Mornings at the Sentinels Compound always start the same: coffee in your hand, James’s arm draped lazily over your shoulder, and Sam complaining about how no one ever refills the coffee pot. You and James exchange a look because you both know—without a doubt—it’s always Sam who leaves it empty. (©TRS0325CAI)

Then Katya clears her throat. “Grant and I are going to have a baby.”

You nearly choke on your coffee. “What?” Your voice jumps up an octave, and even you notice it. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

James turns to you, eyebrow raised. “Why are you talking like that?”

You shake your head quickly, waving a hand. “I—I don’t know.” You turn back to Grant and Kat, squinting suspiciously. “Wait. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Grant shrugs, looking only mildly guilty. “We didn’t think you could keep it a secret.”

Your mouth drops open. “What?! I am an excellent secret-keeper.”

James snorts. “No, you’re not.”

You whirl on him. “Excuse me?”

Katya smirks. “He’s right.”

“Okay, wow.” You gesture wildly. “I have so kept secrets! Right, Buck?”

James leans back in his chair, arms crossed, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “I’m the secret-keeper in this relationship.”

You scoff. “Says who?”

James just smirks. “Says the person who accidentally told Sam about Grant’s surprise party while standing next to Grant.”

“That was one time!”

Steve chuckles. “And then there was the time you told Tony what happened to his espresso machine.”

You groan. “Okay, fine. But Kat’s secrets—I have kept all of them.”

James tilts his head, glancing at Natasha. “What secrets?”

Your eyes widen slightly. Oh no. You put your hands up quickly. “Oh, no, no, Buck. I am not telling you because I am—” you point at yourself dramatically “—an excellent secret-keeper.”

James leans in, voice low and teasing. “You’ll tell me later?”

You roll your eyes, huffing. “You already know.”

His smirk softens, and his fingers brush against yours—because yeah, you and James don’t have secrets.