𝐋𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐘 & 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐒 | 𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞

𝟎𝟏. 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐮𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐥𝐲𝐧

𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 her arms and tapped her foot impatiently before the recently promoted Sergeant Barnes stepped out of the alley. "Well? Where the hell is he?"

"Language, Lori," Bucky chastised as he resurfaced his cap on his head. He'd been fidgeting with his suit all afternoon, as if he didn't quite believe it fit him right.

"Did you find my brother or not?" She elected to ignore the comment that once more reminded her of her place in society, and how she was once more failing to uphold the picture of perfection expected.

"No corpses here."

"That's the tenth alley we've checked today," Lorene complained. "How could he have possibly wandered off that far?"

"That or he was dragged," Bucky offered an alternative solution. The snarky comment earned him a quick thwap on the arm and a firm glare. He sheepishly laughed and raised his hands defensively. "Ey, don't blow a fuse, I was only kiddin' around."

She opened her mouth to offer a wisecrack or a threat of her own, but was interrupted by the sound of a couple trash tins clashing together just down the street. It only took a single look for the two to recognize who might be behind the trouble.

Despite the restrictions of her skirt and heels, Lorene took the lead. The closer they got, the more they were able to hear, which mostly consisted of a lot of shuffling around, a bit more clanging, and some implied brutality. At the sound of fist meeting face once more, Lorene finally stepped around the corner, immediately frowning at the sight within the eleventh alley she'd visited that day.

She was unable to see the jerk's face, which only pissed her off further. If this guy was going to beat up her brother, he might as well have some common decency to show his face. He chuckled, tilting his head as if amused. "You just don't know when to give up, do you?"

"I can do this all day." Steve panted as he replied with the comeback she'd heard a dozen times. A dozen times it had been offered and a dozen times it had failed to protect him. Steve lunged forward to attack, blindly swinging his fist, but was easily deflected before receiving another heavy blow to the face.

She'd had enough at that point, deciding it was time to finally step in. "Hey!"

The guy turned his head, only enforcing her opinion that he was a complete dirt bag by the amused grin that tugged at the corner of his lip.

"Pick on someone your own size." Could she actually defend herself? Of course not, but it was the thought that counted... not to mention the armed officer nearby.

The designated dirtbag chuckled under his breath before offering a gentle, yet patronizing excuse. "I don't hit girls, doll."

In that moment, the temptation of her smart mouth won and she retorted without a second thought to consider the consequence of her words. "Normally, I'd say the same... but I'm willing to make an exception for you."

In no way was she actually prepared to start a fight, nor did she have the skill to make a lasting threat, but he didn't have to know that to underestimate her. However, she wasn't ever given the opportunity to throw a punch because the highly decorated officer that had been a step behind the entire time finally entered the alley. Bucky blocked the path between her and Steve from the confrontational jerk. His cocky grin faltered, showing weakness just a second, but that didn't stop him from lunging toward Bucky.

The blow was easily deflected and returned before Bucky turned the guy around and gave him a welcome kick in the rear to send him on his way. Steve had just started to get his breath back when Bucky turned toward the two with a strong look of disapproval. "Sometimes, I think you like getting punched."