THE FADING FALLEN ● Bucky Barnes X OC ● 18+ ● ENGLISH [COMPLETE]

Chapter 43

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Back at the safe house, Zemo tried to numb the pain with whiskey while lying on the couch.

The punch to the head just shortly before was some satisfaction to Emilia, whose own was humming no less.

"Ouch!"

"Keep still!"

Bucky was currently dressing the small wound with a band-aid after Emilia reluctantly let him clean and disinfect it. She sat with her arms folded on the edge of the gilded bathtub while he settled on one knee close in front of her.

Concentrating, he placed the adhesive strips just below her hairline, covering the narrow cut.

She couldn't manage to focus on anything but his nearness and the irresistible smell.

Involuntarily, she had the images from Madripoor in her mind's eye - and with them the ecstatic high that Bucky ignited when he joined her in the shower.

His gentle fingers didn't make it any easier for her.

Emilia was still a little surprised at his sudden confident demeanor. There had to be a reason why he regained a bit of his self-confidence in the last few months, and she speculated on who or what it could be.

The thought that someone else was responsible for it caused a slight pain in her chest. Only too gladly would she have shared in his change. But since it was she herself who eluded him, she now had to live with the consequences.

"I could have done this on my own."

From Bucky's mouth escaped a rather unwilling agreement, followed by an audible reproach: "Yeah, sure... How do you always get yourself into situations like this?"

"How do I get myself...?!" she asked in a huff, wriggling out from under his fingers. "Do you think I'm just waiting to be whirled around like a football?!"

"I told you to keep still, Carson!"

Impatiently, Bucky snapped at her. It made him downright nervous that she was frowning so upsetly, risking the narrow wound closure strips coming loose. He could tell from her expression that his rebuke was hurting her. After all, she really didn't want to be slammed against a wall.

Sighing, he lowered his head briefly before going back to applying the protective band-aid.

"Of course, I don't think that's what you wanted. But you have to admit that it's strange how often you find yourself in such places. Especially when you come up with some stupid idea again."

He could just catch the mimicking grimace on Emilia's face, which showed a mixture of insight and annoyance. She had to agree that Bucky was right - at least as far as the past goes.

On the one hand glad that Emilia was acting like her old self, her petulant nature bugged him, though.

"A 'thank you' will do just fine."

The stubborn expression didn't really match the honest tone of her rather quiet voice.

"Thank you, Sergeant."

For a moment longer he remained kneeling in front of her while they just looked at each other. With his right hand, he softly stroked the partly still bloodstained strand of hair behind her ear. His touch triggered this desire in Emilia.

A desire, which she forbade herself to fulfill. Never again.

Slightly nervous, she broke away from him and stood up: "I'm going to get myself an ice pack."