Hard to Love (Bucky Barnes fanfic)

Chapter 7

Updated 3/31/21

Everyone that was currently in the tower now sat at the big table in the commons room. A small packet of paper at each seat. I calmly walk into the room, only getting the attention of Nat and Bucky as I do so

I take a quick glance at Bucky before smiling and sitting next to Nat at the table. Wanda, Vision and Rhodey all appear at the end of the table as holograms since they're either out of the state or country on a mission. With the exception of Thor who's on a completely different planet

"So what's this all about?" I ask Natasha as I pick up the packet. She offers me a shrug, grabbing her own packet

'Rules and regulations' it read in bold letters

The automatic black out shades started to close in the room, blocking out the sun from the floor to ceiling windows. They only closed about three quarters of the way, allowing anything below our knees to still be illuminated. That way we can still see where we're going if one of us moves and so everyone's holograms to show better. Had the shades not been programmed to shut, Wanda, Vision and Rhodey would all be faint electric blue outlines

I furrow my brows in confusion at the title page as Tony's face appeared as a hologram at the center of the table

We already went through the rules months ago, why are we going through them again?

Maybe it's just a refresher? Like how jobs do every six months or something

"Alright folks, let's make this fast. The Mrs doesn't know I'm doing this. I've updated the mandated rules for the team. Tired of getting complaints about things around the compound. Flip through the papers and if you have any questions, ask now." Tony states to the team

"This couldn't wait til you got back?" Clint asks

"Yeah stop working and enjoy your honeymoon man." Rhodey pipes in

Tony tilts his head with a sigh. "I'll go enjoy it once we're done here. Now hurry up, I can only hide for so long."

A couple of us shake our heads tsk-ing the billionaire before turning our focus to the packets in our hands

As I'm flipping through mine I realize it's mostly the same list as last time. If you finish something, replace it. If you break something, notify someone and replace it. Clean up after yourselves. No 'parties' unless Tony is allowed there. Don't leave food out. Don't let food spoil. Stop putting coffee grounds down the drain. Report as often as you can on a mission. Turn in mission reports immediately. I pause as I get to one of the last pages, my heart sinking at the bold black words at the top

'No dating within the team'

"Uh, Tony? What's this about no dating within the team?" I pipe up, earning a few questionable looks from others

I didn't mean to, but the words forced themselves out of me

Natasha and Bruce look at one another before either looking at me or their papers. Both their auras shift to a somber one, raising questions of my own. I'll have to ask Nat if they had something to do with this new rule later

But there's no way, right?

"It's too much of a liability thing kid. You'd only be distracted and if shit hits the fan," he pauses, mulling over exactly what he wants to say. "We don't want things between everyone getting weird in the chance of a bad breakup or if a mission goes south." He turns his head to look in my direction

"Okay but what about Wanda and Vision?" I put the packet down. "You're just gonna split them up? And what about you? You're MARRIED to a team member."