Soul ties (Bucky Barnes AU)

Part 5

"And I'll use you as a focal point

So I don't lose sight of what I want"

"Oh! I didn't expect you so soon after the wedding," Bruce Banner said as you  walked into his lab. "Is everything alright?"

  "Of course, thanks for asking, though. I just ran into Steve, and he said you'd actually found something while I was gone?"

  A spark lit in Banner's eyes as he went around all his papers and tablets, searching for the information he wanted to share with you. Working with someone who was as passionate about science as you were was delightful : there was never an unproductive moment. You two were always thinking, bouncing off each other's ideas and coming up with useful inventions. You'd once helped two S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists, Fitz and Simmons, design "icers". They were non-lethal guns who could knock out theoretically anyone. 

  "See, we were talking about neural termination restaurations the other day. We thought it was next to impossible, since neurons are gone forever. But I was thinking..."

  And off you started... It would be hard to get you two to stop before dinner time. You were so caught up in your work, lab goggles over your eyes, that Bruce had to tap on your shoulder to show you someone was there. You shot your head up, ready to say you were busy, but your body froze as you saw Bucky. You  didn't expect to run into him so quickly. 

  "Hey! Need anything?" you asked as he leaned against the door frame, hands in his pockets.

  "No, I just... You guys are impressive."

  Bucky looked all around the lab and his mouth didn't seem to be able to close.

   "All this...is you two?"

   You let out a small laugh. "Stark helped out a lot, we have to admit. He provides us with the tech, and we handle the other sciences, you know."

  "What's your area?" he asked, his eyes coming back on you. 

  "Biochem and astrophysics."

  "So like...planets and stuff too?"

  "Yeah, basically."

   At the other side of the room, Bruce was trying not to smile : he could only imagine how hard it was for you not to get carried away by details and explaining how amazing and compelling constellations, solar systems and galaxies were. 

  "I love that stuff," Bucky breathed out. 

  "Alright, since you're not alone, y/n, I'll go grab some lunch."

  "Lunch already?"

  Bruce nodded and left the room after making sure you'd be up to work again in the afternoon. You  most certainly hadn't seen time go by and a sudden soreness in your eyes made you aware of what time it was. 

  "I should probably take a break as well," you admitted. You fiddled with your fingers, a little awkward now that you weren't busy working, before a brilliant idea came to your mind. "Do you want to see something, like...really cool?"

  "Obviously I do."

  "Okay, follow me." 

   You instinctively grabbed Bucky's hand and jumped with surprise at the texture of it. You lowered your eyes to look at it and he immediately moved his arm away from you. It was...metal. Well, you didn't expect that, but who cared?

  "I didn't know you had this," you said in a what wanted to be a casual tone.

  "Yeah, long story." His elusive answer proved he wasn't ready to tell you about it.