oh captain! my captain! | barnes

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3:00 pm
The Apartment

"They're the main hero team for New York; everyone's heard of them," Ray started.

"Who're the members?"

"Well, you've got Black Widow, Captain America, Falcon, Iron Man..."

"Don't forget Winter Soldier," Phoebe called from the near bathroom. She opened the door and proceeded to tie her wet hair back in a towel to dry.

"Winter Soldier," Audrey repeated out loud. "Bucky Barnes, right?"

"That's what they call him. The guy's a ghost story. He's a retired assassin; a bred weapon of destruction," Ray clenched the air as if she were ringing the life out of someone. "Pretty scary stuff," she grinned.

"Be quiet," Phoebe hushed her and sat down on the couch next to her girlfriend. "Sergeant Barnes used to be in the military before he was caught behind enemy lines, that HYDRA deal. He got out because of Cap but he fell off a cart track, or was it a train? Yeah, a train. Definitely a train track. HYDRA saved him and tested him and brain-warped him, drilled in trigger words and out came the infamous Winter Solider. Body count's off the charts."

"How do you know so much?" Audrey asked. She had no recollection of her past love.

"She's a journalist for the Bugle. She knows all the hot stuff about superheroes," Ray rolled her eyes.

"Why the interest in the Avengers?" it was Phoebe's turn to ask questions.

"I don't know, I just have this strong feeling about them-" A phone began to ring. It rattled on the wall until Ray stood, picking it up and therefore silencing it.

She was quiet and only responded a few yes's or no's.

She nodded to herself and gave the other side her personal phone number. She said a final yes and a goodbye. She hung up.

"Phoebe, can I talk to you? In private?" Phoebe nodded in reply and stood.

"Don't take it personally," Phoebe soothed Audrey. "She sometimes needs help just ordering a pizza."

Audrey laughed inaudibly for a moment before allowing her eyes to wander to the window. She watched Harlem as an insider. It was beautiful, really. A few pigeons carried seeds while leaves scattered on the cracked pavement. Kids occasionally raced by on scooters and skateboards. She smiled to herself, remembering a more distant childhood. The memory was almost out of reach, only her fingertips touched it.

One day, she'd remember it all. One day.

The two came back in and watched her awkwardly. Audrey cocked her brow, "Yes?"

"Would you happen to know Tony Stark, personally?" Ray inquired.

"Not that I know of. Why?"

"He just called and asked if he could stop by in about fifteen minutes. He said he needs to talk to you," Phoebe stated as they sat down.

"Did he say what about?"

"He said you'd know," Ray added. "Do you want to wash up before he gets here?"

"Yes, thank you," she stood and went to the bathroom. She closed and locked the door, she looked at herself. She watched her own steely eyes.

~A Memory~
It was of two people; herself and a man.
She watched some military camp, blanketed in a navy blue twilight.
A man wrapped his arms around her and breathed words against her skin.
Goosebumps.
A kiss on the shoulder and a farewell.