Bloodstream

Chapter Two

Chapter Two - Stay Over

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Natalia laid on the couch flat on her back with her legs resting over James's thighs as he sat and watched the action movie dvd she'd put on. His one arm was resting over the couch's head and his other hand was somehow naturally curled around her leg. She was watching the movie with the bowl of popcorn resting on her belly, but she'd barely eaten much of it.

She sighed tiredly when the end credits started rolling and James wasn't moving yet. She looked at him and huffed. "Well I guess that's your leave now." She said dryly.

He snorted. "I think I want to stay over." His eyes were still on the TV screen.

She frowned. "I'm not sharing my bed with you."

He laughed. "God, Natalia. Since when do we share the bed when I come for a sleepover?"

She shrugged. "You can take the floor then."

"I'll take the couch in your bedroom actually. That way you won't get scared " He looked at her with a lopsided grin.

"I don't get scared." She said offended, throwing popcorn at him from the bowl but she missed his face when he ducked. "But yes, your presence would be of great comfort, James. Not that I need it or anything."

"You need me the way you used to need your teddy bear when you were a child."

She raised an eyebrow. "I didn't have a teddy bear."

"What did you use for comfort?"

She shrugged. "Myself."

"Bullshit. Every kid has to have something to keep them at ease at night. You know, knowing about that monster under your bed." He smirked. "I'd protect you." He winked.

She huffed out, blowing a few strands hanging over her eyes. "I'll bring pillows and some blankets for you. I hope you don't snore."

"I've come to sleep here a couple of times, you'd know if I do or not." He sneered.

"Still. People's throats change."

He shook his head at the nonsense she was talking, like he always did.

"You know." Natalia began with a playful smirk, making him frown. "I met your friend the other week. Didn't I tell you about it?"

He shook his head.

"Steve and I talked. And I mean a lot. I like him. He's a nice guy. He also told me that you have a crush on a Wanda chic - or did he say Darcy?-"

James widened his eyes. "That little punkish wea-"

"and when he spoke to me about you, he called you Bucky. I mean, at first I thought he was talking about a completely different person until he said that you're an idiot, then I thought oh yeah, he's definitely talking about the same idiot that I know. So tell me, Bucky, how come Steve calls you Bucky and I don't?"

James looked extremely vexed as hell with the sour expression he wore. It made Natalia burst into giggles.

He groaned. "Don't call me that. And that fucking weasel was not supposed to- I told him not to tell anyone about-"

"About your crush?" She smirked and put the bowl of popcorn on the table and sat her upper body up with her elbows. "Little Buck-boy has a wittle crushy on a girly and never thought to tell me?" She said annoyingly as she poked her toe into his abdomen with her foot, but he pulled her ankle and she was jerked forward. He knocked the breath out of her & she cursed at him in Russian, a language they shared together.

He smirked.

"Ow!" She swatted at him but he caught her wrist to kiss her hand.

"Thanks for letting me stay over tonight, Talia." He said sincerely.

She sat up properly and blinked, her hand still in his. "You having trouble again?"

He immediately shook his head. "No. Not at all. I just didn't want to be alone you know. I thought of you to keep me distracted."

She smiled fondly at him. "Think we should go to bed now."

"We?" His eyebrows shot up.

She shrugged with a cute blush. "We're friends right? Sure we could handle sleeping in the same bed."

"Cake, Nat." He reminded like a child desiring candy.

"It's late, James. It's unhealthy to eat right before you go to bed." She frowned sternly. "Especially sweet stuff."

He was giving her the most outrageous look anyone had ever given her. He looked all irritated, mad, incredulous and disgusted. It made her choke on a laugh.

"What? Huh? Wait. Wha-? Are you my mother, Nat? You decided to play nurse now? I eat whatever the fuck I want, whenever the fuck I want."

She rolled her eyes and grabbed the couch cushion behind her to slam it into his face. "Just go to bed, Bucky."

"Right after you, Natashenka."

She sighed exasperately. "Again with that nickname."

He smirked. "Well you started it."

"Oh fuck you, James Bucky Barnes." She stood up and he followed, his smirk widening.

"Who wouldn't fuck me anyway?" He was getting more smug as hell by the second.

She groaned and they walked into her bedroom.