1941 {Bucky Barnes x OC}

14.

The following several weeks pass in a blur. Between the two of us much of that time is spilt up between work, training and sleep.

Bucky's championship fight grows closer and closer. The closer that it grows the more time he spends training and riled up, as if he's holding back.

Almost daily, we part ways after work and he goes to train for a couple of hours.  He spends much of the weekend planning his training and dieting for the week ahead. Whenever he arrives home from training he is exhausted, he showers and then eats and snuggles me until we sleep.

His thoughts are consumed with planning for the match. Not how he'll fight but just how and when he will finish the fight. Nothing past that.

On Wednesday night we plan for a group dinner, Steve and I cook then wait as the meal grows cold and I shrug. "He's probably at the Y and forgot. Let's just eat."

"Okay, sounds fine to me." Steve nods quickly then stuffing his mouth with food. Dammit Bucky. You're supposed to be here. I haven't been alone with her since I saw her...

"Does he normally get this intense before a big match?" I ask. "I mean I know it's this weekend, but it feels very intense."

"He usually takes the last 2 days before the match easy. But the couple of weeks leading up to that? Usually like this. This is the most intense I've seen him so far." Steve explains.

"Hasn't he fought Frank before?"

"He has. I'm not sure why the big deal this time..." he shrugs. He avoids eye contact as best he can. It feels wrong to look at her too much. I've seen too much. Every time I look at her I just see her in that stunning emerald green lace.

Dinner remains relatively quiet aside from idle chit chat.

As we tidy the dishes Bucky comes in the apartment. "Hey doll, Want to catch a shower?" He calls on his way into the kitchen. He's already removed his shirt as he enters the kitchen. "Steve!" He says in shock. A moment of realization crosses his face. "Oh guys I completely spaced on dinner tonight! I'm sorry!" God I'm ready for this match to be over. He thinks while rubbing his hands on his face.

"It's fine love, we figured you were training again." I say as I continue putting away dishes.

"I'm sorry doll..." he comes and wraps an arm around my waist then pecks my cheek. "Steve, I'm sorry too." He gives Steve a knowing glance. I hope they weren't too uncomfortable. I want to be done already, I'm missing too much.

Steve and I both nod in response to Bucky.

"After this weekend... I think maybe I'm done doing this competitively." He tells us causing us to both snap our heads in his direction.

"What?" Steve asks.

"Why?" My jaw drops. "You love this."

"The anger and the drive just aren't there for me anymore. I'm pushing myself so hard trying to find it but it's just not there." He shrugs. What a weight off my chest finally. 

"I'm sorry love." I take his hand.

"It's good, I'm happy. So happy that I can't find the anger anywhere to fight." He laughs. "I still love boxing. It's fantastic. I just don't have the same drive for it that I did a few months ago..."

"A few months ago..." I nod in understanding.

"When you were seeing Dolores..." Steve nods as well.