The D in Apartment 23

“We thought you might want a threesome.” Natasha spoke out as she popped her head around Harry’s door with a cheeky smile as she held up the tub of Ben and Jerry’s cookie dough. Harry chuckled as Natasha and Wanda walked in the room armed with spoons and chick flicks as Harry snapped her book shut.
“You know what they say, two’s company; three’s a party.” Harry winked over at them causing all three of them to burst out laughing as they got on the bed with her. They all quickly got under the covers as Grease started playing. Harry had come around a day or so later after her surgery and Bruce was quick to tell her honestly the issues they were facing regarding removing the shard that had embedded itself in her muscle wall. After looking at her scans and x-rays Harry quickly gave her opinion on how she would do it as Bruce took on board her expertise. Shortly after Helen and Bruce were removing the foreign object and Harry soon came around to start her recovery. That had been 2 weeks ago, and, for most of the days when they weren’t working Natasha and Wanda were her company. Steve occasionally popped in, as did Sam; but, Harry was yet to see Bucky or Tony. She had sensed something had gone on from everyone’s feelings and body language whenever one of their names were mentioned. No one had brought the subject up of Bucky admitting to murdering her parents and for that she was grateful. She was so confused on how to feel, if she wanted to see him or kill him; she knew deep down it wasn’t the man she loved who had done that – she knew his horrific past and before finding out he was responsible for her misery she was the first person to fight his corner.
“Okay, so you are definitely Sandy.” Natasha spoke to Wanda laughing when the younger one frowned.
“Why am I Sandy?” She shouted as Harry laughed.
“Because your innocent like she is.” Harry jumped in quickly filling her mouth with ice cream.
“Well you’re Rizzo.” Wanda pointed accusingly at Natasha who shrugged, owning her character.
“That wouldn’t work though.” Harry jumped in again as both girls turned their head to look at her questioningly. “Bruce isn’t anything like Kenickie.” She shrugged trying not to laugh as Natasha punched her arm. “Ow!” Harry laughed elbowing the spy, “Please Natasha whilst I was out of it and you were on bed watch with him I was scared to wake up! Your little therapy sessions and compliments to each other. I thought for sure the sexual tension was going to interfere with the satellites.” Harry commented, using the saying Natasha had done to Bucky all those months ago. “Please act on it.” She looked over at the red head; Natasha seeing the genuine encouragement of her now best friend.
“We’ll see.” She commented grabbing the spoon and taking the biggest scoop.

They carried on watching the film all cooing and awing at the typical cute parts, acting out a side that they would never show the guys when the door opened and Tony stood there. The atmosphere immediately changing as the tension rose. “Oh, I thought you would have been on your own.” He commented nervously, something Harry wasn’t used to seeing Tony acting as. The girls looked over at their best friend who smiled over at the billionaire.
“This is where these two skive off to when you are all working.” She smiled as Tony returned a forced one. “You better get back to work, you’ve been caught.” She told them, her underlying tone telling them she’ll be okay. They both got off the bed carefully, leaving the ice cream on the side for her, making their way over to the door Harry didn’t hear Natasha’s threat to Tony that if she got upset because of him she would put the ‘Dummy’ hat on him. Harry watched as Tony hovered at the door silently as she bit her lip; she had a feeling she knew what this would be about.
“You can sit down.” She broke the silence as she watched him take a seat at the side of her bed.
“How you feeling?” He asked the question he knew he should start off with.
“In pain but nothing that won’t heal. Turns out you don’t need me here; Doctor Banner and Helen are more than capable.” She laughed a little attempting to sit up further but hissing in pain. Tony’s eyes instantly shooting up to her as she shook her head when she saw him sit up to help her. “What’s wrong Tony?” She asked once she’d had gotten comfortable, she looked over at him and saw his struggle on how to say what he needed too. “Your battling with yourself to put it nicely, tell me frankly I won’t get upset.” She promised as he nodded a thanks smile covering his lips.


“What are you going to do about Bucky?” He asked the question everyone wanted to know the answer too, but, was scared to ask. Harry paused for a moment thinking of the answer.
“I don’t know.” She whispered looking down at the covers.
“Can I share a story with you? It might help.” He asked her as she nodded her hands twisting in nervousness.
“Back when the team got torn apart I found out he’d killed my parents.” Tony started; this part of his life he’d never spoken about. “I wanted to kill him. I even tried, blew his arm off and everything, but it didn’t feel right. Later on in the year I attended the hearing about whether he should be held responsible for his actions or not. Obviously up until that point I was all for throwing him in a cell and never letting him out.” Tony being brutally honest about the whole thing for the first time.
“What changed your mind?” She asked carefully.
“What they put him through. There was a video of one of his mind wiping sessions and it was” he paused remembering the silence that Bucky had held despite the torture, “he was silent. He was so used to it that he just took it. I’ll never trust him a hundred percent; but, the man who did that to my parents isn’t that guy. He’s even saved my life a few times on missions.” Tony told her truthfully as she bit her lip, her thoughts sending her head into overdrive.
“I just don’t know how to move past it. He killed my” Harry started, but, Tony finished her sentence.
“Mom.” The simple word causing Harry to break down. He quickly got up and sat on the bed at the side of her as he hugged her to calm her down. “I know it’s not my place too say, and when I found out what he’d done there was no one who wanted to kill him more than I, but let him explain. He’s been suffering just as much as we have.” Tony whispered, he couldn’t believe he was fighting Bucky’s corner after everything he had done.
“How’s he been?” She asked after she’d calmed down, Tony taking a few steps to the door.
“A mess. He’s been staying outside your room every night making sure none goes in who shouldn’t be. He’s not sleeping from the nightmares. Not eating, I’m not fully sure he’s showered.” Tony told her truthfully as she nodded.
“Thank you Tony.” Her simple words caused him to smile over at her, feeling better he’d shared his experience with her.

Harry had this planned, she’d strategically placed her glass on the edge of the cabinet, using the remote dial to turns the lights down she waited until the red lights of the clock flashed 02:30 before making her move. She felt over feeling for the glass and knocking it off causing a loud shatter to ring out in the otherwise silent room. She waited for what felt like forever before she heard heavy footsteps in her room, pausing once he got in full view; the lack of light concealing him just like the morning she helped free him from the wall. “Buck?” Her soft voice sounded out in the room, her dip indicating her emotions as she stared at the figure, his watery blue eyes staring back at her.
“I heard glass breaking, is everything okay?” He asked her monotonously, not wanting to be betrayed by his emotions. He’d decided to be a shadow in her life just like he did when Wanda wiped her memories for him.
“No. I need you.” She whispered, her tears falling as she turned the lights up to see and unshaven, tired and drained looking Bucky. “I need you to hold me. Please.” She begged.

Notes