Chapter 31

The Avengers were now put on hold. Tony could avoid getting prosecuted by promising to not be an active member of the Avengers. He was still on the team but wasn't allowed to join them on any missions. Not that there were any to begin with. It would take months until the facility in Upstate New York was ready and until then the World Council tried to come up with a concept that would stop them from creating something like Ultron again. The world didn't want them to be on their own since SHIELD wasn't there anymore to supervise them. Even though she heard rumors that SHIELD was still there.

Tony did a lot of press and charity to save his image and make amends. He was a changed man after Sokovia and Natasha had a feeling that Pepper broke up with Tony. Bruce was still MIA and Clint decided to retire to be with his family. He and Laura were trying for a third child. Thor left to find out more of the Infinity Stones and the Maximoffs enrolled with fake identies in college.

The plan was to eventually form the New Avengers with Steve as leader and he wanted her as his second in command. The Maximoffs, Rhodey and Sam were supposed to join the team.

So their job situation wasn't very stable at the moment. But that gave them the time to go look for Barnes whenever there was a lead. But Natasha had to admit that he was really good at not being found. They always came back without Barnes and Steve was in a terrible mood everytime. She tried not to take it personally but it hurt her when he snapped at her in the first days after an unsuccessful search trip.

Besides that their private life was good. They found a big and beautiful apartment in Brookly near Prospect Park and bought it together. It had hardwood flores, a fireplace, an extra room that Steve used as his studio, a guest room and even a little balcony. It was perfect and she spent a lot of time online and in furniture shops to make it homey for them.

They agreed that they would be in HQ(when it was finished and authorized) during the week and spend the weekend at their place in Brooklyn. She loved living with Steve. She could never imagine living with someone before Steve and now she couldn't imagine living without him. Even though his temper tantrums after an unsuccessful search for Barnes were taking its toll on her. She only had so much patience.

He was tired and annoyed. Another lead on Bucky turned out cold. Sam and he spent four days in Argentina because there were rumors that one doctor who worked on the Winter Soldier lived there and they hoped that Bucky would show up to make him help him with his programming but in the end when they tracked down the doctor he told them that Bucky had already been there a week ago. He missed him by one fucking week!

He wanted to slam the front door shut but remembered that Nat was home and probably asleep at 2 am in the morning. He hung his shield on the wall and walked into the bathroom to change into pyjama pants.

He was frustrated and angry. Why didn't he leave a week earlier for Argentina?! He could have come home with Bucky by his side. But no, he stayed here and looked for a new kitchen with Nat for their apartment. He knew that he was being ridiculous. They only found out about the doctor five days ago and then left immediately.

He got into the bedroom and Nat was sleeping in the middle of the bed curled into a ball. He slid into the bed on his side and Natasha turned into her sleep and curled into his side. He tried to calm down but he was unsuccessful. He had a new home that he shared with the woman he loved and Bucky was out there confused and probably homeless. While he was enjoying his life with Nat, Bucky could be out there fighting for his.

He was a shitty best friend and a shitty boyfriend. He took his temper out on Nat. He knew he was an ass to her after every fruitless search. Even Sam told him to stop being a dick to her. He found out that Bucky was alive almost a year ago and he still hadn't bought him home.

He stared at the ceiling and cursed himself for being such a failure.

Natasha began to stir. "Steve?" She blinked at him sleepily and then smiled when she recognized him. "Hey."

Usually her smile made his heart flutter but he had still the mission in his bones and was in a bad mood. "Not now. Go back to sleep." He said that way too harsh.

Nat frowned and moved away from him to her side of the bed. There was enough room for another person between them now. "Good night." She simply said and pulled the blanket over her shoulders.

He was such an asshole.

He didn't sleep that night and got up at 5 am to take a run through Prospect Park. On a good day he would slip back into bed when he got back and make love to Natasha but he didn't have a good day. Nat seemed to know that because she wasn't still in bed like she usually was when he got home but was already in the kitchen and filling a thermos bottle with coffee.

"Morning." She was standing with her back to him.

He wanted to walk behind her and wrap his arms around her but he just couldn't. "Morning."

"There's still coffee. If you're hungry we got cereal." She walked past by him and stopped in the hallway to get a jacket.

He followed her. "Where are you going?"

"SI. I have a meeting with Pepper." He wondered if Nat would tell Pepper what an ass he's being after he came from his searches home.

"You wanna meet me for lunch somewhere?"

She shouldered her bag. "I think it's better if we do that when you're done being a dick to everyone." She grabbed the door handle.

"Nat, please wait. I know I'm an ass..."

"Look, I get it, okay? I know you're frustrated and hurt that you can't find your best friend but it hurts me how you treat me." She walked out of the door and slammed it behind her. It was probably better that their apartment was the only one on the floor. He didn't want to read in some magazin about Black Widow and Captain America having a fight.

He spent the day in the gym and punched his way through five punching bags. He felt the anger and tension leave his body and wanted to get flowers for Nat on his way home. He needed to find a way to deal with his moods after an unsuccessful search for Bucky. His phone fell out when he got his walled to pay for the flowers and he saw that he had eleven missed calls from Natasha and seven messages that told him to get home immediately. He hastily paid for the flowers and ran to their apartment.

Was she hurt? What happened? Did someone attack her?

He didn't wait for the elevator and sprinted up the stairs to their floor. The apartment door was closed and didn't look damaged. So no one broke in.

He got into the apartment. "Natasha?"

"Guest room!" She shouted back. Why was she in the guest room? They were never in that room.

The door of the guest room was open and Natasha was making the bed. Someone was helping her. The person had broad shoulder and had his back to him. The man turned around and Steve's heart stopped.

"Hi Punk." Bucky gave him a small smile. "Your girl said that I could stay here."

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