After our little bagel outing, Bucky warmed up to me. A lot. Even though I had done literally all the talking that morning, he started speaking to me on a regular basis. If I was having a conversation with Steve and he was there, he didn't just sit there silently like he used to, he'd chime in and out of join me in making fun of Steve. It was nice to have a new friend. He remained pretty soft spoken, but he turned out to be pretty funny when he did speak.

A few days later, I was in the training facility with Natasha, working on my shooting and chatting with her. I really like Natasha. She's funny, smart, and one of the only other people around this place without a dick. After all, even spies needs girl talk sometimes.

"So, how have you been?" I asked, firing my gun at the targets in front of me and hitting them all right in the center.

"I'm fine," she said.

I stayed silent and reloaded my gun. She hadn't been the same since Sokovia. Since Bruce left. I still didn't know what happened between them. In fact, nobody did. She didn't talk about it, and if someone brought him up, she was completely emotionless. I was convinced they were planning to run away together, but nobody backed me on that. I wasn't in the mood for her to get all passive aggressive with me, so I left it at that. After a few more rounds, I put my gun back in the artillery room and headed for the open gym area. Nat followed close behind, and we both set ourselves up at punching bags. When I glanced around the massive room, I noticed Bucky in the back corner, doing bench presses. I guess my gaze lingered for a little too long, because I was called away by Natasha clearing her throat loudly.

"What?" I turned back to her smirking face.

She shrugged and began to hit the bag. "Nothing. Except for the fact that you're totally into Bucky."

"Funny," I scoffed and began to punch my own bag. "I am not into Bucky."

"Okay, try telling yourself that. I can tell you're restraining yourself from pouncing on him."

"Natasha!" I hissed, my face burning bright red.

"Oh come on, he's hot. And you've got the hots for him."

"We're friends," I insisted, looking into the mirror in front of me.

I could see his reflection in it. It was hard for me to not look. Natasha wasn't wrong, he's very attractive, but definitely not interested in me. I watched as he put the bar back and stood up before wiping his face with a towel. He walked over to where the exit was, passing us on the way.

"Hey, Cara," he called.

"Hi, Buck," I smiled at him and he returned it. "I'll see you tonight?"

He winked as he walked out. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."

I turned back to the bag and connected my fist to it again.

"What's tonight?" Natasha asked.

"We're just hanging out, Nat. Don't get your panties in a twist."

"I won't but I bet-."

"Nope," I stopped the bag and picked up my water bottle. "I'm leaving."

"Be safe tonight!" She called after me. "Don't sleep with him just yet! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

"Goodbye!"

****

"Have you ever tried braiding your hair?"

Bucky glanced over at me and rose his eyebrows. "Can't say that I have."

We were hanging out in the tower's game room, playing pool and drinking beer. I laughed at his reaction and hit white cue ball with my pool stick. It rolled to the opposite end and ricocheted backwards, not coming anywhere close to hitting any other balls. I sighed and stood up, leaning against the stick before looking back over at him and shrugging.

"You know, you're not very good at pool," he smiled and took a sip of his drink. "Like, not even a little good."

I laughed and put the stick back into its holder on the wall. "Believe me I know. Tony's been trying to teach me for years, but I still suck."

"Alright, come over here." He set down his beer and picked up his pool stick. "Cara, come on!"

"Fine," I grinned and walked over to him.

He handed me the stick and I took it before leaning over the table so that the end was lined up with the cue ball. Bucky put his hands on my shoulders and turned them slightly, then put his hands on top of mine. I exhaled slowly and suddenly felt like the mood in the room had changed.

"Alright, now just bring it back," he guided my hands backwards slowly, "And back up."

I pushed the stick forward, the cue ball flew across the table and knocked three balls into the pockets.

"Oh shit yeah!" I spun around and hugged him tightly, clearly taking him by surprise. "Oh, whoops, sorry. That was weird."

"No, no, don't apologize." He let go of me, but didn't back away.

"Hey guys," Steve entered the room suddenly, and paused several feet away from us. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No, we were just hanging out," Bucky told him, backing away and putting the stick back.

I walked over to the table where I had put my beer down and picked it up, taking a long gulp. Steve glanced over at me and rose his eyebrows. I shrugged and he shook his head. The door opened again, and this time Tony came crashing in. He donned a bright red Santa hat, and was carrying a basket of candy canes.

"Stark Enterprises annual holiday party!" He bellowed, "Ten days away! All of you are expected to be there!"

"Oh the annual Christmas party," I sighed, plucked a candy cane from his basket and plopped down on one of the couches. "Booze on booze on booze!! It really is the most wonderful time of the year."

Tony rolled his eyes. "My parties are much more than booze, Cara. They are filled with sophisticated, powerful people from around the world."

Steve snickered as I unwrapped my candy cane.

"Sophisticated, powerful assholes," I pitched, "That get far too drunk, and they far too flirty with your younger sister."

"Well, then stick around with Capsicle this year, they're all scared of him," Tony shrugged and handed Steve a candy cane. "If you're with him or Mr. Winter Soldier over here, they won't touch you with a ten foot pole." He tapped me on the nose with another candy cane and headed to leave. "Adios amigos! Feliz navidad!"

Steve grinned and muttered something to Bucky, who's ears turned bright pink. He shoved Steve and whispered something else. He laughed loudly and waved to me before leaving the room. Bucky looked over at me briefly, but his eyes darted to the ground the moment I met his gaze.

"I'll see you later, Cara," he mumbled. "I've gotta go do something." He turned and walked out of the room quickly.

And I was alone.