Behind Closed Doors (Bucky Barnes)

~1~ Living with the Avengers

The heavy glass door swung open with a soft whoosh, drawing the attention of the security guard at the front desk. His bored gaze shifted to the entrance, where a young brunette woman had just walked in. She offered a polite nod and a smile as she made her way toward the elevator, catching the guard's eye.

"Excuse me, miss. Where are you headed? You'll need a pass to go up," the guard called out, his voice breaking the monotony of the lobby.

Lani halted, feeling her frustration rise at the interruption. "Ugh, seriously?" she muttered under her breath, but quickly checked herself, recalling her mother's advice about maintaining composure.

With a practiced smile, she slowly turned to squarely meet the gaze of the guard. His eyes casually traced the contours of her figure, lingering on the form-fitting green dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. She clutched her purse closer to her body, internally rolling her eyes at the horny guard.

"Hello. I don't need a pass. I'm here to see my dad," she replied, her tone strained with impatience, she wanted nothing more than to run into the living quarters of the compound and surprise everyone.

The guard persisted, "I'm sorry, miss, but you'll still need to sign for a pass. It's Mr. Stark's orders. And if I may ask, who is your dad?"

Lani's annoyance swelled, but she also appreciated the guard's professionalism in carrying out his duties. She mustered another smile and properly introduced herself,

"I'm Lani Stark. I'm here to see my father, Tony Stark."

The guard's expression shifted from indifference to panic, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "I'm so sorry, Miss Stark. I didn't recognize you, I've only recently started working here," he stammered.

Lani chuckled softly, reassuring the flustered guard that she held no hard feelings. With a nod, she bid him goodbye, turned on her heel, and stepped into the waiting elevator.

As the doors closed, she pressed the button for the correct floor, retrieved her phone, and sent a quick text to her best friend, Yelena, announcing her imminent arrival.

Upstairs, the whole team was gathered in the cozy kitchen, enjoying their breakfast. Suddenly, Yelena couldn't contain her excitement any longer and started bouncing in her seat, catching everyone off guard.

The rest of the group exchanged puzzled glances, completely unaware of the upcoming reunion of the two chaotic best friends.

Concerned, Natasha gently inquired, "Yelena, are you alright?"

Just as Yelena was about to respond, the unmistakable sound of the elevator approaching grew louder by the second, prompting the young girl to let out a high-spirited squeal.

Tony was about to say something as the elevator doors slid open, revealing his teenage daughter exuding an ecstatic grin, mirroring her best friend's energy.

With a spirited cry of "I'm back, bitches," the two friends erupted into laughter, rushing into each other's arms for an enthusiastic hug, accompanied by joyful squeals and playful swaying.

After parting, Lani dashed to her father, enveloping him in a tight embrace as he planted a kiss on her forehead. Greeting the rest of the group, she was met with warm embraces and hellos.

Natasha, surprised, remarked, "Lani, your dad mentioned you wouldn't be here for another month, after your exams."

Lani nervously chuckled, scratching the back of her head. Tony glanced at Lani, suspecting that she had once again done something impulsive, while Bucky couldn't help but let out a snort.