Saving Bucky (Bucky Barnes x Reader)

Chapter 6 - Empathy

"Are you sure about this?" Agent King asks, holding up the stun baton. Your heels click along the cement floors as his patent-leather dress shoes follow closely behind. 

"He's been here two full weeks. It's time," you answer curtly, hitting the button as the two of you step into the elevator and descend from the Armory on Floor 10 down to Isolation on 20.

King frowns. "You said it yourself, this isn't going to-"

"It's not meant to," you shoot back coolly.

Agent King sighs and shakes his head, collapsing the baton and clipping it to his belt. "All right. Fine. If you say this is the way, then it's the way. So, what's the rest of the play look like? Do I get to yell at you again?" he asks, wiggling a brow.

"Wipe that smirk off your face before I do it for you," you scowl. 

His face falls, pouting in a way that falls somewhere between childish and endearing. "Anyone ever tell you you're not a whole lot of fun, Madame Interrogator?"

"I know a few members of the Sinaloa cartel that might disagree," you croon as the elevator doors open on 20. "I play a mean hand of Mexican Poker when I'm not emotionally castrating their gun runners."

"Mexican Poker?" scoffs King. "There's no such thing. Poker is poker."

"Whatever you say," you grin, casting him a roguish grin as the two of you make your way down the halls in silence. But you can feel his eyes on you as you walk. You ignore his inquisitive stare, offering no additional insight.

"Okay fine," he finally asks, clearly intrigued. "What's the difference?"

You stop and turn in place as he barely avoids running into you.

"You want to know the difference, Agent?" you smile devilishly. King nods and you glance behind you before stretching up on your tiptoes as if to share a secret. He bends down, allowing your lips to brush the soft outer shell of his ear as you whisper. "In Mexican Poker...there's a wild card."

He arches one brow and scoffs as you turn on your heel and continue marching down the hall. "Wild card," he grumbles as the two of you reach Barnes' cell door. "Why am I not surprised?"

"All right, here's what needs to happen," you say, keeping your voice low. You know about Barnes' superhuman hearing, but you also know he can't hear anything less than a shout beyond the closed, sealed, and soundproofed door. Still, no reason to take a chance. "You lead," you say quietly. "Follow the same pattern you have previously."

"You want me to pull you out?" King replies. "When? What's our signal?"

"You'll know," you say, grinning mischievously. "Just stick to the script. And remember, it's only been a couple days. You're still pissed at me for showing weakness."

"Easy enough," King answers, reaching to scan his palm.

"Oh, and one more thing," you call out, stopping King as he turns to look at you once more. "When you open the door, hesitate. Leave it open only an inch and ask me if I want him chained."

Agent King chuckles and shakes his head. "You got it boss." 

"And you two," you say, spinning on your heel to address the two Specters standing sentinel, as always. They both turn their heads to look at you. "This may get dicey. Stay ready, but only interfere if Agent King asks you to. Got it?"

The Spectres raise their hand in salute before turning to face front. You scowl at their eerie uniformity. 

King passes his palm scan followed by the iris. The door latch whirs as the interior locking mechanism slides aside. King pulls open the door barely an inch before stopping and looking back to you.