Doll: A Bucky Barnes FanFiction

Adjusting

After some time, Elizabeth found herself in the bathroom, wrapping up her shower. She stepped out and placed on a set of clean clothes before opening the door. She stepped into the apartment, catching a glimpse of Bucky with his back to her standing in the kitchen.

She took that moment to look around, seeing the full-size bed on the floor with the sleeping bag on top. There was a tiny two-seater couch beside it, with a table off to the side. There was even an island and a small kitchen.

Bucky had taped up newspapers to the windows to prevent intruders from seeing into the apartment, except there was one slot where he could easily look out of to ensure that the area around the apartment was secure.

He turned around at that moment, catching Elizabeth examining the place before her eyes wandered back to his. She was wearing an eye patch that she had packed into her bag, and she gave a hint of a smile before Bucky finally spoke.

"I'm making dinner," he said, the awkward silence filling the air as she came towards the island, where he had laid out a few ingredients to cook with.

"I can see that," she replied, hopping up onto the counter beside where he was cooking. "Do you need any help?"

Bucky shook his head, watching as the soup came to a simmer on the stove. Elizabeth bit her lip. The silence between them made her uncomfortable. As if sensing this, Bucky looked up at her and spoke.

"Why do you wear the eye patch?"

Elizabeth sighed and twisted her fingers together in her lap.

"I hurt a friend, a few months ago, and now I'm always worried that next time, something will happen and I'll hurt more than just her."

Bucky nodded, "I know how you feel. If I could take my arm off, I would," he gave a half-hearted laugh.

"Do you remember anything? From before?" Elizabeth suddenly piped up. Bucky paused for a moment, thinking hard.

"Bits and pieces, I suppose. I remember flashes of my parents, my sisters. I remember more about Steve every day, but it's all hazy."

"What about me?"

"I remember us in the kitchen, baking gingerbread cookies," he gave a laugh, remembering the memory. He looked up at Elizabeth, realizing that this was a memory that she didn't have. "You were frustrated, and so we baked together and I chased you around the kitchen, trying to get you back for getting flour on me."

"And then Steve came in," Elizabeth suddenly added, the memory coming back to her. She smiled to herself as it was more clear than some of her other memories.

"How long have you known where I was?" Bucky asked, interrupting her thoughts.

"About a month. I had never tried to look for you because I thought that you would come back for me. But when I realized you wouldn't-" Elizabeth trailed off. "I needed to find you myself."

"How did you convince Steve to let you go?"

"I didn't. I left, in the middle of the night. I couldn't tell him face to face," she replied, pursing her lips. Suddenly, Bucky placed his hand on top of hers. A shiver ran down her spine as if a ghost from the past had touched her.

"I'm glad you came, Lizzie," he said before his hand slipped away from hers as he took the spoon to stir the soup.

Soon enough the soup was done and they sat down at the small table in the apartment to eat dinner. They ate in silence, this one more comfortable than the others. After dinner, Elizabeth offered to wash the dishes

"I can sleep on the couch tonight," Elizabeth said suddenly, as she was drying the last bowl. Bucky was still sitting at the table, scribbling furiously in a small notebook. He looked up at her when she said that and frowned.