Elevated

Nora didn’t see Bucky for two days. He’d texted her mission which she took to mean he was going on one, and wouldn’t be coming for coffee.

It was something that happened often enough, at least once a week, but the disappointment still knotted up in her stomach. If she’d had interesting work to do she might’ve been distracted from it, but they were very nearly done with their paper and were down to proofreading.

Nora quizzed Bruce on movies he’d seen in between sections. It was interesting. He’d managed to miss everything one might consider either a classic or a blockbuster, and favoured instead a long list of what Nora would consider C-tier badly conceptualized science fiction films.

She couldn’t bring herself to make fun of him when he told her he liked IRobot. He just seemed too pleased.

She walked Luna to the Spruce by herself both days because the dog still needed a walk, and moped the whole way.

It was disappointing the first day, and turned out to be entirely not worth the trip the second, because Shmidt and Fowler walked in after her. She could feel their eyes on her back while she waited in line to order. It wasn’t great, and then it was worse because they started whispering about her research in carrying tones that didn’t conceal at all how disparaging they were being.

She had thought that knowing she worked with Bruce would shut them up, but she should’ve known it would only make them jealous. Hadn’t that been half her career? She twisted a lock of hair around her finger and frowned at the big forest landscape above the espresso machine.

Nora didn’t need to be recognized to feel good about her work. She loved her job. She loved doing research and always had. Even when she worked with Shmidt and Fowler and every day was a battle to get anything done. Even when she’d been in Norway and her research head had thrown all her notes out the fourth storey window.

She did wish it wasn’t so easy for them to dismiss her. To whisper in their hissing voices that she must’ve done something to get a job on the ninetieth floor.

Nora grabbed her coffee cup the second it hit the counter and turned to stride out to the patio for Luna. She practically jogged back to the safety of the tower and only took one try to get on the elevator. She didn’t want to take the chance of seeing the two men again when they returned to the building as well.

The whole day felt like a waste.

They made it to four, but only barely. Bruce and Nora both spent the last hour of their day hemming and hawing over what to do next. The second the clock rolled over they powered down all the equipment and made a break for it.

Bucky was halfway down the hall and stopped when the lab door whooshed open.

“Bucky!” Luna ran to greet him and Nora felt immediately better. She could admit easily that a little of her bad mood had been anxiety. The last mission he’d gone on that she knew of had ended with him half covered in bandages.

“Hey Bucky,” Bruce greeted more sedately, “How was the-“ he stopped and shot Nora a look like he wasn’t supposed to say.

“Fine.” Bucky answered. He straightened up from petting Luna when Nora reached him with quick strides and looped her arm through his.

“It wasn’t lizards this time was it?” Nora asked, surveying him for any hint he wasn’t well and steering him back towards the elevator.

Bucky’s mouth hitched up a little, “Goons.”

“I don’t think I like that better,” she replied, “What’re you up to?”

He glanced at Bruce, chewed on his words a second, then said “Thor’s watching something. Wanna come?”

“Like a movie?” Nora asked, “What kind of movies does Thor pick?” It was strange to her that a Norse god would be hosting a movie night even though she knew he did somewhat often.

Bucky shrugged but Bruce answered, “He’s all over the place. He does like movies that remind him of home. Asgardian storytelling is- Shakespearean I guess.”

That was interesting. Nora clicked her tongue, “Okay. Sounds fun.” She didn’t really care what the movie was, mostly she just wanted to sit next to Bucky and let his presence soothe the lingering suckiness from her day.

They took the elevator to the lounge with Bruce. Thor was already there, with Sam, Jane and Wanda. They were spread across the couch while Darcy made popcorn in the kitchen. She appeared to be in an argument with Sam, who was glaring at her, and was shouting over the noise of popping kernels, “Absolutely not. I refuse to be held captive by a movie about football.”

“It’s a classic!” Sam shouted, outraged.

“It’s dumb!” Darcy shot back.

Bruce frowned and went straight to the armchair at Thor’s end of the couch. Bucky hesitated a step off the elevator. Nora slid her hand down his arm to squeeze his. Then she let go and crossed to the kitchen to pull the plug on the popcorn machine. “What’re we arguing about?”

“Sam thinks,” Darcy started with venom, “That we should watch Remember the Titans.”

Nora waved to Thor who shouted a booming greeting and didn’t seem bothered at all by his friends arguing. He patted the couch beside him for Luna to jump up and pet her in earnest. Bucky moved to sink into a massive armchair that was almost a loveseat, but not quite.

“What do you want to watch?” Nora asked her.

“She doesn’t even have a suggestion!” Sam shouted.

“I’m not watching a sports movie with Thor! He’s not gonna understand any of it!”

That seemed to Nora like a good point. Thor loved to learn about Midgard but it seemed like he was better introduced to the sport beforehand so that his questions didn’t stop the film dead every five minutes.

“I’ve got one.” Nora said, glancing between Sam and Darcy, “It’s my favourite movie.” Bucky turned his head to look at her. She’d spend hours narrowing her list before settling on a conclusion.

“We watched Jurassic Park last week,” Sam shot.

Nora rolled her eyes, “Scientists don’t universally love Jurassic Park.”Jane and Bruce both asserted mildly that they did, steamrolling her point a little. Nora shook her head, took the popcorn bowl Darcy shoved at her out of reflex and wandered back toward the living room, “The Princess Bride.”

“Yes!” Darcy crowed behind her.

Sam thought about it for a second, then nodded.

Nora thought Bucky must’ve picked his spot strategically. There was, after all, a whole other couch in the room which Darcy selected and sprawled across. The chair he had picked was instead just large enough for them to sit together, but not to do so with any space between them. Nora hitched her legs up to stretch them over Bucky’s thighs and he dropped his hand to hold one of hers.

Sam looked at them, eyebrows raised, and Nora refused to meet his eyes. Darcy similarly stared. Nora had yet to tell her about any of it, not the kissing or the confession or the date. She’d been savouring it like a secret. She whispered to Bucky as Darcy shook her head and started the movie, “This has been my favourite movie since I was thirteen.” He squeezed her hand gently. She was glad for it. Something about sharing the movie with him was scary. It wouldn’t be a big deal if he didn’t like it, but she wanted him to.

Clint wandered in as Fezzik and Westley wrestled, announced to the room, “Fucking awesome,” and threw himself onto the couch beside Darcy who shot him a glare and hauled her legs in to take up less space.

Natasha followed, standing somewhere near the kitchen for a long time before finally moving to sit on the floor by Sam, her legs stretched in front of her. Luna slid from the couch by Thor and flopped on the rug next to her instead. Natasha rubbed her ears.

At a glance one could tell Thor was thrilled with the movie. It was impossible to tell from looking if Bucky liked it, but he had slouched a little and ran his thumb absently over Nora’s thigh so she thought he at least liked the company. When the movie was over, Nora basked a little in the praise for her good selection. It seemed that Avengers might universally be fans of silly fantasy films, and she wondered absently what Tony might think of it. She decided he would probably hate it just to be contrary.

Bucky walked her to the elevator among a chorus of goodbyes. Nora hit the button for his floor instead of the lobby. When she glanced at him there was an almost smile twisting the edge of his mouth.

Luna ran immediately to the armchair in Bucky’s living room and curled up. Nora didn’t make it half as far, “That was fun but I think I like movies just the two of us better. I felt like Sam would have an aneurysm if I kissed you.”

Bucky snagged her hand and pulled her back towards him, “Nosy,” he muttered, slipping his arm around her back and kissing her firmly enough to make up for it.

She wanted him to keep kissing her. But she also had to know. She leant back, enjoying the sound he made when she broke away from him, “What did you think? Of the movie?”

“I liked it.” He answered easily.

Nora beamed.

Bucky liked having Nora with him in the lounge. He liked that she got along with his friends, but he also liked that she knew what he needed. She’d managed to stop an argument dead that he knew could have lasted an hour and which would have had him retreating to his room long before it ended.

It was comforting too, that she didn’t mind his touching her in front of other people. He’d been a little nervous about it. Anxious in the way that clawed at his ribcage, that she would be embarrassed. He should’ve known better. Nora had never minded being close to him.

He wanted to keep kissing her. Maybe let his good hand wander, just a little bit, but her phone had started to buzz almost the second the door closed behind them, and kept buzzing.

Nora frowned and yanked it from her pocket, “Oh my god.”

He grunted his question. He thought he might not like her phone very much.

“Darcy’s texting me.” Bucky furrowed his brow. Darcy had just seen Nora, and didn’t have anything to say. Why the fuck- “I didn’t tell her about the whole-” Her face went red, “Y’know. The- I mean-”

“Why?” He knew Darcy and Nora hung out often. He didn’t really see why Nora would’ve failed to mention it. Not unless she was a little embarrassed. Something squeezed uncomfortably behind his ribs.

“I dunno. I guess I just wanted to enjoy that it was just for us? At least for a little while.” She huffed, “Oh well. She’s demanding I come over tomorrow and tell her about it.”

He took a breath that came easy, “Steve asked.”

Nora was typing a rapid reply into her phone, frowning, “Asked what?” She finished and tossed the device backwards onto his couch.

He liked having her full attention again, “‘Bout us.”

“Oh!” She grinned, “What did you say?”

He’d had a hell of a time saying anything. Steve had sprung the question on him in the jet with Sam and Clint and Natasha all sitting right there. He’d asked such a vague question that Bucky had gotten stuck. “What’s going on with you and Nora?” like Bucky would have any fucking idea how to reply. Part of the problem was that he didn’t know the right word to describe it. Nora had kissed him, yes. Then spent several days coming back to kiss him. They’d gone on one proper date.

Sam had practically been vibrating. He managed to wait quietly for two minutes, then erupted, “Are you dating?”

Bucky never would have chosen the word. It seemed all wrong. But it was good enough. He nodded. Then he had to listen to Sam chirp at him for the remainder of the flight. It was almost a relief when they dropped to land outside of an AIM base and were immediately in a firefight.

“Did you tell them we’re going steady?” Nora asked, rephrasing so that he could answer with a word the way she always did. Her tone was laughing.

Bucky snagged her hand and pulled her close, “Dating.” he said.

“So modern!” She grinned, “I like it.”

He felt the warmth of it all over.