𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐇 | 𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬¹

Morning Glows and Friendly Sparring

I was sleeping when suddenly, someone brushed their nose in my hair, making me jump up with a startled gasp. As I squinted against the morning light, I blinked to find T'Challa smiling down at me, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Good morning," he said, his voice smooth and warm, the corners of his lips curving into that charming smile I had grown to adore.

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, still trying to piece together how I'd ended up in this moment. "What was that?" I asked, half-laughing, half-groggy. "Do you greet everyone like this?"

He chuckled softly, sitting on the edge of the bed, looking regal even in casual attire. "Only the ones I care about," he replied, leaning in slightly, his expression earnest. "I thought you could use a gentle wakening."

I couldn't help but grin at the sentiment. "Well, it certainly worked—though next time, a little less nose and a little more coffee would be ideal."

T'Challa raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his gaze. "I see. You're quite the tough critic. Perhaps I should take notes?"

"Definitely," I said, pushing myself up into a sitting position and trying to tame my disheveled hair with my fingers. "First note: no noses in hair unless you're trying to wake a bear."

"Noted," he said, an unwavering smile on his face. "Shall I fetch your coffee now, or should I continue to offer delightful wake-up calls?"

I laughed, feeling the last remnants of sleep slip away beneath his playful demeanor. "Coffee, please. Save the nose for later. I think I've had enough surprises for one morning."

"I will return promptly," he said, standing with a grace that was intrinsic to him, and with a playful bow, he turned to leave.

As he stepped out of the room, I felt a flutter of warmth in my chest. For all the challenges and dangers that came with our lives, moments like this—filled with lightness and laughter—made it all worthwhile. I couldn't help but smile to myself, looking forward to the rest of the day.

Just as I was savoring the warmth of the moment with T'Challa, Bucky sauntered in, a playful smile stretched across his face, and a plate of breakfast balanced in his hands. His presence instantly brightened the room.

"Hey, has T'Challa been here yet?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he set the plate down next to me.

I couldn't help but laugh. "He was just here, waking me up and all. How charming!"

Bucky pouted, crossing his arms dramatically. "I thought I'd be the one to say good morning to you," he whined, mock indignation lacing his voice.

I offered him a teasing grin. "I think T'Challa might have a bit of competition in the charm department."

Bucky feigned shock, placing a hand on his chest as if I had just dealt him a grave injustice. "Competition? You wound me! But I see now that I must step up my game." He leaned in closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Maybe I should have brought you breakfast in bed instead."

"Well, you did bring me breakfast, so that's a start," I said, gesturing to the plate now sitting beside me. "What did you make?"

He leaned back with a proud smirk, gesturing grandly to the spread. "Scrambled eggs, a side of bacon, and toast—classics. Made specially for you, of course."

I took a plate and examined his culinary creation. "Not bad for a soldier," I remarked, appreciating the effort he clearly put into it.

"Not bad? C'mon, I'm a great cook!" he protested, but I could see the faint smile tugging at his lips. "I'll prove it. You just wait until I whip up my famous pancakes."

"You have a famous pancake recipe?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think I've ever heard of this."

"Trust me. You'll never look at pancakes the same way again," he replied with a dramatic flair.

As I dug into the breakfast he prepared, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and camaraderie between us. Moments like these—filled with laughter and the warmth of friendship—were what made everything feel right in the world, even amidst the chaos that often surrounded us.

"So, did you have anything planned for the day?" Bucky asked, taking a seat beside me, his expression turning curious.

I swallowed a bite of eggs and considered my response. "I was thinking of enjoying a quiet morning, but I'm open to suggestions, especially if pancakes are on the table."

Bucky grinned, and for a moment, the lightness of our conversation washed away the weight of the world. 

He then sat down, his gaze locking onto mine with a sincerity that caught me off guard. "You have pretty eyes, you know that? No, scratch that—you have beautiful eyes," he said, his tone earnest.

I felt a rush of warmth flood my cheeks, and I couldn't help but giggle, partly from the compliment and partly from the surprise of it. "Wow, thank you! You're making me blush, Bucky."

"I mean it," he replied, leaning back slightly but still holding my gaze. His expression was genuine, and I sensed the sincerity behind his words. "They have this way of lighting up when you laugh. It's nice."

I fiddled with my hair, trying to mask the bashfulness creeping in. "You're not too bad at compliments yourself."

He shrugged, a playful grin breaking through. "I have to keep up with T'Challa. Seems like I've got some competition now," he teased, but there was a softness in his eyes that told me he meant what he said.

"Don't worry; you're still in the running," I replied, my heart feeling light. "It's nice to have friends like you who know how to brighten my day."

Bucky chuckled and dug into his breakfast, a comfortable silence settling between us as we enjoyed the food he prepared. It was moments like this, filled with friendship and laughter, that made everything else seem a little less daunting.

"Okay, so besides cranking out beautiful breakfasts and dazzling compliments, what else do you have planned for today?" I asked, hoping to steer the conversation toward lighter topics.

"Well," he said, pausing thoughtfully, "I was considering heading to the training room later. Wanna join? I could use a sparring partner, and I promise not to let you win just because of your pretty eyes."

I laughed, shaking my head in mock disapproval. "Oh, no way! I refuse to be coddled just because you think I have beautiful eyes. Challenge accepted!"

"Now that's the spirit!" Bucky grinned, his enthusiasm infectious. "Just remember, no mercy."

"Same goes for you!" I shot back, playfully determined. And as we finished our breakfast, I couldn't shake the feeling that today was going to be a good day.