The Rose and Dagger

Can't we be friends

Steve got back to his room and called Bucky, "Any of those bastards talk yet?"
Bucky turned and faced one of the men, "Not much. Either they don't know anything or they're super loyal."
The man before Bucky whimpered, "I'm tellin' ya' boss only said it was time for the lost lamb to come home."
Bucky lit a cigarette, "What has you all up in arms?"
Steve sighed, "Rain woke up from a nightmare. We aren't letting her go back."
Bucky smiled and motioned for someone to keep "talking" to the guy. He walked away from the cries, "She ok?"
Steve sat on his bed and ran a hand through his hair, "Yeah... I stayed with her till she fell asleep again."
Bucky took a long drag off of his smoke, "You realize how jealous I am right now?"
Steve snickered, "She has this beautiful rose and dagger tattoo with the Latin ubi vita est spes est on her upper thigh."
Bucky shook his head, "Where's there life there's hope. Look let's hold on to these bastards for a bit see what info we can get out of them; and in the meantime maybe you and I can convince the lovely Miss Rain to stay awhile."
Steve closed his eyes remembering how good she felt pressed against him, "Buck-"
Bucky cut him off, "I know what you're gonna say and I'm telling you to trust me. I got a feeling about her."
Sighing Steve agreed, "Ok... Wrap up there. We're meeting with Stark Tech tomorrow. I want Sam and Nat to take Rain to her apartment to collect some things so she can stay here."
Bucky put out his cigarette, "Ok I'll arrange it. How are you gonna convince her to stay?"
Steve gave another sigh, "I don't know... Remind her this is the safest place to make a plan?"
Bucky hummed in agreement, "If everything goes well here I should be back by breakfast."
Smiling Steve shook his head, "I'll have the kitchen make extra bacon. Stay safe."
Bucky grinned, "You too boss man."
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Rain woke up to the sun streaming into the room. She reached for her glasses and cussed. They were bent fairly bad; she'd have to get a new pair, "I'll use my old pair until then." She said to herself, "Fuck!" Rain again cursed holding back tears of frustration.
She sat up her body painfully stiff and sore.
Her shirt was tore and bloody from last night's fight. She thought about wearing the shirt Steve gave her to sleep in, but that seemed too intimate.
She turned a deep shade of pink recalling how he came in after she cried out in her sleep. His arms and voice soothing her. He was so warm and she easily fell back to sleep.
As she padded around the room she noticed some one had brought her bag. She smiled, "Little miracles be praised."
In her bag she had an extra light hoodie she could wear as a shirt. She kept it because some how even in the summer the library got cold in the stacks.
As Rain changed she took stock of her bruising. Along her sides you could make out hand prints where she was grabbed or fist shaped patches where she was hit. She didn't hear the bedroom door open and jumped when a man's voice cleared his throat.
Rain turned and tried to cover her nakedness.
The man was Bucky, "I didn't mean... I wanted to tell you..."
Bucky was distracted by both the bruises and her beauty.
Rain mistook his stuttering as pity and tried to show her tough side, "It's not as bad as it looks. You should see the other guys."
Bucky's eyes traveled slowly over her body until he reached her eyes, "I did... All 5 of them. You pack a punch."
Rain stood in her underwear awkwardly hands trying to cover herself, "Did you need something?"
Bucky shook his head, "Breakfast. Steve asked me to come and see if you were up. I'll wait outside and show you down."
Bucky backed up and closed the door. He couldn't believe he just... He was an idiot.
Rain heaved a sigh and another curse. For a second she thought she saw heat in the man's eyes, but it was probably just anger at her attackers. It was well know that the women who worked at any club Rogers or Barnes owned were treated like diamonds. Every girl who danced or other wised entertained wanted to be a Rogers rose or a Barnes beauty.
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As Rain dressed she wondered what it would feel like to be viewed like something precious.
Sighing she hung her head. Uncle Wilson was never mean or cruel; he was just very matter of fact. A bit cold and distant, never mean. If he thought giving her away would gain him power... Well he would; and that's why she was never going back.
Rain let out a breath and stepped out seeing Bucky true to his word waiting for her, "Ah hi."
He smiled, "I'm sorry I barged in and just-"
She cut him off as they made their way down toward the dining room, "It's ok. I'm sure that much bruising on a girl isn't something you see a lot of."
Bucky stopped her from walking farther, "Rain... You think I was only looking at your bruises?"
Rain shrugged, "There's not a whole lot else to look at."
Bucky licked his lips and stepped closer, "Rain there is a whole lot to look at."
Rain felt her whole body flush as she was standing there.
Steve came around the corner, "Everything alright?"
Bucky stepped back keeping his eyes on Rain, "I accidentally walked in on Rain changing."
Steve raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"
Rain swallowed, "It was an accident; I was looking at my bruises and didn't hear him knock."
Steve looked at Bucky then to Rain, "Do you need me to have Dr. Banner come back?"
Rain jumped from the wall she'd backed into, "No... It's ok. I've had worse."
This brought both men's attention full circle. Bucky tilted his head, "Worse?"
Rain lowered her head, "Uncle wanted to make sure I knew how to hold my own. I was trained by an ex KGB agent."
Steve lead everyone to the table, "Rain how old were you?"
Shrugging Rain reached for her chair only to have Steve pull it out for her, "Ah... 10. I was raised by Uncle after a car crash killed both my parents. I was in the back. I had a huge cut along my thigh; almost died too."
Steve and Bucky's heart broke for her.
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The staff brought out plates full of food making Rain laugh, "All this for 3 people?"
Steve and Bucky exchanged a grin, "Ah... This is normal for just the 2 of us." Steve poured orange juice for her, "We don't always get lunch so..."
Bucky smiled wide putting some bacon and sausage on her plate, "We fuel up at breakfast."
Rain laughed as she noticed, "Well bon appetite."