Standing in front of the full-length mirror I examined myself from head to toe, I had never seen this dress before, apparently, while Bucky and I were “stranded” at the cabin Pepper had outfits for the Stark Gala sent over to the compound. It was a black cocktail dress with the top being a silver metallic fabric, it was tight and came to just above my knee and left little to the imagination. I spent extra time on my makeup and curled my hair into a half-up french roll.
“You look beautiful,” Bucky said rounding the corner into my in-suite bathroom.
He was dressed in a three-piece suit, all black except a silver vest and tie. I smiled at him in the mirror as he came to stand behind me.
“I wish Nat was here,” I whined.
Bucky laughed, “She would agree that you look amazing in that dress.”
I rolled my eyes. “I do like that Pepper picked out matching outfits.” Turning around in his arms I wrapped my hand behind his neck gently pulling him down to kiss me; his hands resting on my lower back pulling me flush against his core.
“If you’re trying to distract me,” He said breaking the kiss, “it’s not going to work.”
Groaning resting my forehead against his shoulder. “I hope you’re prepared to carry me home tonight.”
“I’d carry you anywhere.”
*** A Few Hours Later ***
Bucky, Sam, and Maria were off swapping battle stories when I had returned from the bathroom. I was standing at the bar waiting for my drink when I felt a hand softly lay across my lower back and kiss to the side of my head, it wasn’t Bucky though. I turned and immediately recognized Thor. Squealing with excitement I threw my hands around his neck as he twirled me with a laugh.
“I didn’t think you’d be here!” I exclaimed.
“I thought it’d be a happy surprise.” He pulled back from the hug.
The bartender pushed my drink to me. “Anything for you sir?”
“No, thank you,” Thor replied.
“Come with me,” I said grabbing my drink.
We walked away from the thick of the crowd to chat and catch up. The last time we saw each other was Tony’s funeral, now he’s lost a hundred pounds and back to looking like the Nordic God that I met once upon a time. He shared some of his adventures with the Guardians and explained how he uninvited them to the party.
The two of us talked and laughed so hard that I lost track of time, I thought for sure that Bucky would come to find me when he was ready; after all, it wasn’t too often he got to socialize with others who understand him besides Sam. I saw both Maria and Sam make separate trips to the bar over the time we were together, but never did I see Bucky.
“What has you troubled?” Thor questioned.
“I haven’t seen Bucky for a while, it makes me a little nervous in these settings.” I was truthful.
“Do you fear his programming is not broke?”
“Not at all, I know that’s not the issue. It’s his people skills I worry about. Like you when you first visited earth.”
He laughed, “I was great.”
I shook my head with a laugh, “Tell Darcy that.”
“Why is that you worry about Sergeant Barnes? Is he not someone else’s responsibility?”
Before I could answer Sam appeared in front of us, “So your Winter Soldier has become Whiny Soldier and has run off sulking.”
“What did you say to him?” I questioned.
“Why do you assumed I said something,”
“Well, both of you have a pretty shitty track record.”
“I’ll admit to that, but it wasn’t me, it was Maria,” Sam informed.
“What the hell did Maria say?” I was flabbergasted.
“She may or may not have made a joke about you leaving him for Thor.”
“Ah!” Thor exclaimed, “That is why you worry, you and the Sergeant are together.”
“You do realize he hasn’t been a Sergeant in about eight years?” Sam asked Thor.
“Where is he, Sam?” I asked, “Sorry, Thor I have to go find him.”
“Last I saw he went towards the balcony.”
“Of course, he would,” I muttered, “it’s thirty degrees outside so it’s a perfectly normal place to go hang out.”
Abandoning my wine glass, I stormed past Sam and headed towards the balcony. The mass of people made it a little harder than I had hoped, having to weave through people a lot of which were drunk and stumbly. I smiled and waved at everyone who I recognized as I passed trying to avoid having to stop and talk to most of them. Bucky and I had already made our required rounds through the people we knew and those he didn’t.
I caught a glimpse of Pepper, Happy and Maria standing together and talking, I thought about derailing from my mission briefly to ask Maria what happened. Sam hadn’t been forthcoming with information and I wanted to know what I was walking into, but I decided it would be better to make it straight to Bucky. Finally making it through the sea of people I finally found a door to the balcony, pushing it open I saw Bucky sitting on a concrete bench looking over the railing at the lake.
“Bucky,” I spoke softly to not startle him, it was pointless he knew I was coming the second the door closed, enhanced abilities and all.
“Doll you shouldn’t be out here. Go back to the party.” He said not turning to look at me.
I guess the conversation was going to happen out here, I thought to myself. Making my way towards him I sat down on the bench, immediately regretting my lace undergarments with the thin dress material.
“What are you doing out here babe? The party is inside.”
“Nothing, just thinking. Too many people inside.” He replied.
“And it has nothing to do with what Maria said to you?”
“No,” He snapped.
“Good because I would hope that you already know that nothing in this universe could take me from you.”
“That’s not true and we both know it.” He sighed, “You were there the day that Shuri told everyone that this may not be permanent, the mental block she built could deteriorate over time. My own mind could take you from me.”
“Bucky you’re letting that happen right now. I’m not worried about it and neither should you. That isn’t new knowledge to any of us, the only new thing is the comment Maria made.“ I hesitated for a moment, "Are you trying to blame your jealousy on some far-off futuristic fear?”
“Maybe,” He sighed, “probably.”
I groaned, “Well, stop it, I love you and I thought I had made that pretty clear.”
We sat in silence for a moment, neither of us attempting to speak. I was freezing and this moment all I wanted was a cup of tea and my warm bed.
“Did you just tell me you love me?” Bucky spoke barely above a whisper.
“I did, Bucky I’ve been in love with you since the day Pepper introduced us at Tony’s memorial.”
He smiled, “that was the day I swore I’d never be friends with you,” He chuckled. “You were too nice to me, it was unnatural.”
I laughed.
“I swore I’d never be friends with you because I knew I would fall in love with you.” He took my hand in his. “And I did, the first night you moved into the compound. I was a jerk to you and when I interrupt your late-night movie you didn’t turn me away.”
Closing the distance between us I kissed him; it was a loving and gentle kiss, one that sealed our emotions.
“You’re shaking,” Bucky observed.
“That’s because it’s like five degrees and I have barely any clothes on.”
His face fell in disappointment, “I shouldn’t have made you come out here.”
“It’s fine, but can’t we go inside. This is the second time this week that I’ve felt like I was going to lose a limb to hypothermia.”
Bucky laughed and wrapped his arm around me to pull me into his side, “Sorry doll, both are my fault.”
Making it in the doors I shivered at the sudden warmth.
“How did you know I was out there?” Bucky asked.
“Sam,” I stated. “He called you the ‘Whiny Soldier’.” I laughed.
“Fucking bird,” He grumbled.
“Pay up, Wilson.” I heard Maria say from the bar.
We walked towards them and Pepper.
“Oh, dear God,” I groaned. “What did you guys bet on?”
“You would leave Barnes because of his whining,” Sam admitted.
“I didn’t.” Pepper claimed proudly.
I laughed at her, “as hard as you tried to push the two of us together, I would hope you had more faith in us than that.”
“Hill, how did you bet?” Bucky asked.
“I love you, but you’re a sap.” She directed at me. “And you’ve been ogling her since Steve left.”
“I was never ogling.”
“Yes, you were.” Sam and Pepper replied.
I laughed, “I was clearly the only one who didn’t see it.”
“Pepper and I were planning an intervention,” Sam confessed.
“I offered to send you guys on some remote pointless mission.” Maria laughed.
“But I’m not a field agent,” I replied.
“That’s why it would be pointless.” Maria explained, “Fury probably would have been pissed. But that’s a great joy in my life these days.”
“Hey, where is Rhodey?” I asked, “I haven’t seen him all night.”
“Wakanda,” Pepper explained. “Shuri had a Christmas present for him.”
We all stared at her waiting for an explanation.
“Scientific babble, basically she found a way to create an implant of some kind to possibly fix his spine.”
“Wow, that’s amazing,” Sam replied. He would never admit it, but it was clear he still had some residual guilt over the situation.
I leaned against Bucky getting tired, the alcohol buzz was wearing off leaving me exhausted. A yawn escaped.
“I think that’s my queue to take her home.” Bucky laughed.