The Fluffy Adventures of Yelena and Bucky

Part 2

   "Yelena."

   She turned toward him, meeting his eyes, and he tilted his head to the side attractively. "Got a place to stay? Because I have a couple extra rooms."

   "Couple extra rooms? Where are you living?"

   "My old home from when I was a kid."

   The weirdness of his words hit her like a tsunami. She'd never imagined him as having a childhood, then realised how sad that was. She'd only ever known a part of him, the part of him that was barely human, despite the way his fierce and loyal attitude toward Yelena and Natasha had been. 

   Yelena did have a place to sleep, but she was curious, she wanted to see what his life was like now that he was in America, in Brooklyn.

   So she asked, "Got any pets?"

   "Yep. A cat."

   "I didn't take you for a cat person, Barnes."

   "Well, there's a lot of things you don't know about me, Yelena."

   "You know what?" Yelena stretched her arms, twisting her torso at the same time to loosen up her stiff muscles. "I'll come, for the cat."

   He rolled his eyes. "Alright then. Get on,"

   Yelena wagged her eyebrows, lifting her leg over the seat and sitting behind him. "We're going to your place now?"

   "We should grab your bags on the way, but yes."

   "Okey–dokey," she said cheerfully. "I'll direct you to the motel."

   He hit the kickstand with his foot decisively and firmly, and the engine roared to life. She clung to his waist as they flew down to the road. Yelena loved motorcycles–Natasha and her on a bike flashed through her mind, suddenly her smile faded, her heart pumping loudly despite the roar of Bucky's motorcycle.

   She was glad for his prescence back. In the Red Room, he'd done just about everything he could to help them, and maybe that was just his way of rebelling because that was who he was, but he had been as reliable as he could, the closest thing to a family.

There had been affection in the Soldier's eyes, all those years ago, and for some reason, she always could tell when he was fighting his hardest, even with the mess that was his mind.

    Trying to distract herself from thoughts of the Red Room and Natasha, she buried her head in his back, tightening her hold on him.

   Bucky glanced back at her, sensing that something was wrong, and drove faster.

One month earlier 

The Brooklyn  Royal Bank

  Bucky wasn't sure why he was at the bank. He'd gotten a text, and showed up just in case it was really important.

   He sat down and waited on one of the chairs near the door in the bank lobby, texting Sam, who was asking when he'd come to see his nephews next.

   "Um, Mister Barnes?"

   Bucky looked up to see a girl wearing a white flowy blouse over a pair of sky blue pants and white heels. Her blonde curls framed her face nicely as she looked down at him.

   "Oh. Hi, Sheril," Bucky said, standing up and trying not to appear intimidating. She always seemed to get nervous around him.

   She nodded. "I'll take you to your accountant." They passed through the door at the back of the lobby and weaved around cubicles with desks and people speaking quietly inside, and she whispered, "There's a guy who claims to be related to you. He looks like you, I think."