Chapter 3
Harley’s alarm sounded off, waking her up with a start. Harley, still sleepy, looked out her window to see the sun was just beginning to rise. Morning. She looked at her clock which read 6:00 am. Harley wanted to go back to sleep, but that was not an option. Harley just laid there staring at the ceiling. Staring into nothing.
“Are you just gonna lay there?”, a voice said.
Harley sprang into action. Her magic flowed through her. Orange-red magic came out from her hands. The familiar energy enveloped her hands and around the figure that was standing in the room with her. The figure screamed crashing into the bookshelf across the room. Books and supplies scattered around the floor. Harley could only make out blonde hair. Yelena. Shit.
“I’m so sorry, Yelena”, Harley yelled. She quickly got up and ran to her side. Harley helped her up. She checked Yelena for any injuries. Yelena just dusted herself off. Marigolds and other flowers dusted in her hair.
“A good morning would have been fine”, Yelena said laughing. Harley embarrassingly laughed with her.
“You scared me”, Harley added. Harley wanted to fall in a ditch and never get back up.
“So, tell me about Bob. What’s going on with you two? Tell me everything”, Yelena said eagerly.
It baffled Harley how quickly she changed the subject. A subject she was not ready to talk about. This was between her and Bob. Yelena smiled, grabbing Harley by the shoulders. Harley just stared into Yelena’s eyes. The feeling of falling into a ditch increased. Harley did not know what to tell her.
“Bob and I were just talking-” Harley was interrupted by Yelena.
“Just talking. Yeah right. You two were super close.” Harley’s cheeks turned a bright shade of red. Yelena kept talking.
“I will be your maid of honor. I will plan your bachelorette and wedding. Spring wedding. Oh, I want children. You will name one after Natasha and one after me. I’ll be cool auntie Yelena. You two will live happily ever-” Harley was the one to interrupt Yelena this time.
“You're going too fast. We aren’t even together-”
Yelena squealed. “Not yet”, she added, grinning like crazy. Harley was not getting anywhere with her. She started to get overwhelmed. Harley did not know what to do.
“Okay, just don't tell anyone. Especially Valentina and John. Val will be displeased and John will bully us… probably annoy us. Please”, Harley said desperately.
“Okay, but I mean what I said earlier” She paused. “Come on, let's get breakfast before Val calls us in for the briefing”, Yelena added.
“Okay, let me get changed”, Harley said, grabbing her clothes and heading to the bathroom.
They left Harley’s room and headed to the Kitchen. As they weren't walking, Harley could see Bucky and Bob walking towards them. They stopped when their paths met. They look sweaty. Bob's hair clung to his forehead, cheeks slightly pinkish.
“Hey, we'll meet you guys in the kitchen. We went for a run. We gotta go shower”, Bucky said slightly out of breath.
“Yeah you both stink”, Yelena said, pinching her nose. She made a face.
“Yeah, we know. Bucky and I raced to see who was the fastest”, Bob said.
“Who won?”, Harley chimed in. Before Bob could say anything, Bucky quickly answered.
“It was a tie. Nobody won. Anyways, we got to go like Yelena said we stink”, Bucky said. He grabbed Bob's shoulders and moved them along. Yelena and Harley watched them turn the corner.
“That was weird”, Yelena said, turning to Harley.
Harley also thought it was weird. It made her a bit nervous. Did Bucky know?
Yelena and Harley made it to the kitchen. Alexi and Ava were already there, cooking breakfast for the rest of Thunderbolts. Alexi was cooking bacon, sausage, and ham. Ava was cooking eggs and cutting up fruit. Ava made sure that Alexi didn’t burn the bacon like last time.
“Need any help?”, Harley asked.
Ava asked her to make pancakes. Harley grabbed the ingredients and began cooking. As she made the pancakes, she decided to make waffles for Antonia. Harley always tried to make Antonia happy. She was always quiet. Always spoke when spoken to. Harley and Yelena tried to make her feel included. They wanted her to know that she had friends here. She was used as a weapon by her own father. Her life wasn't easy. It was sad if you think about it. We all had it hard except for John. His childhood was pretty normal. Harley kept cooking.
The food was finally ready. Alexi, Ava, Yelena and Harley waited for the others to show up. They sat at the dining table patiently. Antonia came and sat down next to Harley. A few minutes later Bucky and Bob showed up too. Bob took the empty seat next to Harley. She was now sandwiched between Antonia and Bob. Yelena gave her and Bob a look, but he didn't notice. She tried to ignore Yelena’s playful stare. “I made you these”, Harley said, showing Antonia the plate of waffles. She smiled at her and took the plate.
“Thank you”, Antonia said.
“How come I don't get waffles?”, John said. He was walking towards the table. He takes his seat next to Bucky.
“Because you're late, John. Come early next time and maybe you'll get your waffles”, Bucky scoffed.
“Someone's grumpy today. Did you forget to take your meds, grandpa?”, John said smugly.
“Let's eat without trying to kill each other, yeah”, Harley said. Bucky and John were always at each other's throats.
“Yeah, get a room”, Yelena added.
Bob and Alexi laughed. Bucky and John turned red from embarrassment. Antonia ate her waffles minding her own business. Ava rolled her eyes and took a bite of her eggs. “You guys act like children”, she added. Both men ate their food in peace after that.
As Harley finished her meal, she felt Bob's hand nudging her leg. It scared her. She almost jumped from her seat.
What are you doing?, she thought, hoping that he could hear her.
I didn't want to use telepathy, sorry. Did I scare you? He took a bite of his last piece of fruit.
Yeah, you did.
Harley started not to mind the telepathy thing if that meant Bob was always near, but he could give a warning beforehand. Harley stacked her plates together, cleaning up her mess. She waited for the others to finish their food.
Can I hold your hand? His words echoed in her mind.
She lowered one hand down under the table and grabbed his hand. Everyone was oblivious except for Yelena. She immediately picked up on what Harley and Bob were doing. She just smiled at her friend. Alexi was telling a story about his days as the Red Guardian. Bob and Harley weren't really paying attention. Bob rubbed little circles on Harley's hand. Harley enjoyed Bob's warmth. But this couldn't last long. And eventually, they all had to go to Val for the briefing. They got up and cleaned their mess. John and Bucky were stuck doing the dishes, while the others packed away the uneaten food and wiped the table. Together as a team, they head to their meeting.
The thunderbolts entered the meeting room. Valentina was already waiting for them, she was shuffling papers. The meeting room was freezing cold. How can Val stand this cold? Harley regretted not bringing a sweater, but that didn’t last long because Bob sat next to her. Bob looked at her and gave her a small smile.
Valentina presented the mission reports from both groups. She kept going on about their mistakes. Bucky, Bob, and Harley were displeased as they were reminded of their failures. Yelena and Alexi were bored out of their minds. John and Antonia pretend that they were listening attentively. Ava was doodling on one of the papers Val had handed out. Nobody really wanted to be there.
I don’t really want to be here, Harley told Bob through her mind. The telepathy thing was becoming a more common thing between them.
Same. How long will the briefing be? He paused and then continued. Wanna go out later? Just you and me?, He said in her mind. There was a bit of excitement in his voice.
Yeah, sure, Harley replied. Harley wanted to leave right there and then. She was counting the minutes.
After an hour, Valentina had dismissed everyone except Bucky and John. Val gave them their next assignment. They will leave in a couple of days. Both men looked disappointed. The others took no time to leave. Alexi and Yelena basically ran out the door. Ava stretched as she walked out the door. Antonia spoke something in Russian under her breath. Harley and Bob walk out of the room and into the hallway. They walked slowly, making sure the rest of the team was out of earshot.
“What do you have in mind?” Their hands lightly brushed one another as they walked. Harley watched him waiting for his response.
“Dinner and a movie. I'll make a reservation. Just be ready by 6. Wear something warm”, he said.
“Okay", she said. A million things were swimming inside Harley's mind. Anxious. Harley felt anxious. She wanted to throw up. She want to-
Bob held her hand, instantly calming her. Harley lightly squeezes his hand. Bob just looked at her lovingly. They walked to Harley's room in silence. Their footsteps echoed through the halls. They made it to her door. Harley debated on pulling Bob into her room, not wanting to let go of his hand. But, she shook off that idea. She let go of his hand. They faced each other.
Bob smiled sweetly. His eyes lingered to her lips then to her hand. Harley noticed this. She brought her hand to his face and once again he leaned into her touch.
“I'll see you soon”, Harley said.
“Yeah, I'll see you soon”, Bob said. He grabbed the hand that touched him, lightly kissed it. A quick peck. Harley's breath hitched. It was a quick gesture, but it left Harley wanting more. Excitement and need ran down her spine. Harley wanted him. Bob looked back at her adoringly. But eventually, he had to leave. He let go of her hand. As he walked away, Harley watched him. When he was out of sight, Harley entered her room.