Chapter Text
“Were we…?” Bucky couldn’t finish his question when trying to find the right word to describe their relationship.
“Lovers” Natasha answered with a small smirk. She enjoyed seeing him blush.
“You were brought in to the Black Widow Program as an instructor after completing a mission for Hydra. They let you too long out of cryo chamber. By the time you we met, you were gaining your memories back, James”
Bucky liked hearing his name from her lips. He could listen to her voice for hours, talking about a time he does not remember.
Natasha slowly approached him, fearing that he would kick her out again. She noticed the change in his demeanor. He was calm now. So, she continued talking as she sat next to him.
“We were on a mission. Then you stopped and spoke English in an American accent. Wanting to find Rebecca.” She said
“My sister” Bucky stated. When learning about his past, he first searched for his family and discovered that all have died. With nothing connecting him to US, he fled to another continent to live a life close to normalcy. Trying to piece together his life away from any distractions; however, failing miserably at it.
Natasha could see the sadness in his eyes and placed her hand on his.
“You may have lost your family, but you have a new one in Steve … and me.” She reassured him.
“Thank you” he mustered out the words and his eyes lingered on her lips, but he resisted his urges. His body told him to grab her close to him, but his mind was a jumbled mess. He needed time to sort through it.
Natasha continued telling their story “I aborted the mission and took you to the nearest hideout. There I sedated you and saw that the American nor the Winter Soldier were back. You knew who you are, but it did not make sense. I did not report you and from there you always chose me as your partner. Then we grew close and one night you disappeared on me” She quickly ended it when talking about her first real heartbreak. That night was the first time she confessed her feelings for him and he returned the same sentiments, then he disappeared into thin air. Now she knows how Hydra were controlling him, but back then she believed he was just a prick that left her without saying goodbye.
“I was mindwiped” Bucky was finally able to conclude. “They erased my memories of you, but why?”
Natasha stirred in her seat. It was the first time since more over than a decade that she has talked about it. To him of all people.
T’Challa barged in, interrupting their conversation. “There’s an emergency. Steve sent a distress call. We’re leaving now”
Natasha turned to Bucky “Are you coming?”
"If I do, then promise that if I get out of control you will kill me without any hesitation.” Said Bucky.
“I promise” T’Challa agreed.
“Promise” Natasha agreed.
"Then I'm in" Bucky stood, but the chains were holding him back.
T’Challa removed it with a voice command.
"Sergeant Barnes, I have perfected your bionic arm during your cryostatic state. Let me install it for you while my men ready the jetplane"
Bucky looked at Natasha, and she nodded.
"Trust me" She responded to him without him asking the question. She promised that she will be the one to put him down if he returned into Winter Soldier mode; however, she promised herself first that she will never let that happen.
She does not want to lose him again.