thecapitol | Never break a sweat for the other guys

Who| Kate + Bucky
What| Training + Friend-making.
Where| Training center
When| Backdated to just after this.
Warnings/Notes| N/A

There was a small rush that came from the prospect of meeting Bucky. Call it a form of hero worship, maybe, even if he was a lot different from the man she'd encountered back home. He was still who he was, Kate was sure of it. That man she'd met back in that cemetery on that snowy December night was alive somewhere in this punk kid, just as sure as that punk kid had to exist somewhere in that wicked-cute older man.

Sparring with him and seeing just what he had in him was of course an added bonus. Kate wanted to show off, too. She was better now than she'd been back when she and older!Bucky first met, and having no experience with the younger model, she wanted to gauge herself properly. The other benefit to this was his reputation. She might not know him very well, but he had pluck enough to go around. And as nice as the people in her own "District" seemed, she was pretty keen when it came to seeking out other perspectives and potential avenues for escape. And who better to investigate said opportunities with than her own world's resident ass-kicking name-taker?

As soon as she'd gotten off the network, she'd gone straight to the training facility. She didn't have a bow in mind this time. For now, she wanted to work with her hands, and she was genuinely optimistic about whatever came from this little match with Bucky. Was she going to show off? Yes, of course. Was it going to be worth it? She sure hoped it would.

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Kate's eyebrows went up and she nodded, taking what he was saying to heart. She'd be sure to block him next time. "Thanks for the tip. Bucky."

He didn't understand why she kept saying his name like that, but his mind was stuck to other stuff. Bucky was reminded, again, that Kate knew him from somewhere else, somewhere he was growing pretty sure wasn't just newsreels and war posters. It was easier to get his mind stuck to other stuff.

"So are you gonna hit me, or what?"

"Hold your horses, hotshot." Yes, she was going to hit him. And she was going to keep her side guarded this time. It's more work, it's harder, and it doesn't feel quite natural yet, but she's determined that she'll do it right this time. This one was more like a jab, short and sweet, in and out really fast.

"Better."

He has to dodge, he can't use her momentum against her, like last time. If she keeps this up, she can force him to into a corner, someplace he won't have room to fight. But Bucky's not gonna let that happen. He drops down low, for a sweeping kick, showing more speed than he has so far.

He was fast, sure, but Kate was no slouch either. She reacted as soon as he dropped, springing up to try jumping over him.

She can jump over him, sure, but now he's on the other side of her, throwing a punch of his own. He isn't holding back, anymore, not more than's usual for sparring.

Attempts were made to duck and dodge, but quick as she may have been, he certainly had a leg up on her in terms of skills at hand. Lucky for her, she was a quick study and she thought she could get a good handle on what he might do next, if only she could draw this out a bit longer.

Unfortunately, fist met face and for an instant her ears were ringing and she couldn't recall anything except pain.

This time he doesn't stop. he presses the advantage, trying for a jab on her right shoulder. He thought it'd be weird, hitting a girl, but once he's fighting, really fighting, it's hard to see how that matters.

Kate went down, hard. Her head hurt. Everything hurt. And she couldn't see straight for a second before she stumbled and scurried and tried to get away from him. No way was she giving up, but she had to shake it off, otherwise she'd wind up in worse shape.

He waited for her to get up, his muscles still tensed, his body still lean in its lines, weight still light on his feet. This time he didn't ask if she was done. Bucky didn't expect her to quit.

'Okay, Katie, get your head in the game.' It was like a mantra, the way she kept repeating that to herself. The world wasn't spinning anymore, but she was still aching. Aching, but refusing to give in. She darted back into the thick of it, once she felt better balanced. This time instead of aiming for him, she intended to let him take the first swing.

Bucky expected her to get up. He didn't expect her to wait, like that, and it threw him a bit off-center, and so when he threw the next punch, it was unbalanced.

She'd been hoping for that, hoping for this chance to get him off guard. She ducked to the side, letting his weight carry him without making contact with her.

He knows what she's doing, then, but it's too late. The fight's happening faster than he can think it. Bucky throws his weight a bit, trying to get back on top of himself.

Close quarters has always been her weakest point, but she doesn't doubt her next move. Thinking on her feet, she launches herself at him. If she can't land a decent hit, she may as well try to go for a tackle. There's nothing half-hearted about it, Kate is committed to it one hundred percent.

Never break a sweat for the other guys

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