The Pursuit of Perfection (A Bucky Barnes Fanfic) [Sequel to Winter Is Coming]

Chapter 10: Embers

"Once upon a time, man had a love affair with fire." –Robert McCannon

***

            "So Steve seems better!" Bucky shouts to Harley as he pins someone to the ground.

            "Yeah, I think he's coming around!" she yells back after kicking someone back. They're on a short mission. It's just a group of people who have been committing fraud.

            "I'm glad!" Bucky twists one guy's arm back and shoves him forward. "I hope it gets better!"

            Harley singes the one coming at her with a knife-like swipe. "Same!"

            The police arrive shortly after every criminal is either passed out of cowering. With an easy mission completed, the Winter and Summer Soldiers walk back to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters with linked hands. Bucky is sure they look insanely intimidating, walking down the busy city streets in leather suits loaded with weapons.

            "Where is Steve?" Harley asks.

            "He's on his own mission."

*** 

            Steve doesn't prefer to do missions alone. Lately, he's been doing them more and more, and he's not entirely sure why. Either way, he'd rather have Nat or Harley or Bucky or Sam by his side. Maybe even Tony.

            It's not a difficult mission. A few gangsters in Hell's Kitchen have been making S.H.I.E.L.D. anxious for a little while, so they sent Steve to straighten them out (which means get them arrested).

            He's not entirely familiar with Hell's Kitchen, but he knows it's not a huge area. Hunting them down should be a piece of cake. Using the rooftops to scout the area, Steve keeps a close eye on the back alleys and narrow roads. He finds who he's looking for behind a bar; they're conversing by the dumpster and using drugs by the looks of it.

            "You wanna take this one?" A voice at his elbow makes him jump. He hadn't even heard anyone. Turning, he sees a slender man in all black. It's almost a morph suit, but there's a cut out for the mouth. Upon closer inspection, the outfit has some maroon padding and what looks like two horns on the helmet.

            "Who are you?" Steve asks. He doesn't mean to be rude, but he's not familiar with him. "I've never seen you before."

            The man smirks. "And I've never seen you. They call me Daredevil. But you can call me Matt."

            Steve extends his hand. "Captain America. Or Steve." Once they shake hands, Steve notices that the eye slots are mostly black. "Can you see alright in that suit?"

            Matt laughs. "I'm blind. It's not like it matters."

            He can fight while he's blind?  Steve thinks. I respect that.

            "Anyway, do you have those two?" 

            "Yeah, yeah. You can help if you'd like."

            Matt shrugs. "I'll step in if necessary, but I think you can take them."

            Steve nods and jumps down, landing catlike on his feet. With two swift swings of his shield, the druggies are passed out and slumped against the wall.

            "Nice!" Matt calls from above.

            "Thanks!"

            "I'll call the police if they're not on their way already. You can bolt."

            "Okay. Nice meeting you!"   

            "And you. And hey! If you ever need a lawyer, stop by Murdock and Nelson!"   

            Steve grins. "Will do!"

***

            Bucky knocks at Steve's door after their missions. He doesn't answer, but they intersect while coming down the hall. "Oh, hey, I was just looking for you. Wanna hang out tonight?"

            "No thanks, Buck," Steve says, seeming slightly glum. "I'm really tired tonight."

            "Okay. Did Harley ever mention to you about seeing a therapist? Did you find one yet?"

            Steve shrugs. "I don't really think I need one. I've been feeling better."

            "I think it might be good to go to at least one session, though," Bucky recommends. "Just to let things out if you need to."

            "We'll see."

            "That's what you told Harley." Steve sighs. "At least go to one of Sam's seminars. I think he's be really thrilled that you showed up."

            "Maybe I will." Steve appears to really be thinking about it. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I'll give him a ring and find out when the next one is."

            "Great," Bucky says, grinning. "Need help with groceries?"

            "Nah, these are the only bags."

            "Okay. Goodnight, sleep tight."

            "G'night, Buck."

*** 

            "Where are we going?" Harley asks as they depart from their building. Bucky is taking her to S.H.I.E.L.D. so Wanda can have a look at her mind.

            "S.H.I.E.L.D.," Bucky responds. "Only for a few minutes."

            She steps in front of him. "Do you wanna tell me what this is about?"

Bucky kisses her sweetly. "I'll explain once we get there."

            This time, Pietro is absent, but Wanda and the Vision are present.

            "Ah, James, you have brought Harley," she says when they arrive. Harley glances at Bucky, not trying to hide her confusion. Wanda explains before he can. "Yesterday, James came to me because he felt that he was not in control completely. Do you feel the same?"

            "Define control."

            "He said his arm would act on his own."

            Harley nods slowly. "Yeah. Sometimes I use my fire without will, but I thought it was just impulse."

            "I want to make sure it is," Bucky says. "I let Wanda peer into my head to see if she could find something. She wants to search yours."

            "Is that all right?" Wanda asks. Harley nods. "Kick me out when you are uncomfortable, yes?" Harley nods again. "Oh, James, Vision would like a look inside. Is that okay?"

            "Yeah." Bucky sits next to Harley. They both relax and let Wanda and Vision infiltrate their minds. Vision just stares at Bucky, which makes him a little creeped out, but it's better than seeing black. He sees Harley twitch a few times, but she's fine otherwise. She lasts until Wanda stops.

            "Thank you," Vision says as they start to depart.

            "You're welcome," Harley says.

            "Goodnight." Before the glass doors close completely, Harley hears Vision tell Wanda, "We might have a serious problem."