𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓮 𝓹𝓮𝓸𝓹𝓵𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓳𝓾𝓶𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 when Bucky and I pulled into the driveway. The barn was large, not super red, mostly an ancient fading blue painted onto wood. I hopped off quickly and walked into the barn, my heart was pounding as I traced my hand down the wooden walls of the horse stalls. The loud stench of horse droppings and uncleaned stalls filled my nose, but it welcomed me. Just like the leather soap, hay, and dander that stole my breath, even the uncleanliness of the equestrian life held me in enchantment.

Around the corner stood the most handsome horse. His muscular, stocky build showed his strength and pride. His ears turned and twisted as my footsteps approached him. He kicked his socked legs in greeting. I smiled, tears bubbling into my eyes. Thorin bowed his head and threw it with a nicker.

I rushed to him. He pushed his neck further out of the stall and laid his head on my shoulder as I rubbed him down his neck. His coat was silky and clean, recently washed. I blinked away tears and sent a silent thanks to Chloe. Behind me I heard the careful yet heavy footsteps of Bucky. I turned and saw his metal hand hidden away in his pocket. He was wearing a long sleeve shirt again to hide his arm. Thorin turned to Bucky and made a quiet snort that said:

"It's ok. I don't bite."

Bucky didn't speak horse. I reached out to Bucky, who reluctantly gave me his flesh hand. Slowly I walked him to Thorin's side. With his hand in mine, I helped him brush Thorin's black coat. Bucky's face relaxed, his arm didn't drop. Progress, I thought with pleasure. I continued patting and petting Thorin as Bucky tenderly brushed his fingertips over my horse's face.

"He likes you." I told him.

Bucky gulped. "Are you sure?"

"Horses don't lie. They tell you the truth. Even when it hurts." I replied. "Thorin sees fear, hurt, he wants to help. Lucky for him helping you is letting you pet him."

Stealthily I pulled Bucky's metal hand out of his pocket and placed it on Thorin's forehead. Thorin shivered slightly before leaning into the touch. Any air was trapped in Bucky's throat. He stood breathless, letting his metal fingers run over Thorin's white diamond shaped birthmark. I couldn't hold back the smile. Bucky looked at me with a memorable expression. He smiled softly and continued petting Thorin.

"Quin?"

I spun around. "Chloe! Hey!"

My teenage student ran into my arms. Her blonde hair was cut short, to her shoulder like Bucky's. Except his was brown. Chloe pulled back and brushed at her eye.

"What's going on? You're quitting or something?" Chloe asked.

"I...I got selected for a new job. It's for the government." I replied.

Chloe peeked at Bucky. "Who's that?"

"This is Bucky." I said. "He's with the um..."

Bucky gave me the tell the truth look. I gulped. If Fury didn't like people telling others they were in SHIELD then I was in trouble; but friends didn't lie. I wasn't about to betray poor Chloe.

"I'm with SHIELD." I told her.

Her face changed to absolute shock. "WHAT! How? Did you see something and now they're locking you up? You ca-" She covered her mouth. "Do you have powers?"

I touched her hand and sent the image of her first show with Pikachu into her mind. Chloe flinched.

"Telepathy?"

"And Mind Reading." I added. "I never pried. Promise. But I helped you with and without powers."

Chloe sat down on the hay baile behind her. "Woah, my teacher is a superhero."

I laughed. "Not really. I'm just a tool for interrogations basically. Which is why I came. I need someone to look after Thorin. I want to ride him and take care of him but I can't promise I'll be back. At least, not constantly." I looked Chloe in the eye. "Chloe...if you want and can, I'm giving Thorin to you."

"WHAT! NO! Quin, Thorin is your horse. You have to keep him no matter what that Eyepatch man has to say!"

"Wow she gets it." Bucky said over his shoulder.

I sent him a look. "I'm deciding this because I have to. How can I try and keep Thorin when I can't be here for him? It's a terrible idea to basically abandon him. I'd rather give him away."

Bucky stepped forward. "Chloe's right Quin, you can't just give him away right now. Wait, maybe Fury can figure something out."

Chloe nodded appraisingly but I wasn't so easily swayed. Neither of these two had mind reading powers. I tried not to judge people by thoughts, but Fury had it pretty much stamped in every part of his brain that he didn't like changing plans based on emotions. That and he didn't care for animals, especially cats after a freak accident with an alien one in the 90's. But again, Bucky and Chloe didn't know those things. They were in the dark. But they both cared about me. They knew that I loved Thorin, and he loved me. Deep down I shuddered to think of handing Thorin over to someone else. Even if it was Chloe.

"Alright. Fine. But I do need you to check in on him." I said to Chloe. "I'll even pay you for it."

"Really? Why?" Chloe asked, knowing that she would help me without any rewards.

Bucky chuckled. "Other then me, we all basically get paid off of Tony."

Chloe's jaw dropped. "Wait, Quin. I just realized...you've met Iron Man?" She looked at Bucky and then silently mouthed, "Is he cute?"

I shook my head and laughed a little. Chloe was literally me when I first met the three big avengers; Black Widow, Cap, and Iron Man.

"While I'm here..."I began.

"Well duh. You're dressed to ride and everything!" Chloe exclaimed.

I grinned. "What do you say we show Bucky some Trick Riding?"

Bucky's eyes widened. "Wait wait wait. What is trick riding?"

"You'll see!" Chloe yelled as she went to get Pikachu in crossties.

Thorin stamped his hooves in excitement, he really did know what Trick riding meant. Anytime anyone barely muttered it he got all perky and boosted with energy. I unlatched the stall door and grabbed my lead rope, clipping it into Thorin's royal blue halter. Bucky watched me do the routine until I led Bucky out of the stall and to the tacking area. Behind me I heard Bucky shut and relock the stall door. I called out a thanks and warned Bucky not to get too close to Thorin's butt, horses could freak and kick. Though I doubted Thorin would.

We turned another corner and met Chloe and Pika. Pika's saddle pad was already on. I attached the cross ties to Thorin's halter and let the lead rope fall to the floor. Across from Thorin, Chloe was getting the saddle in position. Bucky walked over and offered to take the saddle.

As he lifted the saddle his sleeve slid back revealing his metal hand and wrist. Chloe's eyes widened and then returned to normal. She flashed me a look. I shook my head. Do not ask about it.

"Bucky, can you grab the white saddle over there that says Thorin on the plaque?" I asked.

"Yeah, sure." Bucky replied, wandering off to get it.

I took a curry comb and scrubbed Thorin with it to shake out all the hay flakes, dander, and dirt. I started near his face and worked my way to his rear. Then down each leg. Finally I took a brush and flicked the remaining dirt and dander off his coat before smoothing it out with the bristles. With the hoof pick in hand I lifted each of Thorin's legs and scraped the horse poop, hay, and dirt out of his hoof's cavity. Bucky came back, with a saddle pad too. A royal blue one. Matching the halter.

"How'd you know?" I asked Bucky.

"Chloe had one too and this was under the saddle." Bucky replied.

"Thanks." I said, going to take the saddle pad. I lifted it and placed it on Thorin's back. Then wiggled it further up. Bucky grabbed the saddle before I could and put it on perfectly. "Not bad for a city boy." I joked.

"Oh come on. I haven't lived in a city since the 40's." Bucky said.

"Still. You're not a farm boy. It's one or the other." I answered, clipping the girth onto the saddle.

Lastly was the bridle, which replaced the halter. I removed Thorin's blue halter, handed it to Bucky and then offered Thorin the bit. He was a little fussy about it, but eventually it was in there. I pulled the bridle over his ears, tightened the chin strap, and nose strap before he was all tacked up.

"Doesn't it hurt him, having that metal thing in his mouth?" Bucky asked.

I shook my head. "No, it's how we steer. If you pull hard or shove it in wrong maybe..but we're careful. It's alright."

Bucky nodded, but I could tell he was remembering things. To him the bit was a muzzle, like the one he wore as the Winter Soldier before one day Steve finally ripped it off and recognized him. Again I lost control and Bucky's memory slipped into my mind.

"Bucky?"

"Who the hell is Bucky?"

I shook off Bucky's memory and took the reins in my hand. Facing me, Chloe had Pika ready to go. I smiled at her. She nodded and I turned Thorin around before walking him down to the empty training ring. There were three rings at the barn; dressage, jumping, and an empty one. Trick riders, which Chloe, my two other students and I were the only ones. At the entrance to the empty ring was a mounting block, a small stair from getting onto your horse if you were short, like me. I didn't necessarily need a mounting block, but it was nice. Since Chloe was here I let her use it instead.

With a foot in the stirrup and my hand on the saddle's horn, I pulled myself up onto Thorin's back, my right foot swung into the other stirrup. I recollected my reigns and clicked for Thorin to walk on. Trick riding horses were verbally responsive. You couldn't kick them and expect a reaction, you needed to say the key words or noises. As I got into a trot, I yelled out to Bucky:

"I'm gonna do gymnastics on a horse ok! Don't freak out!"

Bucky sat on the fence and watched me carefully. In his head he was doing the opposite of what I said. She's doing tricks on a horse! A horse that's running! She's going to die, be ready, this is not good. I sent him a smirk before hitting a gallop. When I was ready I took my feet out of the stirrups and hooked them into the kossak straps. Then, with my balance in check I slowly stood up, leaned forward slightly and stuck my arms out in a successful hippodrome position.

Chloe clapped for me while Bucky twitched, mind reeling with worry. Laughing I sat down, changed my footing and leaned upside down into the suicide drag, one leg straight in the air, the other strapped to the saddle. My hair brushed the ground. I could hear the beats of Thorin's hooves as if magnified 100x. Crunching my core I pulled back up into the saddle. Thorin continued to gallop, slower now, as I settled myself. It felt good, having the rhythm of hooves beneath me and the thrill of doing dangerous moves on a running horse. My heart was beating a million times a second, I was sweating and smiling.

"Woah boy." I whispered to Thorin, who began to slow to a walk.

I steered him past Chloe and over to Bucky. He gave me a look and shook his head.

"You've got guts." He said.

"Thanks, but you've done crazier." I replied.

"At least you're ready enough for the danger entailed by being an Avenger." Bucky said. "That really didn't look good. I thought you weren't going to get up."

Oh the suicide drag, maybe he shouldn't know the name...

"I'm fine Bucky. I've done these tricks hundreds of times!" I faced the inside of the ring. "Let's see what Chloe's got."

Chloe was already in a hippodrome when I turned around. She squatted down and got prepared for a layout fender. I crossed my fingers for her. Though experienced, Chloe was still new enough at trick riding, and this was one hard pose. She had her feet in the straps while her body was sticking out from the horse. Chloe's arms were out like mine in the hippodrome. I clapped for her. Bucky sucked in a breath.

"She's doing great! NICE JOB CHLOE!" I yelled. "It's ok Bucky."

"It's insane." Bucky replied. "You're both crazy."

"You don't seem to mind." I retorted, getting Bucky to blush.

Pikachu descended into a trot as Chloe directed him to Bucky and I at the fence. I gave Chloe and Pika a thumbs up. Chloe laughed, leaned forward and patted her horse's neck.

"Well done. Posture was great. Getting out of it was a little rough but not bad." I coached.

"Thanks. What do you think?" She asked Bucky. "Terrifying?"

"Dangerous, but I've seen plenty of that." Bucky replied coolly.

I laughed. "Yeah, he's got some crazy memories."

Bucky gulped. "True."

"How many times did you have to tell Steve not to sign up illegally for the army?"

"Don't remind me." Bucky moaned.

Chloe looked back and forth at us. "Steve? Like, Steve Rogers? Captain America did something illegal?"

Bucky nodded. "As a kid."

"How would you know?" Chloe asked.

"They...they knew each other. It's a long story, but basically Bucky got some super soldier serum too." I filled in.

Chloe nodded slowly. "Woah."

"Yeah." I smiled. "So, a few more rounds?"

Bucky shook his head in protest but Chloe and I just giggled and trotted back to the center to do some fun tricks together.