𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓷𝓲𝓪𝓬 ❖ 𝓫. 𝓫𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼

C H A P T E R (4) - E N L I S T M E N T

The sunlight pouring in through the window woke Cassie from her unexpected slumber, not even noticing the weight on her stomach until her eyes had fully opened.

She finally looked down at the arm that lay restless on her skin, almost gasping until she turned her head to see Bucky. The light glazed over his face and illuminated his skin, yet his eyelids were shielding the beauty that lay underneath.

Her attention was brought to the throbbing pain in her abdomen, to which she grimaced at as she tried to remove herself from the bed. Bucky's arm was still wrapped around her, and she didn't know whether to move it or leave it. Then he began stirring and his eyes opened slowly, assessing the situation.

Bucky sat up immediately, a hint of pink painting his cheeks as he pulled his arm away. Cassie stood up slowly, clenching her jaw at the pain she felt.

"You're still in pain, Cass." Bucky sounded from behind her, making her heart skip a beat at the sudden noise.

He chuckled at her expression and she couldn't help but smile at the nickname. Then Bucky realised the words to fall out of her mouth just seconds before they did, not leaving him enough time to object.

"No shit." Cassie laughed.

Bucky shook his head jokingly as he brought himself out of the bed and stood in the doorway. Neither of the pair knew what to say, not knowing whether to mention the events from last night or the fact that Bucky had slept in her bed, but Bucky had interrupted the silence before Cassie had to, making her very grateful.

"You slept last night." He smiled, leaning against the door frame.

"No shi-" Cassie began, but didn't finish as a shadow appeared behind Bucky.

"Uh," Steve sounded, causing Bucky to jump from his stance, "Should I ask?"

Cassie stood in the middle of her room, hand clutched onto her bruise with no clue what to say. She gave a small look at Bucky and shook her head, signalling that she didn't want Steve to know about what had happened in the early morning.

"I came over to check on you two and Cassie was already awake so we were just talking." Bucky explained, leaving Cassie to mouth a 'thank you' in his direction.

Steve didn't notice the silent exchange and nodded at the pair, then turning to Bucky.

"I have to do something." Steve said, emphasising the words 'something', causing Bucky to nod and meet Steve in the hallway.

Cassie narrowed her eyes at the two boys who looked at her through the open door, both trying their best to not be suspicious, which she could see right through. She sighed deeply, giving them both a small smile.

"I'll see you two later then." She mumbled, and within a few moments they had disappeared out of the hall and down the stairs.

Cassie listened as the front door opened and closed a second later, with the sudden realisation that she was home alone. Overcome with boredom, she began to dance by herself in her room, then making her way downstairs. She danced by herself all the way into the kitchen, stopping at a sudden voice.

"Nice moves." Smirked Bucky from the sofa.

Cassie stood there with her jaw on floor, a slight blush appearing on her face.

"I thought you went with Steve..." she mumbled, rubbing one of her arms.

"Nope." He chuckled.

Cassie stood in silence, looking at the floor as Bucky watched her from the other side of the room. She didn't know what to say, but a sudden guilt pained her heart.

"Listen, about yesterday, I just wanted to say thank you-"

"Don't." He interrupted sternly, waving his hand through the air.

"But-"

"No buts."

"But-"

"What did I just say?" He joked, standing up from his position on the sofa.

Cassie took a deep breath as she looked at anything but him, anything but the man who had slept in her bed last night and anything but the person who had rescued her in the early morning.

Bucky knew what she was doing, and he just wanted to tell her it wasn't her fault, despite everything she was feeling. He couldn't find the words to do so, and instead offered his arms out.

Cassie gladly took them, embracing him in a tight hug. Although the pair were silent, the air was laced with unspoken words, like they were having a silent conversation.

Cassie had never been one for close contact with people, but when it came to Bucky, she was okay with it. She had pulled away from her brother and her mother while she was still alive, which she regretted now. She looked back in her memories at her mothers face as she pulled away quickly at her touch.

Soon, Cassie let a few tears drip down her face silently, and when Bucky noticed, he pulled away slightly with his hands still around her.

He didn't say anything, but lifted one hand and wiped away the tears from her eyes. He gave her the biggest smile he could manage, despite the hurt it was causing him to see her this way.

"Where did Steve go?" Cassie asked through tear-filled eyes.

Bucky hesitated, not knowing what to tell her. Steve had made him promise not to say anything to his sister about it, knowing it would upset her in some way.

"Steve went to..." he paused, uncomfortably scratching the back of his neck.

Cassie gave him a harsh glare, one she knew he hated.

"Fine!" He gave in, "Steve went to enlist."

"He did WHAT?" Cassie found herself shouting.

Bucky tried to place a reassuring hand on her arm, but she shrugged him off, backing a few steps away.

Cassie didn't want Steve to join the army. As much as she wanted him to be happy, going to war was surely not going to achieve that. She couldn't lose him. She had lost everyone already. Bucky was the only one left besides Steve, and she didn't think she would be able to deal with her brother's death.

She paced around the room, brushing her hair out of her face occasionally as it fell. Bucky watched from his position on the sofa after he had gotten tired from standing, watching her pace for minutes on end. She would mutter things to herself every so often, yet Bucky could never make the words out. Soon, he had had enough of the odd atmosphere.

"Cass, you can't just keep pacing around the room.." he mumbled, just loud enough so that she could hear.

She stopped her pacing and gazed into Bucky's eyes, which were tired yet she couldn't figure out why.

"You're tired." She stated blankly.

"Uh a little..." he trailed off quietly, hiding the reason that his uncomfortable position on the bed had made it difficult to sleep, and that he couldn't move because of her.

Cassie narrowed her eyes at him before shaking her head slightly.

"You're right."

"I figured..." he said as she began to exit the room, "Wait, about what?"

Cassie hesitated in the doorway and didn't turn to face him as she spoke.

"That I can't just keep pacing around the room."

Then she headed to the front door and had just about opened it when Bucky approached her from behind.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

Cassie sighed, turning to face him one last time before exiting the house.

"To stop Steve from making a mistake."