Wanted

Anna stirred before she opened her eyes, her body in pain - namely hear ribs, a wrist and of course a thumping headache. She was cosy and warm, part of her tempted to go back to sleep if she was honest with herself... As she became more and more aware, slipping closer towards wakefulness, the thoughts of the last 24 hours entered her mind. Being taken, guns, the ice, the big scary guy with the metal arm...
Her chest tightened, remembering the promise she made to herself to get as far away from Bucky as possible - the things he'd said about knowing her father, and the apparent bounty over her head frightened the hell out of her. It was a world she definitely didn't want to go back into, not after she'd worked so hard to get away from it.

She gave into herself and let an eye creak open, it only just occurring to her now in her half-asleep state that there were arms wrapped around her. With a gasp she snapped her eyes open, her worst fears coming to light.

Metal. Yep, one of the arms is metal! Oh shit... Oh SHIT!!!

She let out a scream as she jerked away from him, his arms tightening around her by reflex. She fought him, frantically straining to push his arms off her and wriggle out of his ridiculously strong grip.
Before she had the chance to scream again she was thrown down on her back and pinned there, a hand clamped over her mouth, stifling more screams that kept coming. Her eyes scanned his body, realizing that he was shirtless, and she was in nothing but a tank top and underwear. Panic struck her as she came to another realization that she was in deep trouble, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked up at him accusingly as he hovered over her.
"Christ, Anna... Relax!" He grumbled, having not had much sleep.

Her eyes widened in shock at his nonchalance, given the circumstances as she tried harder to wriggle out of his grip. She shouted something angrily at him, which was muffled by the sound of his palm, Bucky finally painting a picture of what she might be concerned about. He looked down at their various states of undress and the terrified girl he was pinning onto the bed, his mouth dropping open defensively.
His hands shot up as he backed off, Anna yanking the quilt up to cover herself as she scooted back against the headboard, pressing herself into it.

"What the HELL is wrong with you!?" She demanded, wiping her wet cheeks with her hands.
"It's not how it looks - I was keeping you warm!" He snapped back, not appreciating her insinuation that he was being sleazy.
"Oh yeah sure-"
"Fuck, Anna... If I WANTED to overpower you I would have" He yelled angrily as he gestured with his hands.

Anna's jaw clenched as she sat wide eyed and horrified at what he'd just said. She decided to keep her mouth shut, afraid to push him any further in case he offered to prove it.
"I think I've made myself clear - you're safe with me. That's twice in 24 hours you'd have been dead if I hadn't jumped in to save your life, can't you SEE that!?"

Unless you wanted to keep me alive in your creepy house and take me to bed when I'm unconscious... Oh my god, he probably touched me...

"NO! Don't you DARE look at me like that! I'm not like that!" He snapped, furious.

Anna jammed her eyes shut and looked away, wishing she could turn invisible for a moment... Just disappear... Bucky let out a frustrated growl as he spotted another tear roll down her cheek, the bed moving as he got up off it. He stomped away, Anna jumping with fright as a loud crash erupted from the doorway. Her eyes snapped open to see the remaining pieces of the slammed door hanging from its hinges, absolutely obliterated. The frame around it wasn't much better off, a big hole left in the plaster and one side of the frame in several pieces on the floor.

Her heart raced as she got up off the bed and peered around the room, looking for any trace of clothes she could throw on. She stepped over the remainder of the broken door and tiptoed to the bathroom, finding the plastic shopping bag which she fished a pair of sweatpants out of. She looked over her shoulder checking she was still alone, whipping her top off and quickly putting the other dry bra on, and a long sleeve fitted top.
She took a minute to brush her teeth, put socks on, and braid her hair again, hoping that he'd have the decency to leave her to it. Her reflection in the mirror saw that she'd certainly seen better days, her face screwing up when she saw their piles of wet clothes on the bathroom floor.

He undressed me... Ugh...

She stepped out of the bathroom, letting out a frightened gasp when she almost ran into Bucky in the hallway. Both of them recoiled back from one and other, Bucky still scowling and clearly annoyed.
"Thought I'd better show you to your room..." Came his gruff voice, Anna nodding without answering. He pursed his lips, not expecting anything from her before he turned on his heel and moved off. Anna followed him cautiously, stopping at the same time that he did. He turned to face her, gesturing towards the open room and stepping back to give her a clear path into it.

Anna walked in, crossing her arms to stave off the chill in the air as she turned around to take the room in. It was dark in there, the window boarded up behind country style cream curtains. There was a very old looking brass double bed in the middle of the room with a floral quilt, and a very dusty wooden dresser and mirror.
She made eye contact with Bucky again, not sure what to say, the words 'thank you' hardly seeming appropriate. Instead she just gave him a single nod of acknowledgement, and he was gone again.

The room had plenty of cobwebs around, Anna suddenly feeling the urge to clean and dust as she let out a cough.

No point if I can't open a window...

She wondered how long she'd be here with him, and if he really did know her biological father, or it was all just a ruse. It wouldn't be the first time he'd said something to her that had turned out to be bullshit. She wondered why she was still alive, her mind going to a dark place - maybe he was grooming her, trying to gain her trust before he did something awful? Maybe he was waiting for someone to come pick her up? He DID mention something about a bounty hanging over her head, and the fact that he'd gotten to her first... Bucky didn't look like he was well off, maybe he needed the money?

If only I had the means to pay him out...

She let out a breath, sitting herself down on the end of the bed, the mattress creaking as it took her weight. Despite the shabby look of the bed, it was unexpectedly comfortable, and the quilt was cosy - after she'd shaken the dust out of it. She fluffed the pillows up, laying down and snuggling into them, drawing her knees up to make herself as small as possible, her mind still racing.
Her eyes closed, still exhausted from the perils of the last 24 hours, Anna settling into an easy sleep.

It was late in the afternoon when she woke, head pounding and thirsty as hell. Her eyes cracked open to reveal a frosty, cold bottle of water on the nightstand, the lid still sealed. She sat up, cracking it open and taking a long drink, noticing a blister pack of  Advil there as well. She popped two out into her hand, taking them with another long swig of water as she untied her braid, undoing it with her fingers to relieve the tension in her head.
Anna stood up, making her way over to the boarded up windows, peeking through a tiny gap in the wood where a ray of light had caught her attention. The afternoon sun was pretty bouncing off the snow, the world outside aglow in a luminescent orange. The trees cast long sloping shadows over the ground, the shiny reflection of the frozen lake just beyond them.

"You hungry?" Came Bucky's gravelly voice from the doorway, startling her back into reality.
"No, I'm fine" She lied, her voice quiet.
"You need to eat, there's hot soup and bread in the kitchen..."

Anna looked up at him again, the offer certainly tempting, but the underlying fear of letting her guard down to him holding her back. After all, she was being held against her will...
"Would it help if I made it an order?" He joked, ducking his head to seek eye contact with her. She fought a smile back, looking down. Relief flooded through Bucky as he took it as a personal victory and celebrated it in his head. He stepped back to give her room, the pair of them sharing an awkward moment when he gestured for her to go first, Anna uncomfortably backing against the hallway wall, not trusting him behind her.
He forgave her, being understanding and lead the way, pulling a chair out at the small round wooden table for her to sit. She tucked her long, wavy brown hair behind her ear on one side, Bucky looking over his shoulder and giving her a smile as he ladled a serve of soup into a bowl. He buttered a roll and put it on the plate, bringing it over to the table and setting it down in front of her.
She looked down at the bowl hesitantly as he watched on quietly. Their eyes met briefly as she picked the spoon up gently, Bucky letting out a light chuckle.

"It's not poison, if that's what you're thinking..."
"You never know..." She muttered with a shrug as she shook her head, taking the plunge and sipping a small amount from the end of the spoon, watching his reaction. Relieved when the evil laugher she half-expected never came, she took another mouthful, admitting to herself that it actually was delicious, and just what she needed.
"How's your head?" He asked, earning a single condescending chuckle in reply, Anna looking away from him again.

"You know, this would be a whole lot easier if you'd relax and co-operate with me" He said, his patience running out.
"Are you being serious right now?" Came her reply, her voice quiet and raspy.
"I'm trying to do the right thing by you here - you're clean, fed, rested... Safe... "
"Oh, well that makes everything just dandy now, doesn't it" She snapped, setting her spoon down as she pushed herself back up to her feet.
"Anna, stop!" He said, stepping towards her, "It could be worse-"
"Yeah, I got it - I could be raped or dead, right?"
"Anna-"
"Because being kidnapped and held captive is so much better, isn't it? Love that you threw a few mind games into the mix, just for good measure too, huh?"
"You're not being held captive, you're being safeguarded"

Anna burst into condescending laughter, raising her hands up, having heard well and truly enough. Bucky stepped over towards her, her expression going from irritated right back to nervous as she swallowed hard, looking up at him.
"What makes you think I'm playing mind games with you? I think I've been pretty straight up and honest haven't I?" He asked, stopping a few steps away from her, crossing his arms.
"I haven't laid a hand on you... I saved your life last night. TWICE" He reasoned, watching confusion and doubt appear on her face as she tried to understand.
"You snuck up on me in a dark, deserted parking lot. You forced me into a car, and you put a gun to my head... Amongst other things"
"I had no choice, you wouldn't have come with me if I'd have asked nicely, and the only other option was to hurt you - which I really didn't want to do. You have to trust me-"
"No I don't. You have to earn trust" She said, cutting him off.
"I'm working on that, okay?" He said defensively, his expression remaining gentle, "I wasn't lying to you, there really IS a bounty on your head, and I really AM trying to keep you safe."
"So you can claim the bounty for yourself, right?"
"No... I'm doing this as a favor to your father"
"Oh, that's right. This father that I suddenly supposedly have. Did 'dear old Dad' send you? Why didn't he come for me himself if he cares so much, huh?"

Bucky blew out a breath, shaking his head as he gestured for her to sit again, pulling up a chair so he could sit opposite her.
"He kinda doesn't know you exist..." He admitted, Anna raising her brows.
"...Well. This just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?"
"It's complicated..."
"I can see that" She muttered, looking up towards the blinds covering the front windows as she sat, the last of the afternoon light shining through.

"Okay... Humor me for a moment while I get my head around this" She said, her fingertips going to her temples as she leaned her elbows on the table, "I'm in NO danger around you?"
"No, none"
"No hitting, kicking, shooting..."
"No"
"No uninvited touching of any kind?"
"Of COURSE not" He sneered, offended.
"But in the same breath, you want me to feel threatened by you?" She asked, genuinely unsure.
"No... Anna, I want you to feel safe with me. I want you to trust me"
"Right... So why the gunpoint and kidnapping and climbing into bed me? Half dressed. While I was unconscious..?"

Bucky leaned forward, running both hands through his hair before resting his elbows on his knees, and head in his hands. He let out a long breath, a pang of guilt hitting Anna at interrogating him. Still, he hadn't snapped at her, and he was making an effort to explain himself. If everything he was saying was the truth, then maybe there was some hope for her yet...
"I was trying to be your friend... To gain your trust. You're not the easiest person to get to open up, you know?" He said with a sigh, "When you quit your job, that was it. Time had run out, and you were leaving for good. I would have followed you, but then they would have, too. I killed three of them just days before when they got close to the bar... Made it look like an accident"

Anna frowned, her mouth dropping open as she remembered the guys at the sawmill talking about some men who'd broken into the place... It looked like they were trying to steal tools and anything else they could carry, but part of the building had collapsed and all three had been killed.
"Oh my god..." She breathed, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Yeah... So as I said, time was ticking and I did what I had to do. There were more coming, but rather than me go on a killing spree, I chose to get you outta there. You had to believe you were in deep shit and completely helpless against me or you'd have tried to get away... And it was easy." He added with a shrug and an apologetic look on his face.
"The bed thing - I was trying to get you warm after your dip in the lake last night. Honest. If I'd have tried anything else, well, there'd have been evidence of that in the morning. Wouldn't there?"
"I suppose..."
"I was so tired I guess I fell asleep after you did. It's been a long few days for both of us, and the next few days ahead are going to be just as full on."

Anna nodded quietly, trying to take it all in as her mind put the pieces together, her eyes finally coming up from studying the grain on the table, looking into Bucky's.
"Okay... So say hypothetically... If I believed a single word out of your mouth... I'm safe here with you, but I can't leave the house because there are guys out there hunting me down?"
"Yes"
"And there's a bounty on my head, but out of the goodness of your heart, you're going to keep me away from them."
"Well yeah, kinda..."
"And then deliver me to my biological father - who I didn't know existed, and who doesn't know I exist... For no reason at all, no pay, just because you're a nice guy?"

Bucky smirked a little, tilting his head and biting his lip, Anna giving him a shrug as if to ask if she was on the right track or not.
"Honest truth?" He offered after a few moments.
"Please"
"I did something terrible to your father years ago... Well, terrible doesn't even cut it, something completely unforgivable..." He started, looking down while he figured out how to word the rest,
"Yeah...?" Anna prodded, holding her breath, not so sure now if she wanted to know or not.

Bucky shook his head and sat back on his chair, obvious pain in his eyes when he looked back up at her, Anna flinching back a little in preparation.
"You're only gonna find out sooner or later, so I guess we may as well get it over with... I went through a period of time when I was under control of someone else - your stepdad - and he made me do some pretty terrible things. For a long time..."
"What kind of terrible things?"
"I killed people. Lots and lots of people..." He said, utterly ashamed, looking at the floor while Anna flew into a panic, heart thumping in her chest.

"Jesus Christ, that was you!?" She gasped, pushing her chair back and getting to her feet. She got to the other side of the table, keeping it as a barrier between them, her shaking hands on the surface.
"Wait, you knew?"
"I knew he had a... Well, a 'super powered hit-man' who had a metal arm - and you've got one, too..." She started, clearly rattled, "I had a feeling, but I wasn't sure... He had long hair... And YOU have long hair... But anyone can grow hair... The arm you can't really fake...So it's true, it really IS you?"
"...Yeah. That was me."
"Oh my god... Oh my god..." She gasped, her breaths becoming short and shallow.
"Anna?"
"I don't feel so... I mean... I can't br..."

Bucky's face was painted with concern as he got up and approached her as she wobbled on her feet, the color draining out of her face.
He caught her before she hit the deck, Anna coming to slowly on the couch as Bucky patted her forehead gently with a cool washcloth.

"Does that happen a lot?" He asked, raising a brow with a smirk on his face. He was answered with a flood of babble as she tried to find her words, scooting to the far side of the couch to put distance between them.
"You're really him... You murdered all those people... I've been kidnapped by a serial killer..." she breathed, trying to compose herself so she could think clearly.

"I don't do that anymore. None of it was my choice - I was forced to do it."
"Yes you do, you killed those three guys!"

Bucky shook his head and sighed, giving up on the conversation as he raised his hands.

"I don't know what you want me to say... Yeah, I killed those guys. They were bad guys, and they were sent by Alexander's men. If they were alive, YOU'D be dead. Sometimes bad people have to be taken out for the greater good. I'm not gonna hide who I am." He said, "I would never hurt someone who didn't deserve it. Not ever" He added calmly, looking up at her as they sat quietly for a few moments.

"So the terrible thing you did to my real Dad... You killed someone he was close to, didn't you?" She said finally, breaking the silence.

Bucky nodded, letting out a painful breath, muttering a quiet 'yeah' as he looked down at the floor, hearing Anna suck a breath in.
"And now you're trying to set things right by bringing me to him..."
"Pretty much" He said, his voice low.

Anna softened a little, relaxing her posture and even scooting towards him a little. He looked up at her, his face full of regret. It hadn't been easy for him to tell her all that, to own up to his past, or the hurt he'd caused someone. She offered him a small smile which he returned, Anna appreciating his honesty.
They both sat quietly for a while, Bucky still sat on the floor leaning back against the couch now, looking up the ceiling. He still looked troubled, Anna feeling bad for giving him such a hard time earlier.

"I saw you in the chair..." She said after a while, her voice hoarse and quiet, Bucky looking up toward her, "I saw a lot of things that I wasn't supposed to."
"Is that why you ran?" He asked, Anna nodding.
"Yeah... Dad -Um- Alex looked up and saw me. I didn't know what else to do but take off, I just freaked out, y'know? Next thing I knew there were armed men running after me down the corridor. When I got out I just kept running, and that became my life"
"And now suddenly you've popped back up on their radar..."
"It just doesn't make sense? Alex's dead now, and I was so careful..."
"You did everything right..." He agreed, something about his approval making her feel good, "Does the name Jacob Nester mean anything to you?" He added.

Anna rolled her eyes, letting out a groan before burying her face in her hands, embarrassed.
"I take it that's a yes?"
"Yeah. We dated... It didn't turn out so well." She said, Bucky raising his brows awaiting an explanation, "Typical guy maneuver - acted like he cared, we started seeing each other, and then I found out there was someone else... He was married" She muttered, giving a shrug.
"I confronted him after she called me. We got into a fight, a pretty bad one, and he stormed out. It was the last time I saw him - or half the contents of my purse..."
"...That sucks" Bucky said in his own short version of sympathy.
"As I said - typical dick move."
"Hey, not all guys are like that"
"Yeah well... I'll believe that when I see it - not many honest people around"
"I'm honest..."
"Well... That remains to be seen, doesn't it?"

Bucky let out a sigh, shaking his head as he steered the conversation back towards her situation, "So your I.D's were in your purse when your things were taken?"
"Yeah... I mean he already knew my address and phone number, I guess he just needed hard proof. That's why I quit work when that drunk guy grabbed me the other night - he scared the hell out of me... I'd already decided to run again, just had to tie a few loose ends up first." She said, "The thing with Jake was pretty recent, he's probably cashed in on giving them my information..."
"That's exactly what's happened, which is where I came in... My job was to find you, look after you, and get you to your Dad where he'll then keep you safe."

Anna nodded thoughtfully, blowing out a breath, letting her cheeks puff out.
"And if he doesn't want me, what then? I just relocate again?" She asked, slightly embarrassed at how insecure she sounded.
"He'll want you. It'll do him good to have family around..."
"He's on his own?"
"It's complicated, he's got the team, but not much else..."
"Team?"

Bucky stood up, stretching as he made his way to the kitchen. He pulled two mugs out and filled the kettle, turning it on.
"Coffee?" He asked as he opened up a long life milk carton.
"Please..."

Anna stood up from her spot on the couch, feeling much better than she did earlier. She peered over to the window, the soft afternoon glow now gone in favor of dark as night fell. She stopped short of the kitchen, crossing her arms. She was certainly much more relaxed around Bucky, trusting he wasn't going to kill her, but not ready to get too complacent around him just yet...
"What team?" She repeated herself, Bucky turning to face her.
"C'mon, you haven't put it together yet?"
"Put what together?"
"Your Dad's part of a team, I'm a super soldier, we know each other, his name is Tony? Do I have to spell it out for you?"

She raised her brows, waiting for him to get on with it and tell her, a somewhat ditzy look on her face which amused him a little.
"Tony Stark..." He said, Anna's expression going from gentle and almost friendly, right back to being guarded and hurt.
"That's not funny" Came her unamused answer.
"What?"
 "So not only do I get to meet my long lost family, but it just so happens that Dad's a billionaire, superhero celebrity and I'll be safe and live happily ever after?"
"What's so bad about that?"
"Look, I've heard enough. Sorry, I thought we were cool, but clearly that's not the case after all-"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Because just having stability for the rest of my life would have been 'too fucking good to be true' on its own, never mind the rest of it..." She said, shaking her head as she turned to go back to her room, "You're a real asshole for saying that."
"Are you serious?"
"You're taking the piss out of me and I don't appreciate it - I thought we were being honest with each other, but it was just another head-fuck all along!"
"Watch your mouth" Bucky snapped, not one to tolerate attitude off anyone - much less some ungrateful brat.
"Aaaand right back to the threats. I knew it.  I'm not buying into your bullshit anymore - do you think I'm an idiot!?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?"
"Tony Stark has all the resources in the world at his fingertips. Don't you think he'd know if he 'hadn't been careful' with a date at any point in his life? Don't you think he'd follow that up so some gold-digging whore didn't go after him for child support and take 'whatever' percent of his money it is that they're entitled to? Someone like that doesn't have kids just floating around in the world, someone like that wraps their shit UP, so it doesn't bite them in the ass years later" Anna seethed, not caring if she angered him now.
"And why do you think your mother tried to make contact with you before your twenty first birthday?" He snarled, his words cutting straight her as she sat in stunned silence.

"How do you know that?" She demanded, blinking fresh tears back.
"Because I was the one who fished you out of the fucking river"
"Of course you did"
"Caroline was going after Tony's money. You weren't supposed to be in the car when it went off the bridge"
"Jesus Christ... I can't deal with this..." Anna croaked out, her breathing picking up speed as she shook her head.
"There's more to it, she was just as bad as Alexander-"
"Bucky STOP! I don't want to hear any more" She said, backing away, Bucky following her.
"You need to. I was responsible for that crash-"
"And let me guess, you want accolades for being the big-shot hero for saving my life that night after murdering my Mother? FUCK YOU!"
"I'm telling the truth-"
"BULLSHIT!"
"I've been NOTHING but honest with you all night, you don't know how hard that is for me-"
"Oh yeah, that's rich! Just like my Dad, right!?"
"You're being a real bitch right now, you know that?" He snapped, incredibly frustrated now.
"Oh, shock horror- the 'nice guy' act didn't last... News flash - if you want to be someone's friend and gain their trust you don't mess around with important shit like 'family'... You knew it'd hurt me. You could have just stuck a knife to my throat and been done with it. It would have been quicker, and probably hurt a whole lot less..."

"Probably would have been easier, too" He muttered under his breath, Anna hearing it, both of them standing in stunned silence.

"You know what, Bucky? I ALMOST started to trust you... Almost..."