The shot she didn't take

Sparring partners

I looked Kate in the eyes, trying to figure out when she was going to make a move, and she did the same.  We held our intense eye contact for a while as we circled each other, until Kate lunged forwards to attack. She took me by surprise as she locked her fingers round the back of my neck and pulled me forwards. She twisted her body to the side and pulled me to the floor with her momentum, and flipping me onto my back. As she did this, she took her hands away from my neck and replaced them with her arms, putting me in a head lock and in a fluid motion she pulled me on top of her, both of us on our backs, and she wrapped her legs around my waist and locking them over my stomach.

"Nice guard Kate! Y/n get yourself out of her headlock come on!" Clint shouted while spectating our fight.

"I'm... Trying!" I struggled getting words out as Kates grip around my neck tightened.

"Giving up Y/n?" Kate said sarcastically.

I reached up and grabbed her arms, trying to loosen her grip by tugging in her arms. I kicked my legs out in an attempt to break free, but she was in a better place than me so I was stuck.

"Come on Y/n tap out" Kate said, slight worry in her voice. I know she wasn't trying to knock me out, but she was going to if i didn't tap.

I tried kicking and tugging again and nothing happened. I let go of her and tapped her arm, the second I did, Kate released me and I rolled onto my knees to catch my breath. She quickly sat on her knees in front of me to check if I was okay, and when she realised I was fine she pulled me into a quick, short hug.

"Fucking hell Kate" I said, laughing a little as I did so.

"What was that about kicking my ass?" She said mocking me.

"I will this time, i was going easy on you" I lied.

"Yeah sure you was"

"Stop flirting and get back up, you're going again" Clint shouted from the other side of the mat.

Kates cheeks grew pink with blush, as did mine, and she looked away from me. We stood back up and got into our fighting positions. 

Before Clint could say go, I dropped to the floor and kicked my leg round, hitting Kate in the ankles and knocking her off her feet. Before she had chance to react, I straddled her waist and pinned her hands at the sides of her head.  

"Good thinking Y/n. Kate, break out of her mount" 

As Clint tried shouting at Kate to give her pointers, she thrusted her hips up and kneed me in the back, sending me flying over her head and landing on the mat ahead of her. As I began to stand up she had already got up and ran over to me, as I felt her putting me in another head lock but instead of pulling me to the floor she dragged me up onto my feet. 

"You're letting your guard down" She muttered in my ear.

"Shut up" I said sharply.

I kicked my legs up in the air and threw them back down, I leaned forwards throwing Kate over my shoulder, but she rolled out of it and stood straight back up. With no hesitation, she threw a punch at my face and it made contact with my jaw. Honestly, that threw me off a little. I looked at her with an annoyed expression, cupping my jaw where she hit me, and her face dropped, she backed up a little bit creating a little more distance between us.

I looked at Clint who seemed just as shocked as i was.

"Are we done?" I shouted to him, my voice shaking a little from the adrenaline.

"Uh Yeah, that's enough sparring for today. Good job!" Clint walked over to Wanda and Sam. He started talking to them but i couldn't tell what they were saying. All i could see what them turning to look at Kate and I then back to Clint.

"Hey, you okay? Did I hurt you? I'm sorry" Kate rushed over to me and cupped my face where she hit me. She looked deep into me eyes with a look of regret on her face.

"Ye- no yeah yeah I'm good. You're a good fighter" I stuttered. I brushed her hand off my face and gave her a smile then walked off before she could reply. I was a little mad about training but hey it happens, she's is a good fighter. As I walked off to the locker room, i could feel Kate watching me, I could always feel when Kate was looking at me.