Doll. // Bucky Barnes X OC

EIGHT

The next morning, Melany woke up in her bed alone. The other side of the bed was made with a note lying on the pillow. She rolled over, grabbing the note. Her head was pounding from her drinking last night.

I wanted to let you sleep, last night was a lot for you. ;)

Sharon wanted to talk this morning so I went down to the training area with her. I should be there when you get up, come find me.

I love you.

Steve

Melany smiled, tracing her fingers over the pen scribbles. She bit her lip as she flung herself out of the bed. She grabbed a change of clothes for after her shower. She shed Steve's large t-shirt off her and stepped into the hot water. She washed the pain out of her muscles from dancing and her night of intense sex.

But even as she thought about it, a small pit formed in her stomach. It had been intense, passionate... but it hadn't felt like her. It had been thrilling, yes, but it had been a performance - an act they were both caught up in rather than something truly connecting them. Her mind drifted immediately to the man across the hallway: Bucky.

There was something different about him. He was protective in a way that was almost scary if she really thought about it. Caring. Present. He hadn't needed a message to know how to show up when she'd been drunk. He just had. The contrast hit her like a wave: Steve's passion had been wild, but Bucky's attention felt like it could be real.

-

Meanwhile, Steve and Sharon were walking outside around the building. 

"I wanted to talk about us." Sharon spoke up after a moment of silence.

"What do you mean?" Steve looked at her, furrowing his brow and a small, hopeful smile on his face.

Despite what happened last night with Melany, there was something that happened to Steve when they found Sharon at the HYDRA base. She knew they were coming, she found them at the Quinjet 25 miles out from the base. All he could think about was before she left, and how happy they were.

"I remember you saying you'd wait for me to get back, and we could start where we left off." She sighed. "I know about the ring," she looked down at her feet, biting her lip. She hoped that after everything he would just take her back. I mean, he was going to propose to her.

Steve sighed, putting his hands on his hips, looking down at her he said, "Sharon, I'm with Melany. I can't do this with you." He sighed, trying to push past her.

"Steve, wait. Please." She placed her hand on his chest. "You can't be that serious about her can you?"

"You know I hate begging." She said, standing in front of him. "But, here I am, begging you." She paused. "That should tell you how much you mean to me. We had three years together Steve, and you're throwing that away for someone like her?"

Steve grabbed her hands. "You threw it away when you accepted the job at the HYDRA base. I told you not to fucking go. So stop trying to pin this on me, Sharon."

He felt Sharon pull on him as the front of the compound doors opened.

"Steve—" Melany walked out to the front where she saw him, but was cut off.

Sharon had pulled herself to Steve, kissing him. From Melany's angle, it looked like he had kissed her back. Her chest constricted as tears welled in her eyes. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe, couldn't process.

Sharon pulled back roughly, acting like the victim and quickly pulling her hands back to her. "You're disgusting!" She yelled at Steve.

Steve stood there, shocked. He looked at Melany, whose tears now streamed freely. Sharon turned and walked into the compound, her face twisted into a false innocence.