I hate you, don't I? - Stucky

Not the good kind of wall scene

The next few days were spent in exactly the same way as the entire month before. Unrelenting training with hours of weights, cardio and techniques to use on the field. That's not even getting started on the hours of lessons in past mission or military tactics. On top of that they had constant fights which altered the scoreboard. Steve stayed steady in his second place, but most of all, he'd spent the last few days avoiding Bucky.

Occasionally they would catch each other's eye and glare, but they hadn't got close to each other, and thankfully, hadn't had to fight again.

But it didn't help his mood. Steve was still just as mad and irritated as a few days ago and he didn't know why. He had avoided Bucky, done well in all his lessons and trainings and hadn't done anything to make him especially stressed. It must have been bad though, as Nat came up to him one evening with a huff and demanded they go to the pub. Mentioning something about needing to get some alcohol in him.

"Your turn to buy, remember", Nat says bluntly as she sits in their usual booth.

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten", Steve answered with a small, huffed laugh.

He quickly came back with three drinks, pushing one over to Nat and keeping two for himself, downing half of one in one go.

"Now this just confirms my suspicions", Nat spoke.

Steve just gave her a funny look and raised brow so she carried on.

"Something is definitely up with you. What is it?"

He shrugged like he had no idea what she was talking about and finished his first drink already before moving on to his second.

"Don't act like you don't know", she said. "We've been here all of thirty seconds and you've already finished one of those".

"You said you wanted to get some alcohol in me, why are you shocked?" He asked, but it was more of a rhetorical question and if anything he actually meant just drop it already. But, she didn't.

"Yea, to loosen you up. You've been stressed or something".

He sighed and knew he'd never get his own way.

"Yea, I guess I have. But theres no reason".

She rolled her eyes and immediately thought of Barnes.

"I told you, you should get a hobby. This takes up a lot of time but you need something that isn't textbooks or fighting".

"Like what?"

"I don't know", she thought. "What do you like doing?"

He was about to answer when he realised he wasn't sure. He spent so much time at school completing his work, then the same at college. And now, he spent all his time on the training that he wasn't sure what he liked. He could barely remember the last time he did something fun that wasn't an hour or two at this pub.

"I guess I used to like drawing, or maybe watching films?" He sounded unsure.

"Then get a sketchbook, or hell, just get a napkin and a pen and doodle!" She exclaimed. "And films are perfect/ having a stressful time? Pop on a film and give yourself a break".

He thought about it and she was probably right. He spent so much of his time trying to do everything perfectly, but he was pushing himself too far. He could still study and train, but it might be a good idea to take some time every now and then. Even if its only an hour or two.

"Now what's really bothering you?"

Steve bit the inside of his cheek. He didn't want to tell her it was still about Bucky. He should be able to get the man out of his head. But instead he spent every waking minute thinking about him. About his smug smile and stupid blue, glaring eyes.