The Night We Met | Steve / Bucky

forty-four - echo

Ten Days.

It had been ten days since the snap. Katherine, Steve, Rhodey, Natasha and Bruce resided back in the Avengers Compound. Pepper stayed in her room most days - Katherine bringing her breakfast, lunch and dinner and bringing her on the occasional walk around the compound. Pepper was appreciative of Katherine's efforts but she felt too numb to show her gratitude. But Katherine knew her intent - Katherine owed her for the weeks Pepper spent looking after her while she was in recovery. Katherine knew Pepper didn't want to be at the Compound. Katherine had known for a while - Tony and Pepper purchased a lakeside cabin that had yet to be lived in as Tony and Pepper moved to the Compound full time to care for Katherine. 

Katherine was happy Pepper was at the Compound, she couldn't bare the thought of Pepper being alone. Ten days was a long time and hope was wearing thin but Katherine, as much as it pained her, reassured Pepper that Tony was fine and he would soon return. 

The sun had set, darkness set upon the Compound. Katherine made her way to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator, the light hurting her eyes. She squinted while reaching in and taking out a bottle of beer - Budweiser. Katherine closed the refrigerator door over, plummeting the kitchen back into the darkness once again. Katherine placed the bottle down on the kitchen island, looking through the drawers for a bottle opener, "Damn it." Katherine cursed under her breath, slamming the drawer shut after unsuccessfully locating the bottle opener. 

All of a sudden the lights flicked on, startling Katherine. Katherine snapped her head toward the light switch at the entrance to the kitchen, "Are we really going to do this again?" Steve asked, folding his arms entering the kitchen. 

Katherine rolled her eyes, pulling the top off the bottle with her hand. "Bite my ass, Rogers." She tossed the cap on the counter. 

Steve slowly approached, standing on the opposite side of the kitchen island. Katherine picked up the bottle, taking a large swig from the bottle, "Katherine." Steve sighed, leaning his folded forearms on the island, looking to Katherine. "You haven't been down to the labs. We've made progress -"

"- Stop." Katherine interjected. She took a step back, leaning against the countertops looking to Steve. She took another large swig from the bottle, "We lost. Thanos has wiped out half of the planet. Tony -" Katherine paused for a moment trying to stop her voice from breaking. She let out a heavy breath, "And Tony is probably floating somewhere in space right now." Steve looked to Katherine, watching her continue to drink - flashbacks haunting his brain. "I'm done."

"But Kat -"

"- But nothing, Steve!" Katherine exclaimed slamming the bottle down on the countertop beside her, "We lost! Why can't you understand that?" Katherine paused for a moment, "I have lost so much." Katherine's voice trembled but she quickly recomposed herself. Steve didn't say anything, "I've lost my hands, my brother, Bucky and you."

Steve stood up straight exhaling, "You didn't lose me, Kat."

Katherine narrowed her eyes to him, "Or was it that I never had you?"

"Kat. Stop, you're drunk." Steve sighed walking around the kitchen island toward Katherine. Steve could smell beer from Katherine whenever he passed her in the Compound. He knew she was drinking again. It was her way of coping - Steve understood that. 

Katherine shook her head, "Fuck you, Steve." She spat offended by his words. 

Steve didn't take offence to her words. He approached her, holding either side of her head. He held her head tightly, forcing her eyes to look to his, "You didn't lose me." He spoke gently, "You'll never lose me. I love you, Kat."