𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐄.

﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌
act two ━━ 𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.
· 。ﾟ୧ ⋆. 𝗦𝗔𝗟𝗧. ₊˚.༄
━━━ REDEMPTION,
❝ fishes are friends, not food ❞

𝓒onsequences. Consequences was something Melody dealt with quite often. Whether it was with her adventures, her curiosity, or stubbornness; it was something she could never escape. Granted those examples tended to get herself into trouble and herself only. However this time, it wasn't just herself but the man who stood across from her arms crossed whilst she sat crossed legged on the wooden chair, a frown on her face.

She had gone four months without being caught by the man in front of her, trying to keep him safe and away from any enemies. And she ruined it by trying to reach for one of the colourful fruits he had purchased. Once again her curiosity getting the best of her.

"Are you going to tell me what you're doing here?" He questioned. "Did anyone follow you? Does anyone know you're here?"

Melody shook her head, "No. Of course not." She said slightly offended he thought she'd bring harm upon him. Then again he didn't know much about her other then the fact she was an Avenger and had formed some sort of relationship with Steve.

"Then why were you following me?" He asked slightly on edge with the girl before him. "Have you been following me this whole time?"

"I was making sure you were safe." She whispered, almost like a child being scolded by her parent. She avoided his intimidating eyes and fiddled with her fingers. "I apologize if I scared you. I saw the strange ball of food and was curious to what it would taste like." She sheepishly glanced to the bag of plums next to him.

Bucky sighed before opening the bag and handing one over to the beautiful girl. "Do you want something to drink?" He asked opening his fridge. His brows scrunched together seeing the lack of choices. Beer, two water bottles, and some left over take out. "Are you old enough to drink?"

Receiving no response he turned around seeing her head levelled with the plum as she poked at it slowly. His eyes softened at her actions for some reason it amused him, "Melody?" He called out her name for the first time since reading about her and her friends.

Her eyes that had been crossed onto the fruit looked up at him, "Water please."

Bucky nodded before grabbing a bottle of water and handing it to her. She eyed the bottle before looking up at the man again sheepishly, "What's wrong?"

"Salt?" She asked.

Bucky nodded slowly at the odd request but nonetheless took out the small bottle from one of his deserted cabinets. He watched as she unscrewed the cap and poured the bottle into the bottle of water before drinking the water easily.

He had forgotten he had read she was some sort of sea creature.

"Mermaid and Siren." She said out loud startling him from his thoughts. "Vaoreznuni, Steve says I need to work on controlling that." She apologized looking up at Bucky who sipped on his beer.

"So, you can read my mind . . . ?" He questioned slightly nervous and wary of the girl.

Melody nodded, "Yes. I can also control the weather, water, hypnosis, lure and persuasion. A lot of it deals with my voice if I want to use it." She explained.

Bucky nodded, "Noted."

She glanced to his arm and began to reach for it slowly only for him to pull back in confusion. "Vaoreznuni." She apologized.

"What does that mean?" He asked seeing her pull back quickly.

"Vaoreznuni?" She asked, earning a nod from the man before her. "Sorry, I believe in your language."

Bucky nodded his eyes trailed to his metal hand that popped out of the sleeve of his sweater, "It's okay. Just not used to people looking at it without the armour." He explained quietly.

"I think it's pretty." She offered a small smile.

Bucky's lips twitched upwards. She was strange, he thought to himself. Noticing her smile drop he assumed she had read his mind once again. He cleared his throat, "Uh, do you want anything to eat? Other then that . . . ?" He nodded to the untouched fruit she held in her hands delicately.

"Do you have any seaweed?" She asked tilting her head to the side.

Bucky shook his head, "No . . But, I know a place."

𝓜elody walked with Bucky towards a lit up sushi restaurant. It was relatively small and looked more of a bar rather then a restaurant. Bottles behind the counter, booths to sit at and eat, televisions placed on the wall with the news being broadcast on the latest chaotic incident.

Her doe eyes saddened seeing a fish tank perched on a wall to her left, she stepped away from Bucky who looked for a table for them two. Somewhere secluded, so no one could eye the odd pair whilst he questioned her more about why she was really there and what she wanted.

Melody placed the palm of her hand on the glass surface staring into the tank. The creatures stared up at the sea nymph almost pleadingly for her to set them free.

"I found a table-" Bucky began, but stopped seeing her saddened face. "You alright?"

"They're sad." She said her eyes trained on the small fishes that stared at her, communicating telepathically. "They're trapped."

Her words brought him back to the day he had gotten somewhat his memories back and ran away from HYDRA. The same day he pulled Steve Rogers out of the lake and allowed one person to know about him being back - in a sense.

Bucky's eyes softened - something he had been doing in the last few hours since having a conversation with her rather then choking the life out of her or either one attacking each other verbally or physically.

"Come on." He nudged her gently, tearing her eyes away from the tank she walked behind him towards a booth in the corner of the bar/restaurant.

It was relatively empty, other then a few men perched at the bar drinking away and chatting to one another. And a few couples here and there around them.

Melody sat down across from Bucky, her eyes took in her surroundings. The last time she had been to a restaurant was with Natasha, and to say she stood out like a fish out of water would be an understatement. Whether it was her brushing her hair with the utensils or eating with her hands and pouring salt an everything in her viscidity. The people around didn't take to kindly to the odd female.

So, to say she was anxious of being watched and judged would be an understatement as well. Especially, with her good friend's best friend sitting in front of her calculating her every move. She could feel his eyes on her form when she wasn't looking at him, his thoughts were messy quite like Steve's can be.

He was always on high alert. When the couple across from them looked towards him she could visibly see Bucky tense. Or when the men at the bar or the bartender himself would glance over to them she could see his metal hand form into a fist before returning to it's regular state.

"Ever eaten sushi?" Bucky asked pulling her away from her thoughts.

"I'm afraid I don't know what that is." She smiled sheepishly, her eyes trailed to the blonde and her date across from them. She titled her head watching as she looked through the book before her - a menu.

"It's fish." He said, forgetting she herself was a creature of the water.

Melody's head snapped towards him, a glare slowly formed on her face. "Fishes are friends, not food."

Bucky's brows rose at her new demeanour. "So, that's a no on sushi?" He trailed off looking up from his menu. Receiving no response from the girl he watched as she stared at the blonde across from them. She sat up right mimicking the woman's posture before grabbing the menu in her hands - upside down.

A small smile was on the former soldier's lips as he watched her, though confusion swam in his ocean eyes.

Melody watched as a waiter approached the couple. She listened in as the woman ordered a coke followed by a plate of California rolls and Kung Pao chicken. Melody looked down at the menu in her hands, her brows scrunched together at the strange words.

Noticing her confusion, Bucky reached over and flipped the book in her hands upright.

"Oh . . . thank you." She beamed looking up at the man before looking down at the menu.

"Hello, welcome to the Jade Wolf. Are you both ready to order?" The man questioned glancing between the two, before his eyes trained on Bucky's hand.

Noticing the man's lingering eyes Bucky placed his hand on his lap pulling the ends of his sleeves further down before he spoke up, "Szechuan, beef." His low voice said before his baby blues landed on a worried Melody Lockhart.

"And you?" He asked finishing writing Bucky's order before turning to Melody.

Melody looked to the blonde then up at the man who stared at her waiting for her order, "Um, the um, the coke, California roll and um, the King pow chicken."

Bucky's lips twitched upwards, whereas the waiter wore a look of confusion and slight annoyance. "Kung Pao. No sushi." Bucky corrected.

"And the drink is a coke? Two?" He questioned looking between the two.

Bucky licked his lips looking to Melody who stared at the couple, "Uh, one coke and I'll have a water."

"Be back shortly." He nodded his head before making his way to the kitchen.

Turning back to Melody he began, "Why are you here?" He said once the man was out of ear shot. He leant in closer, his intimidating eyes scanned her face.

Melody turned to Bucky and tilted her head, "You brought me here . . ." She answered.

Bucky sighed, "I mean here. Bucharest." He shook his head, "The Avengers tower is in Manhattan. You said you were following me to keep me safe? Why? Does Steve know something? Anyone?"

Melody's head titled, "I was worried about you."

Bucky's eyes squinted slightly as he looked into her eyes; honesty. She was being completely honest with him. Why would she care what happens to him, when she barely knows him and all he's done when around her is try to kill her? - well, in his Winter Soldier mode. He thought to himself.

"You don't know me. Why do you care what the hell happens to me?" He snapped annoyed with her innocent and kind demeanour, his eyes hardened.

"You mean everything to Steve." She said softly, Bucky parted his lips. "I don't like seeing him sad. And if you were to get hurt, die, or be taken again, I know he'd be heartbroken. And, you're supposed to protect what you care about. Any friend of Steve's is a friend of mine." She stated as a matter of fact. "I also know that what you did, it was not you." She whispered, Bucky looked down at his metal hand that he now had rested on the table. "Those bad people made you do it. They hurt you." She said her hand formed a fist thinking of what the man before her endured for years. Bucky took notice, "Steve told me how you would do anything to protect him, and now he knows he needs to do the same. Even if you don't believe it, I believe you are innocent."

Bucky swallowed thickly at her words. Since visiting the museum and researching more about Captain America; Steve Rogers. He had gathered more memories back and from what he could remember what she said was true. He did protect Steve, whether it was with bullying or him wanting to be included in something, Bucky always had his best interest at heart.

But, he was no where innocent. He thought to himself, everything he had done has ended someone's life, family, relationship. He has killed hundreds if not thousands and the girl before him had the audacity to say he was innocent- he felt insulted she wasn't saying that he was a monster, a murderer. She had even said his arm was 'pretty' where as people who did take notice either gave a look of pity, disgust or even fear.

He was snapped out of his thoughts as their dinner was placed before them.

Melody looked back to the woman and watched as she ate her food with a silver utensil. She looked down at the fork and grasped it in her hand, ignoring Bucky's eyes, she brought it to her hair only to pull away and place it in the bowl before her and taking a bite. Her eyes widened at the food in her mouth, a small moan left her throat unintentionally.

"You like it?" Bucky asked with a small chuckle seeing her cheeks flush.

"Very." She said swallowing her food.

Bucky looked to the couple who eyed them weirdly. Biting his bottom lip he turned back to the girl who began to stuff her face.

She was odd, yes. She was way to pure and forgiving, for her own good. She was everything he wasn't - not anymore at least. He thought. But he knew she would protect anyone she cared for, she displayed that during their sprawls, especially when he had shot Natasha. The rage she held in her eyes, the fire. Or when he was moments away from killing Steve, she would have allowed Bucky to kill her for Steve to save himself and the world.

Maybe this friendship or whatever it was, could happen. He didn't have anyone, and has been alone for so long that having her in his presence didn't bother him, strangely enough.

Bucky hadn't smiled in what felt like centuries. He always held a stoic face, eyes hard, always on alert. But for some reason eating sushi with this mermaid/siren, watching her pour endless amounts of salt in her drinks and food made him smile.

Bucky nodded to the dark brown beverage in front of her. Melody noticed him signalling for her to drink the coke. A look of worry flashed before her eyes before she hesitantly grabbed the glass and brought it to her lips, she sniffed the drink before rubbing at her nose as the carbonated drink tickled her nose.

Bucky smiled before placing his metal hand on her own halting her movements. He grabbed the glass before handing her his glass of water. Reaching over he grabbed the salt shaker, unscrewing the cap and pouring it's contents into the cup.

Melody smiled brightly at his movements. Her doe eyes met his ocean ones, his smile mirroring her own.

And like that a friendship was born. A weird and odd one, but nonetheless the start of something new, for both of them.

❨ 𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 ❩
🐚ঌ ࣪₀🧺 .˚🌿✦

● 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱
○ 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱

theyre so pure and i love them oof.

and the song above is like one of my favourites ever; and i feel like it goes perfect with how their relationship is gonna lead to ♡

AGE OF ULTRON begins after this chapter !

𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 :
vaoreznuni : sorry

𝗐𝗈𝗋𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍, 𝟤𝟧𝟦𝟧