The Proposal

Time to talk

Freshly showered and dressed in jeans and a burgundy long sleeve Henley, Bucky grabs the keys to Logan's old pickup truck off the kitchen counter. Quickly gulping down the last of his piping hot coffee. With a warm smile on his lips and a pointed look in his blue eyes towards Steve who was out on the back deck, he silently communicates that this was the time for them to talk. Something that desperately needed to be done if the three of them were going to keep to their deal. And while Bucky knew it was a bit cowardly to have her go first, Artemis understood the why behind his request. They, meaning him and Steve, still hadn't talked about what happened in her room three days ago. To be honest he hadn't said much to her about his feelings towards his best friend at all. But it was clear to see that they were both nervous about the others reaction to their very intimate moment. Which wasn't surprising at all.

After all they had nearly a century of friendship between them. And from the looks of it, they'd never once said there was a mutual attraction to the other. Not once in all that time. At first Artemis had a hard time believing that there had been nothing ever said or done between them. However, after a long talk with Bucky on the trial leading to the lake (which she finally took him to) he adamantly denied anything happened. Sure there was the odd glimpse of the other as they'd changed when they'd stayed over at each other's apartments or when they went swimming when they were growing up. And again when they were roughing it during the war. But there had never been any lingering touches or looks shared, he said.

And she was inclined to believe him by the end of their talk. It just made her feel so sad for them. To have hidden how they really felt for so long... It broke Artemis' heart for them. For them to have even a second of relief to give in to their attraction when they were with her had Artemis determined to give them what they truly wanted. Each other. Which was why she had agreed to talk to Steve first, so they could get this awkward mess out of the way and maybe lay down some ground work for Steve and Bucky to finally have that decades-long overdue chat.

Still there was a moment of panic.

What if she fucked this up for Bucky.

But when Artemis’s own eyes widened as she frantically shook her head, Buck narrowed his back at her, not about to let her get out of what needed to be done. Because at the end of the day, it wasn't just about Steve and Bucky anymore. She was a part of this whole thing now. They both knew this talk was a long time coming. Though neither were really eager to broach the subjects they needed to with their third companion. Eventually though, shoulders slumping with resignation, Artemis reluctantly nods. Leaning down Bucky presses a chaste kiss to the top of Artemis's head in thanks.

Reaching up to hold onto his forearm to hold Buck in place, she leaned into him for a moment. Face pressed to his hard abs, she breathed deeply. The scent of his body wash and cologne mixing with the smell that was just him calming her jittery nerves further. Needing this small connection to someone who was actually talking to her. Who actually wanted to be around her.

Pressing another kiss to her temple he speaks softly even though it was only them in the room. "I'm just running into town to grab some more supplies. Between me and Steve, we've cleaned out the fridge. Be back soon." Speaking even softer for only her to hear just in case, he said, “Angel.. If you want this to work between all of us, you need to talk to him.” With that he was out the front door and a moment later the grumble of the engine could be heard as the truck drove away.

Sitting there Artemis knew Bucky was right. She needed to talk to Steve. So did he, but she wasn't pressing him about it since the topic was such a sensitive one. Still, it has been two days since the treehouse and in that time, for reasons unknown to either of them, Steve was icing them out. Which put a damper on anything more happening between them or with her and Buck. Though they’d given into a moment of weakness on their run this morning, which reminded Artemis that she needed to shower soon.