Untangling a Memory

Building anxiety

"Hey Buck!"

Steve was already in the kitchen, making a big breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast, and fruit when Bucky walked in.

Though he was happy to have Steve and Sam home, he was already starting to miss some of the routines that he had with Natasha. Somehow the slow movement of their orbits toward each other had been disrupted by the return of their apartment-mates and Bucky couldn't help but feel a bit of odd frustration.

Bucky nodded, wiping the sleep from his eyes with one hand and reaching to pour himself a cup of coffee with the other. Steve tilted his head in surprise.

"Since when do you drink coffee?"

Bucky finished his sip and then shrugged, starring at the hot, black liquid in his mug. "Dunno. But it helps perk me up when I can't sleep."

Steve turned back to his eggs and laughed. "You've been spending too much time with Nat!"

Bucky's mouth pulled up at the corner, a warm half smile spreading across his face at the idea that her quirks were starting to rub off on him. He sat down at the counter next to Natasha's stool and looked around.

"Is she up yet?"

"No sign of her, but I figured she might sleep in after yesterday. She seemed wiped from the appointment with Shuri."

Bucky nodded. "Yeah, good point." Even though he usually was up before she rose, he still was looking forward to seeing her this morning, hoping that things might be less awkward between them a day later.

"So, anything in particular you want to do today? I mean, I don't want to disrupt your routine too much."

"No, of course not. We can do whatever you want. I feel like we should just start getting in the rhythm of having you guys home again. I mean, unless you have another mission planned soon."

Steve finished plating all the food on big platters and handed some to Bucky to bring out to the veranda. "No plans for missions, thank goodness. This last one was ridiculously long. I don't want another one like that for a long time."

Bucky had a twang of disappoint flash through him, though he wasn't actually sure why. He should be happy to have his best friend back.

"For sure. It sounds like it was exhausting. Well, we can do anything you want. Sky's the limit."

"Be careful what you offer." Sam had a sleepy, but dangerous smile on his face, as he joined the other two who were settling down for breakfast on the veranda. "We might just end up at a Wakandan strip club."

Steve frowned. "I don't think that will represent the Avengers well. Let's stick with a workout and maybe something more low-key afterwards around the apartment."

"Well, we aren't technically Avengers anymore, but fine. I should start practicing for that sparring tournament anyway. And maybe we can break out their present after dinner!"

"Present?" Bucky looked mildly concerned.

"Dammit, Sam! You have no problem with being covert on assignment, but as soon as we are home, you are the absolute worst at keeping a secret."

Sam shrugged and happily ate his food. "Where is Nat? I mean, you guys are great company and all, but..."

Steve rolled his eyes for what must have been the fifth time since Sam had arrived at the table. "We think she's still asleep. You are welcome to wake her, but you are likely to get knocked on your ass."

Sam nodded and they continued to chat about other subjects.

The longer breakfast went on and Natasha hadn't shown up, the more that Bucky stole glances around the common room. He tried to fix his hearing for any sound of her stirring, but noticed nothing. While the other two seemed unfazed, likely from their lack of direct social time with her recently, Bucky's skin itched with concern.