The Winter Soldier had changed out of his juice covered clothing and wandered down to one of the training rooms to work out all this horrible energy that had built up in him. He worked out until there was nothing left but trembling muscles, being out of breath and still uncertain what he was supposed to do to keep Stephanie even mildly interested in doing anything about their bond. She seemed so free... where he felt like he was walking a field of landmines and each one seemed to explode when he thought that for a moment he was getting close to something special again.

Was it that he had to be forceful with her, take all manner of physical obviousness to lure her back to him? That wasn't how he tended to work, and he wondered if that had been how he had acted in the past. He suspected that his past self had used more words and casual gestures rather than outright groping.

He sighed and had worked out too many hours to probably be good for him. He showered to wash off the sweat and vowed to go and talk to Stephanie about what was happening. He didn't understand completely, and he had been told that it was better to communicate about what was happening then sit and let it fester. He thought about what he might say when he managed to get her alone and he even brushed and pulled his hair back into a ponytail rather than hide behind the usual curtain of it.

He moved around to one of the communal areas and found her watching a movie, approaching from the back of the couch and about to put his hands on either side of where her head rested when he froze at the sight of a Barton's head resting in her lap. That same hot anger seemed to warm his blood, and even though he rationally knew that Barton was with the Widow, he trembled along his shoulders with how comfortable the pair looked.

He withdrew as she woke up, stepping away and moving off towards the doorway again.