NOTE: first of all i'm so sorry for dipping. college is driving me insane and it's getting very hard to do anything other than the work for my master's degree. i hope you enjoy this chapter cause I know we were all waiting for this.
TIME STAMP: PRESENT
After her moment with Bucky, Kai wandered around the club for a while, noting who was with whom. Eventually, she felt she had gathered enough information, so she decided to text Bucky the list of people they knew who were present. She planned to text Walker as well, but she wanted to have a moment with Bucky first.
"Is meeting close to the bathroom the best choice?" Bucky asked when he approached with a cocky smile.
"I had to choose a place where you'd go willingly." Kai raised an eyebrow, watching Bucky's eyes scan her face and body.
"Something tells me that I would go anywhere for you willingly." He said in a lower tone which made Kai tilt her head slightly.
"You're walking on dangerous waters, Barnes." She whispered, closing her eyes for a minute. The memories of what they shared in the past flooded her mind.
"You truly look... mesmerizing, Katherine."
"When did you learn all those fancy words?" Kai teased, resting her hand on his heart.
"You know I used to read a lot. Big old nerd." Bucky rolled his eyes playfully, resting his hand on top of hers.
"About the mission..."
"Katherine." Bucky said alarmed.
Something shifted between them when he touched her hand on his heart. They both sensed a change, but while Kai thought it was because she was recalling all the years she spent loving him, the truth was that he was the one remembering. He remembered everything.
He recalled all those years as himself back in the '90s and how they had reunited when he was The Winter Soldier. He had loved her from the moment they met, yet he had spent so many years without her that now, the overwhelming realization made him feel like he was going to be sick. Kai had endured hell and back to help him regain his memories, and it all came rushing back with something as simple as a hand gesture.
"What's wrong? Did you see someone?"
"Katherine." Bucky's voice was softer as he caressed her hand. "It's you. You're here."
With her mouth slightly open and her eyes filled with tears, Kai shook her head quickly."Welcome home, James."
The words they had exchanged before, in a different context, caused both of them to shed tears. Bucky could do nothing but apologize, while Kai could only laugh in relief, glad that she had finally gotten him back.
"That dress... You used them on one of the last missions." He tilted his head, caressing her face now. "Our last mission..."
"It wasn't you." Kai said quickly, pressing her hand against his cheek.
"I shoot you." He whispered, taking a step back.
"James, listen to me."
"I left you to die."
"It wasn't you." She said firmly, stepping forward so that he couldn't step back again. "We will have plenty of time to talk about this but the mission now..."
"Fuck the mission." He said quickly.
"Remember what happened last time you had that idea?" She joked, trying to soften him up. "I know you. I always had and I probably always will. You wouldn't hurt me like that."
"What if it happens again? You said it yourself. Valentina-"
"We will find some way."
"And if we don't?"
"Then we'll find another way to that problem." Kai smiled a bit, just glad she got him back.
"The odds aren't in our favor." Bucky mumbled.
"I thought you didn't believe in those." Walker said behind them which made Kai slowly let go of Bucky. "Listen, I don't give a shit what you two have going on, but we have to keep moving. You wanna get rid of Valentina? Do the work."
"Weren't you supposed to be motoring one of the men?" Bucky asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Weren't you supposed to be motoring the other one?"
"Okay, we get it." Kai said, taking a deep breath. "I was about to text you to meet us so I could share the list of people that are here that we know of."
"I'm sure you were." Walker said ironically.
"What's wrong with you?" Bucky snapped, taking a step forward to him.
"You think you two are the only ones trying to get rid of Valentina? I made a mistake as Captain America and now I have to pay it off, so she makes it disappear. I want out too."
"You killed an innocent man in front of everyone. I hardly call it a mistake." Kai rolled her eyes, watching Walker laugh.
"That's rich coming from the witch who joined the team willingly."
"You better watch your mouth, John." Bucky said in a serious tone, raising an eyebrow.
"This is enough." Kai sighed. "We all want out, right? Despite our issues with each other, we need to end the Thunderbolts."
"Wait," Bucky said, frowning a bit. "Why end it? We can find a way to get out."
"Why keep it on? So, Valentina earns more power without doing any of the work?"
"For some of us, this... team is all that there's left." Bucky frowned.
"Us?" Kai frowned too, watching Bucky sigh.
"For... Yelena and Alexei, for example. They don't have anything else left."
"Well, forgive me for not caring about them right now." Kai complained.
"I care about them. Sure, Alexei is an asshole and surely not as funny as he thinks but he wasn't terrible to me. And Yelena is just trying to figure out where she belongs after losing Natasha." Bucky said knowing exactly what it sounded like.
"You don't really want out, do you?" Kai asked low.
"Listen, guys..."
"Shut the fuck up and just go somewhere, please!" Kai said exasperated watching as Walker raised his hands and walked away.
"I want out of this because of you." Bucky whispered, grabbing her hand. "But it doesn't mean I think it should end."
"The thunderbolts aren't the avengers, James. They're not heroes."
"I know that. Trust me, I know that. We're just a bunch of misfits like Valentina says, yet for them it may be important. For a while, it was very important for me. I didn't have anything else."
"You had Sam."
"Who I always felt needed to be perfect around? Look, Sam's amazing and he's a good person. I couldn't bear pretending all the time that I also was."
"I can't understand which side are you on." Kai confessed with a shaky voice, dropping his hand slowly.
"I'm on yours, Katherine. You know me. I just think that maybe we should let the others decide if they want to keep working with Valentina."
"Valentina is no good, James. You have to trust me on that one."
"What about any of us? Are we good?"
YOU ARE READING
ineffable memories / / bucky barnes
Fanfictionkai has been around for many centuries, while james has only been around for one, yet their paths have constantly cross. when kai is recruited by valentina, she isn't aware that the whole universe will be at risk because of her secrets.
