Locked, Loaded, Loved ✔️ COMPLETE | UNDER EDITS

Chapter 7.1--Steve

Natasha was awake before me the next morning. Her shoes were still by the front door, so I figured she must still be here. And I was right. A minute later, Natasha walked out of the bathroom, her hair wrapped in a towel. She was already dressed for the day in a pair of black jeans, a strapless black top, and a white jacket. I shook my head, making sure she was real. I didn't remember that outfit.

"Morning, sleepyhead." She leaned over the bed and kissed me. "How'd you sleep?"

"Good. Do you have to work today?"

She smiled. "No. I'm going out with the girls to get a dress for Tony's party."

"Oh, sounds fun. About that..." I sat up a little straighter in bed, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

"Yeah?"

"Do I get to see what you choose before the party?" I asked.

She smiled mischievously. "You're gonna have to be patient, Steve. Don't worry—I'll help you pick a suit that matches. But you still have to ask me to be your date." She turned away from me, crossing her arms over her chest in mock anger.

"Ok." I pulled her next to me on the bed. "Natasha Romanoff, will you be my date to Tony's party on Saturday?"

"Hmm," she pretended to think about it, tapping her finger against her chin.

"Nat, c'mon!" I teased her.

She laughed. "Yes, I'll be your date." She leaned over and kissed me. I unraveled the towel from her head so I could tangle my hands in her hair.

"Mm, Steve?" she said after a minute, breaking the kiss.

"Yeah?"

"I really have to go. They're waiting on me."

I pouted and Natasha laughed.

"I'll see you later, ok?" she said.

I nodded. "Yeah. See you later. Have fun!" I gave her one last kiss before she slipped out of my room.

I went to take my shower and clean up the room a bit after she left. Just as I finished up, there was a knock at my door.

"Sam?" I called.

"It's Bucky. I, uh, forgot my key."

"Oh, just a sec." I pulled on my shirt before answering the door.

"Sorry about that," Bucky said when I opened the door.

"It's no problem," I told him. "That's why I'm here. Late night?"

"Something like that." Bucky started to change out of his clothes from the night before.

I gave him a look. He was doing that thing again where he hides something from me to protect me. And the last time he did that, it was because he kissed Nat.

Relax, I told myself. It's fine.

"Steve, don't look at me like that," Bucky said. I guess I wasn't hiding my suspicious expression the way I thought I was.

"I didn't—"

"Yes, you did. Look—" he pulled on a new shirt. "—I didn't want anyone to really know this."

"Know what?" I asked.

Bucky crossed the room to close and lock our door and make sure the lock on the connecting door was secure.

"Is it about you and Emery?" I asked, trying to gauge if I needed to play wingman.

"Sort of. Emery and I...we've sort of been doing our own research on the Alexei and Kristina situation."

My face fell. "Oh. What have you found?"

"Not much yet. But we did get a hit on one of Alexei's aliases."

"Where?" I asked.

"Manhattan. Emery and I have received clearance directly from Nick Fury to pursue the lead, but he wants us to wait a few days so he can have a team check it out first."

I nodded. "That makes sense. So when do you leave?"

"Saturday. After the party."

"Wow, that soon?" I asked.

Bucky glanced at me. "Yeah. We'll be gone for a few days. Em is really taking this to heart. She thinks...she thinks that the incident at the apartment—at Alexei's apartment—was her fault."

"How could it be her fault? I mean, I guess she could've double-crossed us, but I don't think she'd admit that even to someone she cared about."

Bucky shrugged. "I don't know. She didn't seem to remember what happened at the apartment."

That caught my attention. "What do you mean she didn't remember? Was it because she passed out?"

"I don't think so. And after what happened at the diner yesterday, I think I understand where she's coming from."

"I thought Tony said the facial analysis came back clean," I said, remembering what I'd heard through comms.

"Technically, yes. But Emery doesn't believe that. And neither do I."

"What do you think it was, then?" I asked.

"I'm not sure. But when Emery gets back to the compound, we're gonna pay a visit to her new co-worker."

"Just be careful when you do," I said. "If she's not who we think, things could go downhill fast."

Bucky clapped me on the shoulder. "We'll be careful, don't worry." He checked the clock on one of the bedside tables. "Listen, Steve, I gotta run. Clint is giving me an archery lesson in a few minutes and I don't want to make him angry."

I nodded. "I understand."

He got up and started for the door. "Oh, and if Nat asks, please don't tell her. I know how upset she was after yesterday, and I think this would just not turn out well."

"I won't tell her, but I can't promise she won't find out on her own. She's feisty," I said.

Bucky laughed. "Indeed she is. Alright, Steve, I'll see you later." He gave me a three-finger wave before leaving.

After our talk, I decided I needed to clear my head, so I headed down to the training room. If Emery was telling Bucky the truth...if she really didn't remember what happened at the apartment, then chances were she was not safe. I needed to replay the comms footage from yesterday. If Katya was somehow not an innocent civilian, then we were all in danger.

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A/N: I hope you enjoyed! Please remember to vote/comment :D

~Han