THE LEFTOVERS

46. Challengers

Voices were going back and forth, but all James could see was you.  His hands were crossed as he observed you through the glass wall. You were sitting on the couch, reading your book. Sitting was a kind description. You were kind of laying with your legs up on the support, and your head on the seat. All the way, upside down. He couldn't help but wonder what got you so hooked, your eyes were literally glued to the page. He wished he was there, with your head on his lap as you read, rather than in a mission meeting.

"Did you catch that?" Steve asked him, looking up at his daydreaming best friend.

"Yeah, of course, I'm going to go and... to the... guy, yes," James said trying to row himself back into safe land. His eyes still glued to you. Carol noticed.

"Okay, explain the plan for us then?" She challenged him, laughing softly.

James broke eye contact and looked over at Steve and Carol laughing. He opened up his hands, resting them on his waist. His mouth was opening, searching for words. He had no idea what they had been talking about. Perhaps his idea of you waiting outside was a bad idea, because he did not know how to concentrate in this moment. Still, he was too proud of a man to admit defeat.

"I'm going to stall the doctor?" James gambled, but tried to sound confident.

"What doctor?" Carol laughed waving her hand confused.

"The... Doctor," James tried again, just holding his tone longer.

Natasha rolled her eyes.

"It's no doctor Bucky," She was not too happy with how slow this meeting was going due to his fantasies, she looked out at you Stark was right – you seemed very simple.

"C'mon, cut him some slack the guy is in love," Carol said pointing his finger at him with a wide smile, Steve gently giving her a playful push with his elbow. They were like to siblings rotting themselves together against him.

"Love is nonsense," Tony spit out with his signature snarky tone.

Everyone's eyes fell onto him. James lifted his eyebrow. Stark had never particularly been supportive of him, and neither had James been of Stark, but his tone was rougher than normal. It wasn't many years ago where Stark found himself happily married, but guess it's a short fall from grace. James tighten his grip, slightly tilting his head. It had been silent for too long, for no one to say anything back, but James struggled to read the situation.

"Hey, hey, just cause Buck isn't a robot you built Stark, doesn't mean you shouldn't be happy he is evolving, we should all be happy for him," Sam suddenly said entering the room, lighting up the room.

James breathed out relived by his friend entrance, like a dove coming in helping hands. Sam came around and laid a hands on James shoulder. James laughed low as he kindly shook it off. He appreciated his friend, but he had his boundaries. What did James enjoy even more than his friend's appearance was Tony's discomfort.

"Where did you-What-How did you even hear us?" Tony waved confused in the air.

Sam laughed and pointed to Red Wing in the corner of the room. James peaked over to see it, and yes there the devil was. James normally hated that little bird, but now it was his saving grace. Who knew it could ever be helpful?

"So, the plan Bucky is for me and you to be covering the roof and search for movements," Sam informed James, looking up at him.

James nodded grateful, as the guys finally stopped focusing on him and went back to talking about the mission. He hated attention, or at least their attention. It was one person's attention he did like. He looked back out at you. He felt his lips curling up again. You warmed up his heart from a far. James almost jumped when the meeting was finished, as he walked over to you.

"You really like this book," James said, sitting down beside you.

You glowed up by the voice of James, as you turned around, putting your feet back on the ground. You knew you looked ridiculous hanging upside down, but it was a better position to read from. James looked better from here though. You grabbed his cheeks, raised up to kiss his lips. You had already missed them. You rested back in the couch, letting one hand around his neck, playing with the hair at the back if his neck.

"George Orwell is easy to fall for," You said smiling, looking into James adoring giggly face.

"The commie?" You suddenly heard someone snark from a far. It didn't take long to figure out that it was Tony.

You pressed your lips, and smiled as you looked over at him.

"Believing that the government should help it's citizens, shall barely be argued as communism?" You said, intrigued by the conversation.

Tony was surprised that you picked up his comment. He turned around, facing you. He nodded shortly, before he walked over to the fridge and got out a coke. He smirked shortly. He waved it up to you and James. You declined his offer, James however did take it. Tony walked over to the two of you, and passed the coke over to him.

"We wouldn't be allowed to drink coke if we lived in his universe of the book 1984," Tony remarked.

Ah, you loved arguing literature.

"That's a lie," you said with ease.

"It's a large misconception that his books were communist, which is rather interesting regarding the fact that his books was banned in the old Russia for being anti-communist and banned in Florida for being Pro-communism. Truth is that Mr. Orwell was a socialist and anti- totalitarianism. Meaning he was imposed by governments trying to control the individual, which I know you, Mr. Stark have in common with Mr. Orwell or should I call him, the commie?" You asked, not able to hide your enjoyment in the last sentence.

James loved watching you speak so passionately. Did he understand half of what you said? No, no he did not, but he loved hearing it. It was the way your lips moved, like they were headed for a destination. Your eyes, it was like watching a movie on the cinema, they were displaying every little emotion.

Tony sat quietly. Perhaps he was wrong about you earlier. You might have been more than a pretty face. You defiantly show to have a very... interesting mouth. Few people were able to out speak him, he couldn't possibly deny that you had impressed him. He bet the inside of his lips, searching for words, but he had none. You had taken all the points. You stood up, holding James hand as you passed by him, stopping in front of him.

"Guess even geniuses have flaws" You teased him before you walked off.

Wow, what a woman... Tony thought to himself.