Shadows of Trust || A Bucky Barnes Love Story

Chapter 6 - A Perfect Disguise

The event was in full swing, the low hum of chatter and clinking glasses filling the grand hall. Bucky and Diana—or rather, Richard and Serena—moved seamlessly through the crowd, their eyes constantly scanning for any sign of the weapons cache they were sent to locate. Their hands brushed occasionally, and every time, Bucky couldn't help but feel a spark. It was more than just a cover now, and it was undeniable.

They had finally pinpointed where the weapons were being held—a secure room in the back of the building. Diana led Bucky to the rear door, her movements smooth and confident as she picked the lock with expert precision. The door clicked open, and she flashed him a playful grin before pulling out a small cigar from her pocket. With a smirk, she lit it, passing one to Bucky.

"You look good with a cigar," she teased, leaning back against the wall, exhaling a thin line of smoke as they stood in the shadowy alley behind the building.

Bucky chuckled, taking the cigar between his lips. "You know how to make undercover work fun, don't you?"

Before Diana could respond, a familiar voice broke the moment. "Well, well, I didn't expect to see you here, Dee."

Diana's face lit up as she turned to see Major William Lennox, her cousin, striding toward them. He was dressed in plain clothes, but the military bearing in his posture was unmistakable.

"Will!" Diana exclaimed, stepping forward to hug him tightly. "Good to see you."

Bucky raised an eyebrow, observing the strong bond between them. He hadn't expected to meet any of Diana's family on this mission, but here was William Lennox, a high-ranking officer in the US Army. He extended his hand as Diana turned back to introduce them.

"Bucky, meet my cousin Major William Lennox. He and his team are handling the extraction of the weapons," Diana explained. "Will, this is Bucky Barnes, also known as Richard for tonight."

Lennox gave Bucky a firm handshake, assessing him with a quick glance before nodding approvingly. "Nice to meet you, Barnes. Diana's told me a lot about you."

"Good things, I hope," Bucky replied with a smirk, feeling a strange sense of pride.

Diana grinned, watching the two men exchange looks. "Alright, Will's team is going to grab all the weapons. If anything's missing, they'll contact us, but knowing my cousin, I doubt they'll miss a thing."

William nodded in confirmation. "We've got this under control. You two just focus on playing your part inside. I'll call you when everything's clear."

With that, the cousins hugged once more before Diana grabbed Bucky's arm playfully, leading him back toward the hall. "Come on, 'Richard,' time to look like we're not doing anything suspicious."

Once back inside the event, they resumed their roles as the charming, wealthy couple, effortlessly mingling with the crowd. As they moved through the gathering, Diana leaned in, whispering in Bucky's ear, "You think they bought it? We've been pretty convincing."

Bucky smirked, leaning closer to her. "I think we're a little too good at this."

Just then, Diana's phone buzzed. It was William.

She answered with a soft, "Go ahead," and listened as her cousin's voice came through. "Everything's checked out. Weapons are all accounted for. We're ready to move. Meet me at the entrance."

Diana's heart raced as she hung up. She looked at Bucky, who was already on alert. "Will's team is ready. Time to wrap this up."

They made their way toward the entrance, and just as they reached the doors, William's army team stormed the building, their guns drawn, shouts echoing through the hall. The heads of the operation—the couple they had been tailing all evening—were dragged out, their faces twisted in shock and fury. As they were led past Diana and Bucky, handcuffed and defeated, the criminals cast a suspicious glance at the supposed new neighbors.

To maintain their cover, William played his part perfectly, pulling out a form and pretending to process Diana and Bucky as part of the sweep. The soldiers approached Diana first, slipping handcuffs onto her wrists. Her eyes filled with mock tears as she began to sob dramatically, clutching Bucky's arm as if she were distraught.

"I can't believe this is happening!" she cried, her voice filled with fake panic. "Richard, how could this happen to us?"

Bucky, playing the annoyed husband, groaned and shook his head. "This is ridiculous! My wife had nothing to do with this!" His expression was a mix of frustration and exasperation, playing perfectly into the role of a man dragged into a situation beyond his control.

William approached, his expression stern as he pretended to be filling out paperwork. "Ma'am, sir, you'll both need to come with us," he said, keeping up the charade while casting a quick wink in Diana's direction. The soldiers led them through the crowd, and from the outside, it looked like Serena and Richard were just two more criminals being hauled off.

As they were escorted toward the exit, the real targets watched in confusion, trying to make sense of what was happening. Diana and Bucky, despite the intensity of the situation, exchanged amused glances, barely containing their laughter.

Once outside, away from prying eyes, the cuffs were swiftly removed. Diana immediately burst into laughter, wiping fake tears from her cheeks. "Well, that was fun," she said, shaking her head.

Bucky grinned, rubbing his wrists where the cuffs had been. "You really know how to sell it."

William joined them, his arms crossed as he surveyed the successful extraction with pride. "Great work, both of you," he said, his tone a mix of professionalism and familial warmth. "I'll take it from here. You two are clear to head back."

Diana turned to her cousin, giving him one last hug. "Thanks for the backup, Will. Couldn't have done it without you."

"Anytime, Dee," he replied before giving Bucky a nod. "Take care of her."

Bucky smirked, pulling Diana close as they walked away. "Oh, I intend to."