Better Love || A Bucky Barnes Fanfiction

- A Loving Reason -

Without Tony, they were at a loss. The words were never spoken - there was no need to bring morale even lower than it already was - but it was the truth. Even with Scott' experience with the quantium realm and Bruce Banner's seven PHDs, the group were finding it difficult to find that perfect equation that would bring everything together. 

For a long time Elena had always believed that her lack of physical ability was what held her back. Now that she had it, though, she realized that it wouldn't help much when it came to this. What they needed was knowledge, intelligence, a person with a brain that could understand the mechanics of time travel. All she had was an arts and teaching degree and an excellent ability to scour the interent for books or essays that would be useful to them. As it turned out, not many of them were.

Their latest experiment had ended with the group getting a preview as to what Scott would look like as an old man, as well as a flashback to what he looked like as a baby. The whole thing had been both concerning and terrifying to witness, and despite Bruce's theatrical enthusiasm, they had decided to call it quits on that particular method and head back to the drawing board once again. 

I've lost count how many times we've come back to this, Elena thought, staring at the white board in front of her. The equations - none of which made sense to her - began to blur in front of her and quickly she rubbed at her eyes, sniffing quickly. She had been doing that a lot lately, a weak attempt at pulling herself together. Like placing a plaster over a severed limb, she thought to herself one night while she was lying in bed. The analogy, however, had hit a little too close to home as soon as it passed through her head. She wondered if the emotional pain she was feeling compared to the physical pain Bucky went through when he lost his arm. It felt as though she had been severed in two. 

"El."

Wiping the last of her tears away, Elena turned towards the voice who had called her name. Steve was standing in the doorway, looking at her with a softness in his eyes she knew he reserved for her. She smiled slightly, leaning against the wall.

"Hey," she replied softly before casting her gaze behind him, realizing that he wasn't alone. Stepping out from behind the taller man, a slight smile on his face, was Tony.

"For a loving reason," he said simply, and as though he had flipped a switch, her strength and hope returned tenfold.

//

"I can do-"

"I can do it. I've got it, Tony. It's okay."

They were both lying underneath the glass platform screwing different parts of it into place, eventually meeting in the middle where Elena had laid claim to the last bolt. With a slight shrug Tony lowered his wrench, watching as she worked, eyebrows furrowed. They had been drifting past each other ever since he had decided to help bring back those they had lost, and during that time they hadn't really spoken much. Most of their conversations had revolved around business. Clearing his throat he spoke.

"Been awhile. You look..." he paused, looking at the lean muscles in her arms as she effortlessly screwed the bolt into place. "Jesus, did you take steriods or something?"

"Or something," she replied with a chuckle, finishing off her work and slipping out from beneath the platform, Tony following behind. Sitting up together on the floor Elena reached over for her water, taking the cap off the bottle.

"You know, last time I saw you, you promised to bring Bucky home to me. That didn't end up happening," she said before taking a drink, not meeting Tony's eyes. He should've been expecting it. He had thought about it a few times since he saw her once more at his house, even more often since working at the compound. The conversation was bound to come up eventually. Guess that time is now, Tony thought.