Why bears?
The little voices of small children on the playground only a few meters away grates on your nerves, so you turn your attention to the strange bear carvings - statues about five feet high. Four of them, scattered throughout the tiny park. They're worn and chipped with flecks of yellow paint in the grooves of chiseled fur, but you have to admit the carvings are impressively intricate.
"Pleeeeease mama!"
You glance at the bench to your right, where a women a few years older than you holds an infant in her arms as a toddler tugs at her coat - little, sticky hands grasp at the golden zipper, giving it several tugs.
"No, honey," the woman says, voice worn and ragged. "I have to hold your sister. Go play on the swings. Look, they're right there."
"Play with me!" the little boy whines, tugging again. "Mamaaaaa!"
The woman sighs, and grimaces as she stands. You arch a brow in surprise when her coat slips open enough to see the swell of her belly, several months along. When she takes the little boy's hand, he cheers and drags her over towards the swings.
You scoff, rolling your eyes. Children are a nuisance.
Shooting a quick glance over towards the street you spot the awning of the candy shop, and your eyes do a quick scan for the golden Acura. After your rendezvous on the other side of town, James had wanted to get back into a populated area. You, personally, feel better in isolation. James had agreed with your sentiment, but noted that being the only people in a space makes you standout. Better to blend in with the crowd. So he had driven back to the main street.
You spot the car three or four spots down from your original parking place, the trunk popped. You can't see James behind it, but you know he's gathering some of the things he had packed before leaving the abandoned theatre. He hadn't told you what it all was, but it can't be much. After all, everything fit in only one large duffel bag.
With a sigh, you look back at the park, kicking at the chunky mulch pieces beneath your feet. As children play on the nearby jungle gym and dangle from the monkey bars, women mill about. Some with strollers, some on the phone, and others actively playing with the kids.
No men.
That's the thing about public parks - especially those with children about. They make a great hiding place for someone like you. Women are never questioned, and unless they have a child of their own, men can't let their eyes linger too long without drawing unwanted attention.
If Vex really does know you're after her, any Spectre looking for you would standout if they came anywhere close - even in civilian clothes. And with the tall trees overhead, the immediate park area is sheltered from any overhead attacks.
"Ready."
A brown canvas tote bag with leather trim lands with a heavy thud at your feet, and you glance over your shoulder to see James standing behind you. His black leather jacket conceals his metal arm, and his single black glove covers his left hand. He wears a scowl and scans the area.
"Smile, Barnes," you say through grit teeth, a fake smile on your own face. "You'll scare the kids." You can feel James roll his eyes as he steps around the bench and sits at your side. But to his credit he lets his face relax. "Now put your arm on the back of the bench," you say, sliding closer to his side, but not quite pressing up against him. James complies, and rests his arm behind you.
"We shouldn't stay here," he says beneath his breath. "There's a restaurant across the street. We can get a table. Run recon from there."
You frown, thinking back on that cold, metal café table at the plaza in Jackson, Tennessee. A sudden twinge in your lower back reminds you acutely of exactly what happened the last time you scouted from a restaurant table.

YOU ARE READING
Saving Bucky (Bucky Barnes x Reader)
FanfictionSet immediately after the events of Saving Steve (Book 2), Bucky finds himself locked up in the hands of The Company - a mysterious shadow organization asking too many questions about his Winter Soldier programming. And he'll do anything to hide th...