Save Us First (Bucky)

2

Ivy groaned when her alarm woke her up.
It was 6:30 AM, Steve and Tony wanted everybody to be ready to leave by 7:30.
She got up, put on her black tight cargo pants, combat boots, a dark red shirt and her leather jacket, before she grabbed her butterfly knife and put it into one of the pockets on her thigh.
Then she tied her hair up and left the room, to grab something to eat.

In the kitchen she saw Steve and Bucky.
"Morning guys", she said, trying to sound as confident and relaxed as possible.
"Morning Ivy. You ready?", Steve said and Ivy chuckled, opened the fridge and took out her favorite smoothie, before she grabbed a bowl and some cereals.
"I was born ready, Rogers."
"You still burn down everything near you when you panic, so, I don't know about that" , Bucky said and she laughed.
"Yeah, well I had no one to teach me how to use my powers - and fire really doesn't like to be controlled, so...not my fault."

She started eating her cereal and Bucky sighed.
"Tell me about it - control is not my biggest strength either."
Steve sighed and Ivy bit her lip, grinning.
"You're both learning and that's very good", Steve said calmly and she grinned.
"Oh yeah, I can't wait 'till I'm on your level of zen."
"I don't think anyone will ever reach that", Bucky said and touched her arm when he walked past her.
"See you later."
"Yeah, see you", she said and swallowed.
Arm touch.

Steve sat next to her.
"You sure you're up for this?"
She exhaled slowly and shook her head.
"No, not at all. But I guess that's the point, right. I'm only gonna learn by doing it."
"Yeah. Exactly. Don't worry, Peter is probably even more nervous. And he has done a lot more."
"Yeah but like...he's basically a kid. I'm 26, I shouldn't be this nervous."
"Your age has nothing to do with it. Loki is like, what, 1500 years old? His first few missions, he was shaking. But he'd never admit it, of course. And Bucky too, he's over 100 years."

"Bucky?", she said incredulously.
"He seems really tough."
Steve chuckled.
"He is, but he is also really good at hiding when he's scared. You don't know that from me, but he gets really really bad nightmares. All the time. It's completely normal to be an avenger and still be human."
"Oh, don't tell that to Loki. You know, he is a goood", she grinned and Steve chuckled, before he laid a hand on her shoulder.
"You're part of the team now, okay? And of the family. You'll find your place in all of this."
"I hope so. Thank you, Steve. For everything."
"I'm just glad you've been listening the whole time", he grinned and Ivy giggled.
"I'm honestly surprised myself, but I guess you've made it interesting enough."
"I do my best."

Steve got up and smiled at her.
"7:30 in the Hangar okay? Don't forget."
"Don't worry, Loki is gonna take me with him to make sure."
"Okay. Still, set an alarm. Just to make sure, okay?"
She nodded and grabbed her phone.
"Okay, I will. See you."
"See you."

Ivy set the alarm, placed her dishes on the counter and then grabbed her pillbox.
She took out a single, tiny white pill, took it, put the bottle away and then put her dishes into the dishwasher.
"Okay", she mumbled.
"Anything else?"
Her to-do list was empty though, which was why she got ready and then knocked at Loki's door.

"Loki? Can I come in?"
"Yeah."
She opened the door and walked in on him stuffing knives in all of his pockets.
"Where are all the others?", she said. "I've only seen Bucky and Steve so far."
"It's just us four today, I think. Peter is in school, Tony has some shit with Stark industries, Nat, Wanda and Clint are with Thor on another mission or something. I don't know. I also don't really care, actually", he said and turned around to her, smiling.
"Good morning, by the way."
She grinned.
"Alright. Good morning."
"You look rather awake for this time of day."
"Yeah, well...Sugar and Ritalin are quite the combination."
He chuckled, grabbed his jacket and they left the room.