Locked, Loaded, Loved ✔️ COMPLETE | UNDER EDITS

Chapter 15.1--Steve

I woke up to the sound of tapping outside. I checked the clock on the bedside table: 3am. I groaned and quietly slipped out of bed.

"Steve?" Nat whispered.

"Just getting some water," I told her, kissing her forehead.

She rolled over. "Bring some for me too?"

"Of course." I slipped out of the room and walked into the kitchen. That's when I heard the tapping again.

I walked to the front door, careful not to let it squeak. The last thing I needed to do was wake Natasha. I rubbed the sleep out my eyes and opened the door. "Bucky? It's 3am, what are you doing here?"

"Sorry, Steve. I know it's late. Can I come in?"

I stood to the side and let him in. "What's going on? How'd you know we were here?"

"Tony told me when he got back to the compound with Yelena," Bucky replied. "Plus, where else would you be?"

I nodded. "True. So you know Yelena is in town?"

"Yes." He stopped walking and turned around. "What did Nat tell you?"

"Nothing. Just...something about you and Yelena having a history together. Something like that." I scratched the back of my head.

"Yeah, well. It was a long time ago. Anyway, the reason I'm here—"

"Barnes, what the hell are you doing here?"

So much for not waking Natasha. We both turned at the sound of her voice. She was draped in my t-shirt and barefoot.

"I, uh, needed to talk to Steve," he said, not even flinching.

Natasha crossed her arms over her chest. "And you couldn't wait until daylight?"

Bucky and I exchanged glances.

"He wanted to go over some wedding details," I covered for him, hoping Natasha would buy it."

"At 3am?" she asked.

Bucky nodded. "Yeah, we wanted things to be a surprise, and what better way to do that than when it's least expected?"

"Hmph." Natasha narrowed her eyes. "Well, whatever it is you two are really up to, just don't be too long." She deposited a kiss on my cheek before walking back in the direction of our bedroom. "And if you're staying, you can take the couch. Blankets are in the closet."

When Natasha had returned to our room, Bucky and I sat down on the sofa.

"What was I saying?" Bucky asked.

"You were saying the reason you were here was..." I started then trailed off for him to fill me in.

"Right. The reason I'm here is because Yelena has been making waves in the world of espionage as of late," he said.

I raised my eyebrows. "What?"

"You know about ASSET, right? Division of SHIELD that went rogue like HYDRA?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Yelena said that Kristina is recruiting former widows for it."

Bucky cocked his head to the side. "She told you that?"

"Yeah. Why?"

He cleared his throat. "Yelena is a master of deception."

I blinked, not reacting. "And?"

"And clearly, she was lying to you."

"What makes you say that?"

"She's a former widow, just like Natasha. But she knows more about ASSET than Natasha does based on what she told me tonight at the compound."