Miss Velvet

4

Next morning in the common room.....

Steve is sitting at the table, reviewing the latest mission reports when Bucky come in looking frustrated. Steve looks up "where's Janell? Did she hit her expiration date?"

Bucky scoffs "yeah, she was getting on my nerves. Kept bugging me to sneak her to the stable because Vanessa won't let her ride that horse, Loxi"

Steve looks at him puzzled "who's Vanessa?"

Bucky sighs, "Vanessa, Victoria, Valerie, whatever, the horse lady. She won't let Janell ride her horse so we snuck over because I have access and she doesn't. Well, had access."

Steve tenses up "Her name is Y/N and Velvet is her nickname.
Had access? What did you do?"

Bucky looks down at his feet "I took Janell over there so she could take a ride on Luxi but we, uh, got distracted and Velvet caught us in the act. On her desk"

Steve runs his hand down his face "you've got to be kidding me. Jeez, Buck, you couldn't find a more discreet place?"

Bucky won't look up and rubs the back of his neck "well, see, Janell promised to pay me back for getting her into the stable and when she went into the horses stall I kinda lost my patience and we ended up in the office. Janell digs that kinda stuff, risk of getting caught and all, and said something about getting Velvet back. I was too busy getting her pants down to listen to most of it."

Steve just sighs and shakes his head "you better hope Velvet doesn't report you both to Fury. What did she say?"

Bucky shrugs "she said we were banished, whatever that means. It's not like I was lining up to go ride horses. She said something comparing her horse to my bike when it comes to other people riding them. It makes sense I guess.

Have you ever noticed how her face almost glows when she's talking about the horses and the work she does? Makes me wonder if there really is something to the horse thing."

Steve laughed "Did you just get heart eyes talking about Velvet?"

Bucky scoffs "No, what? No I'm talking about the horse stuff."

Steve shakes his head as he walks away to turn in the stack of paperwork "whatever you say, punk. Don't you have an appt this morning?"

Bucky groans, "yeah. I better get my coffee and go."

When Steve and Bucky meet up for lunch, Bucky still looks grim.

"How did it go with Raynor, Buck? Not great, I'm guessing." Steve asks

Bucky nods, "Yeah, she's recommended I go do the horse thing with Velvet. I told her that I was banished and she started writing in that damn notebook when I explained why. Then told me to figure out how to get unbanished. Said I should talk to Tony and Wanda about how working with her helped them. I don't even know where to start so I'm gonna go work out, clear my head."

Steve stops him "You know, Tony's party to celebrate Morgan's equestrian center is Saturday afternoon. Obviously Velvet will be there since she will be running it. You could try to make friends. Be charming without trying to get in her pants, she's really sweet and smart and a bit cynical about people. The blip did that to some people. I'm sure you can manage, just don't be a perv or a dick."

Bucky grins "what fun is that?"

Steve rolls his eyes and changes the subject to some potential upcoming missions to get Bucky's input.

Its been 4 days since Velvet spoke to Christina and she still hasn't figured out how she will work with Bucky without killing him or making an ass of her stupid crushing self. She tries to keep busy with her work, looking for a full time assistant and helping Tony, Pepper really, plan his grand opening of Morgan's equestrian center, tomorrow.