The Lost Princess

Chapter 7

Anastasia pulls her flannel on over her black t-shirt and laces up her combat boots before stowing many weapons in her waistband or her boots. She looks across the room where Bucky is sitting in the kitchen watching her get ready, apprehension coloring his features. Anastasia sighs lightly as she pulls on her leather jacket, tucking another gun in the right pocket and zipping it up. She walks over to Bucky and stands behind him, leaning down as she wraps her arms around his broad shoulders.

"I'm going to be fine." She tells him. Bucky nods but doesn't say anything. Anastasia sighs internally before sitting down in the chair next to him. "Bucky, nobody knows what the Renegade looks like. Hydra only has one file on me and I have it. No one will no who I am or what I've done. It will be fine."

"People do know what you look like, Stasi. Steve and some of his friends know what you look like." He reminds her. "If they find you, you'll be all alone to defend yourself."

"They don't know where we are." She assures him. "It's been over a year. If they haven't found us by now, they won't find us anytime soon." Bucky sighs and slowly nods.

"I still don't like it." He tells her. "What if they sent out a description of you or got a picture of you from a security camera?"

"Hey, I'm a professional. I don't get my picture taken." She tells him, a small smile playing on her lips. "Besides, do you know how many blue-eyed red-heads there are in the world?" She slowly reaches over and wraps her fingers around his hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. "If it makes you feel better, you can come with me." Bucky nods after  a moment and stands, walking to the door. Anastasia shakes her head in slight amusement and follows him.

The two had started running low on money so Anastasia got a job at Olga's Cafe. It won't pay much, but it'll be enough for the two to make one trip to the market each month for food and still have some left over.

Bucky opens the door to the cafe, holding it open for Anastasia before entering. Anastasia walks behind the counter as Bucky moves to their usual table in the corner. Olga walks out of the storage room and smiles at the younger woman.

"Bună dimineața, Alexandra." She greets. (Good morning, Alexandra.)

"Bună dimineața, Olga." Anastasia says. "Iti multumesc din nou pentru slujba." Olga waves her off with a smile before she sees Bucky sitting in the corner.

"Bună dimineața." She says. "Nu te-am văzut acolo." (Good morning. I didn't see you there.) Bucky repeats the greeting before looking down at his notebook, reading through his memories while Anastasia works, looking up every few minutes to ensure that she's alright and they aren't in any danger.

"I had a sister named Olga." Anastasia hums during a lull in visitors. Olga looks up at her with a smile.

"I didn't know you had a sister." Anastasia nods.

"I had three. And a brother." She says. "They died when we were young."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, dear. Do you mind if I ask how?"

"They had scarlet fever." She says quickly. "We lived in small village in Russia. Our doctor wasn't able to afford a very good medical education and we couldn't afford to go to the city to get a doctor who knew how to help them."

"I'm sorry." Olga says quietly. Anastasia shakes her head, looking down at the latte she was making as she talked.

"It was a long time ago." She says.

Anastasia locks up the cafe just after midnight, walking hand-in-hand with Bucky back to the apartment building. She looks up at the sky as they walk, smiling at the sight of thousands of stars. When the two reach the apartment building, Anastasia drags Bucky all the way up the staircase and onto the roof.