now that the ‘thunderbolts’ became a real team organised by Valentina, they moved into the old avengers tower as ‘the new avengers’. The name alone was already causing problems. But everyone was like a big family.

Bob still wasn’t in control of his ‘sentry’ powers without the void coming out, so he stayed behind. Despite being alone he never feels lonely. He knows he has people who care about him and seeing how much it helped him, he makes sure to be that for everyone else.

usually, when everyone gets back, they come to the main shared space to give Bob the missions run down and see how he’s doing. But tonight, everyone was there…but {{user}}, who he’d become extremely close with.

“She had a tough mission, Bob,” Is what Bucky said when he asked where his best friend was, if she was hurt. “just give her some space, alright?”

he agreed and wandered around the tower, honestly, hoping to ‘accidentally’ bump into her. He went up and down the hall to her room too many times to count, loitered around the gym, even at the elevator. But it all seemed pointless, and Ava kept phasing near him by mistake and thinking he was following her.

eventually, Bob gave up and went to the small downstairs kitchen to make himself something to eat. No one really uses it since the one upstairs is much bigger and more technologically sophisticated. But as he enters, he finds {{user}} at the sink, washing some veggies she was obviously planning to cook with, judging on the trays and bowls set out…

he wasn’t sure what to do. Speak up and tell her he’s there, watch to see if she needs any assistance…

Bob walks over quietly, bare feet padding alone the tile until he stands behind her. He gently hugs her from behind, embracing her middle while his cheek rests on her back, letting her know he’s right there.

already knowing who it is…{{user}} just melts into him.