A Heart Break In Time

Guys. I Think It Worked!

When I got back to the compound, Bucky was out dropping Peter off. Most of everyone called it a night. Except Sam was sitting alone in the living room, his head in his hands. I sat next to him and placed my arm around him. "Sammy? You okay?"

"How did we not know, Talia? How didn't we see it?" He spoke into his hands. He didn't look up at me. Just stayed in his spot.

I tightened my arm around him. "We can't feel guilty about it. We have to focus right now. Wanda said she can fix it. He's fixable. And you know Steve. He won't blame us for not noticing." He didn't answer me. "Come on, you know Steve won't be mad at you. He loves you. Me however, I moved on to his best friend." I joked.

It worked, Sam chuckled and looked up at me. "You're right, you're so fucked. You and Bucky both."

"We're both what?" Bucky spoke from the doorway.

"Fucked when Steve finds out about us." I laughed.

Bucky shook his head. "Nah, I can take the punk. We'll be fine." He sat on the other side of Sam. "You all right?"

"Yeah." Sam nodded.

"Hey, we're in this mess together, all right? None of us noticed. We're the closest people the man has and we didn't notice. He himself didn't even notice, I mean. It took Wanda to tell us." I reached my hands out for both guys to take and they did, they both interlocked our fingers and I sighed. "We should crash, we got a long day ahead of us."

Sam stood up first. "You're right. Thanks again, Talia. Goodnight, don't have too much fun you two." He winked at us.

"Yeah yeah, tell Angel I said hi!" I yelled after him.

Bucky chuckled beside me, still holding my hand. "So uh, you ready for bed?"

"Yeah, I think I am." I stood up and started to walk away. When I realized that he wasn't following me I stopped and turned around. "You coming or not, Sargent?"

Bucky jumped up from the couch. "I'm coming, doll!" He quickly caught up to me and wrapped his arms around me from behind, shuffling with me as we walked to my room like this.

Flashback

"I have been told that you could use some training practice." Okoye suddenly showed up behind me.

"Jesus, you Wakandans are going to give me a damn heart attack. Do you float or something?" I said, gasping at my chest dramatically.

Okoye gave a small chuckle. "Enough of the theatrics, come along. We will get you in shape soon enough." She started to walk away.

"Uh, I'm an Avenger. I'm not out of shape." I argued, following her.

"Oh, my apologizes, then. We will have you become a suitable sparring partner soon enough." She continued walking ahead of me.

"Wait, we?"

"Yes, the Dora Milaje. Hurry up, you are so slow."

*

I woke up the next morning to Jarvis. "Miss Aimilios, you are being requested in the conference room."

I groaned. "Thanks, Jarvis." I rolled over and saw Bucky pulling a pillow over his head. "Come on, Buck. It's T'Challa and Shuri." I heard his mumble back something, I wasn't sure what he really said but I assumed it had something to do with coffee. "I'll go get us two cups, when I get back, your pants better be on at least." I smacked his butt through the blanket and pulled on some sweats and a t shirt, walking to the kitchen. I started the pot and Eva suddenly was next to me.

"Hey! You're late!" She grinned at me.

"Apparently, so are you." I smirked at her as I reached to grab two cups for Bucky and I. I felt a rush of wind so I assumed she left.

When the coffee finished I prepared them and walked back to my room, I knocked with my knee and Bucky opened it. He had put on pants, but that was all. He greeted me with a kiss and took the cup that was his from my hand. We walked back to my bed and snuggled as we sipped at our coffee.

"You know what really sucks?" Bucky spoke with a sigh. "I was having such a great fuckin' night, you know?"

"Me too." I smiled. "For the most part."

"The most part?"

I shrugged. "It's no big deal."

Bucky placed his cup on the nightstand. "Doll, come on."

"I... I started to think about today, and the mission. And just... how bad our last one went. And how many people we lost and... and I just really can't lose anyone else, Bucky. I can't. I'm maxed out." I felt myself start to get emotional and I was really trying to hold it all together.

"Hey, doll. We have the entire upper hand here. They have no idea that we're coming. They're not prepared. We'll be in and out and come back and have a do over of that party, okay? You and I will get another dance." He kissed me deeply. And I suddenly felt like I could breathe again, like we would really be okay.

When he pulled away, he pressed his forehead against mine and we stayed like that for a while. Until I realized now we were both very, very late.

"We should probably get going."

Bucky sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I have to stop by my room to change anyway." He kissed me again, softly. "I love you, Talia."

"I love you too, Sarge." I grinned at him and he smiled back before leaving my room. It was so rare that I saw that smile, I could look at it everyday.