The Russian and the American (Bucky 1940's)

Chapter 28

  As Elizabeth walks into her dark apartment, she looks around for Bucky. She walks into her room and sees Bucky sitting on the floor with his legs crossed. As she gets closer, she sees that the box is open. Suddenly, Bucky turns around with a gun pointed to her face.

  "Hey, hey its just me," Elizabeth says with her hands up.

  Elizabeth tilts her head to the picture in his hand and she can't help but smile. It was a picture Steve had taken of the two of them in Paris. They are kissing up on the Eiffel Tower with fire works going on in the background. They both have beer bottles and cigarettes in their hands. Elizabeth has her arms wrapped around Bucky as she kisses him and Bucky is winking.

  "That was in Paris. We've been dating for a while then. Gosh, you were such a dork. A cute dork," she chuckles.

  Bucky looks back to the picture and then lowers the gun.

  "Can I sit with you? Don't worry, no one will come here. Not only that but if someone does I'll know. And since there are no lights on, it'll look like we're not home. And I'm sure you've already thought of every exit."

  Bucky nods his head and goes back to sitting Indian style. Elizabeth sits on her knees and pulls out more pictures. She lays them out on the floor and looks to Bucky. She smiles to herself. She can tell that he feels safe and she can't help but feel warm.

  "My," Bucky starts, but then quickly stops.

  "Your what?" Elizabeth asks, but he just says quiet. "Your what? Talk to me. I want to help you.  So what do you want to ask?"

  "What's my name?" He asks quietly.

  "James Buchanan Barnes. You grew up in Brooklyn with Steven Rogers," she answers softly.

  "The man I hurt?" He asks.

  "If wasn't your fault," Elizabeth assures him.

  "But I did it. I wanted him dead. I failed. I failed my mission," he says, now starting to hyperventilate.

  "Hey, hey, listen to me. Hydra won't be coming after you. Do you understand? I will take them all down. I will protect you, I promise. You only wanted him dead because that's what they told you. You don't have to do what people tell you to do anymore."

  The two lock eyes and Elizabeth can see the hurt and torment in his eyes. She so badly wants to hold him and wrap him in her arms, but she knows that will only scare him away. He'll see the touch as a threat.

   "I want to help you James. I want to help you but you're going to have to trust me. Ok?"

  "Rusulka," is all he says.

  "Sorry?"

  "You are The Rusulka. You were a Hydra agent. You kill for them. How can I trust you if you work for Hydra?" He asks.

  "I'm not that person anymore. I haven't worked for Hydra for a long time. I won't turn you in," says Elizabeth.

  But, she didn't know if that was a lie. She had no clue now when actually got out of Hydra. She thought she was out after the Vietnam war, but after what Pierce was saying, it sounds like it was a few decades after. How much had they changed her mind?

  Bucky pulls Elizabeth out of her thoughts with taking her to the ground as he puts a knife to her throat. The aura of the air changes, turning dark and gloomy.

  "James, it's me," Elizabeth says softly.

  "You're going to take me back," he spits, his voice now harsh.

  "I'm not going to take you back. Just me and you. Just the two of us. Look, look at the pictures. Look at how we're acting. I love you, I won't hurt you," Elizabeth pleads.

  Bucky's eyes turn over to the photos and then he lets out a grunt of pain. He drops the knife and takes his hands into his head. Elizabeth moves out from under him and sits on her knees. She takes Bucky's body into hers and wraps her arms around him.

  "It's ok, it's ok," she shushes as she strokes his hair.

  Bucky lets out another grunt of pain, gripping tighter onto the sides of his head. As he does this, Elizabeth holds him tighter in her arms.

  Come morning, they are both fast asleep on the floor. A sliver of light pears through the window and onto their bodies. Both of them lay on their sides with their arms wrapped around each other.

  Elizabeth opens her eyes and her eyes go wide. He was really back. I wasn't all just a lie. It was real. He was here and alive with her. She starts to play with his hair. It's much longer than what it used to be, but she liked it. She didn't care what he looked like, as long as he was alive, that's all she needed.

  Finally, Bucky wakes up and the two just stare at each other, not letting go.

  "I saw you," Bucky says in a raspy voice. "You were scared. You were hurt and practically naked. You were laying on my lap."

  "Where were we?" Asks Liz.

  "I think a Hydra base. But, it wasn't a normal cell. It had metal bars that caged us in. I felt, angry. Then people took you away from me," he explains.

  "That was back in forty-three. Hydra had taken our team. We escaped. Steve came and saved us."

  "Steve," Bucky whispers to himself. "He was my brother?" He asks.

  "Basically. You two were really close. You grew up together."

  Suddenly, Bucky's stomach growls and Elizabeth stands up and walks over to the door. She then turns around with a smile and motions for him to follow. He gets up and the two head to the kitchen where Liz cooks the two breakfast. He was here and Liz was going to keep him safe. They could finally get married and live the life that they both wished years ago. Bucky though, was only thinking of survival.