Till the End of the Line

Motherland.

 Becca grins as she follows him. It's not often she receives praise of any kind, so she relishes the moment, replaying the words in her head. 

"I'm proud of you."

High praise coming from someone like him. Maybe he was finally starting to warm up to her?

Bucky led her out of the building and to a Blackhawk helicopter. She notices that he's much nicer this morning, his tone is a little less harsh and his expressions are a little more playful.

He climbs aboard first, putting his gear down next to him.

"Come on." He motions for her to climb on board.

She takes a seat next to him and sets her bag down, looking around the helicopter with wide eyes. Bucky smirks.

"What? Never been in a helicopter before?" 

He quips.

Bucky looks back at her before he closes the door with a clunk. He walks over and sits on the seat beside her.

He gestures to the headset plugged in next to her seat.

"This is so we can communicate. I need to be able to talk to you." He looks at her briefly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

"We'll talk more on the mission. Just...listen to me. Understand?"

She nods, the faint light from the moon exposing her nose., which was still broken. It had turned black and blue and looked painful. She was used to the pain by now, though.

"Great." He says, his voice still soft as he shifts his weight slightly, reaching over and placing his hand on her side.

His eyes flick from the view out of his window to her, his mouth twisting in a soft smile as he leans on her slightly.

Becca yawns. She curls up and closes her eyes, it's a long trip to Siberia and it's still very late. Or very early, depending on how you looked at it.

Bucky smiles as he watches her fall asleep beside him. He hums to himself tunelessly, seemingly lost in thought.

He continues to smile at her until his eyes fall on the dagger in her hair. His smile turns solemn as he watches her sleep, his fingers curling around her dagger before he pulls it out gently, careful to not wake her.

He stares at the dagger in his hand for a moment, his gaze flitting between her sleeping face and the dagger in his hands before he slips it into his pocket.

"I felt that" she mumbled.

 "I'm not asleep yet, give it back."

Bucky jumps slightly as she speaks, his eyes darting her as he reluctantly pulls the dagger back out of his pocket.

He pauses before speaking, his voice a little more serious again.

"You're not keeping a deadly weapon in your hair." He says, his voice suddenly sounding more stern again.

"Yes I am. It keeps it out of my face." she retorts, reaching for it

Bucky looks at her as she reaches for it, his eyes slightly studying her. She swears she saw his eyes sparkle for a moment before he glances away.

He leans back against his seat, folding his hands on his lap and looking ahead while she reaches  over to take her dagger.

"You've got it in you, you know?" 

He says quietly, his eyes flick to her for a moment before he looks back ahead again.

"Damn straight I do."

 She smirks at him, her purple eyes flashing, the moonlight casting shadows on her silver hair and brown skin.

Bucky chuckles, looking at her grin.

"You're more like me than you know..." 

he murmurs, his smile fading as he tilts his head at her.

"I just...it concerns me sometimes." 

His voice turns serious again as he looks at her, but a small smile plays at his lips.

"You have a lot of potential, Becca. I'm not sure how to feel about it." 

He shifts his weight slightly as his eyes fall back onto the window next to him.

"If it makes you feel any better, I don't like killing."

She replies softly, unsure of what to say to him.

"I know..." Bucky says quietly, sighing as he looks out the window.

"I just...wish...I wish you had a normal life."

His voice was completely serious again, but there was an underlayer of concern in his tone.

"I wish you had fun with normal friends at a normal job and I wish...."

He trails off, shaking his head as he glances at her.

"It's selfish of me."

"I am nearly the same age as you." 

This was not true, the Winter Soldier was at least 79 years old, but he looked 25.

"I wouldn't even know how to work at a real job anyways, and I do have friends. you are my friend. Sorta kind."

Bucky's expression softens as he hears her words. He looks at her for a moment before he speaks in a solemn tone once more.

"I'm aware. I was referring to a more normal life than our current existence."

He glances down at his hands, pausing before he whispers slightly.

"You're still so young. As am I. It's so...unfair that we live like this."

He trails off as the helicopter lands in the middle of Siberia.

Becca nodded and grabbed his metal hand to reassure him.

"We do what we must. For the Motherland."