Arabella
This building was too crowded. Not literally crowded where there were too many people to a floor. No I still had my whole floor to myself, as did everyone else who's living here. Except for Steve, he and Bucky share a place. The thought of how many people were recently added to our house hold was a little overwhelming. I needed to get out and get some fresh air and see something new. So I headed out to take a walk around New York. I knew Tony would have preferred me to take the car, but I didn't want to ask him for one. I didn't want anyone to know I was gone, I wanted to roam freely for as long as I could without someone tracking me down. Well at least until Steve called me to practice with him.
I stepped out of the Stark Building for the first time in days. I breathed in the warm May air. This felt good, as much as I loved to stay huddled up in my room; going out occasionally didn't hurt either. I made a left, not really sure where I was even going. I passed a number or food places and clothing stores, seeing people walking and looking at their phone. Observing as cars passed and I crossed an intersection with a group of stranger. I never did something like this before, when I went out with Tony or Pepper we'd usually take the car.
Ending up at a huge walking trail, I found a bench to sit on, relaxing and watching the trees. I watched joggers run and families interact, all those people had a normal life. They were married and had jobs, seeing them all so happy made me jealous. That's what I wanted for my life, I never wanted to survive to the future. I wanted children and to have family dinners, spending Christmas together, and eventually having grandchildren.
No, I didn't get to have that life. Instead I end up 70 years in the future, with a husband who can't even remember who I am. This was a sick twisted world, and I got the short stick of it all. I can only try my best to be happy that I even got to see my brother and husband again. The wind picked up and I grabbed my hair from flying everywhere. Suddenly there was a shadow blocking the sun that shined behind me, I turn my neck to see who was there. Bucky stood there, blank face. His eyes traced my face, before finding their way to meet mine.
"What are you doing here?" I say as I get up to stand and face him. He looks puzzled himself.
"I don't know, I saw you leaving and I had the urge to follow you." He closes his eyes shakes his head and looks at me once again. "I feel like I know you, I can't explain it, but I want to be around you." I raise both of my eyebrows. So maybe it wasn't my in imagination that he said my name last night.
"Then be around me. I don't mind." I offered. He thinks about it for a moment, then moves around from the back of the bench. I sit down and he follows my lead. We don't say anything, we just sit in silence. I don't tell him that he does know me, and that the reason he wants to be around me is because we were once in love. We didn't break up or end on a bad note the last time we were together. I can't say that we were still in love anymore; even if I loved him despite all the time that had passed. That didn't mean he loved me too, not yet at least.
Bucky followed me for the rest of the time we were out. After siting for an hour longer on the bench, we got up and started to walk again.
"So the weathers nice today." I made a lame attempt to start a conversation with him.
"It is."
"Just in case you didn't know my name is Arabella."
"I know Steve told me. Mine is Bucky, at least that's what I'm told."
"I know Steve told me." I shot back. Not knowing what else to talk about I start rambling about living with Tony.
"You know when I first woke- started to live with Tony it was really a mess, he took me so many places I couldn't see straight."
I couldn't tell him what happened to me yet, and that includes him knowing that I was actually alive during his time period. I felt that he knowing anything about my past could lead to certain questions. I didn't want to bring it up unless he did. And I would only say anything to confirm his questions. I would not reveal our past until he remembered something on his own. Hopefully spending time with me will jog some memories; it was already good I felt familiar to him.
"Did you not like going places?" he countered to my statement.
"It's not that I didn't, it was just overwhelming to me." I continued on.
"What's your favorite color?"
'Green'
"Green." Bucky answered. I chuckled, I already knew that, I wanted to check if it was still the same.
"How about a favorite animal?"
'Dog'
"Dogs seem friendly." I almost laughed out loud. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was reading my mind.
"What about you Arabella, what is your favorite color and animal?" I checked his face to see if he was actually interested, he seemed to be waiting for my answer.
"Blue, like the ocean. I love dogs too." He nodded to my answers.
We continued back and forth like this on our whole walk. As time went on he seemed to walk closer to me and by the time we walked back home, our shoulders were touching. I half expected him to leave to his floor once we got inside, but to my surprise, and delight, he went with me to my floor too.
I was pleased that he came with me, but I didn't know what to do. If I were by myself I'd just go to my room and watch a show. With him here I wasn't going to do that, and we weren't on the level where I'd let him go in to my room. He sat on the couch, facing the T.V. and I went to get a drink of water from the fridge. I thought about what to do.
'We could watch a movie.' That was a safe and easy idea.
"Would you like to watch a movie with me?" He rotated his body to look at where I was in the kitchen.
"Sure."
Perfect, now to pick a movie. Making my way to the living room I picked up the remote, not exactly sure how to work it. I didn't spend much time using the T.V here. I somehow found Netflix and surfed through the movies, sitting down on the opposite side from Bucky. I picked a comedy, feeling like we both needed a laugh. I didn't know how I tired I was until my eyes started to close thirty minute into the movie. I pushed my shoes off and put my feet up on the couch stretching my legs out just enough to be comfortable, not wanting to get in to Bucky's space.
Just as I was about to fall asleep, I feel hands pull my legs. I sleepily looked at Bucky as he drew my feet into his lap, he didn't turn his head from the T.V, just moved my legs and kept his hand on my feet the metal one holding on to the back of the couch. I closed my eyes enjoying having his touch, even if it was just on my feet. I fell into a blissful sleep.
"Ms. Rogers? Mr. Stark has requested for you to come up and have dinner."
I rubbed my eyes slowly, JARVIS's voice waking me from my sleep. I look to my feet and see that Bucky wasn't there.
"What did you say?" I sat up and yawned.
"I said that Mr. Stark has requested for you to come up and have dinner."
"Oh thanks, I'll be there soon."
"Very good miss."
I took a minute to actually wake up, shaking my head a few times. I was a little disappointed that Bucky wasn't there when I woke up. But what did I think? That he'd stay and watch me while I slept? He couldn't watch another movie either, I was very sure he didn't know how to work the T.V. Seeing the time I realized I missed paring with Steve, he was going to get me for that.
Finally getting up from the couch, I went straight up to Tony's. The most of the team was there, eating Chinese take-out. They waved me a hello, and I sent a wave back. Steve was sitting on the couch, a space next to him on his left open. I took the chance and quickly made my way to sit there. I leaned my head against his shoulder still kind of tired. Steve's blue eyes peered down at me.
"You okay there?"
"Yeah all good, this ass" I pointed to tony "Woke me up to eat." Tony shot me a grin.
"In my defense I didn't know you were sleeping." I groaned at his reply. That got laughs from the room.
"Well you shouldn't be too tired, you didn't even meet me like you were supposed to." Steve commented dryly.
"I know I forgot! I'll make it up to you next time."
"You'd better."
Sitting up I took a plate from the table, all the while scanning the room for Bucky.
"If you're looking for Bucky he hasn't come up yet." Natasha spoke with a small smirk, she sat casually on the love seat by the window. My face heated up red.
"Oh, I wasn't-"
"Yes you were, no need to lie." she interrupted. I sat back in my seat, plate forgotten. Natasha sent me a wink and I put my hand on my face. Without warning the lift dinged, I wiled myself not to move and check if it was Bucky; having been teased enough by Natasha. I kept my eyes on the coffee table that held the food; antsy for the person to show themselves.
I saw Bucky from the corner of my eye, he came to the couch were Steve and I sat. I subtly watched his moves, and was internally joyful when he settled beside me, his right arm touching mine.
"Hey Bucky, where have you been man?" Steve greeted him.
"Around."
I could tell by his response he wasn't comfortable with everyone yet. Which made me wonder why he'd sit where everyone was and not pull up a chair in the back. I felt him observing me, and I twist to return his stare. I offered him a small smile. I saw his lips twitch,
'He was going to smile!'
I feel him lean toward me, bending down a little to talk to me.
"I didn't want to wake you when I left to take a shower." I shivered when I felt his warm breath hit my ear.
"No its okay, I get it." I spoke in the same soft tone he used with me. He sat back up, keeping the side of his body close to mine. I looked down at our hands, they were so close our fingers almost touched. I was happy he felt at ease with me, it was relief. But I had to wonder why, and I figured it was a safe question.
"Can I ask you something?" I softly inquire to him, having to crane my neck up to look at him.
"Go ahead."
"Why are you so comfortable with me and not the others?" Bucky looked down at our arms, he placed his hand on top of my hand, running his fingers back and forth through mine.
"I guess it's because you feel like home." My face broke out into a large grin, I fixed my hand to hold his tightly. He gave me a minuscule smile but it was enough to make my heart flutter.