Chapter eight
“Welcome to my humble abode.” Natasha swung the door open to her small cottage, it didn’t really fit in with the Brooklyn architecture but it was lovely nonetheless. She pushed the door open even wider and stepped to the side allowing Bucky to have a good view of the interior.
The walls had vines of Ivy and Black widow tangled all around the beams, red roses, hyacinths and lavender poked out from random places and pieces of furniture. Exotic house plants sat on her windowsills, each named with a tag. They weren’t latin names or even the scientific name for the plants, they were human names, like one would give a child.
“Wow Nat this place is amazing!” Bucky walked through the door, she placed her bag on the wooden table. “It’s like the rainforest meets the Irish countryside.” , Naasha stood there looking smug, “It is, isn’t it? I’m glad you like it hun” She smiled at Bucky and walked towards the kitchen. “You want a drink or something?”
Bucky nods, “Please”
“I’m afraid the offer of coffee and teas was a bit of a fib, I only drink water. Good for hydration and such” Natalia looked at him apologetically, she could tell a caffeine addict from a mile away. “Water then please, Natty” Bucky chuckles
“Don’t call me Natty, it makes me sound like a sixty year old virgin” She laughs, “Call me Black Widow”
“Nah, sounds like an STD, y’know itchy and shit” Bucky cringed at his words. Natasha laughs, “Well you gotta call me something”
“Red.” Bucky decides, Nat rolls her eyes “How original”
“I knew you’d like it, Red” Bucky bats his lashes, “Fine you win, but don’t say it around fellas alright? The name Black Widow sounds sexy to the opposite gender.” Tasha fills two champagne flutes with water, handing one off to Bucky. “Now tell me a bit about yourself, we need to establish a good foundation for your criminal activity”
“There’s not much to tell,” Bucky began to bite at his nails, he didn’t like talking about himself that much, his life seemed dull compared to everyone else's. “Don’t be so modest, a psychiatrist doesn’t just stumble into this life” Nat and Bucky both took a seat on the sofa. “Well, I studied the criminal mind and human behavior at college and got my doctorate. My parents died when I was young. I took an internship at shield ended up getting hired permanently, until I met Nomad”
“Tell me about that, because not being funny hun, but you’re way, way, way out of his league” She giggled. “I was assigned to him after his other doctors…quit. We had a couple sessions together and despite him pissing me off I felt myself falling for him. Despite his aggressive demeanor, he’s a charming son of a bitch,” Bucky smiles fondly “He’s very caring. Anyway we got close and-”
“Wait! You slept with him? While you were his doctor?!” Natasha asks in disbelief.
“No, well erm not immediately and not technically. I didn’t know I loved him until much later on, I ain’t that easy that I’d just jump into bed with anyone.” We sure as shit ain’t like you!, Bucky shook his head and continued “I’ll have you know I was very professional,” He smiles, “One day we had a moment and he said he’d set me free”
“I bet he did” She snapped. “Will you shush! I’m trying to explain!” Bucky motioned his hand zipping across his lips. “Okay, okay not a word got it.” She snickered.
“That evening he tried to kill me, and it was the most wonderful but scary experience of my life at that point, I know you won’ understand it, but it was incredible. He broke out and I followed him demanding he take me with him. Steve took me back to his place, he patched me up and looked after me. I mean of course I was furious and I wanted to escape as soon as I realized what had happened, but he never gave up on me, despite all the shit I gave him day after day. He didn’t give up on me.” Bucky felt his eyes collecting with unshed tears. “We grew closer and finally he told me how much he wanted me, how much he needed me, but I wouldn’t give it up, because I knew once I did there was no going back and I wasn’t ready for that.” He smiles remembering their first time. “But eventually I didn’t care anymore, so we fucked”
Tasha fake gagged and they both laughed.
“Then all this shit happened with an ex colleague of mine and then Alexander Pierce”
“I heard about that, and am I right in assuming that’s when you became” She gestured at the pink and blue haired beauty in front of her “Bucky Barnes?”
“Yeah,” Bucky sighed, “At first I hated him for it, bu then he opened my eyes, made me see that it was the only way we could fully be together”
“You shouldn’t have to change yourself for a man Bucky, especially him” Nat retorted. Oh here we fuckin’ go
“I didn’t expect you to understand Red, to explain our love is like trying to explain Hebrew to a stuffed animal”
“There’s no reasoning with you is there? You honestly can’t see that he’s just using you? Using you for one big fucking joke” She pleaded.
Yeah, like we haven’t already thought about that, still think about that
Daddy was right, who needs enemies when ‘friends’ are like this
“Honestly Red, at first he just kept me around for a joke, the big joke of breaking the mind of a physiatrist, sending him into a spiral of madness. But then he got to know me, we got to know each other, not just as criminal and civilian, but as equals.” Bucky snipped. “What happens when he wants a new joke, when the joke gets old?” Tasha asks
Bucky opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted by his phone ringing, “Hang on Red”
“If that’s him, don’t answer it” Nat shouted. Bucky bit his lip glancing at the word ‘Daddy’ flashed across the screen along with a picture of Steve kissing him on the cheek. Bucky looked back up at Tasha, her face turning as red as her hair. “What if it’s an emergency?” Bucky slowly brought his finger down to the screen. “Don’t. Answer. It.” she scolded
“He might- It might be import-” Bucky was cut off by Natalia tackling him to the sofa, she grabbed the phone from Bucky’s hand and held it in the air out of reach. Natasha looked at the photo and the caller ID, “Daddy? Seriously?”
“Yes. Now give me back my god damn phone!” Bucky shouted, struggling to reach the phone. “No, You need to learn to be independent Buck, besides you can call him back later”
“Give it!” Bucky lunged at Nat, knocking the phone out of her hand and right into the glass of water sitting on the table. “No!’ Bucky shouted after it, watching the phone sink, “Now look what you’ve done!’
“What I’ve done! You did it, not me!” Nat corrected. “Consider this a technology detox”
“Detox, I don’t want a fuckin’ detox! You ruined my phone!” Bucky’s hands balled into fists. “Steve got that custom made for mw, it’s priceless!” he pulled the phone out of the water, Yeah, Rice ain’t fixing this.
Nat couldn’t help but smile, only Nomad’s boyfriend would lose his shit over a phone. “Don’t laugh! It ain’t funny!” Bucky’s lips slowly curled up into a smile, that’s when Tasha howled out her laughter. “Give it here,” She grabbed it off Bucky and walked over to one of her plants, she made a deep hole in the soil and buried his phone inside, before covering it with a fresh layer of earth. “What the hell are you doin’ to it now?” Bucky crossed his arms over his chest. “My plant will draw the water out, just be patient. Give it, say two hours and your phone will be as good as new.”
“Two hours!”
“Gives us plenty of time to chat, without any distractions.” Nat grabbed Bucky’s hand and led him back into the lounge, “But I gotta get home, Stevie won’t be able to contact me an- and I need to speak to him”
“Urgh, It would be good for you to have some time away from that blond nutcase”
“Hey! He has amazing hair! Besides, we have a date tonight”
Talia burst out laughing, “Steve haha, No, no,no I don’t believe it, The Nomad on a date?” She wiped away tears. “Priceless”
“Don’t laugh, Steve and I are having some problems and we’re trying to work through them, and me not answering my damn phone and being late for our date, ain’t exactly a good start”
Natasha’s face turns serious, “Well that doesn’t surprise me, he beats the shit outta you”
“He doesn’t! I’m sick of people treating me like a victim. Sure he knocks me about a lil’ bit, but only when I’ve upset him, he doesn’t do it for fun or because he’s bored. He does it because he’s angry”
Yep, we’re in a completely healthy relationship
Bucky leant back on the couch, “Besides I give as good as I get”
“You’ve struck him? You’ve actually hit him?” Nat raised her brow, “How are you still alive?”
“I haven’t got enough fingers or toes to count how many times I’ve fought back. I’m still alive because he loves me and it turns him on” Bucky stared into space smiling, biting his lip. “It really, really turns him on”
Natasha covered her hands over her ears. “La, la, la, la” she sung. Bucky laughed and pulled her hands aways from her ears. “Your such a prude”
“Oh honey, I’m no prude, I just don’t wanna hear about you banging a clown”
Nat saw Bucky’s face suddenly sink, she moved closer and put a hand on his shoulder. “C’mon, tell Auntie Red all about it”. Bucky filled Nat in on what had happened, Steve trading Bucky over to Tony Stark, the Walker kiss situation and Steve practically begging for his forgiveness the next day. Bucky broke down in tears, he threw his arms around Natasha’s neck and sobbed against her shoulder, she patted Bucky’s back awkwardly.
“It’s okay, everything will be okay”
Bucky pulled away and hiccupped “S-sorry red” he looked ar Nat’s wet shoulder, “Bucky, cry on me all you want, if it helps” She pulls his back in an embrace and rocked him back and forth, she’d never really cared for another human before, it was a strange feeling but for the little amount of time she’d known Bucky she felt responsible for him, like a mixture between a child and a brother. “What am I gunna do Red? I love him so much, if he finds out, he’ll never forgive me”
“Bucky,” Nat cupped his face in her hands, “If he loves you, he’ll forgive you. Just be calm and explain everything, how Walker cornered you and why you were upset about poker. As for Waker, fuck him. If he can’t take no for an answer then maybe he deserves to die”
“Easier said than done, Nat. If he hasn’t found out already, hr ain’t gunna give me a chance to explain”
“And what if Steve doesn’t find out? What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him”
“Yeah, yeah I suppose you’re right. I just don’t like lying to him y’know. He can read me like a book, he can tell when I’m hiding something” Bucky started to calm down now, but he still hiccupped.
Nat decided to lighten the mood. “Come with me” She grabbed Bucky’s hand and pulled him towards the bedroom. “Where we going?” He asked, struggling to keep up. “That dress you needed, I got plenty that will knock his socks off, he can’t stay mad at you dressed like a sex god”
“I don’t think that’s the answer Red, Steve don’t respond to things like that, he ain’t a normal man.” Bucky tried to pull away but Nat’s grip was too strong, she wasn’t taking no for an answer.
“Trust me Buck, when I’m done with you, he won’t even remember his own name when he looks at ya” She winks at Bucky, “Trust me, this is my area of expertise.”
Natalia sat him on the bed and walked over to her closest, she slid clothes along the rail until she came across a dress that would look stunning on Bucky. “You ever wear a dress before?”
“Uhh”
“Here try it one” She threw it at Bucky who reluctantly slipped it on. Once he was dressed, Nat did his hair and fixed his eyeliner. Bucky stood in front of the full length mirror gazing at his reflection. He was wearing a short tight black dress, it hugged every curve, framing his petite figure perfectly. It had a low back, with long sleeves and a high neck. It stopped mid thigh and he wore his black docs to match. Bucky’s hair was swept to the side, bundled up in a messy but sexy bun, two tousled pink and blue hair strands framed his face. His eyeliner was sexily smuged out perfectly complimenting his blue eyes and his cherry balmed lips. Daddy’s favorite
“Wow Bucky, I’d fuck ya” Nat slapped his ass, trying to cheer him up. Bucky smiles, biting his lip. “Yeah, I’d fuck me too”
Bucky turned to face her, “Thanks Red, I feel so much better”
“Can I give you some advice Buck?” Nat spun him back around to the mirror. “You’re so beautiful Bucky, and you need to learn how to use that to your advantage. Your appearance is your most powerful weapon, I will show you how to use it, if you let me. But you got to promise not to tell Nomad about our friendship. You need something separate from him, you need to spread your wings.”
Bucky nodded. “I promise”
“Good now, go and show that tattooed motherfucker, how lucky he is” Natasha ran over to the plant pot containing his phone and pulled it out, she turned it on and added her phone number. “Here ya go hun, good as new”
“Thank you Red. I’m so glad I met you, blocking you in with my car was the best mistake I’ve ever made” Bucky hugged her. “Okay Buck, don’t go all human on me. I can’t handle it” She chuckled while passing over his phone. “I added my number, call me if you ever need anything and I’ll be in touch”
“Okay. Thank you Red!” Bucky kissed her cheek and bid her farewell. He left the flower infested cottage and walked over to his car, whilst checking his phone, he was meant to be home over an hour ago, but Steve hadn’t called him since earlier or even texted him.
“Shit”