AN: Finally, some Bucky action! Hip-Hip-Hooray!Enjoy!
My hands were sweating like a whore in church. Big changes always put me on edge. My life was changing… again. Just when I thought things were settling down, my world was flipped on its axis.
As the car pulled up to Avenger's facility, I found my jaw dropping a little. This place was enormous. If I was not in a car, I would officially be pacing.
"I can hear your brain buzzing from here Gus," came Barton's voice from the front seat.
"This place is crazy ass huge! You know I am directionally challenged," I sighed already disgruntled.
The car pulled to a stop and Steve Rogers opened my door for me. I pulled myself out of the car, thanked him, and looked around. A low whistle burst from my lips.
"Yep. I am gonna get lost for sure," I commented more to myself than anyone else.
"This way Gus!" Barton looped his arms through mine and started to pull me towards my future.
My yellow maxi dress swished in front of me. My steady steps belied my true feelings inside. We stepped into what seemed to be a living room of sorts.
"If it isn't Ms. Southern Sweet Pea herself," came a confident voice from the kitchen area. Standing there with a scotch in his hand was none other than Tony Stark. He had a cocky half smile on his face and was wearing sunglass inside. Predictable.
"Lemme guess, Iron Man," came my voice.
"In the flesh. Literally," his hand extended towards mine. I looked at Clint warily wondering if Mr. Stark had been briefed on my.. condition.
"I know about your poison skin, my dear. And you know, I am awfully curious to see how it works. I am a little skeptical being a man of science," he waggled his eyebrows and gave me a charming smile.
I giggled and questioned, "You have your doubts?"
"Maybe. Let's just say that I prefer to test my hypothesis before I declare them as truths. I just don't see how a little thing like you could pose such a threat."
I walked closer to him leaving Barton and Rogers to stand near the couches. I had a sultry grin on my face and swayed my hips. He wanted to test my abilities. So be it. I love a good challenge.
"Well let me show you how much this 'little thing' can really do. Now correct me if I am wrong, but you and Ms. Pepper Potts are an item, right?" he nodded still looking skeptical.
"Gus. Be careful," Barton chimed in. Rogers gave him a worried look not knowing what to expect.
"Would you say that you… love her?" He nodded again his eyebrows scrunching together quizzically.
"As in only have eyes for her?" I asked in a lower, huskier voice. I started the pace behind him coming close enough to almost rub against him.
"Of course. Get to the point," he stated confused as to where this was going.
"I bet that I can get you to change your mind with one touch of my finger," I wiggled my finger in front of his eyes.
"Ill believe it when I see it sweet pea." I grinned real wide.
This was something I rarely did anymore. I tried to use my abilities only for good and never for selfish gain… alright almost never. However, I was willing to use my abilities to stick it to Tony Stark. He had moved to lean his back against the granite counter top with his arms crossed.
I stepped right into his personal space and looked up at him through my lashes. My semi- low cut yellow dress swished around my legs. His eyes dilated, a natural reaction. I wouldn't say I am a bombshell, I could lose a little weight, but I knew that I had certain assets and knew how to turn on the charm to get myself out of sticky situations.
I ran my finger down his clothed long sleeve. I saw goose bumps break out on his neck.
He raised one perfectly arched eyebrow. My bare finger tip landed on his bare wrist. Desire. Lust. Want.
I projected those feelings with all that I had. He leaned in, eyes locked on mine.
I said in a low, seductive voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "Do you still love Pepper, Tony?"
"Who's Pepper?" he asked as if in a trance. I giggled and stood on my tip toes to get closer to his ear.
"Who do you love the most?" I asked.
"You. I love you and I would do anything you want! You want money? Cars? Flowers? Anything!"
Rogers' jaw dropped and I threw a wink at them over my shoulder. I could see Tony's eyes drifting over my body. I laughed again and said,
"If you really love me, then you will cluck like a chicken."
Instantly, He started clucking. My finger came off of his skin.
"Really mean it Tony," I encouraged him laughing a bit evilly
He started moving his hands back and forth as if they were wings. His clucking became louder. Clint was officially laughing and holding his sides.
"How long does it last?" Cap asked curiously.
"Oh it depends on the type of contact and how connected I am to the actual emotion I am projecting… seeing as I've never actually been in love, it should really only last about two more minutes."
I went to look around the kitchen. Baking is one of the most relaxing things in my opinion. And boy, was the kitchen a chef's dream.
"So you have to have access to the emotion you are trying to get someone to feel?"
"Basically. From a psychological standpoint, anger is one of the easiest… lust too…. Love is more complicated because there ware different types of love, levels, hindrances, so on and so forth."
"Wow, Gus. It's weird seeing you do that. You're still that sweet, innocent teenager in my head," Barton commented.
"Well, you can thank Natasha for that. She came and visited me a couple of years ago right after the New York thing, and gave me some pointers," I explained.
Tony finally stopped clucking and shook his head trying to clear the fog out.
"Holy. Shit." He mumbled rubbing his forehead.
"So Mr. Stark, still think I am a defenseless little girl?" I asked as I opened the giant stainless steel fridge.
"That was.. that was unlike anything that's ever happened," he spoke.
"I may not be as skilled in flying or fighting, but I've got a couple of things up my sleeve." I turned back around to face all of them smiling big.
"Enough about my freaky ways! Show me around this place!"
We walked around, the first stop being my new room. It was way nicer than my old apartment. There was a huge bed in the center that looked like a cloud straight out of heaven. It seemed a little… hospital-ish. I was going to have to change that.
Then I was pointed in the direction of the labs that were used for research. I couldn't help but stiffen at their mention. Then Tony showed me the garage. It was filled with expensive cars and motorcycles.
"Trying to compensate for something, Mr. Stark?" I joked.
"No ma'am. I am the full package deal," He commented giving me a lewd wink.
At this point, Clint got a call and said he was going to report in. Cap said he wanted to show me to where we would be training. I groaned internally. Physical exercise. Gross.
As we walked towards the glorified gym, I saw Tony and Steve exchanged glances. Curious, I smiled at Steve and brushed my hand against his as if it was an accident. Worried. Anxious.
Steve Rogers really needs to calm down I thought to myself. Steve glanced down at me, but seemed none the wiser.
"Welcome to my crib," joked Tony as he pushed the double doors open. My mouth opened in shock again. It was like a whole fucking gym. There were treadmills, elipticals, bikes, weight machines, a boxing ring, and so many things that I didn't even recognize. My ears picked up heavy pants and a repetitive thud. Over in the back corner, a tough man was beating the shit out of a punching bag. He had long dark hair, strong shoulders, lots of rippling muscles, and… a metal arm? Something flashed in the back of my head. As if a memory fought to resurface. I looked at Steve who was watching my face carefully.
"You okay?" he asked me, making meaningful eye contact with Tony. Why do they keep doing that? If only I was a mind reader as well. I looked over at the man with the metal arm. He looked familiar. I stated my thoughts out loud. Tony made a low noise. He seemed agitated.
"That is my best friend, but the media knows him as the Winter Soldier."
"That's my cue to leave. Ms. McKay, if you need anything don't hesitate to ask!"
I was still trying to swallow the information I just learned. I looked at Steve warily.
"He wasn't guilty of the assassination. He has been through a lot. He means so much to me. We.. I was hoping that maybe you could get to know him? Maybe see if you can help him?"
Steve seemed very vulnerable as he disclosed this information to me. I didn't need to touch him to understand the hope in his eyes. I could see that he really cared about this guy.
Steve had helped save my life and he had Clint's seal of approval, so I knew in that moment that I was going to help Steve and… his friend.
I squared my shoulders and marched towards the back of the gym. Steve tried to grab my shoulder.
"Wait Gus! Let's make sure he's… uh himself." I raised one eyebrow in question as we slowly walked over together. When we were about five feet away, we stopped, but the Winter Soldier did not. He kept pounding the punching bag with all that he had. Sweat dripped from his face.
"Buck? You good?" His punch faltered for a second but then he kept pounding. I moved closer. Steve grabbed my wrist trying to pull me back which stung a little due to the still healing bruises there. I rolled my eyes at him and ripped my hand free, determined to talk to this man.
"Hey there. My name's August McKay. Nice to meet you sir," I said my southern accent ringing out. He stopped suddenly. He turned his body square towards me his fists still raised. Blue eyes pierced into my soul. His chest was heaving up and down trying to catch his breath.
"Bucky, this is the girl I told you about," Steve stepped right behind me and placed his hand on my shoulder, hands brushing my bare skin.
I tried to ignore the emotions he was feeling; I was a little more preoccupied with the man in front of me. He seemed to be fighting something just under the surface. He was a puzzle... I like puzzles.
He lowered his hands, but kept making fists as if agitated. With as much confidence as I could muster, I extended my hand to him. His eyes flicked to Steve and then to my hand and then back to me. Instead of shaking my hand, he immediately pushed past Steve and I, exiting the gym with huge, determined strides not looking back.
"Well that went well." I commented feeling rejected. Steve sighed and ran his hand through his hair.