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narutardad · 7 months

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Three

Loch was surprised to arrive in Canada and see that there was indeed a S.H.I.E.L.D base. Hidden as a former post office, the jet landed on the roof of a huge brick building on Adelaide Street in Toronto. As they touched down, the Quinjet disengaged stealth mode, and the group within exited onto the roof. Two agents awaited them outside a rooftop fire exit.

"Welcome to the Great White North, Agents." one of the two agent’s said, a wry smile playing on his lips. He seemed to be nearly rocking on his heels in what Loch sensed was excitement. "I'm Agent Burrows, and this is Agent DeSwan. Follow us, please."

Loch followed as the caboose of the march, taking her time to look over the edge of the building to see the streets below. The streets of Toronto were… very similar to New York except there wasn’t hoards of people walking in packs like buffalo. There was a strange smell in the air. Almost like salt water fish in the hot sun.

Entering the building, they were met with more agents who handed them security badges, burner phones and some other identification that they would need. Loch had never really been through all of this before, so when she finally stood there with her fake ID and files piled to her chin, she admittedly felt a little overwhelmed. Lochlyn didn’t even have time to ask any questions before they were escorted to their respective cars to be relocated to their safe houses.

Sam stood next to the two agents who flew with the group and was getting into the large black jeep in front of another smaller car. A dusty grey Nissan that looked like it needed a serious repaint. Bucky was loading several large duffle bags into the trunk of the Nissan and slammed the lid closed.

“Okay.” The soldier began, resting against the side of the vehicle. Sam wandered over and so did Loch. “Everyone knows what we’re doing?”

Sam nodded but Loch shook her head. She hadn’t really been paying attention when Agent DeSwan was briefing them. She was too concerned at looking through all the new documents and things she had been given.

“We’re gonna meet at our rendezvous point at four o’clock. Sam, your safe house is closest to the last known incident. You’re gonna be scoping that area for anything that might tell you where our guy went.”

“Since when were you in charge?” Sam asked with a playful smile. Bucky shot him a disinterested look but continued.

“Loch, you and I are on surveillance duty. We’re just gonna walk around Toronto and see if we can catch this guy in the act. Maybe we can catch him before he does anything else stupid.”

“What do we do if we see him?” she asked, now feeling clod feet creep up on her.

“You’ll stay back and I’ll try and deal with it. If thing’s go sour…”

“You call me and we’ll sort it out. You’re a last resort. Don’t expose our trump card, okay?” Sam finished for his partner, giving Loch a firm but gentle order. Loch nodded, knowing this was very important that she didn’t blow it. This guy was dangerous. And she’d fucked things up before. She couldn’t let it happen again.

“Okay, now that everyone is aware of the plan, we split up and get to work.”

Loch and Bucky piled into the Nissan and Sam into the Jeep. They peeled off in opposite directions, and Loch could finally get a good look at the city up close. She knew she shouldn’t expect much from a large city, but it was… disappointing. Loch saw homeless encampments, people passed out on the sides of the streets, their heads lolled back, dazed. Trash bags lined the curbs the further away from the Post office they drove.

“It’s not… as nice as I thought.” Loch found herself saying out loud. Bucky looked over for a second as they came to a red light.

“Things are tough up here. Especially where we’re going.”

“It’s a shame we can’t help them… S.H.I.E.L.D should help them. They have the money and resources.” Loch mewed slightly, her heart sinking as the neighborhoods seemed to look more like slums.

“S.H.I.E.L.D doesn’t operate like that. You know that. This is for the Canadian government to fix…”

Loch sighed, and her eyes fell on a group of kids standing around a lamp post. They didn’t look much older than fifteen or sixteen, but they were all puffing great white clouds of scented vapor from their tank sized vapes. Lochlyn shook her head and forced herself to look away from the window.

The ride to the safe house wasn’t long after that. No more than ten minutes later they were parked outside a moderate sized house. The windows had closed curtains and the yard was poorly kept. More trash bags lined the end of the drive way and a grey tabby cat sat unmoving on the front porch.

“I guess this is it.” Bucky said as he looked at the house from the car. Loch gazed at the horrendous excuse for a house, and nodded.

The two of them got out of their car, and Bucky grabbed both the duffle bags from the trunk, carrying them over his shoulders like they were filled with feathers. Loch new otherwise, as she had tried to help, only to nearly fall over from the weight.

The inside was no better than the outside. The carpet was stained, but even without the stains that smelled oddly of cat piss, the disgusting grey and brown color of the pattern was an eyesore. The furniture, that looked like it was from the early 90’s, was covered in plastic and a thick layer of dust. The whole main living room smelled like mold, and old cigarettes.

The kitchen was small, modest and filthy. Everything was dusty, and there was old grease splattered and solidified on the backsplash. The kitchen also consisted of a tiny circular table and two chairs, one missing a leg.

Loch dragged one of the duffle bags to the back bedroom. There was no bed, but inside the duffle bag were two collapsible cots used for camping. It also contained some blow-up mattresses and think fire blankets.

“They couldn’t send us with pillows at least?” Loch complained under her breath as she pulled out the sleeping equipment and started to pitch the cots. She was relieved to see that the mattresses were at least powered by a motor to inflate, so she plugged them into the dirty, old sockets and let them inflate.

Bucky entered the bedroom carrying the second duffle bag. He threw it down on the floor next to one of the cots and began to go through it. Loch watched as he removed two AR rifles and several other weapons like handguns and knives. She tried not to watch, and kept her attention on the mattresses. Sometimes, Loch completely forgot who Bucky was at work. It’s not like she was often deployed on missions with him. She was so used to the quiet but funny introvert who liked staying home with a game of Risk, or hanging around the compound bar and having a few beers he could never get drunk off of.

Loch surveyed the makeshift sleeping area when she was finished; a stark contrast to the usual comforts of home. The room, devoid of any personal touches, emanated an air of transience that didn’t feel… like… well she couldn’t describe it exactly. It felt empty. It reminded her a lot of Bucky’s apartment.

She stole a glance at Bucky, who was meticulously arranging the arsenal of weaponry on the floor. The dichotomy between the mundane act of setting up cots and the arsenal of lethal instruments laid bare the duality of their lives. She didn’t even know how to shoot a gun. She didn’t need to. She was a walking loaded weapon herself. Her emotions like a finger on the trigger, and the safety was off.

“What’s wrong?” Bucky’s voice broke through the silence, and Lochlyn’s thoughts. She jolted a little, looking over at Bucky. He was seated on the floor, now looking at her with a puzzled gaze. She immediately put on a fake smile.

“Nothin’. Just thinking about stuff.”

“About what stuff?”

“Stuff that’s none of your business.” She said, feeling a little passive aggressive. Bucky didn’t seem to take it personally and gave her a hard stare. She knew this look. The ‘if I try hard enough, I can read your mind’ look. She clicked her tongue and sighed, rolling her eyes in an exaggerated manner.

“Knock it off. It’s not gonna work.”

He remained silent, continuing to stare her down as if all he needed was sheer determination. She groaned, pulling off her boot and throwing it across the room at him. Bucky batted it out of the way with his arm and laughed.

“I almost had it. You ruined my concentration.”

“Boy, the only thing you concentrate on is being an absolute fucking goof, mkay?” Loch quipped playfully before retrieving her boot. The super soldier held his hand over his heart with a smile.

“Oof, ouch my heart. You’re verbally abusing me. I’m gonna report you to HR when we get back.” He said sarcastically, only to be clobbered again by Lochlyn’s boot.

“Report that, hm?” she snickered and smacked him in the shoulder with the boot before balancing on her other foot to put it back on. Bucky pushed himself to his feet, brushing dust from the carpet off of his jeans. Loch managed to get her boot back on and the soldier clapped his hand on her back.

“Lunch? Before we have to meet up with Sam?”

***

Bucky and Loch enjoyed sandwiches on their walk through the city. Subway seemed to be the cheapest option, so Bucky enjoyed a cold cut with green peppers and olives, meanwhile Lochlyn chowed upon a chicken, bacon, ranch club; minus the ranch. The streets of Toronto seemed to have some kind of music playing from everywhere. Shops were crammed shoulder to shoulder like sardines in a can with outdoor displays for consumers to browse. There were a lot of eye-catching things from street food to cheap carnival plushies that you wouldn’t even think about spending three dollars, let alone ten.

Honestly, the streets could bee in hellfire and chaos, but Lochlyn was just happy to walking around with Bucky. She walked alongside him, her arm laced through his, which his hand was buried in the pocket of his thin jacket. Their shoulders bumped lightly as they walked, but neither seemed to mind.

“Aside from the fact we’re looking for a psychopath; this is a nice vacation away from the compound.” Bucky said through the last bite of his sandwich. Loch shrugged, agreeing with him. He was right, it was nice.

“Yeah, nice to get away from… well… you know.”

“Your mom?”

“Everyone. It’s not that I don’t love my mom and Happy… and the Compound is like a second home, what with Clint and his family moving in… but it just-” she sighed, trying to string together what she was feeling.

“I get it… It was the same with me when I came back from Wakanda. People are so nice, but there’s always that… look they give you. Even if you’re prim, proper and put together.”

“But you got to prove to everyone that you can help. I haven’t gotten to show everyone that I’m just as capable.”

The two of them stepped up to a cross walk curb, waiting for the signal to walk. When it changed, they stepped off the curb and onto the tarmac. Loch was staring at the ground, thinking about if she could really prove herself. She didn’t want people to look at her like she couldn’t handle herself in a fight. She knew she could never fill the shoes of her father, or even the big six, but she had to prove she was useful.

Loch didn’t have time to look up when the sound of screeching tires came hurtling towards Bucky and her. The sound of metal scratching against metal as the car was crushed upon impact. Screams and cries of the people in the general vicinity watching as debris flew in every direction. Loch saw a flash of red light as Bucky’s arms shielded her from the collision.

But it was unnecessary. The impact never hit them. In fact, when Loch and Bucky eased up and looked around, there was a perfectly circular rea with car parts littering the road. A totaled chevy was tossed to the side of the road, the entire front of the vehicle seemed to be cut off. Melted by what looked like two extremely precise lasers. A huge trench lied in the black tarmac leading to the front of the car, which was smoking.

Bucky and Loch looked around, noticing the source of the screaming was not aimed towards the nearly flaming vehicle, but rather the man levitating a few feet above the wreckage. Loch and Bucky recognized him immediately as the target. The man they were looking for. He was clad in red, black and white with a long cape billowing behind him. He looked like someone straight out of a comic book. That bright ken doll hair and unnerving blue eyes that looked down at them.

“And just when I thought I was saving two innocent civilians.” The man spoke, his voice echoing around them like it was being broadcasted in their heads. Loch only had to meet his eyes once to know he was a horrible man. The way he stared back at her. He could see into her soul. It wasn’t even a question. This guy was bad.

“Bucky…”

“Relax, Loch. Just stay back.” Bucky’s voice was firm and serious as he stepped in front of Loch defensively.

“Okay, look Clark Kent, we don’t want to fight you. Just… ground yourself so we can talk about this.” Bucky barked at him as he pulled the leather gloves off his hands, exposing the black and gold Vibranium arm he kept hidden. The man seemed disinterested in what Bucky was saying, cocking his head to the side dangerously to look past the super soldier.

“Does this mudman speak for you?” he asked, directing his question at Lochlyn, who didn’t reply. She couldn’t understand why he was even talking to her.

“No, no, don’t look at her. Look at me.” Bucky yelled again, before tearing off the sleeve of his jacket to have full range of his arm. The gold joints and groves glistened in the later afternoon light.

“First of all, show a little respect. It’s Guiding Star to you.” He scoffed with a sneer, “Secondly, you really think I’m interested in your little prosthetic after that amazing display of raw power? You’re laughable.” The man mocked the soldier, slowly floating down towards the ground where he touched down, light as a feather. Loch grabbed her phone and quickly began to dial Sam’s number, holding the phone up to her ear. Bucky still standing between her and the stranger. It rang twice before Sam’s voice picked up.

“Loch? What’s ha-”

“Sam. He’s here. And he’s mad…. We need your help. Now. Dundas and Starling.” She said quickly before hanging up. She knew Sam would find them using Redwing. Right now, she needed to focus.

“Look buddy, I don’t know what your whole… gimmick is, but that death ray thing you’re doing. You gotta stop.” Bucky spoke confidently, really showing no fear. Loch didn’t know how he could speak with the confidence of a bull. The man stood unconcerned, an unpleasant smile on his thin lips. Loch didn’t like it. He looked at Bucky like he was a bug, or a lizard, and he wanted nothing more than to step on him.

The tension in the air crackled like electricity, but Bucky remained surprisingly composed. Lochlyn, on the other hand, felt the weight of the situation sinking in as she anxiously awaited Sam's arrival. The stranger's unsettling smile only added to her unease.

Bucky, undeterred by the stranger's indifference, continued, “I don't know what comic con convention you came from, but you need to come with us. I’d really rather arrest you without the whole… yanno, punching and shooting thing.”

The man laughed, before aiming a punch directly at Bucky, who braced himself for impact. Lochlyn’s heart sank as she watched as if in slow motion, the man’s powerful fist come within a half an inch of Bucky’s face before his hand hit dead air. The shockwave of the collision sent the man backwards, flying into a parked bakery truck. The pavement cracked from where he had been standing, due to the shock.

Bucky lowered his arms, looking around before looking back to Loch, who was staring down the spot where the man had been catapulted into a truck. Her eyes crackled with a toxic looking yellow light that flickered like what could only be described as the power of a hundred nuclear bombs.

Bucky began to push her back, shaking Loch by the shoulders. She blinked a few times, looking at Bucky in shock. She had a headache that pulsated at her temples and the fear but also pride in Bucky’s eyes told her something really bad just happened.

“Lochlyn. We need to get out of here… that was amazing, but we have to go find S-”

Bucky didn’t finish as a blur powered right into him, taking him off his feet and dragged him deep through the rubble of the road. All Loch had to do was blink, and Bucky was ten feet away from her, buried deep under rock as the stranger floated above him, dusting off his hands as if he had touched something foul.

There were hardly any people around now, but the sound of police cruisers could be heard approaching from the distance. Loch looked around for anyone. She had never seen someone take Bucky down like that. So… fast.

Lochlyn felt a surge of panic as she scanned the area for any signs of help. The stranger, seemingly unbothered by the approaching sirens, turned his attention to her. He slowly walked towards her, a look of amusement and twisted curiosity in his almost too perfect face His eyes glowed with an unsettling energy, and she could feel the weight of his gaze on her. As the anxiety built up inside her, she could feel the boiling energy tingling throughout her body.

"You're quite the anomaly, aren't you?" he remarked, his voice carrying an otherworldly echo. Lochlyn clenched her fists, readying herself for whatever might come next. He cocked his head again, and Loch saw it once more. That arrogant, pompous glint. He thought he was better. She could see it in him. He thought he was a God.

Before the stranger could make another move, a burst of wings announced the arrival of Sam, soaring down with Redwing by his side. He circled over the roof tops for a second before landing down with a puff of dust between them. Lochlyn's relief was palpable, but the stranger seemed unfazed, and that worried her. A super soldier couldn’t handle him… what if Sam couldn’t?

"Step away from her," Sam demanded, his wingspan expanding as if to shield Lochlyn from any potential threat. He held the iconic red white and blue shield on his arm as if challenging him.

The stranger chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down Lochlyn's spine. "Ah, the Falcon. How quaint. I thought they’d send someone a little more… relevant.”

“It’s Captain America to you, asshole. Why don’t you put it in park before anyone else gets hurt?”

The man boastfully laughed, throwing the deepest disrespect in every breath.

“You’re not Captain America. Captain America is dead. You’re just the diversity hire because the real Celebrity kicked the bucket.”

The sound of rubble being pushed over with a groan as Bucky pulled himself from under a rather large piece of concrete.

“You disrespectful bastard.”

Sam's eyes blazed with fury, and Lochlyn could feel the tension in the air. The stranger's words lingered like a bitter taste, but Sam didn't let it deter him. He stepped forward, shield raised high.

“I might not be Steve Rogers, but I damn well earned this shield. And I won’t let you disrespect everything he stood for.” Sam's voice carried a weight that echoed through the desolate street.

“Blah, blah, blah. Did you rehearse that? It sounds like you rehearsed. Anyways, you little people bore me.” He sighed. Loch watched it happen at the speed of light. The man’s eyes glowed a threatening red before two blazing hot beams of pure condensed light came flying at Sam took a knee and deflected it with his shield. It didn’t pierce it, but the beam ricocheted and hit a building, smashing several windows in the process. It left a deep black scorch mark across the vibrant paint. The man repeated, each time, the impact driving Sam further back. Loch could see him struggling, the sweat beading down his face. He was laughing Maniacally as police cars began to surround the area. Police in uniform aimed their firearms at him. He stopped laughing and threw a disgusted look at the authorities before leveling his gaze across the crowd.

Loch was paralyzed as she watched the blood and gore explode. Police officers were decapitated, and sliced in half with the force of pure heat. Blood sprayed, coating her face and hair. Sam and Bucky ducted for cover, screaming for Loch to snap out of it as she watched blindly as the carnage flood the streets with blood. The sirens faded in her ears as she felt her own blood pumping through her head, beating like violent drums.

“LOCHLYN! LOCHLYN, WE NEED TO FALL BACK! LOCH!” Bucky yelled at her, dragging the agent by her wrist. Her legs moved as if on auto pilot, but she couldn’t focus. Not on what Bucky was saying. Not on the screams, or the flying hands that hit the puddles of blood with sickening splashes. She could however, hear the sound of the man’s laughter as he slaughtered the police in droves like cattle.

When the screaming faded and Loch was finally able to hear Bucky through the pounding headache and echo of the laughter stuck in her head, she felt like a brick of lead was sitting in her stomach. Covered in blood, all she could smell was metal. It made her sick. The three of them clambered down an alleyway, collapsing against the wall. Bucky looked the worse for wear, with a huge gash across his cheek that was smearing blood across is face. That was nothing compared to the amount of gore Sam and Loch were covered in. Sam was trying to wipe his goggles off, but Loch just sat. Staring at the ground, the fresh memory of what just happened playing in front of her eyes like a cinematic movie.

“Jesus fucking Christ.” Bucky was the first one of the trio to say anything. Sam was shaking his head as if trying to convince himself that the events that had just transpired… hadn’t. Loch had no words. She still couldn’t get over what she had just seen.

“Lochlyn, you good?” Sam asked, looking over to see Loch in a state of mental paralysis. She shook her head, eyes wide as she stared at her feet. Lochlyn could feel only two things in that moment as the adrenaline of fear faded from her mind. Rage and shock.

“Sam… I don’t know if I can do this…” Loch said blatantly, blinking as she looked up and stared at both men who gazed at her with surprised looks. They knew better than anyone that Loch never threw the towel in on a mission.

“I just mean… I want to…” Lochlyn broke her gaze and stared back down at her feet, clenching her fist in anger. The hatred she felt spreading through her chest like a virus… she didn’t like this, “all those cops…” she released her fists and held her head as she felt an earth rattling headache coming on.

Even when Bucky dropped himself down next to her, groaning as he leaned into the wall, she didn’t look up. He tossed his arm around her shoulders, exhauster from being dragged through concrete. Pulling her close, he sighed, but kept his silence.

“I want to rip him apart…” Lochlyn whispered, barely loud enough for even Bucky to hear over the oncoming ambulance sirens. It only made the electricity in her brain spike out of control. Flashes of bodies played in her mind, each like a bomb going off in her brain.

“I know, kid. But you know that won’t solve anything. We need to bring him in. Play by the rules.”

“Come on guys, we should report back. I’ll call for a car to come get us.” Sam spoke up, now on his feet. His once blue and white uniform now crusted with drying blood.

***

Arriving back at the post office, the S.H.I.E.L.D agents were more than accommodating and understanding. When Agent Burrows came to pick them up from the alleyway, he was horrified. Loch was dead silent the whole ride. She couldn’t stop thinking about the North Guardian or whatever he called himself… That disgusting smile and the way he carried himself. Calling Bucky a mudman as if he was subhuman.

The car engine shuddered, making a dangerous sound, and Lochlyn caught herself; exhaling to relax. She leaned into Bucky who was in the back seat with her. His arm still draped around her as if it could shield her from all the horrible things racing through her mind. It didn’t work.

When she was debriefed back at Headquarters, Loch got the sense that her fellow agents were treading very lightly upon eggshells. Instead of asking her questions right away, like Bucky and Sam, they let her shower, get dressed in clean clothes, and tried to give her something to eat. She denied it, leaving the McDonalds burger on the table. She was so grateful when it was all over. She only lost her temper once, which did startle Agent Burrows, but he brushed it off with a nervous laugh and continued.

Bucky awaited her arrival outside the debriefing room. He was now cleaned up, a heavy hoodie over a pair of grey sweats. He had both his hands full with a Styrofoam cups of piping hot coffee. As soon as they saw each other, Bucky pushed off from the wall he was leaning on.

As Loch approached Bucky, her exhaustion evident in the lines on her face. The weight of recent events seemed to have settled on her shoulders, but there was a glimmer of gratitude in her eyes as she took one of the coffee cups from him.

"Thanks," she murmured, cradling the warm cup in her hands. The aroma of the coffee wafted through the air, a welcome comfort in the midst of chaos. She felt so empty inside, which was only amplified when she felt the hot liquid boil like lava as it trickled down her throat. She walked with the super soldier, neither of them saying much. Lochlyn was oh so grateful for that. She didn’t know what she was supposed to say. Loch half hoped she could just forget, but knew that was an impossibility.

Bucky and Loch were chaperoned back to their safe house, where the two agents were dropped off on the curbside. Loch sighed, her cup of coffee now two thirds empty. She wished for more coffee. Loch really didn’t know if she could continue this mission. Her heart ached as Bucky wrapped his arm around her and began to walk the silent agent towards the house.

Once inside, that musty, old mold smell almost snapped Lochlyn out of her trance.Bucky had wandered off to the kitchen to dispose of his now empty coffee cup. She looked around, and as if she was reliving the trauma right in the living room of the dilapidated safe house, she felt the tears swelling. This whole time, she had tried to keep a stone-cold face, showing very little emotion aside from shock. It was like a crack had formed in her façade. And like a dam; one crack spread like a web and soon, the floodgates were gushing.

Loch stood in the closed doorway, sniffling pathetically. Her shoulders shook but she was unable to prevent the onslaught of tears which fell down her face.

As if called by a dog whistle that only the Winter soldier could hear, Bucky came rushing into the living room. There was a look of calm concern across his face as he hurried to Loch’s side. The lights within the safe house seemed to faintly flicker as each tear hit the carpet with a muddled ‘thup’.

“W…why did… i… come?” she croaked, her voice breaking with every syllable. “I… I’m… n-not ready… for… this.”

The soldier gripped Loch tightly to him, and she found herself crying like a pathetic child into his chest. Her eyes leaving wet stains on the sweatshirt he wore. Bucky did not care in the slightest. He gently stroked the back of her head; as she wrapped her arms tightly around his torso. He was soft, and his body gave off a comforting warmth. His heart beat was slow and soothing, but her mind continued to race.

“I…I’m sorry…” Lochlyn sniffled, pulling away from Bucky in the hopes of sparing his sweater from any more snot and tears. Bucky sighed, but didn’t let go of his embrace.

“Don’t…” Bucky said, resting his chin on the top of her head, “You didn’t do anything wrong. Don’t go apologizing for shit you didn’t do.”

This only made Lochlyn cry harder. She didn’t know what she did to deserve such patience and sympathy from Bucky. She just squeezed her eyes shut, burying her face in his sweater, inhaling a deep, shaky breath. With his cool, smooth metal fingers, Bucky gently tugged at Lochlyn’s hand, lacing their fingers together as he held her waist.

“Just breathe, I’m here… this too will pass.” He muttered to her, planting an ever so delicate kiss to her temple. The ache in Loch’s chest slowly dulled, but did not go away.

Bucky continued to hold her, providing a sense of solace in the midst of the storm raging inside her. The rhythmic sound of his heartbeat against her ear started to synchronize with her breathing. Lochlyn clung to the warmth of his touch, feeling the reassurance that she wasn't alone in this darkness. They stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, an unspoken understanding passing between them. Bucky knew he couldn't erase the pain, but he could be a steady anchor in the turbulence. After a while, Loch dreaded letting go.

#bucky barnes fanfic #bucky barnes #old fanfiction #rewrite #short story #marvel fanfiction #marvel fanfic #tear jerker #sad #original character

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narutardad · 7 months

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Two

The next morning, Loch woke up to sunlight barely peeking through the curtains of her bedroom window. She groaned as her bedroom door was flung open, and a little girl with chestnut brown curl came running into the bedroom with a squeal disguised as a giggle. She was about eight years old, with blue eyes like a great ocean. Loch groaned loudly as the child clambered onto the twin bed and dumped her weight on Loch, who was trying to hide under her covers.

“Morgan... Morgan… uuugh, go bother mom. It’s so eeearly.”

“Lyn! Happy’s here! Uncle Happy came to visit! Get up! Get up already!” Morgan pulled at the blanket, exposing the rat’s nest of ginger hair that was Lochlyn.

“Morgan, stop… What are you talking about? Happy is in…” Lochlyn sat up, trying to shove her younger sister off her chest as she yawned widely, “…Happy is supposed to be in Queens, with Peter… yanno… he’s dating his aunt or somethin’…”

“Noo! He’s here! He’s here! And he’s with one of daddy’s work friends.” Morgan pulled the blankets back wall the way before sliding off the bed and running out the door giggling, “Happy’s here!”

Loch took her time getting dressed and brushing the knots out of her hair. She could hear her mother and Morgan in the kitchen and the voices of two men, Happy and Sam. She wiped the sleep from her eyes with a warm wash cloth before pulling on a pair of denim overalls and an orange long sleeved shirt. She pulled on her lace-less converse over her mixed and matched socks before exiting her room and closing the bedroom door behind her to prevent Morgan and her sticky fingers from playing with Lochlyn’s action figurines.

Wandering into the kitchen, she was met with a plate of eggs and sausage with one thick Texas slice of toast, slathered in butter. A cup of black coffee accompanied it. Loch smiled tiredly at the two men. Happy sat backwards on a chair, resting his arms on the back of the chair. Sam stood, full flagged uniform to the doorway of the house. Loch’s mother, Pepper was pouring a bowl of cereal for Morgan, who happily sipped on a box of orange juice.

“Morning…” Loch mumbled as she stabbed her fork into the runny egg yolk and dipped a corner of her toast in it.

“Good morning, Loch.” Happy said in his rough but cheerful voice. Sam nodded his acknowledgement, but remained silent.

Loch took a moment to appreciate the familiar comfort of the scene before her. The clinking of cutlery, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, and the subtle sounds of morning chatter created a cozy atmosphere. Happy's infectious cheerfulness, Sam's stoic presence, and her mother's nurturing demeanor blended together seamlessly. It was almost as if Sam didn’t have a bombshell to drop in a few minutes time.

Pepper looked up from her task and smiled at Loch. "Sleep well, sweetheart?", there was something in her voice that just didn’t sound right. Loch shrugged lazily in response… Last night she had spent the better half of an hour chewing off Bucky’s ear for dropping Loch off five minutes past ten thirty. And then she finished that hour on the porch (as to not wake Morgan), lecturing Loch about being responsible. ‘Just because you’re an Avenger now, doesn’t mean you’re an adult. You live under my roof; you live by my rules.’ Loch could feel her words smashing around the inside of her brain like an infinite rubber ball that was stuck in perpetual motion.

“I hope you’re well rested because you and I have a plane to catch.” Happy smiled and jabbed his thumb back towards Sam, “And him and you b-”

Loch and Sam shook their heads aggressively while pepper had her attention drawn away. Happy rethought his statement and continued.

“Sam and Barnes are tagging along too. Apparently, there’s been a disturbance up where our northern neighbors reside... The CIC wants S.H.I.E.L.D to look into it. Something about… a dude picking fights with civilians.”

“Can’t the RCMP handle that? I mean, that’s like the Canadian version of a state trooper, right? If a dude is just tussling with civilians, does it really call for the Avengers?” Loch said through a mouthful of sausage. She raised the mug of coffee to her lips, the bitter scent nearly causing her nose to wrinkle.

“We think this guy might be… a little more than the Canadian’s can handle. Afterall, we are Earth’s mightiest heroes, not America’s. Plus, it’s a political thing. We save their asses a few times, they give us a few extra gallons of oil. It’s a win, win relationship.” Sam said in his always so comedic tone.

Loch chuckled, setting her mug down and wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Ah, the geopolitics of superheroism. Who would've thought? So, we're off to play peacemakers in the Great White North. What's the plan?"

Sam, looking contemplative, leaned back against the wall "First, we'll need to assess the situation. If it's just a rogue metahuman causing trouble, we might be able to handle it without much fuss. But if there's something more sinister at play, we'll have to be cautious."

“Metahuman? Is that what we’re called now? Sounds… fancy.” Loch rolled her eyes and shoveled another forkful of eggs into her mouth. She looked at her plate, absentmindedly wondering if Bucky was even going to eat breakfast today…

“It’s what the government wants us to call them. ‘Mutant’ seems to scare people, so for now, you’re a ‘metahuman’.” Happy tried to sympathize as Pepper slid a mug of coffee in front of him. He nodded his thanks.

“So? I guess you’re here to kidnap me for this mission. Do I even have time to pack?”

“Everything has been provided. You will be staying in separate safe house, so you don’t catch much attention. The Canadian government might want our help, but they don’t want to make people panic. Which means-”

“Absolutely no powers unless completely necessary. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The same fucking speech-”

Pepper shot her daughter a nasty look when the cuss word came from her and Loch winced.

“Sorry… But yeah, I get it… No powers.” She mumbled, finishing up her plate. There was an awkward silence. Sam clapped his hands, making everyone jump.

“So, it’s settled. We leave as soon as you’re done.”

“Well… hold on. Let her actually get ready.” Happy interjected, trying to give Loch some time to gather herself. She appreciated it greatly since she needed to use the bathroom anyways. Loch got up from her seat and carried her plate and mug of finished coffee to the sink. She leaned over to her mother, who was already filling the sink with soap and water.

“Mum? Could you… make me a to-go burrito? Eggs and sausage? Please?” she asked gently, hoping her mother wasn’t still mad about her dropping the F bomb in front of her little sister. Pepper stopped what she was doing and leaned against the sink, staring her daughter up and down.

“Mhm? Really?”

Loch’s stomach dropped as her mother smiled, and crossed her arms.

“And lemme guess? You’re gonna give it to that… guy, right?”

“Mom, stop. He’s a teammate. We gotta look out for each other, you know?” Lochlyn shrugged, trying to play it off. Pepper wasn’t biting. She adjusted her posture, and Loch felt her grip on the conversation slipping.

“He’s a 104 year old man. You are a 25 year old-”

“Is this because of dad? You don’t like him because of… some stupid thing that happened years ago? Really?”

“Tony would not have approved of this and you know it, Lochlyn. That man murdered your grandparents. How can you feel anything for him?”

Loch looked at her mother with a tight, form stare. She couldn’t believe this. She knew that Pepper disapproved of Bucky, but to bring up her father to justify her own bias… it infuriated her.

“You know what mom? Forget it.” She hissed before turning her back and walking away. A pit of guilt and anger in her stomach swirling like snakes. She stomped her way right into the bathroom to do her business.

After a good seven and a half minutes, she exited the bathroom. Sam had vacated the kitchen and Happy was talking quietly to Pepper. Morgan was contently eating her cereal as Loch walked around the table and towards the door. As she did, she kissed Morgan on the top of her head, bidding her goodbye and promising to bring her back a moose. She giggled with delight.

As Loch grasped the doorhandle to step onto the porch, Happy quickly shuffled over to the door, stopping her.

“Look kid… you don’t wanna leave on a note like that. Trust me… go make good with your mom.” He sighed, patting her on the shoulder as he exited the house. Loch stared at the door for a second before sighing and turning back. She walked over to her mom.

“Sorry mom. I didn’t mean to like… be a bitch before. I get it… Dad and Bucky have beef… I’m so-”

Loch stopped mid-sentence when Pepper handed her a tinfoil wrapped to go burrito. It was warm, and pretty decently sized. She looked down at the food before turning her gaze back to her mother. Pepper was smiling, but it was more of a ‘Just take it’ smile. Loch took it and smiled before giving her a big hug.

“Just be safe, okay? Call me when you guys’ land in Canada.” Pepper sighed and Loch promised. She then turned on her heels and happily skipped out the door, ready for the trip. Outside the modest lakeside house, was a sleek black car. Happy stood by the back seat door, holding it open. Sam was waiting by the driver’s door. Loch didn’t want to make them wait any longer so she hurried to the door.

“Thanks… sorry about that.”

“Don’t worry. Just get in.” Happy smiled, and Loch did as she was told.

Slipping into the back seat, it wasn’t hard to address the elephant in the room. The snoring elephant… Bucky was passed out in the seat next to her, his face squashed up against an airplane pillow he was resting against the window. Happy shut the door behind her and Loch smiled, admiring how… peaceful Bucky’s face looked when he was sleeping.

“He’s been out like that since we hit the countryside.” Sam said as he slipped into the driver’s seat and slammed the door. The loud sound, accompanied by the shaking of the car seemed to jolt Bucky awake. His eyes shot open and he looked around fast like a deer observing it’s surroundings. When he realized he was safe, his eyelids dropped and he yawned, resting his head back against the pillow, but not before mumbling a ‘goodmorning, Loch…’ under his breath.

She couldn’t help but chuckle at Bucky’s drowsy greeting. She reached over to pull his t-shirt down over his side, as it had hiked up on him during his slumber.

"Good morning, Bucky. You sleep through earthquakes too, or just road trips?”

Bucky smirked, his eyes still half-closed. He inhaled heavily before nuzzling his face into the pillow. "Depends on who's driving."

The car hummed to life, and Sam pulled out onto the road. Loch glanced out the window, watching the scenery pass by in a blur. “So, what's the deal with this Canadian troublemaker anyway?"

“Calls himself… Jack Scratch… or… The Guiding Star. Came out of nowhere, started taking down criminals up in Ontario.” Happy sighed, handing over a file to Loch, who rested it in her lap and began to comb through it.

“Okay, so? A Canadian superhero? What’s the problem?”

“He’s not just taking down criminals. Two weeks ago, he lasered an entire family in half.”

Loch almost choked on her own spit as she looked up fast. What the hell did Happy just say?

“He’s… what? He lasered a family? Like… Like superman?”

"Yeah, like Superman, but without the moral compass.” Happy sighed, “We’re not even sure if he has any powers or if it's some advanced tech. But we do know one thing - he's dangerous. We need to either talk to him, or take him in… And from his recent… escapades it seems like he isn’t one for civil conversation.”

Loch stayed silent, gazing through the file. The file photos were of a tall, fit man with blue eyes and blonde hair. He reminded Loch of Steve Rogers but… there was something wrong. In his eyes. In the way he smiled. Like it wasn’t genuine.

The trip back to the Avengers compound was short, but so was the time they had before they got on the Quinjet. Loch, Bucky and Sam were all ushered into the jet alongside two standard field agents who were standing by as security. Loch watched as the ground slowly drifted away the higher, they got. The hum of the engines dulled to a light buzz as Loch’s mind was overthrown by the possibilities of what awaited them in Canada. She admitted, Loch was nervous. Most of the missions she was sent on were basic search and rescue. Maybe a few take downs of a group called The Flag Smashers, but aside from that, it was standard work. This was Lochlyn’s first actual mission dealing with… well… super villains.

As they settled into their seats, Bucky leaned over to her. He held the half-unwrapped breakfast burrito in his hand, some egg stuck to his face. "Don't worry too much, Loch. We've got your back. And if things get hairy, just remember, you're with the Avengers. We handle punks like these like it's Tuesday brunch."

The man took another large bite of his burrito. He seemed to be enjoying it immensely before continuing,

“And don’t worry about that ‘no powers’ shit. You are our greatest asset. It’s the whole reason Fury allowed you to come on this mission to begin with. He thinks your…” Bucky wiggled his fingers around foolishly, “magic finger shit will come in handy.”

Loch smiled, rolling her eyes. Bucky always treated her abilities like some kind of parlor trick. Even Loch didn’t understand her own powers. Things got… weird when she was angry or upset. Things happened. Sometimes, her dreams felt so real that she would have physical memoirs of what happened in her mind. S.H.I.E.L.D always feared the capabilities of this. They always made sure Lochlyn never used her abilities because they didn’t understand them. The closest thing they had to compare was Wanda Maximoff but… she was… well.

“Cheer up, Loch.” Bucky tried again, elbowing Lochlyn in the arm gently.

“Oh stop, I’m not scared.” She smiled and laughed. “I’m just thinking about the best way to kick this guy’s ass. What he did was fucked up. I can’t believe he actually… a whole family? For what? What did they do? What kind of fucking superhero does that?”

Loch found herself raising her voice, feeling the full force of her emotions come out. Hot, boiling anger coursed through her veins as she tried to rationalize what was going on. She studied psychology and she just didn’t get it.

“Does it matter why he does it?” Sam spoke up, leaning back.

“Yes! It does, Sam. I don’t think you quite understand how much it matters.” Loch barked at him. At the same time, they all braced themselves as the plane rattled violently in the air before returning to a normal turbulence. Both Sam and Bucky looked at Lochlyn with disapproving and disappointed glares.

“What? What are you looking at me for? You’re the one asking stupid questions, Captain America.” Loch mocked Sam, pouting in her seat with her arms and legs crossed defensively.

“You need to relax.” Bucky spoke up, his voice firm and dangerous. Loch felt her chest ache for a moment as an icy dagger formed in her throat and plunged into her stomach at the severity in his tone. Usually, Bucky spoke so softly to her. He’d never even raised his voice at her once… but he did this time. She sighed, uncrossing her arms and legs and hung her head in shame.

“I’m sorry… You’re both right. It won’t happen again.”

The rest of the ride was silent. Lochlyn wished it wasn’t, so she didn’t have to sit there and be left with her thoughts. She was worried that if she tried to make conversation… that they would just shut her down. Was Bucky actually angry with her? He’d been angry with her in the past, but not for things like this. Petty arguments that held no actual merit. No matter how much Loch tried to convince herself, it wasn’t about the argument.

The plane… shaking. That was her. She had let her anger get the best of her. But why was Sam so stupid sometimes? That ‘shoot first ask questions later’ mentality was sickening to Loch. She knew he wasn’t like this all the time, but she didn’t know why he couldn’t see it this time? ‘Why is it important why they do it?” What a silly question. Even guys who… laser entire families have to have a reason for why they do it… right? Even psychopaths have a reason…

Lochlyn was so relieved when Bucky nudged her in the shoulder. It was being pulled out of the depths of despair. She looked over at him, almost worried to see disappointment in his eyes. But she was wrong. He held out his hand, and in his palm, were several small plastic wrapped candies. They were an assortment of colors from red to yellow to bright green, and the packaging was clear and twisted on each end.

“What is it?” Loch inquired, posing a finger to pick one.

“Just try it.” He said, but his voice was calm and kind. Loch picked a yellow one and untwisted the wrapper before popping the little circular candy in her mouth. Bucky chose a red one for himself, and offered one to Sam, who took his chances with an orange.

“So? You just carry candy around now? Is that your thing?” Sam asked, obviously poking fun at the man for carrying a handful of what Loch discovered to be sour candy. Sam’s reaction was just as immediate. Her lips puckered and so did Sam’s. Both of them wincing at the intensity of the citric acid that coated the candy. Lochlyn regretted choosing her favorite color, as it was obviously lemon.

Bucky however was as stoic as ever, staring at Sam with a slowly growing smile as he watched his friend suffer. He had chosen a red candy, which Loch would assume was cherry. It didn’t seem to bother the super soldier, but Loch didn’t really expect any less from him. Loch could have sworn he saw the man’s shoulders shrug as if he was suppressing a laugh as Sam tried to stick it out, but his eyes were watering like faucets.

“You…. Dick.” Sam managed to say through a clenched jaw.

#Bucky barnes fanfiction #marvel fanfic #bucky barnes #fanfiction #short story #oc #original character #old fanfic #rewrite

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narutardad · 7 months

Text

One

(This is just a rewrite of an old fanfiction I wrote for Marvel back in 2016 so I'm refurbishing it.)

The deafening sound of the Quinjet drowned out the sound of the blood rushing in Loch’s ears as she helped her fellow Avenger into the back of the aircraft. Both her and Peter were covered in dirt and ash, but both of them had smiles plastered across their exhausted faces. A hoard of S.H.I.E.L.D agents piled in behind them, several of them holding the target of their mission by her arms. Loch felt pity for her as they sat the young woman down. Her eyes full of hatred but also a glimmer of defeat.

The mission was an in and out capture. Under the orders of Sam Wilson, Loch and Peter were sent out to a safe house for an organization called The Rat Kings. The mission was almost a bust when they found out the targets were tipped off that they were coming. They were surprised to find one of the members of the Rat Kings still there, trying to defend the hoard of stolen weapons hidden within the building.

Loch didn’t sit down as the aircraft took off. Instead, she wandered to the cockpit, collapsing into the co-pilot’s chair next to a woman with tight features and a sleek bun. Agent Moras. A bright pilot with S.H.I.E.L.D.

“How’d it go?” she asked and Loch smiled, kicking her feat up on the dash.

“Buuuummer. Only caught one of them. Pretty sure someone saw the quinjets crossing the border. Probably why they scattered.”

The quinjet began to soar across the sky, the stealth panels reflecting the clouds above them, rendering them nearly impossible to see. Loch leaned his seat back, and pulled out his phone. As they passed over restricted airspace, the signal blipped in and out occasionally but once they were back in Manhattan, he could confidently text with two bars of data.

LS: Target acquired. ETA 15 minutes. I’d like a bean burrito when we land, thx.

He watched as the send symbol became a delivered symbol and then a read symbol. Three dots appeared at the top of the messenger as the recipient began to write back. He watched patiently, half heartedly listening to his mission partner talk.

“Look, I’m really sorry about… you know… dropping that building on you. It was an accident if I’m being honest-” Peter attempted to make amends with the cuffed criminal, who ignored his every word.

OM: No bean burritos. Make sure you and Parker report to Sam when you land.

LS: Oh come on. It’s been a long day. I’ll come over to your shithole and do your laundry for you.

OM: …

OM: I can do my own laundry, kid.

LS: And I’ll make sure to fold your socks.

OM: …

OM: What do you want on it?

Loch smiled and punched in her order before resting her eyes for the remainder of the flight. The hum of the jet lulled her mind to sleep as she listened to Peter babble on in the back.

***

“So? Bucky, watcha do today?” Loch asked as she stuffed her face full of bean burrito, walking alongside a tall man with dark hair and soft, wise eyes. He had a coy smile on his dace as they walked out of the courtyard and into the parking lot of the Avengers Compound. He wore a long sleeve shirt under a t-shirt, and a pair of biker gloves on his hands.

“Same shit, different day. Paper work, meetings… Sam had a press conference with the GRC. That was fun to go to I suppose.”

“Hmph… boring.” Loch sighed, handing his Burrito in the man’s direction. Bucky sighed and hesitated, before he accepted the gesture and took a bite of the burrito. He chewed meticulously before mumbling through his mouthful of tortilla and beans.

“This is awful. How do you eat this garbage?”

Loch chuckled, unfazed by Bucky's comment. "Well, not everyone has a refined palate like you, Mr. Barnes. Some of us appreciate the simple joys of a bean burrito." She held the half-eaten Mexican cuisine in front of her like a piece of prized art, and took another bite of her burrito, savoring the flavors. Bucky shot her a slightly disgusted look but sighed as he pulled open the passenger door to the small car in the parking lot.

Just as Loch was poising herself to get into the seat, a fellow agent came casually jogging up to the car. A familiar face to the two of them, Sam was a sight for sore eyes for Loch.

“And there’s the Star Spangled Tweety Bird. How was CNN?” Loch smiled, pausing to lean against the roof of the car. Bucky leaned against the trunk as Sam approached.

“Whoa, it’s Captain America now, kid… I was just coming over here to see where the hell you think you two are going?”

“Home.” Lochlyn spoke, taking another huge bite of her burrito. Sam disregarded her response as if it was inheritably unreliable. Bucky grinned coyly, and shrugged at Sam.

“You heard her. Home.”

Sam looked at the two of them, arms crossed. There was an inkling of understanding in his expression but ninety percent of his expression seemed to be disapproval.

“Bucky, we talked about this.” Sam said sternly, trying to keep the thin smile off his lips.

“Talked about what, Sam?” Bucky’s grin widened as he sauntered around the car to the driver’s seat and pulled open the door with an air of swagger to him. Loch slipped into her seat and closed the door, but rolled down the window to look up at her boss. Sam turned his gaze of disapproval from Bucky to Lochlyn, who gave him a mischievous but careless look.

“Your mother is going to ring my neck if you play hooky tonight. You know how upset she was about your little field trip to Wakanda with this idiot.” He waved towards Bucky.

“Oh relax, Sam. I’m just gonna help this hopeless case clean up his dumpster of an apartment. Last time I was over there to clean, he had socks growing mold behind the dresser.”

“Did not, shut up.” Bucky barked in annoyance. Sam sighed, crossing his arms before gazing them both up and down and nodded.

“Okay. Fine. But… you better have her home tonight before midnight. I don’t want to be the one to hear Pepper barking up my tree.”

“Yeah, yeah, no problem, Cap. Go find another camera to pose stoically in front of, okay? Have a little faith.” Bucky chuckled and slipped into the vehicle, closing the door behind him. He turned the keys in the ignition and the radio player blared Sweet Child o’ Mine by Guns ’N’ Roses. Loch rolled up her window as she and Bucky smiled childishly at Sam before pulling out of the parking space and circling the lot. They headed for the exit as Sam became a speck in the distance.

“Sam is such a worrywart, hm?” Loch laughed, taking the last few bites of his burrito and relaxed into her seat. Bucky kept his eyes focused on the road ahead of him, slowing to a stop at the main road street light. He smiled to himself, resting his left hand on the steering wheel, and reaching into the back seat with his right arm. He pulled a luke-warm can of orange soda from an unzipped cooler. Loch smiled and just as Bucky had retrieved it, he tried to snatch it from the man’s hand, but his grip was like iron.

“Nice try, Loch.” He jerked his hand from Lochlyn’s grip and popped the tab with a skillful finger. He gave Loch a side glance as Bucky took a long drink and the street light turned green. As the car was set back into motion, he held the can out to her, and Loch took it graciously.

“You know… You never told me how you got that fancy toy you call an arm.” She asked with a lazy smirk, sipping obnoxiously from the can.

“Not exactly a campfire story I’m interested in telling.” Bucky chided, resting his hand across the consol. Loch felt a heat envelope her entire body, igniting from where Bucky’s hand touched her thigh. His tough, leather clad fingers grasping at the inside of her thigh.

Lochlyn chuckled, the tension between them now palpable in the confined space of the car. She took another sip of the orange soda, deliberately letting the cool liquid distract her from the heat spreading through her body.

The rest of the long car ride was spent listening to the radio, Bucky drumming his fingers on both the steering wheel and the inside of her thigh. Loch could feel the lump in her throat, and desperately tried to keep the goofy smile off her face.

Two years ago, Loch was just that… kid that followed the Avengers around because her father was a Legend. She always admired them from a distance, keeping herself out of their way. Sometimes, she wondered how the hell she managed to catch Bucky’s interest. After all… her family and Bucky didn’t have a positive track record.

It started with teasing. Just harmless, playful bullying where Bucky would quite literally flatten Loch in every ring match. And he didn’t hold back… neither did Lochlyn. Perhaps that kindled a gentle ember in the fire between them. Loch knew they really shouldn’t. Her mother really didn’t approve of all the time Loch was spending outside the campus with Bucky…

As the small, dingy ford focus pulled up to the large apartment building on Redline Parkway. The bricks were faded and the eves troughs looked old and falling apart. Several windows were broken and a large grey tabby cat with a chink taken out of its ear, sat like a guardian upon the steps. Both agents stepped out of the car, slamming their respective doors.

“God, this place looks more like a dump every day.” Loch wrinkled her nose. Bucky didn’t reply, wrapping a strong arm around her shoulders as they strode up the steps and into the main lobby. The inside was no better than the exterior. A baby could be heard wailing behind one of the many main floor units. Bucky led Loch up the stairs, as he had many times before.

The grey patterned carpets smelled of mildew and the wood underneath seemed to wreak of rot and decay. The paint on the walls was yellowed beyond recognition. Even the delicate flower imprints seemed to be basically non existent.

Bucky unlocked the door of his poorly lit apartment, shoving his whole weight into the door as it gave inwards and they stepped inside. Loch closed the door behind them as Bucky tore off his biker gloves and wandered over to is fridge, throwing it open. Bottles of beer and soda jangled in the door rack and the foul smell of rotting veggies wafted from the bottom shelf. Bucky slammed it shut and grimaced.

“You want… Chinese food tonight?” Bucky asked as he combed through his bare cupboards. Loch was taking off her shoes as she shrugged and replied casually.

“Meh, whatever you want. If you do get Chinese, I want some of those beansprout eggrolls… please and thank you.”

Loch began cleaning almost as soon as she was comfortably at home. Holding a laundry basket, she scowered Bucky’s tiny apartment and picked up every sock and pair of briefs that dared to hid behind or under furniture (which there wasn’t much of). Of course, Bucky helped some. Washing his own dishes which had been piling up on the counter for two weeks. He wasn’t lazy, and he wasn’t a slob. Bucky just had… well… Loch would describe it as depression. He really had no motivation. Loch felt really bad for him. He’d been through more than most people could even possibly imagine, so Lochlyn felt like he had the right to feel depressed.

As the evening drew on, the apartment started to look… habitable. The handful of plates, bowls and silverware that Bucky owned were drip drying in the dish rack while he swept the kitchen floor. Lochlyn was standing over the sink with a disposable water bottle filled with laundry detergent mixed with softener. Loch mindlessly scrubbed away at a crunchy coffee stain that had been soaking into Bucky’s table cloth for a few days now. A small stereo system was playing Mr. Five by Five by Ella Mae Morris from Loch’s Spotify. All was calm. Just how she liked it.

A knock on the apartment front door surprised the two, and Bucky set aside his broom to check who it was. Loch watched as he pressed his face up against the door to look through the peephole. He sighed, shooting Loch a look that clearly said “party’s over” and she groaned. Bucky unlatched the deadbolt and turned the lock to open the door. A familiar face stepped across the threshold with his hands in his pockets and a tired smile on his face.

“Good evening you two.” Rhodie said as Bucky closed the door behind him. Loch waved a soap sodden hand at the Lieutenant colonel, as if perhaps ignoring his presence would make him disappear.

“Rhodes.” Bucky said, returning to his broom.

“A nice little system you two got going on, I see.” Rhodie chided, his ears perking at the music playing, “Is that… Ella Mae?”

Both Bucky and Loch looked up, ready to defend Miss Ella Mae Morris, staring at him and replying in sync,

“I like Ella Mae Morris.”

Rhodie held up his hands in defense with a chuckle.

“Alright, alright. Regardless, your mom sent me to come get you.”

Lock sighed and looked over at the digital clock on the stove top. It was only nine thirty.

“If she wants me, she can come get me. It’s not even late yet.” She said shortly, ringing the water out of the table cloth in the sink as the soapy water drained down the pipes with a slushy gurgling sound.

“Lochlyn, we already know if she came to get you, it would be a whole lot less pleasant. Just come on home. Don’t make me bribe you.”

Loch’s face split into a smile as she dried her hands off on her jeans and then laced her fingers together sophisticatedly.

“Uncle Rhodie, just a little longer? I PROMISE I’ll be home by ten thirty.”

“Nope. Listen, I don’t want Pepper breathing down my neck because I let you stay.”

Lochlyn wrinkled her nose in distain, not really wanting Rhodie to be the center of her mother’s tongue lashing. But she also didn’t feel like going home. She liked it here. Even if it meant sleeping on the floor because Bucky didn’t own a mattress.

To Lochlyn’s relief, she wasn’t alone in her debate with Rhodie. Bucky sighed, as he leaned on the broom handle.

“Look, Rhodes. You go home, and I’ll take the heat from Pepper, hm?” he said slyly, taking short strides as he held out his hand to Rhodie as a deal. The Colonel made a face as if he was debating within himself.

“What do I tell her? She won’t just take ‘Loch said no’ as an answer.”

With a smile, Bucky looked over at Loch and then back at Rhodie.

“Tell her I’m holding Loch hostage because I need my socks washed. That oughta piss her off, right?”

#Bucky Barnes fanfic #marvel fanfic #shortstory #chapter one #child of stark #old fanfiction #rewrite #fanfiction rewrite

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