Next To Me // A Stucky Au

Chapter Twenty-Six

Nat whipped out her phone, ready to start recording. She could probably, at least, get 45 seconds of video of Bucky to a) show Steve and b) embarrass Bucky with. She wasn't needed to play her instrument until the chorus, because it was one of those occasions when someone had wheeled a keyboard on stage for Bucky to play. He started playing the notes, and they sounded out into the audience, sounding both loud and empowering but small and lonely at the same time. Then he started to sing, his voice loud and rich.

'When the days are cold,
And the cards all fold,
And the saints we see
Are all made of gold.

When our dreams all fail,
And the ones we hail
Are the worst of all
And our blood runs stale.'

Clint and Sam started to join in, playing their guitars softly in the background. The audience had turned their phone torches on now, and they looked like millions of little stars swaying in time to the music. It was almost serene as the crowd sang along, but not to loudly, not wanting to overpower Bucky and everyone on stage.

'I want to hide the truth,
I want to shelter you,
But with this beast inside,
There's no where we can hide.
No Matter what we breed,
We still are made of greed.
This is my kingdom come,
This is my kingdom come.'

Nat had put her phone down now, ready to join in. When the chorus started, it started alright. The music suddenly got loud and powerful, Bucky getting up from the keyboard, singing as loud as he could. The audience were screaming their lungs out, not at all worried about over powering the music now.

'When you feel my heat,
Look into my eyes,
It's where my demons hide,
It's where my demons hide.
Don't get too close,
It's dark inside,
It's where my demons hide,
It's where my demons hide.'

------

Bucky thought it would be a shame if he was in New Orleans and he didn't get to meet up with the girl, Megan, who he video called a while ago. So, after a lot of searching, he found her account again and messaged her, asking her when she wanted to meet up. He knew he had a shit load of work to do back at the bus, but he also knew that if he did the groceries while he was out Peggy wouldn't murder him too bad. Maybe she wouldn't murder him at all if he got that weird British drink she likes (ribena, or something?).

She had told him to meet her in some kind of park/square (he had to look it up, not gonna lie) and so there he was, waiting for her to arrive. After about five minutes or so, she came, dragging a couple of reluctant looking friends behind her. Bucky recognised her immediately and started to make his way over.

"D'you think it's really him, though?" He overheard one of her friends ask her doubtfully as he approuched. Her back was turned to him, but he was at least 50% sure that Megan had seen him, she was just waiting for him to do something.

"Yeah, it could just be a prank, or a creepy,old man!" The other added, with a strong New Orleans accent.

Megan tried to assure them that she was sure it was him, so Bucky felt like like it was a perfect time to interrupt. "Hey Megan!" he said, lifting his sunglasses onto the top of his head, "How are ya?"

Megan turned around to see him, "Hi Bucky!" she said cheerfully, a victorious smile on her face. She turned back to her friends. "See, I told y'all he would come!" Her friends' jaws had dropped. They looked completely and utterly stunned. Bucky didn't know whether he should laugh or not.

"So..." he began, trying to break the awkward tension, "what do ya wanna do? I dont know this place very well, so it's up to you!"

------

Thank god, Peggy thought, as she watched Bucky leave the bus. She waited for a moment, almost like she was waiting until he definately couldn't hear her, and then yelled at the top of her voice, "Team meeting!"

Everyone heard (it was quite easy to yell at everyone when you practically live on a bus) and came into the living area where Peggy was, throwing themselves on the couches, Sam with the plate of toast he'd been making. Why he was eating toast at 3:15 in the afternoon, she had no idea.

Before Peggy started speaking, she got out her phone and pulled up her messages between herself and Steve. They had been texting for a while now, and at one point they'd come up with the brilliant idea that she was going to share with the team today. Once she had done that, she pulled out her laptop, and started explaining while Skype loaded.

"So," she started, looking up at the team around her, "me and Steve have an idea, which he's probably going to tell you all about once I Skype him," she paused for a minute, calling Steve on Skype and waiting for him to pick up. The screen crackled, and Steve came into veiw.

"Have you told them yet?" Steve asked, his voice sounding weird and distant through the computer. Probably because he was distant. It is quite far between Louisiana and New York.

"No, I have not," Peggy answered, shaking her head. The rest of the people there with them were looking at the pair curiously now, wondering what was going on.

"Right," Steve started, addressing the group now, "we've had an idea, but you've got to swear not to tell Bucky." A mischevious smile was beginning to break out onto his face now, and most of the others were smiling too. Well, apart from Sam. He just looked completely and utterly confused.

They all swore not to tell Bucky ('I swear on my last Gucci donut' 'Clint, no'), even if they didn't have a clue what they were swearing about. They all looked at Steve and Peggy expectantly.

"So here's the plan."

A/n: helllollolooeoeoeolo. Godamit I have that princess and the frog song stuck in my head now. I got friends on the other side. Don't judge, its literally the best disney movie ever. THE BEST!!!! okay, bye bye.

Ps demons is the best imagine dragons song fight me