before me. He slowly knelt down, tilting his head to get a better look at me.

Gently nudging my arm he said, "hey, let's get outta here." in a soft voice.

When I didn't respond or move, he placed his fingers on my chin and lifted my face to look at him. He nodded to the side, placing his hands in mine and pulled me up onto my feet, walking out with me.

꧁꧂

"The GRC is conducting raids to try and find Karli, but so far they've only found her followers. They've searched this camp, and just like the last camp, nothing." Sam explained as him, Bucky and I stood in a large room together with the shield on a table. "She's gone. We'll never find her."

"Hey you got your sleeve back!" Sam's friend, Torres, pointed to Bucky, who was leaning against some railing, as he walked in. Bucky then pushed himself up and started to leave.

"Are you off to take care of Zemo?" Sam questioned, sitting himself on the table.

Bucky stopped for a second, looking back at him. "Alright good to know you survived." Torres called to him once he turned again and walked off.

I sighed, lightly shaking my head as I looked to the floor.

"Uhh, hey. Hi." Torres started, standing in front of me which made my head look up at him. "I'm Torres, a friend of Sam's."

"Eris." I introduced myself.

"Yeah, Sam's mentioned you a few times. And from what he's said you seem, you seem cool." He nodded a couple times as he spoke and he seemed almost nervous which made me crack a small smile.

"Thank you." I gave him a genuine smile and in the corner of my eye I could see Sam quietly laughing. "Um, I'm gonna head home." I looked to Sam, "but if you need anything, whenever, just give me a call."

"Will do." Sam said, "thank you for everything, Eris."

I nodded to him one last time before I left the same way Bucky had, my hands in my jacket pockets.

꧁꧂

The cab pulled up outside my house. I paid the driver and thanked them before getting out and heading up to the front door. I stuck the keys in, unlocking and opening the door, walking in and then closing it behind me again.

The lights were all off, however through the crack in the door that lead to the study a small bit of light shone through. I walked towards the door, placing my bag outside it and gently pushed it open, causing it to creek ever so slightly.

Hayley sat on the computer desk, staring at the screen that formed the only light in the house as it was quite late. She jolted around, almost tripping over the chair as it fell when she jumped up. She basically fell into my arms, wrapping hers around my shoulders and squeezing a bit too tightly.

"Oh my god!" She breathed into my shoulder, "you're home!"

I looked over her shoulder at the screen, seeing multiple tabs open. Some read; 'Recent deaths in Latvia' 'Cap gone rogue' 'Odindottir killed by Captain America/Super Soldiers'. The realisation hit me and my grip around Hayley's waist tightened as tears began to re-form in my eyes.

She pulled away but kept her hands on my shoulders, looking at my face with panicked glossy eyes. "I didn't know if you were-you were, or if-" she rushed, jumbling her words.

"I'm alright, Hayley. I'm home." I reassured her, cupping her face in my hands.

Her eyes went from mine to the cut on my cheek. "Who did that? Was it John Walker?!"

I sighed, nodding slowly. "But it's nothing, I'll be fine."

She didn't look convinced but nevertheless, she moved on, rambling about the news being all about the man John killed and how insane it is that 'Cap's gone dark,' to quote Hayley.

꧁꧂

I woke early noon to the sound of my phone ringing and light blaring through the windows. Last night I must've forgotten to close the blinds, probably too tired and worn out.

I rolled onto my side, reaching over and grabbing my phone to see the name 'Sam Wilson' on my screen. A smile made its way onto my face before I answered, putting it to my ear as I sat up.

"Hey, Sam."

"Eris! Hi. You know you said to call if I ever need anything?"

I smiled, "yeah. What's up?"

"Fancy helping me and my sister fix up a boat?"

"You know I'd do anything for your family, Sam. Can I bring Hayley?"

"Of course! We need all the help we can get."

"Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can."

The call ended and I placed my phone onto my pillow, pulling the duvet back and getting out of bed. I walked to the door, heading straight for Hayley's bedroom.

I knocked a couple times calling through, "Hayley, are you up?"

I heard her groan and mutter a 'come in'. So I opened the door slowly and quietly, walking to where she lay with her pillow over her head. I sat beside her, carefully taking the pillow away and holding it on my lap.

"Hey," I whispered, "Sam's asked if we could go over and help with his boat, you up for that?"

Hayley almost instantly sat up, "I get to see Sam?" She smiled.

"Yes, you get to see Sam." I smiled at her.

"Count me in! I'll be ready in 20."

꧁꧂

Hayley and I arrived at the harbour, seeing Sam working on the boat with a bunch of other men and women. Hayley's smile grew and she called out to him. He turned around, smiling back and began to jog towards us.

"Hayley!" He beamed, greeting her with a hug and then gave me one. "Thank you guys so much for coming by to help."

After a while of working on the boat and passing things to and from it, chatting with Sarah and meeting her kids, Bucky had arrived, pulling some stuff off a truck by Sam.

He placed a case down in front of Sam, saying a couple words to him. I had gotten distracted by them and found myself looking at Bucky. He looked good. I was pulled back from my trance-like moment when the pipe behind me burst, a smoke whistling from it.

It scared me shitless but I was quick to turn around, Hayley immediately trying to fix it. Sarah came over calling for Sam. I was trying to get Hayley to let me do it but she kept refusing, she continued to refuse until Bucky came over, placing a hand on her shoulder and using his human arm to fix the pipe.

"Why didn't you use the metal arm?" Sam asked him once the job was done.

"Well..." Bucky clicked his tongue, looking at his metal hand, "I don't always think of it immediately. I'm right handed."