Across The Worlds ⊳ Peter Parker

72 | THE SOLDIER, THE SWAN, AND THE DEAL

NAYARA KNOCKED LOUDLY on the door. She asked Professor X to track the ghost she was looking for. Logan's words going over and over again, about holding the world on her shoulders. So she did the only reasonable thing to do, think of her options.

If she really needed to dig up some dirt about someone. It will be Bucky Barnes who will help her. He was a ghost, someone who went after HYDRA, knew their worst secrets. But most importantly, she knew who he was. Despite being the Winter Soldier, the man that emerge after was one who had morals, grief, and guilt.

She always thought that if she ever did meet him, she will give him a hug and some home made food. Just to show some support that she knew he needed. He hide it from everyone else like Bruce Wayne had done. But Nayara had a knack for seeing beyond the veil.

Which is why now she smiled seeing the door crick a little bit. Bucky Barnes stopped, recognizing Nayara's face through the door. "Hey, Bucky." She said to him. He opened the door more, looking at her. "I just...I came to talk about Steve. I didn't kill him, but I know who did it." She whispered to him.

Bucky Barnes saw she was telling the truth. "That's why you came back..." He said to himself. Nayara lowered her walls a bit and nodded at him. He opened the door even more, letting her inside.

It was then that he saw her carry a bag of food. It was from her favorite places in New York. "I thought you might like some good food." Nayara said with uncertainty.

"Thank you." Bucky quietly accepted. Nayara smiled, seeing a bit of the calm and reserved person she knew come out. "You know who killed him?" Bucky asked her.

Nayara nodded at him. "Yeah, and I need your help." Nayara said to him, taking a seat on one of the spare chairs. She remained, thinking of her next words carefully.

"Why didn't you say anything before?" Bucky asked her.

Nayara sent him an incredulous look. "Because I didn't want you to go and meddle on stuff that might get you killed or brainwashed again. Now that you are free you deserve your second chance." Nayara admitted to him.

Bucky got quiet as he looked down at the food. Nayara knew he was thinking about her words. Hell, she knew him so well even before meeting Steve. "I thought you were after me because you thought that I killed Steve. Because he was your pal, you will take out on me. What I mean by that is a bullet, straight to the chest." Nayara explained to him pointing at her own. "That's why I was scared..." Nayara noted.

The Winter Soldier walked to her, and handled her a set of utensils without saying anything. A sign of peace. But it wasn't until he gave her part of the food that he looked back at her. "Why change your opinion now?" Bucky asked her.

Nayara shrugged at him. "Because I saw all my options, and realized you were the best one. Someone who knew them." Nayara said to him. Then she accepted the food from him.

Bucky scoffed at her. "You are the first person who said that without giving me a judging look." He commented to her. Nayara cracked a small smile.

Nayara shrugged at him. "I know what they did. I am putting faith in the fact that you believe me." She said to him. "I suspect you are wondering if to shoot me or letting me live? Or to trust me?" Nayara said in thought.

There were a couple of minutes of silence. "Steve had pictures of your graduation." Bucky said to her out of the blue. Nayara looked up to him, caught off guard by his words. He had a distant look in his eyes. "He said he was proud of you." Bucky added.

Nayara dried up the tear that was about to fall. "You are not killing me because, Steve loved me?" Nayara said, reading the message.

This shocked Bucky Barnes. Nayara could see it. "You are good at reading people." Bucky admitted looking down at his food.