It's a promise

Chapter 46

Steve's POV

I messed up big time. I couldn't really believe what I just said to Rylee. I didn't mean it. I knew that Charlie was my kid and I knew that she didn't sleep with Bucky at any time. Why did I say it then? My jealousy always got the worst out of me and this time I didn't even know how I could ask for forgiveness. Every little progress we made since I came back vanished because I let my insecurity get in the way.

I saw it in her eyes the moment she slapped me. I just lost my chance with her. I didn't need this paternity test but when I told Rylee she just said that she needed it so I wouldn't doubt her anymore. I didn't doubt her. I was just upset when I saw how relaxed she was with everybody else but me. But this was no excuse for my behavior. I wanted to make her happy but when she was happy for once, I hurt her.

After Tony told us what we both knew, she left the lab immediately and I stayed because I knew that she wouldn't want to see me right now and I didn't know where to go. I looked over at Tony who raised his eyebrows at me.

'I don't know what you did, Cap but I guess you're an idiot. Maybe the time traveling messed up with your brain or these are still aftereffects of the years on ice but whatever you said to her brought us here.'

'I know Stark. You mentioned that Charlie looked like Bucky and then I saw them together...'

'It was a joke. A stupid one but still a joke. Do you really think your best friend would go after your woman right after you left? And do you really think that Rylee would do that? I didn't see her before she left but Bucky told me a few things. He also told me about the ring.' I stared at Tony. Bucky found the ring? What did he do with it? I didn't ask him yet what he did with all my stuff because it wasn't one of my priorities.

'I give you some advice. Don't be stupid. I nearly lost Pepper because I was an idiot. You wanted to marry Rylee, so fight for her. What you're doing now is senseless bullshit.' I knew that but hearing these words coming from Tony Stark was a little ironic but still true though. He left the lab and I followed him shortly after.

Bucky was waiting outside the lab and just stared at me. 'I heard what you said to Rylee. Did you hit your head or something?' I didn't answer him because I didn't know what happened at that moment. We just looked at each other and I knew that I didn't just need to apologize to Rylee.

'I'm sorry, Buck. I don't know what came over me.' Bucky didn't say anything but to my surprise he led me to the new gym in the compound. I didn't know what he wanted to do here. Bucky went to a cupboard in silence, opened it and took something out. Then he tossed it to me and I caught it. It was tape.

'What?' I saw how Bucky started to tape his right hand and I did the same even though I was still confused. Did he want to fight? Was he that mad for what I said?

'Come on, pal. Hit me'

'What? Why?' He wanted me to hit him. Confused was not even an expression for my feelings right now.

'You're pissed and angry and mad. Really mad. Mad at Bruce and Scott because they messed something up with the time heist. Mad at Tony because he wasn't there to help. Mad at me because I was here when you couldn't be. You're mad at the whole world, at the universe and fate and... I can't even blame you. I would be mad as well. I know you don't want to be but you are and you took it out on Rylee today who didn't deserve that.'

He was right with every word he said. I was so angry but I had no one to be really angry at. I knew Bruce and Scott did the best they could and it was never their intention that something went wrong. Tony barely survived the snap and I knew Bucky would have swapped places in a heartbeat. And that was why I said these things today. I didn't know where to go with all this anger so Rylee got it all today even though she was the only person I wasn't really mad at.