The Girl Who Would Be Queen

Chapter 11

She manages to get herself into the shower and then changes into pajamas before sitting down on the couch with her iPad. She starts to go through the schematics for previous Iron-Man type machines when she hears a knock at her door.

"Did you forget something?" She asks, assuming the knock is Loki. She opens the door to find Bucky standing outside holding a bag of chinese food.

"Bucky!" She yells and hugs him. "Ugh, I've been so worried about you- you guys!"

He laughs and returns the hug. "We just got back in a few hours ago. I had some briefs to attend and Tony suggested that you might not want to wait to see me so I brought over some dinner."

"Um, yes! You can invite yourself over anytime, especially if you bring food," she jokes and moves out of the way. "Please come in, make yourself at home. I'll grab some plates and stuff."

He smiles and walks in, taking a seat at her kitchen island. Lyria sets a plate and some utensils before him and walks to the fridge.

"Beer?"

"Yes please."

She nods and pulls out two beers before taking her place in the seat next to him. They both break into the chinese food and pour some on each of their plates. Lyria hands her beer to Bucky who rolls his eyes before using his metal arm to take the top off.

"So, how was your mission? You guys were gone for a while."

"It was a week, Lyria."

"Far too long and you didn't answer my question."

He rolls his eyes playfully and takes another sip of his beer. "The mission was successful but very sweaty."

She lifts her eyebrow, inviting him to elaborate.

"There were only so many beds so Steve and I had to share a small spot on the ground. Super soldiers generate a LOT of heat so just imagine two of them sleeping next to each other in the middle of the Mexican desert. It was not the best smelling trip," he laughs. "So tell me about you. What did you do while I was gone?"

"Well besides this weekend, all I did was work at Stark Tower alternating between studying suit design schematics and medical research."

"What did you do this weekend?"

"I went on a date actually. It caught me completely by surprise but it was actually a really really nice time. I was able to paint some scenery that was absolutely perfect and had a shit ton of pancakes."

"Wow. That sounds like you had a great time," he says before throwing back the rest of his beer. "Another one please?"

She nods and immediately gets up to get him one.

"I didn't even realize you were on the market," he adds.

"I wasn't really. I mean there were a few people I was interested in but then nothing really happened so when he asked me I just said yes. I've been trying to get better by just trusting my gut and acting more impulsively. I'm really happy I did though."

"So you two are dating? When do I get to meet him? What is his name? Where did you meet?"

Lyria nervously bites on her lip, a movement that goes undetected by Buck. "His name is None-ya and his social security number is 000-00-0001," she teases.

Bucky playfully covers his heart and dramatically calls out. "Oh my heart, I thought we were friends and yet I get no details."

"You are the most dramatic old man I've ever met. I'll give you more details when things get more serious."