Bucky
The Quinjet sliced through the night sky, the city lights of Manhattan twinkling below. Inside, the atmosphere was tense, an undercurrent of excitement and anxiety palpable. Bucky sat in the pilot's seat, his jaw clenched, eyes fixed on the approaching skyline.
Natasha and Wanda exchanged a glance before Nat finally broke the silence, "Okay, Barnes, what exactly is the plan when we get there?"
Bucky glanced back at them, uncertainty in his eyes. "I... I don't know. Just need to see her, you know?"
Wanda raised an eyebrow, "See her or talk to her?"
He sighed. "Both, I guess. I messed up, and I finally realize it and…I just need to fix it."
Natasha crossed her arms, studying him intently. "This is a pretty big swing for one night, Buck. Are you sure you're ready for this?"
"Aren't you the ones who dragged my ass out of the gym to stage an intervention, like six hours ago? Wasn't this the goal?"
"Of course, the goal was to get you to pull your head out of your ass," Nat shifted in her chair, tugging the hem of her dress down. Neither she or Wanda was thrilled to be told they were either getting ready on the jet or getting left behind. "I just expected you to, I don't know…think it through for a little longer before making your grand gesture."
"I know," he admitted, a pained expression flickering across his face. "But seeing those pictures tonight...seeing my girl with my friends…I had all of that in my life and I ruined it. I need to make things right. I know it sounds crazy but I just…I don't want to waste any more time than I already have."
Both women gave a soft, knowing smile. "Okay." Nat squeezed his arm. "Let's go win her back."
The Quinjet descended toward the landing pad on the Avengers' Tower. A quick hundred story descent in the elevator, and they were stepping out onto the streets of Manhattan. As arranged, a car was waiting to take them the few blocks to the lounge that Nat had confirmed their friends were still at.
As the car doors opened after a short, tense drive, the sounds of the city flooded in – distant traffic, the murmur of late-night debauchery. The trio stepped out, immediately beginning to draw attention as they walked to the front of the line.
Wanda nudged Bucky. "Remember, you're here to talk, not to make a scene. We're in public, and Gianna deserves better than a dramatic confrontation."
Bucky nodded, his resolve solidifying. The bouncer eyed them skeptically. "Invitation only." Stepping forward, Bucky let out a low growl as he pushed up the sleeve on his shirt. Like hell if some steroid-brained security guard was going to derail his plan. Before he could take matters into his own hands, a delicately manicured one stopped him.
Natasha flashed a smile and flipped her hair over her shoulder.. "Check the list again."
The bouncer's eyes widened, immediately recognizing Natasha, and let them through with a nod.
"I had it under control." Bucky grumbled sheepishly.
"I know you did."
Gianna
The thumping of the bass reverberated in her chest as Gianna found herself caught up in the night and fully losing track of time. Tony and Sam were leading the charge, going shot for shot with a bachelorette party they'd met at the bar. Somewhere on the dance floor, Madison was dancing with a still-starstruck Peter, who was doing everything in his power to keep her from toppling over.
Amidst the chaos, Gianna spotted Steve sitting in a plush corner booth, offering a reprieve from the noise. He raised his beer to her, gesturing for her to join him as she desperately tried to untangle herself from the crowd. Gianna slid into the booth gratefully, shielded from the cacophony around them.
"So, how's life, Cap?" She smiled, sipping on her drink. She'd been nursing the same espresso martini since they'd arrived over an hour ago, he noticed.
Steve chuckled. "You know, same old. Saving the world, the usual stuff."
"Boring day job," she teased. The conversation was light, easy. It had always flowed between them before and didn't seem to be too different now. Although there was no mistaking the hint of guilt, of pity that Gianna could see in his eyes. Like he felt bad for her or somehow held himself responsible for his best friend's actions. Maybe she was misreading it, and it wasn't either of those things. Maybe it was just sadness, seeing what could have existed if Bucky hadn't done what he thought he had to.
As if reading her mind, Steve took a more serious tone. "We all miss you, G. It hasn't been the same since you left."
Gianna paused, her gaze drifting to the twinkling lights of the club. "I miss you guys too. More than you know." A moment passed where neither of them spoke. Steve followed her gaze into the crowd, the noise seeming thousands of miles from their booth.
"How's he doing?" Gianna bit her lip after speaking, her voice so soft that anyone other than a super soldier wouldn't have caught it.
Steve sighed, his expression briefly clouded. "He's...struggling. It hasn't been easy on him either. We've been trying to help out, but you know Bucky; he's not great at expressing himself."
"Yeah," Gianna acknowledged, a bittersweet smile playing on her lips before faltering. "I wish... I wish he had just talked to me."
Steve nodded, understanding reflected in his eyes. "He's got his demons. Sometimes, most of the time, he fights them alone. Even I don't know half the battles he's waging."
"I'm glad he has you. Even if he chooses to do it alone…I'm glad he isn't."
A somber quiet settled between them, strobe lights above the dance floor casting shadows in the dimly lit booth. Steve set his bottle down on the table and leaned forward onto his elbows. "You aren't alone either, you know. We're all here if you need us."
Gianna gave a half smile before raising her glass to her lips and finally polishing off the martini. A cocktail waitress, likely hoping for either a photo or a large tip, immediately swooped in with a fresh one and whisked the empty glass away. Steve watched her take a sip and didn't fail to notice that she was suddenly drinking a lot more quickly after the mention of Bucky.
"How are you doing, G? Really?" His voice was soft.
Gianna paused, eyes staring blankly ahead. For a moment, the public facade dropped. The smile, the rosy cheeks. Her eyes looked gaunt, exhausted. "I love him, Steve. I probably always will. But right now, I... I can't stand him for what he did." She set her jaw. "I am so angry. All the time. I don't know how to feel anything else. I was happy before him, or at least I thought I was. I didn't know what I was living without, and then…there was Bucky. He was everything and he made me feel everything and life was just…better. Brighter. I thought I had everything, but once I met him, I realized I'd walk away from it all and never look back so long as I was walking with him."
She slowly twirled the stem of her glass between her fingers, smiling sadly. "I found what I was missing. Or so I thought. Then…he just pulled away. I could feel it, you know." She met Steve's eyes. "When I started losing him. I didn't want to believe it. I told myself it was something else, it wasn't us. Things between us were perfect. Then they just…weren't. It felt like I was stabbed and I couldn't stop the bleeding. I just had to sit there and watch the life leak out of me. Then, right when I thought I knew pain, he came in and destroyed me for good."
Her lower lip quivered, but Steve knew she wasn't done speaking. He had a feeling she hadn't really been listened to since she left, maybe even before that. A pang of guilt hit him in the chest.
"He wasn't supposed to leave. He was the one person who saw me. He was supposed to be here…he was supposed to stay. I was fine on my own, I liked my life. But Bucky…" A single tear slid down her cheek, cutting through her perfect makeup. "He came into my life and made me realize everything I could have, everything I was missing. He let me fall in love with him and then he fucking left. Now I'm here, alone again, telling myself it's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all but that's just bullshit. I would rather have never felt love than to have felt it and now have this gaping hole in my heart where he was supposed to be." Her fist hit the table hard enough to rattle the glass.
The intensity of the moment seemed to surprise her, jolting her back into her poised persona. "Damn," She mustered a soft smile. "This is why I don't drink vodka."
Steve's gaze was soft, concerned. He opened his mouth to speak before being distracted by a group approaching their booth. Gianna saw them first, eyes brightening as she recognized someone. Quickly brushing the tear off her cheek, she slid out of the booth to greet them. A brunette man led the charge, pulling her into a friendly hug. As he pulled back, Steve recognized him as the actor set to play Bucky in an upcoming movie. The one Steve had encouraged him to sign off on. Watching Gianna embrace the man who looked shockingly like his friend, albeit with smaller stature, he felt slightly guilty. He reminded himself that as much as he tried to protect Bucky, he was a grown man who made his own choices, and this was the result of one of those choices. Deciding to be polite, he slid out of the booth after Gianna and waited for a chance to introduce himself. Noticing his presence behind her, Gianna stepped to the side and gestured between the two men.
"This is Sebastian Stan, a good friend of mine. Seb, this is Steve, Captain America himself." She smiled easily.
Sebastian extended a hand, and Steve shook it with as genuine of a smile as he could muster. "A man who needs no introduction. It's an honor."
"Nice to meet you. A friend of Gianna's is a friend of mine." Steve replied, the noise of the lounge already making him want to retreat to his booth. Sebastian seemed nice enough, but he didn't exactly want to stay and exchange life stories. As he excused himself to handle the small matter of Sam hoisting a petite brunette onto his shoulders for some unknown reason, he heard their conversation continue behind him.
"Long time no see. How was the week?" Gianna asked.
Sebastian chuckled. "Well, your advice has been invaluable. I'm starting to understand the guy a bit more. As much as anyone can. I know I say it every time I see you, but seriously, thank you for your help."
Gianna leaned back against the plush booth, sipping her drink. "It's not every day you get to help someone play your ex on the big screen, right?"
Sebastian laughed heartily. "True, true. But seriously, your insights have been gold. I'm sure it isn't easy, but I'm sure he'd appreciate knowing you care enough to help me get it right."
Gianna nodded, her expression thoughtful before she decided to shift gears, winking. "Just thank me in your Oscar acceptance speech and we'll be even."
Bucky
The lounge was alive with energy, the music pulsing through the air. In the hour it had taken them to get to the doorstep, the place had hit capacity. The line stretched around the block with people hoping to get a chance to party with their favorite celebrities. The low lit room was teeming with people. Some on the dance floor, some at the bar, some huddled in the plush booths lining either side of the room. This was exactly the kind of place he never wanted to be. Too many sounds, too many people. Maybe if he could actually get as drunk as all the other patrons, it wouldn't be half bad. Unfortunately, that wasn't possible. So he hated nightlife. Tonight, it was a necessary evil.
Spotting Gianna across the crowded room, Bucky's heart quickened. She was facing the right side of the room, talking to someone blocked by the crowd. She was smiling, laughing, the same way she always seemed to be photographed lately.
Bucky took a deep breath, the noise of the crowd fading as he focused on the task at hand. Nat and Wanda flanked him, silent support in the midst of the chaos. He made a mental note to thank Wanda for her solidarity. On any other night, she would have fled as soon as they got inside. She loved places like this. Tonight, she hadn't budged from his side. Taking a deep breath, he began to weave through the crowd.
As Bucky navigated the crowded space, his eyes scanned the room until they again landed on Gianna. This time, he paused. The sight of her happiness, genuine and infectious, was both a balm and a dagger to his heart. From this closer vantage point, he could see her so clearly. Clear enough that he could tell her smile wasn't fake. Close enough that he could see exactly who it was that she was talking to.
Heartache surged through him, icy in his veins. His breath caught. A whirlwind of emotions churned within him. Jealousy, regret, and a sense of unworthiness surged back to the forefront. He was torn between the desire to interrupt, to hold her and tell her he was sorry and beg her to forgive him. To tell her he loved her and would never make such a stupid decision again. He was torn between the reason he came and the realization that Gianna appeared truly, genuinely happy.
The internal conflict waged on, and finally, he made his choice. Gianna looked content. She was here in her element, with the kind of people she was supposed to be with, her laughter was genuine, and he couldn't bring himself to disturb that.
He turned away, face solemn.
"Bucky?" Natasha's eyes were sharp, reading the turmoil etched across his face.
He shook his head. "Not tonight. I can't... It's not the right time. You were right."
Natasha exchanged a knowing look with Wanda, but Bucky interrupted before either of them could speak. "I'm sorry I dragged you all the way out here. You guys should stay, have a good time. Tell the others I said hey." He forced a smile, trying to look like he wasn't falling apart inside. "I'll hang back at the tower. Don't get into too much trouble."
He tousled Wanda's hair before turning to leave, his broad frame weaving through the club's patrons like a ghost. The two women watched as Bucky, cloaked in shadows and the weight of his own decisions, departed from the club alone.
Gianna
A flash of red hair caught her eye over Sebastian's shoulder, immediately grabbing her attention.
"Nat?" Her voice was overjoyed. "Wanda?!"
"G!" Wanda squealed, running the last few steps between them and engulfing her into a rib-crushing hug that Nat joined.
"What are you guys doing here?!" Gianna beamed, forgetting about the conversation she had just left.
Natasha smirked. "Well, we couldn't let the guys have all the fun, now could we?"
"You've got some catching up to do, if you're looking to compete with them." Gianna grinned, gesturing to the bar, where Tony was now doing a rockette-style dance with half the bachelorette party.
"Say no more." She gestured to the lingering cocktail waitress. "Three tequila shots, please." Her eyes darted to Steve, sheepishly standing by the bar after a failed attempt to corral Sam. "Make that four."
Gianna's smile faltered, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Guys…I'm sorry I haven't kept in touch. It's just...It hurt too much. I wasn't ready yet."
Wanda gave her a sympathetic smile. "We understand, G. We didn't think a thing of it. But we're here now, we missed you like crazy, and we have so much catching up to do!" She waggled her eyebrows at Sebastian, chatting with the group he came with in Gianna's absence.
She rolled her eyes, waving off Wanda with a laugh. "You guys have no idea how much I needed this. Hey, why don't you come stay with me for a few nights? Catch up for real. I can show you my new place and everything!"
Natasha nodded immediately. "Hell yes. We missed our girl time." She linked arms with Gianna. "And our girl. Plus it's been a total sausage fest at the compound and we need to get away from all the testosterone."
They laughed and fell back into friendship like there had never been any pain or separation at all. Nat dragged Steve over to take the shot with them, and Gianna caught the way his eyes lit up when he saw her there. Right after the look of pleasant surprise, his brow furrowed and his eyes darted past her scanning the crowd. Barely perceptibly, Nat caught his eye and shook her head.
Gianna furrowed her brow, feeling like there was more to the story. However, before she could press, Wanda grabbed her arm.
"Let's dance, I just saw Peter and - oh my god, is that Madison Beer?!"
As they walked, Gianna couldn't help but cast a glance toward the entrance, a flicker of hope in her heart. She wished, just for a moment, that someone else would walk through that door. Someone she missed more than she cared to admit. But, with a sigh, she shook off the thought, determined to give herself over to the buzz from the tequila and the night with her friends.