Lovers in Arms | Bucky Barnes

Part 15

The ride home yesterday was awful. Everybody was drained, physical and emotional. The evening was short and Karol decided to sleep in Bucky's room. Both were so drained that they just cuddled and fell asleep short after.

It's 5 AM and Karol is wide awake while Bucky is still sleeping. He's lying on his stomach, fast asleep. Karol decides to get an early workout. She sneaks out of his room after putting on some clothes. It's still dark outside and really quiet, she likes it and is enjoying the silence.

In the training room she decides to get on the treadmill for a run. After putting on her headphones, she picks her favourite playlist, filled with new and old music from the 40's. Karol enjoys the modern technology. She starts up the treadmill and starts running.

All she can think about was the first day of the trial. That lawyer Anderson is awful, an arrogant man who thinks he can get away with everything. She would like to meet him in a dark and abandoned alley sometime where she can skewer him on her Katana.

"Goddammit fucking asshole." She whispers to herself. She pushes the button so the treadmill goes faster. Running at almost 18 mph she can finally let her thoughts go. Clearing her mind and only concentrating on her breathing and music.

After half an hour she stops the treadmill. Stretching her muscles, touching her toes, from one side and the other. Later she heads out to the kitchen to get a bottle water from the fridge.

There she find the newspapers of today. A huge headline in big black letters say; 'Captain America testifies'. Another says; 'Pierce tells the truth'. And another; 'Sergeant Barnes innocent?'. Sometimes Karol thinks it's the only thing the papers are interested in. Some reporters even got the chance to snap a picture. Even though they were escorted through the back door. She throws the papers into the trash and walks out of the kitchen.

Back in the bedroom she finds Bucky still asleep. She enters the bathroom and turns on the shower. The room fills with steam because of the hot water. Undressing herself she throws all her clothes in the hamper and steps in the shower.

The warm water streaming over her body feels so good. Since she escaped from HYDRA she never had so many hot showers. And the shampoo smells so nice, and the loofah is so soft. And the towels, so thick and soft. It's a real treat to shower like this. She never met this Tony, but he has his shit together.

After drying herself off she heads back into bed. Bucky is still asleep. Man he can sleep like a baby. She just looks at him sleeping, no care in the world. But she knows they have to be ready in a few hours. Today is the second day of the trial.

Day 2 of the trial

Another stressful day awaits with testimonials. Again they were escorted in the black SUV's and Bucky's monitor was checked. Karol still thinks it's all nonsense. She'd like to punch Anderson in the face and pull Bucky out of that courtroom to run away together. Bucky has to talk her out of it every time she brings it up.

Arriving at the courthouse, they are being escorted through a different backdoor. In the corner of her eye they see bright flashes. Reporters trying to snap a picture. The reporters and paparazzi are being blocked by the police.

"Prosecution, you may call your first witness for today."

Anderson has called in an eye-witness. Bucky doesn't know this woman, he is nervous what this might mean for the trial.

"Miss David, welcome." Anderson says to her in a sweet voice.

A lady has taken the witness stand. She has long hair, tied in a ponytail. She is wearing a blazer she obviously borrowed from someone because it's a bit too big for her. She is wearing glasses and is seemingly nervous.