Bucky crossed his arms as he watched Steve pace before his team. Specs of sweat dotted his hairline as he tried to find the right words. Bucky smiled to himself. Perhaps the serum hadn't changed much after all. Steve pressed his palms together, settling to stand centered before the group. He hooked his thumbs around his belt buckle and cleared his throat. Everyone watched him patiently.

Steve inhaled. "You were each selected for a reason. You all know what Hydra and the Red Skull are capable of. And while you've each got talent and skill to rival the best, we've got a lot more to work on. Because Red Skull's not resting. He-"

"Steve." Bucky's shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.

He turned to Bucky, confusion creasing his face. "Yes?"

"Look at us." He spread his arms wide in front of the team. "We're already with you, so stop trying to convince us. Alright?" Bucky clapped his hand on Steve's shoulder. "Let's just shoot some guns."

Dugan wahooed and others cheered or laughed. Metallic clicks preceded gunshot blasts, echoing against the mountain side. The sound rang sharp and short. In general, the men weren't terrible marksmen. At least they could hit a target. Bucky recrossed his arms as he stood beside Steve, watching the practice.

"Well?" said Steve.

Bucky crinkled his brow. "Well what?"

"Show me what you've got."

Bucky leaned back into his laugh. "Wait," he sobered when Steve hadn't laughed along. "You're seriously telling me what to do?"

"Strange as it seems."

Gunshots died down as the men watched in eager silence. Bucky grinned and nodded. "Fair enough. But what about you, Steve? Or did that serum turn you into a marksman as well?"

"I could always use the practice."

Bucky held out the butt of his pistol. "Show me what you've got."

Steve smirked as he grabbed the pistol and took his stance before the target. Shot one went sideways, barely nicking the mark. He repositioned, arms straight, shoulders tensed, and squeezed the trigger again. Slightly better, but still on the side of the mark.

"Well done, Rogers." Bucky turned to see Peggy watching, unimpressed. "You've managed to annoy the Hydra soldier." She pushed past Bucky to grab the pistol from Steve. In one swift move she'd positioned herself with feet shoulder width apart, right foot slightly forward, aimed, and loosed a bullet straight to the center of the bull's eye. She handed Steve the gun again. "I just saved your ass."

"I vote Miss Peggy, here, joins the team," Dugan roared.

"Oh, no. I couldn't possibly. I've other responsibilities that'll take me across the globe."

Steve smiled. "An honorary member, then? Part of the team when you're with us?"

Bucky licked his lower lip and nodded. "Yeah, Peggy, would ya? It'd be an honor to have you."

She grinned. "Yes, alright, then."

"Now that that's settled, can we get back to shooting?" Falsworth asked. Everyone resumed their positions and took aim at the targets. Falsworth and Peggy took turns sharing the target, and Steve took the one beside them.

"You're too tense," Bucky said as Steve took aim again. "Relax your shoulders and breathe, alright?" Steve dropped his shoulders a touch, keeping his arms straight. Bucky sighed. "Honestly, Steve. Didn't they teach you anything in bootcamp?"

Steve straightened, dropping his arms to his side. "I've been a bit preoccupied. Besides, I'm better with my shield."

"Take aim again." Steve did so. Bucky pressed Steve's shoulders lower, bent his arms at the elbows, and raised the gun a fraction of an inch. Then he stood behind Steve, checking his aim over his shoulder. From the corner of his eye, he saw Peggy watching them. The look on her face was guarded, and she looked away, back to her own target. "Breathe in, and then slowly squeeze the trigger as you exhale. This will keep you loose and ready for the back kick."

Steve did as instructed, and this time hit his mark.

. . .

Bucky had his hands in his pockets and was scuffing his feet along the pavement, sending pebbles skittering ahead. Steve lagged a few steps behind, his head bowed, and had a slight limp to his walk. Bucky slowed so that they were walking side by side. "You could walk away."

Steve shook his head. "They'd chase me." He kicked an errant chestnut, scowling at is as it bounced a serpentine trail and stopped against the curb. "Besides…they needed to be stopped."

"Yeah. It looks like you did a wonderful job." Steve glared at him, and Bucky laughed. "It's admirable, don't get me wrong." Steve resumed his look of dejection. "Look, I'll teach you."

"Teach me?"

"How to fight. It'll be fun."

"You'd do that?"

Bucky shrugged. "Sure! It's not like I can always be there to save your ass."

"Jerk."

"Punk."

"So where are we going?" Bucky herded him around the corner and pointed to a door halfway down the block. A sign above the entry marked it as a gym. "You planned this, didn't you?"

Bucky smirked and raised an eyebrow. "I'd hoped, anyway. But I wanted you to agree to it first."

"What made you think I 'd say no?"

He shrugged and said, "You can be a little stubborn, you know."

Steve scrunched his face. "Whatever. Show me what you've got."

Inside, they tossed their jackets on a vacant bench. Steve stripped to his undershirt, but Bucky went bare chested. Steve raised his eyebrow.

"Is that necessary?" he asked.

"Just put these on," Bucky said as he chucked a set of boxing gloves at Steve. He juggled to catch them, jammed his small hands inside, and struggled with the laces. Bucky helped him before putting on his own gloves. Steve ducked into the ring and stood uncertainly in the center, waiting for Bucky to jump over the ropes. He landed gracefully with a soft thud. "The first thing you need to know is defense."

"So it hurts less when they're kicking me in the ribs?"

"Just put your arms up." Steve did so, but kept his fists only to shoulder height. He faced Bucky squarely and stood slightly hunched, though his knees didn't bend. Bucky laughed and shook his head. "No wonder you get your ass kicked. Angle your body. If you're jabbing with your right, keep your right foot back. Hold your right hand by your chin. Your left hand is higher to protect your face." Steve made some minor adjustments to his stance. Bucky nodded. "Use your size to your advantage. Being small isn't a weakness. You can duck away easier, slip away through smaller spaces."

Steve lowered his hands in exasperation. "Will you just get on with the lesson?"

Bucky raised his fists. So did Steve. "Block me."

Steve loosed a breath and waited for Bucky's first jab. His fist was quick, and Steve winced, though Bucky stopped mid-swing. He touched his glove to Steve's cheek. "You have to move your arms, your feet…something!" They resumed their stances. "Again."

For an hour, Steve winced and ducked away from Bucky's soft swings. Once or twice he made a successful block, grinning each time. Bucky never grew impatient or frustrated. He loved that Steve was slowly getting excited. He didn't mind running the same defensive drills on repeat. So long as Steve held his look of determination—brows knit, lips pursed, eyes focused—Bucky was going to help him.

After ten minutes of a rapid-fire drill, where Bucky tossed jab after jab while Steve blocked, sweat ran along Steve's hairline. His cheeks and ears burned pink, and his breathing became a thin, wheezing rasp. Bucky dropped his hands, but Steve held his stance.

"Come on," he gasped. "Keep…going."

"Steve, you're on the brink of an asthma attack." Steve shook his head. "I'm not going to do something that could hurt you."

"I can do it." He doubled over, trying to take in a full breath of air.

Bucky motioned toward the bench. "Take a break. I'll get some water." He helped Steve out of the ring and ushered him to his seat before going to get two waters. On his way, he was stopped by a bulky brunette by the punching bags.

"Y'er wasting your time, you know."

Bucky stopped. "I'm just trying to teach my friend self defense."

The man laughed. "Well you're wasting your time. That fairy-ass twig would snap in two in a real fight."

Bucky tensed. "You better stop talking while you can."

"What are you gonna do about it? I could snap you just like I would your fairy."

"I told you to stop talking."

"So you do want to fight?"

Bucky knew this man had twice his bulk, and he probably could snap him in two, but that didn't matter. "No one insults my friend."

"Bucky!" Steve came running up to the two of them, his breathing a softer rasp. Bucky didn't move until Steve put his hand on his shoulder. "It's ok, Buck. Let's just go."

"Yeah. Alright. This creep's not worth it."

They returned to gather their things. As Bucky shrugged on his shirt, Steve did up his own buttons. "So what was that about?"

"Forget it."

"No. You're always telling me to walk away. What did he say?" Steve pulled on his jacket.

"He was an asshole, alright?"

"Alright."