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Again, Bucky's hand slapped over my mouth. A shrug from me later, he sent a baffled expression my way from staring at his hand.

I stuck my tongue out again and he reflexively held his hand to his chest, looking quite protective of it.

"I'll stop teasing," I said, giving in with a grin. "Some billboard ads aren't much better than basically naked women either. Sex sells?"

Bucky sighed before his head tilted for my hand. "...The Five seveN?"

"The gun?" I held it, out to him, handle first. "I thought you spotted some Hydra asshat? And darts don't do too well with a piece of glass in the way?"

I followed after him as he placed the gun back in its assigned place.

"You're fine with seeing that?" Bucky questioned, glancing out the window again.

"Not a single fuck given."

Honestly, the blondie on the white horse was rather epic. Except for her boobs. Those things were more than likely to punch her the fuck out if the horse decided to make a jump.

When I spotted a group of kids running straight for the van, I barely managed to grab onto the back of Bucky's shirt.

"Maybe don't go covering kids' eyes? They might think you're trying to kidnap them or something shit."

"But they'll see it," he practically whined, anxiously shifting his weight from one foot to the other. His feet managed to move inch by inch towards the door with each shift. Made me wonder if my finger would give out before the seams of his shirt from how much it stretched. His muscles tensed the closer the kids got to the van.

"Yeah, but we don't need a bunch of paranoid parents on us. Kids are on a tight leash nowadays and "stranger danger" became a thing. So... maybe stay away from kids in general? Unless they're physically in trouble. Then have at it?"

I poked at the button for the blackout shades, still hanging onto Bucky whose muscles were wound tighter than a spring.

"Come on, beautiful."

"Huh – "

"Let's google some breakfast place for takeout. Maybe the best cinnamon buns in Saskatoon?"

That had him perk up, going for the tablet.

'And we're safe from crazy parents. Yay....'

"There's a place ten kilometers away," Bucky pointed out on the map. "I'm coming along."

"...."

Between Bucky trying to save some kid's innocent eyes and my plans in Saskatoon, I was stuck as what to do.

'The Safeway thing yesterday must have bothered him a lot more than I thought.... Shit.'

"I won't hurt anybody. I won't touch anyone," he tried.

"That's not a problem, Bucky. I already know you're not going to hurt people."

'But I don't want you to find out I've been pilfering cars this whole time.... Or being there when I break into one of the Puppet's safe houses to bug Eve about her search for the kid. Nor can I risk you finding out about said kid she's been looking for. You're probably going to go all one man army on the trafficking ring... and the monsters on that tablet for using.... Shit, I can't even say that I need someone to keep an eye on the motorhome.'

It'd be a lie. Eve and I had set up a buzzer alert on the bracelet for anyone in this thing if they're not wearing one of my bracelets.

"There's still food left. I didn't eat much last night.... There's still a box of cinnamon buns.... You don't... you don't have to go."

This man was definitely part puppy....

Those big blue eyes.... They erase the concept of no.

"I would get to sleep faster," I contemplated, having stayed up for the past six hours or so since midnight. "Alright. I'm down with resting my ankle."

The stress and tension melted right out of Bucky. Spine straightened out. Shoulders pulled back. Practically bouncing on his heels around the kitchen area.

'He should just keep this posture. It's prettier,' I thought, as I wandered over to the dining table only to end up tripping.

Tripped on the very thing I've been ignoring since I picked it up at the last drop. Maybe I should have spent a little time tucking the handles of the duffle bag safely away. Instead, it's now in my face. Or to be literal, wrapped around my foot.

With a frown, I opened the damn duffle bag. At the top of the heavy bag sat a wine red envelope. I plucked it out while a particular person hovered over me.

"You worry too much, Bucky."

"Sometimes I feel that if I turn my back, you'd somehow end up hurt... or worse."

"You're not the only one in that boat. I have no clue why people think that."

Bucky stared down at me as if telepathically trying to tell me the why.

Message not received.

Still just as clueless.

And he gave up in the span of a few seconds. "...Does she have more work for you?"

"They always have work for me.... Just needed a break last night... and this letter is from my brother."

I hadn't heard from him since Eve had us go underground at the beginning of April and I wasn't expecting to hear back from him either. With a shrug, I unfolded the letter and settled down at the table, reading as the smell of toast permeated the motorhome.

'At least it's short?'

Written in the flowing petals of Dahlia. For our eyes only.

Why do I have a sinking feeling that you've gotten yourself in a bit of trouble, Cookie Dough?

More trouble aside from the potential shit storm with Cupcakes and Cinnamon Bun. None of us need a repeat of the Alps again. Imagine what he would he do for the living chunk of him? Probably anything. Which is everything being that he is fucking Cupcakes. None of us would be able to stop him.

We can't risk him leaving Geneva. Ayers made too many enemies for him to leave the secure area we made for him. It would only be a matter of time before they come for him. We can only cover for him for his absence so long. If something happens to Cupcakes... everything will fall apart.

You need to bring Cinnamon Bun in.

Cupcakes' going to be so mopey with us for not telling him. You know how much he loves him. The both of them. Doesn't help that you already stopped him from flocking to Apple Pie. You're not going to be able to stop him with Cinnamon Bun.

Food for thought. How is he even alive? We've tested the D.N.A. of all the bones we found. I just reran the tests again and they matched to the hair on his comb from last century, and a familial match to his sisters, all three of them. It's him. Those bones are his. Then again, we've only managed to find arm bones.

Is he a one armed, old ancient man stuck in bed? Is that why you haven't been able to bring him in? Or did he somehow pull an Apple Pie without the Super Soldier Serum? Where has he been this whole time?

I'm rather tempted to peek at Eve's files, but I shouldn't on the off chance Cupcakes catches me or I leave some trail for him to follow. Contact me when you get the chance. I want to know.

Now, your request to adjust the chains, it's been done. Who I'm going to assume is Cinnamon Bun isn't going to be puppeted about by Eve anymore. I was tempted to change and add a couple of things, but I do see some loopholes in your wording. I don't know what exactly it is you need, so everything is done exactly as you wrote it.

As for Mochi attending the symposium in Dublin, I have her covered. Don't stress over your poor timing. Nothing will happen to her. Yes, I did hear about the talk Dr. Cho is giving on printing flesh. I'll be attending virtually, so fret not about me going rogue on you.

Everyone will be safe for when you return to your post. Until then, stay safe.

Once you return, I will be joining the expedition in the Sahara. We have another lead on the Smurfs. If you're up for it, you should join us. It's been some time since we explored ruins together.

Do reach out to me before things get out of hand again. There never was supposed to be a last time.

You're not alone,

– Chocolate Orange Peel.

P.S. I figured you'd be on a road trip or on the railway, so I sent this off with an updated version of an old surprise.

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Author's Note:

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