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

Chapter 51

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Noon was long gone and they had finished everything.

On the nearly one-hour way back, they were passing through the village of St. Bernard when hunger made itself known to them.

In a small café, not recognizable from the outside at first glance, they treated themselves to a big lunch. Bucky gleefully devoured his burger with extra bacon and fries, while Emilia chose the delicious club sandwich. She had it the first time she discovered the café shortly after arriving at Delacroix.

For dessert, she had a small piece of house-made banana cake with her coffee while looking out the window where they were sitting.

From the more than happy expression on her face, Bucky could see with satisfaction how good it seemed to taste. He took a sip of his black coffee and had to smile involuntarily, while Emilia licked a cake crumb from her lip with her tongue.

That he had played his part in the joyful grin on it, he was unaware.

"Do they actually know about this?"

Without looking up, she answered him: "No."

Coming out of the bank with a rather crestfallen look on her face, Bucky just wouldn't give her a break. Not until she told him what was making her so sad.

He didn't want to see her like that and tried to cheer her up with some more or less funny observations he had made in front of the building.

That he unconsciously reached for her hand while telling her stories as they walked back down the streets to the car surprised Emilia at first. Until, only a fraction of a second later, she closed her fingers tightly with his in a matter of course.

The serious subject, which seemed to give him no peace, overshadowed her carefree mood a little.

"And I want to keep it that way."

"But why? There's nothing wrong with it."

As much as she had enjoyed their last few untroubled hours together, his stubborn persistence was driving her almost crazy. He just wouldn't let up.

Emilia sighed heavily.

"I've been lucky enough never to have to worry about financial matters. People here have been through a lot, and they've lost a lot, too. Not just their belongings. Or people they loved. Due to what the state and politics have failed to achieve in the last centuries, and due to several natural disasters, these folks would have every right to go through life with their heads hanging down."

She told of slavery, which was abolished with official termination in the 19th century in New Orleans, but still had its consequences today.

Natural disasters like the revered Hurricane Katrina in 2005 still reverberate today for people all along the East Coast.

"They rebuilt everything with their own hands and are proud of what they accomplished. Even though so many obstacles were put in their way. I don't want Sarah or Sam to think I'm just giving alms."

"I don't know Sarah well enough yet, but surely she wouldn't think that of you."

He set his empty cup down on the table.

"Let's just leave it that way, Bucky. I'm just trying to do some good with this, okay? After everything I've already done to too many people, this is the way to at least make some amends."

'Make amends...'

This word in conjunction with what she said suddenly made him think of Nakajima. All at once, the mood seemed to tilt.