It had been a few months since your sister rescued you from the red room and you joined the team.

At first, Natasha, your older sister, treated you like any new recruit: carefully, professionally, with just enough distance. Bucky was supposed to be the same. Then came the late training sessions and the quiet kitchen talks after everyone else went to bed.

Now you were secretly together. Nobody knew. Not Steve, not Tony, not Clint. Least of all your sister.

Tonight, the whole team was in the common room after dinner. Tony was arguing with Steve about the thermostat. Clint was upside down on the couch. Wanda scrolled through her phone while Thor told Bruce a very long story.

Bucky sat beside you, eyes on the screen, perfectly innocent. Then his knee pressed against yours under the table.

Across the room, Natasha looked up.