Steve can't help but stare after Bucky, immobilized with shock. Natasha is talking to the HYDRA agent about possibly booking a room for the night. Steve doesn't pay attention, too caught up in his own shock to listen to what is no doubt important information. That couldn't have been Bucky. There's no way he's the Winter Soldier, it's not possible.
"Steph, stop boggling after the hot guy and help me book a room for us." Natasha punches his shoulder and he starts, abruptly brought back to reality.
"Huh?" He says, eloquent as always. Natasha rolls her eyes and pulls on his arm.
"C'mon you big lug. Help your poor, weak sister." Natasha really hams it up, batting her eyelashes and pouting her lips at him. Steve snorts and brings himself back to the mission.
"Sure Talie, like you need my help." He comments back, finally getting out of the Jeep to follow her into the resort. The HYDRA agent that drove them up follows them inside, making conversation with Natasha impossible. Natalie Robinson, on the other hand, is a different story.
"So, Steph. How about that guy, huh? Think he bats for your team? I bet you could get his number in less than an hour. Thirty minutes, tops."
"Talie, shut up." Steve says, shaking his head at her. "We're not here for you to try and set me up with cute guys."
"So you admit you think he's cute?" Natasha replies, wagging her eyebrows. Steve doesn't have to put forth much effort to pull up the blush that colors his cheeks.
"Please stop talking." He begs, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"It's alright, I thought he was cute too, objectively speaking of course. I mean, I love Clive, obviously, we're getting married." She looks down at the 'engagement' ring and smiles at it. "But if I was single and he was info chicks... Well, lets just say that even though I haven't climbed a tree since I was twelve, I'd be willing to take it back up for him." She finishes off with an over-exaggerated wink and Steve flushes deeper.
"Oh my God! Talie, stop!" He practically yells, shoving her as she cackles at his embarrassment. It's a good distraction, until he sees the handler that's escorted Bucky inside. He panics briefly, thinking Bucky might be around and quickly scans the room. He's not there, but Steve doesn't relax, not until Natasha puts her hand on his shoulder.
"Down soldier." Natasha tells him softly, squeezing his shoulder. His shoulder relax and he turns to give her a shaky smile.
"Sorry." He turns to the HYDRA agent and gives him a wry smile. "Haven't been on tour for a while, but some things just stick, y'know?" The agent grunts in acknowledgment and shows them to the registration desk.
The woman behind it smiles at them as they approach, but Steve knows she would happily pit a bullet in both of them if it comes to that.
"These are the hikers I called in." The HYDRA agent tells her, nodding over to them. "They decided to rent a room for the night since it's starting to get dark."
The woman nods and types something into the computer in front of her. Steve looks over at Nat and sees her texting on her phone. Clinton most likely. He rolls his eyes and turns back to the woman.
"Would you like a single or double?" She asks kindly.
"Double." Both SHIELD agents reply at the same time, Natasha not even looking ho from her phone. The woman types a bit more and swipes two key cards before handing them over to him.
"There you go. Room 616. You have access to the pool and the exercise room, which you will find on the floor labeled 'P' in the elevator. I'll ask you not to enter any of the conference rooms, as we are hosting multiple seminars this week." The woman explains as Steve passes one of the cards to Natasha.
"Great! Thank you, we'd probably still be wandering around if guys hadn't found us." Steve tells her bashfully, rubbing at the back if his neck in embarrassment.
"C'mon Steph, I'm tired from all that hiking." Natasha tells him, tugging him towards the elevators.
He follows gladly, shifting his pack on his shoulders to releave some of the pressure.
Before either of them can press the button for the elevator it dings and the doors open.
Steve tenses again when he sees Bucky step out, followed by another handler. His blue eyes slide over Steve as if he wasn't there, and he doesn't even look at Natasha (not that he would now her if he did, Steve's been very careful to keep his work away from his home). Even though it will make it easier for them to move around the resort, Steve cant help but feel a pang at not being recognized by the man he loves.
Natasha pulls him into the elevator and presses the button for the sixth floor. Their HYDRA shadow stays behind and they're finally alone, though neither of them dares to say anything in the elevator, aware of the camera in the corner.
"Hey, d'you think they've got a room 666?" Natasha asks as they pass the third floor.
"We can look after we settle in." Steve replies, struggling not to sag to the floor of the elevator. It stops and the doors open, letting Steve and Natasha exit to find their room. Steve lets Natasha take the lead, following her after she opens the door and sweeping the room for any recording devices. Once they've secured the room Natasha whirls around and fixes him with an expectant look.
"What was that?" She demands, crossing her arms.
"It's... complicated." Steve says, trying to avoid the conversation.
"Don't 'it's complicated' me. You're going to tell me, because otherwise you could jeoprodize this mission, and we cant affords that happening." Natasha asserts calmly. Steve sighs and collapses onto his bed, resting his head in his hands.
"It's Bucky." He tells her.
"Did something happen this morning?" Natasha asks, sitting down beside him on the bed. Steve laughs humorlessly.
"I wish. No, no, Bucky's... Bucky's here. At the resort. He's, he's the guy we saw step out of the SUV, and the elevator." Steve looks up at Nat sadly. "I think he's the Winter Soldier, Nat."