look plastered on his face. You didn't look away from Bucky, watching him as his head slowly lifted up. "I hope you have a good reason to come in here without notice." A shiver slides down your spine at his tone.
The man takes a deep breath, eyes flickering between you and his boss, "107th was just hit." Tall Blonde man's voice shook as he spoke. 107th was one of Bucky's clubs. The shiver on your spine turned into a cold chill as you watched Bucky's face. Darkness started to settled into his eyes. "The man was shot before he could do any damage, but he raised his own gun..." His voice dies down as he looks back at you.
Bucky glances at you and then back to the man, "Continue, Walker." He rises to his feet, leaning on the desk with is hands.
"Should she..would you like me to with her here?"
Your head whips around before this words fully rest against your skin. Tilting your head at him, "Id love to here it." A sharp smile forms on your face.
Walker clears his throat, eyes burning into yours, then flicking back to Bucky's, whose brows are raised. Waiting. "Okay. He said 'Hail Hydra' has he aimed his gun at Wanda's head."
The air in the room went missing, the snow freezing in time as you felt Bucky go ridged. Hydra, the gang that has been attacking Bucky and his men for years. After beating Dillan to an inch of life, he confessed he was working with Hydra. Their leader, Alexander Pierce.
You slide off the desk, placing the pen down, "Well," you sighed, causing both men to stare at you, "Lets go raise some hell." Fixing your shirt, you watch as Walker stares at you as if you've grown another head, and Bucky's brows are pulled tight. "What?"
"What do you think you're doing?" Bucky speaks down at you, head tilted to the side.
You reach into a drawer of his desk, placing one of his hand guns on the top and then one of his knives, "Time to smile in the face of nuisance and then shoot it between the eyes." You shrug. "Are they expecting you, one of your men, or," You smile sweetly up at him, slipping the knife into your thigh sleeve,"me?"
Bucky had looked at you as if you hung the stars, the moon, and sun. As if you were the reason the Earth rotated.
You gazed into each others eyes, your skin feeling warm and breath puffing out slowly. Bucky placed a hand on your cheek, rubbing his thumb over your lip, "God, I'd burn the world for you."
Bucky kisses your temple softly, hands running over your arms, "Scott found a man loaded with guns in Corner. They have him tied up at the bar," you relax into his arms, "He said the man is demanding he speak to me. Figured I could surprise him with you."
"Mmm," you hum, turning your head to look back at the flowers, back to him, "what's in it for me?" Teasingly you breathe. The scuff along his jaw has started to salt and pepper, and honestly, it made you feel feral. His hair had grown out to brush pass his ears, tickling his jaw when the wind blows. Wrinkles have become deeper along his eyes and around his lips, smile lines evident from his smirks and grins.
You love to tease about being someone slightly older than you, calling him "Old Man" when he grunts from laying on the couch all day. The looks you receive will always be worth it, and the snarl "Ill show you what kind of a Old Man I can be." Again, feral.
Bucky hums deeply in his chest, a hand finding home on your lower back, the other gripping the back of your neck. Fingers curling into your hair, his thumb pressing lightly into the jut of your jaw, "I can think of a few things that involve being in you." He wiggles his brows.
A laugh bubbles out of you before you press your lips to his, smiling against him, "Fine, you dork. But you owe me. I was enjoying my quiet non-torture time."
He grins, pecking you lightly, "You wont regret it."
-
You regret it.
You regret it so deeply you begin to feel the burn deep within your bones.
It wasn't suppose to go like this. The plan was simple and so easy. Walk in, you interrogate the stupid man, maybe stab him in the thigh, and then Bucky come in and show him whats up. But no, no no no.
The man wasn't alone. He had left his van of partners outside, and wait until Bucky and you arrived. Waited until you both were inside before ambushing the club.
It started as soon as you had entered the room with the man, the door shutting behind you. It was idiot, Scott, and you alone in the room. Once the door latched, you felt it deep within your bones, your blood.
The first gun shot was from the other side, and then the yelling and more gun fire.
Scot went to reach for the door, but you stopped him, "Do not. You'll only get us both killed!" Your skin felt like fire, your eyes felt like melting. You turned to the man, burning him face into your memory. "What did you do?"
He smiled with triumph, "You're not going to go out there and check on your honey?" His voice was full of venom.
Gunfire and screams, yelling of demands. Scott still had a hand on the doorknob, waiting for you to release him. Heart in your ears, you can only hear your blood flying through your veins. Bucky is okay...he can handle it. He can handle anything. You feel your lip quiver. What if hes not okay?
"Awe, you going to cry?" He mocks. Your nostrils flare, "Why are you even here? To look pretty for me?"
You reach over and grab Scotts gun from his holster, aiming it at the mans forehead. "Im here to end you." You seethe. Your breathing is ragged, vision slightly blurry, "Now, tell me, what the fuck did you do?"
Unfazed, "We were sent to kill you all." He rolls his eyes as if its obvious, "Lower the gun, dollface. We all know you've never killed someone before."
You exhale slowly out your nose, staring at the man at the end of the barrel. He leans his head forward, pressing it again the tip of the gun, a challenge. A dare.
Scott shifts, "Don't do it. You don't want this on your hands." The shake in his voice speaks for itself.
You've never killed before. Never have seen the life leave someone before. Have never had someones cold blood on your hands. Staring at this man, you can feel the tremor start in your knees.
Bucky would burn the world for you.
You would kill for him.
The man grins wickedly. "Hail Hydr-"
Blood splatters across your arm, face, and dress. Idiots head snaps back, the force of shot causing his body to fall back against the chair. A trail of blood slowly drips out of the perfect hole in his head, slowly sliding out of his nose.
You stand there, silence filling the bar and the room. Gun still raised, you fire again. Bullet enters under this chin, exiting out the top of his nose. "Im sorry, what were you saying?" You flatly ask his corpse. You turn, lowering the gun to your side, "Open the door."
Scott doesn't need to be told twice. The door flies open and your both met with a bloody scene. Strange men are spread all over the bar. Some on the floor, some draped over backs of chairs, others laying awkwardly over the bar. You scan the faces, looking for Bucky, looking for men you know.
You land on a breathing man, his back turned to you just a few feet away. You step over bodies, making your way over to him. Scott speaks he's going to check around, you don't acknowledge him. Turning the man to lay on his back with you heeled foot, you aim the gun at his face. His cold brown eyes stare up at you. "You bitch." He spits on your leg.
"Was it Alexander?" Unfazed, you press your heel hard against a wound on the mans shoulder. He screams out, "I asked you a question."
"He paid us to attack. Said he would pardon us from our crimes once he became number one, put in good words for us." He hisses, "Said if we got you first, big man would be easy."
But where was Bucky? Why did all the men leave? Where did Scott go?
You look around the room, blood running cold. "Where did they all go?" Air is not entering your lungs normally.
"Fuck if I know!" He screams out at the pain. "Maybe they thought Zack killed your ass or left you to the wolves."
Your eyes snap back to him. Was he right? No, Bucky would never do this. He wouldn't do this to you. He..he loved you.
Sensing your panic, he laughs wetly, "You going to cry?" The second time you heard that.
You glare at him, smile widely, "No, but you're dead."
"Oh please, you dont kill anyone." He rolled his eyes.
How the fuck do they all know about this? You begin to wonder if theres a mole, someone has to be. "Tell your friend Zack I said hi." A bullet kisses the mans brain.
Looking back around the bar, you take in the situation. Bucky and his men left, and it doesn't seem that any of his men are laying on the ground, from what you can see. You're alone in a place thats untouchable, police don't come here and other bosses know not to try to cross here unless for business reasons. There's blood on your face, arms, leg, and dress, and a gun in your right hand. Taking a deep breath, you do what you think is best.
You rest the gun on the bar, reaching over the wood, and grabbing a bottle of any alcohol. Pouring it over your arms and hands, washing the blood away and onto the floor. You can feel the raise of panic in your chest, your eyes burning again from tears and from the alcohol on your skin. If Bucky was going to abandon you, you were going to do what you do best. Wash everything away and smile. Using a rag from behind the bar, you wipe your skin dry, and then sit your ass down on a stool. Swinging your legs up, you rest them on the bar top, and then take a big gulp of the liquor.
And so you wait.
-
Scott had come back, saying he done a perimeter check, and saw Bucky's vehicle was gone. You had simply nodded, handing Scott his gun back. He only stared at you, waiting for some reaction. "Are you okay?"
Your hand flew out, aiming a nine mill at him, still staring out the windows, waiting, "If you lie to me, you'll join the rest of them." Scott gulped, and then nodded. Out of the corner of your eye, you watch him, "Did Bucky set this up?"
"No." He rushes out, "No, but he knew someone was a rat. Wanted to see who it was." Scotts voice shakes.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" You turn to stare at him. He's sweating, shaking his head franticly, "Does he think its me?" You whisper out. It hurts to voice it, that he would think you'd betray him like this. You only come into this world because of him. Knew nothing of this until him.
Scott takes a deep breath, "No, but he thought it was someone close to you." He takes a slow step forward, "Please understand, I don't think he left willingly. I don't think he purposely left you behind." He reaches into his pocket, slowly pulling out one of Bucky's rings. "This was on the ground, I think he left it for you."
The ring was one of his personal favorites. Its a chunky ring, mostly silver with a wolves face engraved into it, two small ruby stones rest in the eyes. The first tear falls from your eye, "I swear to god Scott, if you're behind this or lying to me, I'll cut your dick off and feed it to you." You sob out as you take the ring.
He laughs breathlessly, relaxing as you lower the gun, "I'd hand you the knife myself. I promise. Now, we need to get out of here or figure something out. I have a feeling Pierce is behind this."
You nod, "Who was all here today? It was only Bucky and I that showed up together, everyone was already here."
Scott starts listing off names of the men who were here with him before you both showed up. As he lists them, one name pops out. You hold up your hand, point at him, and tell him to repeat. Scott freezes, slowly says the mans name again. It send a chill down your spine, the blood leaving your face. "We need to call Steve and Sam. Now."
You reach for the phone at the bar, dialing Steves number. He doesn't even get a full Hello out, "Steve, its me. Bucky and I were ambushed at Corners. Its a long story but I need you to please come get Scott and I. Don't tell anyone, bring Sam." You rush out.
Steve makes a sharp sound on the other end, "Are you still there? Only you and Scott, but were's Bucky?"
You swallow around your fear, "I don't know, Steve. Scott and I might have figured out who is behind all this, behind all the attacks. Please, just come get us." You rest your head into your hand, a shaky breath leaves you, "I don't know how much time we have."
"Im on my way, be there in ten. Backdoor." With that, Steve hangs up.
"Are you sure about this?" Scott asks as you begin grabbing weapons from the dead bodies.
You huff out, "Scott, think about it. As soon as Bucky welcomes him in, suddenly all these men are finding holes, finding out about things no one should know. Two men today both knew I don't kill. Well...didn't kill. How is that? Theres only ever two of you in the room with me when we handle business. You-"
"And Rumlow."