𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 ➳ 𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬

3├𝚃𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝙵𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊𝚗 𝙰𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚠; 𝙵𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚝 𝙵𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚊 𝙱𝚊𝚗𝚊𝚗𝚊

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𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 couldn't really help but look at her. The way her long hair fell down her back as she eloquently spoke with a proud smile on her lips. He didn't understand how she was able to capture a room so easily, so good at drawing in the attention of people. He was the opposite, already trying to get rid of it.

"So, as I'm still new myself I hope you will take as kindly to James as you did to me. Treat The White Wolf as well as you have The Songbird. As for questions, I hope you will understand why myself and Steve will be helping James out if he falls short on some answers. Becoming a member can be difficult — I know it was for me when I joined!" Cadence effortlessly laughed

He had been watching her and he found himself unable to really stop. She sat down from where she had been introducing all of them — next to him — still smiling so brightly. Effortless. All of it seemed effortless to her. He couldn't understand it. How she could even do it, much less how she made it look so easy. He wished it was him. Steve nudged his elbow, bringing his attention to the question.

"Yes. Hello, Mr Barnes, I was wondering how you're approaching your past with Hydra?"

His eyebrows furrowed. "Uh... trying to forget about it mostly."

A few people laughed and he frowned, quickly feeling the need to continue, "I mean, I didn't feel like myself back then."

He remembered Cadence's words. He had been pardoned. It didn't feel like it. He was still guilty. He was the one who did it. But she had told him not to say something like that and it was easier to remember with her sitting right next to him. Steve was leaning forward on his other side — so he could always see him.

"What do you have to say to the people claiming you don't deserve the spot?"

"Uh..." he mumbled, but the woman on his side quickly stepped in.

"I don't think we'd be willing to offer anyone a spot if they didn't deserve it. Being an avenger takes a lot out of a person. Things you can't know until you've been in it — during missions — and we've all come to the assessment that James possesses those qualities."

He had to remind himself to close his jaw. She could do it so well, right on the spot. Steve nudged his shoulder, and she must have said something else about him because Cadence was looking at him. Was he supposed to be saying something?

"I... uh, I'll do the best I can," he said with as much assurance as he could muster. Would they believe him? He sneaked a few glances around himself. No one appeared to be paying much attention.

"And that's all we can really ask of anyone," she added and directed her attention to another man who stood up to ask a question

"Does the public still have to fear The Winter Soldier? Normal people can have setbacks, so is there any reason why we should think he won't?"

Bucky clenched his fists below the table. He couldn't help with how the man spoke. He seemed set on driving home Bucky wasn't normal. As if that wasn't abundantly clear to him. He was way out of his depth — shouldn't have been here in the first place. Steve and Tony insisted on it. Why couldn't they just let him go on missions without going on a press tour. He should have said no. Even after the Wakandans' help, he still didn't feel fully ready for this.

"I don't see why you should," said Cadence with a slight smirk. "If — and that's a big if — if it happens, James will be surrounded by the people most equipped to deal with it." And with a joking tone, she added, "I hope you're not doubting my abilities to take down a super-soldier."