Whumptober 2021

Day 9 - Rumors of my Death have been Greatly Exaggerated

Title: Promises
Theme: Presumed Dead
Rating: PG13
Characters: Bucky Barnes, Natasha Romanoff, OFC-Vesna
Pairing: WinterWidow x OFC-Vesna
Words: 484
Warnings: insinuated sex, insinuated death, grief, depression

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The alarm screeched, making Vesna groan disdainfully, rolling over in bed to hit the snooze button. The sliver of sun that was coming between the two curtains was precisely falling on her face; she angrily pulled the covers over her head, snuggling down into the bed to go back to sleep, but the soft knock at her door had her growling out a no-so-kind acknowledgment.

"Ves, I made breakfast," Wanda offered delicately.

"Go away Wanda," Vesna grunted. She heard her friend murmur an 'okay' and walk away from the door, her voice soft as she spoke to someone else, likely Steve or Tony, who both have been trying desperately for weeks to get her out of bed.

But how could she? She lost the two people she loved the most.

Five weeks earlier

"So how long are you two gone for?" Vesna asked, her fingers tracing the gold lines of Bucky's vibranium arm.

"At minimum? Three weeks," Natasha muttered against Vesna's shoulder, making Vesna frown.

"Don't worry, Doll, we always come back," Bucky smiled at her, leaning in to place a kiss to her brow as his hand brushed an umber lock away from her from her face.

"And what am I supposed to do while you're gone?" Vesna pouted, turning to look up at the ceiling.

Natasha pushed herself up onto her elbow, looking down at the brunette as her redhair fell around her face. "Think of us," she smirked, leaning down to brush her lips along Vesna's collarbone as Bucky brushed Natasha's hair back.

"When do you leave?" Vesna breathed, her lidded eyes looking at Bucky.

"In a few hours," he smiled, "plenty of time. And we'll be back before you know it."

Days later, Steve was at their door, more solemn than he ever looked, giving her the news that Bucky and Natasha never made it to the cabin to check in. Their small jet was found in pieces and still smoldering just outside of Poland, hours away from their supposed landing spot. A week later, they found Bucky's arm, ripped from it's connection at his shoulder, and a chunk of Natasha's suit.

Last week, they finally decided to pronounce them both killed in action. It wrecked Vesna, making her hide in their home. Wanda moved in a bit later, probably there to keep an eye on her, or read Vesna's mind to make sure she stayed safe (as her late lovers probably made Steve promise to assure Vesna was always safe).

But she still felt alone, angry that they were gone with the now voided promises of them returning. She wanted to believe that they were still alive, just lying low until they could get somewhere safe, a thought that Wanda tried to follow into Vesna's dreams, and yet, instead of giving her comfort, it gave her a place to escape to. Until they came home or Vesna joined them.