CRAVE - Bucky Barnes x Marvel AU

Part 10

// This chapter is a little short but one of my favs in my opinion <3 I wrote it while going through a tough time and kinda connect to Lizzie a bit. Enjoy x //

Wake up!

I rolled over and buried my head in fresh smelling silk bedsheets. I sighed a little, breathing in the cool cotton sheets.

Hello?

I sat up, my head would usually ring through my ears at this point, how much had I drank? Definitely more that I've had in about five years. Great.

I felt alright, my head felt clear, a day for business.

A little note sat on the glass bedside table, it was a slightly compact room, only a small wardrobe, a space for my suitcase, and a door which probably led onto an en-suite. I had no idea there was a bedroom on his jet, but here I am.

Morning, breakfast at nine thirty. Come when you're ready

- James x

My inner child squealed a little at the two strokes of a fountain pen crossing over after his name.

I checked the time, only eight thirty. I made my bed and peeped out the window, we were literally parked in a jet next to other planes.

John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Excited, I took a shower and got myself ready, making sure to make the bed a spritz the room a little in my perfume.

I checked the mirror, a black skirt, knitted beige polo neck, with a long, soft, light brown coat open. Slipping the note in my suitcase, I checked the room one last time and went out to join him.

Maggie was there cleaning, maybe she'd just woken up as well. She smiled and told me James was waiting in a cab outside.

Stop smirking at the work cab!

I stepped out the steps, letting the Atlantic wind whip my face and hair. James was sat in the back of the cab with the door open, looking up as me as if I was a goddess.

"Morning to you," I said as I slipped in besides him, closing the door shut. He was wearing a dotted black shirt, sunglasses, and a black leather jacket.

Wasn't today for business?

"Sleep well?" He asked

"It was lovely thanks, and sorry for drinking much too much than I can handle," I smiled sheepishly, it'd be rude if I didn't acknowledge that.

"I thought you were a good girl when it came to drinking?" He asked me, smiling. I wasn't sure if he could see me blushing through my layer of foundation. Besides the fact I now purposely wore it so he couldn't.

"Well," I scrambled through my brain for something cool to say "how could I resist my host?"

You bloody idiot.

He smiled at my remark, I tore my eyes away from his to laugh a little while looking out the window, we'd driver out the airport and were heading into the city.

I couldn't hide my excitement any longer, the city's skyline came into view. It was beautiful.

"Take us to Bouchon Bakery," James ordered the driver after studying his phone and seeing me smile at the views. "I think you'll like it," he added.

-

We sat down in the bakery, the decor was partly french with an NYC setting, serving french toast and croissants.

We talked for a while again, constantly intrigued in each other's lives. I didn't know New York very well, but I knew London. He didn't know London very well, but he knew New York. Although he liked to hear me talk about London.

"Sorry," he interrupted my speech about how it was taxi not cab "but now you sound really British once everyone around you isn't,"

I don't usually like it when people comment on my accent, but his gleaming eyes made me smile "well I was born and raised there, and didn't get to travel much until I left home..."

"How old were you?" He dived in deeper as soon as he heard my tone in voice change

"It was the second I woke up on my eighteenth birthday," I forced the prickling of tears in my eyes "I had my bag packed, and I walked out. The second I became an adult."

Calm it, you're ok.

His eyes searched my soul, gathering all the information he could.

"So you weren't close with your parents?" He asked me

"No." I said "I loved them very much, I always have done," he kept his eyes locked in mine, wanting to know the full story "but there were certain agreements they wanted..." I tried to get the right words "which I tried to put off, but they were going to happen when I was eighteen."

"So you left before they had a chance to make you?" He wanted an answer, but didn't ask deliberately

"Arranged marriage." I said abruptly, gulping down. "So I went to university, never telling them I got into Oxford." I couldn't stop fidgeting "Then something happened that set me over the line and ruined me."

"You're not ruined, doll."

"But I am." Tears streamed down my cheeks, I felt eyes staring at me as I sat at the table, stupidly crying over a conversation. "It's all my fault, and there's nothing I can do to change it-"

"It's ok," James was round the table and wrapping me in his arms before I could realise "it's not your fault. You've been through things harder than anyone else has, never blame yourself."

Thank you, James