𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝙰𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗

Chapter 54: Cancellations

(Music Recommendation! Play ^this as you read on)

(Third Person P.O.V.)

        The entire team stood waiting in the lounge of Avengers Tower, a gloomy atmosphere hovering over each of the heroes as they sat scattered around the room. Hardly anyone spoke, their minds all wrapped up in their own thoughts. Their clothes consisted of different arrays of black dresses, suits, and formal-wear. Even Thor had changed out of his normal Norse attire to pay his respects to the fallen Midgardian soldier. Nat had informed them of Angela's funeral soon after Bucky left. In a sense, they were grateful that Bucky seemed to finally be coming through with acceptance. He wasn't the only one that had been affected by Angela's absence. It wasn't just Bucky who noticed the different atmosphere in each room. Angela had always brought an optimistic and clever-feeling aura everywhere she walked, and it resonated with the rest of the team even after she was no longer with them. Needless to say, Bucky had definitely taken it harder than anyone else. 

        Bucky could finally be seen walking down the hallway towards the group, his hands in his pockets as he looked over each of them. They noticed he didn't seem as distance and gloomy as he normally did. His face was clean-shaven and he'd even gotten a haircut. In fact, he seemed to even be attempting to hold back a smile. But what really confused his teammates was that he wasn't dressed for a funeral at all. Instead of sporting a tux he wore black jeans and a light blue shirt. Wanda was the first to question him.

        "Bucky, why aren't you dressed?" He shrugged, his mouth twitching with hidden happiness he was so desperately trying to contain.

        "I canceled the funeral." A wave of unison what's and why's erupted from his friends as he laughed. The team was taken aback. They hadn't seen him so happy in such a long time, let alone seen his mouth change into anything but a from. "I didn't have to," He explained. Then they noticed someone else rounding the corner into the lounge behind him, their strides hesitant as they walked deeper into the room. Each of their eyes widened with shock and happiness as they recalled who it was that had taken her place standing next to Bucky. 

        "Well I'll be damned," Steve muttered from the window.

        Tony whispered a "My God", barely audible to be heard by anyone who wasn't close around him.

        And Clint. "No fucking way."

        Claire was the first to rise, her feet carrying her in a full sprint towards Angela as tears noticeably started pouring down her face. Her arms outstretched, she clasped herself around the waist of her long lost friend, one of her closest role models, and the woman who'd made her feel like a sister.

        "You son of a bitch!" Claire yelled excitedly. "Don't you ever fucking leave again, you hear me? Or I'll beat your ass myself!" Tony raised an eyebrow in Nat's direction. 

        "I let my daughter spend way too much time with you people." There was a small round of chuckles that rose throughout the group as they made their way to greet Angela, each of them exchanging hugs and kind words. Bucky clasped Steve into a tight embrace, Steve patting his friend on the back before retreating. 

        "For once you didn't take all of the stupid with you," He joked, making Bucky smile. They shook hands approvingly before turning to the rest of their friends, all of them laughing, crying, celebrating. But everyone seemed to pause as Thor stepped up to Angela, his brows furrowed. Rhodey released himself from his and Angela's hug, knowing that this moment would be very important to Thor. 

        "You risked your life to save a planet you know nothing about," Thor started. "Had no intention of ever involving yourself with." He lifted his palm, the Mjolnir sitting on the coffee table flying into his hand. "I had always wondered why a mortal would be considered worthy enough to lift this sacred weapon," He explained as the looked at his mighty hammer. "But now," Then his eyes lifted to her face again. "I understand." And with surprise emitting from everyone around him, he handed it to her. "You saved my home. And for that, I am forever grateful." It took Angela a moment to register his words in her head, and then she realized, he was offering it to her. She looked up at him hesitantly as if to make sure he was actually doing what she thought he was doing, and with a curt nod and a soft smile, he beckoned for her to take it. And she did. Upon her fingers brushing the handle of the sacred Mjolnir, a jolt of electricity and energy passed through her body, noticeable ripples of blue lightning encircling her body as the bond was made between her and her new weapon. Angela smiled gratefully at the Norse god before her, his own smile wide with gratitude as they embraced one another with thankfulness.

        Tony had hosted a party that night in honor of Angela's return. Everyone celebrated the rejoining of their friend, not only to their family but the Avengers team as well. They'd all changed into more fitting clothes, shedding their black attire for a more comfortable and casual feel as they played games and drank together. Bucky was standing near the top of a short staircase as we watched over everyone in the center of the party room, their faces enlightened with smiles and their glasses raised as they all laughed together. None of them had experienced such happiness as this in a long time, and it was a relief to finally have a reason to do so again. His eyes rolled over each of his teammates, Vision dancing with Wanda as well as Tony and Pepper, though they were dancing much goofier than the more sophisticated style of Vision and Wanda. It made Bucky smile to see how Tony and Pepper were so comfortable with each other, even after being together for so long. He hoped that one day he and Angela would share the same qualities. 

        His attention was interluded by a soft hand brushing his own, his head turning to see his beautiful love coming up next to him, a flute of champagne in her hand. The bubbly drink popped in the glass, small droplets of the liquid bouncing out from the cup and landing cooly on her thumb. Angela's eyes were fixed on Bucky, though, as she smiled up at him then followed his previous gaze to the team before them. Their cheers and playfully competitive actions made the two lovers smile to themselves. Bucky looped his hand around Angela's waist when she laid her head on his shoulder, her body tucking itself closer into his side at the feeling of his touch. Her arm laced around his own waist as well, their eyes fixing on each other again, their smiles never faltering. They had indeed found their purpose in life, not only for the world but for each other. Their love would never diminish and their bond would never break, and they knew it too. The voices of their teammates lingered in the background as they moved in to kiss each other gently, their lips brushing ever so slightly. Not only had they found themselves in each other; they had found the family they had always been searching for.

Song/s inspired for this chapter:

Everything I Wanted - Billie Eilish

A Thousand Years - Christina Perri

Limitless - Jennifer Lopez