Fine Line (Bucky Barnes x OC)

Enlightened

The compound was usually quiet in the morning, but for some reason the building seemed more foreboding today than the normal calm Steve felt when he left for his runs. He shook off the feeling as he walked through the halls towards the back of the compound. Tony had outdoor trails cut through the woods around the compound and Steve enjoyed the peacefulness of the trails instead of the tracks normally used by the others. As he neared the common room, he saw Fury and Maria walking towards him. His face twisted with confusion as he came to a stop in front of them.

"To what do we owe the pleasure of your company today, Fury?" Steve asked.

"We have a meeting with Agent Woods this morning and then we need to meet with the team as a whole. We've got information on the mission Woods and Barnes were sent on."

Steve's eyebrows raised in shock. He wondered if Luna was in trouble for rushing in to save Bucky instead of waiting for backup. He wasn't sure what else Fury would need to talk to her about. Even though what she did was frowned upon, Steve was ready to defend Luna for saving Bucky.

"Might want to rally your troops, Captain. We'll be ready for you soon. If you run into Woods, tell her we're waiting for her." Fury said and walked off to the conference room with Maria in tow.

Steve turned around and watched them leave before heading up the stairs to Luna's room. Steve knocked, but didn't get an answer. He knocked again and waited a few moments before twisting the knob and entering the room. When he entered, Steve found Bucky sitting on the floor with his back leaned back against the empty bed.

"Bucky? What are you doing? Where's Luna?" Steve asked, kneeling down next to his friend.

Bucky stared blankly ahead at the wall. He didn't speak or even acknowledge that Steve had entered the room. Steve reached out and touched Bucky's shoulder. Only then did Bucky turn his head to look at him. Bucky's eyes were bloodshot and there were dark circles under each. He didn't speak, just stared at Steve.

"Bucky, what's wrong? Where's Luna?" Steve asked again, this time a bit more forcefully.

"Gone. She–she quit the team and left me." Bucky mumbled.

"What? Why?"

"She said she needed peace and quiet." Bucky dropped his head and when he looked back up at Steve, tears were lining his eyes. "She said she'd never love me, Steve."

Steve's mouth fell open and his brow furrowed. That was a lie. Steve may not be able to read minds or have the perception that Nat was skilled with, but nothing was more clear to him than the fact that Luna was in love with Bucky. It was in the way her eyes lit up any time she looked at him. Or the way she would search for him as soon as she entered a room. Steve knew she was lying about how she felt, but he didn't know why she would lie.

"Did she say where she was going?" Steve asked and Bucky shook his head.

Bucky turned away from him and leaned back against the bed, his eyes settling back on the wall.

"She was desperate to get out of here and I tried to stop her, but she still left."

"Bucky, Fury is here. He said he had a meeting with Luna. Do you know what it was about?"

"No. She didn't mention a meeting when she left. She was packing when I came in. The longer she stayed, the more frantic she became to leave. I told her I'd go with her, but that's when she told me that she'd never be able to love me. I let her go after that." Bucky said, turning back to Steve.

"Something about this isn't right, Buck. She knew Fury was coming this morning if they set up a meeting. Luna wouldn't just agree to see Fury and then disappear before that. She also wouldn't leave you the way she did. It's just odd." Steve said, a pensive look taking over his face.