Echoes of Blue

Chapter Ten

It had been a week since the Hydra mission and Lia getting shot. The compound had returned to its usual rhythm, but for Lia, the weight of what happened at the base lingered. She hadn't spoken to Bucky since he came to see her in the med bay, and every day felt harder. The unanswered questions about her past haunted her, and the knowledge that Bucky had taken away her only lead gnawed at her constantly. Lia sat in the living room with Natasha and Wanda, a heavy silence between them. They could see the strain on her face, the sleepless nights etched into her features. "So, how are you holding up?" Wanda finally broke the silence, her voice gentle as she looked at Lia with concern. Lia sighed, running a hand through her blonde hair. "I'm not," she admitted. "I haven't slept much since the mission. I can't stop thinking about it—about what that doctor said, and the fact that I'll probably never know the truth now."

Natasha shifted beside her, leaning forward slightly. "Have you talked to Bucky yet?" she asked carefully, knowing the situation had been weighing on both of them. Lia shook her head, her expression tight. "No. I'm not ready. I know he didn't mean to hurt me, but..." She trailed off, her eyes clouded with frustration. "I just want to know where I came from. And now, that chance is gone." Wanda gave her a sympathetic look. "It's understandable. You deserve answers."

As they spoke, the door to the living room opened, and in walked Steve, Bucky, and Sam. Bucky stopped short the moment he saw Lia, their eyes meeting for the first time in a week. He offered a small, hesitant smile, but Lia's face remained unreadable. She quickly looked away, focusing on the conversation with Natasha and Wanda. Bucky's chest tightened at her reaction. He hadn't slept much either, the guilt eating away at him. He knew he had messed up, but the worst part was not knowing how to fix it. Sam, sensing the tension in the room, decided to jump in. "Hey, what's with all the long faces in here?" Sam teased, trying to lighten the mood. He walked over to the girls and plopped down beside Lia, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "C'mon, let's hear some smiles!"

Lia managed a small smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Hey, Sam," she said softly, leaning into his playful energy. Bucky watched the interaction, his jaw clenching as he saw Sam's arm around her. A wave of jealousy hit him, making it even harder to breathe. He didn't miss the way Lia seemed to relax with Sam, a reaction he hadn't seen in himself since the mission. Steve noticed Bucky's discomfort and nudged him. "C'mon, man. Let's go train." Bucky nodded tightly, tearing his gaze away from Lia and Sam. "Yeah. Let's go."

As Bucky and Steve walked out of the room, Sam looked at Lia curiously. "You haven't talked to him, huh?" Lia sighed, shaking her head. "No, not yet. I just... I don't know what to say to him." "He's been beating himself up about what happened, you know," Sam said softly, keeping his arm around her. "Guy's a wreck." Lia's expression softened slightly, but the pain of her unanswered questions still clouded her thoughts. "I know... it's just complicated." Sam smiled, trying to lighten the mood again. "Well, let's forget about all that for tonight. How about a movie night? Big group thing, snacks, Harry Potter marathon?" Lia chuckled lightly. "You and your movie nights. But yeah, that sounds nice."

That evening, the compound's theatre room was packed with Avengers, all settling in for movie night. The room buzzed with excitement as everyone grabbed snacks and drinks. Lia sat on the couch beside Wanda, Vision and Sam, already laughing at one of Sam's jokes. The lightness of the evening was a welcome distraction for her. Bucky and Steve were the last to arrive, entering the room just as the movie was about to start. Bucky's eyes immediately went to Lia, but what he saw made his stomach twist. Sam was sitting next to her again, and this time, Lia was smiling and laughing, looking far more relaxed than she had all week.

Bucky clenched his fists at his sides, jealousy flaring inside him. He could barely focus on anything else during the movies. Instead of watching the screen, his eyes kept drifting back to Lia and Sam, the easy way they talked, the way Sam made her laugh. Steve nudged him halfway through the film. "You alright?" Bucky didn't respond, his jaw tight as he watched Sam whisper something in Lia's ear, causing her to laugh again. He couldn't take it anymore.

After the movie ended, Sam stretched and turned to Lia with a grin. "I'll walk you back to your room," he offered, and she nodded, smiling up at him. Bucky's blood boiled as he watched them leave. As soon as the door closed behind them, he snapped. "What's Sam's deal with her?" Bucky growled, turning to Steve, Natasha, and Wanda. Natasha raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?" "You know what I'm talking about. He's all over her, and it's not just friendly," Bucky spat, his jealousy clouding his judgment. Wanda sighed. "Bucky, he's just trying to cheer her up. Lia's been struggling since the mission. He's being a good friend." Bucky scoffed, shaking his head. "Right. A 'good friend.' That's why he's walking her to her room, right?" Natasha crossed her arms. "Sam's not trying to replace you, Bucky. You need to calm down." But Bucky couldn't. The jealousy and guilt twisted together, making it impossible to think rationally. "Whatever," he muttered before storming off to his room.

Hours passed, and Bucky lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing. He couldn't shake the image of Sam and Lia together, and the jealousy ate away at him. Finally, unable to take it any longer, he got up and headed to the training room. It was 3 a.m., and he figured no one would be there. But when he stepped inside, he froze. There, under the dim lights, was Lia, her fists pounding into a punching bag. Her hands were bleeding, her movements frantic, and she was crying—tears streaming down her face as she hit the bag over and over again. Bucky's heart broke at the sight. He approached her cautiously, his voice soft. "Lia?" She turned around sharply, her face wet with tears, her expression raw and filled with pain. Bucky's chest tightened at the sight of her like this.

Without thinking, he crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. She resisted for a moment, but then her walls came down, and she collapsed against him, sobbing into his chest. "Just let it out," Bucky whispered, holding her tightly. "I'm here." She cried for a long time, her body trembling in his arms. Bucky just held her, his heart breaking with every sob that escaped her. He hated seeing her like this, and he hated that he was the cause of so much of her pain.

When her sobs finally subsided, Bucky pulled back slightly, brushing her hair away from her face. "Do you want to talk about it?" Lia shook her head, her eyes filled with exhaustion. "No," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Bucky nodded, his heart heavy. He wanted to help her, but she wasn't ready. "Okay." She grabbed her stuff and walked towards the door, not looking back at him. "Goodnight, Bucky." "Goodnight, Lia," he whispered as she left, leaving him alone in the training room, filled with regret and helplessness.