Never Safe

Chapter Forty-Six

"Hi" Bucky smiled lightly.

"What are you doing here?"

"Monkey! Who's at the door?" your dad called from the kitchen.

You didn't take your eyes off Bucky. You didn't answer.

"Can I come in?"

"I uh- I don't..."

"James..."

You looked back over your shoulder to see your dad walking towards you.

"What are you doing here?" y/f/n asked.

"Um..." Bucky held up the bag in his hand. "I brought some of your things..."

"You came all the way to California to drop off my backpack?" you questioned.

"Yeah... and- and I was hoping to talk to you..."

Bucky was looking at you, but your dad responded. "About what? Because if you're gonna say something to upset her again, I'd rather you just leave instead."

"No. No. I'm not- please can we talk?" Bucky asked.

"Fine." You stepped aside to let him into the apartment. He followed you to your room.

He sat down on your bed as you took the bag and started unpacking it.

"So how are you?" Bucky asked.

"Alright" you said plainly.

"Are you... still mad?"

"Are you?"

"No. No, I was never mad at you."

"Yeah" you scoffed disbelievingly. "Cause you shout at everyone."

"Y/n."

You stopped what you were doing, but you didn't look at him.

"Come here sweetheart."

You put the bag down on your desk and turned around. Bucky held his arms up, reaching out towards you, gesturing for you to walk over to him. So you did. Once you were close enough, Bucky held your hands and he looked up at you standing in front of him. You refused to make eye contact.

"You have no idea how sorry I am. I didn't mean to upset you. I didn't even mean half the things I said."

"Like what?"

"Y/n/n, please tell me you didn't really believe I don't want you."

You faced him. Your expression was fairly blank, but your eyes bored into him. "I don't know cause you seemed pretty relieved that you didn't have to look after me anymore."

Bucky moved his right hand up to stroke your arm as his Vibranium hand cupped your cheek.

"No" he shook his head. "No, I really didn't mean that. I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I yelled. I just..." Bucky took a nervous breath. "I didn't want you to see how scared I was to lose you" he admitted. "I love you so much, I just want you to be okay..."

Bucky pulled you to sit down on his leg. You didn't say anything but you wrapped your arms around him, hugging him and resting your chin on his shoulder.

"I want you to be happy..." Bucky continued. He gently rubbed your back. "Even if that means staying here."

You sat back to look at him.

"Really?"

"Really" he repeated back to you. "I don't wanna be the reason you're unhappy anymore."

You didn't know what to say so you returned to hugging him.

"But I need you to promise me something?"

"What?"

"If something happens-"

"Nothing is going to happen" you quickly interrupted.

"I know. I know but if it does, I want you to come home... and I don't mean when things get really bad, I mean the second there's a problem... please... come home... can you promise me that?"

You didn't say anything. You were thinking about it. Bucky gave you a moment before prompting you. "Y/n?"

"Nothings going to happen."

Bucky sighed. He knew that was probably all he was going to get. He had to trust that you would do the right thing. He did trust you.

"Okay... do you just want me to go then?"

"I don't know" you mumbled.

"Do you want me to stay?"

"I don't know" you reiterated.

"I can stay as long as you need me to" he offered.

"I..." You stopped hugging him again, but you didn't move from his lap. "I think you should go."

"Are you sure?"

"I don't see any reason you need to stick around."

"Oh okay. That's fine. I'll go."

Neither of you moved. Nor did you say anymore until there was a knock at the door. Your dad didn't wait for an answer before entering.

"Hey guys. Buck, you make her cry yet?"

"Dad" you moaned as Bucky glared at him.

"What?" he chuckled. "I'm kidding! I'm kidding. What were you guys talking about?"

"Nothing important" you shrugged. You stood up and walked towards the door, past your dad, and out the room. The two men followed you until you were all stood by the door. You opened it.

"Bye Bucky" you smiled lightly.

"Bye asshat" he smiled back.

"Hey! Who you calling asshat!" y/f/n frowned.

You started giggling and stepped between your dad and Bucky. "Dad! No, it's fine. It's fine, really" you laughed. Your dad suspiciously narrowed his eyes. You turned your back on him to face Bucky.

"Bye shithead." Your smile now was much bigger than before. You hugged him tightly.

"We're gonna keep in contact, okay?" Bucky whispered.

"Mhm."

"Okay. I put your phone in the front pocket of your bag... I love you lots y/n."

"I love you more."

Bucky stepped away from you and looked at y/f/n, who faked a smile and held his arms up. Bucky sighed and accepted the embrace. Bucky's mouth came close to y/f/n's ear and he spoke in a lowered tone: "You do not lay hands on her. Anything happens and you're dead. No second chances." They pulled away from the hug, both noticing as you rolled your eyes at what you'd just heard.

"I'll see you around" Bucky said. He headed out the door.

"Bye" you called as you closed the door behind him.

***

Bucky got back to the hotel he was staying in. He checked his phone and saw a missed call from just a minute ago. They called back as he was reading the notification, so he answered.

"What?"

"Are you kidding me? You stole the Quinjet? Where are you? Why did you steal the Quinjet!" Tony's voice came loudly through the phone. "I get your upset but you can't just do something like this! Where did you take it!"

"I didn't steal it, Stark. I borrowed it."

"You can't do that! Where are you Barnes?"

"California."

"What! Why! Bring it back!"

"I will. Eventually."

"Barnes!"

Bucky hung up on him.