Chapter Text
“We should attempt to breach the stronghold through the northernmost entrance. No one shall think to look for us there.” Thor noted, pointing at one end of the hologram map floating in front of the team.
Steve and Bucky glanced at each other.
“No, no, you see, no.” Tony said, pushing to his feet so he could lay his palms flat on the table and lean towards the pair. “We’re not doing this again.”
“Doing what, Tony?” Steve sighed as he ran a hand through his hair.
“Oh I think you know exactly what I’m talking about, Captain Sparkles.”
“Tony-” Nat started, but Tony cut her off.
“BUT in fairness to the rest of the team, why don’t Thing One and Thing Two tell us exactly what they’re exchanging behind those secret little glances of theirs. We’re not moving on until you spill.”
Bucky folded his arms across his chest, and shot Tony his most murderous glare.
Steve just rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Around the room tensions started growing. Nat and Clint actually reaching for their weapons before, suddenly, you broke the silence.
“They agree with Thor’s reasoning but Steve would rather come in from above, and Bucky would rather Steve ‘think for once in [his] damn life, punk.’” You murmured absently, turning the page in your notebook before you continued taking notes as though nothing had just happened.
The tension bled out of the room almost instantly as the entire team turned to stare at you in shock.
“Wha-” Steve started.
Bucky leaned closer towards you across the table. “How’d you know exactly what I was thinkin’, doll?” He challenged.
You didn’t even spare him a glance. “I learned your secret language.”
Bucky snorted. “You a mind reader now?”
You rolled your eyes. “You know perfectly well I’m a civvy, Buck-Bear. It’s what you like most about me.”
Bucky’s eyes softened and a smirk pulled up his lips. “Pravda.” He murmured softly.
“Ohhhh I don’t think so, little miss-” You shot a warning glare in Tony’s direction and he quickly changed his tune. “-Miss best assistant I’ve ever had.” He leaned to the side. “Pepp, don’t kill me.” He coughed.
Tony straighted back up. “How’d you know what the geezers where saying behind those heart eyes they were throwing each other? And don’t say that it’s because they throw those heart eyes back at you these days! I don’t want to hear about the GILF olympics!”
You pretended to gag. “Okay. I’m going to pretend that didn’t just come out of your mouth and I don’t need to go to HR and file another complaint, Anthony Edward Stark!”
Nat shook her head. “If you don’t, I will.” She threatened.
You shook your head, and ignored the spy for a moment. “I know because like you I got sick and tired of being outside the loop. I’ve always been good with languages-”
“BEDROOM EYES ARE NOT A LANGUAGE.” Tony declared, throwing his hands up in the air.
“THAT’S WHAT YOU THINK!” You matched his stance and energy and waved a hand across the air. Immediately Friday pulled up hours of secret phone, surveillance camera, and homevideo recordings and started playing them. Each one showed moments of Steve and Bucky silently communicating with nothing but their eyes before nodding and running of to wreck havoc on the poor modern century.
“I complied hundreds of videos, thousands of hours, and worked with FRIDAY to process the data cross referencing which communications occurred when, and what the direct results were. Then I studied my ass off. I’m practically fluent at this point.”
Steve glanced around at all the images of him and Bucky making “heart eyes” at each other and felt the redness creeping up the back of his neck. “Doll…”
Bucky shook his head and rounded the table so he could scoop you against him, your back to his chest. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of your head. “That’s my girl.” He whispered softly.
You melted in his hold.
Tony shook his head. “I don’t even know what to say to all this. You absolute stalker.” There was a note of proud awe in his voice and you did your best not to preen.
Steve shook his head and shot you a rueful smile. “It is a bit much, doll.”
You shot him a glare before you wiggled out of Bucky’s hold and plopped back down in your chair. “Careful what you say next, Cap’. There’s an awful lot of dirty secrets in your closet I just might decide to become a student of next, and I have to say - I always get my grade.”
Steve shook his head, but wisely sat back down and shut up.
You nodded once and turned back to Tony who was staring at the whole interaction with a wide-eyed mischievous glint you didn’t have the time or the patience to deal with. You pointed your pen at him menacingly and ordered him to get on with the meeting.
He shook his head. “Someone doesn’t want to be teacher’s pe-” You flung your pen so hard, it left a red mark as it bounced off his head, but it got him to shut up and focus back on the mission planning.
You pulled out a spare pen from the folder in front of you and got to work on your meeting notes again. But every now and again, you would glance up to get a glimpse of your boys.
A week, a month, a few dozen years… You’d never get tired of studying them.