Free Bird (Bucky Barnes/OC)

𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐹𝑖𝑣𝑒

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𝙎𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 fast for Letty- though not fast enough. Natasha was practically attached to Letty at the hip all week. She slept next to her in the bed, cooked for her even when she wasn't hungry, walked her to the library, and even forced pills down her throat.

Letty couldn't handle it, and, nicely as she she could, told Nat to please give her a little space- but she refused- so they came to an agreement.

Natasha still stayed over at her house, but started going back to work, leaving Alouette to her own devices for the day. And since it was Saturday, they were meeting up at Juniper's for free ice cream and a movie.

Letty wasn't going to lie, her new medication was taking some getting used to. It made her insides cramp a lot, sometimes she would get nauseous or even feel like she was on the brink of passing out.

But, she didn't want Nat to worry anymore than she already was, so she kept it from her. She figured she would get used to it eventually.

According to Banner, she started her treatment next week, and would get a combination of chemo and radiation at the same time for two hours. It was a constant time table of once a week, so she chose Tuesdays since she had nothing to do those days.

At the moment, she was walking down the street, fixing the skirt of her red and green floral printed dress and fluffing her curls to try to draw attention from her pale-ish features. She had puked so much before she left her apartment, she actually debated on calling Banner for a moment.

But, after popping on some concealer and a little lip gloss, she felt she looked better and more presentable.

She walked into Juniper's diner, immediately met by a strong hug from Ivy. "Hey Lue, how are you? I heard you weren't doing so good."

"How'd you hear that?" She asks, hugging Ivy back. She'd only gone to the library once that week, and Ivy oddly wasn't even there.

She pulls away, not answering Letty's question, "Want some ice cream? I think we're watching 'The Secret Garden.'" She grabs her hand and starts dragging her to the bar of the diner, where a plethra of ice cream options were layed out.

Everyone in town was there, no doubt all having heard about Alouette's... episode. But, none of them would call it out, they would simply show kindness.

"Hello dear," Mrs. Juniper walks up to her, patting her shoulders, "How are you?"

Case in point.

"I'm fine Irene. How about you?" She asks the elderly woman.

"Oh- great. I've been away for a couple weeks but Natasha has been great about keeping things going around here."

Letty smiles, nodding as Ivy smacks a plastic cup of lucky charm ice cream in her hand, beginning to pull her somewhere. "Sorry, Irene. I'll see you later."

"Of course," she smiles at her with a small chuckle towards the little girls determination.

"Move your ass," Ivy scolds, pulling her again. This time, Letty obliges.

"Where are you taking me?"

"I want you to sit next to me for the movie," she says, leading her to the back where theres a large area of grass, lots of blankets already set up.

It was already sunset, and a bright orange kissed the fluffy clouds, fueling the perfect weather. Funny enough, gorgeous junipers layed around the small meadow behind the diner followed by a row of baby white roses that glew in the sun.

It was where Alouette went to read sometimes. It was her favorite place, but she would travel deeper into it. Farther out, there were hills and even a lake- it was refreshing and freeing.

Ivy pulls her down on the blanket, and Letty pushes her legs out in front of her, wiggling her naked toes as the breeze hits them. Ivy points at her, "I'll be right back, don't move okay?"

Alouette furrows her brows but nods nevertheless as Ivy runs off. She looks down at the plastic cup in her hand, an equally plastic spoon sticking out of the creamy treat.

She uses her spoon to scoop up a bite, her throat convulsing in refusal at even the sight of it. She felt that even a lick would send her reeling over the toilet seat in the restroom.

Natasha walks up behind her, "Did you take your medicine?"

"Nat," she warns, rolling her eyes. "Yes, I did," she answers when Nat gives her a pointed look. She knew she was just looking out for her so she didn't want to be too hard on her.

"Alright. I have to go finish up some budgeting problems with the new machines, but I'll be out as soon as I can."

"Okay," she smiles at her. Natasha tightens the apron around her waist before leaving.

She plays around with the ice cream some more, swallowing a nauseous knot from the waft of vanilla that travels to her sensitive nose.

Ivy appears behind her, quickly dropping herself on the edge of the blanket next to her, and stuffing a large bite of ice cream into her mouth.

Letty looks to the right, seeing James standing beside her, frowning at him as he glares at Ivy. Ivy only gives a timid smile before looking to the projector that was being set up for the community.

James takes a seat next to Alouette, the strong smell of nicotine drowning her, making her scoot over a bit. She see's the small squint of his eyes at her actions and she chews her cheek, looking forward.

She was still feeling the sting of embarrassment from her seizure she'd had in front of him, though she tries to drown it out with casual conversation.

"You smoke alot," she tells him, looking toward the brunette. He nods at her, not sparing her a glance. She gathers up the courage to mention it. "Um... thank you by the way," she says shyly, "For helping me when I-"

"It's fine," he cuts her off.

"I'm also very sorry-"

He looks towards her now, "You needed help, so we helped you."

She picks up on the word "we" and looks around for his friend. Natasha had told her that she had slept with him earlier that week, the couple having met at a Sam's Bar.

She found the coincidence exciting, but nearly forgot all about it within the chaos that had been that week. "Where is your friend? Steve- was it? I wanted to thank him as well."

He jerks his chin behind him, "Got caught up inside with your friend. But, he would just say the same thing as me. It's not a big deal."

Sbe raises her eyebrows and gives him a nod, "It's a big deal to me."