Across the Universe

Tattoos Pt. 2

Claire's POV

I looked down at my phone and at the open text conversation between myself and Wanda. Over the last week, Wanda and I got to know each other better, and even hung out with each other whenever we were free. I scrolled through the different memes, gifs, and dumb jokes and chuckled to myself. I know she was my soulmate, but I enjoyed the fact that we were becoming friends first before we jumped into a relationship.

"What are you laughing at, Stowell?" Steve asked, elbowing me lightly in my arm.

"Just Wanda."

"How have you two been? Go on any hot dates yet?" Bucky asked, shimmying his shoulders and laughing a bit. Steve and I rolled our eyes at him and I locked my phone and sent him a glare.

"For your information, I do not kiss and tell. Whatever me and Wanda do in our free-time, is none of your business." Steve laughed at Bucky's pouted face and patted my back.

"She's right, Buck. We don't need to know the details of her and her girlfriend's relationship."

"She's not my girlfriend," I said holding up my index finger in correction. "Right now we're just friends. One day we'll get to girlfriend level, but not right now. She wants to take things slow, especially since we are literal strangers, and frankly so do I."

"That's fair." Steve took his drink in his hand and took a sip, giving Bucky a side glance, his face reddening when Bucky met his eyes. Bucky got up and excused himself, leaving Steve and I at our table in the back of the bar and disappearing into the men's room.

"Is everything okay?" I asked him, glancing at his reddened face and lingering on him just a little bit. He heaved a heavy sigh and hung his head.

Running a hand through his hair, he said, "Not really."

"Well, that's going on?"

"Claire, how did you work up the courage to tell Wanda that you were soulmates?"

"To be honest, I just came right out and said it. You still haven't told Bucky?"

"No! I don't know how to say it!" Steve said as he threw his head back and sighed dramatically. "What do I do, Claire?"

"Steve, you need to swallow whatever fear you have and get your ass in gear. Literally, all you need to do is open your mouth. I mean it, Steve, the second Bucky gets back, you talk to him."

Steve and I sat in silence, and when Bucky came back to the table, I looked at Steve, cleared my throat, and stood up.

"Well, if you'll excuse me gentlemen, but I'm gonna get another drink." Bucky nodded and turned away. Steve looked over at me, and looking back at him, I mouthed "talk."

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Steve's POV

Claire smirked at me and walked away from our table, taking out her phone, and took a seat at the bar. Out of the corner of my eye I looked over at Bucky, watching him check his phone and play on a few different apps. Okay, you can do this, Steve. You can talk to him; he's one of your best friends. You've known him for years. You can talk to him. Deep breath. In. Out. In. Out. In. Out. Okay, you got this. Just...open your mouth.

I cleared my throat loudly and turned my chair so I could face Bucky fully and said, "Hey Buck? Can I talk to you?" Bucky looked up from his phone, turned it off and placed it flat on the table, and looked at me, a little surprised.