How do you heal?

Chapter 68: Breaking Point

Pietro sat by the bonfire staring at his phone with Clint. Laura had taken the kids to bed a few hours ago after they had gorged themselves on enough s'mores to feed a small army, Wanda and Vision following a little over an hour later. A marshmallow suddenly hit him in the head.

"Hey! What was that for?" He asked Clint as he laughed and popped the marshmallow in his mouth.

"I've called your name a dozen times but you're too zoned in on your phone to hear me. What's got you so entranced over there? It better not be porn, or I'll make you sleep in the barn the rest of the week."

Pietro sighed, sliding his phone into his pocket. "No. I've texted Annie a few times tonight, pictures of the kids and stuff, and she hasn't answered."

Clint took a swig from his beer. "So, it's late, she is probably asleep."

"Yeah, I know but she had a show tonight. I hoped she'd call me from the Uber on her way home." Pietro went quiet and stared into the fire for a few minutes. Hand on his pocket waiting to feel it vibrate.

"Man, you've got it bad."

"You don't say." Pietro said sarcastically before sipping at his own beer.

"If you like her so much why haven't you made a move?"

"At first I was waiting, giving her time to get over Barnes. When I thought she was finally in a good place I started flirting hard but she has shown zero interest."

"Maximoff, you flirt with everyone and everything. She probably gives you zilch because she doesn't realize you mean it with her."

"I don't flirt with everyone." Pietro said sourly as he looked at Clint.

Clint, in return, glared Pietro down. "I watched you ogle a stack of pancakes this morning shortly after telling the mailman his uniform brought out his eyes. If you are breathing you are flirting."

"Okay fine, I flirt but with her it's real." He shook his head as he gathered his thoughts. "I talked to Alex before I came and I think when I get back I am going to tell her I'm just not sure how."

Clint tossed another marshmallow at Pietro. "Maybe the words 'Annie, I have feelings for you.' would be a good place to start."

"What happens if she doesn't feel the same?"

"You suffer two seconds of embarrassment before you get on with your life."

They both went quiet for a few minutes before Pietro pulled his phone from his pocket again.

"Dear lord." Clint groaned and stood, moving to put out the fire. "I cannot watch you mope around my house like a lost puppy for three more days. Let's get to bed and then after breakfast tomorrow you can run yourself back to the compound."

"You don't need me to stay and help finish the drywall?" Pietro asked, cleaning up bottles and bags of snacks.

"Your sister can move things with her mind. I think I'll be okay."

After helping Clint clean up and put out the fire Pietro was getting ready for bed. The thought of going home in the morning and getting to see Annie had him excited. He pulled out his phone to check for messages one last time and an idea struck him.

Bucky lay next to Annie, breathing in the citrus scent of her hair. He'd missed this, just being near her, holding her. He was fairly certain if he never left her bed again he'd be okay with it.

"I've gotta pee and brush my teeth." Annie said, pulling away from him. She stood and walked the few steps to her dresser, moonlight nearly glowing on her pale skin, before pulling a faded green t-shirt over her head and heading towards the bathroom.

"You still have that thing?" Bucky asked with a laugh, looking at the shirt which had formed small holes in it since he'd last seen it.

She shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "What can I say, I like old things." She giggled and pulled the bathroom door shut as he tossed a pillow at her.

Bucky turned to lay on his back and smiled at the ceiling. His heart was soaring. After all Nat's plotting and pushing a drunken fight on the streets is what led them back together. He couldn't wait to tell Nat in the morning. A buzzing sound came from their pile of clothes on the floor. He sat up and started to feel around, unsure whose phone it was at first but eventually finding it was Annie's. He decided to check it to make sure it wasn't Alex or Sam. Who else would be calling at two in the morning. Pulling her phone out he saw it wasn't a call but a text...from Maximoff. Bucky looked at the bathroom door for a second before opening it to find a chain of messages. Jokes, updates on his day, and pictures of the Barton's. The last photo, however, was Pietro laying shirtless in a bed smiling and an accompanying message.

Pietro: Photo evidence there is room in my bed here for you next time. I'm coming home in the morning because I miss you and to save you from Barnes. 😘

Are you fucking kidding me?  His heart plummeted and he felt his anger rising as he scrolled further back through their messages. The flirting back and forth was obvious and Annie had hinted to Maximoff about the incident in the living room last week with him and Nat.

Pietro: How's your day going, miss me yet?

Annie: It's been like twelve hours, of course I miss you, weirdo. I can't wait for you to get back. 🙄

Pietro: What's going on?

Annie: Selfishly I miss my buffer. Nat and Bucky are the only ones here and it's...awkward.

Pietro: Do you want me to come back now? You know I will.

Annie: No, enjoy your time away. Just know I will be very happy when you return. I plan on making you palacinke.

Fuck this. Bucky thought and tossed her phone onto the bed, grabbing his clothes and starting to get dressed. He'd tried. When he got back he'd tried to be civil. She was the one who started the shit with Kat and then even when he'd tried to make peace after that she'd put up the wall and she could deny it until she was blue in the face but there was clearly something going on with her and Maximoff and Bucky was over it.

As he pulled his shirt over his head he heard the bathroom door open.

"Where are you going?" Annie asked.

Bucky turned to look at her and her face instantly fell at the ire she saw on his. He felt his jaw work as he bent to grab his jacket before walking to the door. "Just keeping my end of the bargain. Take you home, get you to bed and then I leave you alone. That's what you wanted, right?"

His back was to her now as he reached for the handle but he felt the small steps she took towards him. "Bucky..."

"A deals a deal, Annie." He called over his shoulder before slamming the door closed.