Special Touch Part: Two

Chapter Fourteen

You woke up, but you were back at the tower, and you immediately recognized Natasha's room. You were still filthy, but other than that, you felt completely fine, and you threw the covers back to trudge into the bathroom. Turning on the shower, you waited for it to warm up, and then stepped inside after stripping, tossing your ruined clothes into the nearby bin.

You took your time, scrubbing off a layer of skin and watching as everything swirled down the drain. The mix of black, brown, red, and grey spinning around the drain and then disappearing brought you a weird peace that you couldn't describe.

After you toweled off, you padded your bare feet back into the room, wrapped in said towel, and fished around in her drawers for something you could wear. You settled on a black sweater dress that you never saw her wear, but still had her scent and it was one of the more comfortable things she owned.

The halls were like a ghost town and it didn't sit quite right with you as you ventured down into the kitchen for a glass of water.

"Hey." Bucky greeted you from the couch in the living room just off the kitchen.

"Hey, where is everybody?" You furrowed your eyebrows, gesturing around the room with your sweater paws.

"I told them you were gonna be fine," He shrugged with a small smirk, "But they wanted to give you time...and apparently space."

"Well, now I just feel abandoned," You chuckled, sitting next to him, turning to sit with a leg up on the couch so you could face the soldier, and then you picked at the back of the couch, avoiding his eyes when you asked, "...Is he?"

"Am I what?" A familiar voice came from behind you, and you looked up at Bucky with hopeful eyes, the overwhelming emotions making them wet, and he only nodded with his own smile.

You got up and spun to face him, running to tackle him in a hug without a second thought.

"I'm so sorry," You told him, pulling back to pat his cheeks and then his shoulders and arms, confirming to yourself he was real as your eyes stayed on his, "And I'm so happy you're back."

"Glad to be back." He smiled sweetly, pulling you into another hug.

Some tears fell from your ears and you pawed at them when he let you go, but he wasn't much better off. You getting emotional seemed to rile up the same feelings in him.

"I shouldn't have-"

"Stop," He put a hand up, smile still on his face, but it was softer now, "You didn't do anything wrong," He promised, "You were only doing what any of us would've done in that situation and I think you might've gone a bit overboard with the revenge, but it's over now."

"We can move on." Bucky added in agreement, standing now.

"I cut up some oranges." Scott smiled proudly and you laughed, putting an arm around his waist as his went around your shoulders, leading you into the kitchen.

You sat up on the counter and he brought the slices out, sliding the opened container next to you. Bucky came in and made a cup of coffee but excused himself a little while after.

"Have you spoken with Cassie? Or Hope?" You asked him before biting into one.

"Yeah, I called them after I...woke up," His smile faltered a little bit, but he brushed it off, peering back up at you, admitting, "I didn't give Cassie the details though."

"She doesn't need to know," You nodded firmly, "It would just confuse and worry her."

"Yeah, that's what I was thinking."

"What's important is that you're alive and you're okay."

"Banner said it could've killed you, bringing me back," He told you hesitantly, unsure of how you'd react, and then he raised his eyebrows when he saw you give him just a fraction of a nod, "You knew that?"

"Yeah, I could feel it," You admitted with a small shrug, "I thought it'd at least take all my powers."

"Did it?"

You shrugged again, reaching over to take the knife off the counter, and then slicing your palm with a wince.

You sighed, showing him the cut.

"Guess so."

"Oh, man, I'm sorry, you didn't have to-"

"Scott, please," You scoffed, "Your life for my powers? There's no question."

"But-"

"That's what they were here for," You insisted, reaching for the paper towels to wrap your hand up with for the time being, and then when you went to press the cloth to the wound, he let out a small gasp, and you noticed it had sealed back up, "Or maybe they're just slow after everything."

You chuckled, showing him your palm again after wiping the excess blood, but then furrowed your eyebrows and tilted your head at how startled he looked.

"Your eyes," He answered the question you didn't get the chance to ask, "They glowed."

"Oh, yeah," You forced a small laugh, but it came out nervous, "I think that might be an upgrade or something."

"Something." He mumbled, feeling like he could sense this wasn't all over.

He left soon after, giving his goodbyes because he was flying back to California soon, and you stayed seated up on the counter, thinking about what he said without actually verbally saying it.

You must've stayed there longer than you had intended, lost in thought, because soon everyone was coming around, and you had a feeling Bucky broke the word about you being awake or maybe Scott had when he was saying goodbye to the others.

"Feathers?" Natasha cooed, coming to stand between your legs, her hands going from your knees to slide up your thighs comfortably, "You alright?"

"Yes," You sighed, feeling yourself relax just in her presence, and then you kissed her sweetly, "Thanks, babe."

"I love you," She whispered against your lips, her hands trailing up to your waist as she held you close, adding, "Especially when you wear my clothes."

"I love you too," You smiled, "And it's-"

"Fury wants to see you, L/n." Steve called before you could finish your response, sounding all business, and you groaned loudly.

"I don't wanna." You pouted when Natasha pulled away so you could hop down.

"It's just for your report," She assured and then when you did hop down, she pressed you into the counter, the edge digging into your lower back just slightly, but nobody noticed as she whispered, "And when you're done, I want to give you a proper welcome back to the city."

"I almost died," You pretended to be baffled, putting a hand to your chest, and then laughed when she smiled with a cocked eyebrow, "But yes, I'd like to order a slice of that cake."
"Then hurry back." She smirked, smacking your ass as you walked away.

"Where the hell is Fury?" You laughed loudly, moving quickly down the hall as Steve led the way, and you were still barefoot, "I have more pressing matters to attend to, Steven!"

"Glad to see you're back to your old self." He chuckled, shaking his head.