The Siren (Bucky Barnes x OC)

Part 23 - A Song of Waiting

Bucky watched Maya's blonde head of hair, which she had artfully tied up in a bun, bob around the house with Sarah from the backyard. He and Sam were putting up the last of the padding to protect the trees from training with the Shield. The Shield he and Maya had sprung Cass and AJ guiltily playing with early that morning. They both had very quickly scurried outside when they realised they'd been sprung. The eldest, Cass, had offered them an apologetic smile when he trailed after his brother. Bucky shook his head in amusement.

"What's got you all happy?" Sam quirked.

"Nothing really," Bucky dryly replied.

"It's Maya, isn't it," he teased back.

"No actually, I was thinking about your nephews we caught this morning playing with that." Bucky motioned to the Shield Sam held, who gave a light laugh to the image of his nephews petrified by being caught by the Siren and the Winter Soldier.

"They're going to be shitting themselves the next time they see either of you. How are you and Maya though? You guys seem good together," said Sam.

Bucky didn't want Sam prying too far into his personal life, so he kept his answer brief, in typical Bucky fashion. "Yeah."

"That's it?" Sam said a bit taken aback. "The woman you're clearly head over heels in love with -  have been for a while - and all you say is yeah."

"I wouldn't go that far," started Bucky. Sam raised a quizzical eyebrow at him. Not wanting to appear flustered with where the conversation was heading, Bucky expertly changed topics. "Just- just throw the damn Shield will you."

"Real smooth, Tom Cruise, real smooth," Sam said, failing to hide his smile. "You do know who that is, right?" he joked after a pause. Bucky glared at him. "Man you need to lighten up," he sighed defeatedly, throwing the Shield.

Discreetly opening the back door, Maya slid herself onto the back porch with a bowl of fruit and yogurt. She hadn't managed to  find the  remainder of the loaf of bread Sarah had mentioned earlier in the day that she'd kindly set aside for their lunches. So Maya had settled for what she deemed acceptable to steal from the fridge when her stomach started to protest the lack of food in it. She had a feeling that the two men she was spying on - well maybe not spying, more like observing - were to blame for her breadless state. 

Hunched over her bowl, she quietly spooned a piece of plum to her mouth. Her heightened senses made all too easy to listen in on their conversation. Plus, she tried to convince herself in order to lessen her guilt, it's not like they were talking in secret. 

"Feels weird," Sam said, catching the Shield. "Picking it up again." He threw it again, letting it skilfully bounce of several of the padded tress with a dull thud until it ricocheted back to Bucky. "The legacy of that Shield is," Sam motioned to it now locked around Bucky's metal arm, "complicated, to say the least."

"When Steve told me what he was planning, I don't think either of us really understood what it felt like for a Black man to be handed the Shield," Bucky said solemnly. "How could we?" He paused, evidently trying to find his next words. "I owe you an apology." Handing the Shield over to Sam, Bucky continued, "I'm sorry."

Sam graciously accepted the Shield, and the apology. "Thankyou."

This wasn't the sort of conversations Maya had been hoping to over hear. Instead she felt guiltier than a child taking the last lolly from the jar and blaming a sibling. Standing as quietly as the creaky deck would allow her, she slipped back inside. This was a much too private moment that she knew neither of them would be happy she over heard anymore of. 

Collecting the few belongings she had brought with her to drop off Sam's new suit, Maya packed for her and Bucky's flight home. His bag was already waiting at the front door. Prepared as ever. Sarah had dropped her two boys off at school shortly after Maya was woken up by their play fighting with the Shield Sam was now tossing around the back yard. Meaning Sarah was at home working. Meaning she had heard Maya begin to pack up and so she came to collect the slept in bed sheets and mattress. Meaning Maya had to shoo her away, almost coming to death threats, to allow her put the living room back to its original state on her own.