Steve's POV

The entire night goes by without a glimpse of Bucky. He's probably angry with me because of how I've been acting today. I sigh and knock on his door before going to my room.

"Buck?" I ask. "I know I've been a jerk today, and I'm sorry." I speak again.

After not getting an answer, I press my lips together. Is he really that mad at me? I walk down the hall and to my room before turning in for the night.

---

I wake up bright and early, as usual, and get ready for my morning workout. As I walk by Bucky's room, I decide to knock again.

"You coming to train?" I ask.

There's no way he's still sleeping. It's already seven thirty!

"Buck?" I knock again, still no answer. "Friday, can you open this door please?"

I hear the lock unclick and push the door open to find an empty room. My eyes widen and I begin to panic as I search for him. I run downstairs to see if he's already training and pause in my tracks when I see him walking into the compound with a bag.

"Morning." He says, seeming like his usual self.

I wrap my arms around him and sigh in relief.  "You weren't in your room so I thought Hydra got you and I-"

"What?" Bucky chuckles. "I just went out for some fruit, Steve. Relax." He shows me the bag of fruit in his hand.

I blink my eyes a few times to process what just happened. Bucky went out alone? In public? For fruit?

"I'll meet you in the gym in a few minutes." He says before walking away.

Instead of going to the gym, I wait in the foyer, partially because I'm hoping that Ally will walk in but also because I can't spar alone. I hear the clicking of heels behind me accompanied by a soft hum and turn to find Ally almost in a dazed state.

"Good morning beautiful." I smile at her, giving her a hug.

"Good morning." She smiles. "Getting your morning workout in?"

"Once Bucky gets down here, yeah." I sigh. "Maybe I should find a new sparring partner." I joke.

"I'll be your sparring partner." She looks up at me.

I furrow my eyebrows before realizing that she's joking and begin to laugh. She raises an eyebrow and I stop laughing.

"You're serious?"

"Do you not think I'm a good enough sparring partner?" She crosses her arms.

"No! No, I mean, yeah I think you're fine but-"

"But I'm a girl?" She cuts me off. "Or is it because I'm Tony's daughter?"

I bite my tongue as she speaks.

"I'll have you know that I was Hydra's second-best assassin. First-best after James disappeared." She huffs.

"Ally, I just don't want to hurt you." I explain. "Don't take it personally, okay?"

She sighs and drops her defensive demeanor. I give her a small smile and step closer to wrap my arms around her.

To my surprise, she grabs my arm and flips me onto my back before lightly putting her heel on my chest. She looks down at me with a smirk on her face as I lay there, processing what just happened.

"Steve?" I hear Bucky's voice and turn my head to see him approaching.

Ally moves her foot from my chest and straightens her fitted pants and blouse. She takes a seat at her desk before beginning her work for the day.

"What the hell happened?" Bucky asks, offering me a hand to help me up.

I take his hand and dust myself off once I'm on my feet. "I think I might've just found a new sparring partner."

Bucky furrows his eyebrows as we both glance at Ally. She must overhear my comment because she turns in her chair to face us.

"Oh, now you want me to be your sparring partner?" She laughs. "That offer expired the moment your back hit the floor. And in case you've forgotten, I work alone."

"Will you be my sparring partner?" Bucky asks.

Ally rolls her eyes and turns her back to us. "Worth a shot." Bucky shrugs. I shake my head at him and chuckle as we make our way to the gym.

Alexandra's POV

"What? No! .. Sir, please, I- .. But I-" I groan as Fury continuously cuts me off. "I told you that I don't want to! .. Why does that matter? .. Seriously, Nick?" I hold my head in my hand as I hold the phone to my ear. "Understood. .. Yes, sir."

I frustratedly slam the phone down and run my fingers through my hair. I need some fresh air. I stand from my seat and let myself outside to pace in front of the building.

"Everything alright out here?"

I turn to see Tony walking towards me and sigh. "How did you know I was out here? Weren't you in the lab?"

"I have Friday notify me whenever someone leaves or enters the building." He shrugs. "I thought it'd be a good idea after.. Y'know."

I nod, playing off my mental revelation. If he's notified whenever someone leaves or enters, he has to know that James has left the past two nights.

"So.. What's got you pacing?" He asks, pulling me away from my thoughts.

"I was just on the phone with Nick."

"Fury?" He asks.

"What other Nick do you know?" I tease with a smile on my face. "Anyway, he told me that he wants me to stay here a bit longer until this whole investigation on why Hydra would want me back blows over." I explain. "He also thinks it's a good idea for us to bond more."

Tony smiles at my last comment. "So why are you so frantic? Isn't this good news?"

"No!" I speak quickly. Once I realize the hurt look on his face I sigh and sit beside him on the bench. "Not that I don't want to be here, because I love being here, but it just makes everything so much harder." I speak softly. "I'm not used to... Family." I admit.

"Family?" Tony asks, perking up a bit.

"Yeah, you're all one big family and it just throws me off sometimes." I press my lips into a thin line.

"You're a part of this family too, y'know." He places a hand on my knee. "It wouldn't be the same here without you."

I sigh as I look at him. "I can't work like this, Tony. I can't function the way I need to."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He furrows his eyebrows.

"It means that I work best when I'm alone and not bonding with anybody around me." I state the cold, hard truth.

"Then how do you explain all of the missions we've completed with the Shadow?" He raises an eyebrow.

"You've never worked with the Shadow. You've worked near the Shadow." I correct him. "I work alone. Always have, always will." I stand from my seat. "It's better for everyone that way."

"Alex." Tony grabs my arm before I get too far. "It doesn't have to be this way. Don't push me.. us away." He looks down at me. "You'd be a great addition to the team. And I think that Fury would agree."

I shake my head at him and gently pull my arm away. I grab my things from my desk and leave a few hours early.

As I walk to my car, I feel Tony watching me and try to shrug it off. The entire drive home I can still feel his gaze. It almost makes me feel.. Sad? Guilty?

Whatever this feeling is, I don't like it. This is exactly why I work alone.