Slow Dancing & Apple Pie

Thirteen

"Your omega didn't make dinner?"

Steve didn't bother looking up from the paperwork spread in front of him. "She has a name."

Bucky rolled his eyes. "Yeah, she does. Why didn't she make dinner? Is she still working or something?"

Now Steve did look up. "No, she isn't at work, she's locked inside her nest room."

"Still?"

"Yes, still."

"Why?"

"You tell me," Steve said, watching as Bucky looked down at his feet with a scowl. "What happened between the two of you?"

"Nothing." The lie tasted sour, and Bucky had to work not to grind his teeth in response. When he'd been pissed off and annoyed he'd enjoyed poking at you until you got upset and angry. But now he just felt like shit.

Steve didn't even bother sighing, he just gathered up the papers and pushed them into the folder. Standing he scratched at the beard that was growing in, it had been a long week and he hadn't had much time for personal grooming with everything that was going on. And now he had to go and deal with this mission. Ignoring Bucky for the moment, he walked down the hall and knocked lightly on the door to your nest room.

After a moment the door cracked open and one of your eyes peaked out the crack. Steve tried to smile at you but knew he didn't quite make it. "Hey, princess. Wanted to let you know that I am gonna be gone for a few days, just a short mission I have to take care of."

"Okay." Your voice sounded small and hurt and that stabbed at him but he had no choice but to go.

"Bucky is going to be here if you need something."

"I won't need him." You answered, and even though most of your face was hidden from him, he could tell you were scowling.

"Yeah, well he'll be here anyway," Steve leaned closer to the crack and you, trying to put as much feeling behind his words as he could as he said, "I'll miss you princess. And I'll be home as soon as possible."

"You said that last time and then you left me for nearly two month."

"I know baby. I'll try not to let that happen again. Love you."

"Love you too." You responded before you shut the door with a soft click.

Bucky was glaring into the fridge when Steve moved back into the room. "Hey Buck?"

"What?" The response came back full of irritation.

"You better fix whatever it was that you did to upset her."

"I didn't—"

"Save it, I'm not an idiot," Steve said holding up his hand, "just fix it. Or else when I get back you'll have to find somewhere else to live."

"What?"

"Buck, I love you and you're my best friend. You know you've been one of the most important people in my life," Steve paused, waiting until Bucky looked up at him. Once he had he nodded towards the hallway. "But she's my mate and I'm not going to have you treating her like shit. If I'm forced to choose, at least in this, I will choose her."