60 Apologies
Bucky found Sharon at his door the next morning and she stood there with her hands folded, looking at him with an expression he didn't recognize.
"I owe you," she sighed. "An apology." Sharon swallowed and Bucky watched her force herself to meet his eyes. He could hear Natalia in the living room behind him, concerned. "I'm sorry, Bucky. I was wrong." Bucky opened the door further and leaned against the doorframe.
"Thank you," he replied quietly and he wondered if it would be the polite thing to invite her in and let her sit, even though he didn't want to.
"What's going on?" Natalia said from behind Bucky and Bucky turned and moved out of the way for her. Sharon pressed her mouth together and looked at the ground and when she looked back up, Bucky recognized what it was in her eyes. He was seeing honest remorse. She wasn't saying this resentfully. "You mean it," Bucky added quietly and Natalia looked over at him and Sharon nodded meekly. That was when Bucky felt emotion begin to well within him, and he began to realize that being hated had made him feel as though something was his fault, but here Sharon was, apologizing. Of course it wasn't his fault, and he felt something lifted off his chest. He was reminded of his confession months ago to Tony Stark and the immediate forgiveness. Forgiving felt like being forgiven in the way relief washed over him.
"I truly, truly do. If I could meet you again…," Sharon said and in an instant, Bucky thrust his hand forward and offered her a smile.
"Why not," he said. "People start over all the time, right?" Sharon looked at his face and back to his hand and then, even though Bucky was worried she wouldn't take it because it was metal, she did and shook his hand.
"You're right," she said and she smiled. "I'd love to start over."
"Would you like to come in?" Bucky finally said when Sharon took back her hand. "You can sit down, I'll make something to eat."
"Oh, no," Sharon said, but when she said it, she was smiling and her voice was friendly. "I'm sorry, but I still need to talk to Steve. I'm afraid I still have apologies to make."
"Alright," Bucky said and gave a cheerful goodbye as he closed the door, but as soon as it was shut, he fell back against the door and rubbed his face with his hands. He could feel Natalia's hands on his shoulder.
"That was nice," Natalia said and Bucky pulled his hands away from his face and looked up and sighed, blinking.
"Yeah," he said, and he looked over at her as she sat her chin on his shoulder and he smiled wearily. "That feels good."
"I know it does," Natalia said. "She's owed you that for a long time."
Not much later, Steve as well found Sharon at his door and her eyes were red and watering. She blinked fiercely, even though he knew she wasn't ashamed to cry, and she tried to smile at him.
"Come on, come in," Steve said and opened his door further and ushered her inside. "What's wrong?"
"I feel like I ought to apologize to you, Steve," Sharon said with her humbled, fallen shoulders and wet eyes. "I don't think I was as good to you as I should have been."
Steve didn't know what to say.
"I don't think I ever really took the time to know you," Sharon said. "Not really. I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Steve said, surprised. "Really."
"I thought I loved you, Steve," Sharon continued. "And I know I really admire you." Steve watched her look down and then back at him, pleading. "Can we be friends?"
"Friends? That's all you want?" Steve asked and Sharon nodded.
"I know you don't want to date me, Steve. That's okay. All I want is your friendship," she said and Steve smiled.
"I can give you that," he replied and Sharon smiled back.
"Thank you," she said.
Dropping this along with the Marvel AoU trailer in celebration! Is everyone excited?
I'll be back for the next few days, but RSBreathe is coming to a close, so get ready for an ending and then a discussion of my next projects!
Also, another note worthy of celebration; with this chapter, Breathe is now at 60,000+ words, which again, by Writer's Digest standards, makes it the length of a proper novel! Thank you to everyone who has commented and read and followed this story with me. It means so, so much.
(Also, I feel a little selfish throwing this up here, but happy late birthday to me? :) I wanted to post on my birthday to give everyone a present, but I didn't feel ready until now.) -BB