Requested story where James and Pietro meet.
Also, just so everyone knows, none of these stories really go with my main one, they're all going to be AU in one way or another.
Enjoy!
…
James had finally taken the crucial first step towards where he had to go.
It had taken him over half an hour of debating and pacing along the tree line before he finally started towards where he knew the compound was. Where he knew Ella was.
He had finally worked up the nerve to go and find her, to apologize for what he did to her. it had been weighing on his mind for too long now. Even if she couldn't find it in her heart to forgive him, (Which he would understand), he just wanted to explain that he remembered her. Yes, the memories were a bit hazy, but he had them.
He tried to swallow his nervousness as she came upon the clearing of trees where the Avengers compound sat proudly. There was no one out around the perimeters at the moment, or so he thought at least. The second he stepped foot into the open, a blue blur came at him, knocking the wind out of his lungs as it threw him on his back.
James blinked once, not used to being caught off guard like that. Perhaps he was going soft, but when he saw who it was, he knew he really wasn't.
It was the enhanced man, the one with white hair he had seen in the news multiple times and pictured alongside Ella in the tabloids. He knew he couldn't really beat him, not with his speed.
"Located the intruder." The man, Pietro, spoke into his com, raising a brow at James. "What are you doing sneaking into the Avengers compound?"
James grit his teeth and said nothing. He heard his arm whirl as he clenched his left fist, hoping this wouldn't end in a fight. He knew he was a wanted man, he didn't know which Avenger would come through these doors and how they would feel about him.
"Do I know you?" Pietro asked upon closer inspection of his face. There was something vaguely familiar… it was right on the tip on his tongue-
"Pietro!" a voice called out sharply from behind him. "You know you can't just run out like that without help."
In Pietro's momentary distraction, James sprung off the ground to make a run for it. He knew he shouldn't have come. However, before he could take a single step, there was the distinctive click from a gun.
"Put your hands up and turn around."
That voice. James knew it, causing him to cringe slightly. Not exactly the entrance he wanted to make. He turned slowly towards the voice, hands raised in defense. The rim of his hat covered his face, so he tilted his head up, looking at the person who held the gun pointed at him.
Ella's face melted from one of hard concentration to one of complete and utter shock as she saw James standing before her. Her lips parted as her eyes grew wide, lowering the gun with shaking hands before the weapon dropping from her trembling fingers.
"James?" she said in a hushed voice as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
He found that words wouldn't come to him, simply staring at the girl. She wore a dark uniform, looking unlike he had ever seen her. She looked strong, able to protect herself like he knew she could.
"I- I…" Ella couldn't do anything but gape. He was right here, but there was nothing that she could do. It had been so long, she still blamed herself for lying to him, for keeping things from him. What could she say?
Bucky took a single step forward, but was halted when Pietro placed a firm hand on his chest, eyes narrowed as he put himself between James and Ella, body language protective.
"Not another step." He ground out, raising a fist.
"No!" Ella cried. "Pietro, don't hurt him." She rushed behind him and pinned his arm down to the side.
"You know him?" he asked.
Ella swallowed hard. "Yes."
Bucky could see the pain in the blue of her eyes as she looked at his face. She stepped in front of Pietro, but the man still kept a grip on her upper arm in case he needed to whisk her out of danger. In a way, it made James angry to know they were that close, that in his absence, another man had done what he should have.
"Ella." James said, voice slightly rasping.
She hadn't heard him say her name in so long. There was something so personal about it. She committed the sound to memory.
"I'm sorry." She blurted out. "I'm so sorry. I never should have kept things from you and I hope you can-"
James stepped forward, putting his hands on her shoulders and pressing a kiss to her head, effectively stopping her speech. She was stunned to say the least, even more so when her drew her into his chest, resting his chin on the top of her golden head.
"I remember." He said simply. "I remember you and I never should have left I never should have…" the words hurt you died on his lips.
He felt her arms squeeze around his torso, bringing him great comfort.
Pietro scratched the back of his neck as he put all the pieces together. "Should I go?"
James looked up, giving a single nod. "Yes."
He felt Ella chucked lightly against his shirt, causing him to hold her tighter.
God, was he lucky.
