Winter's Lost Gem - A BuckyBarnesxOC Story

Chapter 6

As the day wore on, the facility's common rooms quickly turned into a party scene as Haleigh had predicted. It shouldn't have surprised Emma that someone like Tony would be able to create a scene out of thin air.

She rested on her bed, music blaring just behind her closed door. She looked around the mostly barren room she'd been given. She hadn't been lying. With as frequently as she traveled, she didn't own much. Just a bag full of clothes, the boots on her feet, a few trinkets and keepsakes.

While most of the Avengers' facility was open to all, she was thankful for a private bathroom and a room at the end of the hall. It was away from the others and allowed for her privacy.

Her eyes fell to a worn picture frame resting on the nightstand. She plucked it from its perch, running her fingers across the chipping white paint of the frame. "Well, Warren, it's almost time. I can't believe it will have to come to this." She whispered softly, staring into the face of her older brother as a teenager and a pre-teenage image of herself at his side.

A knock on her door broke her concentration. She rested the picture back in its spot. Clearing her throat, she called for the door. "Come in."

The music swarmed into Emma's ears as the person behind the door opened it. She looked up to see it was Sam. "Hey, Sam." She offered a smile.

"Hey, Em, Haleigh wanted to come see if you were joining the party. After all, you're the guest of honor." Sam smiled brightly. "Good way to hang out with everyone, too. Get to know the team." He fished.

"Yeah, sure." She nodded, slipping off her bed. The heels of her boots clicked across the hardwood floor as she joined him, shutting the door behind them. "Do these things happen often?" She asked, voice elevating the closer they reached the living room.

"Depends on what mood Tony's in, although usually it's just us. Seems he invited some others this time." Sam chuckled at her eyeroll. "You'll be alright. Just look out for the single guys. Scott's here and he's got a runoff mouth. He's also a little cheesy. Bucky likes to think he's pretty smooth. Vision will chat your ears off until your drums explode. His Highness T'Challa is in town for some reason and stopped by to check up on Bucky. He'll probably have a guard with him of some kind and they get a little antsy sometimes. Tony gets handsy when he's drunk but I wouldn't get involved. He and Pepper are still working through some things."

Emma laughed a bit. "What about you? What's your 'thing'?"

"Me? I picked you up, didn't I?" He flashed her a smooth smile.

She cocked a brow. "Yeah, from my bedroom. Cocky."

"You haven't seen nothing yet." He mused as they entered the party. He watched her for a second and caught her scanning the room. When she found what she was looking for, he laughed. "Not that it looks like I have a chance in hell given your history with him."

"You don't look like the type to just give up." Emma smirked, nodding at Bucky as he waved her over to him and Steve.

"I'm not but I think this time around it'd be more fun to watch what happens than to join the fray."

"Wise choice, my friend. On all accounts." She patted him on the shoulder before taking her leave.

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Several drinks, conversations, and pick up lines later, Emma had enough. She soon found herself seeking solitude and searched for higher ground. She sat on the edge of the compound's roof, feet swaying a bit as she stared at the stars.

So many thoughts had been running through her head, she almost fell off the ledge when a jacket was placed over her shoulders. She smiled knowingly as she inhaled its scent.

"You can take the rifle out of someone's hands but the habits of a sniper are hard to break." Bucky chuckled softly, joining her on the ledge.

"You could have made your presence known. About fell off the roof." Emma huffed.

"I'd have caught you." He smiled.

"How'd you know I'd be up here anyway?" She glanced at him, cocking a brow.

"I was a sniper once, too, ya know. Seeking higher ground is what I do when I'm feeling stressed as well."

She laughed a bit. "And the jacket?"

"Haleigh mentioned she picked you up on the Florida/Georgia line. It's colder at night this far north. Was I wrong?"

She shook her head, laughing softly. "No, no you're not."

An awkward silence seemed to pass between them, lasting several minutes. Clearing his throat, Bucky broke it, "So uh, I noticed you failed to mention that the time in Russia in '57 wasn't the only time we met up."

She coughed slightly. "You remember that, huh?"

His laugh was laced with stiffness as he nodded. "Fragments mostly. Milan, Paris, Cairo.." He trailed off.

She grinned. "Cairo was quite the romantic time. I wouldn't mind revisiting."

"I must admit it's the one I remember most... Vividly." He glanced at her.

A smirk graced her lips. "Bucharest, Saint Petersburg, and London should be on that list, I believe, too."

"Those too." He nodded. "Why'd you leave them out?"

She adjusted, pulling his jacket tighter across her shoulders. "I didn't think it was necessary. It was by chance we ever saw each other again. Let alone so many times."

"Was it really by chance? By then you were dark, doing your own thing."

"Right.." Emma trailed off as she bit her lower lip.

"So why were you always in the right place at the right time exactly where I had been sent for missions?" He looked at her. "I would literally turn around in the middle of the street and there you were, waiting."

"I had contacts that stayed in touch. They'd alert me when they got wind of your whereabouts and I'd show up."

"Is there a reason?"

She smirked. "Would it satisfy you if I said it's because the sex was good?"

Bucky managed to choke on his own saliva. "Yeah?"

She ribbed him with her elbow. "You should know better than that, Soldat."

He rubbed the stubble on his chin, trying to hide the cocky grin on his face. "I have to ask.. I'm not sure where we go from here. Casual sex across six decades when I can't remember absolutely everything leaves me pretty confused on where you and I stand. After all, you came back because of me didn't you?"

"Mostly." She nodded, looking up at him. "I made a promise, remember? And I always keep my word."

He smiled. "Yeah, that I remember."

"Would you have preferred I broke it?"

"Not one bit." He caught her eye, smiling softly.

She grinned. "Anyway, Soldat-"

"Bucky. Or Buck. Please."

She cocked a brow but continued. "Bucky. To answer your question. You have a cell phone now?"

"Yeah, of course." He nodded, digging into his pocket. He stuck the phone into her waiting hand. He watched as Emma began flipping through it, typing rapidly.

Emma smiled as she returned the phone to him. She tucked her arms into the sleeves of his jacket. "You now have my number. Call or text anytime, Buck." Using his shoulder as a brace, she pulled herself to her feet and hopped back onto the roof. She squeezed his shoulder lightly before leaning towards him. "If you're still interested in an us, that is." She added, voice barely a whisper. She pressed a kiss to his cheek before sauntering off towards the rooftop door.

Bucky grinned brightly, watching her leave with his jacket on her. "'Interested' is an understatement." He muttered to himself, looking down at his phone. He tapped on the screen, scrolling to find her name amongst his other contacts. He couldn't help but laugh as he looked at it. "Gem." He breathed.