ineffable memories / / bucky barnes

[chapter eight]

TIME STAMP: PRESENT

And I can go anywhere I want

Anywhere I want, just not home

And you can aim for my heart, go for blood

But you would still miss me in your bones

And I still talk to you (when I'm screaming at the sky)

And when you can't sleep at night (you hear my stolen lullabies)

Her boots were clicking against the old floor and despite it being different, her mind recalled the time she was taken by Hydra. One time she was walking over the enemies' place forcibly, the other time she was walking with free will.

Even though Valentina was the CIA's director, Kai knew that they weren't involved with the Thunderbolts, which in a way, was concerning her. Stopping at the front of the building, there was no sound around. No cars, no children, nothing. It felt like she was entering a whole new world - a quiet one.

"These boots are not made for walking, so let's move." Valentina showed up by her side, leading the way. "You finally made a good choice." No answer was given. "What's the price?"

"You dismantle the Thunderbolts."

Valentina started to laugh uncontrollably but when she noticed it wasn't a joke, her smile dropped. "We both know that's not happening."

"Me for them. You take me into their place and let them return to their lives." Kai mumbled, feeling a sudden cold running through her body.

"What lives, exactly? All of them are murderers who have nothing to live for." Valentina shrugged, walking around Kai. "Yelena and Alexei don't know how to keep going without Natasha Romanoff; Ava is completely alone, and John ruined his entire life when he killed that kid in front of everyone."

"And Bucky?"

"I found the Winter Soldier sitting outside of a therapist's room. He was still having nightmares – he still does, but now, here, he doesn't have to live up to anyone's expectations."

"He was doing fine enough with Sam." Kai's voice broke. "He was-"

"He was broken, sweetheart. Still is." Valentina shrugged, eventually sitting. "I know this is all to save him. My question is why?"

"I just want to set them all free." Kai lied, making Valentina laugh.

"Oh, please. It's noticeable how you shift every time he's mentioned. What I still don't understand is why you don't give up."

Kai shook her head, gasping for air. "You want me, these are my conditions."

"Is it love, Kai? Do you share an unbreakable love?" There was mockery in Valentina's voice and despite Kai looking unbothered outside, her insides were all over the place. "How about ... I keep you and them, but use you more... Go easy on them a bit."

There was no need for an answer and Kai understood that when Valentina slid the keys to the building across the table. Once Kai picked them up, her opponent grinned. Valentina was about to break them all over again just to get what she wanted.

The Thunderbolts were out on a mission while Kai and Valentina were discussing their agreement, so all of them were surprised when they saw Kai sitting at their usual desk, looking at Valentina with an almost-killing type of stare.

"Have we missed something?" Yelena asked when they approached the table. Kai didn't look back at any of them but she could feel that Bucky was keeping his distance.

"Guess who decided to join us." Valentina grinned as the Thunderbolts exchanged a look between them. "It took a long while but finally, she has arrived."

"How long it took?" Ava asked curiously.

"Over 10 years." Kai finally spoke, feeling defeated.

"So, what can you do?" Alexei asked, raising an eyebrow.

"The better question should be, what can't she do?" Valentina smirked, standing up and motioning for Kai to do the same. "Thunderbolts, I would officially like to present you, Kai LaFleur, the strongest witch alive."

"LaFleur." Bucky finally spoke, looking straight into Kai's eyes. "Isn't that a French common name amongst soldiers?"

Kai tried to stay as neutral as possible, remembering Valentina's comment about her body language, so she just nodded, adding after a while. "My father's family was French. My mother's American."

"American? Where from?" John Walker asked curiously, interrupting the eye contact that was still happening between Kai and Bucky. "I grew up in Georgia."

"A bit far away from there. Brooklyn."

Valentina tilted her head, trying to put the pieces together as Alexei and John made awkward yet involving questions to Kai. Yelena and Ava were still trying to figure out why she had accepted to join them and Bucky was trying to reach the peak of his mind so that he would know if he had met her before. After all, she had been alive for many years and she was from Brooklyn.