The flashing red and blue lights painted everything in quick pulses. Half a dozen patrol cars boxed in the busted warehouse behind you, and the subdued criminal. And standing there in the middle of it all was Bucky Barnes. Again.

You approached with your radio clipped to your shoulder, holstered weapon and badge both catching the dying sunlight. He gave you a nod when you stopped beside him.

“I feel like I should start charging you a commission,” you said, glancing over at the takedown. “That’s the third collar you’ve handed over this month.”

Bucky shrugged. “City’s full of bad people.”

“Yeah, well, they’re starting to think you work for us.”

“Do I get a badge?”

“No.”

You looked at him. He looked tired in the way that Bucky Barnes always looked tired. Not physically. Just heavy. Carried too much for too long. But tonight, something about him was a little lighter. Maybe it was the successful chase. Maybe it was the slight smugness tonight.

“You need a ride?” you asked, nodding toward your shop. “Pretty sure the subway’s running late. Again.”

He looked at you, hesitated for half a second, like he didn’t want to inconvenience you. Then nodded once. “Yeah. If it’s not too much trouble.”

“It is,” you said, walking toward the car, “but I’m doing it anyway.”

He huffed something close to a laugh, followed behind.

The car was quiet. No sirens, no chatter. Just the hum of tires and the glow of the dashboard in the dim interior. He sat in the passenger seat, one arm resting on the door, head turned to the window. You kept your eyes on the road, but the air between you wasn’t tense.

“Don’t usually do drop-offs,” you said eventually, glancing at him.

Bucky didn’t look over.

“But you’re making an exception?” he asked.

You shrugged.

“Well, you don’t technically exist in the system. So I can’t book you. And you keep doing our job for us. That earns you one free ride.”

“Just one?”

“Don’t push it.”

Another quiet beat passed. You watched the city blur by through the windshield. Bucky didn’t expect to be getting a ride home from a cop he was a little fond of. Something about you was just intriguing. The attraction was strange but undeniable.