Pushing Daisies [BUCKY BARNES]

12

We holed up in the hotel for the next couple of days, Clint getting wind that shit was going down within SHEILD and he was determined to keep me away from it. Apparently I already had 'enough interaction with those psychopaths.'

"Could we please do something?"

"Not today." Clint deadpanned, his eyes glued to Shark Week that blared on the tv. "Maybe tomorrow."

I looked over to Bruce, having learned of the fact I had him wrapped around my little finger just a day ago. I had insisted on Ihop, and when Clint had denied it I had looked to Bruce. The nuclear scientist had cracked in a matter of seconds, sighing and going to get his wallet. Tony and I had celebrated the entire time.

"Sorry, kid." Bruce smiled sadly, "I'm with Clint this time. I don't want you getting hurt."

I gaped at them before standing and crossing my arms. "I'm going to the bathroom." I stormed to the bathroom, fully knowing that was exactly what I would NOT be doing.

A smirk slid over my face as I locked the door behind me, quickly skipping to the window and sliding it open. I popped the screen out and slipped out onto the landing. We were on the second floor of the hotel in case Bruce hulked out, but that just made the drop to the ground easier.

I could feel the happiness growing inside my chest at the cool fall air, and the sight of all the trees in the vicinity starting to turn various shades of yellow and orange. I wanted to run, be happy, just enjoy this day, but I knew I needed to get a move on before they realized where I wasn't.

My mind wandered as I started walking. What had actually happened to SHEILD? Were Steve, Sam, and Natasha okay? And that man from the bridge? Why did I know him...

I stumbled over a step and when I looked up I realized I had returned to the Smithsonian. This seemed the be my hubbub so far for this trip, so I didn't mind it. I walked back into the familiar building, letting my feet guide me wherever my heart desired. That is, until I ended back in the Captain America exhibit.

I let myself awe over the exhibit again, only stopping when I went to view the Bucky Barnes plaque. A man stood there now, which was an unusual sight in itself. Usually people breezed right past the Bucky Barnes plaque, unless they were war veterans.

I almost smiled and walked up to him, wanting to get to know the young man who took his time to look at the plaque, but I froze when he turned. I only saw the side of his face, but what I saw showed me enough. The man from the bridge. The man who called me Lilly.

Shaking myself from my stupor I followed him as he left the plaque, making his way around the rest of the exhibit and into the new WWII hall of nurses. He walked to every memorial, as I had done days ago, but he stood for a few minutes at the last one. The Lillian Jacobs one.

The look on his face scared me. He looked like he was remembering things he didn't know he wanted to remember. Things that hurt him to think about.

That was the only time I let myself approach the Winter Soldier.

I quietly placed myself next to him, looking at the plaque. When he didn't move away, I figured I had clearance to proceed with the plan that was forming in the back of my mind. "She was pretty cool, huh?" I mused, reaching one of my tiny hands out to point at a line in the paragraph. "100 Nazis by herself. Can you believe it?"

He glanced out of the corner of his eye at me, and I just smiled gently at him. "No."

"No you can't believe it or no she wasn't cool?"

"No I can't believe it." His english almost seemed like he was forcing it not to be broken. He himself seemed a little broken, and when I caught his eye I could see just how lost he was.

I just smiled again, pointing to another line. "Lillian Jacobs. She was sixteen, two years under the registration limit at the time."

He just nodded.

My smile dropped a little, taking on a sad aspect. I grabbed the pen I kept in my back pocket and ripped the corner off of a pamphlet, scribbling the home number to the tower on it and sliding it into his hand. I turned to leave then, brushing behind him as I went. "Call me if you need anything, James. This world is harsh, I don't want you braving it alone just yet."

As I was about to walk out of the hall, I heard his quiet 'wait,' and turned back to look at him.

"What's your name?" He asked quietly, still keeping his head down.

My previous smile now taking on sad undertones, I laced my hands together in front of me. "Honestly, I'm not sure anymore. You might know better then I do, James. Call me if you decide you need me, okay?"