Lifeline

To be forgotten.

"Miss L/N, Mr Stark is waiting for you in the lab" the A.I would say and you'd groan. The stare from Bucky was searing through your skin, you turned toward him and cupped his face. "Gotta go, duty calls my love." You placed a gentle kiss on his cheek and began to slip on some cute denim shorts. Bucky pouted, sitting back onto the bed and watching you get ready.

 "Do you really have to go? I'm sure Tony can manage." He huffed out whilst crossing his arms. Chuckling and slipping on your cropped, moss coloured button-up on top of a cropped white tank, you walked toward Bucky. He looked up to you with puppy dog eyes in hopes it would make you give in. Yet, you only leave him with a soft kiss on the forehead. You turn and leave, grabbing and putting on some simple, gold jewellery. 

You shuffle to the entrance of the labs only just slipping on your Dr Martens. "Hey, hey slowpoke. Don't fall and ruin my lab!" Tony laughed to himself. 

"Sorry... Bucky wouldn't let me leave." You'd sigh straightening your shirt. "What we doin' today?" 

Tony tapped on the screens as you meandered yourself around the scattered paper and metal parts. "Building the chicken better wings." He would quip, once again laughing to himself. You easily understood and started to work effortlessly with Tony. A few wires here, some extra metal panels there. It was like you were scripted into the lab.

A few hours had passed when Bruce walked in, fiddling with his thumbs and stuttering some words out. "Wanda's made lunch. If you guys aren't busy, the whole teams taking a break." He smiled shyly, you found it adorable as you knew he was capable of much more than shy smiles.

Tony nodded in response to Bruce. "Sure thing, we'll be right there." You said and Bruce quietly left. "C'mon nutrients awaits!" You patted Tony's shoulder grinning, he nodded again keeping his focus on the screen in front of him. "Tony?" He stepped back, crossing one of his arms under the other, which was stroking his chin. "Tony?" You called again, concern growing in your voice. Once he turned to you, you furrowed your eyebrows worried about the fact he is no longer talking (something extremely rare). 

"No- It's uh nothing. I'm gonna keep working, go ahead. Take a break, have fun with the team for me." Tony smiled, glints of something you couldn't place in his eyes. No amount of nagging would take him away from his work so you folded, nodding and leaving the lab.

As you got closer to the dining room the chatter got louder, making a smile appear on your face. You haven't been part of the team for long, you moved into the compound around 8 months ago after Tony had scouted you out in search of a new lab assistant. You ended up doing more than just being an assistant, turning into a colleague, a friend and then family. You got close to everyone pretty easily as you were somewhat of an extrovert. Wanda and Nat forced you to join their girls night and the three of you have practically been joined at the hip since then. You don't remember having such great friends as them, in fact, you don't remember much of your life before Tony had found you. It was all a haze. 

"Then tinman just started spinning around like an idiot!" a voice exclaimed followed by laughs and the repeated slapping of the table. Turning the corner to see the commotion you see Sam wheezing and Steve clasping his chest and throwing his head back in hysterics. Everyone was laughing except for one man. One grumpy, old assassin was sitting there with crossed arms and a frown.

"Is this about the mission in Croatia?" you breathed out, giggling as you sat next to the grumpy man. "The man was so irked that night he pouted 'til he fell asleep" you snorted and stared at Bucky. The group laughed as you kept your eyes on his blue ones, he tried to keep up his grouchy frown but as your lips curled into a bigger smile all he could do was grin along with you.