Recipe for Romance: A Bucky Barnes Story

7. Come Home

The walls of the hallway whiz by me in all directions. I tear through Clint and Nat—both of them laughing as I holler apologies in my rushed wake. I'm tearing off clothes on my way—the sweater is the first to go. Then the shirt and camisole. I'm left in my yoga pants and sports bra by the time I get to the gym. I chuck all the clothes outside the door and then bust my ass to get inside at an inhumane speed.

I bust through the door. Bucky's back is turned to me; he's standing by the TV watching the news coverage on the most recent terror attack in Europe.

I bite my cheek. I think I'm in the clear. He hasn't noticed me, which means maybe he hasn't noticed my tardiness.

"You're late."

"Fuck."

Bucky turns to regard me with a loose lipped smirk. "Fuck's right, doll. This is the fourth time you've been late in the last two weeks." He stands there waiting for me while I jog to meet him. "Training you isn't in my job description, you know." Ever since that night in the gym he's been helping me out during the week when we're both free. It's not only a good workout, but it's a good way to spend more time with the man who I imagine to be the most intriguing person I've ever met.

"I know, I know—it's a favor," I pant. I stop just beside him to catch my breath. "But Tony wanted brunch and then Peter was begging for grilled cheese..."

"It's fine, sugar," Bucky snorts. "Just text me or something next time so I know not to wait around down here for an hour."

"Oh. Okay," I say. I take the water bottle he hands to me. He's starting to walk away. I'm quick to catch up. "I guess I should probably get your cell number then."

Bucky's neck swivels back so that he can stare at me.

"I mean, since you suggested it."

His chuckle is low and inaudible. I know it's happened though because his shoulders shuffle around slightly. "Okay. I'll have Friday give it to you."

"Thanks," I say. I jog to meet him at the sandbag. "And I'll make snickerdoodles tonight to apologize for my chronic tardiness."

"Kiss ass." Bucky hands me my gloves.

I laugh. "Sorry, Sargent Barnes. It won't happen again."

He stiffens a bit at the change of names. But he forces a smile; clearing his throat and moving on. I feel kinda bad but he's quick to distract me. "Defensive position, please. And don't forget your feet."

The evening comes. I never get to make the snickerdoodles like I promised, because just after our short training session a small group of the heroes are called out for a mission. It might have something to do with the terrorist attack I saw on TV, but of course no one tells me these things. I'm hired help—not a superhero, for god's sake. Which I'm completely fine with. I don't need to be fighting any bad guys. I'm perfectly happy in my kitchen, thank you very much.

What makes me even happier is that while Tony's gone he's given me permission to have Laurie and Nathan stay the night. The tower is nearly empty with Clint and Peter gone back home and Bucky, Sam, Steve, Tony, and Nat on the mission. The only ones home are Wanda, Vision, Pietro, and Bruce. Bruce keeps to himself though. Wanda, Pietro and Vision are great company, I've found. And they're even more fun when Laurie and Nathan get involved.

"I can't believe none of you have played this game before!" Laurie laughs. She's moving her Monopoly game piece around the board.

"Technically I'm only a three years old. And the twins grew up in a second world country."

I roll my eyes. "You're being a party pooper, Vis."

Vision smiles. "Sorry."

Nathan looks out around us at the city skyline. We're on the rooftop deck just after dark. "God, what a view."

"It gets even better when it snows," I say. "Hopefully we'll get some this year around Christmas."

"Only a few more weeks," Laurie reminds me. She looks to Wanda and adds, "Sadie's obsessed with Christmas, by the way."

"Really?" Pietro asks. He's stuffing his face with caramel corn. I think this is his fourth bowl. His hands are incredibly sticky.

"Moderately," I say. I snatch the dice and ready to take my turn. "But it's only because it's the happiest time of the year."

"Prepare yourself for nonstop Christmas jazz and cheesy ornaments." Nathan takes a chip from the bowl at the center of the table.

"They're not cheesy! They're memorabilia."

Laurie snorts. "They're crap."

I reach over and smack the side of her blonde head. Everyone laughs.

"Whatever. I don't see you complaining when I make Christmas dinner and cookies and cake..."

"Oh no," Nathan interrupts. "We like all that. Keep doing that part."

Laurie and Nathan love the tower, of course. They sleep across the hall from me in the extra room (the one Friday said could be used for a maid someday) and then in the morning I get up to make everyone breakfast even though it's technically my day off. While I'm downstairs in the kitchen I can't help but turn on the TV and watch the news from afar. It's when I see the Avengers team on the screen being shot at on live television that I regret my decision to try and keep up with the news. Steve's there in his red, white, and blue garb beside Tony in crimson and gold. They show Bucky, too. He's shown alongside Nat and right in front of Sam—acting almost like a human shield for the falcon. His face looks so hard and unfamiliar. I don't even recognize the strange soupy blue hue to his eyes...

"Are you okay, Sade?"

I startle at the addition of a new voice. I turn to see Laurie walking into the kitchen in her pink robe and slippers. She's watching me—worry written on her long faced features.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

My best friend comes to stand beside me at the oven. She watches my hand mix around the pieces of a breakfast burrito filling before she sighs. "You don't look fine."

"I'm just worried. I know I shouldn't be because they're professionals but still..."

"Exactly. They know what they're doing out there, Sade." She sets a warm hand on my shoulder where my sweater covers the cold skin. "Don't get too invested. This is just a job, remember? I mean, I know you guys have family dinners and family movie nights—but they're just your housemates. They're not actually your family, you know."

I sigh. "I know, but they're still my friends. I care for them." I glance back to the TV. It's an elongated shot of Bucky shooting someone from afar. The footage gets cut back to the reporter. "I care a lot."

"You always do this though. You care too much about people who are only going to be temporary."

Laurie's harsh, but she's right.

"You weren't temporary though." I smile a bit and hand her a cup of tea I've had made for her for a few minutes now having expecting her arrival. "Unless there's something you wanna tell me after all these years."

Laurie laughs. "No way, loser. You're stuck with me."

"Good. Now go get Nathan because food's almost done and I don't wanna hear that crybaby boyfriend of yours whine because he didn't get any."

Laurie chuckles, nodding as she makes for the door. "Okay, okay. I'm going." She stops in the hall to point at the TV. "Change the channel, Sade. You shouldn't be watching this."

I nod, smiling softly. She takes this as an agreement—grinning with quiet pride before twirling and heading back in the direction of the elevator. I'm left to look at an empty doorway or the TV. I choose the latter.

But I can only stand to watch the violence for a few moments more. Then I'm begging for Friday toshut it off. Bucky's face is the last thing to appear on the screen. It's a close-up—his eyes dark and hair sweaty. There's a breeze that flutters his locks and makes his nose crinkle slightly. The sounds of warfare stop and the TV goes dark. The last thing I hear is my own voice whispering aloud: "Please come home."