Familiarity

Chapter 17

Emilia leaned on the table, hovering over her bowl of cereal as she ate a spoonful, keeping her eyes on Bucky. She could still hear his tortured screams that kept her up all night and wondered how many nightmares he actually had and if she was just picking up on them now. She wasn't going to ask though, although she technically was his doctor.

"Are you okay Emilia?" he asked, glancing up at her from his breakfast.

"Yeah, just tired. Um, are you still having migraines?" she stumbled letting her eyes flick across the room to look at Natasha's questioning look.

"No," he shook his head, remaining very serious, "why?"

"I'm just curious, wondering if the serum is still having affects on you."

"Is this about Katie Bug?"

"What?" Emilia asked quickly, her eyes focusing on the woman, alarm rising in her chest.

"She passed last night, from cancer. Not your serum," she clarified watching the doctor closely.

"She died?" Emilia whispered looking down at her hands resting on the edge of the table. Both Bucky and Natasha were watching her, waiting to see what she'd do, but she stayed frozen.

"Emilia? Dr. Hate?" Natasha questioned trying to grab her attention.

"What?" she raised her head looking over at Natasha.

"It is not your fault."

"Right, I know that. Cancer," she hiccuped trying to calm her breathing. "I'm going to go for a walk."

Natasha bit her lip and nodded watching the woman exit the house. Once the door shut Bucky stood up with an inhuman speed walking out of the kitchen to the door. "I'll follow her, you stay here."

"Just a reminder James, I'm the one who is supposed to be doing the protecting," Natasha said although not making any move to stop him.

"Whatever," he said running down the dirt driveway to catch up to Emilia.

"Please don't follow me," Emilia sighed hearing footsteps behind her. She had stopped when she got to the road unsure of where she was going to go.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Fine," she mumbled starting to walk left, wanting to get away from Bucky.

"Where are you going? You know you're being hunted right?"

This made Emilia stop, she never thought about it like that; all she wanted to do was escape, and get away from everything. She turned around and took quick strides towards Bucky, throwing her arms around him when she stood in front of him. She took him by surprise, and could feel him stiffen, then slowly his arms wrapped around her, his bionic arm felt cold through her thin tank top. She started to cry, shaking against his chest as reality hit her like a truck.

"Everything is okay, Emilia." He paused before saying her name, and she nodded still crying.

"Right, everything is okay," she said taking a step back from the man. "Sorry about that."

"That was okay," he smiled as they both let out small laughs. "We should head back."

"Yeah," she agreed starting to head back to the house, smiling through the stiffness of the dried tears on her cheeks. The presence he had beside her making her warm.

**

"Wait, wait. You did that?" Natasha laughed taking a swig of her beer.

"Yes," Emilia breathed out, her face turning red from laughing so hard.