Avengers: The Hunted (Avengers × Reader)

57- Illicit Affairs

Natasha walks into the lab, wiping away her tears but more well up.

"Nat, I'm glad your here" Bruce smiles warmly, "it's wanted to ask you for some advice on-"

"I'm not here for that Banner" she says shutting the door behind her.

He raising an eyebrow and then smirks
"Oh, so we're back to the surname game now. Although I do prefer the term doctor-"

"Not now, and not ever again. I can't do this to him anymore Bruce, it's not right"

"Natasha, I thought you wanted this"

"I did, or I do but I can't"

"Then break up with him"

"No"

"Why?"

"Because I love him"

"And me?"

"I love you too. But I can't be with you Bruce. You left, we never actually went out. You tried denying me then so why can't you now-"

"Because I love you. I loved you then and I loved you now, I was stupid to shut you off but I was scared, okay, I was scared. Scared of love, scared of us, scared of loss. I couldn't risk it but now I'd risk everything, just" Bruce runs up to her and holds her hands, now speaking softly "just stay with me, you're all I have"

"I can't" she cries "I can't leave him. I'm sorry"

Bruce looks her in the eyes and accepts defeat

"If that's what you want" she nods "then I guess this means goodbye"

He places one of his hands on her cheek and wipes away her tears, she leans forwards and kisses his lips to which he responds with the same softness and sorrow that came for him.

The door slams open, marching across came what could only reassemble so much to be the Winter Soldier himself.

Taking a blow to the face, then chest, Bruce falls to the floor. Hovering over him was what he could only dream to be his nightmare but now coming at him with full force was James Buchanan Barnes.

"BUCKY!"

He grabs Bruce's shirt and pins him up against the wall with his metal arm, working his way up from his stomach, Bucky punches Bruce who only responds with quiet winces of pain in attempt to control his anger prevailing.

"BUCK STOP! WHAT ARE DOING STOP!" Nat cries, tugging as hard as she can on Bucky's arms, preventing him from possibly murdering her star-crossed lover. "I WAS THE ONE THAT KISSED HIM, IT WAS ME, JUST STOP"

Dropping him to the ground, the thudding echoes the room and by now Steve had been making his way up with Clint to see all the chaos.

Turning his head to look Nat in the eyes, she burns in regret as Bucky drowns in horror and hurt.

His eyes now glistening red pain, his pnce wide puppy eyes had turned more inccoent than ever. Despite what had just happened to Bruce, no pain could describe the feeling that overwhelmed Bucky at that moment.

"When you said you loved me, you didn't mean it did you?" He whispers

"Buck, I-"

"You didn't mean it"

"Look I'm sorry, that wasn't supposed to happen, I swear I'm sorry-"

"You can tell me that you're sorry but I don't believe you anymore"

"Just give me a chance to explain myself-"

"What was all that begged and borrowed time for then, huh, Natasha?" Clenching his jaw and preventing his tears from prevailing but they did anyway "when you said nothing was going on, you knew exactly what you were doing and to think I was stupid enough to believe you. I loved you" he ended with a whisper and slight crack in his tone, finally allowing the tears to flood.

Steve and Clint have arrived at the doorway now, afraid to speak in not to trigger anything they remain silent.

"Bucky please, let's just start over" Nat whispers.

Looking at her one last time, those eyes she'd insult to injury, he left with a silent goodbye.

"Buck, c'mon" Steve whispers, but proceeds to go after him after Bucky walks right past, leaving Clint to deal with the mess that was left.