The Blue Siren and the Winter Soldier | Bucky Barnes x OC

Part 2

I tried not to let the events of Monday fester in my head. Tried is the key word here. I didn't like knowing there were assailants lurking in the shadows of the city, but what was I supposed to do about it? I'd given up that life. I didn't hunt bad guys or apprehend evil sorcerer dudes. Those days were behind me. What happened back in the center of town was an anomaly, something I had to distance myself from in the future.

While walking down a side alley next to a small courtyard after spending the day in the town square, I felt someone walk up behind me. I spun around to see another figure staring at me, their eyes seemingly glowing under the dark hood over their head. Layers of clothing prevented me from deciphering whether they were male or female. I noticed, however, that the skin around the visible part of their face was gray and scaly. These guys weren't human.

"Elliana Corinna," my name leaked out of their mouth like molasses. I heard footsteps behind me and I knew that more had shown up.

"What do you want?" I asked, a part of me fed up and the other part a bit nervous. I never enjoyed this feeling, as it always led to a series of unfortunate events. I pressed further, "Why are you following me?" I didn't know if they were actually following me, but I'd learned long ago to just get to the point and ask their motives, otherwise it was a dramatic back and forth that no one really had time for.

Before I could conjure any magic, something large flew down from the top of the building we were next to. Not something. Someone. The first man from a few days ago--but this time, with actual wings--grabbed the cloaked person in front of me and slammed them into the stone wall to my right. The other one kicked another masked person from behind before punching them so hard that they fell over unconscious. Our eyes met, his dark and weary, and I felt myself get lost in them, if only for a moment.

The winged man pulled open the sealed wooden door to the building and looked at me, "Inside. Now."

I complied and followed the two inside. It was a warehouse type area, with a high ceiling covered in piping, and utility supplies scattered along shelving and tables. I was cautious, but wanted to know what these guys were up to. "Is there a reason that a bird man and a Great Value C3PO are following me around town?" I asked, leaning against one of the work tables and folding my arms.

"C3PO? Really?" The guy with the metal arm said under his breath.

"I'm Sam," the other said. He nodded to his partner, "This is Sergeant Barnes. You mind telling us who you are?"

I was quiet for a moment, unsure if I wanted to answer. I sighed and decided that telling them wouldn't be the worst thing. "My name is Elliana."

"Well, Elliana, we wanted to thank you for the help a few days back. Those guys have been ruthless," Sam said. He was wearing this crazy red, white, and blue uniform. Even though I hadn't been to the States in years, I had enough cultural awareness to know that Captain America was standing in front of me. His wings retracted into a jetpack-like machine on his back, and he stared at me through red glasses.

I nodded, "It wasn't a problem. Unfortunately I do this thing where I can't let innocent people die, even if it is against my better judgement," I looked between them, "What are two Avengers doing in Riga?"

"We were tracking a recent outbreak of attacks involving Enhanced Persons. Who, evidently, seem to also be tracking you." Sam crossed his arms. His eyes were stone cold. I couldn't read him. "We heard rumors that a new version of the Super Soldier Serum had been illegally created and distributed."

I paused. If these were newly enhanced people, why were they looking for me? It couldn't be a coincidence that they suddenly began attacking innocent people in the very city I live in. Did this have something to do with the DSOI experiments from almost 10 years ago? They extracted all kinds of DNA samples from me--everything from hair, to scales, to skin and blood. Sometimes I wake up screaming in the middle of the night, still feeling the needles and the blades along my skin. I tried to not let myself get too paranoid. I wasn't usually one to conjure up conspiracies.

"These enhanced people, they're not...just soldiers anymore, like me or Steve Rogers," Barnes said while polishing his metal hand. I recognized that name. Steve is also--or was, I was fairly certain he was dead--Captain America. He was kind of the poster child for not only the Avengers, but enhanced people in general. While I appreciated the patriotism, however superficial, I never understood the hype. Perhaps I had never paid the Avengers much mind since I was usually off fighting my own battles in Aryllia, my home realm of it's own magic and mayhem. Even so, I knew enough of the US's history to know who Sergeant Barnes was--the Winter Soldier. The infamous Hydra assassin. Barnes continued, "Whatever serum is going around is giving people other abilities," He was wearing a leather jacket with only one sleeve attached, similar to what he was wearing when fighting in the square a few days ago. His black and gold metal arm was fully exposed. He looked up at me. I noticed the dark expression on his face. His eyes seemed to pierce into mine. Was he always this intense? "They're not just fast and strong, some of them can move things with their mind," He motioned to his head, "Or even shapeshift. It's unlike anything I've seen come out of a bottle."

"I was going to ask if you knew anything about this, but given your facial expression, I'd say that you don't," Sam said to me. I quickly regained composure and did my best to not let them see my true emotions. "Whatever the case, they're clearly after you," He added.

I looked away from them, my head racing with so many thoughts. Flashbacks of the tanks, the monitors, and the probing all came back to me. Ones I had tried so hard to bury. "So what do you want me to do? Join your muppets parade of super heroes to stop these guys?" I snapped. I felt bad for being so hostile, but my anxiety was rising through the roof. Even though I was in a large open space, I felt like the walls were closing in around me.

"Hey, it's okay. We struck a nerve, it's cool." Sam's voice was gentler now, sensing my stress, "We're not your enemies. I can promise you that. We just want to know if you have any information that could help us."

I pulled my arms tighter around me. The unheated warehouse was growing cooler as the evening grew closer. "Listen, it's not personal. But I don't know anything. If these guys cross my path again, I can handle myself," They were silent. I continued, "You guys can continue to act like you're saving humanity, but I want nothing to do with it." I began to walk back towards the door. Before opening it, I turned to them one last time, "Good luck, I guess." And with that, I flicked my hand at the door and it flew open in front of me. I left the two alone in the warehouse, making my way down to the rocky shore before I could let my brain spiral into a million anxious thoughts.