S U P E R N O V A - MARVEL

Chapter 17: New

They sat at a roadside cafe. The cold wind brushed her face, She was sitting across from Bucky. Who had his usual tired expression on his face, which was coloured a bit red because of the cold. Nova smiled and looked around, "This is nice." She stated.

"Is it." He spoke.

Nova glanced at him and rolled her eyes, "Yes it is, it's cold, and I'm in a cafe in Romania,"

Bucky nodded. He was silent for a long moment, hesitating from asking a question on his mind ever since he saw Nova. Finally he spoke up, "Did— did Steve send you?" He asked, Steve's name on his tongue made him feel uncomfortable. Like he didn't deserve to take his name after what he did to him.

"No. He doesn't know where you are." She said looking down at the salt and pepper bottles on the table. "And um— I won't tell him. Unless you know, you want me to." She looked up at him. "Do you?" Bucky looked away and didn't say anything.

"Anyways, why Bucharest?" She asked him.

"No reason." He said bluntly.

"There must be. It makes sense you know, this city feels like, well, you." She commented.

"Is that a compliment?" He asked, his expressionless face constant.

"Yes, Bucky, Romania is great, and as much as it pains me to say it, you are too." She said.

Bucky shyly smiled looking down, "Thanks."

"Oh, what? Is that a smile I see Bucky Barnes?" She teased. Hearing someone refer to him as his real name felt comforting to him, it tinged every time she said it but it still felt good.

~

The night had come to an end, Nova and Bucky strolled towards his apartment building, having enjoyed a dull dinner, Though it was mostly Nova nagging him to eat, and eventually he did. He laughed a few times too, it made Nova happy to see him smile after all the misery he was put through, and it made her feel proud that she was the one who made him feel that way.

"Well, you promised me one day, I'll go now." She said, lightly touching his arm before turning to leave.

"You don't have to," Bucky blurted, feeling foolish and nervous.

Nova turned around, surprised, "What?"

"To go, You don't have to go, I mean, unless you wanna. Um, you could stay." He stumbled over his words.

Nova furrowed her eyebrows, she thought up till now, Bucky was just annoyed by her. "I'd love to. But you're taking the couch." She remarked, Bucky rolled his eyes.

Suddenly her phone rang. Bucky furrowed his brows, Nova felt embarrassed, "Uh, I have to take this." She said as she walked to the corner.

"Sam! What is it!" She whispered.

"Hey! I'm in the City, I've got tickets to a dumb musical, wanna come?" He said through the phone in a jolly tone.

"No! I'm not in New York, I'm on vacation remember?"

"What? Where are you?"

"I'm in Romania."

"Romania? Why?"

"What do you mean Why? I'm on vacation that's why!"

"You went to Romania, on Vacation?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Who looks at Romania and thinks 'Hey I'm gonna vacation there' ?"

"I do! Now, if you'll excuse me, can I enjoy the rest of the vacation? I'm coming home tomorrow."

"Alright fine. Bye." As Nova was about to cut the call, "Wait!"

"What?"

"If you're in Romania, how do you have cell service?"

Nova rolled her eyes, "My dad's Tony Stark." She said and hung up.