Series Summary:She was done and retired. After Thanos and after the battle of a lifetime, she had called it quits and had distanced herself from the Avenger lifestyle. But word finds her that someone from her past is in danger. What the journey entails was never one she wanted to face nor one she saw becoming her reality again. The rollercoaster that comes with fighting evil odds arrives on her doorstep not leaving much room for a no…
Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader
Word Count: 3300+
A/N: Slowly but surely friends, I’m getting ideas out for this series. Enjoy and as always, I love hearing and reading your thoughts on what you think:) Love you all!
Chapter 12:
The next morning, Bucky found himself the first one up and around. Has he been able to sleep within the last few weeks? No. Did he think maybe after yesterday’s activity with helping Y/N in her grieving process that he would be somewhat relieved and able to get a few hours of shut eye? Yes. Did he though? No again…
As usual, there was no point in fighting the tossing and turning for hours that would occur if he stayed in bed, so he made his way to the kitchen to brew some coffee and maybe go for a run around the compound with Ryker like he normally did before Y/N woke up.
But to his surprise upon pouring some fresh coffee into his mug, he heard rustling in the hallway outside the kitchen.
He peaked over to the entryway from the coffee nook to see who was up as early as him. While looking, he saw the clock on the oven showing 4:34 in the morning.
No one was up this early except maybe Steve, but to his surprise he had been sleeping in the past few mornings from late night missions.
Eventually, Ryker trotted around the corner and Bucky’s tensed shoulders relaxed. Until he froze again and realized, even as powerful as he learned the dog to be, he couldn’t get out of the room on his own.
Before any ideas of who it could have been had the chance to come to his mind, Y/N quietly came around the corner behind him. Her arms weren’t empty though, and she looked packed up ready for a long flight.
She hadn’t seen Bucky yet as he was tucked in a weird corner that was out of sight from the entrance unless you came a little further into the kitchen.
He watched at first knowing if she wanted to, she would be able to sense him and know she wasn’t alone.
But she never did show any sign of knowing he was there. He went to the fridge, grabbed an apple, bit into it and began packing a small bag full of snacks. The whole time, Ryker was drinking from his water bowl before looking at her with worried eyes.
Bucky knew what that dog’s look meant from a mile away. His concerned puppy dog eyes were something he saw every time he came to pick him up from her room in the morning and evening the last few weeks. Ryker would always do one check back on his owner with those eyes before leaving with Bucky.
He slowly laid out on the floor looking up at her with his head on the ground as she ran around packing things here and there and pacing the room.
Bucky knew now why she hadn’t noticed him. Her mind was not concerned with her surroundings. It was concerned with packing and getting out of there fast.
Then he thought back to the night before. The memory as they all came back to the compound and Tony had mentioned them sharing a night of their own to catch up in the den.
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The crew had headed back home somewhat early in the evening. With Lori going to bed at 8:30 they got back to the compound about 10pm. For this crew, staying up late wasn’t anything out of the ordinary when they knew that they didn’t have to go saving lives the next day.
“Hey, what about a late night catch up session? We’ve barely had time to hang out as old friends since you got back. I know nothing about where you’ve been all these years,” Tony winked and grabbed Y/N by the side, squeezing her shoulder into him in a friendly manner.
All Y/N had to do was give him a small look with a little turn of her lip.
“Ok, yeah, you’re right. You’ll never be allowed off my radar until I physically can no longer work a computer… Or dial Strange’s number…” he mumbled the last part.
“I would love to, but I’m kinda beat from the whole day. I may call it an early night,” she replied, shrugging her shoulders as Tony pulled away.
“It’s only a little past ten! It’s not like you’re going anywhere tomorrow,” Tony teased.
But Bucky had noticed that earlier when they were all getting out of the car, Y/N was already saying her goodbyes and thanks before going to bed. He knew she wouldn’t be up for his ideas of late night talks.
“Some of us are used to bedtimes at reasonable hours, Anthony,” she laughed with a sisterly roll of her eyes. “Plus, as grateful as I am for today’s activities and ceremony, it takes a lot out of a person like me.”
The whole crew wasn’t going to question that.
“You sure? Not even an hour or so?” Clint spoke up with Laura next to him. “We have the babysitter until midnight,” he smiled, Laura laughing lightly next to him.
Y/N hummed. “I’m sorry guys, I really wish I had it in me.”
“It’s all good. We get it. Truly,” Steve spoke up, walking toward her to give her a hug. Ever the gentleman to listen to a ladies request without question. “Go get some rest,” he hugged her before pulling back smiling at her.
“Thank you, Stevie,” she smiled back at him.
When the big blonde had pulled back enough for her to see the whole team staring at her with loving and happy eyes. Her mood switched a little. From being content and somewhat back to normal, Bucky noticed that there was a pinch of remorse in her body language.
“To those I haven’t had the chance to thank one on one, I’m just going to say that everything you all have done to help me mourn and grieve after these last 2 weeks, I couldn’t tell you enough, even for as long as I’ll live, that I’m truly thankful for each and everyone of you guys empact and purpose on my life,” she smiled with a little teary gleam in her eye. “I didn’t want to get all sappy and emotional after an already sappy and emotional evening, but I can’t help but think about how each of you are so special and essential to this world, but mainly to me.”
Tears were hard to suppress after a genuine compliment like that. Wanda and Nat (how she got Nat to cry was magic in itself), Laura, Sam, Clint, and even Steve shed a tear or two. Or at least had glossed over eyes.
To the naked and emotions blinded eye, she was just saying her thanks for all that the crew had done a lot to help her with Marley’s passing. But Bucky could sense the longing and sadness of her goodbyes. This wasn’t just a grateful goodnight kind of passing. There were true sentiments and sorrow in what she was saying to them.
“I love you all very much,” she sniffled before trying to put on a brave face and pushing back any further emotions. “Goodnight, guys.” She left with a single nod and walked with her head down back to her room alone.
Everyone was a little taken aback by the abrupt exit, but at the same time, emotions were high and Y/N hadn’t been one to show her emotions to people really. What Bucky had gathered from this last month is that she’s actually really good at poker faces when she doesn’t want to dig into her emotions.
It wasn’t healthy. He had learned the same hard truth as that method of coping from his own book. But even in growing out of that, he understood sometimes it’s easy to step back into it when you can’t fully handle a situation no matter how hard you try.
________________
Back in the kitchen, that weird exit was starting to make sense. He quickly put all the puzzle pieces together and just when she went to pick up her first bag he cut her off.
“Where are you off to?” he said, snapping out of her thoughts and making her jump as she turned to face the noise.
“Jesus, Buck!” she shouted, taking her outstretched hands that came out in reflex and placing them on her heart. “You could have gotten yourself killed,” she sighed, holding her hands to her chest quickly to put the ‘weapons’ away from him.
“Still standing, luckily,” he said, but she could hear a slight change of tone in judgment.
When she opened her eyes hearing that tone change, she gave him a weird look as he had always been sweet and understanding of her. Now his aura had a twinge of red outlining it.
She looked to where his eyes had quickly assessed the bags behind her before looking at her.
She relaxed her shoulders some and pinched the bridge of her nose as she added 2 + 2 getting a very clear answer of 4.
“This isn’t what it looks like,” she said quickly.
“What do you think it looks like to me?” Bucky countered. It was slight. So slight that she was sure Bucky didn’t even know he was feeling it yet as his anger hadn’t grown enough to notice outside of the extent that Y/N could feel it.
She looked down at Ryker who was of no help as he had the same look that Bucky had on. Judgy…
“Hey, don’t gang up on me too,” she mumbled down to him.
Bucky placed his now forgotten coffee down without too much caution on the counter, to where the ceramic meeting the marble made a loud clinking noise. In a disappointed dad kind of stance, he crossed his arms, turned his head slightly to the side, and took a deep breath.
“Why do you look like you’re going to give me a lecture?” she huffed, starting to pick up on the frustration in the room. “Listen, it’s no one’s business when or why I left,” she said with annoyance in her voice, but Bucky had a small feeling it wasn’t about the team.
It was about her. She was annoyed with herself that she couldn’t handle saying goodbye for real and she was chickening out and giving an Irish goodbye.
“It’s actually a lot of people’s business,” Bucky said, not moving from his stance.
She looked up at him in surprise at his tone. She was never on the receiving end of this Bucky before.
She looked him dead in those crystal blue eyes, but neither of them budged.
“You don’t understand Bucky,” she finally relented, grabbing the bag full of food off the counter next to him.
He grabbed her arm and wrapped his hand around the lunch pail and she froze, snapping her gaze up to him.
“What the hell?” she said loudly looking at the contact. “Let me go.”
“Not until you tell me the truth,” he shook his head.
“The truth?”
“Hmm mmm.”
“My truth is for me and no one else,” she sassed.
“Wrong answer,” he shook his head, his arm still tightly around her wrist.
“Bucky, I swear to God,” she started getting frustrated, trying to shimmy out of his grip but no luck. And it wasn’t even his metal one.
“You swear what? Gonna hurt me?” he asked, taunting her. He even lowered his head slightly more to her level so she could really look into his eyes and attempt to hide the truth.
“Don’t ask for things you don’t want,” she taunted right back.
There was a fire between the two that had been slightly sparking this whole time. One that every once in a while became a flicker with kind thoughts and actions, but this one… This one was a different form of fire and it wasn’t a light little flicker.
Let’s just say, if this wasn’t an actual argument featuring two very stubborn people, there would be a slightly different tone in the scenario.
“I’ll call your bluff then. Hurt me,” he gambled. He knew what she would do though.
She got frustrated at that and looked back where their hands almost connected.
“Bucky, just let me go and we don’t have to wager anything,” she groaned, trying to stand tall, but at the same time not wanting to actually hurt him.
He was betting on that being the case though.
“Send me a shock up the arm. Anything you want…” When she didn’t he smirked. “You can get out of this hold a million and one ways yet you’re still here…” He now was leaning on the counter perfectly to be right at eye level, while still holding her arm. “You’re not going to hurt me. I know it.”
Her jaw was tense, her face was stoic, and her nose crinkled in annoyance.
Because he was right. She wouldn’t hurt him, even with something as simple as a shock. She couldn’t.
When he saw her relent in her eyes and signs she wasn’t going to fight, he dragged his hand from her forearm to her hand, grasping it in a delicate hold.
“I know saying goodbye sucks and hurts, but you owe it to them,” he said. “You know that deep down and you’re letting your fears and worries ruin that for you.”
“I-” she started, but swallowed her words.
He sighed, squeezing her hand in reassurance.
“Almost 10 years for some of us. That’s how long it’s been since they’ve seen you.” He made a good point. “Sam is dying to make dinner with you one night and take you to a new Indian food place that he found after the snap.” He began listing her friends one by one… “Nat had mentioned wanting to do a spa day with you and to watch the newest James Bond movie in the theater room Tony built. Clint and Laura mentioned coming up to the farm and having a stargazing-bonfire night with the kids. Tony wants you to officially meet his daughter. He says she’s a spitfire like you and he doesn’t know how to handle her sometimes and needs your advice on how to reason with her. Steve-”
“Please stop,” she whispered, cutting him off.
He hadn’t noticed, but with each person he listed, her head tilted down further and further. He looked at her downcast head and let out a sigh through his nose looking away, seeing he may have gone a little too far in the guilt trip. But he had to make her conscious of what she was doing.
“Steve and I would really like to go to all kinds of museums with you and have you tell us about things we missed. He started a list of ones he wants to visit with you as his tour guide. What better historian than one that’s been through it all?” he said, bringing his free hand to lift her chin up.
She was crying and tried to keep him from seeing her do it, but she couldn’t hide it anymore.
“You mean a lot to everyone here. Everything you said last night could be said right back to you by a lot of those people,” he said softly. “Don’t mess it up by walking out.”
She looked back and forth between his eyes as he waited for her to come back to him.
She sniffled a little and took his other hand slowly away from her face grabbing it like their other hand was entwined.
“You’re a truly remarkable person, Bucky,” she said. “One the world doesn’t deserve and will probably never truly deserve.”
He couldn’t help the small smile that brought him.
“But I have to go,” she said, shocking him back to his frown from earlier.
“What?” He stood up stunned. After that speech, she still wanted to leave.
She hesitantly, then quickly pulled her hands back and went to grab her bag.
“I told you wouldn’t understand, which is a lie, but I still can’t tell you why I have to do this…” she said more to herself, even though she knew he could hear her.
Ryker let out a whine as she grabbed her last suitcase.
Bucky looked down at him then quickly back at Y/N.
“Even after everything I said, you’d still leave without-” Bucky said, flabbergasted.
“You’re leaving?” Tony’s voice caught them both off guard as he walked into the kitchen.
He was still wearing jeans and a band shirt showing he had probably been in the shop all night and never went to bed the night before. It wasn’t a rare thing to do with Tony.
Y/N looked at Tony in shock and then annoyance at Bucky.
“I have to go,” Y/N said one last time. “I’ll send you a note in the mail Tony explaining, but I have to go,” she said quickly. “Ryker, come on.”
Ryker stood, but paused looking back at Bucky and Tony as if begging them to stop her.
She turned back, seeing 3 sets of disappointed eyes.
“Stop all of you, ok!” she grunted irritated. “I am a grown woman who can make decisions. Please just let me make my mistakes and move on.”
Bucky realized her phrasing and picked up that she didn’t actually want to do this. The word choice of mistake confused him some.
“Tony, say something,” Bucky gestured to the other man, who was still stunned in his spot.
Just as he was about to open his mouth though, F.R.I.D.A.Y came on the intercom.
“Boss, I have that research finally downloaded.”
“Send it to my phone,” he said, still looking toward Y/N inches from the elevator door.
His phone buzzed and he looked down and his expression changed.
“I’ll be looking forward to that letter in the mail,” he finger gunned her way.
“Tony!” Bucky shouted, raising a hand.
Though shocked and confused by the turn around, Y/N brushed it off quickly and called Ryker again, who finally followed and got into the elevator with her.
Before the doors closed, she looked at Bucky one more time and saw a true and honest letdown on his face. Disappointment didn’t do the look justice. He was 100% discouraged by her choice and she could tell.
It hurt knowing she had done that to him, but she truly was keeping him from the worse outcome.
They didn’t break eye contact up until the point that the elevators did it for them. And once the metal doors sealed shut, Bucky couldn’t pull his eyes away from the silver shine of them.
“Barnes, I know Y/N leaving now is the last thing either of us want-“ Tony started.
“What?” Bucky turned his head slowly to him. “Last thing we wanted? You just practically showed her out!”
“If you let me finish… All for good reason.”
“What could possibly be a good reason?”
Tony could sense the heat from earlier, but didn’t have time nor the mindset to evaluate it further.
“I found some information. Some things we need to talk about. Let’s just say, it’s case sensitive to Y/N and she’s better off thousands of miles away right now than down the hall from what I found.”
Bucky’s eyebrows furrowed at what Tony was getting at.
“What are you talking about, Stark?” he turned his body to him, planting his palms on the counter.
“It’s best if I show you. Come down to the lab,” he motioned him as he turned to the hall, but stopped. “Wait, I forgot I came here for coffee,” he walked over to the counter. “Awe already made me a cup. Thanks Sarge,” he winked, grabbing the coffee mug Bucky had forgotten and turning back to the exit.
Bucky rolled his eyes, but followed anyway.
TAGS:
Everest Tags: (if I missed you in tags, comment on this chapter to let me know:)
Series Summary: She was done and retired. After Thanos and after the battle of a lifetime, she had called it quits and had distanced herself from the Avenger lifestyle. But word finds her that someone from her past is in danger. What the journey entails was never one she wanted to face nor one she saw becoming her reality again. The rollercoaster that comes with fighting evil odds arrives on her doorstep not leaving much room for a no…
Pairing:Bucky Barnes x Reader
Word Count: 3400+
Chapter 11:
The ride wasn’t long and just about 3 miles out from where they were headed, she knew where they were going.
She stayed silent the whole ride and sat in the passenger side while Clint drove and Nat and Wanda sat in the back of the SUV.
Upon pulling into the driveway, she didn’t instantly get out of the car. She took a moment to reminisce on the last time she was here. It was right after the blip and she came to check on Lori and Marley, and found that Marley had run away and Lori had been a victim of Thanos’s actions.
She had seen Lori since, but it was never back at this house. Lori had come to Avenger compound to check on Y/N before she even had the chance to make her way out to her home. Since then, they had met in the middle of the city to catch up, or stuck to sending postcards and letters in the mail.
It was as if she were stuck to her seat. She knew upon getting out of the car, what was to come. She thought she was ready for the next step in her grieving process, but seeing it was on the doorsteps in front of her now, it was harder to accept.
Seconds later, Lori opened her screen door and walked onto her porch. She was older. A little more fragile looking than the last time Y/N had seen her.
It’s funny to see a friend you’ve known since college age up when you’ve stayed the same. At the same time, it’s just as painful.
Y/N took in a small breath, and opened the car door. The others within the vehicle took it as their cue to leave as well.
No words were said between the old friends as Y/N approached the steps to the porch. They shared a look, and within it silent words were spoken. Lori met her halfway as she stood at the banister and Y/N went up the steps knowing it would have been somewhat of a struggle for the near 60 year old woman.
Once at the same level, Lori sent her a kind smile and opened her arms. At her age she had lost some height, therefore making Y/N bend down a little to embrace her.
They stayed in that hug for as long as the other needed. When they eventually broke, Y/N smiled back.
“I’ve missed you, friend,” she said softly.
“I’ve missed you too, old lady,” Lori winked.
Y/N laughed slightly at that before remembering why she was here.
“I’m sor-” she started.
“None of that,” Lori shook her head, grabbing her arm, and directing her into the home. “We aren’t here to mope about the past.”
“Isn’tthat the whole reason we’re here,” Y/N countered.
Lori stopped in her step and turned, giving Y/N a motherly glare.
“Let’s not forget you’re older than me, even though I may look it. You’re supposed to be the wise one,” she hummed.
“Yet, you’ve somehow always beat me out in that area.” Y/N smirked slightly.
“Well, then take this advice,” Lori patted her arm, continuing to walk her toward the backdoor. “To grieve is to show true love for those that have gone on to their next journey. Even when we aren’t exactly ready for it, we have to accept it.”
Just as they approached the back porch, Y/N saw outside the door was the entire team and then some gathered around her lovely garden she had spent years creating.
Everyone, including herself and Lori, were wearing various shades of Marley’s favorite color instead of black. Marley loved to spend time out in nature and had created her own plot in the garden that Lori and her created where everyone now stood.
A flashback to a moment of time with Marley in the garden hit her as she looked out to the group.
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“Why do people wear black to funerals?” Marley asked.
Y/N paused in her laying of mulch as she pivoted on her knees and gave the young girl a raised eyebrow.
“Where did that question come from?” she chuckled slightly under her breath, before turning back to the creation of the garden and patted down some dirt.
“Well, when we buried that bird over there the other week,” Marley pointed out to a tree far off in the distance, “you said it’s tradition to wear black to funerals when I asked if we could have one for it.”
“And that memory is coming to you now?” Y/N laughed again.
“Well, all the digging we’re doing…” Marley shrugged.
She had been referring to a bird that unfortunately had flown into one of the windows and passed away due to the harsh impact with the glass. It was one of the few animals that they had practiced relieving its pain when Marley was working on her powers.
It was an unfortunate situation, but Marley had asked for help in easing its pain and then later asked to host a funeral for the little guy.
“I see,” Y/N nodded, patting down one last patch of mulch before standing and dusting her hands off.
Marley finished planting the few seeds she had been in charge of and joined Y/N at her side quickly after.
Y/N threw her arm over the young girl’s shoulder as they slowly made their way to a small bench under a tree where some lemonade left out by Lori was waiting for them.
“I believe it dates back to Roman times actually,” she answered. “They would wear darker togas when a loved one had fallen to show they were in mourning. It’s considered a sign of respect. I guess it just continued on as a tradition.”
They sat and Y/N poured a glass for her and Marley before taking a seat and taking off her hat, wiping the sweat produced from the hot summer sun.
“But why black?”
“I don’t know. I guess when you think death, you think darkness. Therefore black,” Y/N shrugged, taking a long drink after.
“I don’t want black at my funeral,” she said after a minute.
Y/N quirked her head at the comment.
“I’d prefer we didn’t talk about your funeral,” Y/N shook her head.
She had seen enough death in her lifetime, and it never seemed to be something she could find herself getting used to. If anything, she despised it more and more with each person she lost as she never grew older.
“I’m just saying. When the day comes, I want everyone to wear my favorite color. Not dreary and depressing black,” Marley continued, her lemonade in hand forgotten as she continued on her little daydreaming scenario.
“What color would that be?” Y/N asked.
“Green. Any kind of green. My favorite is hunter green though. It reminds me of new plants…”
“New plants, huh?”
“Yeah, when something dies in a garden, a new plant usually replaces it. And when it does, well… Almost everything in nature when it first starts out is green or has tones of green. It’s like the color that symbolizes a new start.”
Y/N stared at Marley as she stared off into the beginning of her new garden.
“I guess you’re right,” Y/N nodded, still watching the wise young lady before her.
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And just like she had mentioned all those years ago, her funeral was filled with people wearing the color that meant a new start.
Y/N looked down and noticed the tone she was wearing was that of her favorite. The dress was a dark hunter green just like Marley had made note of before.
She looked back up to see that Wanda was now in the backyard along with Vision, and Nat and Clint had made their way back to the garden as well.
“Wanda planned it all,” Lori spoke up. “Every detail she made sure was fit for our Marley.”
Y/N nodded and a tear she hadn’t realized was falling, tumbled down her cheek. Once they came down the steps of the back porch, everyone turned.
Tony, Bruce, Steve, Sam, Wanda, Vision, Nat, Peter, Clint and Laura,… Everyone that could be there, was there.
They had left a small gap that led to the garden’s gate that was open. A path was paved for her to walk, with Lori on her arm.
As she approached everyone, she gave them small head nods showing she was grateful for their presence and help with everything. But looking ahead, she wasn’t sure she could take the steps.
Wanda approached her side and took her other arm.
“We can do it together,” she whispered.
Y/N felt a sense of relief flow through her and she turned to Lori. Though she may be fronting as brave and strong, Y/N could still sense her sorrow in all this.
Though she didn’t have much of her own to give, she sent the same type of wave Wanda had to Lori.
Lori took a deep breath as if somewhat relieved of the pain and smiled up at her.
With the motivation to carry on, they started their walk through the garden, right to the spot where Y/N and Marley had sat for lemonade more than once on that monumental bench. On the tree providing shade to it, a beautiful wisteria tree that Y/N may or may not have used some magic to grow, there was a plaque placed on the giant trunk of it.
Wanda and Lori took a step back and allowed Y/N her space to inspect and read what it read.
To live in the hearts we love, is not to die, but to live on in love and peace. May her kind heart live on in a world not ready for her, but in need of her. Rest in Peace, Marley.
She walked up slowly to the wooden plate and brushed her fingertips along the engravement. A feeling of pain hit her, but more than that was a feeling to ruminate or reflect.
She had the last two weeks to mourn and fall in the pit that Bucky had mentioned. Would she rather have stayed in that empty and hollow pit she was finding her new sense of comfort in? Yes. Would it have been what Marley would have wanted? Would it do anything to help her actually move on from all the trauma? No and most definitely not…
Now was the time for a new start. A concept Marley had found herself believing even at a young age.
She had brought it up and explained it many years ago and it wasn’t until this moment, surrounded by others ready to help Y/N and themselves in the next step of the grieving process that how she had been reacting was somewhat selfish.
Marley chose the finality of her death. She sacrificed herself for the greater good without hesitance and right after getting her life and mind back. Who was Y/N to take that away from her?
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and flattened her hand on the plaque.
In the next second, a rustle of wind surrounded the group and the branches and flowers from the tree swayed in a calming yet powerful way.
Instantly, a feeling of tranquility and alleviation surrounded everyone. As if the feeling was sprinkled throughout the petals falling from the tree. It was beautiful. Purple and violet pieces from the flowers that swayed in the wind rained on the guest and created a beautiful scenery.
One that represented the start of a new life. What was once dead is now moving on to its next journey.
Bucky looked up seeing how the colorful petals flowed around them staying within that part of the garden, until Y/N removed her hand from the trunk and they blew up and floated away in the wind.
Looking at her, she was still sad, just as anyone would be at saying goodbye to someone they love dearly, but she was now at peace like Marley was.
She had accepted her fate and sacrifice no matter how against it she was. She had accepted that Marley’s time here was done and wouldn’t be continued on this earth. Their earth at least… Moving forward was all that was left.
And it wasn’t just Bucky who noticed the difference. In her action of accepting the new feeling of peace, every guest around her felt it as well.
It was in the air. It was in the entire garden. The time to grieve is never truly one that ends, but the feeling of being able to continue on in one’s own life is one that some never reach. And lucky for Y/N, she had taken that step thanks to everyone that was surrounding her now.
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Inside, Wanda, Nat, Sam, Clint and Laura began on a small late night dinner for everyone. What better way to celebrate life than spending time with those you still had the chance and time to be with?
However, Y/N had disappeared a while ago and Bucky noticed as they were finishing the last part of cooking, she was still nowhere in sight.
As he tried to casually look around for her without giving away his worry, Wanda smirked looking up at him then back at the strawberries she was cutting.
“She’s up in Marley’s room. First door on the right,” she said, causing Bucky to look at her with a surprised face. Oh right… Mind reading. “Do you mind going up there and letting her know the food is almost ready?”
“Me?” he asked.
“Uh, huh,” she nodded with a small smile, still watching her fingers as she cut the red fruit.
Bucky hesitated, wondering if he was the right person for the simple job, but did as asked anyway.
He walked up the stairs in a quiet manner, nervous to invoke on Y/N’s privacy. However, once he reached the top, the door Wanda had directed him to was open.
There was a soft song coming from the doorway and as Bucky slowly moved closer, he noticed the slightest bit of scratching that only comes from a record player.
He peeked his head around the door frame and saw Y/N looking at an album in her hand. He didn’t recognize the song, but it had a calming and comforting tune to it.
He didn’t say anything at first. He let her sit there for a second, not wanting to interrupt whatever moment she could have been having.
But he should have known she would sense his presence before he even came up the stairs.
“All the Wild Horses, by Ray LaMontagne.” Bucky straightened at her voice. “This album was our favorite to listen to when we had late nights.”
She still never looked up from the plastic cover she was holding.
“I like it. It’s nice,” he responded after a minute.
“It is, isn’t it?” she hummed with a slight smile. Then she looked up at him and said softly. “I bought it for her on her 14th birthday. It’s been used a lot since then.”
There was silence as Bucky wasn’t sure he knew what to say, or if he really needed to say anything. Though Y/N didn’t say anything and seemed to be in her own headspace for a minute.
“Sorry. You came up here for a reason,” she said, snapping out of it.
“Oh, I was just going to tell you dinner’s almost ready. Wanda sent me up. But no rush,” he waved off, leaning on the door frame.
“No, it’s ok. I’m just reminiscing,” she smiled, putting the vinyl album down with it back in its sleeve.
He could sense the slightest bit of resistance to her putting it up.
“You should take it.”
“What?” she looked up at him.
“You should take the album back with you,” he rephrased.
“I don’t know…” she said hesitantly. Something about disrupting the peace with her room that was the same from before she left, felt wrong.
“Something tells me she would want you to have it. A keepsake from her,” Bucky shrugged. “I mean you don’t have to, I’m just saying it would be a nice piece of her to keep.”
She looked back at it and picked it up once more. She brushed the little flakes of dust that had collected over the years on it and turned it in her hand.
Then she smiled down at it before looking at Bucky with the same smile.
“You know? I think you may be right.”
Bucky couldn’t help the smile that formed on his own face and he stepped away from the doorway and motioned to the stairs.
“Ready whenever you are,” he said.
“Thank you,” she smiled a little wider and hugged the album to her chest as she descended the stairs with him behind her.
________________________
The dinner was simple and quaint.
They ended up doing breakfast for dinner as it was Marley and Y/N’s favorite tradition and time she came to visit.
There were chocolate chip pancakes, quiche, biscuits and gravy, fresh fruits and jam, orange juice, coffee, and tea… And little things on top of that.
The evening was happy and light. Upbeat and silly stories shared about Marley and Y/N, which turned to ones about Marley and Wanda, and sparked stories within the crew outside of just Marley.
Alot of them consisted of the team making fun of each other for dumb normal things that happened within their life outside of missions.
It was perfectly normal and nuclear.
After dinner was served, half went out onto the patio on the back and drank a glass of wine or beer, and the other half stayed inside going through photo albums and talking about times Y/N and Lori were in college and the many adventures that came out of that.
They stayed for a while. But when it got late, Lori was ready to call it a night as she wasn’t as much of a night owl as she used to be, which led to the team packing up and getting out of her hair out of courtesy.
“I expect you to come visit more often, you understand?” Lori said as she hugged Y/N, not letting go of her for at least 2 minutes.
“What about you visiting me?” Y/N countered.
“You’re funny if you think I’m going to take a 8+ hour flight to the middle of nowhere Europe,” she laughed back.
“Eh, worth a try,” Y/N chuckled as they finally pulled away.
There was a moment of silent communication and sad smiles exchanged.
“She would be proud,” Lori said with a knowing grin. “I know I am.”
Y/N didn’t know how to respond to it as she didn’t necessarily agree with the comment herself. She knew that would be the next step in her grieving process, but it just hadn’t hit yet, nor was she sure it would.
“Love you, Lori,” she winked, going in for one more quick hug.
“Love you too, Sunshine,” she hugged her back tightly. “Oh! There’s one more thing I meant to give you before you left,” she rushed over the kitchen counter and opened a random drawer. Coming back, she had a little box perfect size for a piece of jewelry. “I found it when I was cleaning out her room the other week. I finally got the courage to clean up some in there and when I opened her drawer to put something in it, I found this with a note attached to it… It’s for you.”
Y/N looked at the brown cardboard box, simple and not accented with anything but her name written in beautiful cursive letters.
She could have opened it right there, but a part of her was telling her to wait until she was alone. Something about it was too sentimental to open in front of an audience.
“Thank you,” Y/N nodded, taking the box gently.
The two said their last goodbyes and gave one last long hug before Wanda went in for hers, and they packed up the cars and headed back to the compound.
Though today was hard, it was needed for not just Marley’s next step in her journey, but Y/N’s as well.
TAGS:
Everest Tags: (if I missed you in tags, comment on this chapter to let me know:)
Series Summary: She was done and retired. After Thanos and after the battle of a lifetime, she had called it quits and had distanced herself from the Avenger lifestyle. But word finds her that someone from her past is in danger. What the journey entails was never one she wanted to face nor one she saw becoming her reality again. The rollercoaster that comes with fighting evil odds arrives on her doorstep not leaving much room for a no…
Pairing:Bucky Barnes x Reader
Word Count:4700+
A/N: By GOLLY it’s been a while. God bless summer cause I’m pretty sure I touched my personal computer maybe 5 times this last 5 months… But we are back. I’ll keep it short and simple and say, I have ideas for the next chapter and hope to get it out this weekend at some point if not sooner. I love you all and I’m so grateful for you patience:)
Chapter 10:
After dinner, Y/N went back to her room with Wanda and Ryker behind her.
She seemed to be doing better after whatever Wanda did once she got here. Magic perhaps, or maybe just a good ol’ fashion friend helping another out of the trenches.
Even with doing better, Bucky could tell her energy was easily depleted by the change in activity from the last week. It wasn’t going to be a perfect or linear bounce back from everything. There were still pieces of grieving that needed to take place.
“A funeral?” Tony questioned. Not out of disbelief, but more so in a tone that showed he hadn’t even thought of that. Though, his thoughts had been somewhere else as of lately.
“I think it would be the best way to get that final piece of acceptance in saying goodbye,” Wanda nodded, arms crossed as she leaned on the wall.
“No, no. I think it’s a great idea,” Tony waved off, putting one his gadgets down before taking a swig of some green juice and then turning back to the red head. “Only thing is, we don’t have a body.”
“It’s not out of the ordinary to not have a body at a funeral.”
“No, but I feel as though that would make it a more sensitive event having no body… Knowing exactly why we don’t have a body…” Tony replied.
“It’s going to be sensitive no matter what,” Nat spoke up in the corner after watching the conversation go down. “But I see what he’s getting at.”
“She needs a proper way of saying goodbye. A place where she can actually let go,” Wanda sighed. “I know it won’t be a normal funeral. But at the end of the day, funerals are where people can say goodbye and put those that are gone, to rest. Whether it be for them or for themselves. In this case, it’s for Y/N to get that final feeling of peace.”
The other two in the room nodded in agreement and then shared a look.
“Do we let her in on it?” Nat asked.
“I’ll plan as much of it as possible for her. All she needs to do is show up. But Nat, can you do a favor for me while I’m getting everything together?” Wanda asked.
“Just let me know, I’ll get it done.”
“Thank you. I’ll text you what I’m thinking. I need to run to the store real fast and then head to my next errand.”
“Need help with anything else?” Tony questioned, tossing a stress ball back and forth between his hands.
“I’ll send out a group text to everyone and have people do whatever they can, but I have most everything taken care of and planned.”
“Great. I’ll be waiting for my job,” Tony nodded.
____________________
Like the pro she is, Wanda had everything scheduled and planned out by the evening. Her and Vis had apparently come up with the idea upon hearing of the entire situation. Wanda, knowing Y/N best, understood the best way for her to move on would be to give her a proper place to grieve and find peace for her lost friend.
So she got a plan together on the flight here, and once she felt Y/N was ready to take the next step, though no one was sure when that would truly be, she put the plan into motion.
She sent Vis and Nat to the flourist knowing that the other red head would know exactly what types of flowers and arrangement would be best. Along with a list she believed fit for Marley as well.
She had Sam, Steve, and Clint on set up even though it wouldn’t be much to do, as they were keeping it simple.
Wanda herself went on an out of city errand to grab some things.
Tony was working on something of his own that he guaranteed to make Y/N feel better. With it, he apparently needed Bruce’s help.
Everyone that was at the compound had a job and everyone else that was close knew when to come.
Oh and Bucky… Bucky’s job was to keep Y/N company.
After talking with Y/N and also seeing Bucky’s worries, Wanda saw it best fit for the two to spend some time together. Besides, Y/N wasn’t the only one who endured that heartbreaking day. Bucky had been there and mourned a part of the situation as well, even if he knew Marley for mere minutes before her sacrifice.
They were currently out throwing the ball for Ryker together and walking around the compound.
Today was one of the few moments where Y/N had actually gone out for sunlight since coming home. Wanda had been there for 4 days now.
The first day was getting Y/N out of her funk, the second was spending time crying and cuddling up to Y/N as they decompressed, and then later tried to avoid the pain by watching old comfort movies together. Then the third, was getting her out of bed long enough to go out and get some Vitamin D and try and get some of her normal routines in.
Now today, being day four, and Y/N in better spirits from her first day visit, Wanda could tell it was time for the next step in her healing.
It had been silent the last 10 minutes or so as they tossed the ball and played with the rottweiler. Not that it was awkward or uncomfortable silence. No. It was more of a needed silence before the inevitable conversation came up.
However, in surprise, Y/N was the first to talk and it wasn’t what he was expecting.
“How are you?” she asked, picking up the slobbered on tennis ball and casually throwing it close to a block away from where they were standing.
He furrowed an eyebrow at the question and looked at her from the side.
“Don’t act shocked that I’m asking you,” she chuckled quietly under her breath, brushing off her hands and still looking forward.
“I’m ok,” he answered after a few seconds.
“You do realize I’m a human lie detector,” she laughed, crouching down and deciding to take a seat on the manicured grass. When he didn’t reply or move, she smiled looking down at her hands before him. “Energy shifts… Practically at everything.” Her shoulders raised up and down softly.
He nodded, taking note once again, and then carefully sat next to her. His knee stays bent and he leans an arm on it before picking at the grass.
“It was worrying…” He mumbled under his breath.
“What part?” she replied softly, now also finding the small clips of weeds peaking through the surface of the highly taken care of lawn. Funny how even a billionaire’s yard wasn’t perfect.
He let out a soft breath of air, looking up seeing Ryker running back.
“All of it,” he said.
There was a short silence as Ryker dropped the ball and happily danced in his place as he waited for Bucky to throw it this time.
Bucky chuckled at the dog he had created a bond with these last two weeks. Taking the offer, he gladly chunked the ball as far as he could, giving Ryker a good distance to run.
“He likes you a lot,” Y/N smiled at her four legged friend who was excited to get out and get some air. “I mean, I may be a little worried he likes you more than me at this point,” she laughed.
“I highly doubt that.”
“I don’t know. I see the way he looks at you,” Y/N hummed.
“I really don’t think I can beat you out after maybe a month of knowing him,” Bucky chuckled.
“He is very particular of people. Much like me,” Y/N shrugged, throwing a weed to the side and going for another one. Bucky watched as her fingers dug into the ground without a care of the dirt getting under her nails. “I can tell. His energy is very trusting and empathetic toward you.”
“He’s a good dog,” was the only way Bucky knew how to take the compliment. He knew what she was saying meant a lot to her and her pet. But he was never great at taking sweet words with grace.
“He’s been through hell and back. So yeah, he’s perfect considering what he could have become.”
Bucky’s forehead crinkled at her comment. He had remembered a while back when Y/N had mentioned going to pick him up when she first got here that he was older, but she had never really gone into his past.
“How old is he again?” Bucky tried to question casually.
Y/N let out a genuine, yet short, laugh at that.
“Honestly?” she said, peering up at him through her lashes, getting a nod, and then looking back to where Ryker was prancing to them, shaking the tennis ball back and forth with his head violently. “I don’t know for certain, but he’s at least 50 years old.”
There was silence. No instant reaction. Just silence.
When she turned to Bucky he was dead staring at her with straight face.
“No, I’m not joking. Yes, I said 50… The big 5-0,” she nodded already knowing his question to come.
A few minutes went by and the next time Ryker came up, he rolled into Y/N’s lap, showing his belly and waiting for scratches from his owner. The neon green ball never leaving his mouth.
As Y/N waited patiently for Bucky to come back to reality, she sat scratching and loving on the black and brown dog as she felt she should have been the last week.
Eventually he spoke up.
“H-How?”
“I never told you this story?”
“I feel like I would have remembered.”
“I guess you’re right,” she shrugged. “I found him on one of my missions in the late 70’s. I infiltrated an experimentation lab. Funny how 50 some odd years later, and they never seem to die off,” she huffed out in annoyance. “Hell, we both know they were around way before the 70’s, but that’s besides the point. The building was set to self destruct, but it was luckily after I got everyone out. But I felt like something was still in there. It wasn’t a human soul, but an animal.”
Bucky watched as she retold the story. The process of distracting her from her present issues seemed to help bring her slowly out of the pit.
“I went through the building quickly before everything was mere dust. I released some cats, rabbits, snakes, and rats. A weird amount of exotic pets. But there was one room that was closed off and locked down more than the others. I had barely 2 minutes before the place went under, but there was so much fear and terror exuding from that room, I couldn’t leave it. It didn’t take me but 5 seconds to break through the heavy armored doors, but inside was an adolescent pup. Confused, terrified, and alone.”
When she looked at Ryker, he stopped rolling on the ground and came over to lick her face. In what Bucky believed was to comfort her in knowing he wasn’t in that situation anymore. As long as he was by her side, he wouldn’t have to worry about being put back into that kind of situation again. That’s the amount of love and trust he had for her.
“Thanks, pal,” Y/N laughed, kissing the top of his head. Bucky knew they communicated silently. The two were more than bonded. “Long story short, I got him out, but not until I got him to believe I was there to help him. It took a second, but we got out of that place just in time.”
“Did you ever figure out why he was there or what the extra protection was for?” Bucky asked.
“Well, it wasn’t just humans that were being experimented on. And unfortunately, this was when I was somewhat coming back from a long hiatus of working, so I was a little rusty on taking every precaution while on the job…”
“What do you mean?” he dragged out confused.
“He wasn’t the only animal that came out of there power tapped out. There were some other animals that I had let go that were infected or injected with something. It took SHIELD a while to find everything I had released. There still might be a few teleporting rabbits out there…”
“How-Why didn’t I- There are teleporting rabbits?”
“That’s besides the point,” she waved off casually.
“Is it?” Bucky said, turning his head, but she kept explaining.
“The reason we know is because after I reported back to SHIELD, I started to investigate why Ryker would have been in there. He seemed totally normal, and I knew because he never left my side after we bonded instantly. Became my little sidekick right off the bat.”
“Was he not one of the experiments?” Bucky asked, bringing up his other leg and wrapping his arms around as he listened in.
“I was starting to think that after not finding anything on him. No records or anything from a pet so well secured in the building. That is until we were ambushed one night on an evening walk. I was terrified of Ryker getting hurt or triggered…”
“Did he?”
“Triggered? Yes. Hurt? Not even close. And that’s what told me he wasn’t a normal rottweiler puppy…” Y/N ruffled the soft fur on the top of the dog’s head and squeezed his cheek. “We got out of there with zero scratches. Wanna show him how, Ryk?”
The dog tilted his head to the side in a jerk, like he was asking a silent question.
“Go on. We got the space,” she gestured to him to go further out in the field.
Ryker sent one more questioning look before his ears went back in excitement. He pranced about 15 feet out into the field and then looked one more time for confirmation. Y/N laughed before yelling out a foreign word like one she said on the farm. The code word got a bark from Ryker before next thing Bucky knew, the dog’s face was dangling over him.
And no… Not the normal size face. His head was now ten times the normal size if not more. Bucky had leaned back into the grass as the dog’s body hovered over him after becoming the size of a bus or two.
“What the-!” Bucky shouted in shock and looked up with bug eyes.
“Yeah, he gets big,” Y/N smiled up at him. “Oh, and this.” She sat up and walked over to his leg. Again she said something in another language. On command, Ryker brought one of his giant paws up and stomped it showing he received the command. “Come here,” she motioned to Bucky.
“Why?” he asked nervously. Maybe it wasn’t nerves as much as it was shock from the fact the dog he had been taking care of the last week had superpowers the whole time.
“Come on. Just trust me,” she waved him on. Even offering him her hand when she saw his hesitance. “He won’t bite. Trust me if he wanted to, he would have already.”
Bucky slowly took her hand and stood up. But she didn’t let it go until they were standing next to Ryker’s leg that was now as tall as a flag pole.
He looked at the leg but it looked no different other than his size, then he looked back at her.
“Am I missing something?” he said gently, going to touch the leg even though he was expecting it to possibly spontaneously combust, or something outlandish like that.
“Punch him,” Y/N said without any sense of apprehension.
“Pardon?” Bucky froze in his spot at her words.
“Hit him. With your metal arm too,” she restated.
“I’m not going to- Y/N, why would you want me to-?”
“Ugh, no one ever takes the first shot,” she rolled her eyes before smiling slyly. “Just kidding, that was a test. Thanks for not punching my dog.”
“What if I had?” Bucky asked with a confused and alarmed look.
“I knew you wouldn’t. Only the people with bad intentions do it without a second thought. I’ve weeded out some bad agents with that one.”
“Y/N-” he was wanting to get to the point of her asking him to punch the dog. Not that he didn’t want to hear about this, but it was concerning she was asking such a thing.
“If you had, nothing would have happened,” she went over and petted the side of Ryker’s leg. “Watch,” she gestured for him to come closer. He hesitated a little longer this time. “I’m not going to make you do anything ridiculous, I promise. Just come pet him.”
In a slow pace, he walked over to the other side of Ryker’s leg and began to pet him. Nothing crazy happened.
“Nunc, Ryker,” she said in Latin.
Just as Bucky’s hand went to pet the fur, all his weight leaned forward as Bucky fell into the weight of Ryker. His foot hadn’t moved from his spot, but Bucky’s body almost fell through where the leg was standing strong.
“What just-”
“He can change his density,” Y/N summed up immediately. “Like Vision.”
“So did I just,” Bucky examined his hand when he pulled it back.
“Go through him? Yeah. He made himself thin out his particles. Or something like that. I don’t know. Banner tried to explain it and it got complicated.” She patted him a few more times. “Which is why if you wanted to punch him as hard as you can, it might leave a little scratch on those vibranium knuckles.”
“He’s that strong?” Bucky said impressed.
“Well, I haven’t voluntarily hit him with Steve’s shield ever, so I’m not hundred percent sure, but from the lab test Bruce has run on him, he’s able to adjust to the density of whatever he’s fighting. It’s an adaptation mutation.”
“I can see that,” he said as he tapped the dog’s leg that was rock solid now. Like tapping the side of a mountain. “Huh. You have a superhero dog.”
“He’s my mutant mutt. That’s what I call him,” she smiles before saying new commands and the giant dog went back to normal size.
Bucky took a step back at the change and looked from the dog to Y/N with giant eyes.
“Well… I wasn’t expecting that,” he said slowly.
“No one does. It’s our favorite party trick,” Y/N winked patting Ryker’s head as he leaned on her side.
There was a moment of silence before Bucky chuckled and then leaned down to pet Ryker’s head. Showing he wasn’t scared, but in fact impressed by the guard dogs talent.
“Thank you,” Y/N said a moment later. “For taking care of him when I couldn’t. In doing that, you took care of me as well.”
Bucky looked up at Y/N with kind eyes seeing similar ones on him, but also with a hint of seriousness.
“It’s nothing-” he started.
“It’s most definitely something,” she cut him off. “No one has to do anything in this world. Everything anyone does is 100% a choice. And you decided to care for a practical stranger’s dog without hesitance, while she mopped around like a dead person waiting to be resurrected… I’m sorry for the dramatics of these last few weeks… I didn’t mean to rope anyone into it with me.”
The last parts were said with a hint of anger at the process of her grieving.
“Y/N, how a person grieves isn’t about dramatics. It’s unique. Every person has a different way of coping and processing loss. You can’t give it a level of how dramatic a person is when dealing with it,” he said with concern as he stood back up to her height. “And you know for a fact that anyone in that building would drop everything in a heartbeat to pull you out of any kind of pit you find yourself in.”
“Yes, I know, but-”
“Stop. Don’t even finish that sentence. Just let people take care of you,” he said simply, grabbing both of her shoulders in his hands and stepping only a foot away from her. “It’s something that’s taken me years to allow myself, but it’s served me so much good when I put my guard down and allow people to care for me. You aren’t any different. You deserve that same kind of care.”
She looked up at him and processed his words. It looked as though they had a new meaning to her and it was never something she thought about. Which he wasn’t shocked by. From what he’s heard and seen, she’s selfless and one to look out for others.
Before she could respond however, Nat showed up behind the two.
“Hate to break up your chat,” she said softly, not wanting to startle the two, but the truth was they both heard her walking up. “But can I borrow you for a minute, Y/N?”
They didn’t break eye contact for a minute then Bucky took a step back and motioned gently for her to lead the way.
Y/N smiled and sent a nod showing she did understand what he was getting at even though she didn’t have time to say.
“Yeah, yeah. What do you need, Nat?” she said with a small smile as she walked toward her.
Ryker looked up to Bucky and nudged his nose on his pants before running to catch up with Y/N.
______________________
“You need me to do what?” she asked as Nat pulled her into the bathroom with one hand behind her back and the other on her forearm guiding her.
“Just take a shower. You don’t have to wash your hair if you don’t want to, I can style it later. I laid out a dress for you when you get out. You choose if you want makeup or not. Then we are meeting the team downstairs for something and-”
“Nat, slow down. What’s going on?” she stopped once she reached the shower door.
Nat sighed and let her go before moving to the door. “Just trust me, please. That’s all I ask,” she replied with a genuine smile. “I put my sugar scrub that you made and sent to me a while back on the shelf. Use that if you want.”
After that, she shut the door and left Y/N to herself.
_______________________
“Wanda, is there anything else you need help with?” Clint asked just as she was about the door to Y/N’s room.
“Is everyone ready at the location?” she asked him, pulling her hand from the knob.
“We’re the last one’s to go. I have the car downstairs ready for us,” he nodded.
“Then you’ve done enough. Thank you again, Clint,” she smiled.
“Anything for you girls. I’ll be downstairs when she’s ready,” he winked and turned back to the foyer.
Quietly coming in, Nat was sitting on her phone on the bed and the light under the doorway showed Y/N was likely in the bathroom doing last touches.
“Does she know?” Wanda whispered.
“I feel like with her intuition and the dress I picked out, she’ll figure it out pretty quickly,” Nat shrugged. “But I couldn’t tell you. She hasn’t come out yet.”
Wanda took in a breath and nodded, slowly walking up to the door. She channeled in some and could feel Y/N’s sadness. It was strong, but still not as strong as the first day she came. It showed she was grieving and coming back slowly, but this wasn’t going to be a quick bounce back.
“Y/N?” she gently knocked on the door with the tips of her knuckles. She looked back worriedly to Nat, who was biting her lip waiting for the outcome herself. “Can I come in?”
There was a pause and right before Wanda was going to turn the knob, it slowly creaked open and Y/N was in the doorway.
Her face was the slightest bit red from fresh tears being shed, though there were no water marks along her face. She must have cleaned them up before the girls saw.
“Hey,” Wanda said with a reassuring smile. Then she could tell. Y/N’s look and energy alone told that she knew what was going on. No need to look in her head. “Are you ready?” she asked in a tender tone.
Y/N slowly bit her lip, an attempt to keep the new tears from escaping too soon. Then she took a deep breath and nodded.
Wanda offered her hand and she took it with a thankful smile. As they started walking to the door, Nat opened it and lent her arm to Y/N.
The two flanking her side like the pillars they were for her. Both there for moral support and emotional support. As well as every other type of support a person can lend and then some.
Saying goodbye is never easy, but when you have friends like this, it makes it seem somewhat possible.
TAGS:
Everest Tags: (if I missed you in tags, comment on this chapter to let me know:)
Pairing: Steve Rogers x Enhanced!Reader; Bucky Barnes x Enhanced!Reader
AU: MCU A/U, timeline between Civil War and Endgame, then jumps to TFATWS
Word count: 4k
Warnings: 18+ Only, Minors DNI. SMUT! Read at your own risk. Alternate MCU facts/timeline, cursing, angst, drinking, slight dubcon oral, (F, M receiving) fingering, dirty talk, Captain kink, size kink, unprotected sex (wrap it up!). Not Beta’d. All errors my own.
A/N: I am an MCU nerd but not a timeline detail gal. Please forgive me if the timeline is off. This is an alternate universe and a work of fiction. Please have fun with it!
This is a result of this ask from @lovebittenbyevans:
If yu take requests can I get Chris or Steve rogers as reader baby daddy or ex husband and stop reader from marrying someone else
Hope you like it!
————
Wanda was the one who found you, despite you being in hiding for 10 years.
She and Vision found you in a bar in the Heights, Willy’s, pool sharking naive tourists. Your super speed helped you cheat, earn money, and get away from angry marks. No one peeped it, except Wanda.
They kept coming around, challenging you, and showing you up, because no matter how fast you were, you couldn’t beat Vision’s perfection, or Wanda’s magic. Showing themselves to you was the first step in winning you over.
You’d been on your own for ten years, since you were 13, when you escaped from the facility your parents sold you to, and the ease of falling in love with these beings astounded you.
Wanda’s fire was evident in her eyes, but her heart was as pure as the unheard hum of Vision’s machinery.
Wanda pursued you relentlessly. Finally you asked her, “Why me?”
