Leave Me Broken [Winter Soldier] II

Go [Chapter 6]

"Don't you ever tame your demons

But always keep 'em on a leash"

"Arsonist's Lullabye" -Hozier

              The moon had moved from one side of the sky to the other, and Ophelia was dripping with sweat. Her breathing was heavy even though she was trying her hardest to be as quiet as possible. She pressed her back against the metal storage locker and calmed her breathing, pushed the loose strands of hair out of her face and listened for Bucky. His footsteps were as silent as they could be, but she could still hear them as he neared. 

              Just as he was about to come around the corner, Ophelia crouched down and swung out her leg in the attempt to trip Bucky. Her leg hit against his ankle and he stumbled only to regain his balance in a split second. But in that second, Ophelia had stood back up and brought her fist to his stomach. She was able to land a punch upon his lower abdomen. Swinging for another, Ophelia couldn't help but begin to feel as though she had improved already in the few hours that they had been at it. Everything came back to her with ease, the muscle memory was there, it was just the matter of getting better at the fight itself.

            Bucky had been going easy on her, she knew, but if he used his full force their training would have been done before it started. When he grabbed her arm and spun it around her back, she stomped on his foot and Bucky growled; she had caused some minor pain that began to throb, but his boots prevented the stomp from slowing him down. She elbowed his stomach and he shifted just enough for her to break free from his grasp, and she spun around to face him. 

           Keeping her hands up to protect her face while still having the movement to block body shots, she couldn't help but smile at Bucky. She could see in his eyes that he wasn't enjoying fighting her, but training her was important, and they both knew it. Faking a punch and actually tricking the man across from her, Ophelia was able to land a punch against him again. Bucky grabbed her arm with his metal one and it was a grip she would not be able to break free from, and so she brought her leg up and kicked his stomach. When he didn't leg go, she tried to pull her arm free, but was spun around so that she had her back to Bucky.

           Her arm was pinned behind her back again and Bucky pushed his foot against the back of her knee. She was forced down, and knew that she had been defeated. When he wrapped his other arm around her throat and collarbone, she reached up and tapped out, mild panic settling in even though Bucky would never hurt her. Memories of the Death Squad left her feeling vulnerable.

             Bucky released in a split second, without any hesitation, and walked around to help her to her feet. She stood up, her hand clutching his tightly even after she had risen. Bucky glanced down at their hands and Ophelia pulled away. "Well, what do you think?"

            "You still have all the training, you remembered it well," he admitted. "I don't think you have a lot to worry about. Just remember to use your speed and stamina."

             She nodded, knowing that he was being nice, but didn't feel the need to take much criticism right then. In fact, she was exhausted and wanted to collapse on her bed and fall right asleep. She couldn't help but think about what he had said before they had begun their training, about having to leave if he thought her life was in danger. After about two years of being together, living together, learning everything there was to know about one another, she knew that he would not ask her to leave for any reason unless he thought her life was in danger. But if her life was in danger, so would his; she knew he could protect himself, that was not her biggest fear. Trying to imagine a life without him, she knew she would survive, but it seemed too painful to think about.