Riley's Girl

Lil bit of History

"Okay sergeant what do you want to talk about?"

He sighs and takes a breathe "well actually that, how do you know so much?" The scepticism in his voice wasn't a shock to you, this was a question you were ready to answer.

The laugh that escapes you catches you off guard, Bucky too. You clear your throat to compose yourself "Zemo got in your head didn't he?" You sigh "before Karli, I lost myself, I became obsessed with everything Avenger."

"But most of them were still around?" Bucky immediately questions.

"Yes. But they were broken Bucky. Tony went into hiding, Cap lead therapy groups, Natasha stayed at the compound. It made it so much easier for me to gain access to your records."

"Okay.. but that still begs the question as to why you did that? What did you want that information for?" He now looks at you, the distrust was clear as day.

You sigh, understanding it "Mr Barnes, I didn't do it for Karli if that's what you're thinking. I did for it for me." You close your eyes, sighing once again "I was trying to find Sam. I was praying, hoping, believing that he didn't get blipped. That there'd be some mission he was on, some rescue, something that your records would show." Your voice catches as you re-live that pain.

All Bucky could manage in response was a sigh and to avert from your gaze. The awkwardness now thick, but you could still feel he was having trouble trusting you. So reluctantly, you continue.

"Once I found out everything, I went searching. I tried old missions, his army day haunts, I tracked down Steve, I went to the compound, I then checked with Sarah. That was the moment I knew he'd been blipped, her face when she saw me." Your voice breaking.

"So how did you end up with Karli if you found Sarah?" Buckys questions now becoming an annoyance.

"She was er-struggling with the boys. The blip. The boat. She needed money, I needed a reason to go on living. Then Karli found me, my skills in the army apparently intrigued her into tracking me down." You shrug off that fact.

He scoffs "yeah I know how that feels. Listen, I'm sorry for asking it's just that-with Zemo. Then the way you left, him searchi high and low for you and you're an arms length away watching him, it's jus-"

"Mr Barnes, you don't need to explain I get it. I look suspicious, but please believe me when I say, I'm so far from being your enemy. I'm trying to help, without losing him. I cannot and will not go through that pain again." You explain plainly.

"Okay fair enoug, I've got one final question for you and then I'll leave you to get on with your solo mission." His voice had changed, he was warm, chipper, it threw off a little but you welcomed it anyway.

It pulls a laugh from you as you smirk, giving him a side glance "sure, go for it."

His pace starts to slow as he comes to a stop, before putting his hands in the pockets of his zipped up black bomber coat, letting out yet another sigh, he smiles softly at you. Again, the gentle approach was a surprise to you, but it suited him.

"How long have you been in love with him?" He asks so bluntly you have to take a few seconds to register that he'd actually asked you that.

Your immediate reaction was to gulp the lump that was clogging your airway, and after what seemed a lifetime airflow had restored itself in your lungs. Then came the guilt, washing over you like a freezing cold waterfall, but then you were saved... by your message tone on your phone.

Only for the feeling of dread to replace everything you were already feeling. Her name on your screen, it was enough to put you in a blind rage, the audacity of that girl never ceased to amaze you.

"It's Karli, she wants me, you and Sam to meet her."

Bucky's stoic look told you he felt the same way about the prospect of this meeting as you did... it was a bad idea.