Mosaic (Bucky Barnes X OC / Winter Soldier x OC)

Chapter 19: Bucky Barnes - Cinnamon Buns (Part II)

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The inside was worse than the outside. Lavish. Everything was lavish. More so than the A.I. ghost's house in D.C. Black leather. Shining silver. Spotless glass. White floorboards. Not a scuff on them.

Everything had me reaching for the muddy boots on my feet. Automatically untying the knots. Couldn't dirty the floor. Scuffing them was wors –

"Ehh... it's pretty perfect for hiding from Hydra?" she offered with a one shoulder shrug.

No.

No, it wasn't.

This, this demanded attention.

My gut churned, screaming at me to run. Every instinct demanded I run. Get away from this thing before they came crashing through the windows.

Instead, here I stood with my boots undone. My feet still stuffed in them. Didn't want to take them off. Faster to run with them on.

A ding had us both jumping.

I expected an appliance to open, but none did.

Instead, Valeriy hopped off the barstool and lightly hobbled her way into the kitchen area. The metal cast around her lower left leg clicked against the pristine floorboards with every other step.

"Got you some barbeque? Eve told me to start warming it up some time ago. Pretty good timing, huh?" she said, forcing her voice to be light. But it was too light, strained even.

"...Too good. She...." Helplessly, I waved towards the ceiling.

"...I'm sorry."

"I didn't know I was coming in until... after I knocked. But she... she...."

"I'm sorry."

"Stop saying that! It's not your fault!" I snapped, watching her flinch in on herself just the slightest. "It's not your fault, Valeriy.... How the hell could she... how could she know that I was... that I was...."

"It's a – Let's call it a talent of mine, Mr. Barnes. My ability to predict events is unparalleled. Enhanced psychics not included.... Besides, you're hungry."

Didn't help that my stomach made itself known a second later. A loud grumble filling the thick silence between us. It growled even louder when the oven door opened and that mouth watering scent hit my nose.

"Damn it, Eve. Why?" Valeriy groaned.

"Just harmless fun."

"I'm sorry about her, Bucky. She played you. She's only this accurate when she's pulling a bunch of strings. We've got plenty of time here. You can be outside if you still want to. However long. I'll be here. Hat and hair –"

"I...." But couldn't find the words.

I could not get my boots off fast enough as I raced for her. Almost tripping. Or worse, dirtying the floors with them.

The metal hand taking the hot tray of food from hers. The moment the metal cast overheated, she'd burn with no way to remove it before her skin melts.

Shove head into oven. Slam door closed. Target incapacitated.

"Where are the oven mitts?" I questioned, finding nothing of the sort on the countertop. Not even a rag in sight. There wasn't a place to put the hot tray without risking a mar to the surface.