Soft Robotics ✧ Bucky Barnes

(iteration[4.07]);

"Last time we were in this coffee shop, I was warning you that he wanted to sleep with you. And look how far we've come," he said mock-wistfully.

"The orchid!" I said suddenly. I felt my face light up with a smile.

"The what now?"

"Hang on," I said. I fished my phone out of my bag.

"Are you seriously texting during our heart-to-heart?"

"Shh," I said, typing.

Is my orchid alive???

I sent the text to Bucky, and my smile grew even wider when he replied with Yeah. It's where you left it.

"My orchid is alive!" I told Tony.

"I just remembered what you're talking about. The one he let you move. Now I have to remember this?"

I sighed and put my phone away. "I was just excited about remembering. Do you want to talk about what's bothering you? About causing my death?"

"No offense, honey, but I've accidentally almost wiped out the human race before. Your not-quite-death is just a drop in the guilt bucket."

"Um, on the bright side, both the human race and I are intact."

"Debatable about the human race."

"Why do you feel like what happened to me was your fault?" I asked.

"Because it was. Because I didn't tell you that you were made of sugar, spice, and everything nice when I found out about it, so you left the Tower to find out information that I could've told you. You were vulnerable because I was trying to protect you. My bad. Oops. Whoopsie."

"Huh? What do you mean, 'sugar, spice, and everything nice?'"

"You don't remember the Powerpuff Girls? The show? About the little girls who were made in a lab and had superpowers?"

"No."

"You used to watch it when you were little. You went to your first day of high school, age 9, with a Powerpuff Girls backpack. It was kind of your thing. I was about to make up a nickname for you just now, but I couldn't remember the blonde one's name."

"Oh. Bubbles," I said.

"I'm starting to think you're faking this whole amnesia thing just to fuck with me," Tony said, but he sounded more pleased than anything.

"I'd be having a lot more fun with it if I was doing that," I said. "I'd be pretending to remember everything except you."

"Honestly, if you had your memories, I don't think you'd want to be around me at all," he said quietly.

"But I don't feel like that's true! I don't blame you now."

"It wasn't the first time I hid something from you, kiddo. I told you Rumlow was in prison in Texas so you wouldn't know he was still in the same state as you."

I blinked. "And I forgave you for that, didn't I?"

"And then I did it again."

"Why?" I asked. "Why did you always want to keep stuff from me?"

"The first time, it was a little white lie. Just something to help you sleep better at night. You were nearly falling asleep in the lab every day, and you were on the outs with Barnes, and when you asked me which prison Rumlow was transferred to, I just wanted to give you some good news. But I didn't have any. So...poof. I made some up."

"Why Texas?"

"Just came to mind. Yeehaw."

"What about me? Why didn't you tell me about my mom and HYDRA and everything?"

"Your mom had it rough, Gracie. With her anxiety. I just didn't know what bad news would do to you, knowing you had the genetic potential to end up having as hard of a time as your mom."

"But I don't have it as bad as her," I told him, thinking hard. Then I remembered something else. "The duplicate of me, the one who died. I met her."

"Really? Bet that was a blast."

"She didn't want to leave, even though she was being held captive. She was terrified."

"So...you can imagine my concern about you and your pesky genes."

"I take medication. And I have a support system. And ways of dealing with anxiety," I said. "It doesn't sound like my mom had any of that when I was growing up. Or ever, really."

"I know. Trust me."

I actually was getting frustrated. "Even if I would've reacted badly, I'm still an adult, and I had a right to know."

"I know that too."

I locked eyes with him for a second, trying to gauge his sincerity, before sighing again. "You were right to feel bad for not telling me. I forgive you, but don't do it again."

"Got it. I will try my absolute best not to get you killed again."

"No, you can't keep blaming yourself for that. It's not your fault. I'm mad at you for the other stuff. Not for that."

"Oh."

"Oh?"

"Oh."

"Oh."

"Gracie," he said seriously. "It's worth saying—what you did with the soft robot? I'm proud of you."

"Are we gonna hug again?" I asked him, remembering the last time we'd been here.

"No."

"Why not?"

"There were a bunch of pictures last time. It ended up on the Internet. People were calling you my adopted daughter. It was terrible for my image."

"I really want a hug," I told him as we stood up and headed toward the door. I was on his heels, ready to give him a hug at any second.

"I'm sure we can get you one," Tony said. He stopped, making me nearly run into him, and turned to middle aged man who was waiting to order. "Excuse me, would you like to hug this girl?"

"Tony! Oh my god!" I said, pushing him forward.

"Watch the suit. You could never afford to replace it."

"Um, yeah, since you guys gave all my savings to charity when you thought I was dead."

"I reimbursed you for that! Pepper said she transferred the money over. Take it up with her if you're still penniless."

"No, you're right. I got it."

"Wait. Gracie. I have an idea," he said. "You said you were mad at me, though."

"I'll listen to your idea and reevaluate my anger based on its merit," I said, curious.

"How would you feel about a trust fall off the roof?"

"Yeah, okay, I'm not too mad to do that."

A/N: thanks for reading besties