Haunted By Him

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Natalia relates her story to Steve at his apartment once they return from the hospital and Bucky sits with her, watching Steve’s face.

“You died trying to save her?” Steve asks Bucky and Bucky gives a shy shrug.

“It worked out in the end,” he says and Steve gives him a sigh and a grin.

“Count on you to fall off a cliff trying to smuggle someone else to safety,” he says.

“So now I’m going back,” Natalia says. “I’ll be going back and forth until I can help everyone who needs it.”

“If you ever need anything,” Steve says. “I’ll do everything I can.” Natalia smiles and thanks him, and then she stands.

“I ought to be going,” she says. “My plane leaves in a few hours.”

Bucky stands as well and looks at her. She smiles at him gently and cups his cheek in her hand.

“I’ll be back,” she promises him. “I’ll see you again, James.”

He follows her to the door like a puppy and as soon as Steve is out of sight, she kisses him hard on the mouth, breathing him in. He squeezes her, tears pricking at his eyes.

“Come back soon,” he tells her.

“I will,” she says.

“Come back safe,” he continues and she takes in a breath.

“I will,” she says again. And then she lets go and leaves and the door shuts behind her and Bucky returns to Steve with tears in his eyes.

“I’ll miss her so much,” he says quietly and Steve looks at him and then sighs again.

“You oughta go with her, Buck,” he says and Bucky’s head snaps up.

“What?” He says. “No, I can’t, I…” Steve grins at him sadly.

“You two have unfinished business in Russia,” he says. “That much is obvious.”

“Steve,” Bucky says. “We just got back together.”

“And now we have all the time in the world,” Steve says and he stands up and embraces Bucky. “Come back safe.”

Bucky squeezes him back and tears roll down his cheeks.

“I will,” he says.

Bucky runs to catch up to Natalia, walking out in the parking lot, and she grins at him over her shoulder as though she’d been just waiting for him to return.

“You’re coming with me?” She says and she links her arm through his once he catches up.

“Of course,” Bucky says, as though he hadn’t been in tears moments ago. “Hydra’s still out there, they’ll still come for me. I gotta do something about that. And besides, I need to tell you more about what Bucky Barnes would and wouldn’t do, after all.” Natalia looks at him and laughs, resting her head on his shoulder. “You really think of me that highly?” He asks. “You really thought I was such a gentleman?” Natalia looks up at him, her eyes shining and a smirk on her face.

“To be fair, I think you’ve proven me right,” she says. He leans down and kisses her again.

“I love you, too,” he says.

THE END