As I Was

Twenty Five

"Do you know me?"

It felt like time was standing still as a silence passed between the three of them. The hopeful look in Steve's eyes was tinged with sadness as he stared across to his best friend, waiting for him to confirm or deny whether he was the Bucky he remembered or was long gone.

Staring right back Bucky tilted his chin slightly and took in a deep breath "You're Steve," he said in a forced tone. After Ange's warning they were both on edge, ready for Steve to arrest them and take them into Shield's custody "I read about you in a museum, Harper filled in a lot of the rest."

Her eyes lowered automatically as Steve glanced over to her and she stepped closer to Bucky to close the gap between them. Her eyebrows furrowed as a noise, almost like another voice, caught her attention and she watched Steve reach up to press the device sitting in his ear closer so he could listen.

"I know you're nervous. And you have plenty of reason to be," Steve began, a sense of urgency in his tone and the way he held himself, as he threw a glance over to the window.

"I wasn't in Vienna. I don't do that anymore," Bucky said quickly, before Steve could continue, as he turned and reached his hand out to Harper.

Steve pressed his finger to his ear again as the noise from earlier caught Harper's attention once more; he was being warned of something "Well, the people who think you did are coming here now. And they're not planning on taking you alive."

"That's smart. Good strategy," Bucky replied, lifting his left arm and removing the glove he usually wore when leaving the apartment. Beside him Harper's heart was racing, sweat prickling on her skin and her chest aching with unreleased breath "It's alright," he continued in a mumble, his words only for her, as she stepped even closer to him.

"This doesn't have to end in a fight, Buck," Steve was practically pleading, holding his hand out toward his friend "How about you let the girl go?" he asked, as though negotiating in a hostage situation.

He must have felt her tense up as he reached back to squeeze her fingers with his own, stopping her before she said anything which could incriminate her when Steve took them in "It's time for the plan," he said beneath his breath, watching as she spun on her heel and grabbed her bag out of the cupboard before turning back to Steve "It always ends in a fight."

Slinging her bag onto her back she swallowed down her anxiety, the plan running through her mind calming her slightly and giving her something to focus on. This was down to her, she was the one in control.

Steve was looking between them in confusion as she sent Bucky one last glance, nodding her head to let him know she knew what she was doing and sending him one last smile before heading for the back doors. She slipped outside just in time to hear Steve ask Bucky why he'd pulled him from the river.

With barely any time to spare Harper closed her eyes and took in a quick breath, there was a calm around sticking to a routine and this plan had been repeated so many times it was practically routine to her now.

Hopping up onto the balcony wall she scanned the street, the same street on which she and Bucky had danced in the rain not too long ago, to make sure it was empty.

Leaning over she unravelled the rope ladder, the one she and Bucky had installed during their weeks inside, and didn't think twice before swinging down and gripping onto one of the rungs. After plenty of practise and feeling the adrenaline rushing through her veins to keep her going she scaled down the side of the building with ease, her feet landing on the pavement soundlessly.

Not letting her mind focus on what could be happening back up in the apartment she set out on her search for a car. She had noticed during her time living in Romania that the people leaving their cars in the street behind their apartment building were far too trusting and it didn't take her long to find one unlocked.