Iron Bloodlines

Yum! Cupcakes!

Bucky's POV:

Seeing Elise standing in front of me, I feel everything at once—happiness, admiration, fear, guilt, shame. The emotions crash into me, overwhelming in their intensity. It's like the world has narrowed down to this single moment, this single person.

Then the memory floods back in perfect detail. We're in the same spot, just as it happened before.

Elise rounds the corner, her expression softening as she mutters, "I'm so sorry," holding her arms out. My hands find her wrists, a jolt of intrigue, curiosity, and a faint flare of lust sparks through me.

"It's...ok," I reply awkwardly, nerves fluttering in my stomach. *Wow, she's...beautiful,* I think, unable to tear my eyes away.

"You're new," she quips, a slight grin tugging at her lips.

"Sort of," I reply, attempting what she later describes as my Toothless grin.

"Hmm. You're joining the group, I assume?" She asks, her curiosity genuine.

"Looks that way," I answer, my laugh awkward, betraying my nerves.

"So you're moving in?" She asks.

"Looks that way," I repeat.

She nods and stretches out her hand. "I'm Elise... Stark."

"Stark?" I ask, confused, tilting my head slightly as I gently shake her hand.

Her grin widens. "Tony's daughter."

My eyes shoot wide in surprise. "Oh. Tony's...yeah. Um. I'm... I'm Bucky."

There's a moment of silence as I struggle to find words. Any...words. *Jesus, Buck. Say something* I think as I just...stare at her like a creep.

Then, we both look down, realizing we're still shaking hands. "Bucky, this handshake is...awkwardly long," she laughs.

"Yeah, sorry," I sigh, pulling my hand back.

Back in the present, I whisper, "Well...this is...oddly fitting."

"Huh?" she replies, her brows knitting together.

"Well..." I begin, glancing around the hallway, "you did crash into me here. Three years ago."

Recognition lights up her face, and a smile forms on her lips. "Right. Right!" she exclaims. "When Dad brought home some...stray old guy from Wakanda. Then...he never really left,"

I hear her laugh....*Oh god, I've missed that sound.*

"Well, you kept feeding him. So. Didn't anyone ever tell you not to feed strays?" I reply, mirroring her smile.

"I just felt bad," she says, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

My head cocks in question, the grin still on my lips.

"Because he was like...REALLY old," she finishes, grinning at me.

As I look down at Elise, a wave of regret crashes over me, threatening to pull me under. There are so many things I should have said before, things that could have made a difference if I'd had the courage six months ago. The urge to spill everything, to let the words tumble out in a desperate confession, rises within me. *Do it... DO IT,* my warped mind urges.

'No... now is not the time,' I quietly scold it.

*You at least owe her that!* my brain retorts.

"Elise..." I whisper before I can stop myself. Her gaze locks onto mine, and for a moment, I see what looks almost like hope flicker in her eyes. She swallows hard, her vulnerability palpable.