Bucky pushed through the outside doors of Yori's apartment building, breathing in the fresh air, silently berating himself. He'd chickened out, again, creating some lame excuse about paying him back for lunch, even though he himself paid for lunch.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, startling him from his thoughts. He didn't remember putting it on vibrate, not that that would mean much. He didn't understand the damn thing anyway. He stuck his hand in his pocket and grabbed the phone, flipping it open.
-t- How was the date?
The text from the unknown number wasn't surprising in the least. The timing was. He figured she'd wait until the morning, at least to tease him about it.
-t- you know I hate to text.
His phone rang a few beats later and he answered on the second as he headed down a dark alley.
"You are the absolute last person I would ever accuse of hating to text Mr. Moody McBrooder Thighs. Especially since it means you don't have to talk."
"I talk," he responded.
"Only when forced," she responded. And he heard the distinctive crinkle of a potato chip bag in the background. Probably her supper. "So how was the date, James?"
"Uncomfortable," he said. "If someone would get off her high horse and let me take her out for a good time then I wouldn't have to date. But no. Someone thinks that would open up a can of worms."
"That someone sounds smart," she laughed. "I like her."
"She is smart. Not when it comes to us. But I like her a lot."
She giggled and the munching sounds began. "I exploded my lab today."
The first time she ever said that to him, he nearly had a heart attack. There was something about her and her distinct lack of self-preservation that had him wanting to grab her and never let go.
Or run for the hills.
He wasn't sure what it was most days. No other dame in his life, that he could remember, frustrated him the way she had.
She was easy to talk to, smart as hell, and down right beautiful. Not to mention she came with her own baggage, that made his seem not-so-terrible in comparison.
"It wasn't your fault, right," he teased and she laughed.
"This time it really wasn't! James, I swear!"
"Mmhmm." He believed that almost as much as he believed she was actually calling to ask about his date. She was many things. Subtle wasn't one of them.
"It wasn't! It was my sickness."
"You're not sick, sweetheart," he reminded. "Remember. Bruce said tests are proving it wasn't hurting you like last time."
She sighed and crunched another chip. "Yeah, I know. I just prefer not to think about it. I have to be in San Francisco to meet with Pym next week about it."
He crossed the street and turned onto his own. He knew Brooklyn like the back of his hand. The many sleepless nights he had in the last six months was good for walking around aimlessly.
"Will you let me know how it goes," he asked as he drug a hand through his short-cropped hair. She may not be dying from it, but he was still worried. As of right now it was causing a lot more harm than good, especially as she was learning to control it.
She cleared her throat and sighed. "Of course. You know I will, James. You shouldn't even have to think to ask."
It was true they had become really close after the blip. Not as close as he would like, but that was another story. But they were really good friends.
A friendship he preferred to keep private from Dr. Raynor at all costs.
He didn't know why. But something about his relationship with her was precious and he preferred to keep everything good in his life close to the vest.
"I wish you would stop working so hard," he replied. "You'll wear yourself ragged."
"Before the blip I was set. I was at the top of my field. I come back and my assistant is," she sighed. "I'm glad it was her who continued my research. I don't think Asgard would have trusted anyone else. But it still hurts to think about."
"It's still your research, sweetheart. Do you think you've done enough. Don't you think it's time to slow down? You said so yourself that you were planning to before Thanos."
"I was." He could almost see her biting her lip. "It's just different now. Now I have to prove I wasn't a fluke. Especially since Tony is gone now. They want me to work at the compound. Me and Bruce."
"And how do you feel about that," he asked sincerely.
"On one hand, it's great place to live and an amazing salary. I would be set."
"And the other," he asked.
"I like the freedom I was granted being independent."
"Because you could come and go as you pleased," he surmised.
"You know me better than I know myself," she laughed.
He laughed too. "You know, the job upstate doesn't have to be a shackle. I believe Bruce comes and goes, right? I think you're overthinking, as you always do."
"Yeah," she sighed. "I've been doing that a lot lately.
"Well I'm here to talk if you ever need."
"That's ironic, since you refuse to talk to your therapist," she laughed.
"I talk!"
"Only when she gets the notebook out!"
"Well," he searched his brain for a reply. "Well she isn't you."
She sighed. "I was actually hoping that you would go with me to San Francisco next week. I didn't want to go alone. And Darcy is up to something in Jersey."
"As long as I'm here for therapy on Monday, I'm yours." If she wanted him, he would be there in whatever capacity she needed.
He made his way into his apartment building, and to the stairwell. It was the easiest way to avoid his neighbors.
"I did something naughty," she laughed. "And I'm not sure how you're going to like it. Where are you now?"
"Just outside my door," he reached in his pocket to dig out his keys. "What did you do?"
He started as the door handle turned and opened revealing Jane, her phone pressed to her ear, looking as beautiful as the last time he saw her.
"I broke into your apartment," she whispered and she pushed end on her phone.
He to shut his own phone and stared, and motioned to the bag of chips in her hand. "My favorite."
She laughed. "I figured. You have a ton. You eat like a man-child."
He pushed her in the apartment gently and closed and locked the door behind them. "Why are you here, sweetheart? Not that I'm not thrilled. You were supposed to be in New Mexico."
She bit her lip in that endearing way of hers and sighed. "You had a date. And I was jealous."
"Why?"
"Because if it went well, I'd be left behind. And I'd never forgive myself for being so stupid."
He wrapped her in a hug. "You are the furthest thing from stupid, Jane. You're the smartest dame I know."
She inhaled deeply and wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up into his eyes. "I am sorry about your date."
He smirked down at her. "No you're not."
"No I'm not," she laughed. I was just trying to be polite."
He silenced her with a kiss that he'd been longing to give her since the day they met all those months ago.
"James I,-" he cut her off.
"Shh. Humor me. I'm tired of talking." He grabbed her shirt and pulled it over her head.
"There isn't even a bed here! You have no furniture!"
"Don't need one, trust me," he kissed her hard enough to shut her up for a long time after that.
He was up the next morning earlier than Jane. She was still in the pile of blankets on the floor. It was the best he had slept in a long time.
Still, he supposed it was time to finally by a bed. Couldn't have his girl sleeping on the floor like a caveman.
After his second cup of coffee, black and strong, he went back to the pile of blankets and kissed her awake gently. "Still think we are a bad idea," he teased.
"Terrible idea," she whispered and put her arms around his neck. "We're both two stubborn ass kids, who have terrible communication issues."
"Hmm," he leaned into kiss her neck. "We seemed to communicate just fine, last night."
"When did you get so smart," she teased and he grinned.
"Well see. I have this amazing friend," he started and she laughed, pushing him down with an amazing amount of strength and climbed on top of him.
"You still need a bed."
"Working on that today, in fact," he replied before pulling her to him.
The bed could wait a few more hours.