A Warm Winter

Chapter 6

   Vidia and Bucky were now driving. Driving nowhere really. They didn't have anywhere to go, and had no one to trust. Vidia, driving, drove past the "Georgia Welcomes You" sign, traveling as far north as they could. The silence was very heavy.

   Breaking the quiet, Bucky spoke, "Where are we going to stop?"

   "I don't know, but I'm tired and hungry and that's not a good combination for me."

   "I've noticed."

   "Oh. What's that supposed to mean?" Vidia spat as she quickly looked at him then back at the rode, "You've barely said a word to me this entire trip and now suddenly you've figured me out."

   "I didn't say I figured you out. I just noticed one thing. God damn would you chill out for a minute?"

   There was silence for a moment before Vidia said anything, "I'm sorry."

   Taken aback at first by the sudden apology, Bucky replied, "It's fine. We're both tense right now."

   Vidia nodded before taking a quick glance at him. After some time, the two decided to pull off into a small town and eat. They found a modest restaurant where they knew they would be unnoticed and went inside. As they sat down, Vidia noticed Bucky was wearing his leather gloves again.

   "Why don't you take those off?" She asked while removing her jacket and laying it down next to her on the booth.

   "I keep them on so people, like you, don't see my arm." He said looking at her.

   "It's just you and me. Take them off."

   Reluctantly, Bucky removed the gloves, removing right one first then the left.

   Vidia stared at his arm for a moment before speaking, "Your arm is different than when I last saw you. It was silver then; now it's black."

   "Well, I'm a different person now, aren't I?" Bucky picked up his menu and stared at it. He wasn't really looking for something to eat. He was using it as an excuse not to look at her.

   "Hmm." Vidia picked up her menu and began to look through the menu.

   Eventually, they ordered and when the food arrived, ate. They were enjoying the time in silence before the T.V. in the corner caught their attention. Flashes of scenes from the diner in Florida surfaced the screen. Suddenly, Vidia and Bucky's faces appeared on the T.V. with words: Seen at scene. Missing: Vidia Belle and James Buchanan Barnes. 

   Vidia looked at Bucky who hadn't, yet, removed his eyes from the T.V., "Bucky, we should go." She pulled some cash from her wallet and stood up. Bucky didn't move, "Bucky let's go." He looked at her and the two stared for what seemed a lot longer than it was. He finally stood up and the two walked out together as stealthy as they could.

   Nothing else was said in the car as they found a hotel for the night. When they got there, the two walked up to the front counter.

   "A room, please?" said Vidia. She was anxious at this point. Their faces had now been publicized on T.V.

   "Single or double?" The employee said, looking up at Vidia and Bucky.

   "Double." The two said in unison.

   They got their keys and went up to the room. It was a typical hotel room; nothing fancy. They had decided to get one room instead of two just incase the police or Hydra found them. That way they could escape easier.

   "We weren't very prepared to get up and leave like this, were we?" Vidia said sitting on one of the two beds. Bucky shook his head and got under the covers of his bed. He laid his head on the pillow, staring at the ceiling.

   Vidia sighed and got underneath her own covers. It wasn't long before she fell asleep. Her familiar nightmare came to her.

   There she was in the closet in the hallway again; this time the atmosphere was different. The closet door suddenly opened and above the child was The Winter Soldier. He was holding out his right hand, but not to help Vidia up. No, he was holding a gun. With no words Vidia knew exactly what he wanted from her. She stood up, taking the gun, walked to her parents who were in the kitchen. The Winter Soldier followed her, and standing next to her, Vidia pointed the gun towards her parents. Her finger slid onto the trigger and just as she pulled it Vidia was awake and sitting up.

   "What happened?"

   Vidia looked over at Bucky who was sitting up in his bed.

   "Nothing, it was just a nightmare go back to bed." Vidia reassured him and laid back down, facing the ceiling.

   "I never went to bed." Bucky laid back down. His eyes were fixed on the ceiling.

   "Why not?"

   It was silent in the dark room. No one would be able to see much unless focusing hard.

   "Same thing as you. Nightmares. That's how I remember my old missions. They come back to me in nightmares." Bucky was surprised of his openness with Vidia.

   Vidia turned her head to look at him as he stared at the ceiling.

   "Bucky." She spoke softly to him.

   He turned his head to look at her, "What?"

   "You're more than your old missions."

   Bucky took a deep breath before speaking, "My real name is James. I'm sure you saw it on the T.V. Everyone called me Bucky though. Or 'calls' me I guess. Steve used to call me Buck."

   Vidia sat up on her elbow and looked at him, "What would you prefer to be called?"

   He looked away from her and back at the ceiling, "Bucky. I just wanted you to know my name." Vidia nodded and bit her lip. She didn't know what else to say. Before she could think of anything, Bucky cut her thoughts off, "Goodnight, Vid." Hen turned to his side, back facing Vidia.

   She was quite surprised by his sudden vulnerability and even more surprised that he would call her by a nickname. No one had ever called her Vid. It was clear to anyone that her name was Vidia and that was what she wanted to be called. Vidia didn't respond to him but turned to her side, her back facing him.

   As she fell asleep, Bucky stayed awake. He stared at the wall until he knew she was asleep. Turning around to face her, Bucky watched her as she breathed in and out gently. He watched her to make sure she was safe.