Chapter Text
My feet pounding on the pavement was the only noise to be heard this late in the evening on a Friday; the pounding and my labored breathing as I attempted to finish my fourth lap around the park grounds.
Geez, next time I think about taking a break from running, I'll remember how I feel at this exact moment.
It had been months since I had went running. Working at home was a blessing but I spent hours at my computer each day updating various websites for a multitude of corporations. The pay was excellent and I enjoyed my work. But the last three months, I had been accepting way more work than I could keep up with. This afternoon I finally managed to wrap up my three biggest contracts. Each website had been redesigned and was ready to go. I sat up from my chair to stretch my back and the feeling was glorious. It was about that time that I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror.
Wow Eden, you really let yourself go these last couple of months.
I realized I had been wearing the same yoga pants for the last 2 days, the tank top I wore had a spaghetti stain on the front, and my long blonde hair looked greasy in the bun on the top of my head. I lifted the tank top and noticed my usually toned stomach was looking a little soft around the middle. I didn't realize working so hard would lead to me getting in this bad of shape.
Yeah right Eden, work is what made you gain those 10 lbs. It couldn't be the late nights on the couch watching trashy television and eating Pringles by the can.
I decided right then it was time to scale back on work and get out in the real world again. I had been saving up money for months and had quite a nice nest egg set aside. I could easily take a few weeks off. I shut down my laptop after emailing my bill to the last client. What should I do first? Taking a look around my messy bedroom, I decided a little house cleaning would be the first thing on my list. As I turned to figure out where to start, I caught another glimpse of myself in the mirror. Scratch that, first thing was to take a shower! After a long hot shower and some fresh clothes, I got to work on getting my apartment back into shape. The rest of the afternoon was spent vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, and dusting. I finally threw myself on my couch…happy with the clean Pine scent radiating from my freshly mopped floors. The laundry had been washed, folded, and put away, my bed was made, and the windows shined. I was exhausted! I looked at the remote control, only inches away from my fingertips. It was so tempting to spend the rest of the evening lying on the couch watching television.
No Eden! Get your lazy ass up and go running!
I dragged myself off the couch and walked grudgingly back into my bedroom in search of my jogging shoes. They were discarded in the very back of my closet. I threw on a pair of black sweats and a grey sweat shirt. I grabbed my wallet and keys and tucked them in the pockets of my sweat shirt. After locking my front door, I jogged slowly across the street to the park to begin my laps. Four pathetic laps later, here I was sprinting (okay limping) to the park bench where I started. Even though it was late in the evening and no one else was seemed to be around, I noticed somebody was sitting on the bench. As I neared, I realized it was a man. He was sitting on the bench staring out into the park. He was wearing dark jeans, a short sleeved black shirt, and his long dark hair fell around his face. He must have been deep in thought because when I finally reached the bench he didn't glance in my direction. I bent over attempting to catch my breath for several moments, waiting to see if he would acknowledge me. I peeked up through my bangs to examine the stranger. His blue eyes had a sad faraway look in them and his mouth was turned down in a frown. From his seated position I couldn't quite nail down his height but he had to be at least 6 feet. He looked like a man who could handle himself well. His right arm looked strong and muscular but it was his left arm that really caught my attention. It was metal! Not just a normal prosthetic you would see an amputee donning. This one was shaped to match his right, strong and muscular as well. Not even that metal arm could distract from the fact that this guy was gorgeous.
And here you are Eden, sweating like a pig in front of this tall, dark, and handsome guy.
It was that moment that the stranger glanced in my direction. Great!
"Hello….I'm sorry to disturb you. I just need to catch my breath for a moment, if you don't mind?", I added questioningly. "It's been a few months since I ran and it seems like I may have been more out of shape then I thought."
He just stared at me not saying a word. His face was emotionless. There was no anger in his eyes, there was just nothing. It was like he was looking through me. He looked lost and alone. If he wasn't a complete stranger, I may have wrapped him up in a hug and assured him that everything was going to be okay.
"I'm sorry", I stuttered. "I'll leave you alone."
I pulled myself up and turned to head back in the direction of my apartment when I heard him speak. "You can sit down if you want" he said quietly.
I looked back to see him scooting to one side of the bench to allow me to sit down.
"Thanks" I replied, grimacing as I attempted to sit down, ignoring the burning pain in my calves. I took the spot on his left, admiring his metal arm. "That's quite an arm you have there."
EDEN! Why did you just say that? IDIOT!
"You're not afraid of it?" He looked straight into my eyes as he said it. "No, why would I be afraid of it?" He stared at me for a few seconds, searching my face, possibly to see if what I said was the truth.
Goodness, is that why this guy looks like a beaten puppy? Are people really afraid of a guy with a metal arm?
"Most people are afraid of it…..of me", he said, turning his face to look away from me.
"Well I don't scare very easily and most people are jerks. You shouldn't pay attention to those kinds of people."
He turned back towards me and I was rewarded with a small smile on his lips. It made his already handsome face even more good looking…if that's even possible.
"My name Eden Page" I smiled, sticking my hand out to shake his.
I saw him hesitate before grasping my small hand in his large one and giving it a firm shake.
"My name is….Bucky".
"Well, it's nice to meet you Bucky. Do you live around here?"
"Yeah, I've been staying with my friend at his apartment." He turned to point to the apartment building right next to mine.
I chuckled and pointed to the building next to his, "Well it looks like we're neighbors Bucky, I live right over there."
Conversation came easily, mostly because he let me do all the talking….he just listened. It was nice to talk to a human being again. I realized in the last two months, I had only left my apartment to get groceries and pick up the mail.
Thank goodness I decided to take a run tonight instead of watching T.V. and scarfing down those Pringles.
I told him all about my work, my life before I moved to the city, my family….on and on I went. He asked questions occasionally but for the most part, he let me babble away while he stared out into the park. After a while, I realized I was probably boring the poor guy. His body posture had relaxed the more we talked and his eyes were closed.
"You must think I'm a nut, just going on and on about myself. I'm sorry, everyone's always told me I talk too much."
I looked down at my hands and stopped talking. When I glanced back up, he was looking at me intently with his blue eyes, his hair completely out of his face. He was so good looking. He turned his body toward me and I could see the muscles in his chest strain against the cotton fabric of his black shirt.
"I like listening to you, you have a nice voice" he said, not taking his eyes off of mine.
I giggled nervously and lowered my face to hide the pink creeping into my cheeks.
Did he just compliment me? This complete hottie telling me I have a nice voice.
I looked back up to see him still staring at me. We sat there, just looking at each other for what seemed like an eternity, but what could only have been for a few moments. A sudden burst of laughter from a group of people walking by finally brought me out of the spell he had me under. I looked down at my watch and realize it was nearing 10:00pm. We had been talking for over an hour.
"Wow, I didn't realize how late it was. I'm sorry I kept you so long."
"You apologize too much, it was a pleasure to sit with you", he said with another small smile at his lips.
I stood up quickly, which was a mistake. Apparently I had pushed myself too far from my run, and I didn't drink any water once it was over. I felt the cramp in my calf as soon as I put my foot on the ground. It shot up my leg and brought a gasp from my mouth. I felt myself falling over but instead of the cold, hard concrete, I felt a warm muscled arm snake around my waist and lift me back upright. Both of my hands grasped on to Bucky's chest to steady myself and I realized I had judged his height correctly. I could imagine how nice it would be to lay my head on his chest and stay wrapped in those arms. I looked up at his face and he stared down at mine. Being this close almost distracted me completely from the pain radiating from my leg.
"Thanks" I stuttered, looking away.
"Need some help getting home?" he asked.
I knew there was no way I was going to be able to limp home by myself. The cramp was so bad that I felt tears prickling at my eyes.
I will not cry in front of him!
"Yes please, if you don't mind" I asked shyly.
Before I knew what was even happening, he had scooped me up in his arms, wedding style.
"Put your arms around my neck" he said quietly.
I wrapped my arms around him and he set off across the street to my building. I laid my head on his shoulder and enjoyed those few moments it took to reach the front door of the complex. I struggled to get my keys out my sweatshirt and realized he would need to put me down in order for me to unlock the door. I smiled to myself when I realized he wasn't going to set me down unless I asked.
"Bucky, you'll have to put me down so I can get the door" I said with a smile.
He let me down so I could open the door and then scooped me back up instantly.
"Which apartment?"
"Second floor, apartment C2"
He nodded and carried me easily up the stairs to my front door. He let me down again so I could unlock my door. I opened the door, flicked on the light switch and felt myself instantly rise back into his arms. He carried me into my living room and laid me gently on the couch.
"Water?" he asked me.
"Yes please, in the kitchen, through that door" I pointed to my right.
He made his way quietly into kitchen and I could hear him open my fridge door. I looked around while I waited for him to return.
Good thing I cleaned my house this afternoon.
I should have been nervous, having a complete stranger in my home…someone I just met an hour or so ago. But I wasn't…for some reason I trusted Bucky. In fact, I was going to do everything I could to be friends with him. It seemed like that was what he needed, and I would be that for him. I heard him enter the room again with a bottle of water in his hand. I grabbed the bottle and took a long swig. He sat beside me as I drank the water, realizing finally how thirsty I was. After he was sure I would be okay, he sat up ready to leave.
"Thank you Bucky, I'm glad you were around."
He smiled at me, his blue eyes brightening.
"Any time Eden", he turned to leave.
"Bucky" he turned back to me. "Do you have any plans tomorrow?"
He just stared at me, thinking…
"I mean…I was only asking because I don't….and uh…I was thinking maybe we could get to know each other some more….I mean…if you want….we don't have to if you have plans" I could feel myself babbling again.
He put his hand up in a stop motion. "What time?"
I felt the smile on my face, from ear to ear.
"Noon? Maybe we could have lunch and then go from there?" I asked hopefully.
He nodded, "I'll be here tomorrow at noon. Be careful on that leg. Goodnight" He walked out and closed the door gently behind him.
I laid my head back and pulled the couch pillow up to my face and screamed into it my delight.