Pay Attention
"A team building exercise" you spoke "what are we 3 now?"
Tony simply smirked at your protest. "You see (y/n) that is exactly the attitude we're doing this for". Rolling your eyes you leaned back into your chair. "You just pick out a name and complete challenges with that person".
"Sounds simple enough" Clint commented.
"Exactly, it's going to be fun" Tony grinned.
As names started getting picked from the hat, Nat picked Thor. Wanda picked Tony. Steve picked Clint. Vision picked Sam. Which left you to be picked by Bucky. It was safe to say Bucky looked a little nervous at that. You were known to have quite the attitude and a preference for working alone.
"Hey (y/n)" Tony approached you "you're right handed right?" Clunk. In seconds he had something secured around your right forearm. Seconds later and it closed around Bucky's left one as well.
"What the hell Tony!" you whined.
He had an even bigger smirk on his face than usual as he replied "just to make sure nobody cheat".
You lifted your arm up to inspect the contraption - consequently lifting Bucky's arm too. From what you could tell there was no easy way out of it. Reluctantly, the rest of the team had Tony put the same device on them, until you were all stuck to your partners. "Let the games begin" Tony proudly declared.
----
You'd all been lead to the training room for the first 'challenge'. "Combat training shouldn't need explaining to anyone here right?" Tony mocked.
Steve and Clint went first. They worked pretty well together, successfully dodging all of Tony's virtual reality attackers. It had taken them a few minutes to work out how best to work with each other though. Once their turn was up Tony decided you and Bucky should go next.
You both shared a look with each other and entered the ring. "Y'know Steve and Clint are both linked by their non dominant hands right" you challenged.
"Well they weren't complaining this morning" he retorted. Whilst you were arguing with Tony he started the program. A 'knife' flew across the room ready to impact with your chest. But before it could, Bucky pulled you out of the way, resulting in you leaning into his chest.
"Pay attention" he told you with an exasperated tone.
"Y'know I can't die right" you answered with a smug look.
"Well I can" he frowned.
Your grin fell and you moved your focus to the challenge, begrudgingly seeing the point behind it. Surprisingly the two of you worked well together, defeating the oncoming attackers and holding your ground.
Once you thought it was over Bucky turned to head for the exit. Whilst his back was turned though, you saw a 'bullet' fly towards him. Without thinking you moved yourself so that the bullet hit you instead. The bullets weren't real so they couldn't kill you, but they did hurt.
Your face grimaced in pain as Bucky turned back to you in shock. "Pay attention" you forced a smile as you mocked him. He didn't seem to appreciate the joke though, a guilty look on his face. As the pain began to subside you both exited the ring and returned to the others.
"I think that's a fail" Clint spoke as you approached them.
"What! No it isn't" you replied.
"You got shot" Nat backed up Clint.
"I get shot all the time" you replied "doesn't kill me, so it shouldn't be a fail". Bucky stood quietly with his eyes to the ground.
"She has a point" Wanda defended you.
"Fine, it's a technicality pass" Tony rolled his eyes, "Thor and Nat, you're next".
You and Bucky moved to sit against the wall, you winced slightly as you rubbed at the shoulder the bullet hit. It would definitely leave a bruise later, but luckily with your powers it would heal quickly.
"I'm sorry" Bucky told you sincerely. Turning to face him you saw how bad he was feeling about it.
"Hey" you nudged his shoulder playfully "I'm fine, you die, I don't. That was me playing Tony's game properly".
Bucky met your eyes and gave another forced smile "how bad does it hurt?"
"Can't even feel it" you lied. He smiled a little more genuinely before moving his gaze to Nat and Thor in the ring. The two of you sat in comfortable silence until everybody had their turns.
"Onto the next challenge then" Tony announced with a grin.