Hard to Love (Bucky Barnes fanfic)

Chapter 44

"No no no, the lights need to be higher!" Tony bellows at the set up crew before turning back to my half asleep form on one of the couches. "Look alive Hayes, I need you." He snaps his fingers motioning for me to follow him

"Uuuuggghh-" I groan, rolling off the couch and onto my shaky legs

They felt like half cooked noodles, able to hold me up but definitely wobbly and unsteady. Which is thanks to one sex crazed super soldier who took me round for round for round. Bucky went for a new high score with how many times he could bring me to orgasm in one night, last night I ended up losing count once it became double digits. I think it was eighteen, or somewhere around that. Don't even get me started on how sore my abdomen was from the constant flexing when I reached my O's

I conceal another pained groan, walking after Tony to one of the boxes full of decorations

"Help me hang up these ornaments." Tony opens the box to reveal ridiculously large colorful matte finished ornaments connected to some kind of thick fishing line as a wire

"Where you want them boss?" I ask, grabbing two of the colorful balls by their strings, one red and one silver

"Just toss them to me." Tony states as he clicks his heels together once, allowing his nanotech to crawl over his feet, creating boots from his suit

He activates them, flying up towards the rafters and signals for me to throw him one. I roll my eyes and look to my hands, focusing my energy to my palms. Each colorful ball gets engulfed in swirls of black smoke like clouds before I push them up towards where Tony was currently floating

We continue this routine all around the room in complete silence. The only time words were spoken between us is when Tony would ask if it looked good and I suggested he dishevels them to add more dimension to the room. He agrees and we continue the rest of the room without a word. It's not until we get to the last handful of ornaments that I decide to swallow my pride and break the tension between us

"Tony.. about the other day.." I look to the ground, unable to bring myself to look him in the eyes. I was disappointed with myself for allowing my emotions to rule out my actions. Especially towards Tony

"Don't worry 'bout it Hayes." Tony sighs out as he finishes the knot on one of the wires around the rafter

I shake my head, "No I need to say this." I fidget with my fingers, picking at my nails. "I'm sorry I... that I attacked you like that. I was pissed and-" I fumble for words, my nerves making it hard to make a sensible sentence

"Listen, don't sweat it. You're not the first to throw a hit my way. Ask Rogers, he'll tell you all about it." Tony's voice grows closer to me, indicating he was coming back down to the ground

I didn't need to ask Steve about his and Tony's big fight. Everyone here knows about it. Hell I'm pretty sure the whole world knows of it

Ironically enough, that fight was also to protect and defend Bucky

Let's just hope we can persuade Tony and win like Steve did

"But I shouldn't have done it in the first place. I was just so... mad. What you were saying about Bucky... it wasn't right and you know it. It hasn't been right for a long time." I take a chance to look up from my hands to find Tony back on the ground and standing next to the almost empty box of tree decorations a few feet from me

"I know.." Tony sighs out, ripping his eyes away from the box and meeting my gaze. He did look apologetic but I knew he was still very weary

"I wish you'd back off him. It was my choice that day. I'm... the way I am," I pause, lifting a hand and conjuring some of my power to my palm and into a tiny ball the size of a gumball, twirling the small object between my fingers, "because I chose to protect my team over protecting myself." I drop my hand and wave away the energy, looking up and around the beautifully assorted ceiling. My chest seeming to tighten as I awaited for Tony's response