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emberedroses · 5 months

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Hands That Heal [Bucky x Reader]: Chapter 1

Masterlist | Prologue

Warning: 18+; Minors DNI

An Ache for a Cure

Bucky is many things. The Winter Soldier. An Avenger. Redemption incarnated.

'Physically injured person' was the last thing he wanted to put on that list.

It literally cost him an arm for his body to be durable. All that suffering meant never having to succumb to the feeling of helplessness and injuries ever again. In his mind, as twisted as it may sound, it was a cruel bonus that came with living in this new reality.

This week, Bucky learned he was not as invincible as he thought.

Though he wished for any explanation other than 'injured,' there was no denying what the throbbing pain in his back was other than an injury. To say that the famed Winter Soldier wasn't a bit concerned would be an understatement. After all, he hadn't had to nurse an ache this bad since the forties.

'A mission that simple should not have left me this fucked.'

Recalling the memory of the situation made the pain ignite all over again. The body never forgives what happens to it. Bucky had learned that the hard way.

He exhaled softly. His mind dwindled back to the mission five agonizing days ago. The strain in his body could not forget the feeling of hitting the floor from what could have been hundreds of feet up.

'It was supposed to be easy.' A sour taste formed in his mouth. 'Why did that have to be the thing to take me out like this?'

Jumping out of that helicopter to take out some pesky guards on the roof was nothing he hadn't done before. He had pulled more dangerous stunts during his deployment in the Army. What he didn't expect, however, was the rigged bombs to hit him the moment he touched the rooftop.

His eyes winced. The helplessness engulfed his mind all over again.

Falling.

Falling who knows how many feet down.

He remembers clearly the one question on his mind: "Is the last thing I see going to be the floor or the sky?"

'It all happened so fast,' He wanted to whisper. He was so entranced with his own memories he couldn't move his mouth to say anything. 'I couldn't have done anything.'

His heart pressed heavily against his chest. The air caught in his throat. It felt like a pair of someone's hands were choking him to sit still in place.

'Remember,' It whispered. 'Why couldn't you save yourself?'

Bucky wishes he could forget the way he tried with everything he had to cling onto the side of the building, only to fail. The feeling of anxiousness of knowing what comes next still haunts him. Still, Bucky considers himself lucky that in his moment of panic, he was able to think quickly enough to roll onto his left shoulder. His metal arm cushioned the otherwise hard blow. Still, nothing would have been enough to stop all the pain he's in.

'Why couldn't you save yourself?' The voice repeated. Bucky couldn't move to shake his head in protest. He felt like he would break apart if he escaped its grasp. 'Since when did you become so weak?'

'Since when did I become so weak?'

Bucky knew there was no voice. Nor hands holding him. His anxious mind convinces him this is the doing of someone else. In the end, it is he who tortures his own self.

'Get through the morning. It can't be that hard.'

His injury had other plans. The sharp pain ran from his left shoulder blade down toward his lower back. He pitied himself for not being able to 'walk it off' like usual. Which made mornings like this more frustrating than normal.

'It hurts like all hell,' Bucky felt the thought echo through his pained vessel of a body. He rolled his left shoulder. It didn't alleviate any of the pulsating aches in his muscles. 'How much longer do I have to wait this out?'

"Bucky," A tap to his right shoulder jolted him out of his trance. "Milk or creamer?"

"Huh?"

Bucky blinked up at Steve, who tilted his head and lightly chuckled.

"For your coffee?"

"Oh, sorry, " Bucky breathed out. His eyes bounced around the room, and his face warmed a bit when he realized everyone had a mug in their hand except for him. Even Steve had a full mug for himself next to the coffee machine. "Just two sugars is fine, thanks."

Steve nodded and turned his attention back to the counter. The earthy smell of the coffee filled his nose and melted away the anxious sigh stuck in his throat.

'I have to stop spacing out like this before Steve notices,' Bucky adjusted himself in his seat for what could have been the one-hundredth time that morning. 'But I can barely keep still without something hurting.'

"You alright there, Buck?"

A cup of hot coffee was placed in front of him. He eyed the steam for a moment. He found tranquility in the white whisps floating above the dark brown liquid.

'Maybe a sauna would help me relax my muscles?'

"Bucky?" The blond raised his brow, practically staring Bucky down for answers. In response, the brunette continued staring at the cup before him. "Are you okay?"

"Hm?" Bucky silently thanked Steve for making him the drink and took a sip. The warm and bitter-sweet coffee soothed his otherwise aching body. "Yeah, m'fine."

"You don't seem 'm'fine'"

Bucky looked at Steve, begging him with his eyes to drop the conversation. But with the way Steve had his arms crossed, he knew he was far from dropping anything.

'It's that dad instinct in him, isn't it?'

"You've been squirming all morning."

Bucky took another sip of his coffee. He was far too tired to be dealing with Steve's overprotectiveness at the moment.

"And?"

"And?" Steve's stern voice boomed through the quiet kitchen. Tony and Nat could only sip from the contents of their mugs and eye each other across the room. Everyone, including Bucky, could feel a friendly argument arising. "That's not normal."

"Not to be rude, Tinman, but you've been acting like you have something shoved up your a-"

"Tony," Steve interrupted. In return, Tony flashed his husband a playful smirk. "Please, it's just turned eight."

"Excuse me, dearest, but it's never too early to say ass."

"I'm going to ignore you saying that so I can start my morning off right," Steve pinched the bridge of his nose, earning a snicker from Tony. Bucky watched Nat hide her smile by sipping her coffee, but Bucky knew better than to crack even the slightest smirk. He didn't want to deal with Steve's fuming later. "In all seriousness, you've been readjusting your back since you've sat down. Is it because of what happened on your last mission?"

Bucky stayed silent. He took another long sip of his coffee, not caring about how hot it was. It didn't matter if he downed the entire cup. The silence won't save him from Steve's questions.

It seemed like only yesterday, the roles would have been reversed. If he even saw a bruise on his scrawny little friend, he would have gladly dropped him off at a medic and watched as they provided him the care he was entitled to as an armed soldier. Maybe even rough up the person who dared mess around with him.

Now?

Bucky feels too cowardly to admit to a backache. Hell, it took him a good two days to admit it to himself. How could he say that to Steve? The one person who was able to bring him out of his trance?

He was right. He had become weak. But he could never let anyone know that, let alone Steve.

"I have a teenager at home, I know a 'yes' when I see one."

'Of course he does.'

"Nothing gets by you, does it?"

Bucky smiled sarcastically. Steve leaned against the counter behind him, his arms still crossed. To Bucky's dismay, he wasn't smiling back.

"No, unfortunately."

"You should worry more about your coffee getting cold," Bucky took a last big gulp of his drink before getting up to wash his mug. He stood facing away from the other three in the room. He heard the sound of a drawer open and close from behind him as he turned on the water. He could feel the warmth sizzle against his skin. The thought of a sauna came across his mind again, and he smiled to himself. "But I really am-"

'SNAP.'

Whatever hit his central back brought upon a huge wave of pain. To add insult to injury, the mug he was rinsing off broke in his hand. The only thing he had to be thankful for was that the white porcelain fragments littering the sink didn't knick him. He slammed his hand down to grip the front of the sink as he turned around to face the three.

"What the f-?!" The culprit's face was as smug and all-knowing as ever. "TONY?!"

"Calm down, old man, it was a rubber band."

Bucky's face warmed up with annoyance and aggravation. Though Steve gave him a look, he didn't say anything to the man who had flung a rubber band into his back.

"Steve!" Bucky extended his arm and gestured towards Tony. "Say something to him!"

"Tony, why did you fling a rubber band at Bucky?"

"Clearly to prove that his back was hurting," Tony looked Bucky up and down before scoffing quietly. "Aren't you a little too old to only now be having a bad back?"

"Can you please say sorry to him?"

"I'm sorry your back is hurting, pal," Steve looked at Tony to continue; the shorter man sighed and approached Bucky, who still had his hand tightly gripping the sink. It surprised him when he put his hand on his left shoulder. "Look, if you want whatever pain you're going through to go away, you can see the new medic on base."

'New medic? Since when did we get a new person on base?'

"Tony, that's not an apology."

"Yes, it was; I even threw in some empathy and advice in there; what more do you want from me?"

Bucky could only look on, unamused. He knew Tony would rather jump off a cliff before apologizing to anyone, especially to him. It was no secret between them that their tolerance of one another was built upon their love for Steve. To Bucky, Steve was his blood brother, and thankfully, the feeling was so mutual that his son knows him as 'Uncle Bucky.'

The resentment mostly boiled down to the fact that, whether he was all there or not, he was responsible for the death of his parents. Bucky understood that it must be hard having to be cordial with the man who killed his parents. But at the same time, how could Tony be blind to the fact that he never asked to be a vessel for HYDRA's wrongdoing?

'Wait, Tony wants me to see a doctor?'

The proposal was so unlike Tony's character. He was used to his sarcasm and his selfish remarks, but rarely did he ever show 'empathy' toward him.

Steve looked just as fed up with the situation as Natasha did. The three men were so invested in their conversation with one another that they practically forgot that Nat was still observing them.

"Geez," Steve looked just as fed up with the situation as Natasha did. Bucky was so invested in his conversation with the two that he forgot Nat was still observing them. "Can we not have peaceful mornings anymore?"

"Not in this tower," Natasha laughed as she walked over to the coffee machine and picked up the entire glass pot. "I'll be in Bruce's lab. Feel free to continue whatever is happening here without me."

Bucky awkwardly waved Natasha off as the rest softly bidded her goodbye.

"Since when did we get a new medic?"

"Right, you and the some of the others were on mission when Dr. Delmar was introduced. They're," Steve's voice trailed off, and he turned to Tony for assistance as he shrugged. "well?"

"A different kind of doctor from what we have on base."

Bucky's eyebrows raised, unimpressed.

"Different?"

"They're a physiotherapist, and I have them on staff for post-mission injuries that do not require emergency treatment. Such as sprains, aches, broken bones, stuff that doesn't involve getting stitched up or undergoing surgery."

'Why would I go see a physical therapist for a backache?'

"Nat was one of their first patients. Remember when she got her ribs broken?" Bucky nodded. He wasn't there when it happened, but from what Steve told him, she was in pretty bad shape. "She was up and back on her feet the next day, like nothing happened."

'She's just about as scared as doctors as I am. If she was okay with it, maybe it won't be so bad?'

Bucky still couldn't shake off the feelings of anxiety that came with doctors. The idea of being strapped down and pricked and prodded like an object reminded him too much of HYDRA.

"Yep, Dr. Delmar is really good at what they do, which is why I hired them when I did."

"I'm not sure. Doctors and I don't partially mix well."

Bucky still couldn't shake off the feelings of anxiety that came with doctors. The idea of being strapped down and pricked at like an object reminded him too much of HYDRA.

"I don't employ just anyone off the side of the road, Tinman. If you're under Stark Industries, they're the best in the business."

'There he is. I knew he was holding one in for me,' Bucky pursed his lips at the semi-insulting remark. He nervously tucked some of his brown strands behind his ear, finally lifting his hand off the sink. He turned his attention to the mess he had made and wanted to sigh at how much of a pain it would be to clean up. 'Maybe Steve's right. What if it isn't that bad?'

A part of Bucky hated how anxious he had become post-HYDRA. Back in the forties, Bucky was the pinnacle of confidence. He had it all. The guts got him into the Army in the first place, and the glory got him all the girls he could dream of. He is but a shell of that self now. But the apprehension is the only thing that keeps him sane.

'But, then what if it is?'

"There's no harm in getting checked out," Steve interjected. "Worst-case scenario, you pulled something and you'll have to take it slow for the next few days. But you won't know if you don't go and see someone."

Bucky slowly nodded at Steve's reply. He didn't even avert his eyes to look at him.

'What if I'm overreacting and I don't need to seek care? I won't be able to show my face in their office again.' Bucky readjusted his back again. The pain wasn't utterly unbearable as the first few days, but it was irritating him beyond belief. He let out a shaky exhale that only made the pain more intense. 'Or, what if it's something worse? Something the doctors can't even help me with? What will happen to me then? Is there even a cure for something like me?'

"There he goes again," Bucky shot Tony an annoyed look. He was too busy sipping his coffee to pay attention to his reaction. Then again, it wasn't like he would care if Bucky gave him a dirty look. They both know they exchange worse gestures with each other on a daily. "We can't force you to do anything, but just so you know, what she does works. Steve and I shadowed them for a bit to ensure they would be a good fit for everyone on the team."

Steve nodded in agreement.

"Dr. Delmar is a sweetheart, Buck. You'll be in good hands."

"Maybe."

"Maybe, he says," Tony snickered as he took another sip of his coffee. "Though, if you do decide to go, which is highly advised, might I add, the healing process you will undergo is-"

"It can be a bit intense, Buck. I've seen it, and it will be unlike anything you have experienced, but it works. That's what ultimately matters in the end."

The look Steve gave Bucky as he spoke unsettled him. Being so stern was so out-of-character for the capitan he knew that he should take his word as nothing short of fact.

'Seems to me that they might not all be that 'sweet'.' Bucky can feel his heart speed up a little. 'Still, what the hell do they plan to do to me that has Steve giving me that kind of ominous warning?'

Tony cleared his throat, and the attention in the room geared toward him.

"Before I was rudely interrupted. Dr. Delmar's treatments differ from the traditional methods you would get with our current medical staff. Trust me, it isn't as terrifying as he makes it out to be."

"I figured it would ease you a bit by being more upfront about it than technical."

"I appreciate it."

Bucky couldn't help but feel weak. How couldn't he? He never needed to be 'eased in' by anyone before. Even Steve's reassurances that 'he has never felt sorry for him' get harder to believe when he does things like 'baby proof' his words.

'It gets so confusing, things like these. I feel afraid, but I don't want Steve to know that. I don't want him to constantly feel the need to be responsible for my own security.'

"Here," Steve gently grabbed Bucky by his his injured arm, leading him away from the sink. Bucky followed the pace of the pull and took a few steps forward as he went back to the other end of the counter. "Let me clean this up for you, and you can think about what you want to do. Sounds good?"

Bucky could only nod. He whispered a quiet 'thank you' to Steve as he walked towards the elevator. The soft patter of his boots filled the room. It was tranquil for those few seconds and Bucky's mind began to wonder onto what decision he wanted to make. That was until he heard Tony clear his throat for the second time. Bucky froze up before turning around to face the two. Steve was too busy picking out the shards to pay any mind to the conversation between them.

"If you decide to go, Delmar's office is on the third floor at the end of the hall. You'll know when you see it."

Bucky pursed his lips, trying to muster a smile. But he wanted nothing more than to dart into the elevator before Tony cleared his throat for the third time.

"I'll see."

Bucky made his way to the elevator and nearly celebrated when the doors opened, revealing it to be empty. He scurred inside and didn't bother to look at either Steve or Tony. As the doors closed, he collapsed against the walls and nearly sighed in relief.

'Glad that is over with,' Bucky rubbed his chest. It was a self-soothing habit he'd had since breaking free from HYDRA and, ironically, one that he had picked up from Tony. 'Do I even want to bother going to this mission briefing?'

Bucky looked at the panel of buttons. His eye fixated on the bottom row.

'Third floor at the end of the hall,' Tony's words repeated themselves in his head. He has ignored every face, remark, and gesture the man has made toward him for years. Bucky found his own desperation annoying. 'Well, at least Steve is right. It doesn't hurt to get checked out.'

Bucky softly pressed the silver 'three' button, and the elevator dinged in response. He exhaled heavily as he felt his body ascending down towards the bottom of the tower.

'It won't be that bad. Steve wouldn't lie to you.'

The elevator dinged again, and Bucky felt his heart rate pick up. He rubbed his chest again until the doors opened back up, and he quickly moved his hand away in fear someone would see him.

As Tony had said, he couldn't miss the brightly lit white opening at the end of the hallway.

Bucky could smell salt and mint in the air while walking up. The soft, white lights gleamed on his face. Taking in the scenic office, he only had one thing on his mind: 'I could only hope it won't be as bad as I think.'

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emberedroses · 5 months

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Hands that Heal [Bucky x Reader]: Prologue

Masterlist

Warning: 18+; Minors DNI

Holy Shit, You're Iron Man

Your vision blurred under the white office lights. You wrist and hand strained as you held the pen you were working with. You had been sitting down for so many hours you felt that you would buckle under your weight if you decided to stand up.

'What time is it?'

Your tired eyes darted toward your phone that was turned over next to you. You reach to turn it over and lazily tap on the screen twice. The blue light illuminates over your glossy eyes and you forced a painful breath out at the sight of the hour.

'11:12 p.m.'

You sighed and returned your attention back to the mountain of charts and forms in front of you. You have been in your office since seven in the morning and you hadn't had a break since one that afternoon. You were used to staying an hour or two after closing, but because of a bad hiring decision, you were stuck doing the paperwork of the five new staff hires. You were close to finishing, but what really got to you is that, no what what time you finish, you were still expected to show up at seven a.m. to open tomorrow.

'I told them it was a bad idea to hire so many interns! But no, it's 'good business',' You felt the heat go to your face as you chugged the rest of your (favorite flavor) energy drink. You shook you head and resumed your internal argument. 'They get paid peanuts so of course I'm not going to let them stay any overtime no matter how much the boss pressures them into doing so. Even if they did, it's not like it would be any good for our patients. They don't have enough experience to be giving complicated treatments to these people, why does he insist of letting them be in charge of doing anything other than paper work?'

If it were any other day, the senior therapist, Liliana, would be here with you, but she had stayed up with you for the past two weeks and you say how badly it was starting to effect her. You managed to convince the boss to have her leave early. It was a miracle within itself that he said 'yes' at all.

'Thirty more minutes. I can hold out for another thirty minutes.'

Your eyelids might as well have been bricks as you struggled to keep them open. You eyes fixated on the white page in front of you, but your vision began to blur and your mind was cloudy from exhaustion. You couldn't even make out the words in front of you.

'Just thirty more minutes.'

"Dr. Delmar?"

You yelped and your body literally jolted itself into awareness. You turned your head towards the source of the robotic voice calling you. Your skin grew cold as your recognized who was at your door.

"Holy shit!" You quickly cover you mouth, mortified that you dared to utter profanity at the man in front of you. "I am so sorry, Mr. Iron Man, sir!"

You wanted to sink down to your knees before the man in the glistening crimson and gold suit. It wouldn't erase what you said to him, but you thought the gesture would have at least made him go easy on you.

'Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck, what did I do to get IRON MAN's attention?'

Deciding against embarrassing yourself further, you removed your hand from your mouth and shakily place your hands on your desk.

"Well, Dr. (y/n), you have no idea how many of my resources I've exhausted into finding you, my dear."

"O-oh, re-really? Me? Wow," You didn't know whether to be flattered or deathly afraid. You knew the type of people Iron Man and his team of Avengers hunted. No matter what, if they were looking for you, it meant nothing good. "He-hey, I'm not in any trouble, am I?"

A robotic laugh echoed through the room. Your shoulders raised slightly, unsure of how to interrupt it. He tapped on the side of his head, and the armored mask he was wearing disappeared and collapsed into the metal hem of his suit. Out of you own exhaustion you gasped seeing the man hiding in the 'iron' suit.

'Fuck, it's him.'

Before you knew it, the myth himself smiled at you. Your cheeks grew warm at the sight of his pearly white teeth. The effect Tony Stark had on others astounded you since you first day you ever saw him on TV. You never thought that the same man who had you starstruck as a teenager would be standing in front of you.

"Trouble? No, no, no, don't get this twisted. It wasn't 'that' kind of looking for. No, you see, you've peaked my interest for quite some time. In fact, ever since I first saw your picture in the paper," Tony raised his wrist toward his chin and began typing something onto it. A blue holographic image projected a newspaper article with your picture in it along with the headline, 'NEW YORK NATIVE BECOMES DOCTOR AT 23.' "You have quite the resume too. You were a high school graduate at fifteen, yet you still went to a community college and was a licensed physiotherapist at nineteen. I'm sure it didn't surprise anyone when you received your doctorates at twenty-three. That's the average age of a medical student in the United States, I assume you know that, right?"

"Y-yeah, it took a lot of hard work to get to where I am."

You tried not to sound too arrogant in front of Tony Stark. The last thing you wanted was to bite the hand that served you so many nice compliments. At the same time, you couldn't stop stuttering as your words dragged themselves out because of your own exhaustion.

"I'm sure," He chuckled lightly. "I read your thesis on the healing properties of water and cold therapy. Quite interesting."

"That is a huge compliment coming from you, sir," His eyebrow raised as you sputtered out the sentence. You've always wanted to talk to the one and only Tony Stark, but never thought he would be handing you so many compliments at once. Which begged the question, 'What is it that he wants?' "I-I did want to thank you for something though. My major didn't qualify for a grant under Stark Industries, but I still used the open textbook resources from your foundation that saved me hundreds of dollars. If it weren't for you, I don't know how much debt I would be in."

"Funny you bring that up. You're a doctor, yet, you're almost four-hundred thousand dollars in debt, nearly twice the national average for someone at your level."

Your felt something in your chest twist. A shiver prodded at your spine. No one, not even your own dad, knew about your loan debt. How was it that Tony Stark, Iron Man himself, knew?

"H-how did you-?"

"Likely, it's because you hold employment here. Hell, you're basically volunteering your time since you get paid pennies a week compared to what you could be making opening a private practice or working through insurance."

"I-I," You stood up quietly, the room filing with the sound of your own joints popping from how long you have been sitting down. You cringed slightly. You wanted to defend yourself and the people you work for. But you find that hard to do when you own patients tell you that you work too hard or your co-workers try to convince you that you are far too overqualified for this place. You eyes dart to a framed photo at the corner of the desk, and you remembered why you could never part from this place. "I can't leave."

"Can't?" You gulped. He shook his head and gave you a look that said 'you have to be kidding me'. The corners of your mouth formed an uncomfortable frown as he continued to speak. "From testimony from your boss and co-workers, you do a pretty damn good job given the shitty pay."

'The boss said that? About me?' You refrained yourself from bursting out laughing. 'Well, I'd sing praises too if Iron Man was in front of me.'

"Hence why I'm here. Look, Dr. Delmar, I would like to give a job opportunity you can't refuse."

"What?"

"I tend to scout only the best of the best. Which is why I employ the people that I do. The best spies, the best scientists, the best medics. We at the Avengers only want the BEST so we can do the BEST work for the world," Your eyes felt shaky. You never knew they could vibrate against your skull like they did. Then again, you've never felt an emotion like this before. A brew of excitement and guilt. You clung onto his pausing breath like a nervous child latched onto their parents legs. You and this child had something in common: you both fear what come next if you let go. "Which is why I want you to work for my team."

"You-you have to be joking?"

'Right?'

"Our employee benefits are amazing too, may I add. Having a billionaire philanthropist for a boss has its unspoken perks," He seemed to be proud of that sentence as place a hand over his right collarbone. "You get all the basic stuff, medical and mental health services, and amazing retirement plans," He looked up, seemingly lost in his own words. "Oh, dental, that one is important nowadays!"

'He's not joking.'

"We offer generous maternity leave, paid leave, paid vacation time, paid overtime!"

'Paid overtime? I-I could get out of debt with that!'

You looked over at the picture again. His face haunted you. You sighed in defeat.

"T-this is a great honor to be offered a position like this from you of all people," You shook your head. Your chest felt heavy, as you looked over at Tony's patient face. "But I'm sorry, I can't go through with it."

"There is one more benefit that I haven't mentioned. Under Stark Industries, and working for the Avengers, you access to top-tier lawyers in case of any-" Tony paused to look at you. You averted his gaze for the first time in you two talking. Law talk always made you uncomfortable. "Mishaps that happen in and out of Avengers Headquarters. You know how damaging it could be to a reputation if something where to come out about you and your practices."

"What are you saying, Mr. Stark?"

"See, I didn't just find out about you through the paper. It was through an underground investigation done by a private investigator employed by me. From what I was able to gather, you've been busy in places outside of the Veteran's Center,"

'What?'

"I have hundreds of pages of evidence that you have the unique ability to heal using water."

"No, wh-what are you talking about?"

"For instance, the Gabrielle Salazar case."

It was a name you knew well. A name you associate with your greatest feat: healing what cannot be healed.

Gabrielle's father, Moses, was an active-duty Marine and a friend of your dad's. His daughter is nearly eight years younger than you and only a toddler when you first met her. As you both grew up, you were always too busy with school to get to know her well, except when you would overhear a conversation between Moses and your dad about Gabrielle's muscle condition that was slowly killing the girl. When you began to first use your abilities to heal, your parents ensured that they kept their circle small and only allowed you to heal people within the family. Even that came with its restrictions, as they only let you cure minor injuries like the occasional scrap or minor burn. You were only months away from receiving your license when your dad came to you asking if you could attempt to heal Gabrielle as her condition was on the verge of worsening. It took a week of small and straining sessions, but you got her to walk again.

'What does he know about Gabbie?'

"She was diagnosed with minor form muscle dystrophy that effected her ability to walk. She was wheelchair bound and because of lack of money from her parents, her condition was worsening. In the matter of one week, to the surprise of her doctors, she walked into their office for a general check up. She hasn't had any complication since,"

'How does he know about her story?'

"They cited physical therapy as the cure to their daughters condition, but failed to say who they went to go see. Here," It was a video of you helping Gabrielle walk. Your breath hitched as you heard your dad laughing at the miracle that was happening before everyone's eyes. "That's you, isn't it?"

You stared at Tony, who was still watching the video. You didn't know what to do, nor say, nor think. You're mind was foggy. So many emotions were rising within you, that all you could do was stare.

'What is he planning to do with that video? With Gabrielle?'

"H-hey, look, I'm licensed, you can't put anything on me."

"Not at the time. You were given your license in July of XX15. The Gabrielle case took place two months prior. You can go to jail for upwards of sixty years for practicing without a license as well as medical malpractice. Or worse, get you licensed suspended indefinitely."

"How did you-?"

"We like to keep track of those with special abilities in the area. It's a precautions we have to take to ensure there is no abuse done by those with said powers,"

'Abuse? I don't abuse my abilities?' You thought back for a moment, thinking of every patient you have healed. You shook you head softly and held back an annoyed huff. 'I would rather die than abuse my powers.'

"Your powers caught my attention. The ability to heal with water? Why would I not want that on my team?"

"Mr. Stark, is this-?"

"What, blackmail? No, my dear, I wouldn't dream of such a thing!" His empty chuckles rattled your core. You hated being this powerless. But you knew better than try to pick any argument with an Avenger. You had to measure out your words, especially since you were so exhausted, you couldn't afford to ruin your life over a couple of petty words. "But I am saying that I am a technical mandated reporter. Being one of the heads of the Avengers after all. I can't condone crimes as serious as this one. I know you heard the government isn't too kind with those with special powers."

You paused. Weighing your options.

Option One: You refuse, and lose your license and possibly go to jail for the crime of treating someone without a medical license. Not only that, since you also have 'crazy' abilities. You know more than anyone that the American Government doesn't take kindly to that sort of thing. You'd be put away in a special holding facility for the rest of your days.

Option Two: You go into an environment where you are free to openly use your power of healing for the Avengers.

It seemed so simple to you, but there was still another thing holding you back.

'Apa,' A smiling face beamed at you from the frame. You can see your own waist in the reflection. 'Your eyes hold so much life in this shot. Why can't you be here to tell me what to do?'

"Um," You hesitated voice broke the silence. "The folks at this center need me. I can't abandon them like this."

"Oh, not to worry. I'm ensuring that there are qualified therapists to take your place and make sure the quality for care is improved for every veteran who walks in here to seek care. As of now, I donated a sum of money for this center to add a new mental health wing."

"What?" You squeaked. "Are you serious? That's amazing!" If it weren't for your own body aching with sleep depravation, you would have been jumping for joy at the news. For years, you and the other staff that would come and go would advocate for a mental health center to be added to the center, and hearing that it would finally be a reality nearly brought a tear to your eye. "Mr. Stark, you didn't have to do that, but thank you! I know that everyone here appreciates what you're doing!"

"I'm aware. It pleases me to know that you deeply care about the patients at this facility. I could tell you care a lot about this place."

"More than you'll know, Mr. Stark."

"I'm going to do everything in my power to ensure this place is improved when you leave."

'I'm really going through with this, aren't I?'

"So," Tony stuck out his hand and the armor over it recoiled and stopped just above his elbow. "What do you say?"

'There is no reason in me staying if there are going to better staff,' You eyed the picture again. A soft smile appeared on you lips at the sight of it. 'It's not like I'll be gone forever. No one can pull me away from this place.'

You approached Tony who was still near the door with his hand out. You felt him flinch underneath you as you shook his hand. The warmth soothed your whole being, making you more tired. You were so sure you would collapse, but the excitement of a new path kept your still.

"You have a deal," He smiled again. "Just give me two weeks to put in my notice."

"Perfect, that gives me ample time to set up your office,"

'An office? Of my own?'

"We can schedule a time for you to come by and have some input on the interior design of it, but for now, you can choose some staff to help you run the place. Just forward their information to me so they can properly be vetted out by my team,"

'My own staff? That I can choose on my own? It's like I'm a real doctor!' You nearly collapsed within yourself at the painful revelation appearing in your own thoughts. 'I am a real doctor. I hadn't realized how restricted I've been for the three years I've been in practice.'

"Other than that, leave me your contact information and we can schedule a meeting with the Capitan and I. That way we can properly go over your duties at Avengers Tower, as well as get your contract and base pay sorted out."

"Of course," You went back to your desk and opened a drawer. You pulled out three business cards and almost tripped over your own feet when walking back over to him. "Here's my information. I gave you three just in case."

"I look forward to speaking to you in the future, Doctor."

"As do I, Mr. Stark."

He smiled and pressed a button on his suit that secured his mask back on. You could nearly see your own reflection in the golden face plate.

"Have a good night."

"You too!"

You waved your new boss goodbye, and as soon as you saw his silhouette disappear, you nearly lunged yourself towards your phone. You pressed the green 'telephone' icon and quickly dialed a number you knew by heart.

"Cristóbal? Are you busy?"

'Eh, um, es que estoy con mis jefes ahorita, porque?*

"I have an offer for you."

~~ ~~

The past two weeks were a blur. You already signed a contract with Mr. Stark, your office at Avengers Tower was ready to be used, and you already had your assistant nurse ready for when you begin on Monday.

For now, you were relishing the last time you would come into the Veteran's Center as an employee.

You stood in the center of a room a room full of former and current patients as well as your co-workers and boss. Everyone had already had time to pull you aside and say their goodbyes. You held back tears hearing some of the stories your former patients have told you because of what you did for them. Even better, your usually bitter boss unexpectantly gave you a nice bottle of wine to celebrate your new job venture.

You kept saying to yourself that things would be okay, but you still felt a sense of guilt by leaving this place.

'This was his place too. And it will always be apart of me,' You took a sip of sparking apple cider. Due to there being a presence of veterans, alcoholic beverages were prohibited on the property. Not that it mattered. No one could turn down a crisp sip of sparkling cider. 'I could never leave forever.'

One of the newer interns, Asia, got up on a white folding chair and banged a spoon against a plastic champagne cup.

"I propose a toast, to our favorite doctor," Another intern, Jackson, handed her a glass of sparkling cider. "So cheers, to Dr. (y/n) Delmar!"

"FOR DR. (Y/N) DELMAR!"

"Yay!"

"Don't go!"

A collective laugh erupted in the office. You couldn't help but speak up at the sentiment.

"You all act like I'm leaving forever, you know I'll be back in no time to visit and volunteer when I can."

A blonde woman still decked out in her fuchsia scrubs approached you, crying. Liliana was a good friend to you, as well as your mentor. You've known her since you were a child sitting by yourself in the waiting room and she took you under her wing when you began your career as in intern at the Veteran's Center. Seeing her pale face flushed red because of her crying made some tears prick in the corners of your eye.

"We know, but it won't be the same!" A blonde woman still decked out in her nurse uniform approached you, crying. Liliana was a good friend to you, sticking by you since the moment you were an intern. Seeing her crying made some tears prick in the corners of your eye. "Let us have this moment, (y/n)!"

You laughed at some tears rolled down your warm cheeks. She place the ginger ale she had been sipping on atop of one of the party table. She made you take a few steps back as she threw her arms around you. You, instinctively, wrapped your arms around her waist.

"Okay, Liliana," She buried her wet face in the crook of your neck. If it weren't for the navy blue turtleneck you were wearing, she would have gotten slobber all over your skin. Your face warmed as you patted her back. "Whatever you want."

Memories of the endless days and nights you would spend in the office together poured over you. You gripped her tighter and whispered some faint 'thank yous' into the air between you.

"Me llamas, y no te olvides de nosotros, okay?"*

"Ya se, nunca olvidaré de todo este lugar me ha dado,"* You whispered into her ear. "Thank you for getting me here."

"Stop!" She stepped back to face you. Her black mascara and some of her blue eyeshadow was smudged around her tired, aging eyes. Still, her beauty shined through her wide smile. "You'll ruin my make up again!"

"Sorry!"

"I forgive you," She pulled you again, even tighter this time. You felt her love illuminating through each beat of her heart. You sunk, limp in her presence. "Just visit us soon, okay?"

You breathed out a breath you've been holding in all night. Finally, you felt at peace in her warm embrace.

'A new start.'

===

Translations (in order of appearance)***:

1. 'Well, um, I'm with my parents right now, what's up?'

2. "Call me, and don't forget about us okay?"

3. "I know, I could never forget what this place has given to me."

#avengers au #bucky barnes #bucky x you #james bucky buchanan barnes #bucky fanfic #winter soldier #steve rogers #tony stark #superfamily #stony #spiderpool #wade wilson #deadpool #spiderman #the avengers

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