Steve and Ava were at a debriefing. Ava was in a cream silk slip dress. Steve was in a suit. Both dressed to their nines. "What the hell happened out there?" Their poker faces were on as their handler, Agent Lacroix blasted them for the mission. It's not that the mission had failed, their backup Peter Parker was in the Infirmary. Ava was injured, Steve noticed the slight jaw clench and the hardened fists. He had tried to talk to her when they touched down but she bristled at his touch and walked away.
Agent Lacroix had observed this. He knew the girl was a literal ball of sunshine among her trusted people but a cold woman to her enemies. So, when she decided she had enough of the lecture, he let her leave. Agent Lacroix was not in the mood to deal with the pregnant agent who could and would kill him for the slightest inconvenience. He dismissed them.
Ava walked faster to avoid Steve. She muttered to herself, "9 years of friendship ruined because you couldn't bloody keep it in your pants." Steve caught up to her. "Where are you going? We came together, remember?"
Ava voiced without a hint of emotion in her voice, "I will be staying at James' tonight." He looked at her. Guilt and longing swimming on his face. "Rose-" She held up her hand. "No, it's my fault. I am sorry. It would be better. I need some space."
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They get changed out of their costumes. Ava is admitted for some hours. Steve hovers near her room but never visits her. Forlorn Ava makes a decision.
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Ava opened Bucky's bedroom door. Wanda and Bucky were on the bed separately. Ava was confused about their positions. Seeing the distressed look on her face, they figured something must have happened. Wanda kissed Bucky and hugged her and went to bring some hot chocolate.
~Next Morning~
The shower was running. Ava entered the bathroom and said, "James." "Rosie", he called from the shower. "I need to talk." The door was slightly opened. Bucky's upper body peeks out. "What did he do? Do you need me to kick his ass?"
"Oh god. He is such an arse."
~Flashback~
They both were pressed so close. Chest to chest, hip to hip. Her hands were on his neck itching to just run her hands through his dark blonde hair. His hands were on her midriff inching lower. She looked into his ocean blue eyes. The ocean blues already pierced through her whiskey browns. Their tongues darted out to wet their lips. She had to know. She took the leap and kissed him softly. Pulling away to notice the shocked expression on Steve's face. His brain caught up with him and he dipped her and kissed her in the middle of the dance floor. A flourish of claps and shouts bought them back to their mission.
~After the mission (In the hotel room)~
Steve stared vacantly at her. "I don't know how to say it..." He dropped his gaze to the ground. "This isn't going to work." "What's not going to work?" Goosebumps covered her. Her body seemed to comprehend better than her brain. Everything was muted except his voice. His next words dropped like a bomb. "You are such an amazing person. You are young. I don't deserve you. I can't tie you down."
Steve finally raised his eyes and met her gaze. "I don't know how much I'll be around now. You need to focus on you, right now. SHIELD's got me pretty busy. I don't want you to have to wait around for me. It's not fair."
Ava rubbed her arms trying to dispel the horrid feeling of cold acid running through her veins. Fear, anger, pain... It all mingled in the pit of her stomach. Where had this come from? She didn't understand she had read everything right. He kissed back. The bloody bugger had kissed back.
"I would never leave you, even if you couldn't stay. I'd wait for you... forever." She desperately tried to put the feelings inside of her into words.
He took a step back. "It's not about me leaving you or vice versa. We need to put our feelings aside and think about what is best for you. You don't deserve this."
She sniffed and wiped the tear running down her cheek. Deep down she knew no matter what she argued, he wasn't going to change his mind.
Steve stepped toward her and reached for her face. He gently rubbed his thumb against her cheek, wiping the tears away. "You'll always be special, Ava. To everyone. I hope I can still be a part of your life, just not your center. It's best for you— for both of us."
It didn't make sense. She needed him in her life, but as more than just a friend.
She made a half-hearted attempt to smile and tried to swallow the baseball-sized lump in her throat. She shifted her weight so his hand dropped away from her face. She would be damned if she broke down in front of him here. He didn't deserve to see her tears if he was going to do this to her.
"Go do your duty and serve your country." She winced at the hardness in her voice; it reminded her of the way her grandfather talked. She didn't care. "It's all about being top with your precious SHIELD, isn't it?"
Suddenly she collapsed. Steve caught her before she hit the ground. Turns out the stress of the mission and Steve kinda sort dumping her made her faint and put the baby in distress.
Cue Steve's deprecating session.
~Flashback ends~
Bucky snorted, "Wanda also did the same thing. We are now on break because she accidentally threw me on our bedroom wall. She was having a nightmare."
"Want me to kick her arse?" "They are truly siblings."
"Yeah. Both share one brain cell."
She didn't know how they would move forward. They were co-parenting a child and a baby on the way. She would see Steve every day considering he was the father of their children.
Oh, Bucky loved to torment Steve. Now he was being a dumbass. There was an upcoming mission it would require four field agents. God! was he loving being in charge of the mission.
