Dhaka took a part of you that you'll never get back.
Coming home isn't the same - not when you're faced with Bucky, the ghost of everything you lost. The past clings at every glance, every silence. Part of you misses the chaos Dhaka handed you - the...
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The day had passed in comfortable fragments — soft laughter with Natasha during a morning walk around the compound, stories traded over coffee, a sense of ease you hadn't felt in months just from having another woman nearby who understood.
Later, you'd joined Steve and Scott in the lounge, cards in hand, surrounded by quiet company. A part of you wanted the simplicity to stretch on forever. But the weight in your chest had started to grow heavier again, steadily, like something waiting for permission to surface. Steve and Scott were best friends, you three would hang out often and you became their third somehow. So being with these two again just brought you back to normality, like you never been away.
Clint and Bruce's announcement about lunch being a "team-wide feast" had caused a brief wave of teasing and cheers across the room. It wasn't often the entire squad was grounded in the same place. There were always a couple on city duty and everyone had their own jobs and expertise within SHIELD and Stark Industries.
So with the team all being together, that usually meant one thing: downtime before a tactical rollout. You knew tomorrow's meeting would throw everyone into something. City patrol. Intel runs. Training schedules. And you didn't want to drag this ghost into the next mission. You'd drifted to the window, the cityscape glimmering in the late-morning sun, busy and beautiful. You crossed your arms tighter across your chest.
Steve joined you, his arm resting gently against your back.
You didn't look at him when you asked. "You speak to Bucky today?"
Steve exhaled slowly. "He texted. Said he'll be down for training this afternoon."
You nodded, then said it before you lost the courage. "I think I need to talk to him. Before I avoid it for too long."
Steve looked at you, his gaze soft but steady. "You'll be okay. He'll be okay. It's not going to be easy... but sooner rather than later, if you're ready."
You weren't sure if he meant ready to forgive or just ready to face it — but either way, he wasn't wrong. The avoidance was making everything worse. You couldn't hide from Bucky forever, not with both of you under this roof. It was hurting you both.
You glanced over your shoulder.
Thor sat on the couch with Natasha and Scott, a coffee in one hand and a grin splitting his face mid-laugh. He looked lighter. Freer. He caught your gaze, and his smile faltered — brows drawing together just slightly. That silent understanding. He saw your nerves from across the room.
You gave him a small nod. And a smile. I'm okay.
He returned it, his chest rising with a slow breath as if to say, I'm here if you need me.
Then you turned, walking toward the elevator, gripping your coffee cup a little tighter to keep your hands from shaking.
