Subject X (Winter Soldier X Reader)

18

The auction room was a large and open meeting room with high ceilings and a chandelier falling down to the center. The room was darkened with chairs lined up in rows and one isle down the middle. At the front of the room and to the right, a podium. Along the back wall was a large curtain, strung up specifically for this event.

"Number?"
My attention turned to a small woman carrying a box that looked rather awkward in her arms. She smiled at us, waving the number 023 in her hand gently and encouragingly. Bucky reached forward, taking the number from the woman and giving her a gentle thank you. She smiled kindly at us and moved on to the next couple that entered the auction hall.

'Get to the front quickly and find a seat.' Caroline instructed us. Bucky reacted quickly, taking off down the aisle and to the front of the room. Luckily, we found two seats in the second row back on the right side of the room. There was one aisle seat occupied by someones jacket, and then the two seats that Bucky and I had claimed. I had nervously finished my drink in one long swig, stirring the ice around with my toothpick. I had no idea what to expect from this auction. Of course, we wouldn't dare bid on anything, but this was one of the opportunities to see what Hydra was capable of in the wrong hands.

Bucky could either see, feel, or sense my tension, because he reached his gloved hand over and grabbed a hold of mine. I looked up at him, seeing a gentle grin resting on his freshly shaven and cleaned up face. His hair was slicked back in an even better job than I had done previously today. There were a few pieces of small hairs sticking out of his slicked back hair that fell down in front of his face. I set down the drink on the floor and then used my free hand to push back a bigger lock of his hair. We shared a intimate moment together, smiling and gazing into each others faces.

Finally, the lights started to dim and my attention was brought back to the front of the stage. Only the lights at the front of the room remained that illuminated the red curtains. I felt movement next to me. I instinctively looked to my left and watched as the tall man sat down next to me. He looked at me, flashing me a quick courtesy smile. He did a double take, looking at me with wide eyes of recognition.

I felt my heart drop, staring at the man that we had been tracking all day, the man we were destined to bring to Hydra's justice.
"You're the woman from the cafe this morning, right?" He asked me quietly as to not disturb the auction going on around them. I simply stared at him, dumbfounded and in disbelief. I squeezed Bucky's hand as he turned his attention to me, then to the man beside me.

Frederick looked around me and at Bucky, giving him a gentle wave. "Good to see you again
Mr. - um."

"Please, just call me James. It's nice to see you again as well." Bucky leaned into me to whisper closer to Frederick.

Frederick chuckled gently with a smile on his lips. "I see now why you needed a new suit. How did you hear about this event? Who invited you?"

Internally I panicked, too shocked to even move as I heard Caroline typing away furiously at her keyboard in my ear. Too long had passed as I looked back and forth between Bucky and Frederick before we finally got an answer.
'Antione Leroux.'
Thank goodness Caroline ran that facial recognition software.

"Antione Leroux." I responded with a smile across my lips, finally finding my voice so to not make anything suspicious. "My fiancé works for him." I explained, hoping that the lie I just told was believable.

Frederick raised his eyebrows in surprise and looked at Bucky. "I've heard good things about Antione." He commented on the man. Bucky shrugged gently at the question.
"I'm just at an entry level position, I don't work around him much personally."

Thankfully our topic of conversation was brought to a halt at the sound of the announcer getting the attention of the crowd. I released the tension I was holding within my muscles and a long breath escaped my nose. From here on out, our mission was to sit and watch. We were just supposed to record the weapons being sold and, if possible, who they were sold to. Although, it quickly became apparent that this was going to be harder than originally planned.