Winter's Sunshine

13. Leg Day

"After you", Bucky said allowing Jen to enter the gym.

"Huge!", she remarked as she looked around.

"Come on now, give me some pushups."

"How many?"

"Ten."

Bucky watched as Jen got into the position and tried doing a push-up.

Wrong form, he noticed shaking his head. He watched Jen struggle as she barely made it to two.

"Have you ever done this before?", he asked as she lay on the floor struggling to do the third one.

"Been a while", Jen said getting up dusting her hands.

"We have only two weeks. I don't think you can do it"

"We can always try.", she said following Bucky as he walked towards the treadmill.

"Hop on, let's start from the beginning."

Jen obliged and started increasing the speed. Bucky looked at the speed level which was on 5.

He started increasing the speed whilst watching her, making sure she could take it.

Good form, he thought as he watched Jen run.

"At least you can run", he commented, getting an annoyed glare from Jen, who was exhausted already.

"-for 5 minutes.", he added, suppressing his laugh.

He saw Jen lower the speed, almost to the walking speed as she breathed heavily.

"Not all of us are blessed with a special serum.", Jen muttered under her breathe, but Bucky still heard it.

"I never asked for it.", he replied, simply.

"Nevertheless it's a gift.", she said. "Not everyone can have it", she added turning up the speed, a little.

"More like a curse"

"Well you are wrong, learn to appreciate what you have Buck."

"Excuse me for not being proud of being a killer.", he said folding his arms, getting defensive.

"Or a hero, it's your choice who you want to be.", Jen corrected him. "I understand your past is dark, but that doesn't mean your future can't be bright.", she continued as Bucky listened to her.

"It's not that easy, Jen."

"You can always try. They did what they did, I bet they had their reasons"

"They had their reasons? What exactly are those reasons that would justify ruining my life?", Bucky asked, anger evident on his face.

"How would I know? I am not hydra!", Jen said chuckling, trying to lighten the mood. Jesus, Why is he getting so angry?

Bucky let out a sigh, calming himself down. He realized that there was no reason to be mad at Jen. She had no idea what he had gone through. I hope she never goes through what I went through, he prayed.

"Why are you trying this in the first place?", he asked irritated.

"What exactly?"

"This test. Why?"

"Because I always wanted to be a shield agent!", she replied cheerfully.

"Why?", Bucky asked looking at her, his face disgust by the thought of it.

"What do u mean why? Because it's fun!"

"Fun? There is no fun when you are on the field, Jen. Only life and death situation, every other second."

"Yes but that's what makes it exciting!"

"You want excitement? Go to an amusement park. You don't have to be a shield agent for that."

"Why are you being so negative, Buck?"

"Because you already have a job which keeps you safe. Why go out there and risk your precious life?"

Bucky looked at Jen who was shaking her head, clearly disagreeing with him. He wanted her to stay safe, appreciate what she had, and not ruin her life by entering in this ungrateful, pathetic world.

"What next?", she asked him looking around the gym for something new.

"Let's do legs today", Buck said and Jen nodded.

"-so jumping jacks, then squats then some leg extensions and maybe leg curls."

She started with jumping jacks while Bucky sat down watching her, correcting her form now and then. Jen obliged as a good student and continued exercising as he instructed.

Why is she doing this? She seems so happy now. I mean just look at her. So cheerful and happy. She has a nice job, working for stark, so good pay. Living nice and safe. Why would someone want to jump in the lion's den?

Bucky admired Jen, her life, her normal life to be exact. He missed it when his life was simple. Yes, he too was passionate about being a war hero, but never expected his life to take such a drastic turn. He had seen things, was forced to do bad things, things he would never even dreamt of. He regretted them all.

"Bucky?", Jen called out. "Help me with this", she said pointing to the legs curl machine.

Bucky got up and walked towards her.

"So five kg?", he asked placing the weights on the machine. Jen tried using it and found it too hard.

"Maybe reduce some weight, my legs feel sore."

"Already?", Bucky asked amused.

"Come on, it's my first day.", she said gaining a chuckle from Bucky.

"Do two sets and then you are good to go."

Jen nodded and started with it.

"So a run tomorrow morning?", Bucky suggested.

"What time?", she asked as he placed the used weights back in their place.

"Five?"

"Five?!", Jen asked in horror.

This made Bucky laugh. He laughed so hard, it made Jen chuckle too. He hadn't laughed this hard since ages.

"What's so funny?", Jen asked as she watch Bucky laugh, he looked so happy, all smiled.

"Your face! That was so funny!", Bucky replied tried to catch his breath. " Why you can't get up at five?"

"It's too early, isn't it?"

"You know I get up at four and start with my workout."

"On purpose?"

Bucky raised his eyebrow in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"- I mean now or hydra used to wake you up at four?"

"No, Jen. I chose to wake up at four", he said chuckling again.

Hydra woke me up at four, Bucky couldn't get this out of his head. He found it way too funny.

"-and no it's not that early. So meet me at the ground sharp at five. OK?"

Jen just groaned in response and Bucky laughed again pulling her out of the gym.

"Five o'clock sharp Jen.", he called out as they parted their way to go their rooms.