The Dragon Princess (Bucky Pairing)

7

Ashley shuts the lid of a suitcase before someone knocks at the door.

"Come in." She calls quietly. Steve enters.

"Hey." He greets.

"Hi." Ashley forces a smile but Steve sees right through it. She continues moving around the room, packing.

"It wasnt your fault." Steve blurts out. Ashley pauses half way through folding a shirt. "It was my fault. I should have moved faster. I shouldnt have let you take the hit anyway-"

"Steve. No. Its my fault. I should have made sure that he didnt slip from my grasp and now hes gone and its all my fault. That is why I have to leave. I need time to think this all over. Time to work everything out." Ashley explains, taking a final look around the room before she grabs both suitcases. "Ill try to keep in touch but no promises."

"Where will you go?" Steve inquires as the two leave the apartment.

"Home." Ashley answers. "I mean Brooklyn at first, pack my things, Bailey still lives there. Then where I came from, finally. Ill go see my brother, my parents. After that? Who knows."

"Look after yourself." Steve sighs. Ashley nods.

"Goodbye Steve. I hope well see each other again." Ashley offers.

"So do I." Steve agrees. Ashley offers a smile and sits in an awaiting car before driving off.

***

"Mummy! Nana! Look!" An eight-year-old, Brooklyn, giggles, holding out a purple flower.

"Its beautiful, Sweetie." Ashley comments with a smile. Brooklyn giggles and runs away after handing the flower to her grandmother. Dragamora smiles from where she kneels making a flower crown.

"Are you sure you have to go?" Dragamora whispers. Ashley nods, watching her daughter.

"There are rumours. I need to find out if theyre true. I already spent too much time here." Ashley mutters. "I will miss all of you though."

"Ashiana please." Her mother begs. "What you are planning, its madness, its suicide."

"I love him, mother. If there is the smallest chance of saving him-" Ashley stops as Brooklyn runs up with another flower. She smiles as Brooklyn looks back before hissing. "I will take it."

"You know what the scouts said. Two of them died because he isnt who he used to be. Hes brainwashed, dear. Hes gone." Dragamora murmers, staring at her daughter with sad eyes. Ashley shakes her head.

"Sweetie come here!" She calls. Dragamora shakes her head in defeat.

"Yes mummy?" Brooklyn asks sweetly.

"I have to go away for a bit, okay? Ill come back though." Ashley states. Brooklyn nods, tears forming in her eyes. "Sweetie." Ashley hugs Brooklyn. "Ill be back before you know it. I want you to have these. They were your dads." She puts Buckys dog tags around Brooklyns neck.

***

Ashley laughs as she sits at one of her fathers feasts. He loves throwing them. Dragamora is fawning over a six year old boy, Zephyr. Brooklyn is sat listening to her uncle, Septers, stories. She smiles before her phone, something new she acquired on Earth, buzzes. Ashley excuses herself and goes outside the hall. She answers the call and a holograph of Phil Coulson, an agent of SHIELD, appears.

"Wasnt aware these things worked over here. Rytsas (hello) Phil." Ashley offers.

"Agent Barnes." Phil greets. "We require your help."