Hard to Love (Bucky Barnes fanfic)

Chapter 1

Updated 3/31/21
Also I'd like to give credit to heyitslettym

"You're getting much better at this" Wanda smirks as she forms her signature red rings of energy around her hands, swirling between her fingers. I loved watching how her energy moved, like it was a red storm cloud erupting from her fingertips. Her eyes are sealed shut and she's in her fighting stance, listening for my movements

I'm helping Wanda train by having her hyper focus on all the sounds around her, making her pinpoint what's my puff of breath and what's just the A/C system kicking on. But she's also helping me train on working my brain for longer periods of time to use my abilities

When I first got recruited into the Avengers, I had to use everything in me to focus on keeping my powers going and even then I would faulter. I can manipulate light, causing myself to appear invisible along with being able to create something between force fields. I only say that because it's not your typical violet energy fields that you see in movies. It's just this invisible energy I produce

We recently, as in roughly three months ago, found out about my force field abilities when I was training with the Captain- Steve - one day. I panicked when I realized I faltered with my stance and couldn't block properly. He threw a right hook to my jaw and I ended up conjuring an energy orb around me, blocking the punch and shocking us both. Bruce and Tony seemed a little too excited to have me be their lab rat after that

As for my invisibility... let's just say I got caught pickpocketing

Not my finest moment.

Especially after realizing my victim was thee Tony Stark. Of course, of all the people in New York, my dumbass found him. He was exiting a clothing shop with Pepper as I was about to enter. I had quickly put my hand in his pocket but a ring I was wearing, also from pickpocketing that I was going to pawn off later, got tangled in the fabric. When I went to remove my hand, it tugged his coat, alerting him of my presence. I was so stunned that it made me drop my guard

After giving me an earful and me on the verge of tears begging him and Ms. Potts not to press charges on the sidewalk, Pepper convinced Tony to give me an ultimatum. He either contact the police or I turn my life around and join his team. You can see which one I accepted

Since that fateful day I've done just that. I haven't stolen anything. Borrowed and not returned anything. Haven't had to make empty offers just to get food or keep my hot water on anymore. Tony and Ms Potts gave me a second chance at a better life and for that, I'll always be thankful for. Who knows where I'd be right now

But enough about me and my backstory, let's get back to reality

I slowly step around Wanda, minding the exact spots where the training mat tends to creak and avoiding them, inching my way closer to land an attack and end this session. But Wanda cocks her head to one side in my general direction. Noticing her telltale sign that I'm the one being caught, I hold my breath as best I can

She smirks again before quickly throwing her right arm out in my direction, shooting her ball of scarlet energy at me. It hits me square in the chest, knocking me back and causing me to drop my focus. Wanda opens her eyes as she hears me let out a grunt in mild pain and looks down at me with a chuckle. I clutch the spot where she had hit, wheezing for air as the wind got knocked out of me upon impact

"I think that was our best round yet." She smiles as she approached me, her Sokovian accent poking through. I shake my head as a smirk tugs at the corner of my lips. But before I could make a remark, Tony's voice comes through the training room speakers

"Agent Hayes, you're needed in the commons area ASAP." The speaker clicks, ending his message. I internally sigh in annoyance, not wanting to do whatever he's about to make me participate in but thank the heavens for ending my training. My mind was exhausted and my muscles could really use a break