Winter's Lost Gem - A BuckyBarnesxOC Story

Chapter 7

July 2018
Emma's integration went relatively smooth. She completed several tests bestowed upon her from none other than the Captain himself. She worked with Natasha on showing off her abilities with guns and other weapons. She stood toe to toe with Tony and his inventions and equations. She beat Rhodey in what she called a 'simple' war game. She completed team training with Wanda, Sam, and even Scott. Although not part of original training, he chose to show up anyway just to "hang out." She even began attending smaller mission requests. Mainly escorting, assisting with small skirmishes in friendly countries, and protection detail of high priority targets. To her, they were boring. However, as Haleigh pointed out, it was necessary to build a team report. Something she had never really understood until now.
It was overwhelming for her to be kept at such close quarters with people who wanted to know her. She had spent so much of the last sixty years keeping to herself or tracking the one man that she couldn't keep her hands off of. Her decision to stay alone otherwise was beginning to make her choice to come back very hard for her to handle.
She preferred to be a night owl and thusly spent most of the night training on her own. She slept until mid morning, was up in time for afternoon team training, ate alone, and minded her own. Despite multiple offers from others to join them for events here and there, she constantly passed. Emma stuck to reading in her spare time, mostly texts in foreign languages. Something she was able to work on for sixty years.
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So much seclusion left Bucky in an awkward position. He wanted to try putting himself out there, show her he's still interested. No matter how many times he pulled up her name on his phone, he couldn't find the right thing to say in any form. Every blank message was deleted. Every attempt to call went un-sent. Even each attempt to talk to her in person left him flustered, anxious, and brief.
Presently, Emma was on an assistant mission with Steve in Wakanda on behalf of their King. While it wasn't a high risk mission, it was one Bucky was suppose to be on. However at the last minute, Steve opted to take her instead. The Captain didn't quite trust leaving her behind to assist with his children or stand at Bucky's side.
Bucky gave an exasperated sigh as he flopped on the couch next to Haleigh in her home. He glanced at the tv. "Why in the world are still watching Finding Nemo? The kids went to bed twenty minutes ago."
Haleigh shrugged, popping a piece of popcorn into her mouth. "I like the movie. No one said you had to join me." When he sighed, she looked at him. "Or maybe you do. What's up?"
He shook his head. "It's nothing."
"Liar. Why don't you try that again?" She cocked a brow.
"It's this whole Emma thing. I'm not sure what to do. I barely see her to talk to her."
"You know that's what cell phones are for right? To call or text when they aren't in the vicinity to speak face to face. Heck, they even have something called Facetime to talk face to face, sort of."
"Ya I know but other than team training she's a ghost. And I would know. I was one."
Haleigh couldn't help but laugh as she tossed a few pieces of popcorn at him. "Then you should know how to get to her in order to speak to her, dork."
"What?" He sputtered.
"Think about it, Buck. This is how you were when you were approved for duty. You had to learn how to adjust. So is she. This is her adjustment period into the Avengers family."
"Oh. I see what you're saying. Just like me. I wasn't sure where I fit or how I got along."
"Aand the only people you really knew or got along with was Steve. Then you warmed up to Sam, then me and Sarah. It's a process and she's having a hard time because the only one she knows, in a sense, is you. Steve doesn't trust her, probably because no one had ever heard of her before except you and Peggy."
"And Peggy is no longer around to verify any information about her." He sighed simultaneously with her scoff. "Oh Haleigh, you know he loves you."
"Yeah, yeah. I get that but it doesn't change the tension on the topic. It'll always be that way no matter the person. It's a relationship thing, Buck. You never like the person who held their heart before you. You'll understand."
"If I ever get that far."
"Have you even tried to engage her in a conversation?"
".....No." He stopped her before she could answer. "But Steve has her going with him on every little mission, she trains at night, and doesn't attend any team events."
Haleigh slapped her palms, holding Bucky's cheeks between them. "Then you need to text or call her. Leave a message. Do something."
"Isn't she in Wakanda? What time is it there?"
Haleigh glanced at the clock. "They're seven-ish hours ahead of us. So it's roughly 3:30 AM there."
"She's sleeping, I'll text her later." He moved to get off the couch only for Haleigh to grip his wrist and pull him back into his seat.
"James Buchanan Barnes, you sit there and text her right now." She scolded.
"But she's probably sleeping." Bucky groaned, pulling his cell phone from his pocket.
"Doubt it. She trains at night remember? Text her."
"What the hell do I even say?"
"Just say something simple like 'hey.'"
"Hey? That's all you've got?"
"Well you could always say 'Hey, Emma. It's Bucky. You know. The man that's ridiculously in love with you but so awkward in relationships that he doesn't know how to tell you that he's been in love with you for six decades, hundreds of mind wipes, and having seen you only two dozen times?'"
"Ha. Ha." He laughed dryly. "I'm being serious here."
"So am I." She grinned cheekily, nudging him with her elbow. "Now text her."
Bucky looked at his phone, pulling up Emma's name. He must have been staring at it too long because before he knew it, Haleigh had hold of it. "Hey, what're you-?!"
"Texted Emma." She laughed, managing to send the text before Bucky snatched the phone back.
"What'd you send her?!" He glanced at the still lit screen.
Hey.
"That's it? That's all you sent her?"
"Well if she's sleeping.."
Bucky groaned, burying his face in a pillow. "You made me sound like an idiot."
"Then you should have done it." She laughed, stuffing popcorn into her mouth.
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Emma's earbuds relayed the soft beeping of a text from her phone, interrupting her music. She tossed a few more jabs at the punching bag before removing the bandages around her hands. She pulled her phone from its resting place in her pocket and looked through it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the towering shape of her superior. She smirked.
"Are you monitoring my phone, too, Captain?"
Steve walked up, shaking his head. "Was curious where you went. So this is what you do at night?"
"Usually." She nodded, biting her lip.
"Who's the message from?" He asked, tipping his chin towards her phone.
"Uh, it's Bucky."
"Buck? Really?" He cocked a brow.
"Yeah." She rolled her eyes, proceeding to pack up her small duffel bag. She detached her headphones from the phone, stuffing them into the bag.
"What's he want?"
"I don't know." She gritted out.
"What's it say?"
She zipped the bag shut, annoyed. "It isn't any of your business."
He gripped her arm as she slung the bag over her shoulder. "If it's Bucky, it is my business."
"Then you can ask him." She growled, ripping her arm from his grasp.
Steve watched her leave, a tick in his jaw showing his annoyance.
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Bucky nudged Haleigh, anxious. "She texted me back!"
Haleigh grinned, trying to look over his shoulder at his phone. "What's it say?"
"She said 'Hey.' What should I say?"
"Ask her how she's doing."
"Really? This small talk works? Can't I just get to the point?"
"And sound rushed? You sure about that? I mean she's not even on this continent and you want to sound like you're up for a booty call." She teased.
He gave an exasperated sigh. "Alright fine." He grumbled, texting away on his phone. "I asked her how she is and how things are going in Wakanda."
"Good choice." Haleigh watched as a few minutes later his phone lit up once more.
"She said she's ridiculously annoyed having to work with Steve watching over her shoulder as if she's a toddler but otherwise the mission is going well. She really enjoys Wakanda."
"Okay, I think that's my cue to bounce out of this-"
"No, no, no, no, no! I need your help. I don't know what I'm doing. I've never dated in this century before."
She made a face. "Fine, but I'm not helping you discuss Steve. It'll just get me into trouble, too. So you handle that part."
"Uhm, okay..." He began to type while talking out loud. "I'm sorry to hear he still isn't trusting you with your work. However I am glad to hear you're enjoying your travels."
"Send." Haleigh nodded.
Bucky frowned when he received the next text. "Look." He stated, showing Haleigh the phone.
It isn't my work he doesn't trust. He doesn't trust me with you. He's constantly warning me to leave you alone (which I have) and when he saw that I got your first text, he about took my phone from me to read it. He literally follows me everywhere just to make sure I'm not on the phone talking to you. If it wasn't for the fact that I've retired for the night instead of staying in the gym, I wouldn't be able to answer you.
Haleigh rolled her eyes. "Good God. He's the one being a child. You're an adult and can make your own decisions. Now I have to get in the middle of this." She grabbed her own phone from the end table.
"What do I say to her?" Bucky looked at her hopeless.
"Whatever you feel is the truth."
Bucky stared at the screen a moment before replying. Don't get me wrong, I love Steve like a little brother, but he needs to keep his nose in his own romantic life and out of mine. I can take care of myself.
He couldn't help but chuckle as the message came in. Unless of course you get shot through your kidney.
He glanced at Haleigh who had her phone pressed to her ear, arguing away with whom he assumed was Steve. Lol. True point. I don't think Steve is going to be much of a problem anymore. Sounds like he's getting his ass handed to him by his wife. Dumb, I know, they feel like my parents, but he only really listens to her.
He use to only listen to Peggy, so I can understand, I guess. I can hear him through the wall trying to get a word in edgewise. Is it always like that?
Sometimes. Depends on the argument. You think this is bad, you should have seen the after effects of Peggy passing. I wasn't really there for the whole thing because I was frozen but Sam says they almost ended up in a divorce.
What changed their mind?
Haleigh found out she was pregnant with Matthew and gave him an ultimatum. He could leave and soak in his sorrow for the loss of his first love or he could buck up, celebrate her life, and have the family he currently loved. I think he chose wisely.
I'm sure he did. Haleigh is a great woman. And a better fit for him, in my opinion.
I definitely agree with that one.
Hey, I don't mean to cut our convo short but I'm going to hop in the shower and then get to bed. I'll be home in a couple days. Text me later?
Bucky couldn't help but smiled as he bit his lower lip. Of course. Sleep well, Gem.