Save Us First (Bucky)

13

"Come on, you can do it. We're almost done", Bucky encouraged her, before attacking again.
Ivy groaned, but then she fought back: punches, kicks, knife flips.
He was fast, and definitely better than her, but he seemed to not be completely focused.
She overturned, to get a few feet of distance between them, and pulled down her shirt a little, to show more cleavage.

And because he was him and she was her, he looked and she managed to get her knife close to his throat.
"Ha!", she said triumphant and he rolled his eyes.
"That was unfair!"
"Hey, you told me to use all my advantages, whatever they are."
"Yeah but - not like that, that's unfair!", he said, half complaining, half laughing and she giggled.
"You own fault. You didn't have to look."
"Oh you know I had to!"
"You didn't have to do anything, you're just horny."
"Shut up."

She giggled and kissed him on the cheek.
"You don't have to be mean just because I'm right."
"Sorry, I wasn't trying to be mean."
"I'm kidding, honey. Okay? Come on, let's do it again, but no distractions this time."
"Alright."

They positioned themselves new again, and this time he beat her again - but she did good.
"That was great. Come on, give me a kiss", he said and pulled her in.
She smiled and kissed him softly, before he suddenly let go of her.
"Wha-"
"Someone's coming", Bucky said quickly and they pretended to be training again, when the door was being openend.

But it was just Steve, so they put down her knives again and Ivy sat down.
"I need a break."
"I know, but you did good", Bucky said and sat down next to her.

Steve chuckled and sat down on a bench next to a wall.
"You two look exhausted."
"We've been training all morning, he forced me", she said tired and lay her head down in Bucky's lap.
He smiled and stroked her hair out of her face, Steve raised his eyebrows and smiled.

"You guys are actually serious, right?", he said and Bucky chuckled.
"Yeah, kinda. I don't know."
"We'll figure it out", Ivy said, yawned and sat up, then she lay her head on Buck's shoulder.
"You're so beautiful, you know that?", he mumbled into her ear, and she blushed.
"Thanks", she mumbled and he smirked, kissing her on the cheek, before he stood up and pulled her with him.
"Come on. We should get a shower."

"Yeah you should, I can smell you from here", Steve shouted and Ivy threw her training knife after him, which he caught effortlessly.
"Show off."
"You're just bad at that stuff."
"Fucker."
"Language!"

She giggled and followed Buck, gave him a soft kiss and then vanished into her room.
-

About half an hour later he was looking for her, couldn't find her anywhere, and went to her room.
"Ivy?"
No one answered, so he slowly opened the door.
He heard the water running in the bathroom, frowned and then knocked on the door.
"Ivy? Doll, you okay?"
He heard her sniffing and then she said, with her voice shaking: "No. Not really. But it's alright."
"Can I come in?"
"If you want to."

He slowly opened the door, slipped inside and closed it behind him again.
Then he sighed.
She was sitting in the shower, the water running over her, the air was almost tropical - warm and moist.
He crouched down and looked at her.
"Mental breakdown, huh?"
"No. Text from Family."
She pointed to her phone on the counter.

He took it, entered her code and looked at the opened message.
"Oh man."
"Yup."
'Thank you for not inviting us into your compound with all your little mutant friends - even though I would have loved to say no. Merry Christmas xx"
"Ladies and gentlemen, my brother", she said sniffing and Bucky sighed.
"What an asshole."
"Yup."

She sniffed and buried her face in her hands.
He hesitated for a second, then he took off his shirt and pants and sat down next to her, pulling her into his arms.
The water was not really hot anymore, just warm, but still warm enough to keep both of them from freezing.

She buried her face in his neck and he softly stroked over her back.
"It's okay. It's alright, love, I'm here for you. I'm here."
She sniffed and wrapped her arms around him for a moment, before he turned off the water, grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Come on. Let's get you out of here."
She sniffed again, wiped over her face and nodded.
"Thanks", she said slightly embarrassed, he gave her a kiss and softly caressed her face.
"Nothing to be ashamed about. Look at me, do you think I wouldn't know that feeling?"

She hesitated for a second, then she hugged him again.
Bucky had to smile, kissed her on the cheek and pulled her a little closer.
Eventually, she let go off him, looked at him and said:
"Well now you're wet, too."
He smirked and waved it off.
"It'll dry."
"I guess."
She grinned.
"You could stay here until then."
"My clothes aren't wet though, I could just leave...", he said slowly and she scoffed.
"You wouldn't dare."
"Oh, I wouldn't?"
"Nope."
"Oh, watch me."

He grabbed his clothes and opened the door, but she grabbed his wrist.
Bucky froze, looked down on her hand holding his vibranium arm and swallowed.

"Oh no, you still think it makes me uncomfortable, don't you?", she said softly.
He shrugged and freed himself from her grip, taking a step back.
"I don't know. Maybe", he said, avoiding eye contact.

"Buck, I don't care. I don't fucking care, I promise. It's beautiful, you're beautiful. I...please, don't look so sad. It's all good", she said desperately, taking his face into her hands.

Bucky swallowed again.
"James, please. Just...stay, okay?", she said softly, and he nodded.
"Yeah, okay. If you...If you want me to.
"I do. I need you to, okay?"
"Okay. Okay, I'll stay."
"Thank you baby."
"Always, doll. Always."