The Rules of Living with the Avengers

33. Don't get stuck in a dark room with Bucky Barnes

I wake up, dizzy and unsure of where I am. The darkness doesn't help; I can barely make out anything but the person sat beside me. "Hey, are you awake?" Bucky says gently and I groan in response as I try to sit up. "Okay, slowly, Ellie, slowly."

"What's wrong with Loki?" I say grumpily as I notice that my foot still hurts in addition to my pounding head. I just want Bruce to fix me up, like he does to Stark and Natasha and Clint when they refuse to go to hospital.

"I didn't think that would be your first question," Bucky sounds a bit surprised but he answers anyway. "He's been possessed by-what's that thing called, Tasha?"

"Hybrid." A voice calls out from the dark. Natasha walks forward so I can see the outline of her body then sits next to us. "It's a half-human, half-alien. We've been tracking them down for a while at SHIELD. Top secret stuff."

"How did it possess him?"

"I don't know. Unless Loki has been meddling in alien business again, it was probably an accident. The Hybrid might have gotten into the tower and he might have been the first person it saw," Natasha says. "We can only ask him. Clint's with him now."

"Aw, he's finally come out as gay?" I grin happily then realise. "Oh...I'm.."

"Why did that even come to your mind?" Bucky laughs. "Clint, who is dating Tasha, is gay?"

"Steve's bisexual!"

"So am I but-" Bucky stops before he finishes that sentence. "Well, I did date women before I knew I was bi and since then I've only dated men but I've still thought women were attractive."

Natasha chuckles. "Men? It's plural, Buckster. You need singular. You mean Steve."

"Shut up. At least I have an open love life!"

I laugh and Natasha turns to me. "At least I have a love life!" Bucky giggles and I hit his arm. Bloody hell. It was his stupid metal arm. He laughs even more.

"Shut it, both of you. Bucks, you're the one who took my love life. Nat, I know your secret TV show so be quiet," I glare at them both but I suppose they can't see it in the dark. There's a moments silence then Bucky puts his non-metal hand over mine.

"I'm sorry, Ellie. I'm being an idiot," he says softly. I can't help feel the tingle you get when a frankly hot guy is talking to you. And touching your hand. My whole body is tingling. "But we're boyfriend-buddies. We've shared a boyfriend."

"You stole him off me!" I protest but Bucky just grabs my arm and pulls me towards him. I'm about an inch away and staring at what I think are his eyes when Natasha speaks up.

"Guys, remember that I'm here," she says awkwardly. "And Bucky does have a boyfriend."

"What happens in the dark room, stays in the dark room," Bucky says and I'm almost close enough to kiss him. Natasha slowly moves away, muttering in Russian to herself. I barely glance at her, too busy wondering what I should do about Bucky. I remember how hurt I was when Steve cheated on me. Payback, a little voice in my head suggests.

"No," I shake my head. "Sorry, Bucky. What happens in the dark room will probably continue to happen outside the dark room and Steve finds out and he'll be hurt and-"

"I get your point," Bucky says and lets go of my hand. "Sorry."

"Oh don't apologise. I'm not complaining," I smile and nudge his leg. "I might get some sleep, I'm still tired."

"Nat, you want to sleep too?" Bucky calls out.

"Mmph," Natasha replies which we take as a yes. I curl up, beside Bucky, not touching him but he re-positions me so my head is on his lap. It's not sexual. God I hope it's not sexual or I am going to personally whip his ass when we get out of here. It's comforting. I fall asleep quite quickly, just as I hear Bucky start to hum a nursery rhyme.