Ordinary (A Marvel Fanfiction)

Chapter Eighteen

I had to admit, I excepted to be a little more scared when being held hostage with a knife at my neck. I excepted to be crying and begging for my life.

Instead, I found myself scarily calm. Of course, I was still frightened, but it was as if ice had flooded my veins.

"What do you want?" I asked, proud when my voice didn't crack.

He took a moment to answer, and when he did, I could hear the smirk in his voice. "I want the Winter Soldier."

If ice had been in my veins before, it was as if the entire continent of Antarctica found itself a host in my body.

"That guy that's always in the news? Why the hell would I know where he is?" I asked, trying to play it casual. I knew I sounded a little defensive, though.

"It would not do you well to lie to me, Emma." He hissed, the knife tightening against my throat.

"How do you know my name?" I asked, fear finally starting to melt the ice in my blood.

He didn't bother to answer me. The knife bit into my skin and I hissed quietly through clenched teeth. My fear skyrocketed.

"This is his apartment." The guy suddenly said, as if making some casual conversation. "We have you to thank, actually. We couldn't get a read on him until he decided to bring you home. Stupid decision."

"This is my apartment." I told him hoarsely. Even I could tell I was lying and I couldn't help but wince.

"Even if that were true, sweetheart, I'd still have to kill you." He whispered in my ear. I shuddered in disgust as his lips brushed against my neck. "Though maybe I'll have a little fun with you first. You'd like that, huh?"

"You're going to regret this." I hissed, anger flooding my body.

"Oh yeah? And what's a pretty little thing going to do about it?" He asked, moving my hair back to have better access to my neck. "Call your boyfriend. I'm sure the Winter Soldier would love to come running to your aid."

"I told you. I don't know why you think I would know him."

He swung me around to face him and the action was so violent I ended up slamming my hip into the counter so hard it broke my skin. I winced and went to sit down before remembering I was being held hostage.

I peered up at the man through my hair, getting a glimpse of his face for the first time. I was surprised to see he looked...normal. I mean, I wasn't expecting an eyepatch or a gruesome scar, but he looked like any man off the street.

If he wasn't a point a knife at me, I probably would have never suspected anything of him.

He looked me up and down. I realized it was also his first time getting a real look at me. I arched an eyebrow as if expecting him to criticize me out loud.

"You look so...ordinary." He said finally, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"That's because I am, you dick." I snapped, rolling my eyes.

He sighed and put his knife into a sheath around his thigh. He stepped back and turned to the counter.

"How about we sit down? Have some coffee?"

I gaped at his words, speechless. A minute ago this man was holding a knife to my neck and throwing me around, and now he was offering me coffee? I couldn't figure out his angle.

I didn't say anything, worried I'd set him off again. I did take the chance to move towards the kitchen table, hopping up on top of it to sit.

Bucky didn't own any chairs.

I watched warily as he rummaged around the kitchen, digging for some mugs. I knew he wouldn't find any, since I had searched for one earlier, but I let him continue anyway.

Eventually he gave up on the coffee and turned to face me once again. He stayed on that side of the kitchen, thankfully, giving me some room to breathe without worrying about being immediately stabbed.

"How'd you get involved in all of this?" He asked, frowning.

"In what?" I was still determined to play dumb. Maybe I could get out of this myself before Bucky came home.

He watched me like he was disappointed and I couldn't help but bristle. I hopped off the table and stormed towards him.

"I don't know what I can say to make you believe me!" I snapped, "How much do you think a minimum wage waitress salary can get a nursing student in New York City?! Not much, that's what I'll say! Sorry if the rich little assassin doesn't know much better."

He watched me, his eyes slightly widening at my outburst. I felt my confidence grow.

"I live alone in this tiny box of an apartment and I have no chairs and no mugs because everything I have goes towards my tuition! So, no, I don't know why you think I know the Winter Soldier!"

I felt like I was invincible. Then the sound of the front door opening echoed throughout the apartment and my stomach dropped.

The man immediately grabbed me again, whirling me around so the knife was back at my neck. I gasped at the touch of the cold steel.

"Emma?" Bucky called.

"Live alone, huh?" The man hissed into my ear. "Then who is that? Perhaps the very man you claimed not to know?"

I yelped as he pulled the blade closer to my neck, breaking skin. I could feel blood trickle down to my chest.

"Emma?" Bucky called again, his voice wary now.

I cleared my throat and said, "I'm in the kitchen!"

I paused for a second, blinking tears out of my eyes.

"And we have some company."