the team doctor || bucky barnes (EDITING IN PROGRESS)

24.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴏɴɢ: ɢʟɪᴛᴄʜ - ᴛᴀʏʟᴏʀ ꜱᴡɪꜰᴛ

"𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞?"

~

VALERIE'S NOTES DIDN'T MAKE SENSE. 

She was beginning to fall back on her research regarding psychosis. She'd been so wrapped up with the sleep experiment and various team projects that she barely had time for it anymore. Part of her felt like she was letting her mother down. The other part of her wondered if it was time to close that chapter. 

Her thoughts, however, went elsewhere as she received a letter in the mail. It had no return address, sparking her curiosity. Once it was delivered to her lab, she ripped it open. 

Valerie, 

I'm not sure how to begin this letter. There's no way to sufficiently explain my regret for taking so long to write this. There is no easy way to say this, so here goes: My name is Nikolai and I am your father. I have moved to New York City recently, and I always promised myself if I ended up here I would find you. I don't blame you if you tear this message into pieces and throw them away. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I didn't at least try. 

If you would like to write back, the address is enclosed in the envelope. No pressure. 

Sincerely, 

Nikolai 

She stared at the letter for what felt like ten minutes. She read it so many times she could probably recite it. She didn't even know what her father looked like, much less his name or where he was even from. 

She began to grow angry. Why now, of all times? He had almost three decades to find her. Also, who still communicates by letter? She ripped the letter in half, tossing it in her trash bin. She stared at the bin, chest heaving in anger. Then, she thought of her grandmother. 

Grammy, young Valerie had asked, why don't I have a daddy? 

Everyone has one, honeybee. Some daddies just...don't know how to be one. But remember one thing, that has nothing to do with you. You are exceptional, Valerie. 

Will I ever meet him? 

That, I don't know, honeybee. 

She knew if her grandmother was still alive, she would preach forgiveness. She walked back over to the bin, picked up the letter that was now in two, and placed it on her countertop. She then picked up her cardigan off her chair and left her lab. 

She walked out of the tower, met with the crisp chill of the city. She walked down the street, making it a couple of blocks until she reached a small coffee shop. 

She instantly saw Cody's bright blonde hair sitting at an outside table. She waved, making her way over to sit down next to him. 

"Hi," He greeted. 

"Hey, Cody," 

He handed her a small coffee. "Got this for you,"

"Oh, thank you!" She smiled. 

"So, you said you wanted to talk?" 

"Yes," She sipped the warm beverage. "I wanted to tell you how much fun I've had with you," 

"Uh oh," He chuckled. 

"No! I really have. I just wanted to tell you, straight forward, that I don't see us going any further." 

"I'm sorry to hear that," His smile slightly faltered. "Is there any specific reason?" 

Her hands fidgeted around her cup. "I've, uh, started kind of, I don't know what to call it, really--"

"You're seeing someone else," Cody said, almost too knowingly. 

"Yes." She replied, not even sure of that response. 

Was she seeing Bucky? They were certainly seeing each other. But on an emotional level, she was still very confused. She just prayed Cody didn't ask who. 

"I kind of had a feeling." He admitted. 

"I'm sorry," 

"No, please. Don't apologize." He offered a smile. "I just hope I can still talk to you when I see you around the tower." 

"Of course!" 

She smiled at how nice he was, considering the circumstance. Truthfully, she envisioned this going a lot worse in her head. The confrontation was usually very difficult for her, although getting a lot of practice recently. She could thank Bucky for that. Thankfully, Cody seemed to understand what was going on. 

<>

That night, it took her a while to fall asleep. It began to rain, droplets coating her windows like a Monet painting. Albeit peaceful, it didn't help her insomnia in the slightest. Her small clock on her bedside table read 3:17 am, and she groaned. 

A ding from her phone beside her caused her to sit up. She squinted as the phone's light shone on her face, shocking her when she read who it was from. 

Are you awake? 

Valerie widened her eyes at the message. She looked at her surroundings as she contemplated answering. She was wearing a large Avengers t-shirt she had received as a joke from Sam and small pink shorts that had frills on the hem. Her curls were in disarray from turning on her pillow so many times. 

She halted herself in her thinking. She was assuming he was texting her at this hour to have sex. Hence why she panicked at her attire. However, he had never done that. He normally bothered her in person. She stared at the text, her thumbs hovering over her keyboard. 

She hopped off her bed. She quickly tidied the mess that had been accruing in the form of water bottles and granola bar wrappers. She straightened up her couch, shaking her head when she found herself chopping her throw pillows. Bucky had been in her apartment before. Once. Not to mention, without her. He could've snooped anywhere he wanted to, but for some reason, she didn't think he did. 

After a couple of minutes of hurried tidying, she picked her phone back up. 

Yes. 

Her thumb floated over the 'send' button, wondering if she should add anything else. Probably against her better judgment, she hit it. 

The next few moments were agony. No response. She frowned as one minute felt like a year waiting for any sign of life. She almost jumped out of her skin when she heard a faint knock at her door. She stood up, walking over to the door as she straightened out her pathetic t-shirt she now wished she changed out of. 

She opened the door, expecting anything but what she saw in front of her. 

Bucky standing there with puffy and bloodshot eyes. 

~ 

another kind of filler to give u some non-buckerie plot content ;)