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Serenity sat cross legged on a desk chair as she scribbled out the plans for a new kind of body armor. There were different types sketched out on the large drawing pad. Notes were placed all over the page with more doodles to show what each feature was. She stopped for a second and placed the end of the pencil to her lips as she tried to ponder the features. However, her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the glass door of the lab. She spun her chair around and saw Bucky standing at the door.
"May I come in?" Asking as he stood in the open doorway.
"Sure." She said with a smile, "What can I do for you?"
Bucky walked forward and stated, "I need your help with something."
Walking closer to her and he brought his left arm up to show her. There was a plate that appeared to be pried open, exposing some of the components. Serenity uncrossed her legs and stood up from her chair. Walking over to him, she gently picked up his arm. Examining the issue more closely.
"Woah, what happened here?" She asked with a look of concern.
"Steve and I were working on a new move, where he uses my arm to bounce his shield. I guess it must of hit my arm wrong." He gave her a goofy half smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Natasha said that you were pretty good with stuff like this."
Serenity didn't look up when she replied, still examining his arm, "Well, I'm not the best, but I think I can fix this. Have a seat over there." She pointed to a different chair than the one she was using.
Bucky obliged and took a seat. Strolling over to a table, she opened a drawer and pulled out a black case. She placed it down in her chair and wheeled it over next to Bucky. Grabbing the case, she then sat down and placed it on her lap. Unzipping it revealed a tool kit, complete with soldering iron, digital multimeter, wire cutters, different types of soldering wire, and many other tools. She pulled out several pieces from the case and began setting up her workstation.
As she set up her tools, Bucky couldn't help but watch her. She actually seemed happy to be doing this. He couldn't help but wonder how she could be so joyful about helping him. When only a couple weeks ago he broke her nose. It made no sense to him as to why she wasn't afraid or angry. He was actually grateful she wasn't, but couldn't understand why.
Serenity looked up from her station after finish her set up. She caught Bucky staring at her, but he quickly adverted eye contact. She smiled and gently touched his arm, getting a better look at the impact point.
"So Steve's shield is what caused this?" She asked as her slender fingers glided around the spot.
"Yeah. Did a lot more damage than we thought." He replied, glancing over at her.
"I'll say. It appears that the shield hit one of the small openings that allow you flexibility. Since the shield is also made of vibranium, it was strong enough to bend the plate." Serenity continued her examination of his arm as she spoke.
"Do you think you can fix it?" He asked
"Oh yeah!" She exclaimed as she bounced her head up from examining him, "Thankfully, I have been able to work with the vibranium recently. I have a decent understanding of it, I can get you patched up in a jiffy."
Bucky smiled, "Glad to hear that I'm in good hands then."
Blushing slightly she grabbed the tools required and began fixing the components. As she worked away, Bucky took this chance to take another look at her. He was memorized by her and couldn't stop himself from staring. With the bandage on her nose gone and the injury healed, he could see her fully. Small freckles spread across her cheeks and dainty nose, that now had a small scar on the bridge. Her eyes were like the stars, the way they drew you in to explore the sparkling shades of blue and green. Her hair, pulled up in a ponytail, was a shade of brown that reminded him of whiskey. It even had golden hues that shined when the light hit the soft curls just right. Her skin was smooth with a tawny, beige complexion. Bucky was so caught up in her features that he almost didn't notice she was done fixing his arm.
"All done!" She stated with a chipper tone.
Bucky looked down while opening and closing his palm. He twisted and flexed to check the work. It looked like he had never been damaged. She packed up most of her gear, and watched Bucky as he tested the repairs.
"Will it do?" She asked playfully
He looked over and smiled, "Yes. Thank you."
"No problem! It was a pleasure, I have been itching to get a better look at it. Ever since I heard about it, I was dying to get a peak inside." She said while getting up to return the chair she was sitting in. She stopped and looked back with a furrowed brow and a pained look, "I'm sorry, that makes me sound like some horrible person. I wanted to see your arm, but I wanted to meet you too. The arm is just junk without the man, not the other way around."
Bucky couldn't believe what he was hearing, "You wanted to meet me?" He asked with a puzzled look on his face.
Serenity walked back over to him and gave him the most caring look anyone ever gave him, it was almost like she was upset to hear him ask such a question. "Of course. When I heard about you from Bruce, at first I was mostly fascinated with the idea of someone with a bionic arm. However, the more he spoke of you, the more I wanted to get to know you. I mean, what an incredible path your life has taken you down. You have endured things no one should ever have to go through. Yet here you are. A man like that is worth getting to know."
Bucky was speechless after hearing her words. Here was a woman, who wanted to be in his presence. She knew his story and still wanted to get to know him. This baffled him and Serenity could tell by the expression and gaping mouth.
"Did I say something wrong?" She asked, confused by his expression.
Shaking his head to release himself from his daze, he then stood up from his seat. "No. The opposite actually. I didn't think anyone would want to talk to me, much less get to know me."
Stepping closer to him, she looked deep into his sky blue eyes, "I would love to get to know who James Buchanan Barnes is and was."
Bucky couldn't help but blush a little at this and didn't have anything to say after. He was flattered that she wanted to get to know him, but how could she get to know him. When in reality he barely knew himself. He has been piecing together memories for a while now, but they were fragments. He stared back into those captivating eyes. They were hard not to stare into, like vast oceans of emotions. Serenity was also enchanted by Bucky's eyes. They showed such few emotions, but the ones there were screaming at her. Standing only a few feet from one another, in complete silence. It was only a few seconds, but to them it felt like hours. Their daze was broken by the door to the lab opening and shutting.
Bruce stood by the door like a deer caught in the head lights, "Am I-uh… interrupting something?" He asked, quite flustered by the two of them.
Clearing his throat, Bucky replied, "No. I was just about to leave. Thank you very much Serenity."
He bowed his head and quickly shuffled out of the lab, giving Bruce a nod as he left. Bruce returned the nodded and watched as he walked out and down the hall. He then whipped his head back to Serenity with a gaping mouth and wide eyes.
Serenity arched an eyebrow at him, "What is that look for?"
"Uh, what did I just walk into?" He asked as a sly smile crept up
"I'm not sure what you're talking about." She stated as she quickly returned to her chair and drawing pad.
Bruce hurried over to the other side of the table, so he was right in front of her. His arm was extended and he was pointing in the direction that Bucky went. His expression was just as wide eyed and ridiculous as before. He pointed at her then back at the door a few times.
"Come on, Ren! I'm not stupid, you two were having a serious moment there." Bruce was almost giddy as he spoke.
Serenity lowered her eyelids and pursed her lips, "What are you? A 12-year old girl?"
Bruce wasn't even fazed by the comment, "Well, I know what I saw."
Serenity shook her head, "Yeah, two people staring at each other. Let's alert the press." Then returned her pencil to the pad.
Bruce said nothing, but just smiled and walked over to a different table within the lab. Serenity tried to focus on the work in front of her, but couldn't stop thinking about Bucky. In the bottom corner of her page, she began to draw out a pair of eyes. She drew out, from memory, Bucky's steely and soft gaze. She wondered how someone could appear so dangerous and helpless at the same time.