Chapter 8

[Emily's POV]

The first thing I noticed the next morning was I was cuddling with a pillow. I yawned and pushed myself up, glancing around. I was in a cozy little bedroom, which wood side paneling. A beanbag was in the corner, placed closely to the door. A few blankets that were on the foot of the bed now were surprisingly missing. I glanced lazily over my shoulder and I nearly squeaked when I saw a man's bare back. His back was strewn with scars, each of them crisscrossing each other. The man started to turn and I fell back onto the bed and closed my eyes, praying that he didn't see me watching.

"Emily…I already know that you saw me…"

I sighed and pushed myself back up onto my elbow, watching as Bucky threw on a black muscle shirt. That's when I noticed it. His entire left arm was metal. I gasped as my eyes ran along it. I couldn't believe it…

"Pretty cool, huh?"

"How did it happen?" I squeaked, unable to take my eyes off of it.

"Accident," he replied. "Sort-of fell off a train into a river." I gulped and he smiled weakly. "Come on. It's nearly breakfast. T'Challa and Wanda left last night." I nodded and rubbed my eyes wearily again, pushing back my blankets. My legs were decorated with all different kinds of bruises. Bucky walked over, and winced himself. "Well, I suggest no more jumping on paintball land mines to save your mentor." I nodded and stood up shakily. I was so exhausted. Bucky held out his hand to me and I grasped it thankfully, and he led me outside of the room and to the downstairs, where half of the Avengers were gathered around the table, including some of my teammates in paintball.

"Morning Emily," commented Natasha, smiling. Her face dropped when she saw my legs. "Paintball?" I nodded and she winced. Bucky got us both pancakes and lemonade for me and orange juice for him. I sat down on one of the bar stools and Bucky next to me.

"So, Emily," said Steve, nodding to me. His hair was extremely disheveled and he had a faint trace of a beard growing on him. "Remember the therapy we talked about earlier for your shoulders?" I nodded. "Well, that's going to start today."

"Cool," I commented, sipping my lemonade. "Who are my therapists again?"

"Me and the soldier," commented a voice. I groaned inwardly as I turned to face Dixon, the stuck-up brat who got shot during paintballing. "Don't worry. I'll protect you from the evil assassin." I called forth my claws and opened my wings wide.

"I don't need protecting," I simply replied before going back to eating my pancakes. After I was finished, Dixon led me to the gym, which was totally decked out in punching bags, a boxing arena, and a ton of fitness tools. He ushered me over to the section of punching bags.

"First things first," said Dixon, patting the bag in the center. "Punch here as hard as you can." I raised an eyebrow at him and he laughed. "Don't think you can do it?" I might overdo it, I thought to myself. I took my stance and lashed out with a forward punch. It connected with the center, and the bag went flying back, barely staying on the chain. As it swung back down towards me, I twisted around and did a side kick to the bag. It shook and a small spot opened up, dripping sand.

Dixon raised an eyebrow and muttered, "Not bad…" Something hit my back and fell to the ground. I turned around and saw Bucky holding a duffel bag. One was laid out in front of me.

"You forgot the uniform," he commented, glancing at my outfit. "Change into that, then we'll back to therapy." Dixon growled something un-audible, but I grabbed the duffel bag and slipped into locker rooms, switching from my current outfit into a tight leather outfit that resembled SHIELD's old outfits. I stepped out after zipping up my tall boots and walked back to Dixon and Bucky. Both had changed into the uniform and I had to say Bucky looked good in leather. The two of them were arguing with each other, and I noticed Bucky's stance. It resembled his stance whenever he went into Stark's lab.

I quickly stepped in before any punches were thrown and we began therapy. Finally, after a while, Dixon deemed me ready to actually start fighting someone. I raised an eyebrow and wiped my sweaty brow. Dixon motioned me over to the boxing arena. I stepped hesitantly into the ring and Dixon stepped in after me.

"You're going to fight me until either one of us is too weak to continue," said Dixon, nodding to me. "It'll help us determine how bad your shoulders are. Oh…and no powers." I growled and folded my wings against my back. I held my hands up until Bucky tapped the bell and Dixon came rushing to me. Surprised, I stumbled away, barely missing a powerful front punch from him. I stood tall and scanned him quickly. Dark hair with tanned skin, a slight limp on his right leg…

I threw an uppercut and it connected with his jaw before he could move. Quickly, I ducked behind his elbow and kicked Dixon's knee. He grunted as he fell down, scrabbling to try and get up. I threw another front punch towards his face, but his hand came around and clamped onto it, halting all my movements. He twisted my wrist, and I hissed as pain raced up through my spine. Dixon jumped up and grabbed onto my shoulder with his other hand. He yanked me towards him, slamming his knee into my gut over and over again. I was completely defenseless. My other hand couldn't reach him, and even if it could, there was nothing except my powers that would help. In a desperate attempt, I flung my wings open, hoping to psych Dixon out.

It worked.

He let go and backed up, and I quickly rush him, throwing my arms around his waist and shoving him towards the ground. Once he was on the ground, though, it was a feeble attempt to keep him there. He shook and threw himself around until my hand got caught and pulled under him. I gasped as more pain emerged and I fell to the ground beside him, the beginning of tears forming. Bucky looked ready to jump in, but Dixon then jumped up and started slamming his foot into my gut over and over again. I cried out as he hits a paintball wound I was still recovering from. Finally, I couldn't stand it. My hands clawed out and blue magic leapt from my fingertips, wrapping around Dixon's ankles, tripping him. I spread my wings open wide and jumped to my feet, pinning him down with my magic. He struggled to move, and I squeezed it tighter.

"Too weak to continue?" I sneered, and he huffed, trying to work his way out. There was a gentle touch on my hand and cold shivers sliced through me. I froze and my magic stalled, allowing Dixon to leap up. He threw a punch towards my face, but a large bulky hand flashed out, nabbing it easily and clenching it tightly.

"We're here to help Emily recover, not to make her worse," Bucky said to Dixon in a low monotone voice. "Leave the gym. I'll finish the session with her."

"And if I don't?"

"Well, I'll make sure the Avengers know about your humiliating defeat to a crippled girl," Bucky responded, and I could imagine him smirking. Dixon huffed and stormed out, leaving Bucky and me alone in the gym. As soon as Dixon left, I grabbed my stomach and fell to my knees. I was going to be so sore tomorrow. Bucky caught me in his arms before I fell over and he held me close. "I lied about finishing the therapy session. You're going to your room so you can rest and recover." I shook my head, and struggled to stand, but fell again, this time against Bucky. I felt tears begin to rise in my eyes.

"No!" I demanded, wiping my tears out, shoving him away from myself. This time my legs couldn't hold out and I fell flat on my butt. I pulled my knees up to my chest and tried hard not to cry. "I can't…I need to show everyone that I'm not weak…"

"You aren't weak," Bucky answered, sitting down in front of me. He held out his metal hand and I took it in mine. "You are one of the strongest people I know, and I know a ton of strong people." I grinned slightly and that made his smile wider. "You were bullied?" I nodded and wiped away a few of my tears with my fear hand.

"Devon," I replied, shaking. "Lizzy's boyfriend. During the Battle of New York, Devon had just started dating Lizzy." I took a shaky breath and whispered, "And then when I got my wings, and Devon learned, he threatened to call the police if I didn't do everything he wanted me to do." Bucky's eyes widen slightly and I shook my head. "It wasn't anything bad…just extra homework or figuring out a nice date between him and Lizzy…cooking food for his parents when it was supposed to be him doing it." I shivered. "Finally…I couldn't take it anymore. I told Lizzy about Devon and my wings; she believed the wings part, but not Devon. They've been dating for 6 years now and she still doesn't believe me." I started sobbing onto my uniform and shaking violently. Bucky scooted over to me and held me close while I cried onto him. We sat like that for hours I think, me crying while Bucky tried to calm me down. We skipped lunch and finally, as dinner rolled around, while we were still sitting in the dark at the gym, someone knocked on the gym door.

"Emily? Bucky?" asked a voice. It was Sam Wilson. He opened the doors wide and flicked on the light switch, his eyes scanning for us. His mouth opened a little wider when he spotted me and my red eyes. "Oh my gosh, are you alright?" I nodded violently and looked down so I wouldn't have to stare into his eyes. "Do you want to come to dinner or do you want me to send it up to your room?"

"My room please," I whispered, my voice cracking. Sam nodded and left the room.

:/:\:

[Bucky's POV]

Emily was so downhearted I didn't know what to do but just remain silent and hold her. She had had such a hard life. Bullying, powers she never wanted…Silently, I slipped my arms underneath her arms and her knees and hoisted her up. She didn't say anything, just buried herself into my chest. I sighed sadly and started making my way out of the gym and into the main compound. Some people glanced at us as we walked by and Wanda glanced up, her eyes widening at the sight of me and Emily. I just shook my head sadly and pushed past her, walking up the stairs and towards the rooms. I opened my room and headed to my bed, gently setting Emily down on the plush blankets.

"Get some sleep," I whispered, tucking a strand of blond-brown hair behind her ear. "We'll start training again in the morning." She nodded, shivered, and a lone tear dropped from her eye. I used my thumb to wipe it away and hesitantly, leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Good night." I got up and exited the room, heading back downstairs to where all the Avenger members were glancing at me.

"What happened?" demanded Wanda, her fists clenched. "What did you and Dixon do to her?"

"Relax," I told her. "She just experienced some PTSD."

"What happened?" asked Steve, stuffing some spaghetti into his mouth. I briefly explained her situation without giving away too much. If they wanted to know, they could go to her and ask that themselves. Steve's shoulders fell when I mentioned bullying. I knew why. Even the file SHIELD had on Emily didn't mention what Devon had done to her.

"All the best diamonds go under pressure," Clint declared, setting down his food. "Where is she, Bucky?"

"My room," I told him. "She seems to like it there. I'm going to come down here and rest on the couch." Clint nodded and took the stairs two at a time. I yawned and rubbed my eyes wearily. I flopped onto the couch and relaxed as the darkness took over, luring me into a deep sleep.