Stark's Shadow

Chapter 5 - Cold Truth

I woke up in my bed, and the clock read "10:00 A.M." Bucky was leaning against my bed, sleeping. His hand was on my bed like he was trying to reach me in his sleep. I didn't remember getting into bed last night.

"Bucky?" I ask hoarsely, "You up?"

He looks up at me, smiling softly at me, "Yeah, you alright?"

"I'm good," I say, "It's ten in the morning,"

"You don't say?" He jokes.

"How long have you been up?"

"Not sure. I didn't check the time for a while,"

I nod, getting out of bed, then I stop, "Jarvis usually wakes me up. Did I sleep through that?"

"No, he just didn't wake you up this morning,"

"Why?"

"I don't know," He shrugs, "Why would I know. I don't understand how he works. I can't figure out how to turn my phone on. I think it's broken."

"Yeah, same," I tell him, "It was working for a few days, but now it just won't turn on."

"Weird," He replies.

"So weird," I agree.

Bucky and I head downstairs. Natasha and Clint are having a heated discussion about how to cook eggs.

"Olive!" Nat calls to me, "Please tell Clint what you think is the best way to eat eggs,"

"I'm too scared of both of you to answer that," I say, "Also, I haven't had eggs in years. I have developed an egg ick,"

The two stare at Bucky, who stares back. This whole incredibly uncomfortable non-verbal interaction lasts for about three minutes before Clint nods to Natasha, who smiles contently.

"Did she just win the argument?" I ask,

"Yes," Clint grumbles, "She always wins the arguments,"

I nod, not sure what to say. I feel confused.

Bucky and I sit on the couch. I'm still not feeling great after yesterday's crazy-ass shit. Bucky seems to understand that, so he sticks around with me. I jokingly called him my emotional support Avenger, and he found that funny.

I didn't feel like committing myself to a series and becoming all attached to the characters, so I turned on a random nature documentary.

"Nooooo," I sob, "That little dude was so cute, I named him Henry,"

"It's okay," Bucky says, giving me a hug to try to comfort me, "Henry lived a good life,"

"He deserved better,"

"Didn't you decide to watch this so you didn't become too attached to the characters?" Bucky asks, "Now you're making characters out of random animals on a documentary,"

"Shut up. I know it doesn't make sense,"

He nods, not knowing what to say. Then Tony walks in.

"What's up? You haven't been answering me. I texted you," Tony says, then looks at me, "I'm not going to ask. I don't think I care."

I roll my eyes at him, "My favourite character just died," I tell him.

"This is a documentary?"

"Don't bother," Bucky says, "She makes no sense,"

"Yeah, I know she doesn't," Tony replies, "Now tell me why you haven't answered your phone?"

"It is broken. It won't turn on," I tell Tony, handing him the device.