Rogers Legacy - Bucky Barnes

Part Two

"Sam I don't want to go by myself." I protested, pouting, as he closed the car door.

It was 2 days later and we had found where Bucky was living. Sam convinced me to go alone, but I really didn't want to.

"You'll be fine. I got shit to do here with Sarah."

"But what if - "

"Call me." Sam passed me a phone and smiled, "You'll be fine. Stay on the road. In and out for gas. Don't talk to anyone."

I nodded and put the phone on my lap, wanting it in reach at all times. "You best pick up."

"I will. Let me know when you find him." Sam smiled, tapping the hood as he walked away.

I sat in the car outside an apartment block; Buckys block. I had been sat there for over an hour before I finally plucked up the courage to get out. The main door was open so I wondered in, shutting it properly behind me, and went to find his apartment.

Up the four flights of stairs I reached Buckys apartment. I knocked on the door but no one answered. "Mr Barnes?" I shouted through the wooden door. "James? Bucky!?" Nothing.

I sighed and leaned against the wall, sliding down and sitting on the dark wood floor. "He'll be back." I mumbled to myself. I looked up and down the corridor, not trusting anyone that walked passed. Some asked if I was OK, if I was locked out. But I just said Im fine. I didnt want to go back to my car as it felt a little bit safer here. At least here I was in a building, protected by walls. Out there in my car I had no protection.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the wall, starting to get tired. I hadn't been like that long when someones voice snapped my eyes open. "Who are you?"

I looked up to see the face of the man my grandpa called his brother. James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes. Apart from a little stubble, he hadn't changed much from the photographs I'd been shown. All those childhood stories came rushing back into memory, remembering how much my grandpa loved him.

"Oh God, hi" I jumped up and stood next to him, "Bucky." he looked over to me frowning, holding onto his key in the lock. "I mean, James. Mr Barnes? James? No, nothing sounds right."

Bucky looked me up and down and his face softened. "Come in." He opened the door and walked in.

"Do you always bring strange women to your place?" I stood at the door watching him take his jacket off and throw it on the couch.

James turned to look at me. "Strange? No. My best friends family, always." A small smile appeared.

I walked in, closing the door with a click as he walked to the kitchen, "Drink? I'm thinking some tequila." James searched through cupboards and I scanned the apartment.

It was cute; small and not a lot in it, but cute. He had a couch and TV on a stand in the living area, and a side table with a lamp next to the couch. A breakfast bar separated the kitchen from the living area

"Most people suggest beer." I shouted over to him as I walked into the living area. It was as if he didn't plan on staying, it was so empty.

"Not a beer moment. This," he paused for a moment. I heard the clink of glass and a cupboard door closing, "is a tequila moment." he came back with two glasses and a bottle of tequila.

"You can't get drunk." I smiled, sitting down on the couch and James joining me.

"So, no to the tequila?" He waved the bottle by the neck.

"Gimmie" I grabbed a glass as he smirked and opened the bottle.

"Told you" he poured some in my glass, "I did wonder if this would ever happen; meeting anyone from Steves fmaily."

"We keep things quite private. A man whos life was documented very publicly at one point, needs that security. That private life." I threw back the tequila, James following suit, and he poured another for us both.

"Why have you come out the wood works now?" He asked, putting the bottle down but not picking up his own glass.

I threw back mine again and held the glass out for another. "I need your help."

"I am no longer the winter soldier." He sounded almost robotic as he said those words. Like he had a script memorised.

"I dont want the winter soldier. I want James Buchanan Barnes. My grandpas best friend."

Later that day, we went out for some food; a sushi place he recommended. We sat at the bar and ordered a mix to enjoy.

One waitress kept looking Buckys way, and he kept looking at her whenever she wasn't looking. "ask her out."

"What? No." He shook his head, going back to his food.

I looked over to the girl who looked over but quickly looked away when she noticed I was staring at her, "Why not? She's cute."

"I'm good." He sighed and poured himself a drink.

"Come on, just -"

"I said, I'm good." He said more firmly this time.

"OK. I just don't want you to be lonely." I picked up a roll and stuffed it all in my mouth. I never really understood manners, obviously.

"Who says I'm lonely?"

"You're alone."

"Being alone and being lonely are two very different things."