Safe to say we're not
Almost a week had passed since I’d moved in with Steve and to be honest, I really didn’t wanna leave. He was just perfect. He was very respecting of my privacy, he was supporting, he was sweet, he was just- just perfect…
Of course I’d also spent the week hunting for new apartments, but the search was slow-going. The market was filled with high-prices and even higher offers.
I decided to give Natasha a call. She was used to living with next to no money, like myself, and probably knew some cheap apartments I could temporarily crash at.
Nat and I went way back, starting around the same time with our work for Hydra, and even though we spent long periods without contact, just like it had been now, we could always pick right up were we’d left off.
“Hey, Natasha, how are ya?” I smiled into my phone.
“Jesus, James. You’re in deep shit, d’you know that?”
Not what I expected her to greet me with. “What? Why? What’re you talking about?”
“You don’t know?” I could hear her eyebrows rise, “Hydra has been scouring all over the city for you. Good thing they’re terrible at being spies or they would’ve already found you. You need to run, James. They’re not playing around.”
“Natasha! Explain to me what the hell is happening.”
“They think you stole money from them. And not just a little. He’s talking about half a million.” Natasha hissed into the phone.
“What?! I didn’t, Nat! I swear.”
“I believe you. You wouldn’t. Where are you now? Still in that shitty apartment? It’s on your name, so you should lose it.” Natasha fired questions and barked orders at the same time, making my head spin. How did she even know these things?
“I lost the apartment. I’m with a friend. Shit, Nat, what do I do?”
“Alright, listen. That friend, do you trust him?”
“I do.”
“Then tell him about this. He can’t contact police because I’m betting Hydra owns half of ‘em. Your job, who’s it with? How good is their security?”
“Stark. I don’t think they’ll get through that.”
“You’ve got a job with Stark? Damn, James.” I could hear her smirking into the phone.
“What if they find me? I can’t run forever, Nat.”
“I know. You need to clear your name. I’ll tell you what I know. The money was stolen from one of Pierce’s offshore accounts. I think it was one in Siberia. The amount stolen was ‘round half a million and the account it was wired to has its origins somewhere in this city.”
“It’s a big city, Nat.” I said, my hand rubbing my temple to try and relieve some of the pressure that had begun building up.
“Well, you’re gonna have to figure something out. Maybe that Stark can track the wire transfer. I bet he’s a smart guy. And now I’ve gotta toss this phone because Hydra is for sure tracking any and all calls with you. I’ll get you my new number. Be safe, James.”
“You too, Nat.”
Jesus. How does that woman even know all of that crap? I couldn’t help but think she’d make an awesome spy.
I had to find Steve and tell him. I hoped he was already at home. He usually was around this time, probably cooking because it was already dinner time and I’d be home in a few minutes from work.
I opened the door to the room and found Steve where I expected him; in the kitchen, making something that smelled so good it made my mouth water.
“Hey, Buck. How was your day?” Steve asked with his back turned to me.
Well, it had been fine, till I got a call that I’m now a fucking fugitive from a not-so-secret organization involved in multiple illegal trades.
That, I didn’t say, of course. What I did say was, “Ehm. Work was alright.” It wasn’t a lie. Work was fine. “Steve.” Steve turned around to look at me lingering in front of a chair with a frown on my face.
Steve’s expression immediately changed to worried and he sat down, suggesting I do the same.
“What is it, Buck?”
“I’m in trouble, Steve. It’s Hydra.” I started before explaining all the details. Natasha’s warning and instructions. What she knew. Everything.
At the end we were both not hungry anymore and we both fell silent.
Steve finally broke the silence with a decisive tone, “We need to tell Tony. If he’s in danger, he needs to know.”
~
“Is he in?” Steve asked Anne, “This is urgent.”
Anne observed the seriousness on Steve’s face and knew better than to ask what it was regarding. She quickly dialed a number and asked if mister Stark was available. Apparently, the answer was affirmative, given she told us to take the elevator down to the workshop.
“So, fellas. What brings you here? You’re free, right?” Tony asked as he turned to me.
“I am. But we need to talk.” I said. Tony’s easy smile slipped off of his face, noticing the dark cloud that hung above Steve and me.
“Alright. What’s this about?” He asked carefully.
“Bucky’s in trouble. And we’re all in danger.” Steve said, sounding very ominous.
“Explain that to me.”
“I worked for Hydra, before all of this,” I gestured around to the workshop, “and they think I stole money from ‘em. Half a million. But I swear I didn’t. Hydra’s sure I did, though. They’re searching for me all over town and they won’t just ask me nicely to return it. They’re a dangerous organization and they probably know I work for you so now you’re a target too. As is Steve. I’m really sorry.” I hung my head. This was the moment he was gonna get angry, call me a burden, wish he’d never met me and fire me on the spot.
Except none of that happened.
“Bucky told me the money was stolen from an offshore account via a wire transfer.” Steve informed Tony, who swiveled around in his desk chair to turn on his computer and start typing furiously.
“Do you know where?”
“Siberia. Probably.” I answered.
“Any chance you know where the money was transferred to?”
“Somewhere in New York.”
“Alright. That oughta get us somewhere.” Tony muttered, his fingers slowing down on the keyboard.
“You got a timeframe?” Tony asked, turning to look at me.
“Shit, I-I don’t. She didn’t tell me. But I was fired a month and ehh, six days back.” I stuttered. I totally forgot to even ask Natasha about it.
“Okay. It’ll work. It’ll just take a little longer to find. I’ll let you know when I do. In the meantime, are you gonna be safe? Where are you staying?” Tony asked, once again turning around to face me and Steve.
“He’s staying with me. The hotel room is under my name and we’re not related to each other in any way, so I think we’re safe.” Steve answered matter-of-factly.
Tony asked Steve in which hotel they stayed, and, just for safety measures, broke into their security cameras to keep an eye on them. Steve and I thanked him and went home, where our food was waiting for us, but now colder.
“I’m so sorry for-“
“Buck, it isn’t your fault.” Steve interrupted, “We’re gonna be fine. You’re gonna be fine. And until this is all over, you’re staying with me and Tony’s keeping an eye out. We’re safe now.”
I nodded in response, hoping very much that Steve was right.