Lovers in Arms | Bucky Barnes

Part 31

** One month ago **

"Do you really think he's ready to go with us on a mission?" Steve rubs the back of his neck.

"Yeah sure, it's just a hostage situation, easy-peasy." Natasha leans forward over the table to Steve.

"If it's so easy, why did they call us? Can't the police handle this themselves?"

"They told me they're holding the hostages in an old HYDRA facility and claim to be sympathizers."

Steve hums. "Okay, I understand."

Bucky has been a mess since Karol left. The first few days he barely slept. He was in the gym almost 24/7, trying not to show any emotion about her leaving. And the days after he hid in his room for days, not showing his face and who knows what he was doing in there.

Steve and Natasha tried to talk to him, convince him to call her and told him to find out where she went, but he denied even missing her and wouldn't take the advice.

It even got to the point where they weren't allowed to talk about her, or even mention her in front of him. If they did he would just walk out of the room angry and then they wouldn't see him for days.

But he can't fool Steve and Natasha, they know he misses her and that they both made a huge mistake. But to this day he denies everything and claims he's just fine.

It has been over a month since she left. And Natasha thinks it's time to drag him out of this building and get him back into the world again. Starting with this easy assignment.

"So, you'll go get him?"

"Why me?" Steve protests.

Natasha leans her knee on the chair just between his legs and grabs his shirt. She pulls him closer and presses her lips on his and kisses him slowly. "Because he is you're friend." She makes clear to him.

His hands stroke up her thighs and end up on her hips. "This is sabotage." He whispers.

"Yes, and there's no room for negotiation." She grins.

"Fine. Can you please stand up before someone sees us?"

"I really don't care, Steve."

"I do, I want to be professional on the job. We can continue later this evening when we get back." He gives her a quick kiss and stands up.

~

Steve clears his throat and sighs before knocking on Bucky's door. "Bucky?" He asks but gets no response. He decides to open the door gently and peek around the corner. It's dark inside and the curtains are still drawn. "Bucky? Are you here?"

He hears growls coming from his bed. "What do you want? It's the middle of the night!"

"No buddy, it's noon. Get your lazy ass out of bed."

Steve knows he's not a morning person. Even if it's not exactly morning, but he had to wake him up. He walks to the curtains and pulls them open. A bright light from the sun shines into the room and Bucky quickly pulls his pillow over his head. "What the fuck, Steve?!"

"Come on Bucky, you're going on a mission with us, get dressed and be ready in 10!" Before he walks out of the room, he quickly pulls the covers off him so that he has no choice then to get up.

"Fuck you, Steve!" He yells before throwing his pillow towards Steve's head.

The pillow gives a dull thud against the door. He sighs because he has to get up now. With his eyes half closed, he crawls out of bed and into the bathroom. After a short freshening up, he puts on some clothes that he finds on the floor. His new jacket that Shuri gave him is hanging over the chair by the door where he left it a few days ago. He grabs it and pulls it over his right arm and lets the rest of the jacket hang over his back.