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

Chapter 66

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Ridgewood/New York, November

For almost two months now, they were back in the States.

Emilia finally left the bad memories and events behind in Madripoor. Also the dreams and constant fear. The danger of being lured into another trap over there was far greater than in the streets of New York.

Here, Bucky could also relax more and didn't have to worry that one of Velvet's old enemies was out to get Emilia. He could put his feet up for a bit and enjoying the time he spent with her. At least until Captain America asked him for help.

While he stood by Sam and supported him during his missions, Emilia thought of what she could do that would be useful.

Still, she wanted to help in some way. Her idea was to found an organization that would protect people in need and the nature. And even though her reputation here was not bad, she would have a lot to do with the upcoming paperwork.

"First of all, I still need to find a buyer for the warehouse and property. Then I'll go from there."

Sitting cross-legged, Emilia weighed something briefly with narrowed eyebrows, then placed two of her playing cards face-down on the pastel colored rug and took two new ones from the deck.

"What about the guy Sam was talking about?"

Bucky sat across from her. With his vibranium hand propped on the soft fabric, he looked from the deck resting in his other hand on his bent knee to Emilia.

"The politician? Hmm... I'm not quite comfortable with those fellas."

"I don't think he would have told you if he didn't trust him. After all, he seems as interested in his environment as you are."

Without lifting her head, she looked at him somewhat skeptically: "I know that. But I will see for myself what he's like firsthand."

Not a second later, the corner of her mouth twitched up suspiciously. Slowly, and without taking her eyes off Bucky, Emilia placed her hand visibly in front of her.

"Full house."

He looked at the pair of eights and the three jacks in front of her bare legs. Playfully resigned, Bucky hung his head and grinned at her briefly.

"What'll it be this time, Ms. Carson?"

She pursed her lips peckishly as he put down his cards and waited for an answer. There wasn't much more he could spare.

"Umm... Shirt."

Knowing that the next round would decide which of them would be the first to sit naked in front of the other and what would inevitably follow, Bucky purposely slowly pulled the dark blue fabric over his head.

Emilia watched his every move very close as she grew warmer and warmer under her own shirt.

"Happy?"

After sitting in front of her covered only by his light gray sweatpants, he gathered the playing cards and began to shuffle them. Emilia leaned back against the couch, slightly triumphant. Raising the nearly empty wine glass to her full lips, her eyes fastened over the rim on his hands.

"I think we'll see in a minute, Sergeant."

Bucky could literally read in her impatient gaze how the gleam of gold in it rivaled that of the vibranium as he dealt the cards.

Silently, they picked up their decks. For a short while, all that could be heard was the soft music blasting from the speaker of Bucky's old record player.