In Another Universe

TEN

Several hours later, At two o'clock in the morning, Bucky strolls inside his family suite at The Tower.

Slipping off his boots by the door, And shedding his leather jacket onto the golden coatrack.

Silently praying Anastasia will be asleep already.

He pads his sock covered feet into the dimly kitchen in hopes of getting a drink uninterrupted. His heart sinks finding Anastasia sitting hunched over their center island, drinking tea.

The nauseating scent of cigarettes hits her the second he enters the space —Funny seeing as he swears up and down he doesn't smoke.

As if the triggering smell from her traumatic childhood isn't bad enough, As he passes by her on the way to the sink — She also catches a whiff of the cheap musky perfume still lingering on his skin.

Her stomach churns as she sips the lukewarm tea filling her mug, She's had three more cups since Sam left to head home around midnight.

With her voice hoarse from hours of repressed sobs, And her eyes swollen from the same, She still tries to speak softly as Bucky stands in front of the sink, Chugging a glass of tap water as if she's not even in the room.

"Can we talk?"

Bucky sets his empty glass in the sink, Gripping the counters edge as his low hanging head remains focused on the water droplets sprinkled on the stainless steel.

"I'm tired." He huffs out, His voice low to not risk waking the children.

"Please..." She pleads through a clenched jaw, Another wave of tears pooling along her waterline.

"The kids will be up in a couple hours, I'm not doing this with you now." He tells her, Hastily cutting through the kitchen to get away from her.

She hops of the stool and crosses her arms defensively over her chest as she scurries after him from the kitchen through to the hallway.

"What are we going to do about... About Steve?" She whispers, Her body shaking as he stops short of the staircase.

"I handled Steve." He growls, his eyes locked on the railing.

"What the hell does that mean?!" Her hushed tone becomes snappier, A series of horrifying scenarios playing in her minds eye as Bucky whips around to face her.

"It means I fucking handled it! Steve has no interest in getting to know Rosie, And he sure as shit has no interest in forgiving either of us! So wipe away any fucking fantasies filling your deranged mind!" He threatens, edging closer to her as she backs up a a few steps to keep some distance between them.

Only the typical submissive Anastasia he's grown used to isn't here tonight, Her eyes narrowing as he finishes speaking.

"What did you say to him?!" She hisses, her nostrils flaring as a wave of frustrated tears burn her reddened cheeks.

"The fucking truth!" He growls.

"Funny!" She cocks her head, catching a glimpse of the purple bruise resting just below his collar. "I didn't think you could recognize what that looked like anymore!"

She grimaces up at him in disgust, Turning on her heel to grab the first set of keys she can from the hook hung by the door.

"Where the fuck do you think you're going?! Get up stairs and sleep this shit attitude of yours off!" He nearly shouts, Watching as she pauses in the open doorway.

She twists around to face him, "I need some air! And you need a fucking shower."

He stands frozen as she slams the door shut between them, Storming onto the waiting elevator and pulling her phone free from her sweatpants pocket.