"Hunters," the first one said. "Just passing through."

"We've got this under control, thanks," Reilly said, her voice cool.

"Of course you do," the second hunter said. "Still, couldn't hurt to have assistance, when a nest is allowed to get to this point."

"We have it handled," Aurora replied, just a touch too even.

"You've got a runner," the first one pointed out, bringing his crossbow up again.

Reilly looked over and swore. There were two runners, and one of them was Bucky. "The dark-haired one's with us," she said quickly. "Shoot him and I shoot you."

"Do NOT shoot them," Aurora said, putting herself between the newcomers and Steve and Bucky. "They're not a problem."

"Have you lost your mind?" one of the hunters asked, raising his crossbow again. Aurora held her machete out at him, pointed at his throat.

"Do. Not," she snarled.

The other held his hands up in a show of peace. For now.

Steve stopped a little ways away. The nest was completely demolished, everything was done. But Aurora was there, and clearly tensions were high between her and Reilly, and the other pair of hunters. He wasn't sure if it would be more helpful to keep away, or go see what was going on.

The second hunter kept his crossbow ready.

"I'm not sure what kind of hunter you think you are, but those're the leeches we hunt down, it's our job," he said.

"You take that shot and I will kill you," Aurora said.

"They're with us," Reilly said, her gaze hard as she watched the two.

The first hunter tilted his head, looking between them all. "Oh?" he asked.

Reilly glared at him before she turned and stalked over to Bucky. Just to prove he was harmless, she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down into a kiss, because that was the only way she could think of to prove that he wouldn't hurt them.

(Also she may or may not have been thinking about that for a while now, before everything imploded.)

Bucky's eyes widened in surprise when she did that.

"Mmph?"

Not that he objected, of course, he'd wanted to kiss her ever since he first saw her. But he still hadn't expected that.

The second hunter's face twisted in disgust.

Reilly pulled back after a few moments. "Just go along with it," she muttered to him.

The first hunter didn't look any more pleased about this. But he did take a step back and nudged his partner. "C'mon," he muttered.

"I will totally roll with this," Bucky murmured back, still looking a little baffled.

"You're just going to let this go?" his partner asked, looking at him. He still didn't quite lower his crossbow.

Reilly snorted quietly and glanced back at the other two hunters, one hand secured on the hilt of a throwing knife.

"What else is there to do?" he muttered back. "Get killed taking out a coupla worthless suckers?" He shook his head. "Not worth it until they go on a killing spree."

The second hunter snorted at that but finally lowered his crossbow.

"Fine, whatever," he said. "No skin off my nose."

The first hunter led the way away from them, back to their car. But he made a mental note to listen in on this area for the inevitable killing spree.

Reilly didn't relax until she heard their car start, a ways off. And then she heaved a sigh, her hands trembling just a little.

Aurora let out a shaky breath once they were gone. Slowly, she turned around to see Steve.

"Hey," Bucky said quietly. "Are you alright? Did you get hurt?"

Steve almost vibrated with wanting to go to her, but he held still. He needed to let her come to him.

"I'm fine," Reilly answered. "Well enough."

Aurora hesitated before slowly walking over to him.

"You're honestly okay?" Bucky fussed, checking her over for any injuries. "Not bleeding anywhere? I can't tell, everything smells like blood right now."

"Are you okay?" Steve asked quietly. "Not hurt?"

Reilly smiled dully. "I wasn't physically harmed." But she didn't stop him from fussing.

"No, not hurt," Aurora said, shaking her head a bit.

"Tell me what happened, what did they do to you?" Bucky asked, reaching over and taking her hand.

Steve stilled at that. "What happened?" He shuffled closer to her.

"Nothing," Reilly said. "I just. She was a kid, Bucky. Maybe seven or eight."

Aurora took a bit of a shaky breath.

"They were turning children," she said.

Bucky growled and pulled Reilly closer, holding her gently.

Steve looked at her for a moment before he slowly put an arm around her, holding her gently. "Sweetheart, I'm so sorry you had to see that."

Reilly nestled in closer to him, trying to stop herself from shaking. Now that everything was over, it was all hitting her, all at once.

Aurora cuddled into his arms, her breath hitching as she tried not to break down.

"I've got you," Bucky murmured, holding her close. "It's alright, I've got you."

Steve smoothed his hand over her hair, holding her closer and a little more firmly now that it looked like he wasn't going to get knifed for it.

Reilly managed to not break and stay silent, at least, but it took a while for the tremors to go away. She ended up leaning on him, hiding her face against his shoulder.

Aurora couldn't help starting to cry softly, burying her face in his shoulder and fisting her hand in his shirt.

"Come on," Bucky murmured. "Let's get you home."

Steve just held her, stroking her hair and letting her get it all out.

Reilly took a rather reluctant step back from him and nodded once. "Alright."