melancholia // a bucky barnes fan fiction

• chapter one •

Sploosh!

A car drove past, splashing Willow's nylon covered legs.

"You've got to be kidding me," she sighed. She balanced herself on one heeled foot and shook her other foot, trying to get the excess water off.

Feeling satisfied, she tightened her trench coat and kept walking down the sidewalk. When she reached the building that her office was in, she gave herself a look over in the window. This'll have to do, she thought.

She walked into the building and up two flights of stairs. "Johnson & Veda Therapeutic Counseling" read a sign by the door. The glossy black lettering shone in pristine condition. She pulled the glass door open and stepped inside.

"Good to see you again, Miss Veda," said the woman behind the counter cheerfully.

Willow smiled and walked up to the counter. "How have you been, Sharon?"

"Oh you know, just living the dream," Sharon laughed. "Your office is just through that door to the left. Let me know if you need anything." She was cut off by the phone ringing.

As Sharon answered the phone, Willow walked back to her office. The room was small but homely. A plush couch sat in one corner, while a brocade armchair sat across the room. There were a few side tables with books and a bowl of hard candy.

Willow set her bag down on the armchair and began unpacking. She set her copy of the DSM-V on the table, as well as a notepad and a package of pens.

There was a knock on the office door.

"Come in," Willow sang.

Sharon popped her head inside the room. "Miss Veda, your first client will be here at 3pm. I have their file for you behind the counter."

"Okay, thank you. I'll grab it in a moment. And you can call me Willow," she said.

Sharon closed the door as Willow wiped her hands on her skirt. Day one, she thought.

>•<>•<>•<>•<

"Thank you for your time, Mrs. Gilbert. Sharon here will help you schedule your next appointment. I'll see you later." Willow shook the middle-aged woman's hand and smiled.

Willow walked behind the counter and put Mrs. Gilbert's file back into the folder.  She looked up and saw her partner drinking a cup of coffee.

"Hello, Dr. Johnson," Willow said, extending her hand.

"Good to see you again, Willow," he took her hand and shook it. "I trust you're transitioning well?"

Willow nodded. "Manhattan has already been an adventure. Way more people than Seattle, that's for sure."

"I'm so glad you accepted my partnership offer," he smiled as he spoke. "I know it's a bit of a gamble since you're fresh out of school, but your professors spoke very highly of you."

She looked down and smiled. "Thank you so much for this opportunity. I promise not to let you down."

He chuckled softly. "Of course. I trust your judgment. Speaking of, I have a special client for you."

Willow raised an eyebrow at the word special. "Oh?"

"Yes, he's had a pretty rough decade or so, but I have full faith that you'll be able to work wonders. Steve said he's refusing to talk to anyone, but I'm certain he hasn't had a counselor like you before," he chuckled.

"Steve?" Willow asked.

"Yes. Steve Rogers. I'm sure you've heard of him. He's been all over the news."

"I'm going to be Captain America's therapist?" Willow asked in disbelief.

Dr. Johnson laughed. "No, no. You'll be counseling his friend. James Barnes."

Willow narrowed her eyes. "Wait, isn't he that guy responsible for the Vienna bombing?"

Johnson shook his head. "It was a set up. He's an innocent man."

Willow scoffed. I'd hardly consider him innocent after the whole Winter Soldier craziness, she thought.

"I know he's done some pretty bad things but you have to remember, he was brainwashed. Steve says he's been suffering from some pretty bad PTSD. You don't have to take his case, but I don't know who I'm gonna be able to find if you turn it down," Johnson looked her directly in the eyes.

Willow chewed on her lip a bit. "I'll take it," she said, straightening her posture.

"Thank you so much! I knew I could count on you. I'll have Sharon call Steve and set up an appointment. In the meantime though, I have a client coming in about ten minutes. See you later, Willow."

A/N:

Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Bucky will be introduced in the next one hehehe. Leave comments, suggestions, and likes! Love you all!
Emma x