You Make Me Glow - Bucky Barnes POV

Chapter Five - Hiding the Truth

"Thanks for meeting me," Nat says as she pulls you in for a quick hug. She sent you a text this morning to meet her for coffee at a local coffeeshop not far from your house. 

"Of course!" You say with a smile, but you can feel that she didn't just ask you to meet for a friendly visit. What do I do, what should I say?? You can't lie to Nat and you both know it, but to tell her the truth? You know you can't do it.

You both put in your orders, then she leads you to a table in the far corner of the shop. She sits down across from you and crosses her arms across her chest. "All right, we didn't really get a chance to talk after the mission a fee days ago, so I wanted to catch you privately and ask again." She leans forward. "What's going on?"

You don't have any good words yet so you just shake your head and laugh. "Nat come on I don't know what you're talking about." Buy some time.

"No I think you do," She rests her hands on the table and drums her fingers a few times. "Sorry I'm just trying to think of what to say. Uhhh... well you've been acting weird for a while now, to start. You seem antsy all the time like someone is gonna jump on you." She drums her fingers again. "Youuu seem a lot more bright eyed and observant of details than before and, oh yeah, calling the chest DARK BROWN??" She squints at you. "Y/n, can you see color??"

"Your coffees, ladies." The waiter comes and sets two white mugs with foamy drinks. 

"Thank you..." You take a sip of your coffee and you feel your hands shake.

Nat drinks hers but her eyes never leave you. "Come on, Y/n, talk." When you don't answer right away, she pushes on. "Did you and Steve see color at the wedding? Or is it just you seeing color? You know what that means right?"

"Yes I do okay??" Your tone comes out sharper than you intended, and you see the surprise in Nat's face. Your breath catches in your throat, you try to speak but all that comes out is a squeak. "I-" Tears prick at your eyes, and soon they're running down your cheeks. No stop. But it doesn't stop.

Nat quickly stands and scoots her chair closer to you so she can throw her arms around you. "Y/n, what is going on??" She asks the same question, but now her tone is full of worry and compassion rather than demanding.

Once you've had a good cry and are thoroughly embarrassed as you become aware of people staring, you sniffle and wipe your eyes with a napkin. Its been so hard keeping this a secret from everyone, especially from Steve. You see the worry in Nat's eyes and realize it would help to let someone in on your secret. "Okay, I'll tell you, but you need to keep it a secret. Promise?"

Nat firmly nods her head. "Of course."

You take a deep breath. "Well..."

...

(Bucky's POV)

I guzzle a bottle of water as Steve and I stop at a street corner. We've been going on runs instead of hanging out with Y/n. I can't be around her, but I also can't not talk to my best friend. Plus, running is a nice escape to stop thinking about everything going on. Everything going on...

"Wow, I really have to get back in shape," Steve wheezes, wiping sweat off his forehead and drinking water. "Ever since the wedding I guess I've gone soft." He chuckles, "honeymoon weight."

Honeymoon... Married... I shake off the thoughts and lift my knees a few times. "Should we get back to it?"

Steve takes a deep breath and stretches his hamstrings a few times, then nods. "Yeah, let's go."

I pick up my pace and allow myself to only focus on moving my body. My eyes pushing straight forward as I feel my muscles tire but not allowing myself to stop.