Necessary Good, Unnecessary Evil | No rest For Wounded Souls [Bucky Barnes]

Strangers

"There is not a righteous man on Earth who does what is right and never sins."
-Ecclesiastes 7:20

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⚠️NSFW content⚠️

Nova's POV

My body lays still on the couch, my head hanging off the edge and my eyes lost in the skyline.
The others have been away for two weeks now, and I'm starting to be really bored.
I miss messing around with Nat or watching sitcoms with Wanda.
She had to go on the mission as well, so now it's just me, Bucky, and Pepper.
She gets about during the day running, errands for Tony. Usually even makes sure there's food left for us.
She's very kind. I don't know how she still hasn't ditched Tony.
God, I even miss Peter talking for hours about some shit I don't know.
I'd even watch the Star Wars movies right now. Anything.
I ran out of things to do, and this week is dedicated to academic exams for the recruits, so no training.
I hear noises coming from the kitchen, and I stand up, listening closely.
I didn't hear Bucky arriving. Did he really sneak in without me noticing?
That's not possible.
I walk to the kitchen, making sure not to make a sound.
I peek my head in and see Bucky looking in the cabinets and taking out the bread.

"What are you eating?" I ask, he flinches a bit, and I smirk. 
His eyes dart to me, and he frowns, "you can't brag. You didn't hear me coming down here too." He scoffs, and I hop up on the counter, sitting in front of him.
"That's not true. I did hear you." I argue, taking a grape from the fruit bowl and popping it into my mouth.
"No, you would have said something. You always have something to say." He huffs, spreading some peanut butter on the bread and cutting it into two halves. 
"Can I have some?" I ask, and he grabs his plate with a scowl.
"No. Get your own sandwich." He mutters, licking the remaining peanut butter off the knife.
"You finished the bread." I point at the empty plastic wrap.
"Then get something else." He shrugs, putting a half-sandwich in his mouth and walking to the fridge.

He takes some leftover pizza and goes to sit on the couch.
I sigh and go check the drawers under the sink.
A plate covered in foil is hidden behind some crackers, and I immediately recognize Wanda's cookies.
I take a couple of them and put the plate away again.
I get back to the sofa, taking with me my treasured snack and a glass of pineapple juice.
"Are those Wanda's cookies? Where did you get them?" Bucky's brows knit together as he notices what I'm eating.
I smirk, "maybe." I chirp, and he looks at his sandwich.
"So now you steal other people's cookies?" He asks, looking at the TV.
"She gives me her cookies. She hides them from the rest of the team because you tend to devour anything within two minutes." I point at him, biting down on the chocolate cookie.

"I wanna propose a fair trade." He ponders after a few seconds. 
"Fuck off." I snicker, falling on the couch, enjoying Bucky's brain trying to come up with a convincing deal.
"My sandwich, for a cookie." He squints, making it really hard for me to keep a straight face. He really wants that cookie.
"I don't think so." He frowns, pursing his lips.
"You wanted some." I look at him, putting on my best-unbothered expression.
"I changed my mind" I shrug, turning my attention back to the TV.
Why are we watching the news?
"Why is that?" He inquires, still determined to keep peppering me with questions.
"Because I said so." I replay.
"That's not a reason." He argues, shifting his position, twisting his torso, and facing me.
"Who decided that?" My tone is serious, but it's very entertaining how much effort he's putting into this conversation.
I'm pretty sure it's just a way to piss me off. But for now, it's still amusing.
"Society?" he says like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"And since when are you a fitting member of society?" I jeer, knowing that this can just get better.
"Since they say things with a meaning." He retorts, and I burst into a laugh.
"A meaning that's convenient to you." I point my finger at him, and he rolls his eyes.
"Do you want this sandwich or not?" He groans, exasperation showing in his voice.
"Fine," he smirks, grabbing a cookie from my plate.
"Great." I take a bite of the sandwich and scrunch my nose.