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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐄𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩

April 2015

Bucharest, Romania

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It had been two weeks since Allie's visit to New York to see Tony. Two weeks since she gazed into the fantasy that was the life of Tony Stark, an opportunity that very few were blessed with. She watched as he tried to decode her brain in between working on his own various projects, maintaining his reputation as Iron Man, and enjoying his life with Pepper. Somehow balancing his many personal ventures better than even the best juggler in a circus.

Tony lived a lifestyle that many deemed glorious. An easy life, unable to experience any middle-class woes as they gazed through their own deluded kaleidoscopes, not realizing how their assumptions were so distorted from the harsh reality he endured. How his life was not just filthy riches and lavish parties. But a constant struggle with mounting problems that continued to pile on. A man bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders.

But despite all the hardship Tony experienced, he always had one thing that made everything the slightest bit better. And that was his monumental IQ.

After his consultation with some of New York's finest psychiatrists, Tony managed to come to the conclusion that Allie had oversensitive brain structures responsible for her explosive anger and power outbursts. He tried to explain it to her as best as he could, describing how her previous torture and electrical degradation induced by HYDRA's cruelty had led to certain parts of her brain being damaged, leaving her with difficulties regulating emotions, specifically anger. Parts of her brain that were responsible for controlling her powers.

And Allie was left grateful, someone had finally diagnosed her problem.

To a degree, she could blame HYDRA for her faulty brain. For the damage she caused and the carnage that came as a result of her powers. That diseased feeling of rage that flowed within her body when she was provoked, an emotion they cultivated. She was grateful because that malignant sensation was not her own, she wasn't the cause of it.

But then again, she was. It was her brain, she was the one erupting with a hurricane of wrath that she left untamed. Letting it sweep up and destroy everything in its path. Because even though she could blame HYDRA for the startling winds that created the storm, she was the one who let it grow. Who did nothing to stem the natural disaster or help alleviate its after-effects.

But it didn't matter, finding out what the problem is was only step 1. All that truly mattered was step 2: Addressing the problem.

The psychiatrist had given Tony some new pills that would help. They were not the solution to her problem, they would not magically help her brain get better. But they acted as an aid, to guide her on the right path where she would eventually learn how to walk herself.

The pills did leave her slightly dimmed from the world, shaving off her rough edges and blunting her emotions. When it was bad, she felt like she was living within a glass box, watching the world from within her cage. Unable to feel the ephemeral wind upon her ivory skin or taste the honey-sweet high that came from living. It was an odd feeling, one that she would never be able to truly describe, her body being a vessel withholding her from the world outside.

But she knew that out of the two devils she was presented with, murdering someone because she didn't like not feeling angry anymore was pathetic. She was a danger to society, and there had to be a punishment for that.

Upon coming home to Bucharest, Bucky had immediately noticed the difference in her behavior. The slight hollowness in her usually bright chocolate eyes, her empty smile, and the lack of usual radiance that oozed from her like she was a molten supernova, burning gloriously in the night sky. She didn't even have to say a word, because he knew as soon as he laid eyes on her.

At first, he was horrified by the Allie he saw. Terrified that something had happened in New York causing this strange change in her. Leaving a broken shard of the old Allie enshrouded in a disguise that would work for everyone but him. Wondering how a trip to the man who could supposedly fix everything left her as a living ghost, dangling in a vast limbo that was neither living nor dying.

Bucky, eventually understanding why she was acting so differently, came to accept the change. Realizing that as long as she felt happy and safe taking the medication which allowed her to control her powers, he would support her. He would always support her.

But as time wore on, the effects lessened. She slowly began to feel something similar to normal, whatever normal was. Although the anger that rattled in her bones and swirled in her bloodstream was gone, or perhaps only abated, she still felt the highs and lows of life. The glass walls that had trapped her melted, slowly beginning to feel its unwanted byproduct dissipate.

And as a celebration of her starting to feel like herself again, Bucky was taking her on a date.

Bucky had decreed that evening that it was time for them to properly enjoy a night for themselves, their first date in the 21st century. They had been out of HYDRA's clutches for nearly an entire year now, surviving being chased, hunted and beaten by soldiers and police alike. They endured the pain and the torture, and they both felt that they deserved a sweet, memorable night for themselves.

So she put on the nicest clothes she owned, that being a clean long sleeve shirt, navy jeans and her black combat boots. All whilst Bucky combed his hair (for what seemed to be the first time in weeks), and slipped on similar apparel to her, with the exception of a dark button-up shirt.

And as soon as the clock hit 6 o'clock, Bucky dragged a clueless Allie out of their apartment and down into the city. She had no idea where they were going or what they were even doing. All she had was multiple assurances from Bucky that he had carefully selected their plans for the night so that they would be safe and have some fun.

Eventually, the pair arrived at their destination, a quaint Italian shop in one of Bucharest's many hidden alcoves.

Bucky, being the gentleman he was, held the door open for Allie as she made her way inside, immediately being slapped in the face with an overwhelming aroma of tomatoes and spices. The melodious sound of a piano hummed in the air, originating from the old gramophone that resided in the corner of the restaurant, concealed by the few dark tables that were set up across the room. Each one featuring a bunch of crimson roses in an ivory vase and various vanilla candles that illuminated the otherwise dark floor.

"Masă pentru doi, vă rog / Table for two, please." Bucky told the waiter who had approached the pair whilst Allie gazed across the establishment in awe.

"Buck, you really didn't need to do this." She murmured, turning back to face him who was already looking at her adoringly.

"Yes, I did." He smiled, slipping his cool metal hand into her own as he softly guided her over to their table. "I haven't taken you on a date in 75 years. I think it is long overdue."

"But what if we get caught?" She questioned, following Bucky towards a small table in the corner of the restaurant, right next to the window that gazed out into the barely illuminated street.

"Then at least our last meal will be spaghetti." Bucky smirked, removing his hand from hers regretfully as he pulled out her chair.

"I'm not even dressed up enough for this." She grumbled, taking her seat in the chair.

"Hush, Allie. You look beautiful." He replied, watching as a ruby flush overcame her pale, alabaster skin. "You always look beautiful."

With a bashful smile, she gazed over into Bucky's captivating cobalt eyes, angelic heavens incarnate. "This place looks amazing, Buck. You did a good job finding it." She hummed sweetly.

"I thought you might like it." He beamed, happiness bleeding in his bones at the euphoric grin that curled on her own ruby lips. "It kind of reminds you of our first date doesn't it?"

"It does! We were in Paris, weren't we?" She answered, dimples popping as she reminisced about their first tryst.

"Yes, that little Italian restaurant owned by Guisseppe. It was how I learned you spoke Italian." He chuckled, nostalgic thoughts spiraling in his mind. Of the times before the two of them had become this, whatever it was that they were now. The things HYDRA had forced them to become.

But as soon as those gloomy sentiments pervaded his thoughts, he shook his head. Not allowing their date to be ruined by the somber memories of their past. This outing was an opportunity for them to relax, to forget all the woes and hardships that existed out past the restaurant. It was time for them to pretend they danced amongst the stars, a constellation of glimmering stars that made the sun's brilliance look meager in comparison.

"Did you speak to Steve?" He spoke up, pulling himself from his thoughts forcefully.

"Yeah, he and Mel are fine. He apologized for everything." She explained, fingers frozen as she recalled the conversation she shared with Steve only a few days ago.

"And you forgave him?" He frowned softly.

At his words, she began nodding emphatically "Of course! It was never his fault, to begin with." She declared.

But before Bucky had a chance to respond, the waiter interrupted them by bringing over a viridescent jug of water and their cutlery, setting it upon the white tablecloth with mumbled apologies.

As the man walked away from the pair, Allie turned back to Bucky with a rueful sigh, unable to muster up the same strength as Bucky and push those melancholic thoughts from her mind.

Although unlike Bucky, these thoughts weren't about their past. Rather, their future.

"What are we going to do with the rest of our lives, Buck?" She whispered, her voice low but filled with startling helplessness. "We can't live our lives being afraid of what lurks behind every shadow, worrying about being brought in by the police or recaptured by HYDRA. I can't live that way."

"We don't, doll. HYDRA hasn't been able to find us in weeks, and neither have the police. Aside from your mission with Steve, everything has been perfect. We have had peace, quiet, and security." He argued, brows sloping downwards in conviction. "Everything that we used to dream about having."

She shook her head lightly at his words, eyes peeling downwards to her fidgeting digits. "But one day they will find us."

"No, they won't. You said that Stark has been hiding our location and we can keep moving around if you think we have been here for too long. We have been taking every precaution to ensure we have remained hidden." He countered.

But Allie just shook her head, worry evident in her molten gold eyes. Bucky, fighting the urge to frown at her reaction, reached across the table and took her delicate hands in his, a clash of rough metal against silky skin.

"Allie, we are free." He told her, forcing her gaze back up to his swirling cerulean eyes. "We can do whatever we want, we can go wherever we want. We can eat whatever we want and live our lives the way we were supposed to."

"We are finally free."

Allie smiled softly at his words, heat overcoming her skin as she felt the pads of Bucky's thumbs trace unrecognizable shapes across the bottom of her palm. His rough digits softly caressing her skin, an action that starkly contrasted the harshness of his past. The deeds that those same hands had committed, the deaths, the pain, the fights.

"I'm so thankful for you, you know?" She declared, staring into his ocean eyes unflinchingly. "I don't know how I would have survived this without you. All this trauma and the pain, you make it bearable. It's like your my cure, keeping my thoughts sane and all the pain at bay."

But then her features paled, lips curling inwards as her heart wilted. Leaving Bucky blinking in unease, recognizing the withering look of gloom that captivated her usually shining eyes.

"But you know what makes me upset, is that I was never there for you. That you had to go through this all without someone by your side. After everything you were forced to do as well, crimes just as bad as mine, and you never had anyone help you through it." She spoke listlessly, gaze dropping to the table. "I wasn't there for you."

"Doll, look at me." He murmured, waiting until her wistful gaze met his. Hands curling against hers tightly, a physical affirmation of boundless love.

"It's okay, you want to know why? Because you were always with me. As soon as I escaped from HYDRA, I remembered you. I remembered your laugh, your smile, your touch, your eyes. I remembered everything about you, and that was the only thing that kept me sane. So I spent every waking second of every day fighting so those memories wouldn't just remain as memories. I fought so they would become my life again." He spoke, conviction roaring inside his words, blazing with adoration.

"And I would do it all over again if it meant I could have you like I do right now."

Her heart warmed at his words, the ice that filled the pulsating arteries thawing. The organ began thumping in her chest, a feeling that only occurred around him. No other person would ever be able to make her feel the same, to feel as if she was walking in the heavens like an angel. When in fact she was cowering with the demons in the violent hellscape of reality.

No other person loved her like he did.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, prompting Bucky's eyes to shatter with confusion. "I spent so long in the dark, unable to remember who you were. It was weeks before I could even remember about our past. And yet you did so much for me. You remembered everything about me and yet I couldn't even remember you."

"Doll, you have nothing to be sorry about. Absolutely nothing at all." He instantly interrupted. "If anyone is to blame for that, then it's HYDRA. Not you."

And with a defeated sigh, she turned her gaze back up to the love of her life. Offering him a meager attempt of a smile, trying to ignore the dark thoughts that swirled in her mind. Thoughts that tried with all their might to ruin a perfect night.

And she was determined to stop them.

"I love you." She told him, syllables roaring with dogma, so helplessly true that she felt her heart give way as she uttered them. As if it was prepared to be ripped from her chest and taken into his hold, the very place that it belonged.

Instead of echoing her prayer, Bucky brought Allie's hands up to his lips. Placing a soft kiss against her ivory skin. Eyes trained on her in pure devotion, as if she was the sun. Blazing her beautiful light down on him, blessing him with her presence, igniting him in righteous fire. And although it burned with profound agony, it never mattered. Because it was still her.

"One day, when this is all over. I am going to marry you, doll." His voice was quiet, tender as his thumbs grazed across her scarred knuckles. "We will move to the countryside, away from everything, and live on a small farm. You can have whatever animals you want, even a dog if you want one. And I'll have a little garden, and we will be happy."

And with that promise, burning tears found their way from her eyes. Trickling down her pale cheeks with unforeseen haste, lips quivering as they fell. But it was not sadness that stirred within her, no it was anything but.

She was happy.

Because this was everything she had ever wanted, a life with Bucky.

"I love you." She told him, a galaxy of nothing but pure adoration shining in her eyes. "After all this time, it's still you. It will always be you, today, tomorrow and every day after."

"And I love you." Bucky whispered back, leaning over and wiping the fallen droplets from her face. Lips pressing against her forehead lovingly as she almost crumpled in his hold.

"Remember our promise?" He mumbled, pulling away with a smile that shone brighter then even the most glorious constellation in the galaxy. "You will always be my forever. And I plan to keep it that way."

And with the night sky awash with glimmering stars, watching down on the fallen angels in joy, Allie and Bucky basked in their love. Smiles so bright pulling at their lips, filled with nothing but complete euphoria, beaming from ear to ear. Even when they left the restaurant, it was as if everything else in the world stopped to let them have a moment of uninterrupted serenity.

With soft caresses and ineligible whispers, the pair finished the night on a carnal high. Completely intoxicated in their own devotion, devouring the addictive poison that was lips on lips, silky skin against skin. Surrendering to love. Their sweet mantra's echoing into the twilight, lips colliding as their bodies fused in a way that they had been deprived of for so long. No corner of skin left untouched, free from the flame of their sensuous lust.

A union that had to be blessed by the Gods, for nothing had ever felt as sweet or beautiful. As if the deities had granted them a single moment free from all woes, dancing in the heavens like angels. And with trembling hearts, pleading with the world that they could lay frozen and everlasting in each other holds, they felt the very thing they had been denied of for what seemed to be an eternity.

Peace.

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Hey everyone,

How FUCKING cute were our babies in this chapter??? I stan one couple with my whole heart and that is Bucky and Allie. They will always be my children and they both deserved so much more.

(idk what their ship name is but if you guys have a good one drop it in the comments!)

So if you guys haven't seen already, I have posted Melaina's story Olympus and it would mean the world to me if you went and checked it out. It's gonna be one hell of a ride that none of you will be ready for, trust me on that. If I am good at one thing, it's making a storyline that is so crazy no one will expect it because I'm probably clinically insane.

Now on that topic, I know I did mention Allie taking some form on antidepressants in this chapter, which may or may not be triggering for some of you (which I apologize for). But if anyone has had any experience with antidepressants and feels like my portrayal of them is wrong, feel free to dm me or drop a comment explaining why and I'll happily address my mistakes x

ALSO, ONE MORE CHAPTER OF TRICKERY THEN WE ARE DONE!!

And now, now onto the questions!

1. What did you think of the chapter?

2. What would you guys like to see in the final chapter?

3. Do you have any predictions for Tricked?

4. What are your opinions on Star Wars?

Until next time!

— Grace xx