Following Team Orders (A Steve Rogers AU x F1)

Australia

After Saudi Arabia, Liv headed straight for Melbourne .  She didn't want to head home to California first before the race since the time change would mess with her head. Red Bull set her up close to where the track would be, and she took a couple of days to get over the high.  Bucky flew in a couple of days later, ready to go over numbers and video.

He moved into the bar of the hotel and saw Liv sitting at the bar, her long legs crossed dressed in a short, black flare skirt and a green blouse. She dark hair was loose about her shoulders.  Bucky gawked at her for a second. She was gorgeous and he was suddenly nervous.  She turned and saw him and smiled.  "Hey Bucky!"

Bucky moved and gave her a one arm hug. "Hey Bug, how are you?"

"Rested." She smiled radiantly.  "Exactly what I needed after the whirlwind of a couple of weeks."

"Hate to break it to ya, kid, but as the season goes, it just gets worse."  Bucky flashed his best smile.

"Well, you tell me what I need to know, boss." Liv shrugged and Bucky laughed.

"Alright let's get started."

Bucky pulled all the numbers and reviewed everything with her, tire pressures, fuel usage, speed, wind velocity, anything that could hinder or help in qualifying or the race.  "Look," he started, "it could mean nothing or everything with these numbers. Everything will change once you are on the track."

"It is different. I mean, moto and F3 are totally different from F1, I knew that but wow."

"I know what you mean." Bucky took a swig of his beer.  "But, let's leave it.  I wanna know more about my racer."

Liv smiled.  "Why? So, you can get a feel for me?"

"Kinda.  If I know you, what it's like when you sound frustrated or angry, it helps during a race.  You can communicate with me without saying the words.  And remember that radios can be translated on a broadcast because they can hear us."

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Liv looked at her crew chief.  "Alright fine.  How will you know what I sound like if nothing is frustrating me?"

"Easy.  Let's talk about something the frustrates you." Bucky cocked an eyebrow.  "Like Steve." He watched as Liv frowned at the name. "Thought so."

"Thought what?  That your best friend is a cocky, arrogant, petulant asshole?"

"Please tell me what you really feel."  Bucky laughed as Liv ordered a gin martini.

"He's just such a jerk.  He thinks he's better than everyone else which he is not.  He's good, I'll give him that but one day all that arrogance will bite him in the ass.  Someone just needs to knock him down a peg or two.  I mean, he has potential to be the next Vettel or Hamilton if he just utilizes and works with the team he's got."

Bucky's mouth hung open for a second as she finished.  She took a sip and then said. "What?"

"How do you know him so well?"

"Please, I know how all of these racers work.  My dad is a legend for a reason.  We studied F1 like some study football. Plus, you know, Ransom."

"What is the story with that douche?" Bucky signaled to the bartender for another.

"The story with Ransom is that I was 18 and stupid in love with him.  He swept me off of my feet.  Should have lied about my name and maybe I wouldn't have been used."  Liv drained the martini glass. "So here I am, finally living the dream at 28, and it has to be with my ex-boyfriend."

"Have you seen him since you came back?"

"No, thank God. He's lucky too.  Told him and that bitch I found him with that I would punch him the next time I see him."  She flashed a smile, but Bucky could see the hurt in her eyes. "Didn't realize that it would still hurt five years later."