Stella POV
Try as she might, the cruel thoughts that plagued Stella didn't stop over the next few weeks. If anything, they got worse.
The breakup was still fresh in her brain, despite the fact she couldn't blame Bucky for ending things. And while she knew it was unhealthy and toxic to stake so much of her happiness in one other person, Bucky wasn't just her boyfriend, he'd been her friend; her only friend those few months when most of the team had been off hunting Loki. After her life had been turned upside down…she'd started depending on him.
It was clear the man was avoiding her. She didn't see him at meals or in the weight room or any of his other usual haunts. If he wasn't on house arrest, Stella would've thought he simply vanished.
It seemed the breakup hadn't only been the end of their relationship, but their friendship too.
Stella had never gone back to the lab to ask Tony and Bruce to recalibrate the bracelets. The day after she'd tried the first time, a news story broke that Hydra was causing chaos all over the globe. The team had gone after them a couple times, sometimes at a moment's notice. However, every time they arrived at the scene of the crime the men were gone, devastation left in their wake.
Steve had shared his suspicions with Stella that Hydra and Loki's henchmen were probably less organized without Loki to lead them. So far they hadn't even demanded Loki's release. It was bizarre.
Sometimes Stella forgot the god was still locked in a cell beneath the compound. She suspected the team had tried to interrogate him a few times, but to her knowledge they never had much luck getting anything out of him.
Because of the chaos Loki's men were wreaking, Tony and Bruce were working constantly. Tony had even temporarily moved back into the compound, though Stella rarely spoke with him. He and Bruce were constantly locked in the lab, the glass frosted for privacy, presumably still working on their algorithm. Stella didn't feel right asking them to take their focus off the hunt for her sake, not when so many innocents were at risk. So she suffered in silence, barely sleeping, if at all.
As a result her mental health was on a rapid decline. Lately she'd begun feeling more and more unhinged, anxious, depressed, and even paranoid. Like she couldn't help feeling something terrible was about to happen.
When she did sleep, she had awful night terrors. Dreams of Loki escaping, of Bucky under Hydra's control again, of herself locked in one of the cells beneath the compound begging the team to let her out…
One good thing about the bracelets was that they usually woke her from the nightmares, albeit with an electric jolt.
Stella did her best to hide her declining mental health from the team. She'd begun avoiding Natasha for fear the woman would be able to tell something was up due to her superior people reading skills as a Widow and Wanda, who could easily read her mind. The one person she couldn't avoid of course was Steve who arguably knew her better than anyone else.
Thankfully he'd seemed fairly preoccupied the past few weeks and hadn't picked up on the negativity Stella couldn't help radiating. She was grateful she at least had experience faking it. When her mom had first gotten sick Stella had fallen into a similar depression but acted as if her spirits were high for her mother and grandmother's sake.
Stella wasn't sure why but Steve had once again limited training to just the two of them. She didn't mind, it was easier avoiding the rest of the team that way.
Lately Steve was practically the only person she ever saw. They woke up when it was still dark and trained until late in the day, stopping only briefly for a break for lunch.
Stella had thrown herself into her training. It was a good distraction from everything that was going on. Not to mention better control over her powers would mean one day she'd be able to sleep without the bracelets. Lately she'd even been asking Steve to extend training past their normal hours. He didn't argue. She got the feeling he wanted the distraction.
Thankfully he hadn't brought up the subject of her bracelets since their last discussion. Stella had started using concealer to hide her dark circles that were worsening by the day.
Stella had to admit…All the alone time with Steve was starting to get to her. Every so often she'd catch him staring and the last few times he'd adjusted her stance or helped her stretch a muscle his touch had lingered a few seconds more than necessary.
Stella knew she was vulnerable after the break up with Bucky and her history with Steve wasn't helping matters. And she couldn't pretend she wasn't harboring any latent resentment towards the assassin for breaking things off.
She hated to admit it but there was something about Steve that was just so safe and comforting. And with everything that was going on, she craved a little comfort.
Without Bucky, Steve was the only constant she had left. Not to mention being with him was the only break from the vicious thoughts that plagued her when she was alone or lying in bed at night, not sleeping.
It was ridiculous. She'd told herself time and time again that she and Steve were through; that at the end of the day despite how she felt about him, he couldn't provide what she needed. A partner, not a guardian. But the logic of her argument did little to assuage her heart.
…Especially when he was drilling her. During training it wasn't uncommon for Steve to tell her to drop and give him twenty pushups or burpees and when Stella was struggling to finish the set he'd say something along the lines of:
"Come on Stel, you can do it."
"Finish it. Give me five more honey."
"Just like that."
"Thata girl, you're getting so strong."
Praise had never been much of a turn on for Stella but when Steve said things like that to her, her legs turned to jelly and she wanted to drop her panties right there.
It reminded her of New York in a lot of ways. A very specific memory came to mind of her on her knees with Steve's fingers in her hair, her lips wrapped around his cock and Steve's murmured praise…
Thata girl.
Just like that baby.
Fuck, that feels amazing.
God, you do that so good.
You look so pretty on your knees.
You're gonna make me come in that pretty little mouth of yours.
"Stell?"
Stella blinked. She looked up from where she sat on the bench, her water bottle clutched tightly in her hand.
"You okay?" Steve was staring down at her, an expression of concern on his face.
"Why would you think otherwise?"
"Your water bottle is starting to melt."
She looked down and sure enough the plastic had started to warp in her fingers.
"Shoot." She dropped the bottle in surprise. She and Steve bent to retrieve it at the same time. He reached it first, picking up the now misshapen bottle and placing it on the bench beside her. He stayed in his crouch, his hand moving to her knee.
Stella's eyes drifted to his. Tingles radiated up her leg from the place his fingers touched, bee-lining to the apex of her legs.
"What's going on?" He asked, his blue eyes boring into her own.
"Nothing," She lied halfheartedly.
"You can talk to me Stella. What is it?"
Stella bit her lip. Her eyes trailed down Steve's neck to his muscled torso poorly hidden beneath his thermal shirt. Like hers, his skin was covered in a sheen of sweat. He was so close she could smell him, feel the heat radiating off his body. His scent was like a drug, heady and distinctly Steve.
"Nothing," She replied, more weakly this time.
"Come on. I know you better than that, sweetheart."
Their eyes locked.
The way he was talking to her made her weak in the knees, or would have if she wasn't sitting down. His voice was low, his Brooklyn accent heavy on his tongue. Sweetheart was her favorite pet name of his. It was so old fashioned. So Steve. He hadn't called her that in ages, not since New York.
"Sorry, it just slipped out," He murmured, referring to the endearment.
"Steve."
How long had it been since they'd been together? Since she'd felt his surprisingly soft lips on her own, felt his chest under her palms, his fingers in her hair?
Months.
He was the last person she'd slept with of course, so her judgement was askew. The times they'd been together raced through her mind. There was no denying it. The man knew how to use his dick.
"Stella?"
"Steve." Her eyes glazed over.
Steve must have sensed her tone because his eyes softened, his grip on her knee tightening. The next thing she knew his hand was in her hair, pulling her close just like she remembered he used to. Their noses pressed together.
"Stella." He said her name longingly, like a prayer.
She could feel his breath on her lips. God, it had been so long since she kissed him. Her body felt like a live wire, the hairs on her arms raised, her body wound like a coil.
Their lips touched. Stella almost gasped at the sensation of Steve's lips on hers.
It was electric.
Steve's scent wafted towards her. She was sure he smelled as good as she did which couldn't have been great since they'd been training together for hours but right now it spurred her on in a primal way.
Their lips devoured one another hungrily, lips eager, tongues searching. The man drove her crazy like no other, consistently made the wrong call, and was annoyingly overprotective but at the end of the day he cared about her. She could feel it in the desperate way he kissed her.
Stella leaned into the kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck. She slid off the edge of the bench. Steve's strong hands caught her and lowered her onto his lap.
The man was already hard beneath her, his length pressed against his sweats and her own growing need. Something she remembered well about Steve was how responsive he was from the barest of touches. Stella rocked against him, losing herself in the feel of him. Steve groaned into her mouth.
One of his hands trailed down her back and onto her butt. He squeezed it through her leggings, egging her on. She twisted her hips over his, grinding their bodies together.
There was no hesitation or nervousness. They knew each other's bodies well, knew where to touch to elicit a gasp or a moan.
"Fuck Stella," Steve bit out. He began grinding back in turn. It was completely unsophisticated, almost animal in nature. Stella threw her head back as pleasure rushed through her. They moved against one another impatiently, hands delving beneath clothing to caress hot skin.
Steve's hand slipped into her leggings. He pushed her underwear to the side, fingers sliding against her clit. Stella let out a loud gasp that ended in a moan.
"Fuck, baby you're so wet," Steve managed.
"Don't stop," She pleaded, pressing their mouths together once again.
"You're close aren't you?" He murmured against her. She nodded. He twisted up into her.
"I am too," He groaned, confirming what she already knew.
Stella rocked her hips over his as he stroked her. She wanted Steve to feel good as much as she craved her own desperate release, the only pleasure she'd had in a month that had been truly terrible.
"Fuck," Steve bit out as his orgasm rolled through him. His thumb quickened on her clit, sending her soaring over the edge after him.
"Steve!" She moaned into his mouth as she came. His fingers kept up their pace, not easing up on her as her orgasm intensified. "God," She breathed as the blinding pleasure extended for a prolonged moment.
"Steve," She repeated again because she had too.
"That's right sweetheart," He said as she writhed against him. His movements didn't slow, spurring her even further.
"I think I'm gonna come again," She whimpered against his ear. She could practically feel his smirk.
"Fuck!" Her fingers dug into the muscles of his arms, her hips rutting shamelessly against his hand.
"There's my girl. Come for me Stella."
Stella couldn't help but obey, pleasure rolling through her in waves.
Finally after several long moments the last ripples of the orgasm left her until she could do nothing but slump against him, exhausted.
They stayed pressed together for long moments as they came down, hands still gripping each other tightly enough to leave bruises, their foreheads touching. Steve pressed a sweaty kiss to her temple, one of his hands tangled in her hair.
"I haven't come that quickly since I was a kid," Steve admitted.
Stella smiled, brushing the man's hair out of his face.
"That came out of nowhere." He said to her, his eyes searching hers.
"I know." She wasn't sure how Steve sensed how badly she wanted him, even needed him in that moment to chase away the demons for a few precious minutes. She chalked it up to the crazy, bizarre way he could read her.
Steve smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips.
Stella almost cracked then and there. She wanted to tell Steve everything; how the bracelets had been terrorizing her…That she was one bad day away from losing it. He would understand. He would fix it.
She opened her mouth. As she did, Steve's face dropped. The smile slipped from his face.
"…What?" She asked after a moment, taken off guard by his expression.
"…Bucky." Steve whispered.
Stella swallowed. Steve's look was now laden with guilt.
She slid from his lap.
"What about him?" She asked, avoiding his gaze.
"Aren't you two an item?"
Stella cleared her throat.
"Not exactly."
Now that Steve had mentioned the assassin's name, the guilt was setting in for her too.
"What does that mean?" Steve pressed.
"We're on a break."
"A break? What does that mean?"
"I don't know Steve," Stella snapped. She ran her hand through her hair. "It wasn't exactly my decision."
The words slipped out before she could stop herself. Hurt flashed across Steve's face.
"Steve, I didn't mean it like that." She backtracked quickly, taking the man's hand.
Now that she was thinking about it, she and Bucky had never exactly ironed out the terms of their "break". Were they allowed to be with other people? Had she just fucked up?
Fuck. Fuck.
"I'm sorry. We shouldn't have done this." Stella got to her feet, dropping Steve's hand.
"Stella wait. We should talk about this."
"I can't. I'm sorry Steve."
Steve tried to stop her but the girl was already jogging towards the exit. A minute later she was gone.
Steve POV
Steve sighed as Stella disappeared through the doors.
The inside of his boxers were wet with the evidence of his orgasm. He pulled at them uncomfortably.
He couldn't even being to process what had just happened.
He'd been distracted for weeks, ever since that conversation between him and Bucky in the kitchen. Steve had been drowning in guilt, anger, and embarrassment over Bucky's words and feelings that refused to be smothered. Feelings he'd thought were long gone. Dead and buried.
Guilt because Bucky was right, there was a tiny part of Steve that had been hoping things would go south between Bucky and Stella. And because he'd left them, his girl and his friend when they'd needed him.
Anger at Bucky for what he'd done; going after Stella even though he knew Steve liked her. As if Bucky hadn't gotten every dame he'd ever laid his eyes on.
Steve shouldn't have been bitter. Bucky couldn't help that he'd always had a way with women and he was hardly anything like his former womanizing self after Hydra.
Embarrassed because Bucky knew Steve so well, could see right through him except for the part Steve had always secretly hoped he would see.
And now he'd been with Stella. Steve could sense, practically smell how she was feeling; known she'd wanted him. And he'd been all too happy to oblige.
It had felt almost chemical. No, that wasn't right. Chemistry was one thing but this was something else entirely.
Magnetic? No, that wasn't right either.
He got to his feet. His head was racing and he needed to find a shower before he ran into one of his teammates. A thought occurred to him then and he looked up at the ceiling.
"Fuck. The cameras."
Stella POV
She needed out.
It had been almost a month since Bucky asked for time, a week since what had happened with her and Steve.
Though she'd debated showing up at all, the following day Stella had gone to training as scheduled. To her surprise, Steve didn't even try to bring up the subject. He'd just jumped into training, albeit a little colder and more clinical than usual.
Stella couldn't blame him. She knew she had acted childishly by running away and that she'd said some hurtful things.
She felt awful. The last thing she wanted was to hurt Steve, especially when he was devoting so much time to training her. But whenever she looked at him she couldn't help feeling guilty, like she'd betrayed Bucky.
Bucky dumped you. You didn't betray him.
Technically he said we were on a break.
A break is code for a break up.
Why did I have to go and fool around with Steve? As if things aren't complicated enough? Why did I do that?
Who was she kidding, she knew why she'd done it.
Because she'd been rejected by Bucky. She'd opened herself up to the man, let him in and he'd hurt her.
And in her devastation of losing Bucky she'd latched onto Steve, onto feelings that had never really gone away. She knew Steve cared about her. And as fucked up as it was, it felt easy, natural even to cling to that in her rejection.
What was even worse was that she'd hurt both men by doing it, however inadvertently. She'd betrayed Bucky and used Steve.
It was shameful, deplorable even.
Would it be so awful if she just…left? Steve and Bucky could go back to being friends without her in the way. She'd stop being a burden on the team. Tony could get back to his life.
She'd have to take the bracelets of course.
She couldn't leave. She still needed training for her powers. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt someone.
…But maybe she could afford one afternoon of freedom.
She'd gone for a run to clear her head, to dispel the thoughts that plagued her day and night, to try and find some sort of escape. She was bone tired and cripplingly depressed. The fact she wasn't sleeping only made things worse. It was impossible to focus, to drown out the guilt and the voices that mocked her. She felt unhinged, even a little manic as she traipsed through the woods, putting as much distance between her and the compound as possible.
You pushed Bucky too far.
You'll never get a grip on your powers.
Tony's never going to actually see you as his child. You're just a mistake from a one night stand.
The team is going to see you for who you really are and throw you out on the streets.
What you did with Steve was wrong.
She followed the path Natasha had led them on all those months ago when she'd fallen through the ice. It was spring so the snow had melted mostly, though Stella gave the lake a wide berth. At some point, she'd veered off the path, crunching through the underbrush as she tried to escape her intrusive thoughts.
Hearing the sound of crunching leaves behind her she skittered to a halt, spinning around. The path was deserted. Her heart raced in her chest. Was someone following her?
She took a deep breath. She knew paranoia was a result of lack of sleep and shook off the feeling, continuing her trek deeper into the woods.
A little space and I'll get my head on straight.
The further away from the compound she got, the lighter she felt.
Just a couple hours. That's all I need.
She didn't know exactly what she was doing until she was at the perimeter wall. Stella analyzed the electromagnetic field, reaching out to touch it. It didn't hurt, but she was unable to push her hand past the shield.
An idea slowly formed in her head. She'd read somewhere that temperature affected magnetism by either strengthening or weakening a magnet's force. Cold strengthened magnets, heat did the opposite. There was a threshold, somewhere around 175 degrees where magnets lost their magnetic properties.
Curiosity sparked, Stella summoned her power bringing forth flame in her palm. She had no idea how hot her flames could get, but there was one way to find out.
The blue fire licked the walls. The force field to flickered, rippling out from where her hand pressed against it. She tried again, this time bringing forth more power and upping the temp. A hole began growing in the shield, slowly expanding in size.
"Stella."
She almost jumped out of her skin, her power retreating back inside her. She whipped towards the sound.
"Bucky?" She dropped her hand. "What're you doing here?" She asked, taken off guard by his unexpected presence.
Bucky didn't respond.
"Were you…following me?"
He was the one she heard following her in the woods. At least she wasn't totally insane.
The assassin had the decency to blush.
"I was worried about you…" He trailed off. "You've seemed down."
"How would you know? I haven't seen you in weeks." Stella tried to keep the hostility out of her voice and failed.
He didn't respond, nodding to the perimeter wall.
"What were you doing?"
"Nothing." She lied.
"It didn't look like nothing." Silence passed between them. "Are you going somewhere?"
Stella swallowed. "…I just needed a break." She said lamely. Her heart was still fluttering erratically in her chest. She was so close to freedom, she could practically taste it.
"You're not supposed to leave the compound."
"I know. But I…"
I feel like I'm losing my mind.
"I haven't seen anyone outside the team in months. I've been locked up for ages. I miss the outside world."
I just need a fucking break.
"Loki's men are still after you. So is Hydra."
"I know." For a moment, neither of them spoke. "Are you going to tell on me?" She asked.
"No. But I can't let you leave."
Stella's anger spiked. Who was Bucky to tell her what to do? He wasn't even her boyfriend anymore. For one delirious second she entertained the idea of incapacitating him but she immediately dismissed the thought. He was a better fighter than she was and she'd never use her power on him. Besides, she could never hurt him.
"It's not up to you." She said instead. She summoned her power again, pressing her palm to the force field. The wall flickered around her hand, creating a small break which grew as she increased the temperature.
"Stella." Bucky stepped towards her.
"I'm not your responsibility Barnes."
"So I'm Barnes now?" He asked. He didn't look mad, rather hurt. His reaction confused her.
"I'm not your responsibility Bucky," Stella amended. "I'll be back in an hour. If you're so concerned, go tell Steve on me."
Stella stepped through the break in the barrier, roughly five feet in length. After she passed through, she released her power. The shield was once again impeccable.
She turned and was surprised to see Bucky standing in front of her. He must've stepped through the barrier when she lowered it. She opened her mouth to argue when he said,
"People are still after you. I can't let you go alone."
"You're not supposed to leave either," She said, now wary. She didn't want to put Bucky in danger.
He gave her a half smile. "Maybe I need a break too."
XXX
The pair walked for twenty minutes until they reached the nearest town. They walked mostly in silence, neither one of them speaking.
"So what did you have in mind for your hour of freedom?" Bucky asked finally.
Stella wracked her brain.
"I honestly don't know. I just knew I needed time away from the compound."
"What's been going on?"
Stella hesitated. Where do I start?
"I'd rather not talk about it."
"Stella." Bucky stopped them outside a small storefront, putting his hand on her arm. She shook him off.
"Don't." She kept walking.
"Stella, you look like you've been going through a hard time. Just tell me what's-"
"Why do you care?" She snapped.
"What do you mean? Of course I care," Bucky argued.
Stella rolled her eyes and kept walking.
"Where are you going?" Bucky demanded, following her.
"I need a drink."
A few minutes later Bucky and Stella found themselves seated in a mostly empty bar. Ironically enough it was the same place they had gone to on her birthday. The day clientele was a lot different than the one her band had brought in that night, mostly consisting of a few lonely older men.
"So I hear you've been able to return to your room?" Bucky asked eventually.
"You heard huh?" Stella took a sip of her beer.
"Through the grapevine."
"Right."
"So what did they do? Stark install sprinklers in your room or something?"
Stella cleared her throat.
"Uh, no. Not exactly." She picked at the sticker on the bottle. She wasn't sure why, but she didn't want to tell Bucky about Tony's bracelets.
Bucky stared at her expectantly. She sighed.
"Tony and Bruce made these bracelets for me…"
"Bracelets?"
"I put them on before I go to sleep." She swallowed. "They emit a small shock when my body temperature gets too high."
Bucky was silent for a moment.
"A shock?" He repeated. His voice was eerily calm.
"It's not a big deal Bucky."
"Your father put a shock collar on you Stella. It is a big deal."
"Well it is when you say it like that. It's fine-"
"It's disgusting. Inhumane," Bucky continued. He slammed his own bottle down on the bar, startling an elderly man in a Stetson sitting on his other side. "I'm putting a stop to it right now."
"No! God, you're just like Steve."
"Steve knew about this?"
"Yes and he had the same concerns as you and I told him to lay off." Stella defended.
"Why? Stella, you have to know this isn't a solution."
"It is a solution. One that means I can't hurt anyone."
"So that's what this is about. You're afraid of hurting us?"
"Of course I am! I have this terrible, destructive power that I can't control. I'm terrified of hurting someone."
Bucky held her gaze, understanding in his eyes.
"Stella, your powers aren't anything to be ashamed of. The more you train, the more control over them you'll have, even in your sleep."
Stella looked away, disbelieving.
"…Stella, what would you say if someone was forcing me to wear something like this?"
"…What?" His question took her off guard, forcing her to look back at him.
"If this was the solution that was proposed for me. Whenever I had a nightmare, the bracelet would shock me. What would you think of that?" Bucky's stare was piercing.
She swallowed.
"I would…" She trailed off. "I would…" She paused. "I wouldn't let them." She managed finally. "I wouldn't let them hurt you."
"So you admit it's been hurting you."
"Only a little." She cursed herself for cracking. "It more so just makes it hard to rest."
"Is that why you look like you haven't slept in weeks?" Bucky reached out and stroked her cheek, his fingers gently tracing the dark circles that even concealer was doing little to hide nowadays. "You look like you're turning into a ghost, Stella."
Stella jerked away from his tender touch. She couldn't bear how nice he was being to her.
"I'll figure it out Bucky."
"Stella, you will figure it out. But not like this." Bucky's voice was firm. "This stops today. I'm telling Stark this is the end of his 'solution'."
"Bucky, no! He'll throw you out," She countered.
"I don't care."
"I do! You promised me you wouldn't leave me!"
Her desperation had come to the surface. Yes, her and Bucky were broken up. But that didn't mean she'd suddenly stopped caring about him. If anything, it was the opposite. "Not to mention Hydra is still after you. You can't leave the compound."
Bucky looked back at her.
"I did promise that." He conceded. "But I'm not letting this continue."
"…I'll say something. Tell Tony it's not working," Stella suggested. She still didn't want to be a burden but if it came down to Bucky leaving the compound or her finally talking to Tony and Bruce, it was an easy decision.
"Good." Bucky took another sip of his drink. "Today, Stella. I'll go with you."
An odd swirl of emotion gathered in her chest. She was almost…grateful. Grateful she wouldn't have to live like this anymore. Grateful she'd finally be able to get some sleep without constantly being woken by an electric shock.
"…Thank you Bucky."
He cracked a smile.
"Anytime doll."
Bucky POV
After the two finished their beers, Stella talked Bucky into one more round. He couldn't pretend he wasn't happy for the excuse to spend more time with her. He'd missed the girl terribly in the month since they'd broken up.
He couldn't believe Stark had actually forced Stella to wear a bracelet that shocked her to control her power. Whatever deal he'd made with the man was done. After this, he didn't give a damn about mending his and Stark's relationship. If Stark could do something like this he didn't deserve to be in Stella's life, though that was a choice Stella would have to make for herself.
He glanced at the girl beside him who was deep in conversation with the bartender. She was smiling and while she would always be beautiful, Bucky hadn't missed the sunken look her face had taken on in the past few weeks, the lack of her normally vibrant energy. She even looked like she'd lost some weight.
Bucky had assumed she was taking the breakup poorly, but it quickly became obvious something else was seriously wrong. He just didn't know what.
He'd never stopped keeping an eye on her, though of course Stella had no idea. It hardly seemed fair letting her know when he was supposed to be giving her space.
It was easy, he was a spy after all. He'd even hacked into Friday's system so he could pull up the footage of her training, see how she was progressing. She'd come a long way in terms of controlling her power, if her manipulation of the force field was any indicator. Bucky had no doubt she'd be able to gain control over her abilities, even in her sleep. She never stopped surprising him.
What he didn't understand was why she hadn't told Stark how the bracelets had been impacting her. He'd have to ask, but for now he just wanted her to have this moment of normalcy.
As if she could sense his gaze she glanced back at him, a small smile on her face. Bucky hadn't seen that smile for weeks.
It didn't matter what the consequences were, it was worth it just to see her look at him with that smile.
He'd tell her the truth about why he'd broken things off once they had sorted out the nonsense with the bracelets. He didn't want to overwhelm her all at once, though he longed to touch her. Besides, just being near her again was enough for him. Then, assuming she forgave him, they could pick right back up where they left off.
He desperately hoped she would.
After Bucky paid for their drinks Stella called them an Uber which dropped them off at the gates of the compound. The guard merely glanced at the two of them before waving them through.
They had a surprise waiting for them inside the lobby. Stark and Steve stood there, Tony's expression furious, Steve's unreadable.
"Mom and Dad are pissed," Stella whispered so only Bucky could hear. Bucky couldn't hold back his smirk.
"Where the hell have you been?" Tony demanded.
"Relax Tony. I just needed some air," Stella replied.
"And you couldn't find that on a 300 acre compound?"
"You know what I mean. I've been here for months…I was stir crazy. It was just one afternoon." Stella already sounded exhausted defending herself.
"You could've been kidnapped. Did you forget Hydra is still after you?"
"Obviously not." Stella scowled. "I'm reminded of it every time I wake up in the compound."
Steve had been standing there with his arms crossed silently but finally he spoke.
"You're not fully trained. You could have hurt someone." His tone wasn't angry, rather disappointed.
Stella glared at the man and Bucky couldn't help seeing the betrayal in her gaze. Bucky thought Steve's words were a low blow. Steve knew Stella was terrified of hurting someone with her power.
"Lay off Steve," Bucky said sharply. The super solder flicked his stare to Bucky instead. The men hadn't spoken since the incident in the kitchen. Tension radiated between the four of them.
"I'm sorry," Stella said quietly. "I didn't…I didn't think I would hurt anyone."
"You're sorry?" Tony repeated. "Do you have any idea how worried we were?"
"Yes, I'm sorry," She snapped, then continued. "Stop trying to act like a father now. You can't just make up for lost time."
Tony's eyes shifted to Bucky.
"Why am I not surprised you're with her Barnes?"
"He had nothing to do with this," Stella jumped in. "It was my idea."
"Don't defend him." Tony snarled, turning on her.
Bucky stepped in front of her, getting between them. "It was my idea to sneak out. Stella needed time outside the compound. I thought I could protect her on my own."
Tony rolled his eyes.
"That's it Barnes, you're out."
"What? You can't do that," Stella interrupted.
"Tony…" Steve started.
"I pay the bills. I can do what I want."
"It wasn't Bucky's idea. It was mine," Stella said, stepping out from behind him. "He's just trying to cover for me."
"You're just saying that."
"It's the truth! Don't punish him because of something I did." The desperation in her voice was clear. She took Bucky's hand, holding it tightly. Tony stared at the both of them, then down at their clasped hands.
"You two just can't stay away from each other can you?" He shook his head. "My decision is final."
"I'll have my things packed tonight." Bucky took off towards the inside of the compound, squeezing Stella's hand before releasing it. Stella watched him go, dismayed. She turned back to Steve and Tony, her eyes blazing.
"If he goes, I go. And I don't care what you have to say about it." She took off after Bucky.
A/n: Hope you guys are enjoying the story so far! If so please drop a review, they inspire me to keep writing even when I have writer's block. Shoutout to Tjy49, Guest9404, and Magicaedraconis for reviewing!