Lifeline | A Bucky Barnes fanfiction

chapter 4

 After a bittersweet encounter, Anabela and Bucky made their way to his apartment, they didn't talk much as they walked pass the busy streets, yet Bucky had started holding her hand a few blocks back, she didn't protest, she gladly let him, Anabela has always wanted to be close to him, he is the one that has pushed her away before so she tends to let him decide how far he'll go. As they approached the entrance of an apartments building, Bucky sighed as he saw a man fighting with another guy. "He's my neighbor." He turned to Anabela and then proceeded to calm him down. Anabela stayed a few steps back but couldn't help to smile as she saw how patient Bucky was with him. "These Young men thinking they can do whatever they want." The old man huffed annoyed. "It's alright." Bucky pat his back, turning to Anabela. "Who's this?" He asked looking at her and she tried to hold back a laugh as she realized he tried to pick a fight with everyone. "She's an old friend. Anabela. Be nice." He told him.

"Nice to meet you, sir." She smiled at him. "I thought you didn't have any Friends... specially pretty lady Friends." He turned to Bucky. "I wouldn't have set you up." He continued. "Well you just wouldn't listen." Bucky replied and turned to Anabela. "You have your Friends set you up now, James?" She asked trying to sound like she was joking but she was actually hurt... did that mean Bucky went on a date with someone else? After all these Years he did try something with someone that wasn't her?

"It wasn't like that." He denied. "He left mid-date, honey." The man turned to Anabela. "You'll have to tell me all about it." She followed along. "No-uh, we have somewhere to be actually." Bucky said grabbing Anabela by the arm. "Stay out of trouble, Yori." He turned the old man and then proceeded to drag Anabela to his apartment.

"This is it." He said as he opened the door and let her in. "I know it's not much, I just never got to decorate it." He shrugged. "Bucky, it's okay... I can help you if you want you know." She offered. "To make you feel like home." She said. The house was barely furnished and with Little light. "You're already helping me feel like home." He told her as he set the small backpack she had brought on the counter. "So you went out on a date?" She couldn't resist any longer to bring the topic to the table again. "Straight to it, huh?" He smirked. "I didn't even ask her, he did and... I got up and left 20 minutes into it." He was trying to explain himself. "I always thought you'd eventually ask me on a date." She admitted. "I guess I just always thought that if you were going to try something it'd be with me..." she said almost as if she was saying it to herself. "Anabela..." He sighed. "It meant nothing." She smiled sadly. "But you did it, you went on a date for the first time... it does mean something." He took a step in front of her. "She started asking about me... my life, my past... I couldn't say anything." He admitted. "I mean I didn't care about her... I know it sounds mean... she was nice, she is nice, I just went there because Yori had already set it up... and he's my friend." He sighed.

"Steve always told me that you'd say yes if I asked you out." He said sitting on the small couch in the middle of the room. "Steve was a wise man." She said as she made her way next to him. "After the blip I thought you would get together." Bucky admitted. "Me and Steve?" She laughed. "Oh God no, I mean I would have been on his team against anyone but no." Anabela said. "It just made sense, he was the type of man you should have by your side." He sighed which made her shook her head. "I have the exact man I want by my side." Anabela told him. "You continue to think you have the right to decide on what's best for me... even if it makes me unhappy." She got up. "I know what I want, I know what I can take." She groaned. "I've been through all of you guys' problems all these years and here I am still standing." Anabela spat. "I'm stronger than you think, James."

"I kept thinking about you." He said almost in a whisper. "What are you talking about?" Anabela asked annoyed at the fact that he changed the subject. "Everytime she asked me a question I kept thinking you wouldn't need to ask all that because you were there..." He continued, making Anabela realize he was talking about his date. "What's her name?" She asked, turning to him. "Leah. She Works at this restaurant Yori and I usually go." He explained. "She thought I was joking about my age." He said making Anabela laugh. "You must be the most well conserved 106 year old man I have ever seen." She joked making him laugh. "You've seen a lot?" He asked, following her joke. "Just a few." She winked. "Do you like her?" Anabela asked, turning the conversation a bit more serious now. "After everything I've said do you really have to ask that?" Bucky said, shaking his head. "Nevermind." She sighed as she got up, making her way to the small kitchen.