Labyrinth

Chapter 24: Sooner than it seems life turns around

Chapter 24 Calida Pov

"I don't think you and Bucky is a good idea." I stop mid chop as I gape at nat. I set the knife down next to the tomatoes and before I could find my voice, Clint bites a carrot and says to Nat, "how do you know about that?"

My mind is reeling as I look from Clint to Nat. feeling aghast, I ask sounding every bit as horrified as I felt, "How do any of you know about..." I wave my hand around, "...that."

Wanda doesn't take her eyes off the lettuce she is chopping and says, "why am I the only one that don't know?"

I shake my head and say in a hush voice, "there is nothing to know. nothing happened." I go back to cutting the tomatoes.

Nat places a hand on mine, and I look up at her, she says, "even if I didn't walk in on you too on the roof, I would've known."

Clint looks betrayed, "you said you couldn't find her. how could you keep this from me?"

Nat sighs as she looks from clint to me and explains, "after you stormed out, Wanda, clint and I went looking for you. we had no idea that Sharon switched the cards to get close to Steve. we were in the process of straightening it out when you left. that's why we were calling you back." she looks at clint and says, "yes, I did find her... or them. they were clearly busy, and I didn't want to interrupt."

I make a face at her and say, "gee thanks."

She turns to clint, "how did you know?"

"I was in the vents."

Wanda frowns looking very confused, "why?" clint hugs her and tells her don't worry about it.

I shake my head and say, "it was nothing. just a slip..."

Clint laughs, "he slipped alright."

"real mature."

Wanda asks, "so what now? are you a couple?"

"no. it was just sex."

"well, I think it's a bad idea." Nat says again.

I glare at her, "noted." I go back to fixing the salad.

Wanda asks, "why is it a bad idea? I mean they clearly like each other."

Nat says, "because someone could get hurt. And the someone I'm referring to is Bucky."

I look at Nat for a long moment before saying, "bucky is fine. He knows it was a mistake. Plus he's been out with a different girl everyday since, you know, when he's not out on a mission."

Clint asks, "and how does that make you feel?"

I glare at him and say through my teeth, "I'm fine."

Nat and Clint give each other a look and then Nat says, "he's only dating because you blew him off."

"I didn't blow him off."

Clint giggles and I say, "grow up."

He coughs to cover his laugh and says, "sorry."

Nat continues, "look I'm just saying, be careful."

I nod in understanding. its nice she is worried about her friend, but she takes me off guard when she ask me how I'm doing with all of this. not use to her caring about my feelings, I side eye her. "what do you mean?"

She shrugs and leans her elbows on the counter, "I know this cant be easy for you. with Loki around. him being your first...everything. and then kai." She clears her throat, seemingly uncomfortable as she continues. "I mean, have you been with any other men?"