Open Wounds - A Bucky Barnes Soulmate AU

Chapter Seven

You rejoined the others when the AI summoned you for dinner. Everyone greeted you as you came into the room and you gave them a little wave. They'd left an open chair for you between Steve and Bucky at the table. Yeah...no.

You went over and stood behind Natasha. "Move."

She looked up at you with a furrowed brow.

You gestured to the open seat. She opened her mouth to protest and you arched a brow. She owed you and she knew it. She snapped her mouth shut and moved to the other side of the table. You took her vacated seat between Clint and Bruce. "Doctor. Francis."

Bruce nodded in greeting while Clint grumbled beside you. Your gaze fell on Bucky to find him watching you with sad eyes. He was like an overgrown puppy. You shifted your attention elsewhere before you gave into the urge to scratch behind his ears.

Once everyone dished up their food, Tony looked at you. "So, you quit SHIELD. Nice move by the way. Any idea what you're going to do now?"

"Trying to get rid of me already, Stark?"

You were fairly certain Bucky growled at your words. Tony shot a glance at him then turned back to you. He shifted uneasily. "Of course not. You can stay as long as you like."

"It was a joke, playboy," you said with a smirk. You shrugged. "I could always be a merc full time. I know people."

Nat patted Bucky's back when he choked on his food. Clint scowled beside you. "You aren't working with Wade."

You scoffed. "I will if I want to. Besides, I know other people besides Wade. I know lots of people. There was that guy in Columbia that wanted me to come work for him."

Clint dropped his fork in shock. "The drug dealer?"

You shrugged again. "He wasn't just a drug dealer. He ran guns, too. And then there's Daredevil. I could be a vigilante. I'm sure he'd appreciate the help." You wondered if you kept listing things off if you could get Clint's face to actually turn as purple as his suit. He seemed to be well on his way with Bucky right behind him.

"You know who Daredevil is," Steve asked, his voice sharp. No doubt they wanted to put a stop to the vigilante behavior.

You hummed in agreement. "Deadpool too. Working on the spider but I'm not sure about him yet. And no, I'm not telling." You turned back to Clint. "I'm not a mutant but I bet Charles could find something for me to do. Maybe the X-Men need a sniper."

"She could always become an Avenger," Nat piped up to put an end to your antics. She was no fun.

"I wasn't aware we were hiring," Steve said looking between you and Natasha.

She flashed one of her famous smirks. "We will be when you see her fight."

"These all sound like horrible ideas," Bucky protested looking a little frantic.

Your lips twitched into a smile. He had the wrong soulmate if he thought you were going to sit around knitting sweaters while you waited for him to come home from missions. You weren't the type. He'd figure that out soon enough.

"If she's so amazing, why isn't she already a part of the team?" Sam asked as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I would assume because they wanted to keep me away from Barnes," you answered.

"And Fury's a bit overprotective when it comes to her," Nat added. "He likes to keep an eye on her."

"An eye," Tony repeated with a chuckle.

You tapped your fork on the table. You weren't so sure about Fury being overprotective anymore. Not with how he'd been lately. Or maybe he'd just grown complacent. So sure that you'd do what he said. That you'd survive whatever was thrown at you just because you always had. Frankly, you were tired of it and had been thinking about quitting for some time now.