Torn {Bucky Barnes FanFic}

Chapter 19

Several weeks later, I was walking down to the labs, a massive coffee cup in hand. I guzzled it down steadily, staring down at the tablet I balanced in my other hand. A little more than a week beforehand, after years of begging, Tony was letting me design a suit for him, and I was ecstatic. Ever since he finally caved, I'd been pouring over my work station, creating the perfect designs. And today was the day that I was going to present them to my brother. I was terrified, to say the least. Tony was always the most critical of my work, and even though I'd worked my ass off, I was convinced he'd find something wrong with it.

Bucky had taken to visiting me in the lab as I worked into the night, and became my own personal cheerleader. Even though he had no idea what ninety six percent of what I was working on meant, he still told me that everything I did was perfect. He made me feel more confident.

So when he and Steve got called out on a mission the night before I planned to pitch it to Tony, I got even more nervous. I woke up that morning and called Bucky to check in on him, and tell him that I was sick and couldn't go pitch the suit to my brother. Of course, he knew I was lying, scoffed, and told me to suck it up. And now there I was, trying to think positive.

I reached the lab and kicked the door open with my foot, my eyes still glued to my tablet.

"Cara!" Tony jumped in front of me and I stopped in my tracks.

I looked up at him. "Yeah?"

"Is there something you'd like to tell me?"

Bruce's face appeared from behind a stack of paper, and he grinned over at me.

"Um, excuse me?" My thinking quickly went from positive to negative.

Tony stepped aside, and my eyes widened when I saw my desk. A huge bouquet of light blue peonies sat right in the middle of it. I tried my best to not grin; but I couldn't help myself.

"Are you gonna tell me who sent you those?" Tony asked. 

I shrugged. "I don't know."

"There's a card," Bruce called.

Tony's head snapped my way, and we both flew towards my desk, trying to beat each other to it. I shoved him as we got closer, and whooped triumphantly when I grabbed the card from the flowers before him.

Cara, You'll kick ass today. I know it.

I smiled to myself as I read the note, and quickly tucked it away into my pocket as Tony tried to peak over my shoulder.

"Oh come on! Tell me who it's from! What does it say?!" He whined.

"Nope," I said. "MYOB, dear brother. Now, are you ready to see the plans for your new favorite suit?"

*******

That night, I sat in bed, watching reruns of Friends on Netflix and drinking a celebratory glass of wine. Tony had loved the suit I designed, and we had even started working on it. I had tried calling Bucky to tell him the good news, but he didn't pick up. As I reached for the remote to confirm that I was, in fact, still watching Friends, there was a soft knock at my door. I rolled off the bed, opened the door, and grinned.

"You're back!" I cried, and threw my arms around Bucky's neck eagerly. "I have good news! God, what time is it even?"

"Um, almost two AM, I think," he said, standing rigidly.

I stepped back, my hands still on his shoulders. "Bucky, what's the matter?"

"I need help."

"What's wrong?" I repeated.