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Every workers usually have their free day in Sunday. But The New Avengers is unique. Their free day is usually on Friday. Obviously it wasn't planned because crimes and missions could happen anytime. But it's real, like today.
Bob wakes up at the dorm and realizes it's very quiet around there.
"Where is everybody?" Bob asks Ava.
Ava is sitting in the living room, watching a lame quiz show on telivision. She is not really paying attention, she is literally just chilling there. "Walker is visiting his son, Yelena and Alexei are having... their dad and daughter quality time. Bucky is... I don't know. He is here, but somewhere." She answers.
Bob nods at her. "Don't you guys have any mission today?"
"Nope. T.G.I.F, Bob." answers Ava. Referring to Thanks God It's Friday. Ava yawns and streches her arm and waist. "It's a precious day. I want to sleep all day. Good bye, Bob."
Bob waves at her before she finally enters her room. It's more like... she is phasing in. Bob already saw Ava phasing in and out for thousands time, but it's still very a bizarre moment for him.
But nothing as bizarre as seeing a metal arm inside the dish washer.
"Jesus!" Bob yells in shock.
Bucky is out from his room and walks near Bob. Bob stares at him in a mix of shock and confused look.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." Bucky says. He takes his vibranium arm from the dish washer and plugs it into his left arm. Bucky moves his left arm 360 degrees.
Bob still looks at him. Still amazed, but also confused, but a little bit scared at whatever he looked a few seconds ago.
Bucky gives him a tiny smirk. "Weird enough?"
"Are you... really cleaning your arm in dish washer? Is it safe?" Bob asks curiously.
Bucky nods his head. He took drips of coffee into his Captain America mug from the coffee machine. "Yea, it's vibranium." He answers.
"Really?! Wow," Bob replies in an awe. "I read from the media that vibranium is impossible to be broken. So your arm must be unbreakable."
Bucky gets a sudden flashback when Bob... well as the Sentry... was unplugging his arm and slapped him with it. Well... "Yeah, technically." Bucky answers. Kind of unsure.
Bob still has so many question about Bucky's arm. But he hesitates to ask. He is scared that it might offended him.
"Do you want to touch it?" Bucky asks.
Bob raises his brows. "Really? May I?"
"Sure,"
Slowly, Bob moves his fingers to touch Bucky's vibranium arm. While he touches it, he looks at Bucky in awe. "Could you sense the touch?" he asks.
"Yes. It's bionic arm. I can sense all touch like a flesh arm with no delay." Bucky answers while he is sipping his coffee.
Bob nods his head and smiles. "Wow, cool."
There is a long silent between them. Bucky is reading something from his phone, while Bob is toasting a bread for his late breakfast.
"Do you have any plan today?" Bucky asks Bob.
"Me?" Bob responds in confused. "No... not really. How about you?"
Bucky thinks for a while, then he is shaking her head. "Nope. Just want to play with Alpine. Maybe want to take her for a walk this afternoon." He answers.
Bob is pouting his lips. "Uhm, well, actually, I think I'm having therapy today."
Bucky frowns his brow. "Again?"
"Yes, but not a counselling." Bob corrects him. "Actually, Dr. Sullivan gave me a homework to do art therapy before our next counselling next week."
"What kind of art therapy?" Bucky asks him.
"In sketch book. I don't know... he said that I can draw anything, freely. Just expressing what ever in my mind. It could be anything, could be a real art or just an abstract." Bob answers.
Bucky heaves a sigh. "Sounds lame."
"Indeed." Bob agrees at him. "I don't like doing art. I don't know... I'm worry about imperfection and hesitate at doing something like that. What if I mess up the art? What if this therapy not going to work out?"
Bucky is just watching Bob talking. Bob rarely talked that much, at least with Bucky. But it's different this time. He is sure, the therapy is work out. Bob is evolving.
Bucky asks him. "Do you need a company?"
Bob shows him a confused look. "A company for what?"
"To do your art homework. Whatever it is." Bucky answers. "I mean, I'm not busy today. I can accompany you to do that."
Bob is still confused. More like, he is surprised that Bucky is willingly to accompany him. "Really?" he asks.
"Sure. I'm also bored." Bucky assures him.
And here they are, seating facing each other in the coffee table at the balcony. Bob gives him a few pages of his sketch book that he got from Mel yesterday. Bob also gives him a drawing pen.
"What are you going to draw?" Bob asks him.
Bucky thinks for a while. "I don't know." He answers while raising both of his shoulders.
They are busy at their own drawing. Bucky is drawing random circles, while Bob is drawing a line. Bob is not really sure about what he is going to draw, but he is just keep on going.
"How do you feel lately?" Bucky asks Bob.
Bob glances at him for a while. "Pretty good. I'm into baking lately." He answers.
"Oh," Bucky replies. He remembers that Bob is making so many desserts these past weeks. It started with soft cookies, then panna cota, then banana bread for this week. "Your soft cookies is really good."
Bob shows him a wide smile. "Really?!"
"Yeah, it's good to be paired with coffee." Bucky answers. "Walker and Ava were also fighting for your cookies."
"Glad to hear that." Bob says. He is happy to hear the compliment. "Mel also said that. And she said Val also loved it."
Bucky grins at him. "Then it's really good, Bob. Keep going." He says.
Bob heaves a sigh. "But the banana bread was kinda failed I think. I could've done that better." He says. The banana bread was not that bad, but it was too densed.
"It's still edible. I've ever had the worst one. The burned one." Bucky says. Suddenly he giggles.
"Really? Who made it?" Bob asks.
Bucky shows him a thin smile. "My sister, Rebecca." He answers.
Bob stops at his drawing and stares at him. "I'm sorry, Bucky." He says. Kind of feeling guilty for bringing this topic.
"It's been a very long time ago. That's okay, Bob." says Bucky.
Sometimes, Bob forgets that Bucky is over 100 years old. He is much older than his father, or maybe still older than his ancestor. When the first time Bob saw him, Bucky looked extremely scary. He rarely smiled. Did not talk much. Even his stare could kill anybody. Bob couldn't lie but he googled Bucky's name and read all of history.
Bob saw his void. That dark time when he fell off the train. When he was a Winter Soldier. He was tortured by Hydra many times. But at the next day, after staying at the Watchtower for the first time, Bucky looked normal. As normal as he never experienced that in his past.
There was one time when Bucky found Bob almost transformed into The Void in the middle of the night. Bob had a nightmare and screamed. He couldn't stop dreaming about everyone's void. Bucky who had an insomnia was coming to his room and calming him. He hugged him and taught him to breath.
On the other day, Bucky also taught him how to do meditation. It actually helped Bob to remain calm and stay positive everytime he felt anxious. Bucky also taught him how to spar for self defense. Bucky taught him so many things that he never got from his parents.
"Bucky, can I be honest to you?" Bob opens up the conversation.
"Sure,"
"I was scared at you at the first time we teamed up." Bob says. He giggles a bit.
Bucky glances at him for a while, then continue at his drawing. "Because I was the Winter Soldier?" he asks.
Bob replies in panics. "No! Uhm, not like that. I mean-"
Bucky grins at him. "That's fine, Bob. I might be not him anymore. But I could never change the history."
"Still, you managed it so well. I couldn't imagine how much you suffered to be this stable." Bob says.
"Do you know that I stayed at Wakanda, right?" Bucky asks. Bob nods as the reply. "I was cryofreezed again for a few months. Then they healed me from the Winter Soldier spell."
Bob keeps on silent, listening to Bucky's next words.
"I might be healed from the spell, but as I said, I could never change the past. That past, haunted me everytime even when I closed my eyes. It felt like a living hell." Bucky continues. "I also went to therapy. Just like you, Bob.".
Bob looks at him. "Really?"
"Yes. It wasn't going out well at first. My therapist and I argued a lot." Bucky answers. "But I think, it improved each days. I finished my therapy pretty quick."
Bob nods his head and continues his drawing. "That's very inspiring,"
Bucky just looks at him and smiles. He couldn't lied, but Bob reminds him a lot of him. When Bob beated The Void, Bucky was the first one who noticed there was something wrong with him. It was giving him a major flashback, when he fought Steve and forgot everything about him.
"You are also improving, Bob." Bucky says.
Bob stares at him in confusion. "Me? Why?"
"You talk a lot. Just like this." Bucky explains. "You rarely talked before. You didn't even dare to look at me in the eyes."
Bob is scratching his head. "I used to talk a lot. But I lost my friends one by one. I was lonely for a very long time. Then I forgot how to communicate."
"Now, you are not alone anymore," Bucky says. "You can share it to anyone, Bob. Maybe you can share with Yelena, or Ava, or anyone that make you comfortable."
"I'm comfortable to be around any of you." replies Bob. "Well, sometimes Walker is rude. But at least, he made a good breakfast and dinner. Alexei is fun to play video game. Ava is... very nice and very protective. So does Yelena. And you are also very nice, Bucky."
Bucky chuckles. "You just told me that I was scary."
"It might be weird, but at many times, I got a father figure from you more than my own father." says Bob. "It's indeed weird, we just know each other for a few months. But still, it's true."
Bucky looks at Bob in blank stare. He can't lie, but he is sad to hear that. Bucky didn't have much memories with his father, he passed away so soon. But all he remembered from his childhood was the good memories. Bucky can't imagine how Bob was treated at his house to make him feel that way.
"I'm way older than your father. You could be my grandson, actually." Bucky jokes.
Bob laughs at his reply. "Yeah, you right."
"Can I ask you another question?" Bob asks Bucky again.
Bucky chuckles. "For many times, sure. Go ahead."
"How... do you sure... when you fall in love with someone?" asks Bob carefully.
Bucky glances at him and shakes his head. "You asked the wrong person for this one. You can ask Yelena and Ava at their crazy slumber party."
"I can't... because-"
"Because you fall in love with Yelena?" Bucky guesses him.
Bob bites his lower lips. "Uhm..."
Bucky raises both of his brows. "I knew it, Bob. From the way you looked at Yelena, we all knew it." He says.
"So it's obvious," Bob scratches his head again, feeling shy. "But uhm... I'm confused with my feelings right now."
"Why? What make you confused?" Bucky asks.
Bob pouts his lips. "Uhm... Is it possible to fall in love with two people at once?"
Bucky doesn't know how to respond, actually. Well... he used to be the one who familiar with all of this back then in 40s. But it's different now. Dating in 21st century is confusing for him.
"Feelings are crazy, Bob. Anything could happened." Bucky replies. "But still, as a gentleman, you have to choose."
Bob shakes his head. "I don't know, Bucky. He replies. "Well, uhm, you have a girlfriend, right?" Bob asks him.
Bucky raises his brows. Actually, Bob met Sharon two weeks ago, when Sharon didn't have a place to crash for a night and she crashed at the Watchtower. Only Bob and Yelena who found out about that.
"Yeah," Bucky replies.
Bob asks him. "What make you sure that she is the one for you?"
Bucky raises both of his shoulders. "It just happened, Bob. If you asked me how I am sure about that, I don't know." He says. "But one thing for sure, I want to protect her. I want to make sure she is alright and safe. I am happy every time she called. That is love, Bob."
Bucky frowns his forehead and turns at Bob. "Wait, you are referring to Yelena, and who is the other one? I don't know you met someone outside." He asks. Then he widens his eyes. "Oh, god, please don't tell me it's Ava... or... Walker?!"
"No, no, not Ava and Walker. Not even you or Alexei as well. Just to clarify." Bob is waving both of his hands in panic. "Uhm... there is another one..."
Bucky gives him that suspicious stare. "It's Mel, right?" he guesses.
Bob pouts his lips and nods his head slowly. "Is it obvious again?" he asks.
"Kind of," Bucky says. "Both of you had lunch together at the cafetaria recently. It's not weird, but kind of... odd? Well because of you, Mel didn't yap much about her works to me lately. It's great actually."
Bob just gives him a wide grin.
Bucky stops at his drawing. "Okay. Try to remember, which one of those girls who made your heart pounding the most?"
Yelena surely made Bob's heart pounded so many times since they met at the vault. But it also happened to Mel. When Mel praised his cooking, when Mel came at him everytime she felts overwhelmed with her works, when Mel tried to make him feel less lonely everytime the team went on mission.
"If I already know... Should I tell her what I feel?" Bob asks.
"It depends on you, Bob." Bucky replies. "Don't rush everything. I mean, take your time, Bob. But in the end, you have to choose. Whoever that is."
Bob shows him a thin smile and nods. And again, he got an insight from Bucky. "Thank you, Bucky."
And suddenly Alpine comes over. The cat is climbing the table and she curls into Bob's arm. Bob laughs, then he rubs her fur.
"Alpine likes you more than me. Sometimes I am jealous." says Bucky.
Bob giggles. "Sorry, Bucky."
"At least, you took a good care of her everytime I went to mission. Thanks, Bob." Bucky says. He takes Alpine away from the table and puts her on his lap.
"I love to play with her. And I'm very grateful that you adopted her. At least, I'm not that lonely." Bob replies. "And oh! Mr. Cucumber too."
Bob sighs. "Sometimes I feel sorry because I can't contribute to this team. I tried my best to take care of our dorm."
Bucky turns at him. "Do you feel outcasted by us, Bob?" he asks it carefully.
Bob is silent for a few seconds. "Uhm, not like I felt outcast by you guys... But I... You know... feel guilty? I feel like I'm useless. I literally lived here for free and did nothing." He explains it all.
Those feelings haunted him so many times. There was one time Bob felt like the team annoyed by his presence. Bob knew it was just his wild thoughts. But still...
"I actually tried so hard to control my self to turn into Sentry without triggering the void, so I can help you guys in missions. I tried, but I failed many times." Bob continues, then he focusing on his drawing again without looking at Bucky.
Bucky looks at him in blank stare again. "Do you know that you don't have to do that, Bob?" Bucky asks him. Again, he is deeply sad to see Bob feeling that way.
"I know, but... yeah, just feeling guilty." Bob replies. "I mean, Val expected me to be like that. So one day, I can join you guys."
Bucky shakes his head. "Oh, you are aware that none of us like her, right? We all hate her, Bob. She is one of the worst person that ever alived in this earth. So fuck her opinion." He says, deadly serious. "For your information, me personally, never ever feel that way. You are not a burden. And I am pretty sure the others also feel that way."
Bob lowers his head. "Why, Bucky? I did bad things. I'm not even worth saving. Even my own father is giving up on me."
"Listen, kid." Bucky looks at Bob with serious look. "I have done things worser than you when I was the Winter Soldier. If you are feeling that way, it means that I'm not worth saving either. So do Yelena, Ava, Walker, and Alexei. It doesn't work like that, Bob."
Bob turns at him. He is just going silent.
"Maybe we did bad things. Maybe we couldn't undone what we did in the past. But there is always a second change." Bucky lectures him this time. "Nobody deserves to be alone, Bob."
Bob can't lie, but he feels touched by Bucky's word. For the first time in his life, he doesn't feel left out. He is grateful to be surrounded by those people.
"Thank you, Bucky." Bob says, he shows him a thin smile.
Bucky puts down his marker. "I'm done. I don't know what to add anymore on my drawing." He shows Bob his drawing. It's literally just a bunch of random and messy circles
Bob giggles at his messy drawing. He also shows Bucky his drawing. "I don't know why, but I draw your vibranium arm."
"Wow," respons Bucky in awe. His drawing is pretty neat actually. "Never know that you are also good at drawing."
"Uhm, yeah, I liked reading comic book when I was a kid. I started learn to draw because I wanted to be a comic artist, but my father said it was stupid. Then I stopped." Bob says, he heaves a sarcastic laugh.
Again, Bucky shakes his head. "I hope I will never meet your father, Bob. I will punch him for sure if I meet him one day."
Bob smiles to hear that. Maybe, he never got a father figure from his own father. But Bob is still grateful for having a team mate like Bucky.
Bucky stands up and stretches his body. "It's almost lunch time. Do you want to eat outside?" he asks.
"Uhm, sure, if you want too." Bob replies.
"What do you want to eat?"
Bob bites his lips. Thinking about what he wants to eat for lunch today. "How about sushi?" he asks.
"Okay. It's sushi, then. Let's go." Bucky says as they walk from the balcony to the living room. Bucky puts Alpine at the cat house and feeds her with wet food.
Bob stops Bucky. "Wait, should we ask Ava too? She is asleep in her room."
"Ava!" Bucky calls her outside her room.
There is no respond.
"AVA!!!" Bucky screams like an angry mom. Bob laughs.
"WHAT?!" replies Ava inside her room.
Bucky yells back. "WE WANT TO EAT SUSHI OUTSIDE. DO YOU WANT TO COME?"
"YES. WAIT A MINUTE."
A minute means an hour. It’s not actually an hour, but it’s been 15 minutes.
Bucky turns at Bob who is laughing hard. “AVA! WE DON’T HAVE MUCH TIME! WE ARE STARVING!” Bucky teases Ava.
Ava is phasing out from her room. She seems ready to go. “I am here. So shut the hell up, grandpa.”
“You take too much time. Don’t you see Bob is drooling over sushi?” Bucky replies. “Let’s go, kids.”
Ava waves at Alpine. “We are grabbing sushi without you. Bye, Alpine!” Ava sticks her tongue out to tease Alpine who meows at her.
Bucky hisses at her. “Hey! Don’t you dare to tease her like that!”
Bob smiles looking at the both of them teasing and bickering at each other. Bob might know them in a short time, but he is very grateful to have them.