The Witch He Loved

Chapter 12

*Bang bang bang*

I jolt awake into a sitting position, coming back from a dreamless sleep, looking around confusion pulls at my mind until I meet Bucks eyes and remember what had happened.

I had lost it. Disappointment claws at my chest when I think of how I could have hurt someone. 

I'm not sure if Bucky could read my expression or if he knew what was going through my mind but he quietly stood, moving across the room and crouching down beside the bed next to me.

"Hey, how you feeling?" He looks over me to try and find any indication of how I am. 

"I'm fine Ace, Just emotionally spent, today was a tough day. How long was I asleep?"

He opens his mouth to respond but gets cut off by another series of bangs.

"Come on Kathy, open the door." Tony's muffled voice is heard from outside the room but he's not knocking on Bucky's door, he's knocking on mine.

I look at the door and sigh, pulling myself out of the comfort of his bed, Bucky stands and steps back so I have space. 

"It's almost 7 now, you've been asleep for about 5 hours."

"And how long has he been out there?" I gesture to the door with an amused expression. 

He smirks at me. "About 20 minutes"

"Great, wish me luck" 

With a huff I shuffle past him and open the door seeing Tony gently banging his head against my door. 

"I swear to god kid, I'll break the door down"

"Tony" I get his attention, he turns and looks me over, an eyebrow raised, no doubt questioning why I'm not coming out of my own room. 

I shove a hand into the pocket of my jeans pulling out a 20 and holding it out to him. He looks at it for a moment before taking it with a sigh.

"Guess I'm getting up early tomorrow then" He grumbles but there is a hint of amusement in his voice. He smirks and puts his arm around my shoulders, walking us down the corridor toward the living room and kitchen.

"So, what's going on with you two?" I raise my eyebrow at his question.

"Me and Bucky? Nothing is going on between us." Making it to the living room you see Steve Thor and Loki already sat around but Tony smoothly averts them and leads us over to the mini bar at the other side of the room, farthest away from everyone, he quickly gets to work pouring us both a drink before we sit side by side looking over everyone. 

"Oh really? Because you two have been spending a lot of time together recently." 

Bucky walks in at that precise moment, his eyes finding mine as he walks, we smile at each other before his attention shifts to Steve who is introducing him to the brothers.

"And you keep giving each other those looks." 

"Tony listen- " 

"And he looks like he wants to tear Loki in half." He mumbles into his glass, knocking back the dark liquid but keeping his eyes on the boys. 

I can't help but watch them either, Loki and Bucky shake hands stiffly but the glares they give each other is anything but friendly. 

An unamused chuckle leaves me as I turn back to Tony. "You wanna know something pops?" 

He inclines his head to me, a sign he is listening but his eyes stay looking ahead. 

"I think I need to eat something before I drink this." I look down at your glass, swirling the contents around before shrugging my shoulders and knocking it back, savouring the burn as it slides down my throat. 

"You're overthinking this Bucky thing, we've been spending a lot of time together because I've been working with him. It's not like we really spoke in those sessions though pops, I've been stuck in his head." 

"Hmm" He sounds like he wants to say more on the matter but he doesn't "We should go and sit with them."  

I give him a look but follow him anyway, quickly taking stock of where everyone is sitting. Bucky and Steve are sharing a couch as usual. Thor is sat on the couch I usually sit on, with Loki sat at the other end, a space empty between them. 

Tony flops onto his chair leaning back and getting comfortable immediately. I decide to forgo my usual spot, sitting beside Tony instead, I cross my legs and lean my head on his shoulder, listening to Steve talk about what they missed while they were gone. 

I look over at Thor, he looks like he's grown up in the time he's been gone, his hair is longer and tied back neatly, his face has a more mature tone to it. As if he felt eyes on him he turns to look at me, an amused expression coming to him, he wiggles his eyebrows at me and I wrinkle my nose at him but we both grin at each other. 

Time passes, Tony orders pizza for everyone and I stay quiet, enjoying listening to everyone talk. Until Steve get's to more recent events. 

"So that's how we got Bucky back here, we worked on getting him some help for his mind but then Kathy thought that she would be able to help so- " 

"Steve." I cut him off, everyone's eyes focus on me as I finally say something. "I think that's enough for tonight."

"I'm just telling them that- " 

"That's enough." I tell him quietly.

Bucky nudges him gaining his attention, they share a look, frowning at each other as they seem to have a conversation without words. Steve scratches the back of his head with a sigh before looking back over to me with a smile. "Yeah, of course. I'm going to head to bed, it's getting late." 

Everyone agrees and stands up, I say goodnight and pick up the empty pizza boxes that had been left on the table, feeling a set of eyes burning into my back as I walk into the kitchen and throw them in the bin.

 Taking a breath and leaning my hands against the counter I let my head fall forward, hanging between my shoulders my hair falls around my face, blocking my view of my surroundings.

It'd been a long day, emotionally spent and mentally exhausted from everything that had happened. I was almost ready to crawl my way back to bed but after sleeping for so long I felt restless, agitated. 

Straightening and pushing my hair back I listen to the sounds of everyone leaving the other room. A few minutes pass until I hear everyone leave, walking back out I pass through the lounge and make my way outside. 

Pushing myself through the doors, the cool night air touches my face but I can't relax, not yet. The floodlights surrounding the compound glare at me as I walk away from the entrance I keep going until I'm at the familiar patch of grass next to the lake.

The glow of the lights from behind me is dimmer now, the reflection bouncing gently off the surface of the water. 

Slipping off my shoes and socks I set them down beside me before sitting on the bank, I reach down to roll up my trousers, leaving them just below the knee and dipping my feet into the cold water. 

Soon I won't be able to do this, the weather is growing colder each day so I want to enjoy it while I can.

I sit there for a while, letting my mind process what had happened. Part of me was overjoyed that he was back but with the way he had returned, my anger and hurt was taking over.

I absentmindedly trace the patterns on my stomach. 

Why was he showing up now? When it had been so long?

Unsure of how much time has passed I take my feet out of the water, rubbing my hands against them to give them back some warmth. I pick up my shoes and stand, walking back toward the entrance.

I make it to our shared corridor, stopping outside my door I look down the hall at his door. I could knock on it, demand the answers I seek but I'm too tired for a confrontation with him. It can wait.

Opening the door I feel the comfort of my room surround me. Keeping the lights off I drop my shoes next to the door before shutting it behind me, quietly I get dressed for bed, changing into my normal T-shirt and shorts. Getting into bed I curl up beneath my sheets, letting them surround me in warmth.