battle | b. barnes

"Shit,"

//

Thank you for the 1k reads everyone !!! <3 it means a lot :)

we're almost done with this story, so hang tight. things are about to get real intense real quick!!

//

I push my sunglasses up my nose as I make myself comfortable on the wooden bench I'm currently sitting on. I sling an arm over the bench and cross my left leg over my right as I mindlessly watch people walk past me.

People are walking their dogs, parents are running behind their toddlers, couples are holding hands and casually strolling through the park, and then there's me.

From my peripheral, I notice someone walking towards me. Turning to see who it is, my heart begins to beat a bit faster as I watch the broad shouldered man make his way to me. Despite his black sunglasses and brown baseball cap, I can still see strands of blonde hair peeking through the sides of the cap, giving him away. Not to mention the bottom of half of his face.

The man takes a seat next to me, being sure to keep some space between us. I quietly watch him as he watches people walk past us before turning to face me.

"I don't know what to say," he states.

"Then let's get straight to the point," I reply. I take my glasses off and place it on my head.

Just because I'm supposedly dead doesn't mean anyone is particularly looking for me – not that I know of anyway. However, for the man sitting in front of me, it's a different story. I'm sure if one person recognized him, it would spread like wildfire.

"Bucky's in trouble, Steve."

Even through his sunglasses, I can see a crease form on his forehead as he frowns at me. He doesn't reply immediately, though I don't what there really is to say.

"Why is that whenever you need to tell me something, it's always bad news and it always relates to Bucky?" Steve finally asks, after releasing a sigh.

My lips form a straight line as I look away for a moment. I bring my bottom lip between my teeth as I watch a duck ruthlessly chase a poor toddler boy. I tear my eyes from the scene to stop myself from laughing.

"Listen, I wish this meeting could've been under better conditions. But there's always someone out there ruining it for the both of us," I answer.

Steve breathes in deeply before responding.

"Who has it out for Bucky now?"

I take a slip of paper out from my jean pocket and hand it over to Steve.

"His name is Helmut Zemo and he's got some crazy ass plan to tear The Avengers apart. He's going to blame Bucky for bombing the UN Summit." I explain.

Steve looks down at the paper, his lips set into a tight line as the crease gets deeper on his forehead.

"Why?" Steve asks.

I shrug my shoulders, "he thinks you guys killed his family in Sokovia."

Steve stuffs the paper in his pocket and looks away. A heavy silence settles upon us as we're both stuck in our thoughts.

My attention is back on the toddler who was chased by the duck. Now the little boy is clutching his mom's leg as the duck stands a few feet away from the boy. A small smile appears on my face watching them.

"That's it?" Steve asks.

I face Steve again and nod my head. I put my sunglasses back on and push myself to the edge of the seat.