The Night We Met | Steve / Bucky

seventeen - train wreck

Present Day

Steve along with the rest of the team felt defeated after Lagos. Although they accomplished their mission, there were several casualties from Wanda's use of power on Rumlow. Wanda kept to herself, remaining her in room - only speaking to Vision if she had to. 

Steve couldn't shake Katherine from his mind. He had her in his hands and he let her go. It had been a year since she left and she was the only thing he thought about for months. When Stark would visit, he would not mention her - denying the fact he lost his sister again. They all felt they lost her, never to be found. But there was something in her eyes that Steve couldn't shake. She was changed, she was different. She wasn't the same Katherine as before. It scared him to think - she was vulnerable to Steve, opened up to him and it only made him worry for her more. 

Steve approached the fridge, getting a bottle of water. It had been a week since Lagos, and the team were still shaken up. Steve worried for Wanda but thought it best to leave Vision to guide her from her room. Steve took a glug from his water, sighing heavily trying to discard the memories from his mind - the screams, the fire, Katherine. 

Steve never told anyone about the night they shared;

The sunlight hit his eyes. He cracked them open. The first thing he noticed was the morning sun streaming through the windows. Steve groaned, rolling over to find the other side of the bed empty. It shouldn't be empty. Steve sat up, looking at the empty space beside him, the bed covers made tightly as if someone went out of their way to make the bed after they fled from it. Steve sighed, thinking of the events from the previous night. Him and Katherine. It was the first time in a long time that Steve felt peace and he was happy. But now, sadness took over him. He hoped she would stay, but even he knew he couldn't stop her. Steve climbed from the bed, retrieving his clothing from the floor. He threw his sweats on and pulled his shirt over his head. He opened the door, coming face to face with Sam who was doing push-ups in his room directly opposite to Katherine's room. Steve sighed, knowing he would have to be the one to inform everyone of Katherine's departure. Sam looked up, noticing the door open. Sam stood, expecting to come face to face with the young Stark but instead his close friend. His brows furrowed but then the realization hit him, "Wow." Was all Sam could say, nodding his head with a goofy smile on his face. "I was not expecting that." He chuckled to himself. "Can't wait for you to tell Stark."

Steve felt the color drain from his face. Tony. How could he possibly tell Tony of the events with Katherine. It wasn't an option. It simply was not an option to inform Tony. Steve rubbed his hand across his forehead, "Yeah, we're not going to say anything." He said, clearing his throat. Steve paused for a moment, "She left."

Sam looked to Steve for a moment and then burst out laughing, "That's a good one. You hit that and she ups and leaves you. Classic."

"No." Steve was quick to answer, "She's gone gone. She left the team."

Sam's manor changed, realizing that Steve was being serious. Sam cleared his throat and nodded his head, "Did she say if she was coming back?" Sam wouldn't admit it, but Katherine was quite powerful and a great asset to the team. Although he doesn't know her well, he knew her intentions were good and someone he would want to have on the team. 

Steve shook his head, "I don't think she will. I'll call a meeting with the team to break the news."

That morning replays in Steve's mind every day. Although he didn't know Katherine for long, he felt something with her, something he hadn't experienced since coming out of the ice. Something he hadn't experience since Peggy. She was different, feisty, a fighter - just like Peggy. She wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty and he wasn't afraid to be vulnerable around her.