Chapter 4
Days passed.
In between travelling to eastern Europe, Bucky and I have said few words to each other, which, in the eyes of our colleagues, was completely normal. My changed demeanour was explained away by nerves for the mission. We managed to track down the exchange location, and muster up a fake identity for my ‘handler’, posed by Bucky. The idea makes me sick to my stomach, especially after the ordeal in my apartment. It’s like he’s always one step ahead of me, even if not intentional.
Bucky had met twice with the suspect, known as Luca, during the early hours of each morning, confirming he had some precious cargo to sell, and that he needed somewhere to meet him. Luca bought Bucky’s act, even with his face hidden. But as mentioned in previous meetings, trafficking young women would definitely be a reason to hide your face. Bucky was able to organise the exchange, which was subsequently happening tonight.
We’re currently in Baia Mare, Romania, not far from the border of Ukraine. Together, after a quiet evening in this budget hotel, Bucky and I prepare to leave for the mission. If sharing a bed wasn’t painful enough, I’m now being sent for a potentially extensive journey in the back of a wagon. Not my most glamorous moment.
I stretch my hands behind my head, trying to finish off the braid falling down the back of my head. I sigh and let go, taking my jacket off, the material too restricting. The plan was to make me look younger, making the act more believable. It worked, I must look like I’m in my early twenties again. We didn’t want to oversell it, so went with an outfit consisting of simple clothing. A blue, denim jacket, with a black, washed out cotton dress underneath, and some old converse on my feet.
“Let me do that.” Bucky grumbles from behind me. I turn to him, who is now also dressed. He’s wearing dark jeans and a plain t-shirt, layered with a zip up hoodie, and another jacket on top of that. A pair of large, leather gloves lay waiting on the bed. I walk back into the bedroom and toss my jacket onto the bed.
“You know how?”
He shrugs, placing the trucker cap in his hand next to his gloves. “Used to braid Becca’s hair when we were kids, when Ma’ was busy.”
I nod my head, chewing on the inside of my cheek. I take the hair tie off my wrist, holding it out to him. “Thanks.” I respond, and he smiles softly, taking the hair tie. I perch on the end of the bed on an angle, next to the cap and gloves. He sits on the other side, picking the braid up from where I left off. I guess this presents itself as a peace offering between the two of us.
“You must miss her. Your sister.”
There’s a moment of silence, but Bucky continues to braid the sections of my hair.
“Every day.”
“Did you ever get to see her?” I ask softly, slightly worried about the reception.
“She passed a few years before Steve found me. It was better that way, I’m glad she never knew the truth.”
“I’m sure she would’ve understood.”
Bucky hums in agreement, finishing the braid. “She was good like that.”
“I’m sorry for what happened the other night.” I murmur, picking at the skin around my nails. “I was wrong for getting under your skin like that. You were just trying to help.”
“I’m sorry for putting pressure on you.” Bucky apologises afterwards, “It wasn’t any of my business, and I said some things I shouldn’t have.”
I huff, my eyes falling down to my lap. “That makes two of us.”
“You don’t need to worry, everything’s gonna be fine.” Bucky states, as he ties my braid at the end. He places the hair on my shoulder and I reach for it, not knowing his hand was still lingering, and my fingers briefly graze across the metal.
Even though mine and Bucky’s relationship has been somewhat… intimate, I’ve never actually seen him at work, other than in meetings.
I’ve heard about his time as a Howling Commando, how he was a skilled marksman, basically a magician with a sniper rifle. He would eventually give his life for his country, and was mourned for years to come. I’ve heard about his time as the Winter Soldier, the murderous Hydra assassin. His own ghost story, like I had mine. His unnoticed movement through time, as if he never existed. I know that Bucky wasn’t in control of his own mind, but even as controlled as he is now, his body remains unchanged. Except the new arm, but that was unavoidable.
I’ve heard about his time as an Avenger, once liberated by Steve, he joined modern life, and eventually teamed up with Sam. Steve set a life up for Bucky, even when all Steve wanted to do was go and live his own. When Steve returned the stones, Bucky was the only other person to know Steve’s real plan, but that didn’t mean it could’ve been easy to let him go.
I’ve heard a lot of things about Bucky, but almost never from him. That’s not what our relationship has been for. It’s nice to hear about Becca, but it also reminds me of the pain he could never share with anyone else. Maybe it was better that Becca never found out about the years of constant pain and torture that her brother was subjected to. If I was in her position, I don’t know how I would have coped. Gone insane, probably. So, I think he's right. Although he never had the chance to reconnect with her, she would never have known any different, and Bucky is at peace with the fact he was never a monster in his sister's eyes.
“I know.” I say, almost a whisper, taking my hand away, sending a brief glance in his direction. “I trust you.”
He smiles, his lips forming a thin line. He squeezes my shoulder, only firm enough for it to be comforting, and reaches over me to grab his cap and gloves. I grab my jacket and put it back on, pulling a few baby hairs from my braid to make it look a little dishevelled. After we watch the sun set, we make our way to the car that SHIELD had acquired for us, and buckle ourselves in. Bucky pulls an ear piece from his pocket and wiggles it into his ear. I don’t get one, I’m going in blind. As he begins to drive, I send a message to the team, before dropping my phone, and the rest of my belongings in the centre console of the car.
'On the move.'
The message I receive back is from Maria, which simply reads:
‘Good luck, Agent.’
•
By the time we reach our destination, night has arrived. We arrive at a remote location, a lay-by on a quiet road sits just ahead.
“Where are we? I ask quietly, my nerves beginning to kick in.
“Just outside Siret, near the border.” Bucky says, concentrating on the road ahead. “The van parked up in front of us, see?” He says, pointing. “That’s Luca.”
My blood runs cold, upon realisation. This is really happening. Bucky pulls over into the lay-by, and the door to the van opens, a man jumping out of the drivers seat. A second man appears from the passenger side, and my body stiffens.
“Who’s that?” I begin to panic, my heart thumping in my chest.
“I’m not sure.” Bucky frowns, taking the keys out of the ignition and removing his seat belt. “I haven't met him. Put these on, tight enough so it looks like I’ve done it.” He tosses some cable ties into my lap, and I swallow, immediately getting to work at putting them on my wrists. “Stay here until I get back, okay?” He says softly, putting his hood over the trucker cap he’s wearing, and pulling up his face cover which was sitting on his neck, leaving just his eyes on show. My eyes widen and I nod, sitting back in my chair. Bucky’s door shuts and I finish tying my hands together.
I watch him carefully, as much as I can see in the dark, greeting the two men in front of him. They reach out to shake his hand, Bucky playing along. He stays there long enough to say a few words to them, presumably speaking in Romanian to Luca. After a few seconds, he turns away from them, the two strangers staying in their place. Bucky marches towards me, and acid bubbles at the bottom of my stomach, threatening to rise to my throat at any moment. He pulls the door wide open and I flinch, closing my eyes as he speaks to me softly.
“I’m sorry.”
He reaches over me, removing my seatbelt, proceeding to grab my arm tightly, forcing me out of the car as I gasp. He puts his other hand on my back, pushing me towards the two men as I struggle slightly, his fingers nipping my skin. The discomfort isn’t an act, but Bucky knows it has to look believable. We reach Luca and the other unknown man, and I manage to get a proper look at them.
They look similar, like they could be brothers, or maybe cousins. I recognise Luca from the minimal photos we have of him, with the scar on his right eyebrow and the piercing, grey eyes. I don’t recognise the second man, but his eyes are the same. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say the pair didn’t look too threatening, but I do know better, and I’m about to find what’s in the back of that van.
The pair turn to each other, sharing a look. They whisper something in what I assume to be Romanian, but I don’t understand them. Languages were never a strength of mine in the Academy, my strengths were elsewhere. Bucky’s grip tightens on my arm, not something that the men would notice, so whatever they said can’t be good. Luca looks toward me, reaching his hand, beckoning me towards him.
“Go. Say hello to Luca.” Bucky speaks with a subtle, European accent, something I’ve never heard him do before. It’s convincing, and I try not to react. I look up to him as he lets go, the pad of his thumb slyly ghosting over the back of my hand as I walk towards the two men. I can barely see his face, but I know there will be no expression there anyway.
“Ah, my my.” Luca voices as I reach him, meeting his outstretched hand, with my bound ones. It’s clammy, and I can smell tobacco on his breath. I remember Bucky’s advice, think of how I would really feel in this situation, but I don’t need to pretend much, this situation is very real, and I’m terrified. “What is your name?”
I sniff, my eyes meeting his. I reiterate the name that Bucky had given him during their first meeting. “Suzie.” I say, my gaze falling away from Luca. He smiles, showing his yellowing teeth.
“Suzie.” He coos, chuckling as the other man passes him something discretely, and then makes his way over to Bucky. I can hear him counting cash in his hand. Payment. “Extraordinary.”
I look around to Bucky, naturally, and the second man is currently handing him the cash. An arm snakes around my shoulders, and then a cloth is shoved in front of my face, smothering my mouth and nose.
I cry out, my hands flying to the cloth, but I smell sweetness, and my head begins to spin. I try to keep my eyes open, but my vision blurs, and the last thing I see is Bucky turning his back to me, walking back towards our car.