Aaaaand we've reached the chapter with the prologue! I've included extra bits, so it's not just another copy-pasted chapter that's exactly the same. In face, it's about twice as long as most of my chapters. Enjoy the back-to-back uploads! <3 Artie
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Two years after the fall of Hydra...
"Mirjana, you still with me?"
She shook away the daydream she was in the middle of and refocused on his voice. "Back to the full name, eh James?"
"You weren't listening. Are you okay? I know you're nervous the closer we get to the end..." his sentence trailed off. Mirjana nodded and let out a sigh.
"Of course I'm nervous, Bucky. Hydra could still be out there looking for us, and I don't want them to know. Who knows what they will do? They're half-"
"Shhh, hold on." Bucky puts his arm out to protect her. They had spent a better part of the morning in their cramped bedroom, reading and occasionally speaking softly to each other. It was how most days were spent, when Bucky wasn't out working. Seeing him on alert instantly made Mirjana shoot up.
"What is it?" she asked nervously. Though fully clothed in one of his large shirts and a pair of sleep shorts, she covered herself with the thin blanket they slept with each night.
"Someone's coming inside. Stay in here," he ordered, moving closer to the door that led to the rest of their home.
"No! I'm coming in with you," she insisted.
He let out a sigh. "I'll only be a moment. It only sounds like one person."
"Be safe," she whispered as he crawled off the bed. Two steps in and a man in a mostly blue outfit stood in the doorway. His eyes grew wide when he caught sight of Bucky and Mirjana.
"Bucky. I, uh, I didn't think you'd have someone else with you," the man spoke.
Mirjana leaned over in the bed to see around Bucky's massive shoulders. She recognized the stranger as none other than Captain America. Her eyes met her partner's in confusion, but he seemed to be less surprised at the new presence.
"Steve. What are you doing here?" Bucky answered.
"I'm glad to hear you remember me." The massive blonde perked up at the thought. "I've been looking for you, trying to bring you home. And now there's a warrant out for your arrest. We need to leave now, before someone comes to arrest you. I'm afraid you'll have to leave your friend-"
"No." Bucky's voice was firm. "She stays with me."
Steve shook his head. "Listen, I'm happy to hear that you've, er, found someone, but I think she'll be better off going back home, bud."
"Her home is with me," Bucky seethed. As they spoke, Mirjana heard what sounded like footsteps on the roof. She reached out her hand to grab hold of his attention, but Bucky was just out of her reach.
"Buck, you have to let her go."
"No. This isn't up for debate. I-she-we're a package deal," Bucky did his best to explain. "I didn't do whatever I'm being accused of. We've been here in Bucharest for months. I don't do that stuff anymore."
"I believe you, but there are others-"
Once again Steve was interrupted, but this time by the shattering of their living room window. Bucky stood back against the bed, one arm slipped back to reassure himself that Mirjana was still there, still safe. Steve raised his shield to deflect bullets that were shot into the room. Mirjana let out a scream as Bucky covered her body with his, the useful metal arm blocking his head from stray bullets.
"Come on, Jana! We've gotta move!" Bucky urged. She was frozen to the spot on the bed, but he was strong enough to lift her and the blanket in a swift motion. It was all she could do to hold on and adjust her glasses on her nose. They, along with Steve, raced out the front door, only to be stopped by more men in tactical gear.
"He's got a hostage!" One of the men shouted in German. This infuriated Bucky enough to put Mirjana on her feet while he began fighting the men hand-to-hand. She had watched him fight on many occasions, but this was different. This time he was fighting as Bucky Barnes, not the Winter Soldier. His movements were solid, never missing their mark. But there was a hint of desperation with every punch, a little fear with every kick. He had plenty to lose.
Feeling helpless, Mirjana wrestled a gun out of one of the fallen police men's hands, the blanket that had been wrapped around her fell softly to the floor. She managed to take out a few knees as a dozen men climbed up the stairwell. She'd never been a soldier, but that didn't mean she didn't know how to shoot. Despite her blurred vision - even with glasses - she could still hit the mark.
"Bucky, stop! We don't need to- hold on, what?!" Mirjana was jerked back by her elbow. Steve had noticed what she'd initially hoped to hide and called out for everyone nearby to stop what they were doing. No one listened, of course.
"Come on, we're taking the back way out," Bucky growled. He grabbed his love and took off down towards the balcony. They hesitated at the reality of what might happen. "Do you think you'll be okay if I jump with you on my back?"
"I-I don't know. You've never made it that far without having to do a tuck-and-roll. I won't be able to do that. Not without hurting-"
"Buck! You've gotta get out of here! If I need to, I can watch the girl," Steve shouted. More gunfire was exploding through the apartment. Bucky ran back to the kitchen, searching for their backup plan in the cabinets. When he found what he was looking for, he ran back out.
Mirjana nodded at the sight of the grappling hook. It was going to be their best bet. Before Bucky could successfully aim, a few policemen jumped down to their balcony from the floor above. He stood to fight, but Mirjana had a different idea. She stood in front of Bucky, making sure they could clearly see her figure. The three police men paused, one even lowered his gun. It was enough of a distraction that Bucky successfully shot across to the other building and tied down the line on their end. He grabbed hold of his girl and, together, they slid across the makeshift zip line to the safety of the other rooftop.
"What's going on? Why didn't you shoot!?" One of the men in tactical gear shouted in the distance.
"We can't sir!"
"Why not?!"
"She's-"
Somehow, despite her extra weight since the last time they practiced this, she was able to land on her feet steadily. Bucky took her hand and they raced across the roof. Her heart was in her chest and already it grew hard to breathe. Between the anxiety of being chased and the exertion of running, it was catching up to her quickly. She pushed her glasses further up her nose with a shaky hand. She could barely see with them as it was.
"BARNES!" A man with a strange accent shouted. They didn't stop, until a flash of black flew past Mirjana and knocked her muscular brunette down. Normally she wouldn't be scared for Bucky; he'd taken down a dozen men at the same time, surely he could handle one person.
But this man didn't appear to be normal. He had claws that broke through the metal AC units that surrounded them. If he was able to catch Bucky's flesh, he would easily be killed. The terrified woman let out a scream, bringing the attention of both men to her.