Fire starter (Ana X Bucky)

35

TW - violence and blood.

Authors note: This is a long chapter, I'm sorry, but when you get near the end you will see why. I'm sorry but I will not be paying for your therapy sessions lol I need to pay for my own.

(Bucky POV)

"Any news?" I ask Steve as he tensely walks in thumbs in his utility belt. He had walked out about  fifteen minutes ago to answer a call from Natasha.

"Nat said the third enhanced was extremely strong, reminded her of us. Clint also found they had a team with them providing backup. They were highly organized this time. They aren't just kids being kids..." He walks to the large window by the bar were I sat. He sighed deeply. I had a lot to say but I knew he needed time.

"How's Ana?" He almost whispered.

"She's um..hiding something." He turned around with a confused look on his face.

"She hasn't told you about the file?"

"No, she's been spending hours in the morning with Bruce. She thinks I don't notice that she's changing too."

"What do you mean changing?" Steve walks up to me, sitting down on the stool next to me.

"Have you noticed she looks tired a lot?" I turn my head to look at him. He nods but keeps his eyebrows furrowed not understanding where I am going with this.

"I don't think it's exhaustion. Her hands look older, she has wrinkles appearing on her face. She even hides the fact she's been uncontrollably shaking." Steve takes in a deep breath looking away

"She's aging? Faster than she should, isn't she?" He asks nervously.

"I think so. I don't know. She doesn't talk to me anymore. She just says she needs more time..." I reach over the bar and grab a whiskey bottle and a glass. Steve quickly takes the bottle away from me making me hang my head in frustration.

"We're still on call Buck."

"We can't get drunk, Steve"

"We can't work smelling like a bunch of alcoholics, Buck." I sigh hating my job now. "Why don't you make her talk to you. I would."

"I'm trying to be supportive."

"Supportive doesn't mean tucking your tail between your legs. She's going through something serious. She needs you whether she wants to admit it or not. You have to make her tell you. If you don't I will." I glare at him with slight anger. He better not get involved. 

"NO...she's my girl I'll handle it." I noticed what I said a bit too late. He took in a deep breath looking away. "Steve...I..."

"You're right. She is your girl. So act like it." He says bitterly, getting up and walking away. Before I could say anything else to add to the apology Ana hurriedly walks in. Steve stops in his tracks looking at her. I know he was analyzing the details I had told him. I walk up to her to give her a kiss but she puts her hand up. I look at Steve who looks in shock. 

"They popped up again, Clint, Nat, and Tony are already on the way to the site. We need to go... NOW" She orders turning around and speed walking to the jet. Her hair flew around her. That's when I noticed what Steve was actually starring at. She had dyed her hair...

"She..."

"Yea, she's never..."

"Grey hair...she would be hiding grey hair" I choke up. Steve gives me a frightened look, one that I shared with him. She WAS aging fast. What the hell did Sharon do to my sweet girl?