𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓷𝓲𝓪𝓬 ❖ 𝓫. 𝓫𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼

C H A P T E R (11) - T H E / L E T T E R

Silence.

Cassie's mouth couldn't form words, and she was sure if she tried, they would come out all muddled up. She avoided Bucky's eyes the best she could, because she knew that with one look, she would be spewing her life story.

"Cassie." He repeated, finally pulling her from her trance.

"Hm?" She hummed.

"I asked you a question."

His tone was serious and stern, there was no evidence of sarcasm left. This wasn't the usual happy Bucky she knew, and she needed to find out what was written on that letter. If it was what she thought it was, then Ryan Terrence would be getting more than a knee to the crotch.

"Cassie!"

She flinched at his raised voice and she suddenly felt a pang of fear. She looked up at him with wide eyes and took a step back, swallowing harshly.

Bucky noticed her fear but decided to ignore it. He held the paper tightly in his hand and he was sure if his grip was any tighter, the paper would crumple.

"Bucky, give me the letter." She stated calmly, outstretching her hand.

She saw him clench his jaw before taking one last look at the paper in his hand.

"Fine. Have it." He spoke as he threw the paper in her direction.

He stormed out of the room as she managed to catch the letter in her hands. She couldn't have been quicker to scan the words that had been carefully handwritten on the page:

'Steve Rogers,

Return to me what is mine.
I would hate to see your sister suffer for your mistakes.
Hasn't she done that enough already?
Two years ago; I'm sure she can tell you the story.

-RT'

Cassie finished the letter with a quivering lip and shaking hands with only one thought; Well, shit.

A story she had tried to bury for two years was returning. She was sure Bucky wasn't going to talk to her unless she explained, and that was on the bottom of her to-do list. She didn't even think it made the list. But it had somehow wormed itself back into her life and now she had to deal with it.

As Steve appeared in the doorway, Cassie made the decision to follow Bucky. As she passed him, she slapped the letter on his chest and continued walking, not bothering to wait for him to read it. She ran down the stairs and opened the front door, searching the street for Bucky. She had got outside just in time to see him walking up to his own door. As quickly as she could, she darted across the street and got to him as his hand reached for the door handle.

"Bucky." She sounded, she wasn't even sure if he had heard it until he turned to face her. He didn't say anything, but looked at her as if awaiting an explanation.

"Two years ago doesn't matter. It's a long story that didn't need to be brought up and-"

"What did he do?" Bucky interrupted.

Just as Cassie went to open her mouth to give a small backstory, a voice behind her cut her off.

"Cassie, do you still have my letter?"

Cassie spun on her heel and saw Ryan stood a few steps away from her, and as if on instinct she grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him closer.

"It sounded like you were threatening my brother, Ryan."

"It was merely a reassurance." He smirked, "Is this meant to prove something?" He gestured to where she held him by his shirt and she only tightened her grip.

"Leave Steve alone." She ignored his question.

"Not until I get what I want."

"And what is that?"

"Doesn't matter."

Cassie scoffed and rolled her eyes; he was being stubborn and nothing would get it out of him. Her only option was to ask Steve and try and get him to talk later, rendering her current conversation useless.

"Precisely. It doesn't matter, so you'll leave him alone." She said as she released her grip on him.

"I don't think I will," he spoke as he neatened out his shirt, "Does your boy toy here know the story? Or can I be the one to tell him?"

"You won't."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that." He said with a wink as he walked away.

Cassie was left with her hands shaking, and she held them to her chest as she tried to stop them. Her breathing had become heavy and she was praying that she wouldn't let the tears fall, not here.

She was about to walk away herself when two arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her into a hug. She was turned around and pulled closer by Bucky, who held her protectively. He whispered a quiet 'come with me' in her ear as he gently pulled her inside his house and up to his room. He placed her down softly on the bed and cupped her face with his hands, conflicting any thoughts that tried to process in her head.

"Are you alright?"

Cassie gave a small smile and nodded, despite it being a lie. Bucky seemed to notice and pulled her head to his chest and cradled her gently. He ran his fingers through her soft hair as she wrapped her arms around his waist. She would've given anything to stay like that forever, with him forever. That's what she wanted.

After what felt like an eternal internal debate, she had finally come to a conclusion. A conclusion that felt right, natural, even. It was something she felt she didn't even need to think about, but the days events had put her on edge, but despite it all, she had solved her puzzle.

She had fallen in love with James Buchanan Barnes.