Lovers in Arms | Bucky Barnes

Part 32

Weeks have passed and it's taking a lot longer than Karol hoped to find Rumlow. She is determined to catch him so she spends a lot of time in the room where they keep an eye on his movements.

The room is small and has minimal furniture. A table, tow chairs and the wall is filled with a few screens. The middle screen shows a map, the left one has an algorithm that searches for Rumlow or any know associates in the news and police reports, the right screen shows a profile of Rumlow.

The table is filled with empty wrappers, a few empty glasses and a plate with a half-eaten turkey sandwich. Karol ate it while staring at the screens but eventually got distracted.

Sometimes a red dot pops up, but always disappears again after a few seconds. Every time this happens Karol sits up straight in her chair and grunts loud out of frustration when it disappears. Rumlow must have found some method to keep his location top secret at all times. Must be some kind of HYDRA tech. Motherfucker.

Bucky has to pry her away from the screens so she can get some food or sleep. But mostly to distract her from her manhunt. She's been obsessed by those screens so he decides to take her for some time together.

Today he finds her again in that room. Both feet up on the table, her body slumped into the desk chair, her head leaning on her hand and staring at the screens. She hasn't had a decent night sleep in days and you can see the dark bags under her eyes. Her hair is wild, like she hasn't brushed it in days, and she probably hasn't. She just opened her mouth and started a yawn when Bucky steps in.

When she stretches her arms she notices Bucky leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed. On his face a friendly smile.

"I knew I would find you here. Any luck?" He nods at the screen.

"No, I was trying to find a pattern but it all seems so random." Karol yawns again and sighs. "What time is it?"

"It's still early. Come with me for some breakfast." He takes her hand and almost needs to drag her from the chair. "How long have you been in here?"

Karol stretches her legs and curls her toes. "Not sure. I got out of bed last night because I couldn't sleep and ended up here."

"You need food and some sleep."

"Food, yes! Sleep, no." She gives him a gentle smile when they both hear her stomach growl.

She ate the stack of pancakes Bucky made for her from scratch in minutes. She drizzled them with syrup and blueberries. "What can't you do..?" She asks with her mouth full.

Bucky gives her a warm smile. He takes her hand and puts a gentle kiss on top of her hand. "I'm just a natural I guess. " He strokes her hand with his thumb and lets go. "And for you I would do everything."

"You really are a natural." She grins as she leans over to kiss him. Her lips taste like the syrup she had on her pancakes, still sweet and a little bit sticky.

Their sweet moment is disturbed by Steve sliding into the kitchen. "You both need to see this! Come!"

Both quickly put down what they were doing and follow Steve to the same room where Bucky just pulled Karol from an hour ago. A bright red dot is pulsating on the screen.

"It has been like this for a few minutes now. Seems like Shuri's alterations in the algorithm worked."

Karol takes a few steps towards the screen and stares at the dot. "This is it..." She whispers. "We need to go now! Where are Nat and Wanda?"

Steve nods. "I'll get them. Suit up and get ready to leave."

Karol pulls on a suit specially made for her by Shuri to wear in combat and is very functional. Her pants have a lot of handy pockets, room for knifes and pads on her knees and elbows. A set of sturdy army boots that lace up high up her ankle for the best support.