Stark's Little Stardust

13: Time Irregularities

Back in 2019, Sam and Bucky walked briskly along the road that wound around the Avengers compound. The late afternoon sun cast a long shadow on the path, and a breeze tugged at the edges of their jackets. The two friends had been silent for a while, both deep in thought about their recent suspicions.

Sam finally broke the silence, glancing at Bucky. "Y'know, I feel like something's off with Steve and Dr. Banner. And I haven't seen Y/N since Stark's funeral. Any idea where she might be?"

Bucky shook his head, keeping his gaze on the road ahead. "No clue, Sam. But yeah, something doesn't feel right. Steve's been dodging questions, and Y/N...it's like she vanished without a trace."

"Think they're hiding something?" Sam asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Wouldn't be the first time," Bucky replied, though his voice held a hint of worry. "There might be a connection. But I don't know what they're keeping from us."

Sam nodded, his eyes narrowing as they walked. "So, what's your take? You got a plan, Sergeant Barnes?"

Bucky looked down and exhaled, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Oh, don't turn this on me. You're the one who comes up with plans, remember? Don't drag me into this."

Sam rolled his eyes, nudging Bucky's shoulder. "Fine. But don't expect me to do all the heavy lifting here. We've gotta get some answers out of those two, one way or another."

Before Bucky could respond, a jeep slowed down beside them. Behind the wheel, John Walker leaned over with a half-grin, while his partner Lamar Hoskins sat in the passenger seat.

"You two need a lift?" John asked, tilting his head slightly, trying to sound casual.

Bucky and Sam exchanged a glance before responding in unison. "Depends. You heading toward the Avengers compound?"

Lamar chimed in with a nod. "Not exactly, but close enough. We can drop you off on the way."

John motioned to the back seats. "C'mon, hop in. We're practically headed there anyway."

Reluctantly, Sam and Bucky climbed into the back, exchanging wary glances. The ride started smoothly enough, but an awkward silence soon settled between the two pairs. Bucky stared coldly at John from the rearview mirror, eyes narrowed, his shoulders tense. John noticed but kept his attention forward, muttering to Lamar, "He still got that stare going. I didn't even say anything."

Lamar gave a sheepish smile, trying to diffuse the tension. "Guess it's a force of habit. He looks at everyone like that." John rolled his eyes but stayed silent, letting the ride continue without further comments.

As the jeep approached the Avengers compound, Sam cleared his throat. "You can drop us off here. Thanks for the ride."

John nodded, bringing the jeep to a stop as Sam and Bucky climbed out. Watching them go, he looked over at Lamar with a shake of his head. "I'll never get used to that guy's death stare," he muttered, chuckling.

Meanwhile, Steve and Bruce were just stepping out of the compound, deep in conversation. When they noticed Sam and Bucky approaching, both stopped short, sharing a glance that conveyed unspoken thoughts. Bucky and Sam met them head-on, their expressions tense.

"Alright, you two," Sam said, crossing his arms. "You owe us an explanation."

Steve looked over at Bruce, then back to the two men. He hesitated, but Bruce spoke up first with a sigh. "Well, well, Captain. Looks like everyone's here for answers."

"Yeah," Sam added, his gaze piercing. "So why don't you just tell us what's going on?"

Bucky nodded. "Sam's right. We're all on the same team here, aren't we?"

Steve shifted uncomfortably, glancing around as if weighing his options. "Now's...not the best time, fellas. Trust me on this."

Suddenly, a bright flash appeared, and a swirling, golden-tinted portal opened up behind Steve and Bruce. Stepping through, Mobius from the TVA appeared, straightening his jacket and taking in the surprised faces around him. "Hey, sorry for dropping in like this. Is Dr. Banner here?"

Everyone froze, confusion crossing their faces. Bruce furrowed his brow, looking at Mobius in astonishment. "Wait—how did you—"

Mobius waved a hand dismissively, cutting him off. "That's not important. What is important is that you hear me out."

All eyes were on Mobius as he continued. "There's a lot at stake here, and we need to keep things in order." His gaze drifted from Bruce to Steve, then to Sam and Bucky. "Especially if we're dealing with...well, let's just say, some 'timeline irregularities.'"

Meanwhile, back in 2012, you were at Stark Tower with Tony, having a quiet moment as you watched the city lights stretch across the skyline. Out of nowhere, a sudden tickling sensation crept up your nose, and you sneezed, catching Tony's attention.

"Hey, you okay, Stardust?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he studied you, a faint look of concern in his eyes.

You gave him a thumbs-up with both hands and nodded enthusiastically. "Completely fine, dada!"

Tony chuckled, ruffling your hair. "Good to know. Wouldn't want my little sidekick under the weather."

As you settled back, you couldn't help but feel a little spark of warmth from the care and attention Tony always gave you. You brushed off the odd sneeze, thinking to yourself, Maybe someone's thinking about me.