Elliott took a breath as she stared into his eyes. "Are you okay?," he asked again, chuckling a bit. She felt disoriented, knowing this was one of the worst things that could have possibly happened.
Just her luck.
"Y...yeah," she stuttered a bit and mentally cursed herself. He reached down to grab her suitcase and handed it back. She couldn't help but eye his left hand. Flesh. And it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. He ran the hand gently over her arm, causing goosebumps to erupt all over her body.
"Can I help you get somewhere Miss...," he asked and she nodded, "Mabry," she said breathlessly, "Ellie," she corrected herself and he grinned, making her heart race even faster. "Ellie," he repeated and she swallowed, nodding again. If present day Bucky made her weak in the knees, he had nothing on this Bucky.
His hair was combed back neatly, the three piece suit fit him perfectly. He didn't seem real.
He looked at her, a bit amused as her eyes trailed over him. He cleared his throat and she looked up at him, blushing bright red. "See somethin' you like?," he teased with a chuckle. She certainly did. "Sorry," she said softly and he chuckled again, holding out his arm for her to take.
She took it, somewhat reluctantly. It didn't feel real, any of it. She noted the building she'd grown up in herself as they passed. She closed her eyes, trying to focus. They arrived at the apartment building that Tony had sent her to and Bucky opened the door, allowing her to go first. "Lucky for you," he grinned, "this is also my place."
Wonderful.
Ellie paid the landlord the first months rent and Bucky took her suitcase once more, leading her up the stairs. "I'm just down the hall," he pointed, "case you need somethin' Doll," he told her and she nodded, feeling herself blush again. She'd heard from Steve about how much of a ladies man, a charmer, Bucky was. Now she was seeing it first hand.
She closed the door behind her and took a deep breath as she closed her eyes. This wasn't good. Not at all. She wasn't supposed to interact with Bucky. Hell, she wasn't even supposed to see Bucky. She silently prayed that this wouldn't affect the future. But she worried more that it would affect her mission.
She needed to buckle down, avoid Bucky for the rest of her time here. Try and fit in as much as possible and do what she needed to do to get close to Harland. She knew it would take a bit, earn his trust. Study his habits. And then make sure he never made it to Germany.
She sat at the edge of the bed and pulled her shoes off. Taking another deep breath, she let her tears fall. She needed to. She was stuck here, trapped until the job was done. She pulled the Derringer from her garter and placed it on the night stand before unpacking the suitcase, taking out the small device that would take her back home inside the drawer, hidden under clothing, just in case.
She spent the next few days reacquainting herself with the neighborhood. It definitely wasn't her Brooklyn, the one she knew. But it felt like home to some degree. She felt relaxed when she walked the streets, watching the children play stick ball. The men sitting on the corner playing dominos.
And she'd managed to avoid Bucky. That made it easier to focus on Harland, who she'd spotted a few days earlier. She knew he frequented a place called The Black Cat and tonight she was going. She had to. She had to get close to Harland, no matter how much she hated the idea.
She stood by the bar, ordering a whiskey neat, subconsciously patting the Derringer under her skirt. She turned, surveying the place, no sign of Harland just yet. But it was early. He'd show. She turned back around, sipping the drink slowly when she felt the breath on her neck. "Been avoidin' me, Doll?," he asked and she heard the smirk in his voice.
She turned slowly and gave him her best smile. "Now, why would I do that, Mister Barnes?," she asked and he sighed. "Call me Bucky," he told her, the Brooklyn accent thick and it made her weak. "Okay, Bucky," she repeated, "why would I do that?," she said and he chuckled a bit. "Maybe 'cause you're attracted to me and don't want me to know?," he teased and she rolled her eyes.
"Don't flatter yourself," she told him and she held her breath as she felt him brush his hand over her hip. "Never met a dame quite like you," he breathed in her ear and she released the breath. "Not sure how to take you," he went on and she looked up at him. "How do you mean?," she asked, unable to stop herself. She knew he had a hold over her and when her breath hitched at his darkened eyes, he knew it too.
"Just that you're different," he said vaguely and she looked up at him. "You mean I'm not dropping at your feet?," she asked, raising a brow, "I'm not openin' my legs for you?," she asked, her voice low, only for his ears.
She knew she was playing it dangerous. He closed his eyes briefly and took a shaky breath. "I know your kind. Used 'ta girls doin' whatever you want them to," she continued. "But I'm not that kind of girl. You gotta earn it," she smirked at him before downing her glass and walked away, leaving Bucky with a smile.
She certainly was some kinda dame and damn, if it didn't drive Bucky crazy.
