Vices & virtues // Bucky Barnes

XII

It's hard to think about what you wanted

It's hard to think about what you lost

This doesn't have to be the big get even

This doesn't have to be anything at all

Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty, Stop Dragging My Heart Around

    Last thing I expected on that cloudy, windy Wednesday was a call from the orphanage. I stormed into Barnes Industries, greeting Sharon warmily, and had a panic attack just after closing the door.

- Calm the fuck down and call your younger brother. - Bucky said after sitting me down the couch and giving me water. - I want to get this done clean. No harm to the kids. He has to get his team ready, all of them have to be secured and safe, do you understand me?

   I nodded, shaking.

- I don't know if I can do this, James. - I whispered. - I think I've failed this task.

- You haven't failed anything.

- I'm not a good material for a mobster.

- And you don't have to be one. Fucks sake, why are you so self doubting lately?

   Maybe because I feel like everyone I know is hiding something from me.

- I don't know. - I mumbled. - Give me a second, I'll call Alex.

   My baby brother did his best. Just in time we arrived, the orphanage was already discretely surrounded by his team. I saw his angelic locks from mile away, and he waved to me casually, sipping coffee in the nearest cafe. Alexander was not only a perfectionist in everything he did, but he was also extravagant while doing it. And this time, the fact of him being close helped me to calm down.

   We entered the orphanage again, as a soon-to-be-wed couple. My face was hurting from the fake smile I had plastered over my face. One of the nuns asked us to wait, and so we did. I was staring at the walls and Bucky squeezed my hand in his, playing with the ring he gave me. My heart jumped right to my throat as a little blondie approached us. A cherub face and the biggest, the greenest, and the saddest eyes gazed at us, until James smiled gently and said:

- Hello there, miss.

- Hello. - She said back, playing with the hem of her dress. - Are you here to get one of us? Will you pick me?

- Not yet, sweetie. But I'll make sure to find someone to pick you, alright? - I was more than happy that Bucky answered her. I couldn't. I felt like throwing up until they called for us.

   The prioress greeted us with a big smile. Her face was obviously done, nobody looks that good at sixty years of age using only water and cheap soap. I was looking at her, keeping my happy face, and thinking how much I hate people like her. The fake saints, covered with blood like sin. She stenched of evil. Invisible stains of innocent lives on her hands had to burn, surely. Or had it? Maybe it would burn if this woman had a soul inside her body, but I doubted that. She was just full of pure evil -  nothing less, nothing more. We went straight into business – less than fifteen minutes later, I was holding a beautiful baby boy, not older than two months, in my arms.

   The tears streaming down my face were real. I noticed Bucky falling out of character a little, when one of the nuns came in with the baby: we exchanged a specific look and he knew I already informed Alex that his team can go inside and catch the prioress redhanded.