An unconventional trio

Nova? What kind of name is that, anyways?

Nova's POV:

I stood in front of the mirror, studying my reflection. The black cocktail dress hugged my curves perfectly, the fabric feeling like a second skin. I still couldn't believe I let Nat convince me to buy it. But now, looking at myself, I was grateful.

"How do you feel?" Nat's voice broke through my thoughts. She was lounging on my bed, casually flipping through a magazine.

"I don't know," I admitted, smoothing down the dress nervously. "It's so... out of my comfort zone."

"That's the point," Nat said with a smirk. "You need to step out of it once in a while. Especially for someone like Bucky."

I still  blush at the mention of his name. I had been looking forward to this date all day. Bucky had a way of making me feel seen, like I was the only person in the room when he looked at me. The thought of seeing that look in his eyes tonight made my heart race.

"I just hope he likes it," I said softly, adjusting the delicate sleeves of the dress.

Nat laughed, a melodic sound that filled the room. "Trust me, he will. You look stunning."

I felt a pang of guilt for not telling anyone what today was, but it was a familiar feeling. No one had ever really celebrated my birthday, so every year it just passed by like any other day.

This year had been no different. We had been away on a mission for the past week, and today had been the first full day back. I was exhausted, physically and emotionally, but the thought of spending some alone time with Bucky had kept me going.

I watched as Nat gathered her things, her movements efficient and unhurried. "Alright, I'll leave you to finish getting ready," Nat said, slinging her jacket over her shoulder. "Have fun tonight, okay?"

"Thanks, Nat," I replied, forcing a smile. "I will."

Nat paused at the door, giving me a knowing look. "You look amazing, by the way. Bucky's not going to know what hit him."

I felt a warm blush creep up my neck. "I hope so."

With a final wave, Nat slipped out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I turned back to the mirror, applying the finishing touches to my makeup. My hands moved on autopilot, my mind elsewhere.

The guilt came crashing down on me, heavier than before. The dreams had been haunting me for 2 weeks now. I tried to shake them off, but they clung to me, vivid and relentless. Yes, Bucky was in them, always there, watching with a mix of longing and desire as I gave myself over to Loki. And the worst part was, in the dreams, I enjoyed it.

My hands trembled slightly as I applied my lipstick. I couldn't understand why my subconscious would betray me like this. I care deeply for Bucky, but these dreams felt like a betrayal, an infidelity of the mind. Each night, I woke up feeling more conflicted, more ashamed.

Why Loki? The question gnawed at me. He was the enemy, someone I couldn't trust. Someone I don't understand. And yet, in my dreams, there was an undeniable allure, a dark magnetism that drew me in. I hated that part of myself that responded to it.

I glanced at my reflection, my eyes meeting my own. The dress was perfect, my hair and makeup flawless. But behind the polished exterior, I felt like a fraud. How could I look Bucky in the eye tonight, knowing the things my mind had conjured?

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Tonight was supposed to be special. Bucky had gone out of his way to plan something nice for us, and I owed it to him to be present, to give him the best of myself.

With one last look in the mirror, I turned and headed for the door. But I couldn't shake the lingering sense of unease. The dreams were just that—dreams. They didn't define my reality, didn't dictate my feelings for Bucky.