Echoes of Blue

Chapter Two

The Quinjet touched down smoothly at the Avengers Compound, and as the ramp lowered, Lia stepped out into the cold moonlight, blinking at the vast grounds before her. Tony was already animatedly gesturing toward the impressive building. "Welcome to Avengers HQ! Isn't it amazing?" he exclaimed, arms wide open. "We've got everything you could possibly need here: state-of-the-art tech, training facilities, and, of course, a killer view!"

Lia stood in awe, excitement mingling with nerves. "It's... incredible," she managed, taking in the sleek architecture and sprawling grounds. "I've never seen anything like it." "Wait until you see the common room! It's got a full kitchen, a game room, and the best part — a massive screen for movie nights!" Tony continued, leading the way.

As they walked through the compound, Natasha and Clint exchanged playful banter, while Steve offered snippets of information about their various missions. Lia found herself laughing along, trying to absorb it all. "Okay, here we are," Tony said, stopping at a door on the third floor. "This will be your new home. Cozy, right?" Lia nodded, her heart racing. She took a step inside, and the room was just as she had hoped: warm and inviting, with a large window that would let in the morning light. But what really caught her attention was the door across the hall. "Who's on this floor?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice. "Bucky's on the opposite side," Clint replied with a grin, waggling his eyebrows playfully.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she hesitated before turning to look. Bucky was leaning against the doorframe of his own room now, arms crossed, watching her with a neutral expression. Finally, their eyes met, and she felt a rush of warmth and curiosity. "Hey," she said, offering him a shy smile. Bucky returned it, albeit cautiously. "Hey."

Tony clapped his hands together. "Alright, Lia! Natasha's going to grab Wanda in the morning and bring her down to meet you. The girls will help you settle in, we'll take you out shopping to get everything you need!" "Shopping?" Lia echoed, overwhelmed but appreciative. "You guys really don't have to do all this for me." "Of course we do! You're one of us now!" Tony replied, his enthusiasm infectious. Natasha gave Lia a reassuring smile. "It's a tradition. We like to spoil our new members a little."

As the Avengers filed out, Lia took a moment to catch her breath. The whirlwind of the day had been exhilarating yet exhausting. "Thank you for everything," she called after them. "I'm going to head to bed because I'm pretty wiped." "Sleep well, I'll see you in the morning!" Natasha called back, her voice warm.

Once alone, Lia closed the door and took a deep breath, looking around her new space. It felt like a dream, but her thoughts soon drifted back to Bucky, the way he had looked at her. There was something about him that intrigued her, something hidden beneath the surface.

Meanwhile, in his room, Bucky sat on his bed, trying to shake off the strange feeling he had after meeting Lia. He replayed the moment they shared, but the familiarity gnawed at him. He couldn't shake the sensation that he should know her from somewhere, but the details remained elusive.

Hours passed, and the night deepened. Bucky was tossing and turning, in a deep sleep . Suddenly, he jolted, shouting as memories of nightmares clawed their way to the surface. Lia stirred awake, startled by the screams piercing the stillness of the compound. Heart racing, she swung her legs out of bed and stepped into the hall, following the sound. When she reached Bucky's door, she hesitated but then opened it a crack.

The sight that greeted her sent a chill down her spine. Bucky was thrashing on the floor, trapped in the grip of a nightmare, his face twisted in fear. "No! Stop!" he yelled, terror evident in his voice. "Bucky?" she asked, walking over to him. "Bucky hey, wake up!" she urged, placing her hand on his metal arm. In an instant, he reacted, snapping awake and pushing her against the wall with surprising force. His eyes were wild, and for a moment, she saw a flash of panic before he registered her presence. "Fuck, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Bucky stammered, backing away as he realized what he had done. "It's okay, I just wanted to wake you," Lia said softly, hands raised in a placating gesture. "Don't touch me when I'm asleep!" he snapped, the edge of his voice still raw with residual fear.

Lia stepped back, hurt flashing across her face. "I'm sorry, I- I just" she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you okay?" He brushed her off with a quick nod, turning away to gather himself. "I'm fine," he muttered, but his eyes betrayed a deeper turmoil. Lia felt a wave of empathy wash over her. She started to leave but paused, glancing back at him. "Bucky..." she began, but the words caught in her throat as she took in the distress etched on his features.
He looked up, sadness pooling in his blue eyes. For a moment, they locked gazes, an unspoken understanding passing between them. Then, she turned and left the room, a knot of concern tightening in her chest.

As she climbed back into her own bed, her mind raced with thoughts of Bucky. What could have caused him such pain? She wondered what darkness he battled in his own mind, and for the first time, she felt a deep urge to reach out and help him, even if it was only a small gesture. With a sigh, she closed her eyes, trying to push away the unease that lingered. But sleep eluded her, thoughts of Bucky's haunted expression keeping her awake long into the night.