The Sun

How to love?

She entered the communal room with a greeting on the tongue

"Pictures of my..." Bucky pointed his groin. "Really?"

Deciding to eavesdrop, she tiptoed near the couch and hid behind a wall. She leaned and peeked at them. From her hiding place, she could see all of them. It was a chance they hadn't noticed her.

"Yes, women love that," Sam said, nodding with confidence. He turned to Clint who also nodded.

"Really? It is..." Bucky trailed off, his voice getting smaller. "...something that women like?" He asked unsure.

"Bucky, you gotta trust me – us. We are happy you came to us for advice and we would never lead you astray," Clint told him, without any hint of his usual snark.

Doubt crept in her mind. What the hell did they tell him and why did Bucky not come to her first? He knew that Clint and Sam were not reliable. She thought he'd be comfortable with her. After all, she was the closest to him.

"So...when I have her number, I'll send her a picture of my..." He didn't dare say the word, which seem too...not so him. "And she'll like it?"

Pictures of...? Realization dawned her. Bucky had found someone. And this someone wasn't her. She wiped her dry cheeks and took a big breath. She was his best girl and as such, she'll be there for him, even though he didn't love her.

"Y-"

"What the hell is going on here?" She uttered.

All of them jumped. Bucky spun around, a hand on his chest. He looked somewhat guilty and awkward. She smiled softly at him and muttered a small hello. Bucky sputtered a few words. His ears were getting red and his eyes rounder with panic. She repressed her chuckle. He looked like a kid who's been caught the hand in the cookie jar.

Sam and Clint, though, sported a smug smile. She narrowed her eyes, suspicious.

"I don't know what you've been telling him, but if I find out it's bullshit..." She threatened, eyes staring deep into Sam's, who cowered. He jumped to his feet, grabbed Clint and scrambled away. She smiled, with complete satisfaction. The "stare" always worked on Sam and sometimes on Clint, when he wasn't reckless.

A few months ago, while they were both, Sam and her, talking about their moms. Sam had revealed how he was still scared of his mom's stare. Even now, as an adult, his mom was able to make him feel like a kid. This information, unfortunately for him, had been stored. In fact, she would have gladly kept this weapon locked in her memory, but since Sam loved to prank Bucky, she'd make sure to keep him in check.

Some pranks could be triggering for Bucky, whether Sam was aware of it or not, and since Bucky didn't like people to pity him...Let's just say that the following months she had taken a great pleasure in making him squirm.

Bucky coughed and looked around, still a little awkward.

"What did they talk to you about?" She asked, nonchalant.

"Hm...nothing?"

"Are you asking me?" She laughed, a little nervous.

Bucky huffed and shook his head. She decided to change subject. The last thing she wanted was to make him withdraw.

"I'm going in my room, do you w –."

Before she could finish her sentence, Bucky jumped to his feet and quickly made his way to her. She shut her mouth close and started walking toward the elevator.

They made their way to her room in silence. Bucky had clearly something on his mind. He was looking straight ahead, moving his hands as if he was talking to himself. Whatever the others told him it really perturbated him. And, if she was to believe what she heard, she hoped they hadn't plant bad seeds into his head.