Three days after Ana's nightmare, something seems off. Bucky had expected for there to be following nightmares, even staying up all night with his door cracked open to hear Ana just in case. There wasn't any. In fact, after several hours of sleep, two cups of coffee and lounging on the couches while binge watching some movies, Ana seemed fine. Maybe sticking a little closer to Bucky than usual. Casually leaning into his arm, and even once falling back to sleep with the top of her head pressing into his thigh.
Bucky had the same intentions, just to reassure Ana that her nightmare wasn't real, reminding her of the same thing she always reminds him. He just wanted to make sure that she was alright, that there wasn't any lingering panic. When she had fallen asleep, almost on his lap, Bucky paid more attention to her even, slow breaths than the movie on the screen. Something about two teenagers in love during the 1940's, who fall apart and find each other again later in life.
She had woken at an extremely awkward part of the movie for Bucky. He could feel his eyes widen as he stared at the screen, wondering how in the hell movies were able to put in steamy, sex scenes nowadays. Ana chose that moment to sit up, stretch, look over at Wanda, then Bucky and broke out into a laugh.
"It's part of life." Wanda had stated immediately, looking entirely engrossed in the movie.
"You're gonna give the old man a heart attack." Ana had quipped.
That had brought Bucky back to his senses, his cheeks heating up. "I think I hear my phone ringing." He high tailed it out of the lounge, Ana's gleeful laugh following him to his room.
"What? The Notebook is a classic!" Wanda defends.
"His poor little Snowflake heart!"
It takes those three days for something to happen. Ana doesn't look right the moment she steps into the lab. Bucky notices it instantly, so attuned to her and her expressions, her presence. He knows every little detail about her face now, and the slightest dent in the middle her eyebrows is how he catches it. She stumbles in as if she tripped over something, catching herself on a nearby chair. Bucky quickly pushes himself off the desk, making his way over to her. She smiles gratefully when he offers his hand as support.
"Morning." She greets, sounding a little breathless.
From this close, Bucky can see how dark under her eyes are. "What's wrong?"
"Hmm?" Ana's eyes follow a few agents walking in behind her. One of them being Sharp. "What do you mean?"
"You don't look so good." He tells her as they walk over to their area.
"Well, geez, take me now, Sailor." She quips flatly.
Bucky rolls his eyes. "Not what I mean. I meant...you look off, like your energy or something."
Ana plops rather ungracefully down into her chair. "Um..." She takes a moment to breathe. "I think lack of caffeine. I'll be fine."
The smile she gives him is enough to take her word for it. So, Bucky makes her coffee, adds a little more sugar than she normally takes, just to make sure it isn't that either. She thanks him quietly, voice soft but chipper and they get started.
Bucky has barely taken his eyes off Ana, watching her closely, and something really isn't right. Her eyes keep fluttering as if she is fighting off spells of dizziness. She shakes her head here and there, just little movements that cause the shorter strands of her hair to come loose from her braid. She flexes her fingers once in a while, and her breathing seems to become deeper, slower.
He sticks closer than necessary, pressing his own boots against her heeled ones. Or he makes sure to graze her hand whenever they pass something to each other. For the majority of the morning, Bucky offers to get anything she may need; new notebooks, more coffee, the bananas Max offers them. It's that moment when Bucky takes the fruit, does he question Max about it.
"I've noticed it just twenty minutes ago." Max informs him quietly. "Thought it might be blood sugar or something."
"It's not." Bucky states, eyes locked on Ana. She's tapping her thumb against her clavicle as she always does.
"No." Max agrees. "Keep a close eye on her, please."
The request makes Bucky tear his gaze away from her, and focus on Max instead. It's the first time him and Max are having a full conversation, and it's the first time any of the guards asks him for something. To trust him to watch out for her. Max is obviously a close friend of Ana's, and in retrospect, that makes Bucky trust him; just a little.
"I always keep a close eye on her." Bucky mumbles.
Max offers him a smile. "Oh, I know. Thank you."
Nodding, Bucky is about to go back to Ana, when there's a brief touch to his shoulder.
"Barnes," Max's voice drops low enough just for his ears. "It's a person."
Those three words make his eyes snap to Jared Sharp.
He hadn't been paying attention to the surrounding people, too busy making sure Ana didn't faint. Bucky sees it now though. Sharp is sitting on the far side of the room at his desk, head nearly hidden by his computer screen. Only his eyes are visible, and it hits Bucky like Thor's hammer to the face.
Bad Energy.
Jared has, somehow, some way, been sending negative energy towards Ana. Bucky is an idiot. He knows Ana is capable of feeling people's energies and feels it whenever she walks into a room. She feels it now, because she always uses her abilities with Bucky during these morning talks. He shifts his eyes over to Ana.
She has curled over the desk, resting her cheek on her arms. Her legs are pulled up into the chair, and the expression on her face is pinched. She looks like she's in pain, or going to be sick. Even from this distance, Bucky can tell that her breaths are labored. Her eyes are squeezed shut, and Bucky has to get her out of the room.
"Uh, Barnes." Max says from behind him
Bucky remember he has a banana in his left hand. He looks down, only to find that the peel has burst open, half of the fruit laying on the floor. He quickly picks it up, throwing it all away harshly into the trash, then stalks over to Ana's desk. Once he gets there, he gently brushes the stray hairs sticking to her temple aside.
"Buck-" Ana struggles out, "I feel-"
"We gotta get you out of here, darling." Bucky tells her quietly, gently gripping her shoulders. "Bad vibes."
Ana hums and allows herself to be pulled up. She instantly leans against him, worry flooding through his chest. He's seen her get like this before, right after a nightmare or using her abilities, but never from someone willing directing dark energy toward her.
Carefully, Bucky leads Ana out of the lab and into the outside terrace for fresh air. He gently lowers her down onto a chair, doesn't let go until he knows she won't fall over. He doesn't leave her until Ana's breathing evens out, and someone comes into his peripheral view. He looks over, Agent Sharon Carter standing there with curious eyes.
"Stay with her." Bucky says. "I'll be back."
"It's not wise to threaten him, Barnes." Sharon warns, sitting next to Ana and placing her hand on her shoulder.
"Like I give a fuck." He nearly spits, already walking away.
"I said not wise! Not that you shouldn't. By all means, punch him in the face."
Her approval makes a snort of laughter leave his mouth. He can appreciate Ana's real friends having a mutual dislike toward this guy. It's just his luck that as Bucky is walking back into the building, Jared is coming out of the lab. Bucky struts over to him, reaching out and grabbing the back of his shirt.
Tugging harshly, Bucky drags Jared behind a pillar, slamming him against the wall. He can feel his nostrils flaring and his eyes hardening. He quickly switches his hold to the front of Jared's button up, stepping closer. To his credit, Jared doesn't look scared, just surprised, then he narrows his eyes.
"Leave her the fuck alone, you piece of shit." Bucky snarls lowly. "You have it out for her for some unknown reason, but let me tell you. I don't need to be triggered to hurt you."
There it is. A flash of fear in the green of his cold eyes. "Threatening me so openly, Sergeant? Your little girlfriend won't approve of that will she?"
For a brief moment, Bucky thinks this hatred is driven from of place of envy. He twists the material of Jared's shirt harder. "I mean it. Stay away from her, or I will knock every one of your teeth out."
Bucky then shoves him back again, releasing his shirt. He doesn't even spare a glance back over his shoulder, just heads back out to the terrace. He knows Jared won't follow him, or even speak another word after his threat. When Bucky is back outside, pushing the doors open with more force than needed, Ana is slouching in the chair, her head resting against the backrest.
"Feel better, Winter Bunny?" She asks. At least her voice has its normal volume.
Sharon laughs once, before rubbing her lips together and schooling her features.
"Do you? Will you be okay?" Bucky ask, standing behind her and looking down.
She quirks her lips at him. "In a few minutes. Though I'm not sure if it's the air or the fact that you just blatantly threaten Sharp. That was quite alluring."
He wants to be endured, but then Bucky remembers just minutes ago. "Just let me protect you for once, Ana. If not from me, then from him."
Ana slowly picks her head up, her smile fading from her pink lips. She blinks owlishly up at him, the bad energy seeming to still taking its toll.
"Thank you."
Bucky can't hold back the smile he gives her in return. He's pretty sure it's as soft as the look in her eyes.
Ana and Bucky had been separated later that day, since Steve came by to talk to him about something. She has no idea where they went, and they've been gone for most of the day. She still feels a little shaky. It's been several hours since she felt like she would pass out, her blood prickling and rushing in her eyes. She can't be sure if it's because Jared had gotten to her, was able to cause an affect like that, or that she is just livid with him. Either way, after Ana had felt much better than early and finally gets the chance to make it to the gym.
She ends up taking off her button up shirt, still in her black pants and white tank top. She takes off her boots, leaving her barefoot and starts wailing on the kickboxing dummy they named Frank. Sam is already there, in the middle of a set but stops when he she's her. He stands next to her, a little off to the side.
"I swear to God, Sam," Ana pants after several quick punches. "He is the biggest dick bag to ever walk these halls. Who just fucking sits there and decides to send dark energy my way. I don't know what I ever fucking did to him!" Ana kicks the chest of the dummy so hard, the bottom rocks back, then comes forward with a thud. She lifts her right leg.
"Don't- your knee!" Sam warns.
Ana lands a roundhouse kick, ignoring the twinge in her knee as she comes back down. She imagines it's Jared's face. She can't physically beat him up, but she can dream. She continues to punch the dummy, one right after the other. She doesn't know why he's been getting under her skin lately, but she's getting really sick and tired of it. She tells Sam this.
He's about to respond, when another voice interrupts.
"What the hell is going on?"
Ana misses her next punch because she's suddenly distracted. Her mouth runs dry, her lips parting and whatever she was angry about fades away from her mind.
Bucky is standing by the entryway of the showers, wearing nothing but boxer briefs, hanging low on his hips like he hastily pulled them on. His expression changes from curious to concern. His is face damp and his is hair wet, water dripping from the ends onto his bare shoulders. Ana's eyes follow the droplets of water.
It trails down his collarbone, over his defined pecks, dipping between each sculpted ab, soaking into the band of the boxers. The thin piece of clothing leaves little to the imagination, revealing a soft trail of downy hair disappearing under the material. Ana's eye continues to travel south, the bulge she notices makes her involuntarily swallow the dry lump. The thick muscles of his thighs shift as he takes a few steps toward her.
"Did something happen again? Was it Sharp?" Bucky is asking, his voice hardening. "Ana?"
Ana hears him, she does, but she can't seem to do that putting-words-into-sentence-doing thing. Her eyes are glued to where his muscles cut into a sinful V line. She's since him shirtless before, but never like this. Never in just his underwear and body literally glistening.
"Words, Rios, Words." Sam mutters, elbowing her.
Ana snaps out of it, quickly bringing her eyes back up to Bucky's face. She takes a slow inhale of air, swearing that there's a little hint of a smirk on his mouth, but his cheeks look a little flushed. She doesn't know if it's from the heat of the shower, or that she has been blatantly staring at him for the pass minute. She still has yet to make words come out of her mouth.
"Uh..." Is her brilliant, belated response. "I-um- I didn't know you were in there."
Sam snorts.
"I was getting really hot during my workout." Bucky explains.
"I'm sure you were." Ana clears her throat. "I mean…uh..yeah, no, it's uh. it's rather hot- um I mean, yes. It's uh- the temperature-"
"Are you alright?" Bucky chuckles, taking another step forward.
Ana has a crazy urge to bite the lines of his hips. She mentally shakes her head, but her eyes widen because- what the fuck? She's losing her mind right now.
"She's dehydrated." Sam lies, this time nudging her harder.
Bucky frowns, worried. "Are you sure you're alright from earlier? I can get you water."
"No!" Ana says, shaking her head out of her stupor. "I'm fine, really. I was just…just taking my frustrations out on poor Frank here." She pats the dummy's chest.
"If you stare any harder, he'll catch fire." Sam mumbles behind her.
Ana steps on his toe until he hisses in pain.
"If you say so." Bucky says, brushing his dripping wet hair back from his face. He doesn't look convinced, but he looks beautiful in every other way. He takes several steps closer to them.
Ana is sure her heart is racing so fast, it's going to cause health problems. There's a swirling in the pit of her stomach, and she can feel her cheeks heat up. She's usually more collected, more calm than this around Bucky, but lately... Ana shakes her head again, turning back to Frank.
She ignores Sam's quiet snickers. She ignores Bucky's...everything, and picks up her punches again. The strain and burn in her muscles grounds her, allows her to take a few moments to collect her eloquence again. She suddenly feels like this is payback for her black dress she wore to the Gala. Ana didn't just wear it because it was one of the only clean dresses she had. Oh no, she wore it in hopes of maybe running into Bucky at some point of the night. She had, but she didn't think she had any effect on him. Besides a slight blush and staring a moment too long. This is karma.
"Cute shorts, by the way." Ana says after she throws a final punch.
There. She got her wit back. Bucky shifts, his muscles flexing in the process. Her wit leaves her just as fast. Bucky takes the final steps to close the distance between them, gently placing his metal hand on her hip. Ana can't suppress the shiver that runs up her spine.
"Adjust your stance." He tells her. She can practically hear the smugness in his stupid, gravelly voice.
"You seem to be obsessed with position there." She quips.
"Only with you." Bucky responds lowly.
"Fucking Christ, you two." Sam says, exasperated. throwing his hands up. "I'm out."
Ana ignores Bucky's comment, simultaneously the rabbiting of her heart as well. "I was not done ranting."
Sam waves his hand as a parting. "I'm sure your Soldier there won't mind!"
Ana glares at his retreating back. Suddenly, there's a towel hitting her head and falling to her shoulder. Ana takes it, wiping her forehead and temples. She bends over to carefully probe her fingers around her right knee. It feels swollen. It's what she gets to kicking out like that.
"How's your knee?" Bucky questions. When Ana straightens up, she sees that Bucky has wrapped a bigger towel around his shoulder, covering the majority of his torso.
"Nothing I can't handle." She says. "Probably shouldn't have kicked it as hard as I did."
"He didn't try anything else with you, did he?"
"No. Just frustrated from earlier." Ana sighs, balls up the towel and throws it across the room. It hits the wall and lands in the bin. "I'm just so fed up with him. I don't know what I did."
"I don't think it's anything you've done, Ana. He seems jealous of you."
Ana barks out a laugh. "What? That's ridiculous."
Bucky smiles, shaking his head. He begins to walk back toward the showers. "I'm not sure if it's...romantic-" Ana makes a face- "or your sudden high authority."
"That's crazy, Bucky." She says, following him. "I understand maybe Simon Mills, but Jared? That's not even his department."
Ana pauses, because Bucky has bent over, grabbing what appears to be black sweat pants from the bench. She watches as he slowly steps into them, pulling them up over his strong thighs and his firm a- goddammit. Ana shakes her head again. Focus.
"Jared has hated me way before that." She continues.
Bucky shrugs as he faces her. "All I know is he really has it out for you. Just be careful." He takes the shirt hanging on the metal rack and pulls it over his head and down his stomach. "I didn't know anyone could do that to you."
"I didn't think so either." Ana frowns.
Bucky is quiet for a moment. "Are you finishing beating up the poor dummy?"
"For now. Why?"
"Wanda claims she's making tacos tonight, so Steve suggested him and I go out? To buy groceries or something along those lines."
Ana raises her eyebrows as Bucky walks pass her, their arms brushing. Ana catches up, walking next to him. She grabs her button up and boots as they leave the gym.
"Are you comfortable with that?"
He shrugs again. "I've only been on the outside of this place. Think it's about time to adventure our more. I was wondering if you wanted to join us?"
There's a little nervousness in his voice and it makes Ana smile at him. "Of course. It'll be fun. We're talking the 1964 mustang though, and I'm driving."
"That, uh, convertible one, right? Of course, you'd want to drive that." Bucky laughs.
He walks a little ahead of her, and on several occasions, Ana has to lift her eyes back up, instead of watching him walk in front of her.