James woke up with a start. He felt drowsy and disoriented, his heart beat relentlessly. He had a bad dream, he just couldn't remember what it was. 

     He stumbled to the bathroom and got ready. Nat had already left for her morning lecture by the time Bucky stumbled out of the bathroom. He peered into the kitchen to find Clint with text books sprawled out in front of him, studying for a quiz he had later that day. He greeted Bucky with a smile then redirected his attention back to his text book. 

     The three lived in a three-bedroom apartment a five-minute walk away from the university. The place was tiny, but very convenient.

     By the time Bucky was ready to leave, Clint was gone too. He walked slowly but managed to slip into his lecture hall a few seconds before the lecture started. Sam was seated not to far from him. He contemplated joining him but decided against him when noticed Steve sitting close to him.

     Steve wore a black shirt and blue jeans, but somehow managed to look like he was styled for a magazine shoot. He was radiant. All the people around him were leaning towards him, as if paying attention to his words and laughing pleasantly. Bucky sighed. 

     How easy it was to be an alpha. No discrimination. No oppression. More opportunities available.

     Steve wasn't enrolled in that class though. If he continued drawing a big crowd like he was, then the teacher was going to notice him. Not that it was any of Bucky's business.

     The professor cleared her throat loudly and started her lecture on War History. A three-hour long lecture which made Bucky want to impale himself on the long tables. He would have readily chosen to walk down a hallway of Legos barefoot rather than to be subjected to that lecture for the rest of the academic year.

     Bucky counted down the seconds until the lecture was finished. He quickly stepped out before the professor realized that she missed a point and forced the students to stay another fifteen minutes. A frequent occurrence.

     He jogged to his rendezvous spot with Nat and Clint. As always, they were there before him. They ate at the café Bucky worked at to utilize his employee discount then made their way to the training facility and checked in. 

     It was one of the rare days where there wasn't any lesson for either of them to attend. They went to the shooting range to practice. Nat and Bucky grabbed paintball guns while Clint grabbed his bow and arrow. They weren't allowed to used real weapons to train until they were in their third year. Of course, archery was an exception.

     Each of them used their weapon with ease, hitting the targets like it was their second nature. Clint decided to be a show off and shoot and arrow over one already lodged in the wooden target. It split the old arrow in half and buried into the red dot. "I've been practicing," he gloated. 

     "What's the point of archery during battle? You're being chased around, and you have to find your arrows," Bucky mused. He shot at the target board, drawing a smiley face with the splatters of paint. "Why don't you ever practice at the archery range?"

     "Archery is an art," Clint countered. "Also, I would be lonely."

     "Art has no place in war," Bucky said.

     A group of the instructors stumbled upon the two in the middle of the conversation. "It is unfortunate that you do not see the necessity of archery. When you are stranded, you can create your own bow and arrow. Could you do that for your gun Mr. Barnes?" One of the instructors spoke. It was Jarred the one who oversaw archery. His tone was so sharp, Bucky was scared that he had inadvertently offended him.

       "Bucky has a point though," Sarah the instructor for guns spoke. She smiled at Bucky, "Bucky is very promising. Even with this paint gun he shoots with such accuracy. And he excels at hand to hand combat and combat with knives. In a quick paced battle, he would have it easier than a person with a bow and arrow." She gestured at Clint.

     "We archers strike from a distance, supporting our team mates in the most efficient way possible. Not to mention Clint excels in hand to hand combat as well, he is very crafty and can turn anything into a weapon."

     "We have snipers." Just like that the two got into an argument. Which was hilarious considering that they were married. But, none of the onlookers dared to laugh.

     "Fine Jarred." Sarah finally said, "Let's have a bet. There is a boxing match happening right now McLoran vs Timothy."

     "I pick Timothy." Jarred stated, "If he wins then your student must shoot 10 bullseyes using archery."

     "I pick McLoran then. If he wins then your student must shoot 10 bullseyes as well. But, with a gun." She pointed at the shooting range. Just like that they sealed a deal with out consulting the students standing right in front of them. 

     Of course with the crappy luck Buck had been having, Timothy won the damned boxing match. Coach Jarred looked at his wife and Bucky with a smug expression, Clint mirroring it perfectly. "Sorry Bucky!" Coach Sarah said but Bucky could see the laughter behind her words.

     "Please bet on your own life next time!" He protested.

     "Never! What's the point of being an instructor if I don't abuse my power? Well my shift just ended. You got this Bucky, you can do it!" with that she left with Jarred who yelled,

     "I'll check the security cameras tomorrow."

     The crowd around them was a mixture of laughter and sympathy for Bucky. Everyone knew how much he sucked at archery.

     The clock struck six. Everyone headed to the changing rooms. Everyone but Bucky who was bound to the archery range. 

     Clint, the bastard, had the audacity to blow him a kiss as he abandoned him. Nat patted his shoulders encouragingly but still laughed and ultimately left.

     Bucky continuously shot arrows at the target. One hour had passed by the time the last arrow lodged itself into the red dot, marking ten. He was tempted to flip the security cameras off so Jarred had a pleasant surprise when he watched the video. But he remembered that he liked not being suspended.

     He trudged into the locker room, his flesh hand numb and red. He was surprised to see Steve hunched over himself, tying his laces. Bucky felt awkward. He didn't know if he should ignore Steve or talk to him. He chose the former.

     An awkward silence floated around the room, so thick Bucky felt suffocated by it. He wanted to run. He had only been there for a damned minute and he wanted to run.

     "Were you able to shoot 10 bullseyes?" Steve asked casually. Bucky was taken aback.

     "Yes," he grumbled. "Archery is the sport of the devil."

     Steve laughed loudly, a pleasant sound which caressed Bucky's ears. "Are you calling your brother a devil?"

     "Yes, that's all he is." Bucky slung his bag over his shoulder. Suddenly his body was flipped around and his arms pinned over his head. "What the fuck!" he demanded angrily. He wasn't completely surprised, sometimes alphas got like that with him. 

     He fought to break free, but his wrists couldn't even budge in Steve's vice like grip. His eyes flickered up to Steve's in surprise. It was the first time that he had been so easily overpowered, he had a metal arm! He felt dread nestle into his stomach but still glared at the alpha defiantly. 

     "Are you going to tell me what you were doing in my dorm?" Steve asked. Bucky's mind blanked, but he kept a straight face.

     "What are you talking about?" he asked. Anxiety started creeping up his spine, he was screwed is Steve decided he wanted to hurt him.

     "Playing dumb?" Steve shot him a look. One which told Bucky that he had been caught and no number of lies would waver Steve. He fought even harder to escape from Steve's grip, but it was to no avail.

     "Let go," Bucky demanded.

     "Something tells me you'll run if I do," Steve mused. And he was right. Absolutely right. Who the hell wouldn't? But Steve did loosen his grip a little. Bucky grasped that chance.

     He used a move his combat instructor recently taught him. He was able to break out of Steve's grip for a second, but the alpha grabbed Bucky again. He held on to the omega even tighter and pushed his boy against him to render him motionless. "Not going to speak?"

     "Why are you accusing me of this?"

     "You have such a sweet smell," Steve said pleasantly, "You left it all over my room."

     If Bucky's arms were free, he would have face palmed. He shouldn't have taken off his mask.

     "You done pretending?" Steve leaned even closer. His hard body radiated pleasant heat and his breath smelt like mints. Pheromones rolled off his body at a constant rate, assaulting Bucky's senses. His pheromones were weirdly gentle but powerful at the same time.

     One thing was clear though, Steve wasn't angry. 

     Bucky relaxed his body into Steve's hold. He gazed up at Steve and their eyes met. Blue on blue. Steve's eyes were beautiful, kind looking and bright. 

       Bucky took a deep breath and immediately regretted it. Steve's scent made him dizzy and light headed. It felt strangely good to have an alpha pressing up against him. Bucky felt his heart rate slowly pick up. Steve pushed up against him more.

       Bucky's body involuntarily shuddered. He suddenly wanted Steve. Wanted him in ways that he couldn't explain. To touch his body, to ravish him. His skin heated up and he let out a laboured breath. Steve moved even closer, their lips only inches apart. A low whimper escaped Bucky's throat.

     Steve quickly let go of him and took a step back, "Sorry, did I hurt you?"

     Bucky clapped a hand over his mouth, immediately snapping out of his trance. He whimpered. Freaking whimpered! What was wrong with him? He gave Steve one look and dashed out of the room.