I hate you, don't I? - Stucky

Another argument

Steve was running later than usual today. Which didn't necessarily mean he was late, he just wasn't the first to the gym like normal. Instead, he'd been studying different fighting techniques to better understand his opponents. He had to perfect everything and practice everything mercilessly until it became second nature. And recently he'd had a few close calls in his matches where he'd taken one bad move and nearly cost himself the fight. But it wouldn't happen again.

He left his room on the sixth floor of the Stark tower and took the strangely quiet elevator down two floors. The UV light irritated his eyes but he could hear the other trainees shouting in the gym just ahead so he clenched his fists and ignored it. 

The grey walls carried on from the hallway and into the exercise room. The only splash of colour came from the punching bags and the crash mats that currently held Nat and one of the other men as they fought. As usual, Nat was beating his ass.

"Hey Steve! Daniels bet Nat he could beat her in a fight with dirty rules".

"Oh yea, hows it going?" He chuckled as he walked over to join the small crowd.

"Looks like he's one smack away from running away crying!"

They all laughed at their teammate, giving him no comfort whatsoever. It was his fault for challenging Nat when everyone knows she, is and always will be, top of the class.

"Hey Daniels, try an elbow to the nose", someone laughed out. But before he could, the man got one himself.

"Arggg!" He cried. "I'm done, I'm done!"

He stumbled off the mat as fast as his weakened body would carry him and fell to the floor, clutching at his nose and catching his breath.

"You win", he said defeatedly.

Nat looked like she hadn't even broken a sweat as she walked over to Steve with a smug smile. He shook his head with a smirk.

"You know its unfair to fight any of the boys, and with dirty rules", he whispered. "That's basically your expertise".

"Everything's my expertise Rogers", she gloated quietly. "Besides, he challenged me. Gotta prove myself as the only female in a room of men".

She sat on the bench and took a gulp of water, some of it falling from between her lips and onto the floor.

Steve looked around at everyone else, a habit he had picked up as a kid but had benefited his job prospects greatly. Daniel's still sat on the floor holding his nose, only now he had an ice pack to it. A couple of guys in the corner had began warming up but everyone else just talked and joked about the weekends activities or their newest girl. His attention came back to the small water splatters on the floor and turned back to Nat.

"I'm sorry you have to prove yourself".

"What?" She questioned, turning her full attention back to him.

"I'm sorry you have to prove yourself to all the guys here".

She smiled and tilted her head in understanding before untying the bandages from her hands.

"But just so you know", he began, "most of these men are trying to prove themselves to you, I've seen it".

She throws the rest of the bandages beside her and stands up.

"As they should".

He watches as she walks off to start stretching, the minute movements from the other guys as they move to let her through. A lot of them do look up to her, the ones that recognise talent try and copy her form or join her in group sessions. But there are always those stuck in the old ages.