"Are you sure you have to go?" Gianna whined, tugging on Bucky's sleeve from her horizontal position in bed. He chuckled as he sat on the edge to lace his shoes. The sun hadn't even crossed the horizon yet.
"Believe me, I wouldn't choose four days with Steve and Sam over this." He shot her a sidelong look. "There's not much I would choose over this, honestly."
She groaned, letting her head hit the pillow. "Are you sure I shouldn't worry?"
"It's just a basic intelligence mission. The base we're investigating hasn't been active in over a year. This is as easy as it gets."
"So why do they need three Avengers?" She tangled her hand in his as he finished knotting his shoes.
"Because," He stroked her hair away from her face with his free hand. "Steve goes in and does the recon, Sam clears the path from the sky and makes sure we have a clear perimeter, and I'm set up on the outskirts ready to strike if something goes sideways."
"You don't go in with Steve?"
"Believe it or not, I didn't always specialize in hand to hand. I used to be a sniper." He grinned.
"Mmm, there's nothing you can't do." Gianna turned and kissed his palm, still resting on her cheek. A soft glow illuminated the room as Bucky's phone lit up with a text from Steve urging him to get to the hangar.
"I gotta go doll, I'll be back before you know it." He stood to his feet without dropping her hand. Sighing, Gianna tossed the comforter aside and climbed out of bed to hug him. Her head rested against his chest as he enveloped her in his arms. She breathed him in, trying to soak in his presence and somehow make it last for the next few days without seeing him. The longest it had been since they met.
She looked up at him. "Be safe."
"I promise."
As he strode towards her bedroom door, Gianna trailed behind, still holding his hand. Her bare feet padded across the carpet, the only sound on the otherwise silent floor. When they reached the elevators, she stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. The kiss was soft and sweet, not breaking as Bucky reached out to hit the call button on the wall. Their lips remained pressed together with a series of sweet kisses as he stepped backwards into the elevator car. A soft clink reverberated through the dark common room as Bucky's metal hand caught the door, buying him enough time to give Gianna one last kiss.
"It's only four days." He said, reassuring himself just as much as her.
She blew him a kiss, hugging herself as the old t-shirt of his she'd been wearing as pajamas was no match for the cool air. "Don't miss me too much."
"Impossible."
Staring at the sleek metal of the closed doors, Gianna fought the small lump that formed in her throat. Don't cry. Do NOT cry. This is not something to cry over. This is his job and he's good at it and he'll be back in a few days.
She made her way back to her room, shaking her head to clear the wave of emotion that was hitting her in Bucky's absence. Of course she worried about him, but this was different. The feeling of longing in her chest, the little knots of anxiety beginning to twist in her gut. After months of being nearly inseparable on tour, then the past several weeks living at the compound and spending all her newfound free time with him, and now that they'd been spending the night together every night for almost two weeks…she didn't want to be without him.
Not now, not ever.
His side of the bed was still warm when she crawled back into it. Grabbing her phone, she snapped a quick photo of her eyes peering out over the top of the comforter and pressed send before falling back asleep.
Gianna: missing you already
Bucky's phone buzzed in his pocket as he climbed the ramp onto the Quinjet, trailing behind Steve. He tugged it out and let the screen light up his face in the dark, morning light. A photo from Gianna, her green eyes visible over the overstuffed comforter in her room. Missing you already. His heart clenched, trying not to think about her feeling lonely in his absence. He'd already spoken to a few of the team members staying back about keeping an eye out for her. On the one hand, he was well aware of the fact that she'd been on her own and self-sufficient for years before he ever even knew who she was. On the other hand, he now not only knew her but was utterly infatuated with her. That meant being a little overprotective at times.
He'd even slipped Wanda a few hundred dollars, suggesting they go shopping while he was away. She'd raised her eyebrow and smirked.
"You know you don't have to pay me to hang out with her. I like her. We all do."
"I know. But this job doesn't pay all that well and Gianna said you've been talking about a shopping spree since she got here."
"I accept your mission." Wanda mock saluted, pocketing the money.
"Thanks. But Wanda," Bucky had paused, eyes pleading. "Please be careful."
The look on his face, utterly concerned, stopped her from making any of the sarcastic comments that crossed her mind.
"I will."
Sam clapped a hand on his back, snapping Bucky back to the present. "Going full loverboy already, Sarge? Damn. You know what the kids these days call that? Simping. Pete told me."
Rolling his eyes, Bucky shoved his phone back in his pocket. He assumed Gianna was already asleep by now, her habit of waking up early finally broken after a few weeks of not touring. "It's too early for this, Sam."
"Too early for what?" He swore that Sam had the ability to speak at a volume no other human could. Especially before sunrise.
"For you."
"Alright, alright," Steve waved his hand as he sat down at the helm of the ship. "Who wants to copilot?"
"I'll do it." Bucky took the seat beside him, putting the headset on.
When they'd reached cruising altitude, somewhere high above the clouds, Steve flipped on autopilot. He leaned back in his seat, linking his fingers behind his head. "Just like old times."
"Let's hope it's a little better than old times." Bucky grinned.
"New, old times."
"Before you went off and became a groupie!" Sam called from the back of the jet, feet propped up on another chair.
"Shut up, Sam." He rolled his eyes.
"I take it things are going well?" Steve's eyes were genuine, a welcome contrast to Sam's constant teasing.
Bucky rubbed the back of his neck. "Things are…great. Better than I deserve."
"Don't," Steve pointed a warning finger at Sam, who'd opened his mouth to make an undoubtedly snarky comment. "You deserve this, Buck. Seriously. It's good to see you this happy."
"I agree, hey!" Sam dodged a miscellaneous part that Bucky tossed at him. "I was being serious! Yeah, I give you a hard time, but that's just how I am. You know I want you to be happy, man. You've been through a lot. If anyone deserves to fall in love with a smokin' hot celebrity sugar momma, it's you. Well…it's probably Steve. Then it's me. But I'm holding out for a Kardashian and Steve's got the hots for Romanoff, so I guess that leaves you."
Bucky cracked a smile. "Thanks, Sam."
"Don't go getting all warm and fuzzy on me. I just think it's nice you're gettin' some action, keep you from being so damn grumpy all the time."
Almost imperceptibly, Bucky's face froze before returning back to his near constant scowl. Steve raised an eyebrow. "Buck, have you two…?"
"Not yet." He was tight lipped.
Even Sam was stunned into silence.
"But," Steve chose his words carefully, ever the gentleman. "You've been sleeping in her room, I thought maybe-"
"It's not like that. I mean, it will be. I hope it will be. She tries, I know she wants to." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fuck."
"So…why?"
"I don't want to hurt her."
After a moment, Sam spoke softly. "I don't think you're the type to just hit it and quit it, man."
"That's not what I mean, of course I wouldn't do that. I have…reasons. I don't want to rush it, yeah, but I mean physically. I don't want to hurt her." He winced. "It's been…awhile. I don't know how the serum changes…things."
"Ah." Steve nodded.
"Wait, wait," Sam stood up. "You're telling me you haven't gotten freaky since, what, the forties?"
"Okay, it's not like I've been dating for the past century, jackass. It's kind of hard to meet people when you're in cryofreeze."
"Alright, chill - no pun intended. I just mean, damn. That's a long time."
Bucky grunted. "I know."
"I haven't either." Steve smiled sheepishly.
"Damn…y'all are the only two people who can save the world and still not get any ass." Sam shook his head.
"I guess I've just been waiting for the right person, and then waiting for the right time. Don't want to make it awkward at work, you know." He chuckled.
"I wouldn't call you and Romanoff 'coworkers' after everything you've been through." Bucky raised an eyebrow.
"I know. I'm just saying…I get it. I've thought the same thing."
"Alright, here's the deal." Sam crouched between their seats. "We're gonna land this jet, execute this mission to perfection, get our asses back to the compound so you two can lose your virginities. Again."
The foam on her latte was just as beautiful as every morning. A small silver lining to the first of four mornings without Bucky. She was snapping a lid on the to-go cup when a familiar voice rang out in the bustling compound cafe.
"Good morning, sunshine." Wanda chimed, bumping Gianna's hip with her own.
"Well, aren't you cheery this morning!"
"I have good reason to be." She grinned, linking their arms as they walked through the doors into crisp, fall air.
"Oooh, do tell." Gianna sipped her coffee as they walked down the path to the dock, leaves crunching below their feet.
"We're taking a girls' trip. Back to the city." Wanda's eyes gleamed with excitement, her accent peaking through as it only did when she was either very excited or very angry. "Don't worry, Bucky knows. It was his idea, actually."
"You're kidding me…Bucky Barnes suggested that? My Bucky?" She feigned shock.
"Yes, your Bucky. I should have checked him for a fever, but who am I to turn down a girls' trip." Wanda winked. "We leave this afternoon. Don't bother packing heavy, we'll be shopping."
With that, the redhead turned on her heel and headed back to their building, a significant bounce in her step.
A few hours later, the Quinjet was softly touching down on the sky-high landing pad of Avengers' Tower.
This was a welcome change to the last time Gianna had arrived here. This time, she was here for fun. Here for a girls' trip, possibly the first one she'd ever taken. She'd slowly begun to recover from the trauma of the attack, largely due to being surrounded by friends who could protect her from any and every threat imaginable. The other part due to her shoving the fear and flashbacks deep, deep down inside herself. If she couldn't erase, she could definitely avoid.
The jet was full, Natasha seated in her preferred spot at the front of the jet, flipping a switch to lower the ramp. She and Tony had come back for a brief meeting with the Secretary of Defense. After the Accords had been absolved, they'd agreed to a monthly meeting just to keep things civil and open. Peter had flown back with them, partly to visit his aunt and partly because he didn't want to be left at the empty compound. Vision, however, had been more than happy to have the place to himself.
"Be a doll, would you Pete?" Wanda crooned, handing her duffel back to a wide-eyed Peter.
"You're the best." Natasha followed suit, winking as she walked by.
As Gianna went to pick up her bag, Tony beat her to it. "Who said chivalry is dead?" He winked, gesturing for her to head down the ramp.
"Why, thank you." She grinned. As soon as she'd turned, Tony tossed the bag behind him into Peter's general direction. A strand of webbing shot out, snagging it before it could hit the ground.
"Oh, come on!" He called, stumbling as the third bag plopped into his arms.
Wanda led them down a familiar path, bringing them back to the same floor they'd held game night. It felt like years ago. She gestured to her right. "All of those rooms are empty, the ones on the left are occupied. You can pick any of the guest rooms, or," She pointed to a door on her left. "That one is Bucky's. Up to you. Meet me in my room, we can get ready. I'll get wine."
"Better not be any of my expensive bottles, bottom shelf only!" Tony warned.
"Yeah, yeah." Wanda waved her hand as she disappeared into her room.
Gianna opened the door to Bucky's room, not surprised to find it decorated just as minimally as his room at the compound. Interior design didn't seem to be much of a concern for him. He had a few photos framed, which she assumed had been gifted to him. The closet held a few of his sweatshirts, which she already planned to reclaim as her own. She pulled out her phone to send another photo, this time of her in front of his bed. Her nails clicked on the screen as she walked across the living room to meet Wanda.
Gianna: only missing one thing!
The soft glow of the setting sun filtered through the panoramic windows of Wanda's room in the Avengers' Tower, casting a warm, golden hue across the walls. The room was buzzing with wine-induced giggles as both girls sat before a well-lit vanity, surrounded by an array of makeup palettes and hair styling tools.
Wanda, with her signature scarlet hair coiled around the curling iron, grinned mischievously at Gianna. "So, spill. How's it going with Bucky?"
Gianna chuckled, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. "Oh, you know…"
Wanda raised an eyebrow, letting the curl fall before wrapping up another strand. "You've gotta give me more than that. Don't forget who helped him pull off the first date of the century."
Gianna giggled, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "You're right, you're right. Everything is great. Perfect, honestly. He's sweet, he's handsome, he's so funny-"
Wanda laughed, cutting her off. "You've got it bad, G. This isn't new information. I mean the spicy stuff, you know…" She raised her eyebrows suggestively.
Gianna blushed, her expression growing serious for a moment. "I…don't have much to report. He said he wanted to take things slow, do it right, but…I didn't know he meant this slow. I mean, we've slept in the same bed for almost two weeks now and he hasn't so much as stuck a hand up my shirt."
"Have you tried anything?"
"Oh, believe me." She sipped her wine. "I've tried. We've, you know, made out. It's gotten pretty hot and heavy, or so I thought. But he always diffuses it, turns it sweet. If I bring it up, he just says he wants to do things right."
Wanda examined her eye makeup, going in to blend the colors together on her lid. "Well, he is from a different time. He's probably just trying to be respectful. I think it's sweet." She grinned. "I also think you can make him crack."
Blushing, Gianna dug through the pile of lip products in front of her. "There's nothing I can do about it right now anyways. I'm just excited for girl time. You have no idea how long it's been since I've done anything like this."
"Ugh, me too. I love Natasha, but her idea of 'girl time' is sometimes a little more violent than mine. I'd rather go shopping than sparring."
Gianna settled on a peachy gloss for her lips. "Speaking of, any plans for our shopping extravaganza this weekend? I heard there's a vintage store nearby that's supposed to be amazing."
Wanda's eyes lit up. "Oh, we must! And I need to find a dress for Tony's gala next month. Something that says 'I can manipulate reality, but make it fashion.'"
Gianna grinned, carefully applying mascara to her lashes. "I have no doubt you'll find the perfect thing. If not, I'll call my stylist and see if she can't help us out. And, uh, just a heads up, we might run into some paparazzi tonight. It's been awhile since I've been in public, so once word gets out…it could get chaotic."
Wanda waved her hand dismissively. "Let them come. It's about time I get photographed doing something other than destroying buildings."
The rooftop restaurant, nestled amidst the glittering skyscrapers of New York City, exuded an air of sophistication that Gianna had always loved. Ambient light illuminated the tables adorned with crisp white linens, casting a warm glow over the lavishly dressed patrons. With the price point, most of those who came here were celebrities, politicians, or athletes. Gianna, Wanda, and Peter were seated at a secluded corner table, surrounded by lush potted plants and the soft murmur of the city far below.
They indulged in an array of gourmet dishes, ranging from artfully crafted sushi to decadent desserts. Gianna had told the server to bring them one of everything. Wanda's eyes glittered, loving a taste of the luxurious lifestyle, while Peter had paled even seeing the cost of the wine she'd ordered for the table.
Eyes twinkling with amusement, Gianna playfully teased Peter between bites. "So, Peter, how's college life treating you?"
Peter, attempting to juggle the conversation and his sushi chopsticks with varying degrees of success, grinned back. "Oh, you know, standard college experience. Saving the world by day, acing my exams by night. The whole shebang."
"I wouldn't know, actually. I never even finished high school." She laughed.
Wanda chimed in, her scarlet nails twirling the stem of her wine glass. "Peter, I hate to say it, but you're the most educated person at this table. By far." She shrugged and took a sip. "I never even started high school."
Gianna nudged Wanda as they both giggled, appreciating the way humor effortlessly wove into their conversation. The cool breeze of the city combined with the warmth of a wine buzz had everyone's mood as sky-high as the rooftop they dined on.
Peter's eyes widened as he pulled out his phone, glancing at the screen. His expression shifted from surprise to concern as he showed the message to the girls. It was a screenshot of a social media post, a blurry photo capturing the moment they left the Tower and climbed into the black SUV.
"How did they even get this, we were outside for like…fifteen seconds?!" Peter huffed, clearly frustrated.
Gianna rolled her eyes, not even a hint of annoyance in her voice. "The paparazzi have a sixth sense for these things. Could be from security footage from a building nearby, someone could have looked up at just the right time. I wouldn't be surprised if someone saw the Quinjet land earlier and just camped out, waiting for someone to leave."
"Does it bother you? This seems like…a massive invasion of privacy." He examined the photo again before nervously looking around the rooftop.
"It used to, but you get numb to it. You guys understand, it's not like you're the average person either." She nonchalantly popped a california roll into her mouth.
"True, but we don't get this level of attention. I mean, maybe after something big happens, but that comes and goes. I don't think I would like this." Peter slid his phone back in his pocket.
"Hate to break it to you, but you probably picked the wrong company for dinner then." Gianna winked.
"Come on, Peter." Wanda elbowed him. "You're going to look so cool in front of your classmates. Who cares about Spider-Man," She stuck her tongue out. "You're Gianna Cruz' friend. That's a way bigger deal."
Gianna laughed. "Oh hush."
They finished their dinner, taking their sweet time working through the thousands of dollars of food that just kept coming. Thanks to the high-profile nature of the other customers, no one seemed to care that a celebrity and two Avengers dined amongst them. When they'd finished and Gianna paid the tab that rivaled a month of Peter's college tuition (if he hadn't been on a full scholarship, thanks to Tony's September Foundation), they decided to throw caution to the wind and leave through the front door.
When the doors slid open and a gust of wind tousled their hair, Gianna led the trio to the black SUV where the driver was waiting to open the door. As expected, a dozen photographers had gathered, bombarding them with flash photography and shouted questions.
"Gianna, where have you been? Are you back in New York for good?"
"What do you have to say to rumors that you're done touring altogether?"
"When can we expect new music? Do you plan to perform at the VMA's next month?"
She tuned most of them out, giving polite smiles and waves before keeping her head down as she walked to the car. One question, however, piqued her attention right before she climbed into the car after Wanda.
"Ms. Cruz, how's Bucky Barnes?"
Grinning, Gianna looked over her shoulder in the direction of the video camera held by the man asking. "He's perfect."
