Hell Bound

Forty

I didn't bother to tell Graham that Bucky was back, just in case he didn't come through on his promise. But I got a pizza anyway and listened to Graham tell me about his first day. He was very proud to inform me that he didn't throw a single thing all day. And I promised to throw him a party if he made it through the month.

When we got home, my house appeared empty. I hid my disappointment and told myself he'd probably come by later. I carried the pizza into the kitchen, and Graham followed after me, oblivious to the fact that I was looking for someone.

"And then I got an order for like twenty sandwiches," Graham was telling me. I set the pizza down on the counter, went to reach for a plate, and then heard him gasp so loudly it almost qualified as a shriek. I turned around to him, leaning on the table with his hand over his heart. Bucky was standing in the doorway. "You scared the shit out of me!" Graham said. Bucky glanced at him, but I could detect amusement.

"Good," he decided.

"Hey, you stayed," I noted. He nodded and turned back to me.

"I promised."

"Why didn't you tell me he was back?" Graham asked. I shrugged.

"I wanted to see him scare the shit out of you." Bucky actually smiled. I turned back to the cupboard.

"Well, even though I just peed my pants a little, I'm glad you're back," Graham continued. "I was kind of growing to almost like you. Even though you think I'm a Hydra guy." I turned back around.

"He doesn't think you're a Hydra guy."

"He definitely thinks I'm a Hydra guy."

"I think he works for Hydra," Bucky confirmed. I groaned.

"He doesn't work for Hydra," I insisted.

"Well, this not-Hydra guy is starving," Graham said as he came to my side to get a slice. "Oh, no olives this time?"

"Bucky doesn't like them. What happened with the guy and the twenty sandwiches?"

"Oh, it just took forever to get the order filled. But I had a lot of help since I'm still training. And the guy was surprisingly cool about it. It was just nice to not want to hurl a sandwich at him, you know?"

"I'm glad to hear that. I hope you continue to experience the feeling of not wanting to hurl sandwiches at people."

"Amen to that." He took his plate and disappeared into the living room. Bucky was still standing in the same spot.

"He's not Hydra," I told him.

"No, you're right," he agreed. "Not yet." I sighed again.

"He wouldn't."

"You don't know that."

"I do know that."

"They could get him just to get close to you."

"You're right. Maybe I should never make friends or help anyone again for the rest of my life. Just in case." I paused. "He's not going to turn on me."

"I don't think you know him well enough to say that."

"No, but I like to think I'm a decent judge of character."

"You dated a guy who worked for Hydra," he reminded me. "While you were dating." I turned back around to make him a plate.

"But see, I knew he was an asshole. And in my defense, I was told Hydra no longer existed. So I don't think that counts."

"Then why did you date him?" He sounded genuinely interested as he walked to my side. I just wasn't sure what his motive was. Jealousy didn't seem like his thing, but I couldn't figure out why else he'd benefit from the answer. I stuck a slice of pizza on a plate and handed it out.