Winter's Sunshine

25. The Routine

Bucky had become colder than what he had been before meeting Jen. Jen's rejection had bought back trust issues for him. Maybe it was his ego, or as usual his past that wouldn't let him open up to anyone again. Sam's desperate attempts at jokes to bring back to his normalcy failed on a daily basis. Even Steve couldn't faze his cold attitude. Bucky's routine nowadays included nothing but the gym. He trained for most of his day. It helped him to relieve his anger. Besides the gym, he even picked up the responsibility of training the Shield agents. He felt like he would be of some use if he did that.

Jen on the other hand was busy with a number of the missions. She was assigned to be an on-field agent. She was already on her  fifth mission. She was smart, steady and calm while on her missions. Hill liked her and had started to trust her already.

Both Bucky and Jen would meet once in a while, mostly in the corridors but would ignore each other mutually. Jen, at first, tried being friendly but Bucky acted coldly. She didn't liked his attitude and hence stayed away from him.

Bucky noticed her avoiding him whenever they shared a space. He was glad that she was doing this, which helped him too to keep his emotions in check.

Day passed by when Steve decided to inform Bucky. He had been working on some things for him and now was the time to tell him. He entered Bucky's room and waited for him to arrive. Must be in the gym, he thought as he sat on the bedside. A small teddy bear sitting on the nightstand caught his eyes. Is that a teddy bear? he wondered. He got up and reached. Cute, he remarked. But what are you doing in Bucky's room?

"Steve?", Bucky asked on entering his room.

"Oh hey Buck, I didn't know you liked teddy bears."

"Why are you here Steve?", Bucky asked sipping water from his bottle.

"I have good news for you."

"What that would be?"

"I have been talking to King T'Challa about your mind control and he- I mean his sister, Shuri offered us her help."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, there is a high chance you can get rid of those trigger words using Wakandan technology. Isn't it great?"

Bucky just nodded in response, showing no sign of excitement.

"Aren't you happy Buck?"

"Trust me I am.", he replied with a weak smile.

"Great then, we leave tomorrow morning. Be ready okay?"

"You coming?"

"Yup Natasha too. So go to sleep now. And don't overthink this."

Bucky nodded and watched Steve leave the room. He then picked up the teddy bear and placed it carefully on his nightstand. He looked at it, a faint smile forming on his face. One day teddy, on one day I promise

_______________________________________

Jen took a shower and changed into more comfortable clothes. Wearing a tight stealth suit all day, every day is no fun. She looked at the back of her phone, at the same picture strip of her and Bucky from fair. She had hidden it in her phone case and would take a look at it whenever she felt unsafe.

Miss you Bucky she said kissing it, sliding under the sheets, placing her phone on her nightstand. It was her routine and no one knew about it. She closed her eyes and was ready to drift into a deep sleep, but that's when she heard her phone beep. Duty Calls.

Jen groaned as she unlocked her phone, knowing her plan of sleeping in late is about to ruined. It was a message from none other than Agent Hill. It read,

Mission: Visit to Wakanda

Reporting time: 8 am.

A visit to Wakanda?, Jen made herself comfortable again. I wonder what the mission is.