Chapter Text
Congressman James Buchanan Barnes, for reasons unknown, still has his congress seat even after the impromptu joining of the *New Avengers due to Valentina saving her ass. Of course that still means going to meaningless galas to put on a show. Bucky hates that fake news that everyone puts on but he despises who they put it on to, the press. They controls every little aspect of media and twist meaningless words into weapons to attack whoever they deemed most interesting.
“Congressman Barnes do you believe that the *New Avengers are the best for protecting this country and for protecting our world?” Bucky turns around to see medium sized woman – 5”6, 5”7 maybe- full tailored suit and overcoat with shoulder length wavy hair bordering on curly. It took him by surprise really. He remembered what his team told him, don’t add too much information or emotion but kept it real and relatable. Counter intuitive.
“Umm… I believe that we try our best to…”
“ Is that evident with the amount of collateral damage you seem to rack up?”
“Excuse me?”
“And the fact that you had an almost convicted felon of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine running you troop in which is only just a rumor but c’mon we know that she was the reason for the attack trapping people in horrid memories being referred to shame rooms?” Bucky was absolutely stunned. Yes he isn’t used to the nature of modern New York since the longest time of and his lucidity had been mostly in Wakanda but people usually either treated him with the utmost respect or absolute fear. In which this woman was treating him with neither. “... Do you really believe that you are capable of doing you job?”
“I know that we are flawed but we are the world’s best bet at this current moment, so yes I do believe we are capable of protecting people which is evident with the incident in New York right!” That came out a bit more snarky than the new congressman hoped for. Although the reporter ... Smiled.
“Thank you for your time Congressman Barnes, I’ll be on my way now,” and simply left.
“What’s your name?” Bucky called out, surprisingly, why did he care. She stopped, turned round and replied,
“Philomena Aldrich, reporter for Forever Globe” chuckled and walked off. Before the retired Winter Soldier could contemplate on what happened he had been found by his PR Manager into taking photos and off he went for the rest of evening never laying eyes on that beautiful reporter for the rest of the evening.
Beautiful huh.
By the time the gala began to wrap up, it was well after dark and Bucky desperately needed to get away from all of this.
"Hiiii Buckieee," said his PR manager, Mindy, who seemed to be quite tipsy
"Hello Mindy, you alright" he responded,
"Alllll goood. Hey diiid you meet that new hire at the forever glooobe, hehe gloobe, that's one snarky reporter, am I right? She kept on asking me so many questions like heellooo, but she’s actually reaallly chill and such a heavyweight, mee not so much...” With that Bucky caught her as she fell like a King falling after losing a game in chess.
"Alright Mindy time to get you home.” As he loads her into the taxi he had arranged for himself and graciously tips the driver to take her safely home.
"Byyyyyeee Buckieeee" Mindy exclaimed has the car drove off. Bucky couldn't help but chuckle to himself, she reminded him a bit of Becca. Although now he needs to figure out how to get home. His apartment is a short taxi ride home buoption, walking. It’s a 45 minute walk to his Brooklyn apartment. However it’s only a 20 minute walk to the tower where everyone is. 45 minute walk it is. As Bucky was about start his long journey he heard a familiar voice.
“It’s really dark isn’t it?” There she was the reporter,
“Miss Aldri...”
“Meena is fine. How are you getting home?” She began to question.
“Walking, 45 minutes.” Bucky sighed.
“Why don’t you come to my place and then I can drop you with my car? Only 10 minutes walk away.” She offered. Bucky was quite surprised, is this the same woman who was practically torching him alive now giving him sanctuary in her home.
“Sure why not.” Bucky finally replied
“C’mon lets get moving quickly, oh my lord its freezing out here” as Meena led Bucky down the street.
“Sorry if I came on as rude and blunt to you, It’s my job to get the truth out of people and sometimes you need to use a bit of brute force to get it." She started, but all of a sudden it started to chuck it down with rain.
Meena began running grabbing Bucky’s arm as they sprinted down the street. This was an odd feeling, and old feeling. It reminds him of the 40’s where he would pick up and drop of any lucky person that wanted to have fun with him. He almost crashed into her as he came to an abrupt stop as they reached her place. It was a fancy building, something a bit too far out of her pay grade.
"Here is my humble abode," she began, "Why don't you stay for a little while as the rain dies down?" As she lead him in Bucky’s suspicions were definitely not put to rest as the inside seemed to be even more put together, minimalistic and expensive.
"Let's have a drink, shall we." Meena said in a suggestive tone
“Alright then,” Bucky answered back the same way. And they got drinking and drinking and talked about everything and nothing and oh how great things were. As a super soldier he couldn't get drunk but he felt tipsy oddly.
“What’s in this?” He questioned and showed her the bottle. Meena picked it up and checked it a bit tipsy herself replied,
"Dunno, got it as a gift. Anyways I should be taking you home no the rain stopped ages ago..."
"It's illegals to drive drunk"
“ I guess ill order you a taxi then,"
“Or not..." Oh ladies man Bucky seems to be back. He doesn't know what has come over him but this woman has turned something on him that he hasn't felt for a long time.
Bucky had slowly woken up in a comfy bed, not his, naked. He is in Philomena Aldrich’s bed naked. Shit shit shit. He looked to his side. No one there. He sighed and slowly got out of bed and saw a not on the nightstand,
"Hi Bucky, had to go to work, took the car to, but it should be easier to get a taxi now. I've ironed and aired out your clothes so they should be fine to wear. When you leave take the keys from the kitchen table, lock the door and put it through the post in the door thx.
meena ^_^"
And he did just that, got dressed locked the door, put the key through and left. As he got into the taxi the driver commented, “You look a little flustered, are you sick?"
“I don't get sick.” Bucky blandly replied. That was it. He got back to his apartment, changed and left to the tower where he was late to a meeting.
After a couple of days Bucky is greeted with a barrage of commotion coming form the rest of his team. “What's going on," he asked
“Some nasty reporter is trying to tank our credibility” Ava answered.
“I bet they are siding with Mr Captain America.” Alexei began to ramble non stop as Yelena began to sigh as an embarrassed child -in which she was. Bucky slowly began to walk up to the tablet in which the article was shown upon.
“The 'New Avengers' Causing Major Property Damage. Are they Really the Heroes We Want Our Lives In?"
“That fucking bitch”