She sighed as she stood in the grocery store line. The grocery basket in her hand weighed down with the food she needed to buy for the next week. And use them sparingly none the less. She just wanted to get home. She just wanted to get home. She wanted to get back and catch the mailman before he left. Well she could still get her mail even if he wasn't there, but she just wanted to get back to see if the letter had come in today. She had been waiting for that letter for weeks now and she was getting more and more anxious with each passing day. Not to mention she was getting annoyed with Dave. She shook her head. She didn't know what to do with him. It just didn't feel like anything was the same since they started dating and no-
"Now I don't think a sour face like that belongs on a pretty face like yours."
The blonde woman turned her head and smiled brightly at the man next to her. "Hi, Bucky."
"Hey, Tracey," the man greeted in return. "So care to tell me what's bothering you?"
Tracey groaned and shook her head, her blonde curls bouncing from side to side. "Just a lot is on my mind. From work to Dave."
Bucky frowned and switched his own basket of food from one hand to the other. "You still haven't heard from the company you interviewed with?"
"Yeah," she sighed. "And no," she said, pointing a finger at the brunet man when he opened his mouth. "I'm not going to tell you the name of the company. I'll tell, you, Barry, and Steve after I hear from them."
"I still don't get why ya won't tell any of us," Bucky said, shaking his head as he rolled his eyes at the woman. "Not even your own brother?"
"Nope," she said, laughing when the man gave her a face. "You'll have to wait."
"Alright, alright," Bucky chuckled. "But what's going on with you and Dave?" he asked, his face setting in a frown again.
Tracey shook her head, sighing heavily. "I don't know… It just feels like things are really different from when we started dating. He just seems…" she said, snapping her fingers as she tried to think of a word.
"An asshole?" Bucky scoffed, rolling his eyes.
Tracey smacked his arm. "Be nice. No, he just seems different."
"Yeah? How so?" he asked as they moved up in the checkout line.
"He just seems different. A bit distant in a way controlling? I'm not sure. Something's just different and it's bothering me."
"Well like Steve, Barry, and I have been saying, we don't think he's good for you. You should have dropped him a long time ago."
The blonde haired woman rolled her eyes. "I can take care of myself."
"Yeah and Steve's able to win a fight that he always starts," the dark haired man said, scoffing lightly.
"Oh be quiet," she said, glaring up at him. "Yes, Dave is controlling, but…"
"But?" Bucky said, drawing the word out and smirking at her. His smirk grew into a grin when the blonde didn't say anything else, but glare. His face fell into a frown. "Trace… You can't keep being with that guy. He's an asshole who doesn't know how to treat you right."
Tracey sighed. "I know…" she breathed, running a hand through her hair. She groaned. "I was actually going to break up with him the next time I saw him…"
"Really?" Bucky said, his lips twitching upward. He quickly stowed it away and put on a solemn face for his friend. "Why?"
"I'm just not feeling it anymore with him. It's awful to say, and I'd hate to say it, but you guys were right. I don't need him and how he treats me. And don't you start saying 'I told you so'," she said, frowning up at him.
"I wouldn't dream of it," Bucky said. A smile turned his lips upward when the blonde turned around to pay for groceries. He wouldn't say it now, but he was happy that the asshole would be gone. Not just him, but Barry and Steve as well.
ooOOoo
"You really didn't have to take me to the movies," Tracey said, shaking her head as she and Bucky walked up the steps to her apartment complex.
"Hey, you were having a bad day. I had some extra money and extra time to spare," he replied with a shrug. "Plus you still hadn't seen that Snow White movie. I told you it was pretty good for a cartoon."
"You were right and I was wrong," Tracey giggled, smiling up at her friend. She pushed his arm when he gave her a cheeky grin along with a "Damn right". "But you know you didn't have to walk me home. It's still broad daylight out."
"Hey, I was heading over to Steve's apartment anyways. He's right next door to you so why not?"
She shook her head with a small laugh. "You two might as well be stuck together with glue. I rarely ever see you two without the other."
Bucky only laughed as he and the blonde woman reached the top of the steps. He waved a hand as he headed towards Steve's door and Tracey walked into her own apartment. The smile slowly grew to a grin when he walked into Steve's apartment.
Steve raised a brow as he looked up from his sketchbook. "You seem really happy," he said, as he set it down next to him on the couch as he watched Bucky place his groceries on the counter. "Let me guess, you got another date and she has a friend for me?" he said with a sigh.
"Nope," Bucky said, popping the P. "I was just with Tracey and turns out she's planning on breaking up with Dave."
"Really?" Steve said a smile growing on his face. "That's good to hear. And when do you plan on asking her out?" he said, his smile growing into a smirk.
"Ha ha," the dark haired man said, rolling his eyes. "I'm not going to ask her out right after she breaks up with her boyfriend."
"Uh huh," Steve said, a look that screamed "You're a complete liar and start fessing" on his face.
"Shut it, punk," Bucky said, rolling his eyes as he shoved his friend's shoulder, receiving a "jerk" from Steve. He plopped down in the arm chair next to the couch and slumped down in it. He shifted his eyes to glance at the sketchbook lying next to Steve as the blond haired man picked it up. "Whatcha drawing this time?"
"Just random things really," Steve said with a shrug. "I ju-" He stopped himself, turning to his head to the front door.
Bucky's brow furrowed in confusion as he too glanced over at the door. The sound of yelling came faint through the wood of the closed door. The two friends shared a look before they both slowly stood up. Steve was the first to reach the door and open it. Glancing outside he spotted a man standing outside Tracey's apartment. The door to the woman's place open. Bucky stuck his head out as well and glared when he saw the man outside.
"I can't believe you would do that!" Tracey yelled from the door way, glaring up at the man. "You went through my mail before I could even look at it!"
"Well when were you going to tell me you had an interview with Stark Industries?" the man said, matching the woman's glare.
"I was keeping it from everyone until I heard back from them! And it doesn't even matter if I told you or not!" the blonde woman shouted. "You have no right to go through my stuff, Dave!"
"Yeah I do," the dark haired man said. "I'm your boyfriend."
"Boyfriend or not, it's an invasion of privacy. Something you clearly don't comprehend," she shot back, rolling her eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me about Stark Industries?" Dave repeated.
Tracey groaned, pulling at her hair. "Are you kidding me? I just told you! I didn't want to tell anyone until I heard from them. Why does it even matter to you?"
"Because I'm your boyfriend. I'm going off to war soon and when I come back it'd be nice to have a job. My girlfriend should at least help me with that," he said, glaring at her. "You should be helping me out here. Get me an interview with them and what not."
The woman's eyes grew wide and her mouth fell open. She stared up at her boyfriend in astonishment. "Are you serious?" she said quietly. "Are you serious?" she yelled. "You expect me to get you an interview with Howard Stark so you can try and get a job with his company? You're an idiot if you think it works like that! I worked hard to get my interview!"
Dave's face scrunched up in anger as his girlfriend yelled at him. In one swift movement that no one had time to react to, his hand made contact with the blonde woman's face. Tracey's head snapped to the right causing her to stumble back a bit from the sudden attack. Bucky and Steve didn't waste a second running over to the couple. Bucky grabbed a hold of Dave, yelling at him about the proper treatment of a woman. Steve went to Tracey's aid and helped her stand up straight again as she leaned against the doorframe.
Tracey held her cheek. The searing pain from the slap feeling like fire on her face as it slowly turned a bright pink. She looked at her friend next to her, giving him a reassuring smile as he stared at her in worry. She stood up and walked over to Dave and Bucky as the two struggled against each other.
Dave stopped struggling as he watched his girl walk up to him. A very small smirk gracing his features as he waited for Tracey to say something or apologize for arguing with him. But what he didn't expect was a fist connecting with his nose. He dropped to the floor, with the help from Bucky just letting him go, as he held his face.
"Get the hell out of here!" Tracey yelled.
"You bitch!" the dark haired man hissed as he held his nose. "You're gonna pay for that!"
"I suggest you get your ass out of here before you get more than just a broken nose," Steve stated, glaring at the man on the ground.
Dave glared at the shorter man before he turned his eyes to the woman in front of him. He stood up and tried to make a move at her only to be yanked back.
"I don't think so, pal," a newcomer said as he yanked the man back by his shoulder and shoved him down the stairs. He watched as Dave stumbled down, still holding his nose. They glared at each other before heading down the street. The new man turned to Tracey and walked up to her, grabbing her wrist gently in his hand. "You okay, Trace?"
"I'm fine, Barry," the female mumbled.
"Nice shot there," Barry chuckled, letting go of his twin sister's hand.
"I'll say," Bucky said, grinning at the blonde. "Didn't know you had it in ya, Trace."
"Thanks," Tracey laughed. "And thanks for helping me," she said, turning to Steve and Bucky. "You didn't have to."
"Hey, we're friends," Bucky said, ignoring the looks Barry and Steve exchanged. "It's what we're here for."
"So," Steve said after a moment as Tracey led them into her apartment. "Stark Industries?"
"That's where you were interviewed?" Barry asked, smiling brightly at his sister. "Did you get the job?"
Tracey smiled brightly as she handed the letter to her brother. "Yes! I start next week. I'm going to have to quit my job at the dinner and get my last pay check soon," she said, watching as the letter was passed around the three men.
"That's great, Trace!" Steve said, smiling at the woman. "You'll do great there."
"Just watch your back," Bucky said as he handed the letter back to Tracey.
The blonde woman raised a brow. "Watch my back? Care to explain?"
"It's just that," the dark haired man said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I've heard things about Howard Stark and just the number of women he's been with."
Tracey scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I think I can handle myself. Plus I'm not there to get with Howard Stark. I'm there to work and help him with his projects."
"I know," Bucky said, holding his hands up in defense. "I'm just saying."
"Ignore him," Steve said, waving a hand dismissively towards his best friend, who glared at him. "You'll do great. Why else would they hire you?"
"Thanks, Steve," Tracey said, hugging him.
"Do I smell cookies?" Barry asked, sniffing the air as a smile spread across his face.
Tracey rolled her eyes and stood up, waving a hand. "Come on, boys," she said, laughing at the faces the three were giving her.
Hey everyone! This is my new story with my characters Barry and Tracey Madison. Compared to my two previous stories that are set after Winter Soldier, this one will be set during First Avenger (obviously haha). This will also be my first story where I write characters into an already set plot. So I hope that this goes well. I've always tried to create characters and put them into a movie's plot, but never really get to it. I hope that you can bear with me and that this isn't complete garbage.
Let me know what you think. I'd love any critiques that can help me improve my writing and the course of the story.
Also feel free to ask the characters any questions on my tumblr: winter-is-ending
Thank you! And again I hope this isn't complete garbage.