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

31.

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴏɴɢ: ꜰᴏʀᴛɴɪɢʜᴛ - ᴛᴀʏʟᴏʀ ꜱᴡɪꜰᴛ

"𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧' 𝐜𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥 '𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈'𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝."

~

THE TEAM WAS PREPARING FOR WAR.

Training consumed most of their days following the tower lockdown. Tony tested new equipment, involving a new training simulation he created utilizing holographic nanotechnology. He was able to mimic artificial opponents for the team members to fight in combat.

Valerie was in her office when Tony called her to the training rooms. She had been burying herself back into writing reports for Fury on the team's physicals and evaluations when he came into her office. Due to the breach, they had tossed their team devices into a bucket to avoid further information leaks. They had also been advised to stay off their personal devices as well.

She walked down to the training facility, her loafers clacking against the marble floors. She fidgeted with the sleeves on her grey cardigan, knowing she would probably see Bucky here. They hadn't talked in three days since she asked him to leave her alone.

"Valerie," Steve greeted from the viewing room. The large glass window was floor-to-ceiling, accompanied by some chairs and tables and a small snack station. She told Tony when he implemented it that energy drinks were actually horrible for you, laughing when he joked that the consumers weren't 'normal people that abide by USDA-approved nutrition.'

"Hey, Steve,"

"How are you doing today?"

"I believe it's my job to ask you that," She smiled, taking a seat next to him.

"Someone's gotta check on you, too."

Her heart warmed. Truthfully, she hadn't been doing very well. The knowledge that she was in MONA's database kept her up at night, wondering if this made her a target to them. Bucky urged her it did. She wanted to run to him for protection, but her heart prevented her. He owed her nothing, especially after how she spoke him to a couple of nights ago.

"I'm," She paused as she caught a figure out of the corner of her eye walking onto the training mat.

Bucky was wearing black sweatpants and a white t-shirt, almost see-through at this point from sweat. His muscles flexed, flicking beads off his skin that she could see in the fluorescent light. The simulation fired up, sending holographic bodies toward him. Valerie watched in awe as he fought them off effortlessly, sending punches and kicks with undeniable skill.

She swallowed as he held them in a headlock, pinning them to the ground. His chest rose and fell, sending small waves of electricity through her veins.

"Valerie?" Steve asked, breaking her stare.

"Hm?"

"I asked you how you are," Steve gave a knowing look.

"I'm great," She whispered.

"Really? Because your face is a little red,"

Her hand flew to her cheek, which sure enough, was flushed.

"Can you crank it up or something? I want to see his ass kicked." Sam called as he walked into the training room.

"Let's see you do it," Bucky replied nonchalantly.

"I'm trying to adjust it," Tony's voice came from a speaker as he was tucked away in a control room on the other side of the facility. "Just fight each other for now."

"You sure that's a good idea?" Bucky smirked. "Don't need any team members in the infirmary before we even get to fight,"

"Yeah, now I definitely want to go,"

"Keep it civil." Tony's voice returned.

"Nothin' civil 'bout how I'm gonna whoop your ass in front of your little girlfriend,"

Valerie's breath caught in her throat as Bucky glanced over to the viewing room, realizing she was sitting there. She tried to pretend she wasn't watching, which was futile since she was sitting directly next to the glass with Steve.

Bucky chuckled darkly, shaking his head toward the ground before he suddenly grabbed Sam by his shirt collar.

"Don't talk about her."

She crossed her legs, heat growing rapidly and frustratedly at his protectiveness. She watched as Sam threw the first punch and Bucky dodged it, throwing one back. The two men went at it for a couple of minutes, viciously throwing each other around on the mat.

Bucky seemed to be trying even harder against Sam than he did against the nanotech, his punches getting harder and harder. Finally, he had Sam pinned to the ground, smirking once more.

"You were saying?"

"Man, get the fuck off me before I call Red Wing in here."

Valerie stifled a giggle at her friend's frustration.

"That was beautiful, gentlemen," Tony spoke. "Cap, get back in here. I updated the system. Barnes, take a break. Sam, go see Valerie. Your ego is bleeding all over the floor."

"Shut up," He muttered, getting up off the floor.

Valerie's heart rate rose as she watched Bucky make his way toward the door that led into the viewing room. Steve stood up, noticing her playing with her cardigan sleeve.

"Hey, Buck," He spoke loudly, Valerie's head snapping up as the door opened. "You looked great in there,"

"Thanks," He murmured a response before going over to the small refrigerator.

"I'll catch you later, Valerie." Steve gave a supportive wink.

He walked out, the door swinging in the thick silence that fell upon the room. She sat awkwardly as Bucky fished through his options in the fridge. He finally decided upon water, not wanting Valerie to make a comment on all the sugar contained in an energy drink. He leaned against the corner, finally looking at her.

"Hi," He offered.

She breathed out slowly. "Hey,"

"Come to watch?"

"Tony called me down here."

He nodded, taking a big gulp from the bottle.

"You, um, fight really well,"

"It's all I really know how to do,"

"That's not true," She said plainly.

"Feels like it sometimes,"

She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Tony's voice over the intercom.

"Doc, prepare your serum for the meeting tonight. I want everyone juiced up tomorrow. Barnes, back to work."

She looked at him as he sighed.

"I'll see you at the meeting?" He asked.

She nodded, standing up. Her mind searched for something to say, but she couldn't settle on anything. He stared at her like he was waiting for her to say anything. He hated how uncomfortable she looked from their small interaction, wanting to bring back the Valerie he knew. She hated how pained he looked, but was still stewing from their argument.

Her window closed as he walked out of the viewing room.

~