Come As You Are
Lab Pet
True to his word Bucky took the kid to school, Nina waiting in the car watching nervously. She had never introduced anyone to Oliver, he was a secret and that's how she had wanted it to stay. She knew HYDRA numbers were dwindling slowly thanks to Bucky and the team, she also knew how impressionable a kid approaching his teenage years could be, and that's why he was her secret. "Are they here yet?" Bucky asked the kid who had slowed his usually quick pace as they got closer to the door. The boy shaking his head looking up at Bucky.
"Will you talk to Aunty Nina get her to let me stay home with Alex and grandma? She'll listen to you, you’re Bucky Barnes!" The boy tried in vain as Bucky chuckled opening the door for him.
"Aunty Nina doesn't listen to me, even if I am Bucky Barnes." He laughed as Oliver unzipped the black coat Nina had argued for him to put on. He noticed the kid stiffen when the door squeaked open and Bucky guessed his tormentors had come in. He turned around to see the two boys and their moms chattering and laughing away, Bucky turned to wink at Oliver who was biting his lip. The first kid walked over to the peg at the side of him shoving Oliver as he neared a smirk covering his lips as Oliver struggled to catch himself. That was all Bucky needed to step forward glaring at the boys who’s faces fell as they saw the glistening of his arm as he picked up Oliver’s Captain America bag handing it to him.
"Have a good day punk." He smiled down at the boy once he was sure the two bullies had got the message. He high fived the him heading for the door but not before hearing one of the boy’s shout ‘you know Bucky Barnes?!’ smirking as he slipped in the car Nina looked at him with panic.
"Is he okay? Which boys is it? I bet it's that Thomas I knew he was sneaky from his moms 'oh I take the time to bake the cakes' even though she doesn't have a job so she can!" Nina shouted out her little rant as Bucky watched on with a smile.
"He's fine I made sure they saw the arm and left to a chorus of 'you know Bucky Barnes?' I'm quite a celebrity, aren't I?" He smirked as she punched his arm playfully instantly regretting it when it made a thud with the metal.
"God you’re a jerk." She mumbled at his smirking face. "So where to Mr Celebrity?" She asked as he gave it a thought before directing her to their destination.
She pulled up outside of the worn-out building looking at it with confusion. "If you've brought me here to kill me then that isn't going to work out." She told him with a smirk as he laughed.
"This is my old boxing gym. When I came back I was amazed it was still here, but, like I said local celebrity." He smirked getting out of the car, Nina doing the same.
"You know I've seen something like this in Daredevil, you can't go copying from a Netflix series." She smirked over at him as he shook his head opening the door effortlessly.
"You know those films and TV shows aren't 100% true, right?" He asked flicking a switch as low lights filled the old well used gym.
"I have a 10-year-old who suggests otherwise." She laughed watching him get into the ring, holding one of the ropes up by way of inviting her in.
"Well maybe some time you can know the truth to tell him." Bucky told her, hope not far from his eyes as she smiled.
"So, want me to take you down?" She asked breaking the sentimental tension that was filling the room.
They had spent a good few hours at the gym training, Bucky quickly discovered she was a skilled fighter and showed her a few ways to improve. They were lay back on the benches catching their breath when Bucky asked her how she learnt to fight. "My brother was HYDRA. I learnt to fight pretty quick." She laughed, the sadness in her tone. "I took classes, someone had to look out for me and I'd be damned if it was my brother." She told him honestly.
"Did they ever try to recruit you?" Bucky asked, leaning up on his elbows so he could see her nod. "They tried for a year or so, I was going to university and Rumlow stepped in told them to drop it." She recalled, sighing at the memory.
"Your brother didn't stop them?" He asked, a frown covering his handsome features.
"My brother was a coward. He joined them and they said if I got on board they had an experiment that could change our course of life. I'm no one's lab pet." She shrugged.
"Hey!" Bucky shouted as she looked at him with a smile.
"Well according to you in them none real films you didn't choose it." She raised her eyebrow with a smirk.
"Okay that bit was true." He backed down as she laughed at his sulking face. "They let you live knowing their secret?" He asked, his limited knowledge on HYDRA knew that no one ever had that pleasure.
"Rumlow was a leader and they trusted his judgement." She shrugged. "We should get going I’ve got a few jobs to do before Oliver returns." She sat up with a smile, Bucky knowing she'd let her guard down enough for today.
“So, I’m posted for a mission tomorrow, I’ve got to take out a HYDRA base with Steve. It’s my first one since the whole fallout from the Accords.” Bucky told her as they reached the door, her hand stilling on the handle.
“Which base?” She asked quietly.
“Oh, erm we’ve found one on an island just off the coast of here.” He told her as she frowned slightly.
“From afar or you gotta go in there?” She asked biting her lip looking up at him.
“We’re going in, the aim is to retrieve as much data as Natasha can.” He told her as she tapped her nails on the metal.
“Who will analyse the data?” She asked, Bucky frowning at the odd question.
“Stark technician normally does, why?” He furrowed his eyebrows watching her closely as the smirk found its way on her face.
“No reason. Stay safe out there.” She smiled kissing his cheek before exiting the old gym and straight into her car.