Lovers in Arms | Bucky Barnes

Part 10

Sam and Steve are eating some breakfast and are surprised with a very cheerful Bucky and Karol walking into the kitchen together. Karol can't stop giggling and Bucky is glued to her side, just smiling. In the kitchen she wraps her arms around his neck while he wraps his around her waist.

"Thank you for listening." She whispers.

"Anytime." He whispers back before brushing his lips over hers and kissing her softly.

"You guys are in a good mood. What happened? Yesterday you were still at each other's throats. Literally." Sam laughs at his own joke.

"Looks like they continued their business last night." 

A unfamiliar voice surprises Bucky, he turns towards the woman and tries to recognize her. Scanning her from top to bottom with pinched eyes. He has seen her before.

"We've asked her to come here. She helped us track down Pierce and can help in tracking the remaining members of HYDRA."

Karol turns around on her heel, she steps up to her and gives her a hug. "Oh my god Natasha, never thought I would see you again! What have you been up to?" When she lets go of their hug  she sees her surprised look in her eyes, she knows she doesn't remember her. -Oh-. She lets go of her and holds out her hand for a handshake. "I-... I'm sorry, I think I was mistaken. Karol Smitt." she says, introducing herself.

Natasha slowly offers her hand and shakes hers slowly. "Do-... Do you know me?" 

Karol looks around her, unsure how to respond. "Uhm, yeah sort of..." She smiles awkwardly. "I don't think you can remember." She decides not to go into further detail and quickly grab something to eat from the kitchen. I should have known she didn't remember. Stupid of me. Her eyes fall on a bowl with grapes and the full coffee pot. She pours herself and Bucky a cup. 

"O-... Okay..." Natasha continues her conversation with Steve and Sam, keeping a close eye on Bucky and especially on Karol. "So, you guys need me to track more people down?" They talk about Pierce, and possible other HYDRA targets, they tell her the details of what happened and where they tracked him. They also tell her about Karol, why she is here.

"She can do a weird mind trick." Sam whispers to Natasha.

Natasha just squints her eyes while looking back at Karol again. She decides to ask her. "You're going to be honest with me. Where do you know me from?" 

Karol almost chokes on her grape and coughs. Looking up to her, then to Bucky. He also looks at her waiting for an honest answer. "Well... Uhm..." She clears her throat. "For a uhm... short period of time, I was... Uhm...your Trainer. In uhm... the Red Room... They might have wiped your memories of it." Karol takes a sip from her coffee, letting her answer sink in with Natasha and the boys.

"Wait, what? Trainer?"

"M-Hmm." She hums. After another sip of her coffee she decides to continue confessing what she and Natasha have done together. "...with benefits..." A deafening silence follows. You can almost hear the crickets chirping outside. When she looks around her she sees surprised faces, but Sam somehow seems amused, or impressed, smiling and slowly nodding his head at her. 

Karol decides to escape the silence, gets up and walks out of the kitchen back to her room. She is quickly overtaken by Bucky. He says nothing but his face speaks volumes. Mostly confused and surprised. 

"I know I know I know." Karol continues. "Surprise!"

Bucky just shakes his head. "Did you mean what I think you meant?"

Eyebrows raised, and a half smile on her face, she just nods.

"Uhm, okay. I-... I don't know what to think about that." he scratches the back of his head.