A New Start

Chapter 20

About an hour later, the rest of the team arrived back from their mission. Tony, Bruce, Wanda, and Vision were on their way back to the tower the following day so everyone would finally be together after a few long weeks. You were happy about it. You always liked having everyone around, someone to talk to and keep you company when you trained but this time, you were nervous. Nervous at what everyone would say.

You met them in the communications room and listened in on their debriefing. Bucky was in the room between Steve and Sam and was listening to everyone talk. He looked at you and smiled a few times, but you only nodded and looked away. He looked hurt, but this was work and you wanted to be professional and attentive. It seemed like their mission was a success, so you were happy.

You all got up from the debriefing and headed into the kitchen. Steve hugged you in the hallway and asked how the week was as he was keeping his arm around you. You told him it was uneventful, and everything went well keeping out any details about Bucky. He nodded and grabbed your hand while turning to the kitchen. Bucky saw this and you could have sworn he scowled at Steve, but you were already moving.

By this time, it was supper, and everyone was hungry. Because of the late meeting and everyone's schedule, you decided to order some pizza, so no one had to cook. Clint was arriving later in the evening as he was held up in traffic which you are sure he would be grouchy about when he finally arrived.

As you were enjoying the pizza at the table, Steve sat next to you on your left, Bucky was on your right side, and Nat was across from you smirking the entire time. Sam was next to her. 

"I would have thought you would have baked cookies or a cake Livy" Sam said in between bites of crust. 

"You usually make us something when we get back from long missions"

"Not like you were doing anything with your time this week" 

Sam reached for a sip of his beer. 

"You mean who she was doing" Nat whispered with a smug look on her face. 

You choked on your drink and Bucky glared at her. Steve was side eyeing us from his seat.

"Actually Sam, I sprained my ankle the second day you were away while I was out hiking. I am thankful Bucky was here to take care of me" you smiled proudly at Bucky. 

"I'm sure he took care of you really well" Nat smirked and got up from the table.

"You hurt yourself Livy?" Steve asked with a concerned look on his face as he grabbed your hand. 

"Only a small, sprained ankle, nothing more" you squeezed his hand for comfort. 

Bucky seemed to be annoyed by your exchange with Steve and got up from his seat in a huff and went to the couch. 

"Where's he going in a hurry?" Sam asked with a mouthful of food.

Clint walked into the kitchen, and everybody greeted him. 

He grabbed some pizza and joined you at the table. 

"Tony told me to tell everyone that he is going to have a party here next week. A Halloween party" Clint said in-between bites.

There were some cheers and a few groans from everyone, but for the most part, everyone seemed excited. By now, Bucky looked irritated.

"He said it'll be a costume party and he will have more details tomorrow when he gets here" 

You were somewhat excited because there hadn't been a party at the compound since the spring, so you were looking forward to that. You were also dreading it because it was a costume Halloween party and you absolutely hated dressing up. 

"Do we have to dress up?" you moaned while walking away. 

"Come on, it'll be fun" 

Nat winked at you.

Bucky left the living room and went up to his room. You figured you would head up there shortly and have a chat with him about the party and his sudden moody behaviour.

"Knock knock" you walked into Bucky's room. 

Bucky was reading a book on his bed and didn't look up from it. 

"Hey, what's wrong" you sat down next to him. 

"Nothing"

"Come on Buck, tell me, something is wrong, what is it?" you grabbed his hand. 

"It's nothing" he put his book down and removed his hand from yours. 

"It's not nothing because something is clearly bothering you" you looked into his eyes.

"It's just that when I see you with Steve, it makes me annoyed. You two are close. I can't help but think there is something more you have with him" he looked down at his feet. 

"You're jealous of Steve?" you snorted. 

He glared at you and turned over on his side away from you. 

"Sorry Buck for that. It's just that Steve and I are close, yes, but I view him as an older brother to me. That's all. Plain and simple. I would never consider being anything more than friends with Steve and he also feels the same way or at least I think he does" you thought to yourself. 

"True, I care for him, and love him, but I don't have any romantic feelings towards him at all. I never did" you touched Bucky's arm, wanting to feel him.

"Bucky, you have to believe me"

He didn't turn around from his position. 

Seeing as how he wasn't going to say anything else, and you have said all you can on the topic, you got up from his bed. 

"Fine, I am going to my room now if you need me. But please understand when I say, I don't like Steve that way whatsoever. I never have nor I ever will." 

You walked out of his room.

An hour passed and you were still annoyed at Bucky's reaction. You played out the kitchen scene in your head and thought he was being childish about everything but wanted him to relax and think things through some more and hopefully he would realize how ridiculous he was being. Patience was never your friend, and you were getting more irritated by the minute.

You knew he was still in his room because you purposely left your door open to see if he would come out of it, but he hadn't. It was getting late, so you changed for bed and closed your door. You had your laptop open and were trying to watch a movie when your eyes were getting quite heavy. You put the laptop down and turned off your light. 

You missed Bucky in your bed. His scent and arms were a constant comfort to you over the last week it was hard to fall asleep without him.