When We Lie

Chapter 14

Emma invites you over to DC, which you happily agree to after getting the clear from Cap and mr. Stark. Peter is sad to see you go, but you remind him it's only for a week.

Your friend comes to greet you at the airport and gives you a brief but firm hug before taking your things to the car.

"I'm glad you finally decided to show up," she says brightly and pulls out of the parking lot. "So, it's been hectic, I've heard?"

"Which of it?" you jokingly ask. "The disaster that was Manhattan, Ultron or my babysitting Loki?"

She laughs lightheartedly. "All of the above. But how are you faring?"

You grimace. "The only thing keeping me happy is Peter."

"Who?"

"Ah... An amazingly bright boy, six or so years younger than us. He might join us at a later date."

Emma gapes, though she thankfully doesn't take her eyes off the road. "Are you kidding me?" she asks incredulously. "A child, an Avenger? What in the actual—"

"Ahem," you pointedly cough. "I was twelve when I made my first gauntlets, thank you very much. And twenty when I joined the Avengers!"

"And nineteen when you became Stark's intern—I get it, I get it. Peace, please?"

The two of you laugh good-naturedly.

A few minutes of comfortable silence follows before Emma becomes serious. "What are you going to do with Loki?"

"Nothing I can do," you say and shrug helplessly. "I'm in no position of power, being the youngest and, you know 'brainwashed'. Gah, I should have never proposed the road trip."

Emma hums in agreement and stops at a red light. She glances at you with a tight smile. "We all do things we regret, things we don't know if they pay off or not. Tell me, did Loki change anything?"

He did, didn't he? He went from malicious to mischievous to teasing in a matter of a month, not to mention your nightly conversations and the fact that you held each other's hands or arms at times.

Yes, he had started to warm up, but then the others had ruined it and now he's gone.

You lean back into the car seat and close your eyes. If possible, it would be nice to befriend him. The desire to take over the world and enslave humanity has long left his body, and he does regret his past actions. He should be rewarded, not slandered like in the grocery store.

"You're laughing," Emma says, frowning. "Why are you laughing?"

"Because if I'm the only one that believes him, then he really is screwed."

She stays silent for a moment. Before long, she sighs. "If you, who hated the guy with the passion of a million suns, can turn around and not only understand, but befriend him, then it should be possible for the others, too. Especially Thor, right?"

You shrug. Thor, out of anyone, should have given up ages ago. You can't fathom how many times Loki has betrayed him during the past millennium.

***

"I, eh, have to warn you about my, um, roommate," Emma says, visibly worried, as you stand in the elevator in her apartment complex. "He's... special. Your kind of special."

"Is he a super human, an experiment, Spider-man special or Steve Rogers special? There's a lot of specials in our gang."

She bites her lip without a word.

The elevator stops and opens its doors. Emma takes you to her door but doesn't unlock it.

You sigh. "Honestly, Emma, I didn't come here for this. Whatever you have to say, say it. It can't be more shocking than learning I'm to babysit my sworn enemy." You smile at that.

She hesitantly smiles back. "Promise not to kill him."

"I already promised that when you invited me, Em." Now you start to worry. "Is he violent, psychotic or, like, I don't know, a criminal?" She cringes and you gape. "I was kidding!"

"I'm sorry! But I think you'd like him."

"A criminal?"

"You like Loki, right?"

"After a month of war! He made my room pink! Dumped me in the river and so much more. Who is this person?"

At that time, the door opened slowly to reveal a tall man with long brown hair.

"Heliga Ginnungagap," you whisper. Then you glare at Emma. "Why in the nine realms are you hiding the effing Winter Soldier?!"

"Ssh! Or people might hear you." Emma pushes you inside and the ex-Hydra agent silently moves away.

You go sit down in one of the armchairs in the living room and glare at them. "Explain, now."

Emma looks at the Winter Soldier for confirmation. She only starts speaking after he nods. "Bucky isn't with Hydra anymore," she explains quietly. Meanwhile, the soldier lingers around her, worry creasing his forehead. "He's been hiding out here since the S.H.I.E.L.D. scandal."

You massage your temples. "I was joking, did I mention that? Joking. I was not expecting you to hide him of all people on Earth. But okay, fine. Whatever you say. So, why did you bring me here?"

"I meant what I wrote; you need a vacation and I wanted to see you. You barely come visit on Christmas anymore."

You look away in guilt.

Emma continues like nothing's wrong. "I also knew you'd keep his whereabouts secret, and..." She looks at him again. This time he takes her hand. You stare at them, something in your mind piecing the puzzle together. "He's like you, you know. Brainwashed, tortured and used. Only he's been at it since the 40's."

The Winter Soldier looks at you, his face mostly empty except for the curiosity and hesitation in his eyes. "Emma told me you were experimented on," he says.

You cringe, but nod. "I was. They worked for Hydra, according to Cap, and wanted us as child soldiers." You smile bitterly at the memories. "Pumped us full with chemicals and substances not commonly known to man. Many... many died. A lot of them. Some went insane but survived." That's why you like Wanda so much. She understands the turmoil inside you.

The air between the three of you solidifies into what again looks like glass. Your gaze pierces the Winter Soldier's. "This is what they made me into. I can freeze oxygen, a substance that doesn't solidify until well past temperatures humans can survive." You notice Emma's wide, fearful eyes and the oxygen turn back to normal.

There's a reason Emma's afraid. You never publicly showed anyone in Sweden what you could do, worried they'd shun you and be scared. Your thoughts weren't totally unfounded.

"I can't do that," the Winter Soldier says, still looking at you. "They brainwashed me instead."

"Much did I suffer, but not that. Torture, yes, but not brainwashing." You glance at his metal hand. "And I didn't lose any limbs."

"I lost it beforehand."

"I know. I've been to the museum."

He looks away, brows creasing.

"What should I call you?" you ask softly, making him turn his heavy gaze on you once more. "I mean, I can't call you the Winter Soldier, can I?"

The shadow of a smile appears on his face. "Bucky."

You nod. "Bucky it is then. How are you faring?"

"Depends on," he shrugs. "Some days I'm fine, some days..." He looks to Emma for help.

"Some days I don't see him at all. He barely eats," she murmurs. "I think you two would like each other, just saying." She looks at the clock. "I have to go. Feel free to do anything you like. You can take the spare bedroom."

Bucky follows her to the door and allows her to kiss his cheek. You smile faintly, happy Emma found someone to like, but wishing he wasn't a wanted serial killer.

Now where have I heard that one before?

"Let's chat," you decide. "I befriended someone not too long ago with your problem."

"What problem?" Bucky asks and takes a seat in the sofa. "I have lots of them."