the team doctor || bucky barnes

11.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴏɴɢ: ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʟʟꜱ - ᴄʜᴀꜱᴇ ᴀᴛʟᴀɴᴛɪᴄ

~

VALERIE HATED PARTIES.

Her social anxiety always kicked in when placed in large groups. Nonetheless, she knew very rich people would be attending, and she could always use contacts for research purposes.

In the last couple of nights, she had hooked Bucky up quietly, only experiencing one other nightmare. He didn't have much to say either, mostly just staring at her in an intense way that made her feel nervous. She was able to get some insight into his nightmares, typing up a report and emailing it to Nick Fury.

Not many words were spoken between the two.

Cut to Saturday, the day of the event. She had spent most of the morning in her office, treating Natasha's migraine and speaking to Sam about his potential date for the function. She was going to the common area to grab a coffee, however, when she heard her name spoken.

She knew that several members of IT were buddies with the team members and had met them in passing. One in particular, Cody (fitting name), had exchanged pleasantries a few times with Valerie when he would repair her lab computer on occasion.

She stopped in her tracks to quietly listen in.

"Do any of you gents have a date for tonight?" She heard Steve.

"I was actually planning on talking to Valerie tonight." Cody was heard. "I always was interested in her,"

"Sure, if you find cardigans sexy."

Her stomach dropped at the familiar raspiness that belonged to Bucky. She almost walked in but backed away out of humiliation. She didn't hear what was said next as she made her way to the elevator instead.

Heat rose to the back of her neck as the words he spoke echoed in her mind. She furiously tore through her closet, getting angry at the number of cardigans to prove him right tenfold. She finally settled her eyes on a piece in the very back of her closet, grinning as she held the fabric in her hands.

<>

An hour later, Valerie was ready.

She had put on one more coat of her lipstick before exiting her apartment. She was a few minutes behind, messaging Wanda that she would meet her at the party. As she rode the elevator to the recreational floor, she saw swarms of well-dressed people funneling into the room.

She immediately spotted Wanda's strawberry hair, making her way over with a glass of red wine offered by a standby waiter. She commenced in conversation with Wanda and Vision, occasionally bringing the glass to her lips.

From across the room, Bucky almost spat out his drink.

His eyes raked over her frame unapologetically. She wore a short black dress, the bodice fashioned like a corset and hugging her chest. Her hair was softly curled, elegantly cascading on her narrow shoulders. But what took his breath away was the deep shade of red painted expertly on her plump lips. All words he had been speaking to Steve disappeared into thin air.

She laughed at something Vision said, her head tilting back to expose her dainty neck. Bucky's lip found its way underneath his front teeth, snapping back into the conversation when addressed by Sam.

Valerie scanned the room, her eyes not looking for a home until they landed on Bucky. He talked with Sam intensely about something she couldn't make out. Her eyes fell to his arms, threatening to break free from the smooth sleeves of his black dress shirt. She leaned ever so slightly to guide her eyes down to his legs, covered by well-fitted grey slacks. He was clean-shaven for the event, a new sight from his usual stubble. She crossed her freshly-shaven leg over the other in an attempt to snuff out the growing heat she felt.