𝙲𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚝 𝙾𝚋𝚜𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 - 𝓑𝓾𝓬𝓴𝔂 𝓑𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼 [2]

1. {Introduction Between Foes}

"Bucky Barnes, meet your new partner, Y/N Y/L/N."

Well, shit. This was evidently, she was evidently, the reason Steve Rogers, his best friend, had insisted he join him in the training room today. Barnes seldom ventured to HQ's training floor, favoring solitude during his workouts. He found it irksome to share the space with other agents. However, he had to concede that it was unusually tranquil here today. Only a few recruits were practicing on the distant mats, leaving just him, Steve, and her in the immediate vicinity.

Her. His new work partner... Bucky had already voiced his displeasure to his friend Steve about SHIELD's new policy of pairing higher-security agents. He preferred to operate solo. Sure, he would collaborate if the missions demanded it, but he always found his assignments went smoother when he was alone. In fact, he had never even undertaken a mission with Rogers since joining the organization. Two years. Why SHIELD now believed pairing agents was a good idea was beyond him. If something isn't broken, why try to fix it?

He kept his firm gaze on her, watching intently, a mask of indifference on his face as she got to her feet. Steve extended a hand, which she grasped to pull herself up, exhaling and smiling her thanks his way as she stood to face them. It was clear she had just been in the middle of some warm-up or cool-down exercise. Bucky couldn't determine which, nor did he care. He scrutinized her as she wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead and extended her other hand towards him for a handshake.

She was almost breathless, the flush in her cheeks not escaping his notice. In fact, not much about her did. His eyes drifted down, observing the dampened part of her shirt, marked by sweat just beneath her breasts. Without understanding why, his thoughts wandered, imagining her panting and glistening with sweat even more than she already was from this cool-down. Yes, he decided, she was definitely in the middle of a cool-down.

Bucky blinked, his eyes flickering to her outstretched hand as he willed away his intrusive thoughts. Just take the damn hand, Buck. But he couldn't - wouldn't. Instead, Barnes looked back up at her, his eyes locking onto hers for longer than necessary before he turned to Steve and asked, "What happened with Barton?"

He was slated to be paired with Clint. That's what Steve had informed him a week ago when this whole pairing ordeal began. Not that he had any desire to be teamed up with the archer-or with anyone else, for that matter. Barnes observed Y/N's retracted hand and the fleeting hint of offense in her gaze as he posed his question. He couldn't fathom why he had responded so brusquely or why he had declined her handshake. He even noticed Steve being caught off guard by his abrupt demeanor, requiring a moment or two to formulate a response.

"Uh, there were some last-minute reassignments by Fury. He and Romanoff have been paired," Steve elucidated, clearing his throat. His gaze shifted between Bucky and Y/N, sensing the tension now palpable between them. "Agent Y/L/N is new to level eight clearance and has recently been promoted, so the director reshuffled things to accommodate her." He offered her a smile, and she returned a polite one in response.

At that moment, Bucky discerned that she and Steve had likely interacted before. Steve had a penchant for acquainting himself with every agent, irrespective of their security clearance. As for Bucky, he was the opposite. He could probably only recall a handful of agents he had collaborated with or conversed with, and Romanoff and Barton were among that select few.

"Congrats..." Bucky muttered towards her, his tone devoid of any genuine interest in her promotion. Once again, he couldn't care less.

"Thank... you?" Y/N finally responded, her words tinged with uncertainty, her eyes reflecting a hint of vexation.

Steve yet again cleared his throat, even taking a slight step forward, as if poised to preempt any potential argument. Bucky's gaze shifted back to Rogers, deciding he didn't want to prolong his scrutiny of Y/N's evident dissatisfaction with him any further.