The Night We Met | Steve / Bucky

ten - paralyzed

The rest of the evening was spent helping Laura and Clint clean up. Lila and Cooper, their children, had gone to bed for the evening. Natasha, Clint and Steve helped clean the kitchen while Katherine helped Laura clean the living room. Cleaning the living room consisted of picking up bits of legos from the floor, putting away crayons and returning the couch cushions to where they belonged. Katherine couldn't help but notice Laura's protruding bump as she bent down to pick up one of Lila's barbie dolls. "I'll get that." Katherine spoke, bending down in front of Laura and picking up the young girls' toys. 

"Oh thank you." Laura spoke, sitting down on the couch, placing a hand on her bump. 

Katherine put the doll on the coffee table, sitting down on the couch also, "When are you due?" 

Laura smiled, "In two months." 

Katherine returned the smile, not really knowing how to interact. Katherine had never really interacted with many new people. The only people she ever knew where HYDRA agents and eventually Stricker and the Maximoffs. Laura also didn't know what to say to Katherine. Clint briefed her about the young Stark but was warned not to ask anything. If anything Laura held some fear toward the girl. She possess a greater power than most her husband has ever seen and the damage she could inflict could be deadly. But the more time Laura spoke with Katherine, the more she let her guard down. The same went for the rest of the team - but Tony had warned them that she would be fine. Something Tony wasn't fully confident with. Katherine was still unstable and he knew she was putting on a brave face. 

-

Katherine retired to her room for the evening. She tied her hair up and washed her face. She moved the remaining of the clothes laid out for her into the closet space where she found some dresses, skirts and jumpers that Laura must have left for her while she was in the shower. That gesture alone warmed Katherine's heart. 

Katherine locked the window and closed the curtains descending the room into darkness. Katherine lit the room by the bedside lamp. Katherine felt her heart beat a little faster as the thought of sleeping scared her. She hadn't slept in a bed, in a room since her time in HYDRA. And it wasn't a peaceful nights' sleep. Without her realizing, her hands became quite shaky. 

Katherine left her room and went down the hall where the rest of the team retired for the night. Katherine went to the last door on the left and knocked awaiting Tony to answer. The door swung open but it wasn't Tony, "Oh, I'm so sorry." Katherine said in a whisper as she came face to face with Steve. He wore his signature Captain America gear, his shield on his back "I - I'm sorry. I was looking for - sorry." She flustered before really noticing his clothes of choice, "Wait, are you going somewhere?" Katherine placed one hand on her hip. She didn't give Steve a chance to respond, "Wait, were you going to leave me?" 

"Ka -"

Katherine turned on her heel and walked back to her room, closing the door behind her as her breaths became quite heavy. She sat on the edge of the bed with her head on her hands. Was Tony really going to leave her without saying anything. Now she was lost. She knew that she had to get through this without help, eventually. She's been alone for twenty-five years. How could she not do the basic of things alone? Bucky entered her head but she quickly tried to shake him. A knock soon disrupted Katherine's thoughts, "Katherine." Steve's voice whispered from the opposite side of the door, "It's only me."

Katherine jumped from the bed but hesitated to open the door. But she was too curious to not ask questions and find out what's going on so opened the door slightly, peeking her head in the opening to see Steve. "Hi." She smiled.