(OLD A/N) CRINGE CHAP, BUT NEW FRIENDSHIPS, 2 chaps in one day? Come on?

Probably 3 cus I've had a lot of this fic pre written ⁉️

ANYWAYS, I added the cutest flashback of Bucky and Ellie

ELLIE FOUND HERSELF FREQUENTLY sitting with Kamala and Bruno during lunch and in classes they had. They welcomed her, made her part of their little duo, that was now a trio. Her first friends.

"Hey El." Kamala said taking a seat beside her, while Bruno took a seat in front of her. El. A nickname they made for her, said it fitted her better.

"Hey, guys," Ellie responded, a smile spreading across her face. She still felt a little shy around them, but their warmth and openness made it easier each day.

"Got any plans for the weekend?" Bruno asked, opening his lunchbox and pulling out a sandwich.

Ellie shrugged, glancing at her own lunch. "Not really. Probably just hanging out at home, my dad likes to watch war documentaries, so I'll probably hang with him. Why?"

Kamala and Bruno exchanged a quick, conspiratorial glance before Kamala turned back to Ellie, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Well, we were thinking... if you're not busy, maybe you'd like to come over to my house tomorrow? We could hang out, play some games, watch movies, you know, just chill."

Ellie blinked, clearly surprised by the invitation. She had been enjoying their company at school, but this felt like a big step, a deeper level of friendship that she wasn't sure she was ready for-or deserving of. "Really? You want me to come over?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Bruno nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, of course! We'd love to have you. It'll be fun, I promise."

Kamala leaned in, her voice softening. "You're our friend, El. We want to spend time with you outside of school too."

Ellie's heart swelled at their words. She had always felt like an outsider, someone who didn't quite fit in anywhere. But Kamala and Bruno made her feel welcome, like she truly belonged. "Okay," she said, a smile breaking through her initial shock. "That sounds like fun. I'd love to."

"Awesome!" Kamala grinned, clapping her hands together. "It's going to be great, El. My mom makes amazing food."

Ellie nodded, feeling a warmth spreading through her chest. She had friends-real friends-who wanted to spend time with her. It was a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time, and she relished it.

As they dug into their lunches, the conversation flowed easily. Bruno started talking about a new project he was working on, something to do with a portable 3D printer he was building from scratch. Kamala chimed in with her own stories about her latest superhero fan fiction and the comic book she was drawing.

Ellie listened intently, fascinated by their creativity and passion. "You guys are really talented," she said, genuinely impressed. "I don't think I could ever come up with stuff like that."

Kamala waved off the compliment with a modest smile. "Oh, come on, El. Everyone's got their thing. You just have to find what you're passionate about."

Ellie nodded thoughtfully. "I guess so. I'm still trying to figure that out."

Bruno leaned forward, a thoughtful look on his face. "What do you like to do? Any hobbies or interests?"

Ellie hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "I like reading, I guess. And I've been trying to learn more about poetry I guess. It's... interesting."

Bruno's eyes lit up at that. "Poetry, huh? That's awesome. Maybe we can work on a project together for English, that's poetry. I've got tons of ideas that could use an extra pair of hands."

Kamala nudged Ellie playfully. "See? You're already finding your thing. We'll help you figure it out."

SCHOOL HAD ENDED, and now Ellie walked alongside her dad, his hands in his pockets as they talked. The air was warm with the promise of summer, and the streets were bustling with students heading home.

Bucky glanced down at Ellie, noticing the way her steps had a bit more spring than usual. She seemed lighter, happier. "So, how was school today?" he asked, trying to gauge her mood.

Ellie smiled up at him, a hint of excitement in her eyes. "It was good. Really good, actually."

Bucky raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Yeah? Anything special happen?"

Ellie hesitated for a moment, biting her lip before speaking. "Well, there is something I wanted to ask you."

Bucky's curiosity piqued. "Sure, what's up?"

Ellie took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "You know Kamala and Bruno, right? The friends I've been hanging out with at school?"

Bucky nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. He had noticed how often she mentioned them lately, and it warmed his heart to see her making friends. "Yeah, I've heard about them. They seem like good kids."

Ellie nodded eagerly. "They are. And, um, they invited me to hang out at Kamala's house tomorrow. We're going to play games, watch movies, just hang out. Can I go?"

Bucky stopped walking, turning to face her fully. He looked at her with a mixture of surprise and happiness. Bucky didn't think she was ready yet, but she was, and it made him smile. Seeing her take this step was unexpected, but in the best way possible. "You want to go hang out with your friends?" he asked, just to make sure he had heard her right.

Ellie nodded again, her eyes wide with hope. "Yeah, I do. I mean, if it's okay with you."

Bucky's surprise quickly melted into a broad smile. "Of course, it's okay with me, El Bell. I'm really happy you want to spend time with your friends."

Ellie's face lit up with relief and excitement. "Really? Thanks, Dad. I was kind of nervous about asking, y'know-"

Bucky reached out, ruffling her hair affectionately. "You never have to be nervous about asking me something like that. I'm glad you're making friends and finding your place. It's important."

Ellie beamed, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. "Thanks, Dad. It means a lot to me."

Bucky nodded, feeling a swell of pride and affection for his daughter. "You deserve to have fun and enjoy being with friends. Just promise me you'll let me know if you need anything, okay?"

Ellie smiled, her eyes shining. "I will, I promise."

Bucky smiled. Ellie had always been such a sweetheart, since she was a baby.

11 years ago

Bucky was lounging on the couch with his feet propped up, watching little Ellie play with her blocks on the floor. He couldn't help but smile at the intense concentration on her tiny face as she meticulously stacked each one.

An idea struck him, and he decided to see how his precious daughter would react to some playful trickery. He cleared his throat, then put on his best sad face and let out a dramatic, exaggerated sob.

"Oh no," he wailed, covering his face with his hands. "Daddy's so sad!"

Ellie's head snapped up, her eyes wide with concern. She dropped her blocks immediately and scrambled to her feet, her little legs carrying her swiftly to her father's side.

"Daddy?" she asked, her voice a mix of worry and confusion. She tugged gently on his sleeve. "Why sad?"

Bucky peeked at her through his fingers, trying hard to suppress a smile. He let out another exaggerated sob, making it as theatrical as possible. "Daddy's just so sad, Ellie."

Ellie's brows furrowed in deep concentration as she tried to figure out how to make her daddy feel better. She patted his arm and then, with a determined look, climbed up onto the couch beside him. Her little hands reached up to cup his face, and she leaned in close, pressing her nose to his.

"Don't be sad, Daddy," she said earnestly, her big blue eyes searching his for any sign of what was wrong.

Bucky couldn't keep up the act any longer. The sight of his tiny daughter trying so hard to comfort him melted his heart. He let out a chuckle and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head.

"Daddy was just pretending," he admitted, his voice filled with warmth. "I wanted to see what you'd do."

Ellie pulled back slightly, her little face a mix of relief and mild indignation. "You not sad?"

Bucky shook his head, still chuckling. "No, sweetie. I'm not sad. But you know what? You're the best little girl ever for trying to make me feel better."

Ellie's serious expression softened, and a big smile spread across her face. "I help Daddy."

"Yes, you did," Bucky said, tickling her sides and making her giggle. "You always make Daddy feel better, even when he's just being silly."

Ellie wrapped her arms around Bucky's neck, hugging him tightly. "I love you, Daddy."

Bucky's heart swelled with love. "I love you too, Ellie. So, so much."

As they settled back on the couch, Bucky couldn't help but marvel at how much joy his little girl brought into his life. With Ellie around, every day was filled with love, laughter, and the purest form of happiness.

ELLIE TOOK A DEEP BREATH AS SHE
rang the doorbell. Within moments, the door swung open to reveal Kamala, her signature bright smile lighting up her face.

"Ellie! You're here!" Kamala exclaimed, pulling her into a warm hug.

"Hey, Kamala," Ellie replied, grinning. "Thanks for inviting me."

"Of course! Come on in," Kamala said, stepping aside to let Ellie enter. "Bruno's already here, and we've got snacks and games ready."

Ellie stepped into the cozy living room, where she saw Bruno lounging on the couch, fiddling with some gadget in his hands. He looked up and smiled when he saw her.

"Hey, Ellie," Bruno greeted, setting his gadget aside. "Glad you could make it."

"Hi, Bruno," Ellie replied, feeling a slight blush creep up her cheeks. "Thanks for having me over."

Kamala led Ellie to the couch and handed her a bowl of popcorn. "We were just about to start a movie marathon. You down?"

"Definitely," Ellie said, settling in between Kamala and Bruno. "What are we watching?"

"Something epic, of course," Kamala said with a grin. "We've got a mix of superhero flicks and some classic action movies."

As the first movie started, Ellie couldn't help but feel a warm sense of belonging. Kamala's house was filled with the comforting scents of spices and home-cooked meals, and the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. Ellie and Kamala quickly found themselves bonding over their mutual love for superheroes, exchanging stories and laughs as they watched.

About halfway through the second movie, Kamala nudged Ellie with a playful grin. "Hey, I heard you like to draw. Can I see some of your stuff?"

Ellie smiled, pulling out her sketchbook from her bag. "Sure, I'd love to show you."

As Ellie flipped through the pages, Kamala's eyes widened with admiration. "Wow, Ellie, these are amazing! You have serious talent."

"Thanks, Kamala," Ellie said, feeling a rush of pride. "I mostly draw plants, I know, lame, plants are cool I think..."

"Hell yeah! Plants are so cool, Ellie!"

Bruno leaned over to get a better look. "These are really good, Ellie. Have you ever thought about doing something with your art?"

Ellie blushed again, feeling a flutter in her stomach. "I don't know. I mean, maybe someday."

"Well, you should," Bruno said earnestly. "You've got a gift."

Ellie smiled, grateful for the encouragement. "Thanks."

Kamala clapped her hands together. "Okay, I have an idea. Let's take a break from the movies and do something creative. How about a drawing challenge? We each draw our favorite superhero, and then we compare."

"Sounds fun," Ellie agreed.

"You're on," Bruno said, grabbing a notepad and pen.

The three of them spread out on the floor, each focused on their drawings. Ellie glanced over at Bruno, who was intensely sketching something. She couldn't help but notice how cute he looked when he was concentrating, his brow furrowed and his tongue sticking out slightly. She quickly looked away, hoping he didn't catch her staring.

Kamala, ever the social butterfly, chatted animatedly as she drew, sharing funny stories and making Ellie feel even more at ease. As they worked, Ellie found herself opening up more, sharing stories from her life with her dad and her own adventures.

After about twenty minutes, they all revealed their drawings. Kamala had drawn Ms. Marvel, her hero and inspiration, while Bruno had drawn Spider-Man, complete with web-slinging action. Ellie, meanwhile, had drawn Captain America, her dad's old friend and a hero she admired deeply.

"These are awesome!" Kamala said, admiring the drawings. "Ellie, your Captain America is spot on."

"Thanks," Ellie said, feeling her confidence grow. "I love your Ms. Marvel, Kamala. And Bruno, your Spider-Man is amazing."

Bruno smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Thanks, Ellie. I think you won this round, though. Your art is incredible."

Ellie felt her cheeks heat up again. "You guys are too nice. But this was really fun."

As the afternoon turned into evening, the trio moved on to playing board games and sharing stories. Ellie found herself laughing more than she had in a long time, the camaraderie and friendship she felt with Kamala and Bruno making her feel like she belonged.

At one point, as they were setting up a new game, Ellie felt Bruno's hand brush against hers. She looked up to see him smiling shyly at her, and her heart skipped a beat. She smiled back, feeling a spark of something new and exciting.

Kamala, ever the perceptive one, noticed the exchange and gave Ellie a knowing look but said nothing. She was thrilled to see her friends getting along so well and forming deeper connections.

As the night came to a close, Kamala's parents invited Ellie to stay for dinner. Ellie gladly accepted, feeling more at home with each passing minute. The meal was filled with delicious food and lively conversation, and by the end of it, Ellie felt like she had gained a second family.

After dinner, as Ellie was getting ready to leave, Kamala pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm so glad you came over today, Ellie. We need to do this more often."

"Definitely," Ellie agreed, hugging her back. "Thanks for having me. I had the best time."

Bruno walked her to the door, a warm smile on his face. "It was great hanging out with you, Ellie. We should all do it again soon."

Ellie nodded, feeling a flutter in her chest. "I'd like that. See you at school?"

"Yeah, see you at school," Bruno said, his eyes lingering on hers for a moment before he stepped back.

Ellie waved goodbye and started her walk home, she never thought she'd ever get friends.