Chapter 59: Different Definitions of Home
Steve thought he'd have a little more trouble, ethically, moving into a role as a rogue soldier.
Turns out, it was pretty easy to find the fight and help the little guy. I don't like bullies, he'd said once. It was as true now as it was then. He'd lived, died, and lived again, brought back into a world that made no sense to him and often lost sight of the bigger picture. So what was a soldier to do, when he was acting outside the law? Vigilante seemed like a good enough step. He didn't mean for Sam to follow him into the fray, but he was there every step of the way, just like Bucky had been back in World War II. Steve wouldn't be opposed to having Buck back, maybe revive the old Howling Commandos, but he knew his friend deserved a rest after all the shit he'd dealt with the past seventy years. And, if he was honest with himself, it helped him sleep a little better at night knowing that Bucky was safe in his own little corner of the world. One less thing for him to worry about.
It had been over a month since he initially left Wakanda; in that time, they'd seen Greece, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. He could keep going, but he could tell by the look on Sam's face that he needed a break. And Steve meant to take one, he really did, until he heard about a situation just north of them, in Georgia. A quick stop, he said. One last mission, he said. "Bullshit." Sam said, but he went along anyways.
It was just Sam's luck that after they finished cleaning up their mess in Georgia, one of his phones rang in his pocket. At first he thought it was Tony, reaching out after their fight. But this was the other phone, the one given to him by T'Challa so they could stay in contact. It wasn't T'Challa calling though, or even the princess. A different number was on the screen, one that he didn't recognize. Then again, very few people had this number, namely the king, the princess, and Mika's sister Nicoletta - he liked to keep her updated, and also give her a lifeline in case of emergencies. After the situation with her sister, she'd had to deal with a lot of official people coming to her house to question her, and often reached out to them for support. The phone was also in case she wanted to chat, which happened more often than he thought it would.
"Hello?" he answered, his voice low and authoritative, making him sound worthy of the Captain title. A low chuckle sounded in response.
"Damn. Phones sure have changed since we last spoke on one, huh?" Bucky's voice came, a slight Brooklyn accent coloring his tone. Steve laughed, sitting down on a chair in the aircraft and waving off a curious look from Sam. His bones and muscles ached from the fight, but he knew that would change.
"Well maybe if you called once in a while, it wouldn't surprise you." he responded. Sam seemed to understand the jab and connect the dots, turning away to go rinse off the day. Steve leaned against the back of the chair and stretched one sore leg out, biting back a groan at the motion.
"Well, I'm busy. Kid was born this morning, so I've been dealing with that mess." he said nonchalantly, making Steve sit up a little straighter.
"I'm sorry, what?" he asked, thinking that Bucky was much too calm talking about the birth of a child. Since when was Mika even pregnant? If she had been a month ago, when he'd last seen her - no, the math didn't add up. The baby would have been premature, like he was before the serum, and even with all the medical advances, there would still be so many problems-
"A goat kind of kid, not the human kind." Bucky said with a laugh, clearly satisfied with his accidental joke. Steve let out a sigh of relief, collapsing back into his relaxed position.
"Son of a bitch." he muttered to himself, but of course the phone's clarity and Bucky's super hearing didn't let the comment slide.
"Son of a goat, actually." he said, and Steve didn't bite the groan back this time as he rolled his eyes.
"I remember you being funnier back in 1943." he said, though if he was honest, he was amused by the jokes and it made him happy to hear Bucky closer to how he used to be.
"The bar was a lot lower then." he replied. "But listen, I didn't call to make fun of you. Or to tell you about my new goat."
"Shocking." Steve deadpanned, even though he knew Bucky was never one for idle chatter, even before everything that had happened to him with Hydra.
"I actually have a favor to ask. Well, two, maybe." he said, sounding just the fairest bit of confused, as if he wasn't sure whether or not one request was an actual favor or something else entirely. Steve's intrigue was piqued.
"Go on." he said, perking an eyebrow even though Bucky couldn't see it.
"Mika is insisting that we have a housewarming party this weekend." he started by way of explanation. He said the girl's name softly, his voice betraying his feelings for her, but it also betrayed his annoyance at the situation by the end of his statement. "And she would like you and Sam to come."
"You don't want us to?" Steve asked, unable to hold back the dig at his choice of words. Neither one of them were the same men they were back in the day, but it still felt good to have his best friend back.
"I'm just the messenger, you know that. I wasn't even allowed to pick the menu, even though I'll be cooking it." Bucky said, once again sounding a little salty.
"Women." Steve said, shaking his head. "But I think we can manage to swing by. And the second favor?"
"How close are you to Germany?" he asked, and Steve reckoned he knew where he was going with this.
"Closer than you, for sure." he said, though even that was debatable at this point. "Why? Need us to make a pit stop on the way back?"
"I was hoping to surprise Mika with Nicoletta." he explained, and Steve couldn't help but grin. Sure, maybe Bucky wasn't as loud or rambunctious or flirtatious as he used to be, but the core of him was definitely still there. "I think she's a little more homesick than she cares to let on."
"I think we can swing by there." he said, not willing to admit that they'd managed to already swing by there a time or two since they left. "Does she know we're coming?"
"Oh yea. She's already asked off work for a few days." Bucky said. Of course things were planned and thought out; Steve would have done the same thing. Even for the simple things, they couldn't turn their minds off from Army mode.
"One last follow up. How in the hell have you hidden this from Mika?" he asked curiously. Nicoletta wasn't exactly one for secrets, especially when it came to her sister. Or perhaps he'd simply underestimated her.
"Short conversations and ample distractions." he said, making Steve laugh.
"Nevermind, I don't want to know." he replied, though Bucky was not offering any more clarification than that. "But yea, we'll head that way tomorrow or the next day, then come in to Wakanda for this weekend. I'll call T'Challa and ask if there's a couch we can crash on."
"No need, we have guest rooms." Bucky said, and even if he tried to keep his voice even, there was the slightest bit of happiness with it, a glimmer of the Old Bucky. "Like real, fancy-as-shit adults."
"Better than me, I think I'm technically homeless." Steve laughed. He was glad, after all his pain, that his friend could finally settle. "Alright, pal, I'll see you this weekend."
"Don't do anything stupid between now and then." Bucky advised, and Steve's heart ached a little as he thought of days gone by.
"How can I? You've got all the stupid there with you. With your kids." he chided, pretending that his throat wasn't a little tight. After all the messed up shit he'd dealt with since coming out of the ice, it made him emotional to have a little piece of his past with him.
"Hey, you can insult me, but leave the goats out of it." Bucky said. Steve apologized, though he didn't really mean it, and they said their goodbyes just as Sam was strolling out of the tiny bathroom, gingerly toweling off the cuts and bruises that weren't hidden by his shorts.
"Another mission?" he asked, sounding tired. Steve shook his head.
"A party." he replied with a grin, making Sam's eyebrows raise as his shoulders relaxed. "Buck and Mika want us to stop in this weekend, and want us to pick up Nicoletta on the way there."
"Oh thank God." Sam said with a dramatic roll of his eyes. "If I had to listen to someone else yell at me in a language I don't understand-"
"Exactly. Now Mika can just yell at you in English. And possibly Romanian." he said. Sam glared at him, delicately pulling on a tshirt once he was satisfied in the state of his wounds.
"I've done nothing that would lead her to yell at me. Nicky and I are just friends." he said pointedly, letting out a low sigh as he tried not to straight up collapse on one of the so-called beds. They were really more like cots, and both men wondered if they were going to be able to get out of them in the morning. "If anything, she's gonna end up yelling at you."
"What? No." Steve said, deflecting. He leaned down to pull off his boots so that he didn't have to meet Sam's eyes.
"Uh huh. Don't play that. I know who you're up texting all night." he said, attitude lacing his voice. Steve held his hands up in innocence.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." he said, getting up and pulling his uniform jacket off. The tshirt underneath was soaked in sweat and blood, most of the former his while the latter came from their enemies. Even so, he could feel it leaving streaks over his skin as he pulled it off. Gross.
"Keep playing dumb. See how that turns out for you." he replied, laying down on the rickety cot, its squeaking springs drowning out any sounds of pain that he might have let out.
"I'm a lot of things, but dumb is not one of them." he said, trying to make it sound like there was nothing going on, but really meaning that he wasn't dumb enough to try and start something with anyone after all the shit they'd been through over the past six weeks. He especially wouldn't be trying anything with someone that Sam flirted with any chance he got, the risk even greater since that happened to be Mika's sister. So he showered off the day, tended to his injuries, and went to sleep, leaving two text messages on his phone unread.
They were able to make it out of Georgia the next afternoon, and Steve had Sam get in touch with Nicoletta as they flew towards German airspace. Their conversation was short - shorter than he thought it would be - as he gave the basic details of when they would arrive. The Wakandan aircraft was high tech enough for them to land in her backyard without hurting the landscape, which would make traveling much, much easier. And while it had been over two weeks since anyone had come to bother Nicoletta about her sister or The Man She Was With, Steve couldn't help but run the recon counter measures on the craft to check for any other people before they touched down to the ground as the sun touched down to the horizon.
"There you two are!" Nicoletta said, skipping down the steps of her back porch, her bare feet hidden in the grass as she came out to meet them. It was chilly out, but she seemed to relish in it. "I do not like this habit of being late."
"Sorry, Nicky." Sam said, accepting her hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"It won't happen again." Steve added as she moved on to giving him the same welcome. She sighed dramatically, hooking her arm around his elbow and leading them inside. Out of habit, he bent his elbow so that his hand was to his chest, the proper form for escorting a lady, at least that's what his mother had told him. The little squeeze on his bicep, however, seemed to tell him something else.
"You keep saying that, and yet I don't believe it." she said, her English thickly accented, though the accent was different than her sister's. He wondered who they'd each learned the other languages from, and if that influenced it. He knew his German wasn't perfect, and his accent was often a point of ridicule, but he could at least get the point across.
"It's all his fault!" Sam said, gesturing at Steve as they stepped into the warm house. "Man can't keep focused in his old age."
"Hey, you were the one who wanted to stop for snacks." Steve countered. Something smelled amazing, though he had no idea what the food actually was. It was always an adventure, coming to eat at Nicoletta's house.
"I don't remember you complaining. What was it you said? Oh, right, 'we should stop at that bakery, I bet Nicky would like one of those cakes.' Don't test me." Sam rebutted, giving him a serious look. Steve shot him a glare - why in the hell was he on about this today? - but the other man ignored him.
"You brought me a cake?" Nicoletta asked, and Steve was glad that she chose to focus on that part of the conversation. He chanced a look at her to find her gazing up at him with those big brown eyes, and he cleared his throat for a second before saying,
"Of course. Payment for giving us a roof over our heads tonight." He popped open his pocket, pulling out the little slice of chocolate cake that he'd bought for her that morning. She looked as if he'd just handed her a pot of gold, opening the bag and smelling the contents with a dream like look on her face. She smiled and placed it reverently on the counter, going to the cabinets to get them all bowls.
"Well I suppose I can forgive your tardiness if you bring me treats." she said, and again Sam shot him a look over his shoulder, schooling his face into one of neutrality as she turned to hand him a bowl. She handed one to Steve as well, and let them serve themselves a hearty looking stew while she cut generous pieces of bread to go with it. He sat down across the table from her, Sam in between them, and tucked in. It felt good, to be sitting at an actual kitchen table with a home cooked meal in front of them, instead of whatever they could scrounge up and take back to their borrowed aircraft. He could almost forget all the shit they'd been through - almost.
Conversation was light and easy, as it always was with Nicoletta. Sam gave dramatic retellings of their adventures out of the country, and she was the perfect audience, gasping and exclaiming and looking to Steve to confirm the more outrageous details. He couldn't help but grin at their interaction, the way Sam seemed so relaxed, and the way her smile lit up the room. They all hadn't known each other for very long, but it was easy to forget that fact with the way she treated them - as if they were family. As if they'd been friends their whole lives. Her sister was very similar, and Steve found himself thanking God (if He was still listening) that these girls had wandered into his life.
They chatted late into the night, enjoying second and third servings of stew before she brought out cookies and coffee, saving her cake for herself and not sharing a single bit of it. It was easy to let the time pass, just enjoying being full and warm and in a loving home. It was only when Nicoletta's head was resting on her hand and her eyes were blinking slower and slower that Steve pointed out the hour, recommending that they get some sleep before their long trip tomorrow. She looked like she was going to protest, but just taking a breath seemed to exhaust her, so she smiled and agreed. Sam opted for the couch, letting Steve have the spare bed in the art room, opposite of the arrangement last time they'd visited. It had been a while since he'd seen the room, and there were quite a few new pieces piled around it; a mystical forest scene rested on the desk, a dancer en pointe leaned against the desk leg, and a nearly finished fireworks display shone from the easel, the colors bright even in the low light.
"What do you think?" Nicoletta asked, surprising Steve as his eyes traced over the curves of the fireworks. He turned back to see her leaning against the doorframe, a large quilt folded in her arms.
"Looks amazing. You're very talented." he said honestly. He'd always been a fan of the arts, he just hadn't had the time to pursue it lately. She blushed, as if she weren't used to the compliments, and he wondered if she'd ever get used to them.
"Thank you." she said softly, pausing a beat before clearing her throat and changing the subject away from herself. "I brought you this, it's been getting cold at night recently."
"I appreciate it." he said, taking the quilt from her even though he very rarely got cold. He thought she would bid him goodnight after that, but she stayed, playing with something in her hands.
"I also got you something." she said, presenting it to him. It was a small notebook, pocket sized, with an elastic to the side for a writing implement. He flipped through the pages to find they were all completely blank, except for the first, where she'd penned a heart and her name in a curling script. "So you could get back into drawing, if you find the time."
"I...I don't know what to say." he stated honestly. The cover of the sketchbook was made to seem leather, the spine sturdy as he thumbed through the empty pages. It felt like a hundred years since he'd sat down and sketched something; the last time he could remember, he'd been sitting at a cafe table in Brooklyn, feeling incredibly alone and out of place, a man separate from his own time. "Thank you." he finally said, and she gave him a bright smile.
"You're welcome. Sleep well." she said in German, as if the sentiment were a secret between them. She turned and left before he could say anything else, and he swallowed down any sense of emotion that was trying to crawl out of his chest. Just a friend, his inner voice said. Get your shit together, it admonished. And the voice was right. Just because a woman was nice to him didn't mean that there was anything more. It was dangerous and inconsiderate to think as such.
He fell into a dreamless sleep, surrounded by the beautiful art and the freshly laundered quilts. Usually he found beds too soft - Sam had mentioned the same thing once, and he wondered if that was why the other man often volunteered to sleep on the couch - but this one was firm, and not quite big enough for him, which somehow made it better. It always seemed easier to sleep if there was a little bit of discomfort. The beginning of sunrise woke him, but he didn't get up right away, instead taking a moment to relish in the silence and a few minutes of being alone. He was beyond grateful for Sam and his support, but sometimes sharing an aircraft left them with very little personal space. The sketchbook still sat on the table where he'd placed it, inviting him to open it and take a minute to focus on one little piece of the world for a few minutes. He heeded its call, plucking a pencil from one of the cups on the desk and sitting up against the wall, his eyes slowly moving around the room until he found something to draw. He settled on the window, the sun barely illuminating the far off tree line and casting shadows via the bottles of pain lined up like little soldiers on the desk underneath it. It was simple, really, nothing terribly detailed or dramatic, but the sharp lines and grey morning helped shake off a little bit of the rust that had settled on his artistic muscles.
It was only a rough sketch, but it was something, and by the time he heard someone moving around in the house it could almost be considered a real drawing. He closed the book and returned the pencil, tucking it away into the pocket of his bag before pulling on a shirt and going to see who was up and moving. Sam was in the kitchen, making use of the coffee machine while taking a gander through the refrigerator and pantry.
"Mornin'." he greeted as the machine started filling the large pot underneath it.
"Morning." Steve replied, going to the cupboard with the mugs and pulling three of them out. Nicoletta would likely sleep for a while longer - she did not believe in early mornings - but at least it would be ready for her when she got up. "Sleep alright?"
"Like a rock." Sam said, pulling out the ingredients to make some breakfast sandwiches. "You?"
"Like the dead." Steve agreed. Something about Nicoletta's house always lended them towards better rest. "Sometimes I wish we could just take a vacation here."
"We could. There's nothing stopping us." Sam pointed out, trying to be quiet as he pulled out pans and cutlery to make the food.
"Except for the whole 'bounty on our head' thing." Steve said, filling two mugs with coffee and adding a bit of sugar to his.
"That does put a damper on things." he said, nodding.
"And the 'wanted international war criminal' tag they've put on our names." he added, making Sam groan and put down his utensils for a moment.
"Why do you always insist on ruining my day as fast as you can?" he asked sarcastically, sending a glare over his shoulder before resuming his task. Steve only smirked in response.
"I just keep it real." he said with a shrug, and Sam let out a bark of a laugh. Steve always sounded like a grandpa anytime he tried to say anything that could be considered current. The words were technically right, but they felt wrong. He sat down at the kitchen table, leaving Sam to do all the work while he sipped at his coffee and pretended like his life wasn't a complete mess.
It was debatable whether the noise of them moving around or the smell of buttered toast and fried ham woke Nicoletta from her slumber, and she softly padded into room with half opened eyes and a wild mane of honey hair, her arms crossed over her middle and a thick robe over her to stave off the morning chill. She accepted the cup of coffee from Sam with a smile, coming to sit next to Steve at the table.
"I could get used to this." she mumbled in German, making him smile. Sam shot them a suspicious look, flipping a sandwich with a bit more gusto than necessary.
"Alright, I see how it is." he remarked, assembling everything before bringing the plates to the table, since it was clear that neither of his companions were going to get up to help him. Nicoletta took a plate from him with another smile, her payment for the meal.
"To be fair, I did give you a free place to stay last night." she said, eyeing the very American breakfast in front of her as if it were the highest, fanciest cuisine that had ever graced her table. Sam nodded and turned to Steve, holding his plate hostage.
"And what's your excuse?" he asked, making Steve laugh and think for a second.
"I saved your ass back in Batnos." he offered, dutifully ignoring the rest of the times that he got the other man in trouble. The look on Sam's face said he was thinking the same thing, but he wasn't about to start a discussion in front of their hostess, and he grudgingly granted Steve his food.
Breakfast was quiet compared to their supper the night before; Sam and Steve were used to waking up and immediately being on duty, off to disturb the peace or save it, depending on the day. Nicoletta didn't live that life. She took in the early moments of the morning, starting her day with as little stress as possible before easing in to the rest. It made the men restless, but they did their best to hide it, letting her float through the first hours as she washed the dishes and put them away before going back into her room. The shower cut on a few minutes later, and they figured finally, they were going to get going. Of course, they vastly underestimated the time Nicoletta required to get ready, and the clock was nearer to noon than to the early morning when she finally stepped back out, hair and makeup done and a dress adorning her figure. Steve wondered if it was shear luck that her overnight bag matched her dress, or if she'd purchased either on purpose to complement. Either way, she was ready, and didn't bat an eye as they led her onto the wildly advanced Wakandan craft.
He couldn't help but watch her as they crossed the barrier into the secret country, her jaw dropping at the gorgeous expanse that appeared in front of them. He was glad for the panoramic view that the plane allowed, grinning as she tried to take in every detail. She'd never been to Africa, he knew, and figured if she only had the time to see one place, this might be her best option. He wished they had time to visit the palace, but perhaps that would be something she could do with her sister tomorrow morning before they headed back to Berlin. The sun was just starting to set on the horizon, setting the world on fire as their small craft landed down the way from a little house set into the hill.
Apparently Mika couldn't wait for them to get up to the front door, as she was halfway down the hill by the time the ramp touched the grass. As soon as she saw her, Nicoletta forgot her traveling companions, running as fast as she could (which, admittedly, was not terribly fast) until her sister took her up in her arms. He could hear both girls chattering away in Romanian, their voices thick with emotions as they could finally confirm that they were alright. Above them, Bucky waited on the front porch, leaning his one elbow on the railing and smiling at the interaction. He stood up as they stepped out, lifting his hand in greeting as they followed in Nicoletta's wake. Mika gave him nearly the same treatment, finally letting go of her sister and leaping into Steve's arms. He caught her around the waist, laughing as she squeezed him tightly. He didn't realize how much he'd missed her; another friend on his list, one that'd been pretty short for the past few years. Even Sam got a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek before they finally made their way up to the house.
"How's it going, old man?" Bucky greeted. He looked...lighter, compared to the last time he had seen him. He was actually smiling, and welcomed the embrace Steve offered.
"Who're you calling old? You're older than me." he said back, moving so Nicoletta could tackle him. Based on the look on his face, Steve thought Bucky might be a little bit homesick as well, though he would never admit it. She spoke to him in German, so quickly that Steve only caught every other word, but he did hear the one that made Bucky's cheeks tinge red - brother-in-law. He perked an eyebrow, but didn't say anything, waiting until Sam and Nicoletta and Mika were all back in the house before commenting, "I didn't know you got married. I'm a little hurt I wasn't invited."
"I didn't know either." he mumbled, clearly embarrassed by the girl's term of endearment. Steve couldn't stop the smirk from breaking across his face.
"C'mon, Buck. Your girl's waiting on us." he said, pushing Bucky towards the door. For the first time in over seventy years, he could finally say, "We've got a party."
Party may have been a bit of an exaggeration, but it seemed to fit for the two of them. He wondered how much time they'd spent in the kitchen that morning, since the entire kitchen island was covered in food, and a variety of drinks were nestled in ice chests nearby. Sam was sitting with Nicoletta, Mika, and another woman he didn't know, a beer already in hand and lively conversation going. Bucky tossed him a beer, then surprised him by picking up a wine glass instead of grabbing another bottle for himself.
"Wine, huh? You all fancy now?" he asked, easily cracking open the bottle and taking a sip. Bucky shrugged, not embarrassed by the jab at all.
"Sangria. Tell ya what, we might have had it wrong, back in the day." he said, holding the glass out for Steve to try. He perked an eyebrow.
"Sangria, huh? It's like I don't even know you." he joked before drinking it, the flavor surprising him. "Holy shit."
"Yea, you wanted to make fun of me, but it's delicious." he jabbed, taking the glass back. "Secret Spanish recipe, apparently, from one of Mika's exes."
"Ex, huh? You feel threatened?" he asked, taking some food to have something to do with his hands. It was so easy to see the man that he used to know, to slip back into that familiarity, that it shocked him when he remembered everything they'd been through separately. He definitely noticed the lack of a left arm, but didn't see fit to comment on it; he could learn it all in good time. For now, it was about trying to reclaim the years they'd lost.
"Not at all. She couldn't even get her to stay in Spain, and I got her to move to Africa." he said with a shrug. Steve tried to keep his face neutral, but couldn't stop his eyebrows from raising.
"'She' huh?" he said, wondering what Bucky's mother would say back in the day. But they weren't back in the day anymore, and neither one of them had ended up where they thought they would. "Times have changed."
"Could be worse." Bucky said. It wasn't short, or defensive. It was a statement of fact. That was the real moment that Steve knew there were changes in Bucky, changes that were going to linger even after whatever magic the princess had done to fix what was in his head. Before, he would've been up in arms if anything remotely slight was said against his girl. But now, he didn't feel the need to fight, probably because he knew he could win.
"You're right about that." Steve acknowledged. Luckily, he was saved from trying to pull his foot out of his mouth by someone calling his name from the living room, pulling both of them back into the fray.
Some time later, T'Challa actually wandered in, with Clint and Wanda in tow. There were a lot of jailbreak jokes, and Steve wondered if having the King present would change the tone of the party, but T'Challa didn't have his crown on - literally or figuratively. He was relaxed, easy going, and seemed happy to be included in something that didn't involve politics or coups. The last to arrive was Shuri, who snuck in just as they were sitting down for supper, during which of course Steve made sure to position Sam next to Mika's sister. When was the last time he'd been to a dinner party? Probably the hellacious one before the mess with Ultron. This one was going to end much better.
It was easy, hanging out here. Just like at Nicoletta's house, he could pretend that the world outside the boundaries didn't exist. Bucky sat in one of the comfortable chairs, Mika perched on his knees as she spoke with Clint and Wanda. Konani (the woman he hadn't known earlier) and Shuri were next to them, also jumping in with their own stories. Nicoletta and Sam looked like they were having a riveting discussion in the kitchen, though he couldn't tell the topic exactly. T'Challa sat with him for a while, enjoying the time away from the palace for as long as he could before his duty called him back. Steve wasn't alone for long, as Nicoletta surprised him by sliding onto the armrest of his chair.
"You've been avoiding me." she said in German, knowing only Bucky would be able to understand her, and he was a good secret keeper.
"I have not." he replied, though if he thought about it, perhaps he was. "I've been giving you and your friend there some space." he added, nodding subtly towards Sam. Nicoletta rolled her eyes, saying something in Romanian that he didn't understand.
"We're just friends." she parroted Sam's words from earlier. She said it so surely that he almost believed it. "Partners in crime."
"Oh yea? You joining the renegade squad now?" he teased, and she pinched the skin of his bicep with a force that only a youngest sibling could produce.
"No. Just trying to get him a date." she said, turning his attention over to Sam. He sat on the couch next to Konani, looking like he was trying really hard to be chill.
"You jealous?" he asked her, tearing his eyes away and looking back at her. She leaned her elbow on the back of the chair, resting her head on her hand. She was close, very close, but he didn't put space between them this time.
"If I was, do you think I would be over here talking to you?" she said pointedly, holding his gaze. His heart skipped a beat, and he wondered if he'd been missing something over the past few weeks.
"It's possible. Known more than a couple girls in my day who would play that." he said, and she let out a huff.
"For such a smart man, Steve, you can be so dumb sometimes." she sighed. The light bulb finally came on in his head; he'd just assumed that with all their flirtations, the two of them were on to something. Seemed he knew even less about women than he thought. "Sam is a friend - probably a good friend - but you're something else, Steve."
He couldn't help but let out a humorless laugh, unintentionally thinking of Sharon, and the last discussion they had over a month ago. "I've been told I'm, uh, emotionally unavailable and...oh, what was the other one...stuck in the past."
"Or, consider this," Nicoletta countered, gesturing with her nearly empty wine glass. "Independent, and nostalgic. Both qualities I like in people."
Steve laughed again. "You deserve better than independent and nostalgic."
"Even if that's what I want?" she asked, and for a second, he wanted to give in, despite the fact that his realization of any sorts of feelings had occurred approximately twelve seconds prior. "Not everything has to be so serious, you know."
He wasn't sure she meant what she was implying, but the look on her face said she was. Again, he had a deep desire to accept, but knew that he couldn't. "You're a girl that I would only be serious with." he said honestly. Natasha had briefly attempted to convince him to try and find a friend with benefits, but he just wasn't that kind of guy. And Nicoletta deserved better than that anyway.
She pouted a bit, but nodded. She was a big girl, she wasn't going to fight him if that was how he felt. "Friends then?"
"Friends." he agreed, glad that she didn't seem upset with him. He had precious few friends left, and needed every one. "Plus, I'm pretty sure your sister could take me in a fight."
They took the moment to glance over at the woman in question, who was now leaning on Bucky's chest as the talking continued. She wasn't paying them any mind, though Bucky's eyes did glance over and send them a wink. Nicoletta laid her head on Steve's shoulder, the gesture innocent, comforting - friendly.
"I miss her." she whispered. "But I'm glad she's happy."
Steve didn't know how to respond to this, but he definitely agreed, though his sentiments erred more towards the side of the man sitting on the chair. Sometimes, he still woke up in the middle of the night, hearing Bucky's screams and watching his face as he fell from the train. Other nights, he dreamed of going to the Continental Club, trying to keep up with him as he danced with girl after girl. But now, he was here, and a completely new version of himself, piecing everything back together.
Steve figured if Bucky could do it, then he could too.
Switching it up a little bit! I think y'all can tell that originally I meant for Nicky and Sam to get together, but honestly it felt forced, and every time I wrote them, she seemed to have more chemistry with Steve...it makes me a little sad, cause Sam def needs more love, but hey, we can't force it, right? We're all just here for a good time! This may blow up spectacularly in my face, but I gotta follow my little writer heart.
Also, I'm sorry I didn't update last weekend! I wish I had a good excuse, but honestly between my test and changes at work, I was just super tired haha.
Thank you so so SO much for your reviews! I love each and every one soooo much, they seriously are what inspires me to keep working on this project.
I hope you liked this chapter! Please let me know what you thought!