Zyma | Bucky Barnes (DISCONTINUED)

Crossing Names off the List

"I am not going in there."

I rolled my eyes at Bucky. We were in the hallway of my apartment. He informed me that he was ready to face Jackson and Gemma. To make amends with them. The entire way he made a list, and by list I mean write it in a pocket notebook, of all the pros and cons of making amends with them tonight. Now that we were right in front of the door, he was chickening out.

"You'll be fine. Now let's go inside and you can get this over with." I motioned towards the door with a large grin.

"No." Bucky scowled.

"Why are you acting like an oversized toddler? You were just stating how you wanted to make amends with them." I exasperated, rubbing my temple.

"And then I remembered they most likely hate my guts. So, no, I'm leaving." Bucky gave a firm nod, starting to turn around.

"I don't think so." I quickly grasped his wrist. Bucky heaved a sigh and gave me a stern look. "I'm now your wingwoman for making amends, so I guess that means I'm also here to make sure you follow through."

"I can follow through tomorrow." Bucky tried to shake out of my grip. I refused to let him go. He raised a brow. "Damn, you're stronger than you look."

"Thanks. Look, I suggest you do this now. I can't guarantee their reactions, but you'll be starting somewhere. I'm going to be there anyways to make sure the situation doesn't go south." I informed him.

"If this blows up in my face, it's on you." Bucky narrowed his eyes and pointed at me.

"Fine by me. Ready?" I asked, taking out my apartment key.

"Not really." Bucky gave me a look.

"Do you want me to give them a warning or?" I asked, getting ready to unlock the door.

"Let's just get this over with." Bucky sighed, running a hand down his face.

"Okie dokie. Here we go." I mumbled, unlocking the door. "I'm home and I brought a guest. Behave!"

"No promises!" Jackson called out. He walked out of the kitchen with a bowl of Ramen. The teenager was holding chopsticks and was in mid bite when he saw Bucky out in the hallway. "Oh, shit."

"Hi." Bucky gave him a curt nod.

"Uh, Aunt Soph? Can I talk to you for, like, a second?" Jackson pointed towards the kitchen using his chopsticks.

"Yeah." I nodded. Looking back towards an awkward Bucky, I motioned him to enter the apartment. "You can sit on the couch for now. Want anything to drink?"

"Got anything strong?" Bucky grumbled.

"There's Mountain Dew." Jackson answered, keeping a close eye on the ex-assassin.

"Is that some kind of moonshine?" Bucky furrowed his brows in confusion.

"Uh, no." Jackson gave me a look of bewilderment. "It's soda."

"Soda?" Bucky repeated.

"Yeah..." Jackson trailed off.