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Ava hums along to “Last Christmas” as she re-hangs ornaments on the tree. The team did most of the work already, but… she isn’t too happy with some of the placements. Whose ridiculous idea was it to put three sparkly gold baubles next to each other? It just isn’t working, and the visual clutter bothers her.
She pulls two of the baubles off and scans the tree.
There’s an empty space in the upper levels of the tree. Ava gets onto her tiptoes, stretching up high to get to the spot. She just can’t reach it though…
Sensing movement behind her, her body tenses instinctively. She almost turns around when firm hands land on her waist and lift her into the air.
A soft chuckle escapes her lips. Very few people can sneak up on her — and only one would dare pick her up.
Hanging the ornament onto her chosen branch, Ava smiles contentedly. “There.”
She finally turns her head, and her suspicions are confirmed. Bucky Barnes watches her with an awestruck gaze, one she still finds strange to be directed at her.
“Warn me next time?” she says, as he puts her back down. She gives the tree a once-over. There’s nowhere else to put the bauble in her hand.
“Where’s the fun in that?” he replies. Then he wraps himself tighter around her, until his arms are folded over her middle. Her fingers clasp onto his forearms.
“The tree looks good,” he says. Then presses a warm kiss to her temple, sending a tingling sensation through her. She hums noncommittally and leans back into him.
Neither of them make any move to let go, perfectly content to stay this way. Calm. Relaxed. Content.
Click! A camera goes off.
Ava phases out of Bucky’s arms and does a one-eighty, whipping around to find an incredibly smug Yelena holding her phone out. Ava sets a hand on her hip while the other lifts a middle finger up. The impact is considerably lessened by the offensively sparkly bauble hanging off her finger, though.
Bucky only sighs.
“If you came here just to bother us, get the hell out,” Ava snaps, though it lacks any real bite.
“Hey, hey.” Yelena lifts her hands in surrender. “Couple time, I understand. But we’re doing team time now.”
Ava raises a skeptical eyebrow. “Meaning?”
Bucky folds his arms over his chest. Yelena suppresses an eye-roll. Such judgment. Must be a couple thing.
“Look out the window,” she says grandly, gesturing to the full-height window of the common room. “What do you see? Perfect weather.”
“It’s snowing,” Bucky deadpans.
“What I said — perfect weather. The lake is frozen. So we’re going.” Without waiting for a response, Yelena turns to leave. “Make out or whatever you need to do, but be ready in ten minutes.”
Without hesitation, Ava launches the bauble at Yelena’s retreating head. It would’ve been a perfect shot, but the ex-Widow catches it without so much as a backward glance.
“Ava, you’ll hurt Bob’s feelings,” she sighs as she steps into the lift. She gives them a small wave and then they’re blessedly alone again. (Not that they have anything against Yelena — except her smug comments ever since they got together.)
“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” Ava starts, moving toward Bucky. Gently, she takes his hands in hers. “Just say the word.”
He squeezes her hands lightly. “You’ve never experienced a New York winter. Go without me.”
“I can experience it perfectly fine from here,” she says firmly. “I go where you go, dumbass.”
“Then we’ll go,” he replies just as resolutely.
“Don’t force yourself just for me to fall on my arse.”
A low chuckle escapes his throat. “Maybe I want to see that.”
She scoffs. “Please. You just wanna see John fall on his arse.”
“There’s that,” he admits with a smile. “But mostly it’ll be worth it if it’s fun.” Ever gently, he pushes a lock of her hair behind her ear. “For you.”
“You old sap,” she teases, tiptoeing and sealing his lips with a quick kiss. “Okay. We’ll go. But,” she raises a finger, “if it gets too much, you’ll tell me, and we leave. Got it?”
Her tone leaves no room for negotiation.
“Yes, ma’am.” He salutes lazily, a tender smile stretching across his face.
“Are you kidding me?” Yelena’s voice booms. They turn to one very annoyed assassin, with her arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently. “You two spent this whole time making eyes?”
“Yes,” Ava answers without missing a beat, grinning unapologetically.
Yelena sighs and pinches between her eyebrows. “Five minutes. Everyone else is already downstairs.”
Bucky and Ava lock eyes.
“We are not—” he starts.
“Race you!” She exclaims and phases away.
The vibranium-armed man sighs. He starts toward the lift, not even trying to win.
“What happens when you lose?” Yelena asks, walking beside him.
Bucky huffs in vague amusement. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
~
Snow falls in slow, lazy flakes, dusting the pavement and catching in Ava’s long eyelashes like glitter. She closes her eyes and tilts her face to the sky, like she’s soaking it up. The sun’s perfect right now, not too bright, not too dark. And it’s like she’s drawn to it.
Her hair’s up in a messy bun, some loose strands framing her face, and her outfit features a muted green fur coat. All this contributes to her overall softer look, but it feels like there’s something more.
She looks calm, at rest even. Like just being out here gives her peace. Bucky, on the other hand, tries not to grit his teeth through the memories that threaten to flood back in. But for her, it’s a small price to pay.
“You look… peaceful,” he says, partly to distract himself and partly because he’s actually curious.
Her eyelids flutter open, and a small smile softens her face even more. When their eyes meet, there’s something in her gaze that relaxes the tension in his shoulders minutely.
“I feel peaceful,” she agrees. “It’s… strange. I think it has something to do with the cold. Bill theorised it could compress my cells or make the pain better. Now we know.” A pause. “But also… I feel free. And I finally get to see snow.”
His brows shoot up. “First time?”
“When would I’ve seen it?” she teases. “Lab prison, remember?”
Something in Bucky’s chest tightens at that.
“Well,” he says quietly. “Then I’m glad to be here with you.”
She laughs softly, breath fogging in the cold air, and reaches for his hand without looking — like it’s the most natural thing in the world. He threads his fingers through hers, vibranium cool against her warmth. He lets her pull them toward the frozen pond, grinning despite himself at the bounce in her step.
The ice is covered in a thin layer of snow, which is kicked up in flurries as all sorts of people slide around. Children chasing each other, their parents watchfully making sure they don’t fall, even elderly couples holding hands and sliding across the ice slowly.
It’s all sweet. Lovely. But the laughter echoes in Bucky’s ears, distant and bright all at once. For the slightest second, his steps slow.
Ava feels it instantly. And simply squeezes his hand once, reassuring and grounding.
“By the way,” she says casually, eyeing the team a few metres away. “If I fall, you’re legally obligated to catch me. Boyfriend duties and all.”
That earns a breath of a laugh from him, which comes out surprised and just a bit shaky. “Is that so?”
“Absolutely.”
Tension leaves his shoulders, not completely, but it’s there.
They step onto the ice together.
It’s not as bad as he expected. There’s no long fall, no blood, no pain.
Maybe it has something to do with the weight of her hand in his, but his heart rate isn’t pounding in his ears.
Before he’s even fully processed this, Ava stumbles, clinging to his arm with a quiet yelp. Instinct kicks in, and he steadies her, hands firm at her waist.
“I got you,” he says, before he even realises he’s moved.
She looks up at him with a grin, eyes bright. “I know.”
And just like that, the ice doesn’t seem quite so dangerous anymore.
Hand in hand, they make their way over to the team. Bob’s trying to convince John to help him build a snowman, while Yelena’s (barely) stopping Alexei from telling random kids about Mother Russia.
She waves at Ava and Bucky when they walk over, glancing at their linked hands with a wide smile. She bumps her shoulder against Ava’s.
“So, you won,” she starts. “Your race.”
“Of course,” Ava huffs.
“What is the prize?”
A grin splits across Ava’s face. She turns to Bucky, hands still intertwined. Without warning, she tiptoes and presses her lips to his.
Surprise flashes across his face for a second, then his eyes close and he melts into the kiss.
Yelena gags and mimes vomiting, while the rest of the team’s eyebrows shoot sky-high.
“There’s children here!” John objects, but neither Bucky or Ava pull away. If anything, their kiss only deepens, Ava smiling into it.
The rest of the world falls away, Alexei’s comments and Bob’s sigh fading into the background.
Maybe this won’t be too bad after all.
~
“Hi.” Ava walks around the couch, a steaming mug in each hand. “Hot chocolate?”
She offers one of the mugs out to Bucky, who’s sitting on the couch, staring at the fireplace. His head snaps up to her, like he hadn’t noticed her approaching.
“Thanks,” he says, taking the mug.
She settles beside him, not too close — he looks overstimulated — but not too far either.
Ava wraps both hands around her mug, letting the warmth deep into her palms. The fire crackles softly, orange light dancing across the walls, outlining Bucky’s profile. His shoulders are still a little tight, jaw set like his mind has yet to fully relax.
After a moment, Ava shifts, nudging closer until their knees brush. When he doesn’t so much as flinch, she goes a little further, moulding into his side and resting her head on his shoulder.
He leans into the contact. Exhales, long and shaky, like he’s been holding it in.
“Hey,” she murmurs. “You were great today.”
He lets out a quiet huff. “Was I?”
“Mhm.” She tilts her head up just enough to look at him. “You got through it, didn’t you?”
That does the trick. His shoulders finally relax, tension rippling off him in waves. He shifts, wrapping an arm around her. She fits easily, like she always has.
They sit like that for some time; no words, no expectations, only each other, the mugs in their hands, and the warm fire. Outside, snow falls heavily, but he barely registers it. It doesn’t matter, not so much anymore.
After a while, Ava’s fingers find his, tracing slow, absent-minded circles over his knuckles.
“This is nice,” she says softly.
He presses a kiss to the top of her head, eyes closing. “It is.”
And if the rest of their lives look like this? He’d pray winter would last forever.