Save Us First (Bucky)

6

Ivy stared at her phone, the twenty unread messages she had sent Loki.
She called him once again, hoping he would for some reason change his mind and pick up.
He didn't answer. Of course.
"Hey... I still don't know where you are or when you'll be back, but... I miss you. And I'd really like to talk to you. I went out with Bucky, by the way, but I think I kinda messed it up. I don't know. I..I hope you're okay. Bye."
She didn't even know how many messages she had already left him, she had lost count days ago.
Ivy sighed, stuffed her phone into her back pocket and turned back to the dishes she were just about to put away, when she heard footsteps behind her.
Bucky.

"Oh. Hey", he said carefully.
"Hey."
She grabbed the stack of plates, but Bucky made a step to her, took them out of her hands and put them away for her.
"Here, let me help", he said.
"Thanks", she just said, and put away the rest.
She could have done it herself, but she liked that side about him.
Him trying to be a gentleman.
He leaned against the counter, crossed his arms and looked at her.
"We good?"
She nodded.
"Yeah. Of course. Why wouldn't we be?"
"I don't know", he said, a little frustrated.
"I just felt like there was some tension between us. And not the good kind. I...I don't want it to be awkward between us, Ivy, if you want us to be just friends again that's okay too. Just - Just tell me what you want for god's sake. "
"Well maybe I don't know what I want", she interrupted him and sighed.
"I don't know. I just...I'm not sure if I'm ready for all this. Having a relationship inside this compound is complicated. I need to find my place here first."
Bucky bit his lip and nodded.
"Alright then", he said.

Then he swallowed and made his way to the door.
"Let me know if you change your mind", he said and left.
Ivy sighed.
"Well now it's awkward", she mumbled, exhaled and left the kitchen too, where she bumped into Tony.

"Hey! You okay, sweetheart?", he asked and frowned.
"Yeah."
"Stress with Barnes?", he asked, pointing to Bucky's room.
"You saw him leave?"
"Yup."
"Nah, it's just...a little awkward I guess."
"Yeah, heard you went on a date. Didn't go well?"
"Actually it did, I just pumped the brakes a little. Guess he didn't like that", she said and Tony waved it off.
"Ah, forget about it. He's way too old for you anyway."
She chuckled.
"Yeah, right."
"Alright, I gotta jump - I'll talk to you later, okay?", he said and touched her chin while walking past.
"Heads up."

She had to smile and shook her head.
Tony was almost like a father figure to her - not like him and Peter, but a little.
She came to him for advice and he came to her when he needed to complain about the others.
A win-win.
The thing she was most excited about though were his birthday meals.
Tony and Pepper loved cooking for people on their birthdays and hers was in a week.
The only thing missing was Loki.
"Fucking idiot", she mumbled and made her way to the gym.
She needed to blow off some steam.

Steve was hitting a punching bag like there was no tomorrow and she chuckled, crossing her arms.
"You got some issues Rogers?"
Stve turned around, panting and chuckled.
"Yeah, I needed to blow off some steam. You?"
"Yeah, that's why I'm here too."
She grabbed a pair of boxing gloves and sat down to put them on.

"Can I ask you something?", Steve said carefully and sat down next to her.
"Yeah, of course", she said and already knew which direction this was going.
"What's going on with you and Bucky?"
Ivy sighed.
"You know what's going on. I'm sure he's talked to you about it, just like I talk to Loki."
"Yeah but..I only know his side. I'd like to know yours too."
She looked up.

That was the difference between him an Loki: Loki didn't give a shit about Bucky's side.
He was her best friend, of course he would be on her side. And if anything, a little conflict, a little bit of tension inside the compound...Loki loved that stuff.
Steve on the other hand really wanted to help and to be able to do that, he needed to hear both sides.

"Well...I guess it's complicated, you know. I kind of messed it up a little and now it's awkward between us and I don't want it to be awkward. But I also need a little more time until I'm ready for more, so I think I'll just...live through the awkward."
"Or..hear me out...you could talk about it with him. Tell him how you feel?"
"Well I kinda did...he said I should tell him if I change my mind."
"Then do that. Tell him you really like him but you just need a little time."
"Ugh, why don't you just tell him, man. I really don't want to. It's awkward as fuck."
"Oh shut up, that's fucking stupid."
"Language!"

He laughed and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Just...let it happen, I think. If I've learned one thing over the last 100 years, then it is that you can't rush something that's not meant to be. And also, you can't rush something that is. It's either gonna happen when it's supposed to, or not at all."
"So I gotta just wait and see?"
"Yeah, basically."
"Ugh. How annoying."
"I know. Just let go. Focus on your training. On the missions. You can't hurry love."
"I'll try. Thanks, Steve."
"Always. Thanks for talking to me."
"Always."