Steve Rogers And Bucky Barnes Images

What Friends Are For

Warnings - toxic relationship, heavy abuse, language, angst, description of injuries, blood, slight gore

*LONG CHAPTER*

The team is annoyed at this point, because Bucky was down deep in love with you and neither of you could see it. They knew anytime you came by, you would drop off the baked goods and head straight to Bucky's room without question, sometimes even taking care of the twins for Wanda while the two went out.

Natasha had been the only one to confirm you were in a relationship, but she learned so much more after that talk and got everyone to listen to her when she said the pestering needed to quit.

Your relationship was private for a reason, and Bucky had been the only one who knew about it. Most of it, really. He knows you're in a struggle, but he doesn't know any other reason to keep you away from him.

From harm.

Staying with Bucky had been your only excuse to have an escape, and then you found yourself going over more and more, talking and opening up about the man you were seeing.

And then the truth was hidden the longer he asked about your well-being. Lies slipped off your lips, and you were finally destroying yourself from the inside out the longer he kept asking, and he could slowly see apart of you chip off when you spoke to him, or come over.

But seeing you was the highlight of his day, because you were so excited to see him. You brought over a pie or something to eat for whoever was at the compound, and then go straight to his room. Or so he thought.

Sometimes, you went to Natasha so she could look at you, make sure you could get everyone of you before you visited the man you fell for. She had grown suspicious of your act, and then a month later, she was knocking on your apartment before breaking up a fight she was sure was going to get physical if she hadn't interfered.

But she promised you nothing would be said, as long as you tried to leave unharmed and check in with her anytime you could. So visiting Bucky was the only chance you could confirm you were safe, much to her suspicions.

She didn't believe that he had stopped, or even backed down. You grew into yourself so much more, and even Bucky had questioned you a few times when you started getting quiet, flinching anytime someone taller than you or even looked strong enough to intimidate you came near you quick enough.

The team weren't as quick to catch on as the assassin's, but they weren't slowly either. Clint had been the next to notice you were different, how you stopped bringing homemade food but something unlike you had made with a note not to eat too much. No one touched it.

Thor had scared you from behind, and Natasha had to keep Steve from flying across the room the minute you froze and broke down in the bathroom. She had to tell someone else, and who else other than her husband would be better? But keeping him in line was the hardest part.

Bucky was the only one at this moment who didn't know anything, but he was growing more and more suspicious the longer you dwendled on leaving, or even questioned coming over, asking to meet somewhere else, like a cafe for the time.

Your relationship had been slowly getting in the way of the meet ups, and Natasha realized you were putting up a fight to come over, or just get out of the apartment the minute you climbed through the window with a broken arm and almost passing out on her.

That was the first time you stayed the night, sleeping in her bed for a day and a half before you were finally able to tell her what happened. He striked, but never stopped until you were rushing out the door. Alarms had gone off in the compound the moment you jumped the fence, but you didn't stop until you climbed the ladder and slid through her window.