(!!UNDER UPDATES!!) Fire and Ice - (Bucky Barnes x OC) 18+

Chapter 16

After a night of struggles and nightmare duty with Bucky, Alex found herself down in the kitchen sitting at the bench with a glass of water. She didn't give a thought about her appearance because it had simply been a rough night. She was borderline asleep resting on her arms.

"Good Morning Alex," Tony greeted, walking in. He had no idea that she'd fallen asleep so his sudden entrance startled her and made her shoot upright, almost falling off the chair.

"What the fuck!" She swore, cringing at her own voice for being too loud. "Don't you know it's rude to sneak up on a person" Alex glared at him while tracking his movements around the bench.

"Oh but it's not rude when you're the one who does it?" He snapped back but flashed her a grin, it only made her roll her eyes at him.

"You look-"

"Like shit, i'm aware." Alex admitted, a deep sigh followed before she took a sip of water.

"Well, i was going to say colourful with your fluffy slippers and maleficent pyjama pants, but you do you, pumpkin," Tony shrugged, taking down a mug from the cupboard. "Are you okay?"

"Yes...just tired, i haven't been sleeping well, either" She answered truthfully, and he glanced at her while pouring his coffee.

"I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, Bucky drama?" He asked, and Alex nodded.

"I'm about to either snap or cry, not sure which one to be honest," She said. "Also, i'm so sorry for putting you through it all when you helped me,"

Tony snorted lightly with a shake of his head. "Oh yes, you definitely weren't a walk in the park," He said, sipping his coffee. "You didn't make it easy for me either. You forget that you spent weeks in your room before i managed to get you out. It's only been a few days for him,"

At his words her shoulders slumped forwards. Bucky had been doing better in terms of talking and eating, she'd even had Steve and Sam visit him which seemed to do wonders for him as-well, but it was the nightmares that drove her mad. On the off chance she fell asleep in his room, in his bed, after helping him through a bad dream or panic attack, they both slept peacefully without any nightmares or restlessness. Yet neither wanted to admit that.

"I know Tony.. it's just, seeing him suffer...it hurts," She confessed, lowering her gaze to the glass she was holding.

"I'm here for you Alex, you know that." He reassured. "You should ask Sam if he needs a running buddy, also, i expect you to be looking a little more put together today, Peppers coming home,"

"Wait, that's today?" She straightened and ran a hand through her messy hair. Tony chuckled, took a sip of coffee and nodded at her.

"I love seeing you this happy Tones, it makes me happy," Alex stated, she loved seeing him light up around Pepper, it made her feel like having something to share like that one day was possible, the unconditional love.

He waved it off. "Listen, i gotta say something. You and Barnes already sound like a married couple," Tony teased, then laughed when her eyes widened. He was out of the kitchen and down the hallway before she could utter a single retort back at him.

"The nerve of him," she muttered while shaking her head in disbelief.

"Hey beautiful," Sam greeted, walking in with a chuckle when he noticed her choice of outfit. "Rocking the pyjama's for the day?"

"Shut up,"

He barked a laugh.

"Hey, while you're here, do you need a running partner?" Alex asked, spinning in her chair to face him and he gave her a once over.