Yours... 'til the End of the Line

Friends...

The next few days flew by. Howard had me in his lab every chance he got, trying to update my suit to the best of his ability. I spent the rest of my time training with the men, which I was currently doing now... and trying to get James to talk to me. The latter wasn't going so well.

Jones came at me from behind. I twisted my body around and grabbed his arm. Slipping my body underneath his bicep, I slid behind him, kicked out his leg, and flipped him over on the mat. Scrunching down, I rested my elbows on my knees and smiled at the man. His breaths came out in short puffs as sweat trickled down his dark skin. I smiled brightly at him.

"I hate you," he huffed, trying to gain composure.

"You couldn't if you tried," I pat him gently on the shoulder.

Hopping to my feet, I held my hand out to the man, hoisting him up. He brushed by me to run a drill as James took his place on the mat. His eyes barely glanced at me as he took his place. I cocked my head at him but took two steps to my right before readying my stance.

Steadying my frame, I took a deep breath. James finally looked up at me as I let the air pass slowly between my lips. My eyes scanned his features, watching, waiting for any sign of movement. Suddenly, he sprang at me. I jumped to my right and kicked my leg out, swiftly knocking him to the ground. His toned body landed with a thud, but he regained his stance. Jumping to his feet, he attached again. This time swinging a hooked fist toward my head.

I ducked under his arm and jabbed him quickly with two punches to his core. He staggered backward. Short breaths escaped his perfect lips. His eyes narrowed at me. I scrunched my brow. The look was chilling. He charged again, leaving his frame open. I jumped in the air and landed a foot into his chest. His body slid against the mat and he laid in a heap. His chest rose and fell rapidly.

"You're leaving your center open," I called out.

"I know what I'm doing," he growled, pulling himself up once more.

"What's your problem?" I asked, exacerbated.

"I don't have a problem!" James barked back, readying his stance.

"Really? Because you haven't talked to me in three days," I argued.

James huffed in response and ran at me again. I easily stepped out of the way, and spun on my heel, keeping him in sight.

"Come on, James," I called out. "Talk to me."

James threw a punch to my right and I blocked it.

"There's nothing to talk about," he swung again, and I dodged.

"Don't lie to me," I growled and swung at him. He blocked.

"I'm not lying," he shoved me back.

I stumbled slightly but refused to be knocked down. Grumbling under my breath, I reeled into him, throwing a flurry of hits and kicks at him. He easily deterred each of my blows. We danced around the mat in an effortless flow. Each hindering the other from getting a decent blow in.

"Did I do something?" I cried out as I shoved him away from me. "If it's about the other night and what Peggy said, I –"

"Let it go, Elettra!" James ordered as he rushed me.

His arms held out to each side. He quickly enclosed them around my waist and began pulling me to the ground. Thinking quickly, as my body was lifted in the air, I swung my legs out and forced my body up over his arm and out of his hold. Flipping over onto my feet, I reached out and gripped his left shoulder, jumped into the air, and reeled my body around his body, and yanked his frame onto the mat. Our bodies landed with a crack. I pulled my body off his chest and placed a knee in its place as I held his struggling frame under my grasp.

"Talk," I ordered, peering into his eyes.

"Elettra –"

"No, James," I growled at his tone. "You haven't spoken to me in days... please, just," I whispered, "tell me what I did wrong."

James sighed, pressing his head into the mat. His face contorted in, what looked like, pain. It was as if he was battling something within himself. I waited, patiently, for him to say something... anything.

"You didn't do anything wrong," James breathed after a moment.

"Then, what is it?" I asked, desperate for an answer.

"It's not – I can't... Can you get off me?" James pleaded.

Puffing out a breath, I released James from the hold I had him in and took a seat next to him on the mat. Hugging my knees to my chest, I watched him. He pushed his frame from the floor and turned his torso toward me. After he didn't say anything, I spoke.

"I really am sorry for the other night. Peggy had no right saying what she said –"

"She was right, though," James cut me short.

"No, she wasn't," I argued. "I can go out whenever I please and so can you. We have a right to have a social life..."

James was silent for a moment. The look in his eyes was almost painful to witness.

"Is what she said true?" James asked quietly. "About you going out with other soldiers?" He clarified.

"What?" I gasped. "No! ... is that what this is about?"

"Well... yeah... I just – I don't know. It just caught me off guard and I –"

"James, you promised you wouldn't fall in love with me," I teased with a Cheshire smile.

The man muttered something under his breath that I didn't quite catch.

"What was that?" I asked, cocking a brow at him.

"I would never," he smiled, though it faltered slightly. "Can we – can we go back to being friends? I know I'm the one that has ignored you, but... I've missed spending time with you."

"I would love nothing more," I smiled broadly.

"So, friends?" James held out his hand to me.

The word rubbed me slightly. It didn't sound right.

"'til the end of the line," I hummed shaking his hand and pulling us both to our feet. "Let's run this again. And don't leave your center open."

I patted his toned abdomen with my palm and took my place in front of him.

"You're going down, doll," he mocked.

"Bring it on, Bucky."

"I love the way you say myname," he whispered as he locked wrists with me.