Memories (ours together and ours apart)

Chapter 2- The Calm Before the Storm

Steve woke up the next morning to the sound of birds chirping outside his window. Bucky was gone, and his first instinct was to worry. After a few seconds of panic, he realized there were plenty of completely reasonable explanations, and he really shouldn't be worrying.

Sighing, he ran a hand through his unruly blond hair and went downstairs. As soon as he arrived in the kitchen, he saw Bucky standing by the fridge drinking a glass of milk. Steve relaxed, then looked around the rest of the room. Natasha was standing beside Clint in the back of the fairly large kitchen, Sam was standing by the stove, making pancakes, and Tony was sitting at the table, blinking sleepily.

Sam was the first to notice Steve's appearance. "Morning, Steve. You up for some pancakes...and then a morning run?

"Yes to both, although I'm surprised you want to go on a run with me. Not like you have any hope of being faster than me," Steve smirked.

"And that is why I have convinced Barnes here-" Sam pointed to Bucky with his spatula, who was now drinking milk straight from the carton. "-to join us. I might just not be the slowest this time."

Bucky's only response to this was a snort. Steve went over to the fridge-rolling his eyes at Sam on the way- and paused beside Bucky to watch him continue to drink from the carton. "Didn't I tell you not to do that?"

Bucky only stopped long enough to smirk and say, "You did," before guzzling the last of the milk.

Steve laughed and shook his head as he opened the fridge to make himself a glass of orange juice. He really had no idea how to tell the other Avengers about what had happened between him and Bucky last night, but he figured he'd find his moment. And for now, he could just sit back and enjoy it.

"Hey Capsicle," Tony interrupted his thoughts. "While you're up there, how about getting me a cup of coffee."

"That would be...let's see...your fourth one, Tony. Is this really necessary?" Natasha replied before Steve could do anything.

"I was up all night in the lab with Banner and Maximoff trying to bring Pietro back. Not that its gonna work anyway. Steve, gimme coffee. Now!"

"Okay, Okay, I'm coming! Although I do think four is a bit much," Steve responded, handing the cup to Tony as he took a sip of his orange juice.

"You can never have too much coffee," Tony replied before downing half of the cup in one sip.

Sam finished the pancakes at that particular moment and flipped one onto Steve's, Bucky's, Natasha's, Clint's, Tony's, and finally, his own plate. Passing out the plates, he grinned widely. "Sam Wilson's pancakes, cooked to perfection. Guaranteed amazing or you get a full refund!"

"I don't remember paying for these," Clint laughed, taking a bite, "Mmm, they are amazing though!"

"See? I told you!" Sam grinned again, taking a bite of his own pancake.

Steve took a bite of his breakfast, letting the soft, syrupy flavors of the pancake spread across his tongue before chewing and swallowing.

"So, Steve," Natasha looked up, a grin on her ruby lips, and a mischievous glint in her green eyes. "The hottest waitress at my favorite restaurant downtown thinks you're cute. She just happens to be my friend, and I got her number for you. You should call her."

"First of all, she thinks Captain America is cute. Not Steve Rogers. She doesn't know me. And,"

"But she could," Nat unhelpfully pointed out.

"-and second," Steve continued, aware of Bucky's ice blue gaze on him, and resisting the urge to meet that gaze. "Maybe I don't want a girlfriend."

Natasha sighed and finished her pancakes. "You're hopeless, Rogers. Come on, Clint, let's go train." She walked out of the room, dragging Clint with her. She pretended to be indignant, but Steve knew better. He could hear her quiet laugh as she left the room.

By this point, everyone was done with their pancakes, Tony was asleep of the kitchen table, (how was that even possible with all that caffeine?!) and Sam was looking excited to go on the run.

Steve stretched for a second, then looked at Sam. "I'm going to get ready for the run." When Sam nodded, Steve turned to go back upstairs.

"I'll come with you," Steve heard Bucky's voice behind him and smiled to himself.

Slowing his stride so Bucky could catch up, Steve let himself relax. Blue eyes met blue eyes in a meaningful glance.

Once they were safely on their floor of Stark Tower, doors closed and no one within earshot, Bucky turned to Steve. "You don't want a girlfriend, hmm?"

"Why would I, when I've got a perfectly good boyfriend right here?"

"Good point," Bucky smirked, before pulling Steve in for a long and full kiss. "Do you ever plan on telling them?"

Steve laughed, tasting the syrup still lingering on Bucky's tongue from breakfast. "Eventually. I just have to find the right moment."

Bucky sighed and stepped away, albeit a little reluctantly. "You better, or I'll have to find it for you."

Steve chuckled and slid the shirt he'd slept in over his head, enjoying the feeling of Bucky's eyes roving over him as he moved. "I'll figure it out."

Bucky snorted and moved over to the nightstand to find a hairband. Steve slid out of the sweatpants he'd slept in, then found and put on clean ones. By this time, Bucky had gotten dressed and put his hair up in a ponytail, which he modeled for Steve.

"You look amazing," Steve laughed, linking his arms loosely around Bucky's neck and kissing his forehead.

"So do you, Captain Rogers," Bucky responded, laughing and combing Steve's blond hair with his fingers.

Both ready to run, the pair headed back downstairs. They only got halfway to the elevator before the tower shook suddenly and the lights went out.

The two super-soldiers shared a worried glance before Steve spoke. "Guess that run'll have to wait."

Ten minutes later, they were in full uniform and standing in the main communications level of Stark Tower with the rest of the Avengers.

"We know the blackout originated from the lab," Wanda spoke from her position near the wall. "Trouble is, whoever it was also locked down the lab so we can't get in and fix it."

They were running on backup power for now, but who knew how long that would last.

"It could be anyone," Clint spoke up. "Hydra, A.I.M., Loki..."

Thor shook his head. "We've got Loki under the best of watch at Asgard currently."

"So that rules out that possibility," Natasha said. "How are we going to deal with this?"

Everyone in the room glanced around at each other in silence for a few seconds. Steve took account of everyone in the room. Bucky, Natasha, Tony, Wanda, Bruce, Sam, Clint, Thor, Vision.

Then the floor fell away from underneath their feet. That was the last thing Steve remembered before he succumbed to the darkness.

A/N: I finally updated this!! I've got ideas too, so watch out. *evil laugh* Enjoy the cliffhanger ending until I update again...and if anybody has suggestions, just comment and I'll see what I can do. :)