epiphany || bucky barnes

𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑

TRIGGER WARNING - DEATH, CAR CRASH, BLOOD, GORE, PANIC ATTACKS

June, 1980.

Silence.

Just how I needed it to be.

The highway was dark, the only thing lighting the tunnel being the yellow tinted lights along the perimeter. I lie in wait, my sniper held tightly between my fingers. It was only precautionary. In case the crash wasn't enough. I saw the vehicle approach the tunnel, my grip tightening around my gun as my eyes narrowed above the mask I wore.

The driver became distressed. I could see his knee-jerking up and down on the brake pedal as the car careened into the tunnel. A smirk made its way onto my lips, the hood of the car crinkling as it made contact with the concrete wall. Smoke bellowed from the engine. The driver was passed out in the front seat, blood dripping down his forehead. Another man dressed in a black suit laid with his head tilted against the seat, a piece of glass buried in his throat. The last passenger of the car remained awake. Somehow. She was my target, I couldn't let her escape unscathed. I jumped down from my hiding spot.

The yellow lights cast a shadowy glow on my features. I unhooked the mask from my ear, letting it fall to the ground as I pulled my rifle to aim at the woman. Her eyes glossed over with fear, her hair disheveled and her hands shaking as they tried to wake the two other passengers. Another man from the backseat tried to get in front before I could shoot, but the echo of a gunshot rang through the tunnel. The woman collapsed, leaving the remaining survivor to try and save her.

I turned away from the scene. "I did it, Dad..." A light whisper left my lips as I grabbed my mask from the ground, pulling a grappling gun from my holster and aiming it at one of the apartment buildings. I landed on top, to where a shadow was sitting on the other edge of the roof.

"Is she dead?" The voice had a deep Russian accent, the shine of titanium in the moonlight.

I gulped, shoving my sniper in my back holster and nodding. "She is."

He stood, stepping out of the shadows to cup my cheek, "I'm proud of you, Pandora."

I couldn't help but lean against the touch, closing my eyes blissfully. He accepted me. When everyone else turned me away, he was here. "Thank you, Soldier..."

I could see a faint smirk forming on his lips. His thumb rubbed my cheek gently, "I've trained you well, my darling..."

My gaze darted up to meet his, though he was staring at my body rather than my face. My brows furrowed in confusion as his head finally lifted. His piercing blue eyes were partially obscured by long strands of brown hair. My hand moved up to his forehead, my fingers running through his hair and tucking it behind his ears. "You have trained me well... my father will finally be proud of me."

"He's not the only one who will be proud of you." The soldier whispered, placing a finger under my chin. He leaned down slightly, his hot breath grazing my lips before they made contact with my cheek.

I felt my entire body heat up at that. "Why don't you kiss me on the lips...?"

"Because I don't know how much longer we'll know each other..."

He was right. We wouldn't remember this moment for much longer. However, I still took the leisure of loneliness we had with each other in stride. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him down into a tender kiss. Nothing rough. Pure passion, just our bodies being close to each other.

I could feel the hesitation he withheld slowly draining as his arms snaked around my waist. I couldn't help but smile against the unexpected softness of his lips. As the atmosphere around us grew more comfortable, he grew more eager. He deepened the kiss, his teeth grazing my bottom lips as his grip around my waist pulled me closer. Our bodies collided with each other, my arms wrapping tighter around the back of his neck. A hum of content left my lips as he finally parted from the kiss, his metal hand rubbing my outer thigh gently. The touch made me grow sensitive, my nails digging into the skin on his neck and earning a groan from him. I immediately let go.