A Heart Break In Time

Flowers And Sauerkraut. You Got A Big Date Tonight?

I stared at Bucky both in shock an annoyance. "Please tell me you're joking." Bucky didn't answer, just kept looking at me, emotionless. "That was you I saw outside the room, wasn't it?" I didn't wait for an answer. "He had a nightmare. I'm sure you heard the scream, that's why you were there. I was there for him, just like I was there for you."

"You know he has feelings for you, don't you?"

"Buck, I can't do this right now. This is ridiculous."

Bucky's arms uncrossed as he stepped closer to me. "How? How is it ridiculous that we both want to be with you? We both got snapped, we come back, and five years later you're still wrapped up in our best friend. And we want you to be happy, but were you? I could count on one hand the amount of times I thought you were happy with him."

"Bucky-"

"No, no. Talia, I need you to listen to me. Really listen. You're the first person to make me feel normal. Not the Winter Soldier, not 40s Bucky. Me, now. You've never made me feel like I'm a murderer, never made me feel guilt for my past. Hell, I think you're the only reason Tony forgave me. You make me feel like I'm worth it."

I sighed. "Because you are. You are worth it. You're not either of those people. You're who you are now. But you also care so much about what Steve thinks... and I'm not ready for this. I'm sorry. I can't do this." I walked back to my room ignoring the coffee.

Flashback

"We have to see Tony, Steve. I gotta find him, he can't be..."

Steve sighed next to me. "We lost 50% of the population, Talia. Don't get your hopes up."

Steve didn't come with me as I walked to Tony's house. I knocked and a red eyed Pepper answered. "Talia?"

"Oh no. No no no." Tears started to pour from my eyes. I was holding it together but everyone was gone. "Pepper, I'm so sorry. I'm so..."

"He was on the ship. He went to space and... he never came back. Talia, why didn't he come back?"

I was speechless. I couldn't do anything except put my arms around her and hold her as she cried.

*

When there was a knock at my door later I just groaned in response. When it was Steve walking in my room I couldn't help myself, I groaned out. "You've got to be kidding me. What do you want, Rodgers?"

"I talked to Bucky." He walked forward but stopped at the foot of my bed.

"What's that gotta do with me?"

"Talia. Be an adult about this. You're interested in each other. I'm not going to stand in the way of that."

I sat up in my bed. "You are legitimately the last person I want to talk to about this."

Steve crossed his arms and stared at me. "You have feelings for him, right?"

"I don't know." I snapped. "I don't know what I fucking feel right now. All I know is I do not want to be talking to you about it, get out."

Steve started to respond but I shot him a glare and he stopped talking and left. I got dressed to go for a run. I really missed Natasha and Wanda. I can't handle all this testosterone in this place. I sent a text to Wanda.

Miss you. Come home soon.

And I laced my shoes up, put my headphones in and left, ignoring Sam trying to talk to me on my way out. I was running for about two minutes when I felt a strong gust of wind. And then when it happened again, I realized it wasn't a gust of wind at all. I rolled my eyes as Eva passed me another time. "Hello, Eva." I took my headphones out.

The gust suddenly stopped as Eva appeared next to me. Her long blonde hair was still swaying as she fixed her headband. "Hey, Angel wanted me to find you."

I stopped. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. We're good. We were wondering if we could do some shopping today. All of our clothes kind of got donated or sold when we disappeared five years ago. We only have what Fury gave us."

I nodded. "Yeah, let me get back and shower. You can tell the others to get ready. We can go wherever you want." I smiled and Eva returned it. To me, she had been the most guarded when they arrived. But it seems like she's opening up more and I loved it. I hoped the others were feeling the same way. I jogged back to the house since my run was cut short. I wrapped up my headphones as I walked back inside and Sam stopped me.

"Run without me? Never got my coffee."

"Shit. You're right, I'm sorry. It was a morning." I pulled my pony tail out and shook my hair. "Make it up to you?"

Sam smiled and leaned against the wall. "What're you offering, babydoll?"

"I'm taking the newbies out shopping. Wanna come?"

"Sure thing." He smiled.

"Great. I'm just gonna shower. Meet us here."

I stopped by my room to grab my towel and walked to the shower room. I looked around and didn't see anyone so I stripped and got in the stall. I started humming as I washed my hair, by the time I got to my body I was full on singing. I didn't stop as I turned the water off. I grabbed my towel and dried myself off quickly before leaving the stall. I stepped out and saw Kai, wearing nothing by a towel low around his hips. His arms and chest were toned without being overly muscled. My eyes scanned his body, looking over the scaring that covered most of his left side.

"You have a nice voice." Kai spoke and it brought my attention back to his face and I realized I was checking him out too long.

I blushed, pushing my hair behind my ear. "Uh, thanks. Sorry. Didn't think anyone was in here."

Kai smiled and I realized how beautiful his smile was. "You didn't seem to notice me come in. I was just quickly rinsing off before we left. I wanted to sneak out without bothering you. Sorry."

"No, no. You're more than welcome here. All over here." I smiled back and became overly aware of my nudity. "Um, I'm gonna... get dressed." Kai nodded and I walked out, feeling completely embarrassed about what just happened there.