A Heart Break In Time

We're The Avengers. Not The Prevengers.

I pulled away from Kai. "Sorry, I just... I need some air, I think."

"Hey, want me to come with you?"

"No, I'm fine. Thanks." I gave my best attempt at a smile as I walked to the balcony. I opened the door and stepped through, feeling the breeze. I sighed as I leaned against the fence. Before Thanos... I rarely ever worried about missions. Ever. I was cocky and confident. We always won. And then we didn't. We lost. And we lost so much.

The second round against him, well. We definitely won. But at such a big cost... I don't think I could ever recover if we lost anyone else.

"Mind if I join you?"

I turned and saw Steve stepping through the door. "Sure, free country and all."

"Funny." Steve chuckled and leaned against the fence next to me. "That was quite a song there."

"Yeah? Thought you'd like it. Right up
Your alley." I said, sarcastically. It had been a disagreement between Steve and I for a while, he really wasn't very fond of the more... vulgar music that I liked.

Steve moved closer to me, his arm brushed against mine. "Well, maybe seeing you enjoy it so much changed my feelings on. Seeing you dancing can make anything tolerable, I think."

What? Was Steve flirting? No, no way. This was not like Steve, at all. Probably being sarcastic or playing a joke. "Right."

"I'm serious." Steve turned his body towards me, his right arm still leaning on the fence while his left one made its way to my left thigh. "Seeing you like that... was so different than I've ever seen you before." Steve slid his hand up my thigh as he leaned in. I froze. What the fuck? And then Steve's lips met mine. What the fucking fuck?

Flashback

I was sitting alone by the lake, Wanda had just called and told me that her and Vision had their first time. I replied how she sounded when she told me that she loved him. I was confused originally about their relationship, being as he was Jarvis, and now a person? But she loved him. Who was I to question that? I missed her, terribly.

"Ah, if it isn't the little puddle?" A voice from behind me spoke. T'Challa.

"Puddle?"

"Of course. The puddle that comes with a cube of ice." T'Challa chuckled at his joke as he sat next to me.

I laughed. "I don't know if I should be offended by the nickname or not."

"I mean no offense, I hope you do not mind if I say something a bit... forward." T'Challa seemed hesitant.

"Surely the king of Wakanda isn't asking little old me for permission to speak freely." I joked.

T'Challa gave a smile and continued. "My country is beautiful. I respect your loyalty for your friend however, you should be more than a puddle following a cube of ice."

"What would you suggest I do?"

"Ayo would love a new sparring partner." He suggested.

I laughed loudly. "Oh, so you'd have me get my ass beat? I'm sorry, but come on."

"She will go easy on you, she has assured me. Use this time to better yourself, little puddle. We will not wake him without you, you have my word. He is safe here. As are you." T'Challa got up and left without another word.

*

I was frozen. When Steve's hand went up, reaching my underwear, my brain snapped into place. I pushed him away, ready to curse him out. That happened to be the exact moment Bucky came through the door.

He looked back and forth between us, and noticing the pissed look on my face, instantly stepped in front of me. "What the hell, Steve?"

"Buck-" Steve started to speak but Bucky cut him off.

"Why don't you head inside, doll? I'll catch up with you." Bucky told me, without looking at me. I didn't even remotely have any idea what to say or do so I just listened, walking inside.

Wanda and Angel were instantly by my side, both asking if I was okay.

"No, yes. I don't know. I don't get what the hell is going on, honestly. I'm just-"

Before I could finish my statement, a pissed off Steve stormed into the room, right past me. His eye was red, like he'd been punched. I immediately worried about Bucky, but before I could go look for him, he came inside. His lip had a cut and was bleeding.

"Bucky!" I ran towards him. "Did he hit you?"

"Well, I hit him first so..."

"What?"

Bucky smirked. "Can't have him making a move on my girl. I already tolerate the other guy doing it." Bucky pointed with his thumb towards where Kai was.

I smiled at first but then a realization hit me. "Wait. Steve hit you?"

"Doll, I hit him first."

I shook my head. "No, Buck. Steve stopped fighting you when you were trying to kill him. He would have rather died than hurt you. And now he hit you for me? After leaving me for Peggy? Somethings not right." I tried my best to explain the best I can but Bucky didn't seem to get it. "Wanda?" I yelled and she came over. "Wanda, have you looked in Steve's head recently?"

"No, I haven't really talked to him... Why? Is everything all right?"

"I don't know. Can you go start a conversation, look inside, and then meet me in the lab?" I asked. Wanda immediately nodded and walked in the direction Steve left. I turned back to Bucky. "I'll get Bruce and you get Rhodey. But not Sam. If he knows, Angel knows."

"Doll..."

I grabbed his arm and looked him in the eye. "Bucky, please. Just do it."

"Okay." Bucky went to find Rhodey. I walked to the bar where Bruce was.

"Bruce, come on."

Bruce put his drink down and looked at me with worry. "Talia? Is everything okay? What's wrong? "

"I don't know yet. I'm hoping nothing."