Roommates

Fake it till you make it

Bucky didn't know how she did it but Jamie's bounce back wasn't natural. The morning after she ended things with Thomas she wasn't in bed when he woke up. She wasn't even in the apartment when he went to search her out. He'd been worried at first until he noticed the large box of her ex's things was no longer sitting by the front door. Looking around he noticed other things that were missing leaving him to come to the conclusion she'd woken up some time in the middle of the night and cleaned out all of his stuff before either taking it to him or their friend Charlie.

How he hadn't noticed her not being next to him, let alone actually sleeping not only in a bed, but sleeping all the way through the night he had no idea. For the first time since he could remember he didn't have a nightmare and the only reason he could think of it was because of Jamie. Being next to her as he fell asleep surrounded by her things and her scent had him feeling as peaceful as he'd once been in Wakanda. Worried that he would start to depend on her for that feeling like a drug he resolved to not have a repeat of last night. Seeing what her and Steve's relationship had morphed into had him terrified to be in the same situation down the road. So he went through his and Alpine's morning routine like every day. For once he felt better than ever. Being well rested would do that to you. The only problem was this particular morning was a one time thing. Texting Dr Rayner that he needed an earlier session this week he went to make breakfast for himself and the fluffy feline at his feet.

What really threw him off this morning was the happy woman who came bounding through their front door dressed for running half an hour later. Hair tossed up in a ponytail to keep it out of her face, he watched as Jamie unzipped the green and black jacket that matched her sports leggings and Nike's. Carefully folding the sweat-dampened item, she set it on the table by the pantry door that led to the laundry room. Her chipper attitude left him feeling uneasy after witnessing her devastating heartbreak last night. "Morning Bucky. Sorry I left without saying anything, but you were sleeping so soundly that I didn't want to wake you."

"It's alright. I guess I really needed the extra sleep. Uh, how are you feeling this morning?" He hedged carefully, eyeing her warily as she pulled a Gatorade from the fridge and drank half the bottle before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

Shrugging she got out a fork to pick through the pan still partially filled with scrambled eggs. "Better than last night, but I still feel like shit. Before you keep giving me those pity eyes, I met up with Natasha and went for a run to clear my head after she dropped off Tom's stuff for me. Honestly it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Wait, that sounds horrible. What I mean is letting him go was the right call. I just didn't know until this morning." She tells him as she takes another large bite of eggs.

Sharing a look with Alpine who'd climbed up his leg he nodded. "That's a good thing I guess. I'm just worried about you is all. This all just happened and I know you still need to talk to Steve."

Huffing out a non-committal breath through her nose she swallowed her bite of eggs before spearing another large bite. At least she had an appetite he thought to himself. "I plan on talking to him today. I just want to get it over with because my anxiety is going through the roof. Besides, he's been waiting nearly six years for this conversation. It's the least I can give him. Also I can't stand not seeing him any longer, ya know."

He didn't. Not really. But he understood the sentiment that she was trying to convey. "If it helps to know, he's busy until later this afternoon. We've got a team building exercise that is a requirement apparently."

Laughing at the face of non excitement he was wearing she patted his back on her way to wash the now empty pan. "Oh come on. Those are always fun. What are you guys doing today?" She asked him curious about what they'd be up to today.