Archive of Our Own ^beta

Bucky and the rest of the team dragged their feet into the living room. Another day, another mission. Everyone was exhausted. All they needed was five minutes just to close their eyes and rel—

"You guys have about 2 minutes before Valentina walks in with your next assignment," you announced and every single person snapped their eyes open.

"Oh, c'mon, when the hell did you get here?" John groaned. A little down the couch, Ava grabbed a throw pillow to cover her face.

With his eyes opened, Bucky could see you standing at the threshold with your trusty tablet in hands. Unlike him and everyone else, you stood in crisp and neat clothing, hair definitely put together, ready to work like always. You always were.

"I'm not kidding. She's on her way," you repeated and walked a few steps into the room, your heels clicking behind you.

"Y/N, we just got back," Yelena groaned. She laid on the sofa chair, her legs dangling over the armrest. "You should tell her if she walks in here with another stupid assignment, she runs the risk of being thrown out the balcony."

You smirked. "That would be very un-Avenger of you." You walked up to them at the couches and took in their rugged and worn out states. "I'm sorry, I wasn't able to hold her back. She says it's important."

"Every mission is important, according to her!" John exclaimed.

"This one's easy. Alexei already took off to take the lead."

A collective groan left everyone's mouths.

"Of course he did," muttered Yelana who closed her eyes. "Ten minutes. I want ten minutes to take a nap. Is that too much to ask for, y/n?"

"Guys, it's not y/n's fault," Bucky cut in, earning your appreciative nod. "Valentina works her as much as she works us."

God knew that y/n had to deal with Valentina's crap almost as much as the team did. You were the 'new avengers' publicist and more than that, Valentina's coordinator for just about everything. Anything that had to be done went through you, and you always got it done.

"Minus the deadly fighting stuff," you added. "But I do work very hard, thanks Bucky. I'll see you in a bit?"

Bucky nodded at you. "We'll be in the meeting room in ten."

You smiled. "Thank you." She eyed the rest of the team before leaving.

As soon as you were gone, the rest of the team started groaning again, throwing multiple jabs at Bucky for his interference.

"You always do this!" John exclaimed.

"Stop dragging us into your love life!" Ava's muffled cry was perfectly heard by Bucky.

"Seriously, Bucky, if you like her, take her out on a date. Don't give us more work to do just to get on her good side!" Yelena gave Bucky a stink-eye.

"What?" Bucky looked at all of them annoyed. "She just told us that we had work—"

"That's her job, she's always going to tell us we have more work," said John, deadpanning Bucky. "But we would really appreciate it if you got on her good side without dragging the rest of us into it."

Ava raised a silent thumbs up beside him.

"Okay, you're all stupid and we have work to do. Now hurry up," Bucky got up and walked past them, kicking Ava's leg that was dangling off the couch.

She pulled the pillow off her face, revealing glaring eyes, and sat up. "Seriously? We don't get those 10 minutes?"

"Let's go!" Bucky called.

True to your word, Valentina had arrived within the next 2 minutes and was waiting for the team in the conference room. Bucky could hear her start complaining to y/n about their tardiness and how incompetent it was from your part.

"Knock it off, Valentina, we're here," he said as he walked (faster) into the room. He hated hearing Valentina talk down to you. She liked to think that everything could be done perfectly without you when everyone knew that by herself, Valentina couldn't do three things in a row without messing up.

Bless your heart, though, you never complained. You were used to it and usually brushed off the snide comments.

Bucky, however, never forgot each comment. It was why he always tried following your instructions and plans on the first go, why he always made sure that everyone else never gave you a hard time for all the work you asked from them. You were the sweetest, most professional person he had ever known and you only deserve the best.

So…maybe he did like you a little bit. He thought he was a little more subtle about it but according to the others, he wasn't. Still, you never seemed to catch on so maybe he wasn't all that obvious.

Valentina presented their newest mission, which in truth wasn't that bad as the one they had just come from. It was a simple collection mission with an estimated short time duration. They would be back in two days tops. No one was happy about it but they each went to shower and get ready.

You were in the living room again going over a few details on your tablet when Bucky re-emerged freshly changed. You looked up from the couch with a kind smile.

"You're looking better," you remarked, "Sorry you have to hop on another plane again."

"Not your fault," Bucky said, coming over to you. You straightened up and shifted to face him once he sat down. "I don't think you're in charge of the mission schedules."

"The rest of the team seems to think I am," you said, scrunching your nose. "Trust me, if I was, I'd be spreading them out way better than Valentina."

"They're idiots, trust me," Bucky said, and you chuckled softly. He smiled at that. You were very pretty when you laughed.

"If you need anything, let me know," you said after a while. "I'm making the weekly order tomorrow. Bob's requested more frozen fruit for smoothies. He's really into them right now. I won't tell you what Yelena requested."

Bucky smiled with you and agreed it was best to keep that request a secret. "What about you?" he asked suddenly and caught you off guard.

"Huh?"

"What about you? What do you need this week?"

You blinked at the question and chuckled out of sheer confusion. "I don't really — I don't really make personal orders. Val would kill me if I used 'Avenger' money for my own needs."

"But you're here like 24 hours anyways. You should get what you need and leave it here. What's your favorite go-to snack?"

"It doesn't really matter, Bucky…"

"Yes, it does. C'mon," he gave you a little gentle nudge on your side, "first thing that pops into your head. What is it?"

You gave it very little thought, honestly. "The apple-cinnamon fig bars from the Nature's bakery brand."

"See? You should add those to the list!"

"I'm-I'm not doing that, Bucky," you insisted, "Valentina would literally kill me."

"Over fig bars? You've stayed at the tower anyways when we're all working late."

"Exactly, for work," you reminded, though memories of late night movies with the team and take-out dinners didn't exactly fit with the 'work' idea. "Usually anyways…"

Bucky knew what you meant and chuckled. "C'mon y/n, you and I both know that this team — Valentina herself — would not be able to function without your hands."

You flushed and chuckled, this time very, very nervously. "I mean…that might be a little bit of an exaggeration. I can't do half the things you guys can. Not even a quarter of it, actually."

"Brains over bronze any day," said Bucky clearly. "And you definitely have the brains, y/n. Don't let Valentina tell you otherwise."

Your flush grew stronger and you found the only way to fight it was by ducking your gaze and focusing on your tablet. "Thanks, Bucky."

The sound of footsteps and indistinguishable murmuring broke the moment. Bucky and y/n looked over just as the team started coming in. Soon, the team was gone and the tower was empty again.

These were, as you called it before, 'slow days'. You wouldn't say it out loud but you came to miss the chaos that the new Avengers typically brought on a daily basis. Whether it was the usual arguments between Ava and John, Alexei's constant pushes for "more advertisements", Ava and Yelena finding ways to ruin John's day, or poor Bob trying and failing to keep the peace amongst them — it was always chaotic, never boring.

The slow days were just that — slow. This was the time where Valentina pushed you even more to have things ready for when the team returned. These were the 'behind the scenes', if you will.

Unbeknownst to the team, these were also the days you spent the most time in the Tower. You definitely slept over sometimes, which was why Bucky's suggestion of adding your own personal things to the list was more present in your head than ever.

You would love some snacks right now, but God knew how much John would explode if you touched any of his things. Ironically, he was the one who ordered the most snacks. Bob, on the other hand, wouldn't mind if some of his things went missing. You would replenish it in the next weekly order.

~ 0 ~

The team was in and out of the tower after their last mission. They spent possibly about a day or two before they were shipped off again. You, unfortunately, missed out on seeing them.

When you finally returned, you found Bob reading a book in the lounge room.

"How fortunate we are to see you out of your little cave," you joked on your way in.

He peered up from his book with a grin on his face. "It's not that sunny today." He made a slight nod at the windows. He preferred to put himself up in a sunny spot when he read. It made things feel less…cooped up.

You glanced at the windows covered in rain. It had not stopped raining the whole day, making things feel about ten times more gloomy. "Yeah, I know," you sighed.

"Where've you been?" Bob said, propping himself up more on the couch. "The team was here for a bit, Bucky asked for you."

"He did?" You tried not to let the excitement be so evident on your face. To help, you made a beeline for the kitchen. "Did he, uh, need something?"

Whether or not your efforts of casualness were decent, Bob didn't poke at it. He just answered simply. "Think he wanted to tell you something."

"Me?" You came up to the cabinets for a drink. That was up for grabs for sure. "About the team?"

With the cabinet doors blocking your face, you missed Bob shrugging from the couch.

"I don't know. I didn't really ask. Sorry!"

"It's not your fault, Bob. If it was important, he would've left me a…message…"

Bob noticed the sudden pause in your words. He tried peering as much as he could on the couch without falling but he still couldn't catch your face. "Something wrong?"

You had frozen for a moment, eyes catching the familiar green snack box. Apple-cinnamon fig bars. Your hand reached out for the box and pulled it off the shelf. "Bob…" You closed the cabinet doors, "Did you order these?"

Bob saw the box in your hands and immediately shook his head. "No, why?"

"No reason…" You set the box down on the counter and stared at it for a long while.

Bob thought you were acting weird but he didn't want to be rude and point it out. He picked up his book and pretended to read, his eyes glancing up from it every second or so to keep watching you.

You picked up the box again and turned it around. Your name was written on it in a black marker. You recognized the handwriting instantly. You had definitely not ordered them, but you had an inkling suspicion of who had.

You felt the stupid grin spreading across your face. Something warm blossomed in your chest at the same time. It was dumb as hell, feeling like this over a little box with 6 bars inside.

So what if Bucky ordered them for you?

So what if it meant that he had thought about you in the short period he had returned from his mission?

So what?

Bob, who had been staring at you from the top of his book silently, finally gathered the courage to call your name (gently). "You okay?"

With a face on fire, you met his gaze and nodded fervently. "Yup! Aha! Just — you want a snack, Bob? A drink? A—?"

"Pretty sure I probably shouldn't be drinking…" Bob reminded her awkwardly, prompting you to enter a stammering phase.

He thought you were acting seriously strange going through the kitchen trying to come up with a good snack for him. He didn't even pick up when you asked him when Bucky was supposed to get back from this new mission in such a nervous-y voice.