until i found you | winterwidow

396 9 5
                                    

game of two truths and a lie goes wrong and natasha ends up reminiscing about her past with bucky


The sky was beautiful that night. Stars seemed unusually bright and big, but Natasha didn't really care. They were her only companion, aside from memories that for the last few hours were brutally fighting for the spotlight in her head. There she was, in the dead of night, completely alone on the terrace while everyone else in the Compound was sound asleep. She leaned on the glass railing with a blanket draped over her shoulders.

Who would have thought that an innocent game of two truths and a lie, over a few beers, will result in a harsh, involuntary trip down memory lane? They lived in the same building for the past few months and she was doing just fine. Not bothered at all, she kept those memories behind permanently closed doors in her mind for years. Only a few times, something managed to get away but she never had this much trouble with getting it back where it belonged.

Stuffed in the deepest corners of her mind with a warning sign that said Do not touch or it will hurt. And it did hurt. Every time. But the previous incidents and this one were like scratching your knee in comparison to getting shot multiple times while being repeatedly kicked in the stomach.

Because back then, he didn't remember. And if he didn't remember, she could pretend it never happened. It somehow hurt less, if she convinced herself it all happened just in her head.

Yet, this evening was different.

He remembered.

And she was torn between it being a gift, some kind of miracle, or rather a curse, a horrible joke from the universe.

"Alright, Nat, your turn." someone said in a very cheerful tone. She didn't even register who that was.

She shook her head slightly with a smile and took a big sip out of her bottle, thinking about what she could say. She didn't want to make it too easy for them.

"Before she says anything, can Barton skip this round? He knows her too well, he'll ruin all the fun" other person suggested.

After a moment of bickering, Clint agreed and left the room, probably to use that moment to go to the bathroom. Someone scolded the rest for acting like five-year-olds before Natasha chimed in.

"Few more seconds and I'm not doing it." she threatened. Everybody calmed down almost immediately. "Okay, so I have a sister, I love pickles and my name is Natasha."

"Come on, Romanoff, you could at least try!"

"It's obvious it's not the last one"

"You love pickles, you add them to everything."

As most of the group started consulting in a more or less civil way, she caught Bucky's gaze across the room. He was quiet, as always. They were taking turns, going in a circle and he would be the last one if he even decided to play and she honestly doubted that.

"It's the last one," he said suddenly, surprising everyone. He didn't break the eye contact, despite being in the center of attention now. "Your name is Natalia. Not Natasha."

A shiver went down Natasha's spine on a sheer memory of his words. She still felt everyone's eyes on herself as they all moved from him to her, looking for confirmation, nothing but curious if Barnes was right.

She could have just said yes and gotten on with it, start talking to another person. But she had to ask. Ask if he remembers. He didn't say anything, didn't even nod, and after a few seconds of awkward silence, the game just continued as if nothing ever happened.

lullaby of woe × marvel one shotsOpowieści tętniące życiem. Odkryj je teraz