Sweet and Sour

Chapter 9 - Follow me

Warning: Mentions of vomiting

Your stomach flips as you see him, every feeling you have for him suddenly back in full force as you're painfully aware of how heavy your heart feels in your chest.

He's dressed in all black – an immaculately tailored black suit, black shirt, black tie and his trademark black gloves. He looks perfect, as always.

A pretty brunette in a teeny skirt hovers by his side, looking like a glamorous extra in a music video. You barely have a moment to mask your disappointment when you see her.

"I'm sorry Mr. Barnes, I-" John babbles as he looks at Bucky. "I didn't know it was you, I-"

"Get the fuck out of my club" Bucky hisses.

He grabs a fistful of John's shirt and tosses him towards a watchful Thor who takes over - forcefully manhandling him and dragging him to the exit as John's babbled apologies fall on deaf ears.

Bucky's ocean blue eyes follow the route of John's removal before he fixes them back on you again.

The brunette at his side closes the gap between the two of them, clinging possessively to his arm as she looks on at the scene in front of her. You feel a wave of sadness radiate through you.

"You okay?" he asks, his voice is monotonous but his eyes are slightly narrowed with concern as he studies you.

You nod frantically. "Yes...er...yes. Sorry. This is your club? I didn't know..."

He nods his head, gesturing to the VIP area. His face is as stoic as it always was.

"Yep. One of the businesses I own. The boys and I come down every once in a while to unwind, let off steam".

You nod again, feeling like a bird the way you keep bobbing your head at him. Of course he owns this place. You knew he owned nightclubs. You should've put two and two together. Fuck, what if he thinks you've come to see him? How desperate would that be?

"Banner was helping out behind the bar tonight, he told me he saw you here but I didn't believe him...didn't think it was really your scene".

He smirks subtly, looking you up and down.

Banner. The bartender. You suddenly place his face – he was in the car with Sam the night you caught them outside your apartment. Of course.

Fuck – this place is crawling with Bucky's men and you had no idea...

"Uh well...not really. I'm here with Wanda. We just wanted a bit of a girl's night. Bit of bonding, you know?" you smile weakly.

"I feel you, girl!" giggles the brunette, squeezing Bucky's arm and leaning further into him.

He glances sideways at her briefly and then back to you.

You smile back at her. Suddenly it's all too much...how drunk you feel, the horrible business with John, seeing Bucky again. You're on his turf now, not in the safe familiarity of the bakery. You hate that he just saw you vulnerable and had to step in with John...and the beautiful girl on his arm. You know it's none of your business and you turned him down, but it still makes you jealous. It suddenly feels stifling in the club, your head is swimming and you feel nausea brewing in your stomach.

Why is it suddenly so hot in here? You need to get out. Now.

"I'm sorry...sorry...I have to go" you say breathily, smiling at them both before making a beeline for the exit.

You rush out of there as fast as you can, flying past the bouncers and out into the chill of the night. You sigh with relief as you inhale the outside air. You turn down into an alleyway next to the club, just taking a moment to lean against the wall and breathe. You can hear the heavy pounding of the music through the walls of the building and the hub of excited chatter from the line out front.